Amid the preparations for the tournament, Jake strolled calmly through the school hallways, distracted by the sheer number of decorations and posters covering the walls.Another day... he thought with a hint of boredom, though part of him was genuinely excited about the tournament just around the corner.
As he turned a corner, he suddenly felt a strong impact on his side. Before he could even process it, he was already on the floor, surrounded by scattered papers—and what looked like a microchip flying through the air.
Looking up, he saw a blonde girl with sharp blue eyes, wearing a lab coat over her uniform, hurriedly picking up her things from the floor.
"Watch where you're going!" she snapped, clearly irritated.
Jake, still a bit dazed, stood up and brushed the dust off his clothes.
"Me? You're the one who crashed into me," he replied, frowning.
She gave him a look of frustration and disdain. He had seen her around before, but they'd never spoken.Aria Stephen... he recalled vaguely. She wasn't competing in the tournament, but she was well-known for her intelligence and dedication to the science club.
"If you paid more attention, you'd avoid situations like this," she retorted as she grabbed the last of her papers. "I have more important things to do than waste time on this."
"Oh, right, because I'm the one at fault for you running into someone in the hallway..." Jake crossed his arms, annoyed.
As Aria muttered something unintelligible, Jake looked at her again. She was undeniably attractive—something he couldn't deny—but her attitude completely killed the charm. And yet, there was something else. Maybe it was her strong personality, or maybe just the fact that he'd never had such a... peculiar interaction with someone like her. He felt a strange attraction, even though the whole situation seemed absurd.
"You should be more careful. Especially with those... chips or whatever," Jake said, pointing at one of the microchips still lying on the floor.
"Chips?" she repeated sarcastically, picking one up with care. "These are part of an important research project for the science, computing, and medical clubs. Something you probably wouldn't understand."
"And what are you doing running around the halls with them?" Jake couldn't help but fire back. The whole thing still felt ridiculous.
Aria squinted at him, as if deciding whether it was even worth continuing the conversation.
"Because some of us prioritize things more important than tournaments. Like... I don't know, discovering things that could change the world?"
Jake couldn't help but smirk at the arrogance in her voice.
"All right, Einstein. I won't keep you."
There was a moment of silence between them. Jake felt a slight tension in the air—not the uncomfortable kind, though. Part of him was amused by how Aria treated him, though he knew they probably wouldn't get along that easily.
"Well… do you have anything else to say, or can I let you get back to 'changing the world'?" Jake teased, raising an eyebrow.
"Absolutely not," she replied, finally putting her things away. "And in case you care, I hope you lose the tournament."
Jake laughed.
"Oh, sure. Thanks for the support. I'll try not to disappoint you."
Aria turned away and, with one last haughty glance, walked off. As Jake watched her go, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to her than just attitude. The encounter had sparked a curiosity in him he hadn't expected to feel.And, honestly, the initial attraction… hadn't really gone away.
Aria's Past: A Shadow of Yesterday
When Aria got home that day, she collapsed onto her bed, exhausted. The day had been draining, and the run-in with Jake had only added more stress. But soon, her thoughts began to wander… pulling her toward a memory she'd rather forget.
It had been a quiet afternoon in Solaria. The sun reflected off the tall buildings, painting the city in warm tones. Aria, barely 12 years old, was walking home with her mother and younger sister, Alicia. That was the day everything changed.
A dark figure appeared out of nowhere—moving like a shadow, fast and lethal. Aria barely had time to react before a chilling cold ran down her back. She was attacked without warning, and everything went black.
When she opened her eyes, she was in an unfamiliar place, surrounded by figures that looked like warriors, some wearing gleaming armor that reflected starlight. She tried to move, but a wound in her side sent waves of pain through her. A group of medics surrounded her, speaking words she didn't understand.
"Don't worry," one of them said in a calm voice. "We're here to heal you. We're from Aetheria."
The word echoed in her mind. Aetheria. She didn't know what it meant, but from that day on, the memory haunted her. She had been saved by those mysterious warriors—but the attack… she could never forget.
Back in her room, Aria clenched her fists. She knew something big was happening, and she had the feeling that everything was connected. The tournament, the chaos, the strange energies… none of it was random.
The sun was beginning to set, casting golden light across the vast backyard of Aria's home. It was one of those perfect Solarian sunsets—the sky like a warm canvas of orange and purple. Aria sat cross-legged in the grass, deep in meditation. A gentle breeze brushed her face as her breathing remained slow and steady.
She closed her eyes and let the calm take over, though beneath the surface, something deeper flowed within her. Aetherian blood.
It all began when those warriors saved her—giving her a second chance at life. They hadn't just healed her wounds—they had transfused her with Aetherian blood, a legacy of the warriors who vowed to protect the stars. That blood hadn't just cured her… it had changed her. It granted her a powerful, direct connection to stellar energy.
Aria opened her eyes slowly, rising with a rare grace. Beside her, the ancient journal left by the warriors lay open. Covered in symbols and cryptic writing, she had spent years deciphering it. Now, every line made sense.
She assumed a combat stance, legs bent, arms aligned—just as she had been taught. Stellar energy flowed naturally through her body. She had learned to control it, to wield it with precision. With a deep breath, she raised one hand toward the sky and focused her power.
At once, a sphere of orange light began to form in her palm, glowing with a warm, steady pulse. It was like holding a miniature sun. Aetherian energy was different—stronger, purer. Her blood had transformed her, granting her access to power most students in Solaria could never dream of.
With a swift motion, she hurled the orb toward a tree at the far end of the yard. But before it could hit, she twisted mid-air, redirecting the energy back toward herself. With remarkable finesse, she caught the sphere between her hands and dissipated it instantly. A smile of satisfaction crossed her face.
Jake could never do that, she thought with a hint of pride. Then she frowned, annoyed. Why am I thinking about him? That boy drove her crazy—and not in a good way. He's so... basic, she sighed, recalling the foolish hallway encounter. How could someone that distracted survive in a serious tournament?
But the truth was different. Jake had talent. She just didn't want to admit it. What really frustrated her was how, despite everything, she kept thinking about him. Even now, while training. Aria shook her head, trying to drive the thought away.
"Focus, Aria!" she scolded herself out loud, as if that would erase Jake's image from her mind.
She jumped, launching herself gracefully onto a nearby rock. Her legs, infused with stellar energy, gave her the boost to leap even higher into the air.
Mid-air, she spun, forming an arc with her arms and channeling energy around her. The air crackled, as if the environment itself could feel her power.
The energy flows through me… she thought, feeling every cell in her body vibrate with unmatched force. It's part of me—as if it's always been there, waiting to awaken.
When she landed, the energy gradually faded, leaving a faint glow around her. She stood tall, breathing deeply, satisfied with another completed training session.
Aetherian blood gave me this power… but also a responsibility, she thought, gazing up at the star-streaked sky. I'm stronger than most here in Solaria. I can't afford to fail.
She glanced again at the journal beside her, recalling the words of the warriors who had saved her. She knew her fate was tied to something far greater than herself—something she still couldn't fully understand. But what she did know was that she had to keep moving forward, to grow, to become stronger.
And even though Jake drove her crazy, she couldn't help but wonder if he too was destined for something greater. Idiot, she muttered to herself again—this time with a faint smile.
Sleep wrapped Aria in a thick, opaque fog, as if reality itself had turned into a veil of shadow. In her mind, the world faded into a horizon of unease and unrest. As she moved forward, the sky turned a deep gray, and the air grew heavy with an invisible, oppressive weight.
Aria found herself standing in the center of the occult club—a place she had begun to learn more about through her research into stellar energy fluctuations.
The atmosphere was more sinister than she remembered, bathed in a constant twilight that seemed to swallow what little light remained. The walls were covered in arcane symbols and ancient scrolls, all illuminated by the flickering glow of old candles arranged in perfect circles.
A chill ran down her spine as she noticed a body lying on the floor, right at the center of the circle of candles.
The corpse was that of a young man—pale and cold, with a frozen expression of horror on his face. His body was rigid, and his eyes stared blankly into the void with a terrifying intensity.
Aria stepped closer with slow, cautious movements, her senses heightened by every faint sound in the air. A creeping sense of wrongness settled over her, a feeling that reality itself was warping.
Suddenly, Zephyr Blackthorn emerged from the shadows, as if born from them. His presence was as imposing as it was malevolent, and the violet aura of his mask cast an eerie glow across his face. Though Aria had never encountered him directly, she had noticed unusual fluctuations in stellar energy that seemed tied to his presence. But now, in the dream, the sensation was far more intense—and deeply unsettling.
Zephyr approached the corpse with deliberate steps, and the violet aura seemed to swirl around the body, as if drawing something out from within.
Aria felt a wave of paralyzing terror as the corpse began to twitch and change shape under the influence of the dark energy radiating from Zephyr. The shadows around it seemed to come alive, twisting and dancing in a grotesque ballet.
"This is not the end," Zephyr whispered, his voice echoing from the depths of some abyss. His words carried a hopelessness, a warning that something even darker was yet to come.
Aria wanted to scream, but her voice caught in her throat. The air around her grew thick—almost solid—and each breath became a monumental effort. The symbols on the walls began to distort, twisting and shifting, as if reality itself were being torn apart before her eyes.
Suddenly, the body on the floor collapsed into a torrent of shadows and fragments of light, blending with the corrupted stellar energy. The merging of arcane and celestial forces created a scene of indescribable chaos—an amalgam of horror and warped beauty.
A growing pressure clamped down on her chest, as if fear itself were trying to crush her. Zephyr turned to face her, his intense gaze piercing through the darkness, locking onto her. The sensation of being watched by something evil and all-seeing was overwhelming.
Just as Aria felt her sanity slipping, the scene began to unravel. The occult club and Zephyr disintegrated into a whirlwind of shadows and flashing lights, and the pressure in her chest eased.
She woke up with a jolt, heart pounding wildly in her chest. The room was calm. It had been just a nightmare.
As she sat up in bed, she realized that the occult club and the corpse had not been real. But the fear and unease lingered like a shadow that refused to leave her.
She stood up, her legs trembling slightly. The nightmare had been too vivid, too terrifying to dismiss. Aria knew that dreams sometimes held hidden truths or warnings. She looked toward the journal on her desk, remembering the words of the warriors who had once saved her.
The connection to stellar energy, Zephyr's influence, the corpse… it all felt like a complex puzzle she still couldn't fully piece together.
The image of Zephyr—his intimidating presence and the shroud of darkness that clung to him—remained vivid in her mind. Aria furrowed her brow, trying to push away the muddled thoughts.
What did all of this mean? Was it a warning? A reflection of her deepest fears? Or something more ominous yet to unfold?
With a sigh of exasperation, she made her way to the window, seeking solace in the clearing night sky. The stars shimmered with serene clarity, as if reminding her that peace and perspective were always within reach—even after the storm raging in her mind.
As the night breeze kissed her face, Aria felt a flicker of comfort. The dream had been disturbing, yes—but it was also a sign. She needed to stay vigilant. The tournament, the dark energies, and her connection to Zephyr were more than mere coincidence; something greater was at play.
Her thoughts still scattered yet resolute, Aria prepared herself for what lay ahead. She knew that training and preparation were essential—but so was understanding the warnings the universe seemed to be sending her.
She returned to her journal, flipping through pages filled with arcane symbols, searching for answers. The night promised to be long, but she was ready to face it with the same determination that had driven her throughout her training. The nightmare had been a test—and she would face whatever came next, no matter how dark or terrifying it might be.
That very night, the opening ceremony of the Grand Stellar Tournament was held. The academy's board had decided to host it under the stars—at first glance, a purely logistical decision, but in truth, a more calculated one. They didn't just want the event to feel solemn and majestic—they wanted the night's atmosphere to heighten the excitement for students and spectators alike.
Artificial lighting could never match the grandeur of a star-filled sky, and they knew it. The twilight blending into starlight created a sense of vastness, as if the universe itself was bearing witness to the event. Moreover, stellar energy—the foundation of the academy's martial arts—was particularly striking in darkness, with every burst of power from the fighters painting the night with raw brilliance. It was pure spectacle.
Yet, there was a subtler reason behind the timing. Hosting the ceremony at night also served to regulate the students' energy. The excitement of an event this grand could easily spiral into chaos if allowed to stretch throughout the day. This way, by the time it ended, most attendees would be too tired to cause trouble, their adrenaline slowly fading as they returned to their dorms. A simple, yet effective tactic to prevent unnecessary conflicts before the official matches began the next day.
Jake was walking casually through one of the corridors, lit dimly by crystal star-lamps, when a familiar voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
"Hey, why do you look like you just lost a fight with a wall?"
He turned to find Sophia, wearing her trademark smirk and teasing tone.
"It wasn't a wall," he replied with a sigh. "It was Aria Stephen."
Sophia raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"The girl from the science club?"
"Also computing and medicine, apparently. They have some absurdly long name to make it sound extra sophisticated."
"Yeah, that definitely sounds like them," she laughed. "But wait, what happened?"
Jake exhaled heavily and leaned against the wall.
"I ran into her in the hallway. Or rather, we ran into each other—head-on. At full speed."
"What?!"
"Exactly. We collided and her stuff exploded everywhere. Papers, microchips, who knows what else. I'm pretty sure I saw a tiny drone trying to escape the wreckage."
Sophia burst out laughing.
"Don't tell me you just stood there watching it all in slow motion like an idiot."
"Worse," Jake muttered, running a hand down his face. "I froze for a few seconds trying to process what the hell had just happened. By the time I came to, she was already scooping everything up at a terrifying speed."
Sophia crossed her arms, clearly trying not to laugh again.
"So what did you do?"
"Obviously I helped," he growled. "But she looked at me like she wanted to rip my head off. I guess she was in a hurry or something."
"Or maybe she just hates you," Sophia teased.
"Wouldn't be the first," Jake grumbled. "Anyway, I bailed before she threw a scalpel at me or something."
Sophia chuckled in amusement, but then her expression shifted—just slightly—as if something had suddenly crossed her mind.
"By the way, have you seen Raven lately?"
Jake blinked.
"Raven?"
"Yeah," Sophia frowned. "I haven't seen him in days. I usually find him in the library or the garden, but nothing."
An uneasy chill ran down Jake's spine, like a shiver with no clear cause.
Raven... missing?
It wasn't the first time his friend had vanished for a while, but something about the way Sophia said it gave him a bad feeling.
Maybe he went off to meditate again with the occult club... or he's just in his dorm.
Yeah, that had to be it. Raven had always been an odd one—with his strange little rituals and obsession with the darker side of stellar energies. But something didn't add up.
The discomfort settled in Jake's chest like an invisible weight.
"He's probably just in his dorm," he finally said, trying to sound casual. "You know how he is. Sometimes he isolates himself to... concentrate or something."
Sophia watched him silently for a moment, as if trying to read his mind.
"I guess..." she murmured.
Jake forced a smile and pushed himself off the wall.
"Anyway, the tournament's tomorrow. I'm sure he'll show up before the first round."
But inside, the unease was burning like a spark he couldn't ignore.
The central plaza of the academy—the beating heart of that world of prodigies—had become an ocean of lights and motion. By day, it was a vast open space framed by marble columns and statues of ancient masters. But now, it had transformed into a stage of science and art—a futuristic coliseum where the ancestral and the cutting-edge merged into a single spectacle.
The modular stands had unfolded with pinpoint precision, blooming from the ground like metallic petals. On them, thousands of students and spectators waited in anticipation, their faces lit by the glow of holographic projectors hovering in the air, casting vibrant images across a cloudless sky.
A hush fell over the plaza as the lights dimmed, leaving the space in strategic twilight. And then—the ground itself came to life.
From the center of the plaza, a circle of stellar energy ignited in a deep blue hue, expanding outward in concentric waves. A second later, pillars of light rose around it, as if the cosmos itself had descended to bless the tournament.
The opening act began with a martial choreography: a group of senior students, dressed in robes woven with threads of light, performed a battle-dance where each strike and movement unleashed bursts of stellar energy, sketching fleeting patterns in the air like strokes on an invisible canvas.
Then, the academy's official band took the stage—but this was no ordinary band. Their instruments were enhanced with stellar tech, and each note resonated with a tangible vibration, forming soundwaves that danced in colorful displays above the crowd. When the drums began to thunder, the audience felt the beat in their chests—as if the very spirit of battle had called out to them.
The next act pushed the spectacle even higher. A squad of students equipped with energy thrusters launched into the air, performing impossible acrobatics while leaving behind luminous trails. Their movements traced ephemeral constellations in the dome of the night, and when they descended, they did so in perfect synchronization, landing with surgical precision on a battleground newly formed from the plaza floor.
And then, the director's voice echoed across the plaza, amplified by the crystalline speaker network embedded in the columns.
"Welcome, fighters and spectators, to the Grand Stellar Tournament!"
The roar of the crowd was deafening.
The plaza was no longer the same. The ground—once smooth—had split into dynamic platforms, with energy circuits pulsing beneath them. Each battle would take place on terrain that could shift in real time, challenging the adaptability of every combatant.
But what truly captured Jake's attention wasn't the grandeur of the event—it was the figure standing beside the academy's board on the main stage.
Zephyr Blackthorn.
There he was—imposing, like a shadow escaped from the depths of the cosmos. His black mask, cracked and glowing with a violet aura, shimmered under the lights, drawing the eyes of anyone who dared look. His gaze—dark and piercing—scanned the crowd with the precision of a predator.
But he wasn't alone.
Around him, members of the academy's board exchanged words and smiles, as if he were a revered benefactor and not an enigma cloaked in shadows. How the hell did someone like him become a sponsor of the tournament? Jake thought, a knot forming in his gut.
Then, Zephyr slightly tilted his head.
For a fleeting instant, Jake felt those empty eyes lock onto him through the mask. It lasted only a second—but the shiver that ran through him was enough to make him look away.
This isn't good.
The crowd's cheer snapped him out of his trance. On the stage, the director had raised his arm, signaling the end of the ceremony. The spectacle was over—and now, all that was left was to await the true event: the combat.
But Jake couldn't shake the feeling that something was out of place. That something, somewhere deep in the academy's shadows, was just waiting for the right moment to move.