Magus Supremacy

As the heavy doors creaked open with a low metallic groan, a rush of colder, pressurized air spilled outward, carrying the scent of polished stone, worn leather, and faint iron. And then, they saw it.

The Grand Hall of the academy stretched out like a cathedral of discipline and war.

Vaulted ceilings soared overhead, carved from obsidian-veined stone and supported by massive rib-like beams etched with protective runes.

Hanging from the beams were long crimson banners, each one marked with the emblems of top students and past victors of the academy's brutal internal tournaments.

Down the middle of the expansive floor lay a central walkway of dark marble, flanked on both sides by towering stone columns and branching corridors.

To the left, a corridor stretched toward the combat arenas and sparring chambers. The air there was warmer, tinged with the sharp scent of sweat and blood.

To the right, a softer glow marked the entrance to the class halls and meditation chambers. The air hummed faintly with restrained energy, the atmosphere charged as if invisible forces were constantly being trained and tamed within those walls.

Above the entrance hallway, carved deep into the wall like an unbreakable decree, were the academy's three tenets:

Endure.

Dominate.

Ascend.

And far ahead, beyond an archway at the other end of the Grand Hall, stood the dormitory wings—one towering block for each color band: Blue, Yellow, and Red. The further one's dorm was located from the hall, the higher their rank and the heavier their burdens.

The moment they stepped inside, the air grew heavier, pressing down on their shoulders as though the very building itself was testing their resolve. It was not merely a place of learning but a crucible designed to crush weakness and forge strength.

This was Aetherian Academy, where future legends were broken, remade, and reborn through fire and discipline.

"According to your colour band, head for your block and go to your respective rooms," the man instructed. Without sparing them another glance, he turned sharply on his heels and strode away, leaving the duo stranded in the vast hall, their expressions caught between awe and uncertainty.

"I guess we just have to do what he said and head for our different blocks." Thalos sighed, his eyes narrowing as he studied the distant towers.

"Will you be fine on your own? I mean, your block isn't the same as mine," Grey asked, his tone laced with concern.

"I should be the one asking that," Thalos replied with a faint smirk. "As long as no one steps on my toes, I'll be fine. I'm not here to cause trouble anyway. My plan is to stay hidden."

Grey chuckled nervously. "You're right. What was I even thinking? Who would dare try to take you on?"

"Exactly. Now enough of that. Let's head for our different blocks. We'll meet again when our paths intertwine." Thalos adjusted the blue band on his wrist and turned toward his block, striding away with calm certainty.

Grey stood watching him for a moment, then muttered, "Yeah, that's right. Still, I wonder how I'll find my room… or the others too." With a soft sigh, he turned and made his way toward the yellow block.

Minutes later, Grey was standing in the middle of a narrow hallway lined with doors, his brows furrowed. He rubbed his forehead in frustration, staring at the endless rows of entrances.

'Damn it! How do I even find my dorm mates? Nobody explained a thing.' He groaned inwardly, twisting from side to side. 'I can't just start barging into rooms at random, that would make me look like an idiot. But then…'

His thoughts halted abruptly when his eyes caught the faint shimmer of nameplates fixed on the doors. Relief washed over him as he leaned forward, narrowing his gaze.

'Names… finally. This might be how I find them.' Grey exhaled in relief, preparing himself to scan each door more carefully.

"Huh?" Grey muttered as he stared at the different names engraved on the doors. Each door carried three names.

Seeing this, a blurry image flickered across his mind. He saw himself in another hallway—similar, yet different with countless students moving around. Names appeared and disappeared on the doors as though alive, while he wandered restlessly, muttering under his breath and searching for his own.

A sharp pulse surged through his head, and the vision dissolved. Grey's surroundings returned to the Aetherian hallway, but his breathing had grown ragged.

He noticed blood trickling down his palms from how tightly he had clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his skin to suppress the stabbing headache.

'Damn it. Another memory from my past. How many more will I have to endure before I regain everything—my memories, my strength, my powers?' He exhaled shakily and straightened himself, then resumed scanning the doors one after another.

The silence gnawed at him.

'I wonder why there's no one around. Not a single person in the hallway. Shouldn't students be walking around? Is this place truly so empty?' His thoughts echoed as he moved past several doors, until his gaze froze on one in particular.

"Gotcha," he whispered with a faint grin as he stopped before a door bearing three familiar names: Grey, Finral, and Ray. "I wonder if they're in."

He turned the knob, the metal cool against his hand, and pushed it open.

"I'm he—" His words faltered as his smile faded. "Tsk. No one's here."

Grunting, Grey stepped inside, letting the door swing partially closed behind him, unaware it was left ajar.

The room was unimpressive. Three beds sat crookedly across the floor. The walls were peeling, streaked with damp cracks. The air carried a faintly sour odor, a mix of mildew and stale sweat.

Patches of the floor were fractured, revealing worn stone beneath. Only a few bags tucked in the corner broke the emptiness—Finral's and Ray's, no doubt.

"How can a prestigious academy like this let their dorms fall into such a state? This place looks more like an abandoned barrack than the pride of Aetherian." Grey's frown deepened as he scanned the room. "And where are those two idiots?"

He ran a hand across one of the cracked walls, shaking his head.

'I wonder how they managed to cope here. Finral especially—he hates sharing anything, especially his space. For him to endure this… could those direct descendants have forced something on them while I was gone? Or maybe—'

His thoughts cut off instantly.

'Wait. Ki!'

The warning screamed in his mind, and his instincts roared awake.

In a flash, a sword manifested in his hand, and Grey spun on his heel. His blade surged upward, intercepting a strike aimed directly at his face. The clash rang out sharply, reverberating through the small dorm room.

Grey didn't budge. His sword held firm, absorbing the blow with precision. His eyes narrowed as furious Ki flared along his arms, spiraling with raw energy. Then, recognition froze his expression.

"Huh? Finral? What the hell are you doing?!" Grey barked, his voice echoing with disbelief and rising anger.

The door behind him shut with a dull thud. Grey twisted his head to the side and caught sight of Ray stepping in, his brows knit with confusion. At the sight of Grey's blade locked against Finral's, Ray stiffened and instinctively fell into a guarded stance.

"What the hell is going on here?" Grey demanded, his voice sharp as steel, his eyes darting between Finral's murderous glare and Ray's tense posture.

The air in the room thickened instantly. Finral's sword didn't waver. His death-stare bore into Grey like a predator judging its prey, and for the first time since stepping into the academy, Grey felt something far heavier than silence pressing against his chest.