Chapter 10: Birth Of Verdant Hollow

  The morning sun pierced through the glass panes of the academy dormitory as Aether awoke. Despite the intensive magic evaluation from the previous day, his body felt light, invigorated by the unspent mana that surged through his veins. The crystal embedded on the back of his hand pulsed faintly—a lingering sign of the domain’s evolution.

  Before leaving for class, Aether reached out with his consciousness, connecting to Eidheria. The domain responded instantly. The upgrades from the previous day had taken full effect: the Awakening System had unlocked, his Status Window had gained new panels, and his realm brimmed with vitality.

  Within the domain, the once-lush plains had subtly shifted. Aether’s magic had guided the terrain into a new biome—Verdant Hollow—a lush, shaded valley nestled at the edge of the Drakenfang Mountains. Fog drifted lazily over dew-kissed ferns, and thick vines crawled up ancient trees with spiral-trunk formations. It was as if the land itself whispered life.

  Earlier that morning, Aether had browsed through the Shop Function, flipping through options while brushing his teeth.

  [New Species Pack Available: Tier 2 – Forest Fauna & Flora Bundle]

  Contents: 1x Biome-bound Tree Species, 2x Ambient Creatures, 1x Herbivore, 1x Alchemical Flora

  [Purchase Cost: 40 Domain Points]

  [Purchase? Y/N]

  He tapped Y without hesitation, and the window shimmered with light as the entities dispersed across Verdant Hollow in glowing particles of energy.

  His gaze swept over the results now with quiet satisfaction.

  The tree that had blossomed first was the Gloomshade Elm, its massive roots glowing faintly with stored mana. Its sap could be harvested for alchemical reagents. In its shade roamed the Lunari Stag—a twilight-colored beast with moonstone antlers that shimmered during nightfall.

  Near the riverbank, Lumenblinks, nocturnal herbivores. They absorbed ambient mana, their skins pulsing with soft blue light. Further into the thickets, Thistlemaws—small porcupine-like creatures with sharp, retractable spines—nested under flowering shrubs known as Whisperwill Blooms. Each bloom vibrated subtly in tune with surrounding sounds, creating an odd floral symphony that sometimes startled the Thistlemaws into puffing out in alarm like living bristly balloons.

  A notification flickered:

  [Achievement Unlocked: New Biome Transformation - Verdant Hollow]

  [Achievement Unlocked: First Multi-Species Ecosystem]

  [Achievement Unlocked: Discovery - Lunari Stag, Lumenblink, Thistlemaw, Whisperwill Bloom, Gloomshade Elm]

  [Reward: 3x Silver-tier Chest, 2x Random High-Quality Seeds, 50 Domain Points, 1x Biome Expansion Ticket]

  Aether chuckled as he dismissed the prompt. “And people say shopping isn’t productive.”

  He floated toward a nearby ridge where, tucked in a cluster of mossy rocks and mushrooms, a small goblin settlement buzzed with activity.

  The Greenfang Tribe, as they'd named themselves, were short, wild-haired, and endlessly enthusiastic.

  One goblin stood atop a wooden crate, shouting, “If the stew doesn’t taste like mana and regret, you’re doing it wrong!”

  Another goblin, dragging a bucket larger than himself, grumbled, “I miss the plains. Less trees. Less birds. Less bird poop.”

  Aether smiled and waved. The goblins immediately scattered, some diving into bushes as if he were a god descending from the heavens. One of the younger ones poked his head out nervously.

  “O Great One! D’you need something today?”

  “…Not today.”

  “No promises!” the goblin shouted back, then got yanked into the thicket by what sounded like his older sister.

  Satisfied, Aether returned his attention to Verdant Hollow. He was just in time to see the Lunari Stag cautiously drink from the mist-laced river.

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  Back at the academy, whispers about the previous day’s evaluation still filled the air.

  “Did you see how calm he was? While everyone else struggled with Class 2 spells, he casually cast three elements at once!”

  “And his mana pool… Did anyone get the final reading?”

  “I heard even the Princess was surprised.”

  Indeed, Princess had taken an interest. Seated near the front of the lecture hall, she quietly flipped through her notes, stealing glances at Aether now and then. She made a note in her margin: Observe the subject again during practicals.

  The day’s lesson began with elemental theory. Professor Vaelen, a Class 6 wind mage, summoned a breeze with a flick of his fingers.

  “Class, we’ll study dual-elemental fusion today. Very few can wield more than one element. Fewer still can blend them.”

  Aether watched silently. He had already practiced combinations in Eidheria—wind and flame, earth and water, lightning and ice. The memory of the first time he’d created a volcanic geyser in a remote corner of his domain made him chuckle inwardly.

  When the professor asked for volunteers, only a few raised their hands. Aether didn’t.

  Not yet.

  After class, Aether noticed a sudden quiet fall over the hallway. Students parted instinctively as a tall, broad-shouldered figure approached with measured steps and an air of superiority.

  His uniform was lined in deep crimson and gold, marked with the crest of House Varellion—a lion wreathed in ivy thorns. His gaze was sharp, his expression even sharper.

  “Aether Valen,” the young man said coolly, eyes narrowing slightly. “Kael Varellion. Upperclassman. Son of Duke Varellion.”

  A few students nearby froze, holding their breath. Kael had a reputation—not just for his skill, but for his temper. Professors tolerated him. Students feared him.

  Kael held out a formal card, flicking it toward Aether with a lazy snap of his fingers. “There’s a gathering this evening. A few people of proper standing want to speak with you. I suggest you show up.”

  Aether caught the card but didn’t even glance at it. He handed it back without a word.

  Kael's smile twitched. “You’re declining?”

  “I am,” Aether replied calmly.

  The silence that followed was thick. A vein in Kael’s temple pulsed. His grin faded into something colder.

  “Huh. You must think you’re special. Maybe yesterday’s little stunt inflated your ego,” Kael said, voice low. “Just don’t forget—talent doesn’t make you untouchable.”

  Aether made his way through the bustling hallways, but the noise around him began to soften as he passed a small, tightly-knit group of students standing near the main doors. At the center of the group was Kael Varellion, the son of Duke Varellion, his expression a mix of annoyance and amusement. His followers—a handful of first-class, upperclassmen nobles—flanked him.

  Alistair Volros, a tall student with pale skin and silver hair, whose only true claim to influence was his noble bloodline. Liora Dorne, with her dark braids and fiery spirit, stood with her arms crossed, her expression sharp. Darius Mirson, the quiet one, who towered over the rest but rarely spoke, keeping to his silent watch over the group.

  Kael’s faction wasn’t made up of terrifying elites—they were simply the older students, all nobles, who believed in their right to lead. They weren’t invincible, but they commanded attention simply by virtue of their status.

  As Aether passed by without sparing them a glance, one of the nobles—Alistair Volros—stepped forward, scoffing with a smirk.

  "Hmph. Must be new," Alistair said loudly enough for nearby students to hear. "You’re walking past Kael Varellion, heir to House Varellion and future Archduke. Try not to forget whose halls you're wandering through, first-year."

  He leaned slightly, voice sharp and proud. “Not everyone gets invited to meet with him. You might want to reconsider before your arrogance bites you.”

  Kael, flicking a coin between his fingers, watched Aether walk past. The others fell silent, watching the interaction with curiosity, but their leader wasn’t finished.

  “So, he really rejected the invitation?” Liora asked, her voice dripping with disbelief. “What kind of first-year does that?”

  Kael smirked, clearly enjoying the drama. “The kind who thinks he’s special. He won’t be for long.”

  “Do you think he’s got a death wish?” Darius said, speaking for the first time. His deep voice made his words seem even heavier. “Rejecting Kael like that…”

  Kael chuckled, a sharp, mocking sound. “Not death, just a lesson. He’s clearly got more courage than sense. It’s adorable. But it’s not going to last.”

  Alistair, who usually kept to himself, furrowed his brow as he studied Aether from a distance. “The kid’s got guts. He’s not backing down, but he should know better. If he crosses Kael, he’ll regret it.”

  “I’d like to see how long he can keep that attitude,” Liora added, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Aether’s a first-year—he doesn’t know how things work here yet.”

  Kael narrowed his eyes, glancing at Aether’s retreating figure. “It’s not even about the first-year thing. It’s about respect. He needs to know his place. But let’s give him time. I want to watch him squirm a little before I teach him his lesson.”

  Alistair raised an eyebrow, speaking almost absently. “You’re playing with fire, Kael. If you push too hard—”

  “Then we’ll see who burns,” Kael interrupted with a grin, his confidence never wavering. “But first, let’s let him enjoy this moment. Soon enough, he’ll remember who’s in charge here.”

  The students around him exchanged glances but said nothing. They weren’t overly involved—they were simply following the leader of their group, all too aware of Kael’s influence. They knew their place, and they made sure everyone else did too.

  Meanwhile, other students, mostly first-years, were muttering quietly as they passed by. Some of them had been watching from afar, hearing the rumors already starting to spread about Aether’s refusal.

  “Did you see that? Aether really turned down Kael,” one of them whispered.

  “I didn’t think anyone had the guts to do that. Kael’s not someone you just… ignore.”

  “Aether seems different. He doesn’t care about nobility or status. I’ve never seen anyone act like that in front of Kael before.”

  “Maybe he’s more trouble than Kael thinks.” A second-year student, eager to prove himself, spoke up. “Aether won’t last long if he keeps challenging people like that. Someone needs to teach him how things work here.”

  “The nobles might think they run the show,” another first-year said softly, “but I don’t know... Aether doesn’t look like the type to just fall in line. Maybe he’ll be a problem for them.”

  "A problem?" the student scoffed. "Kael doesn't let problems linger. He’s going to make an example out of him."

  Back in his world, the Verdant Hollow continued to grow, new life forming by the hour. The goblins were attempting to ride Thistlemaws like horses (with very little success and lots of yelling), and the Whisperwill Blooms had begun harmonizing with the goblins’ music—creating oddly catchy, if chaotic, melodies.

  And Aether knew—this was just the beginning.