FIRST DAY

  Morning arrived at the Academy of the Stars, and with it came the first class of the newly admitted students. Ethan, Callan, and Orin made their way through the grand corridors of the Virgo Wing, passing elaborately engraved doors and floating crystal lanterns that guided them toward their first class.

  The classroom was unlike anything Ethan had ever seen. An enormous circular chamber with a domed ceiling, its walls were etched with ancient constellations that pulsed faintly with arcane energy. At the front, a mystical blackboard floated in mid-air, symbols appearing and disappearing upon its surface like flickering stars.

  The students took their places at individual workstations, each equipped with an assortment of raw materials—gems, herbs, small vials of liquid essence, and enchanted tools. Today’s lesson would be hands-on.

  Then she arrived.

  A mysterious woman, clad in dark robes embroidered with silver threads that seemed to shift like living ink, stepped into the room. Her long silver hair cascaded down her back, and her piercing violet eyes swept over the students with unreadable intensity.

  She said nothing at first. Instead, she raised her hand, and the room fell into an eerie silence.

  “Welcome,” she finally spoke, her voice smooth but commanding. “I am Professor Selene. Some of you will become great masters of transmutation. Some of you will fade into mediocrity. Your fate is yours to shape.”

  She moved to the floating blackboard, and with a flick of her wrist, arcane symbols formed in shimmering light.

  “Your first lesson,” she continued, “is to demonstrate your ability to transmute. Take the materials before you. I will not tell you what to create. I wish to see how you think. How you problem-solve. How you wield your gift.”

  A hushed murmur rippled through the class as the students hesitated, unsure where to begin.

  Then, slowly, they got to work.

  Ethan watched as Callan furrowed his brow, carefully grinding moonstone dust into a vial of liquid essence. His hands were steady, but the process was slow—too slow. It was clear Callan had knowledge but lacked the instinctive flow of transmutation.

  Ethan leaned in. “Try adding less pressure when you mix it,” he suggested. “You’re forcing it too much.”

  Callan blinked in surprise, then adjusted his grip. Almost instantly, the reaction stabilized.

  “Thanks,” he muttered, shaking his head. “I’ve studied this for years, but I never thought of that.”

  Meanwhile, Orin had a completely different problem.

  Where Callan lacked speed, Orin was too quick, too reckless.

  He had managed to convert a simple glass sphere into an icy blue gemstone, but moments later, it began to melt into liquid metal, seeping across his table.

  “Oops.” Orin scratched his head. “Guess I need to work on making these changes… permanent.”

  Ethan laughed. “At least you’re good at changing things. That’s something.”

  “I know, right?” Orin grinned. “I’m basically a genius! A chaotic one, but still.”

  But their lighthearted moment was soon interrupted.

  Across the room, a noble girl with long golden curls and piercing blue eyes smirked as she performed her transmutation flawlessly.

  Her name was Lysandra Vaelith, a high-ranking noble from a powerful family. She thrived on proving her superiority—and today was no different.

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  With a dramatic flourish of her hands, she infused a piece of raw iron with pure arcane energy, morphing it into a crystalline sword that pulsed with unstable energy.

  Gasps filled the room. Even Professor Selene’s eyes flickered with interest.

  But Ethan noticed something—the sword was unstable.

  Before anyone could react, the crystalline edges shattered, sending a sharp wave of energy.

  The moment the crystalline sword shattered, shards of volatile energy exploded outward. A wave of unstable arcane force rippled through the classroom, causing students to shield themselves or stumble back. Some gasped in shock, while others instinctively reached for protective spells.

  Ethan acted without thinking.

  With a swift motion, he extended his hand, channeling his Virgo aura into a controlled force. The greenish glow wrapped around the shards, slowing them midair before redirecting them into harmless dust that scattered across the floor.

  The room fell silent.

  Lysandra’s face paled, but she quickly masked it with anger and arrogance.

  “How dare you interfere?” she spat. “I had it under control!”

  Ethan narrowed his eyes. “Control? You nearly took someone’s head off.”

  A few students snickered.

  Lysandra’s cheeks flushed red. She turned sharply, flipping her golden curls over her shoulder. “You don’t belong here, commoner,” she sneered. “Just because you had one lucky moment doesn’t mean you’re equal to us.”

  Ethan felt a heat rise in his chest—not anger, but something deeper, more primal. The Leo inside him stirred, its presence like a smoldering ember.

  He stepped forward.

  “I don’t need to be ‘equal’ to you,” he said calmly, but there was an unmistakable authority in his voice. “I just need to be better.”

  A stunned silence filled the room. Even Lysandra faltered for a moment.

  A smirk twitched at Orin’s lips as he whispered, “Well, that’s one way to make an impression.”

  Callan simply sighed. “And make an enemy.”

  Professor Selene, who had remained silent during the exchange, finally spoke.

  “Enough.”

  Her voice was calm, yet it commanded absolute authority.

  She stepped forward, her violet gaze passing over both Ethan and Lysandra.

  “There is no ‘higher’ or ‘lower’ in this academy,” she said. “Only those who prove themselves.”

  She turned toward Ethan. “You acted fast, with skill. That is commendable.”

  Then, to Lysandra, “Your ambition is great, but recklessness will get you, and others, killed.”

  Lysandra clenched her jaw, but she gave a small nod.

  Professor Selene waved her hand, and the floating symbols on the blackboard shifted. “Class dismissed.”

  The students hesitated before gathering their things and heading toward the door. Some whispered about Ethan’s display of power. Others stole wary glances at Lysandra.

  As Ethan turned to leave, he noticed a few noble-born students murmuring among themselves, throwing judgmental glances in his direction. His presence here was not just an anomaly—it was an insult to them.

  Orin nudged Ethan. “You’ve really got a talent for making people either love you or want to destroy you, huh?”

  Ethan exhaled. His first day had barely begun, and he already had a target on his back.

  Meanwhile, in Another Class…

  Across the academy, in the House of Aries, Darius stood with his arms crossed, watching another student complete their test. His father’s words echoed in his mind.

  “You will be the strongest. Do not let anyone surpass you.”

  One of his peers, a cocky noble, leaned in. “Did you hear? Some commoner in the Virgo house put Lysandra in her place today.”

  Darius’ eyes flickered with interest, but he gave no outward reaction.

  The noble scoffed. “She must be furious. But, really, what can you expect from a house of crafters?”

  Darius remained silent, but his grip tightened slightly. He knew exactly who they were talking about.

  “Ethan…”

  After the intense first class, Ethan’s reputation among the commoners in the House of Virgo began to grow. His ability to stand up to the arrogant nobles, combined with his natural talent, made him someone to watch. Meanwhile, the noble students in Virgo took notice of him, some with curiosity, others with resentment.

  Later that day, the students were given their first assignment: crafting a small enchanted object using their house’s unique abilities. Ethan, already experimenting with his mastery-based power, began analyzing the ancient symbols he had studied. As he worked, he noticed his noble friend from earlier struggling with stabilizing his creation. Without hesitation, Ethan offered guidance, helping him adjust the flow of energy. This caught the attention of their mysterious teacher, who observed Ethan closely but said nothing.

  As the sun set, the students were dismissed to the dining hall, where all houses gathered. This was the first time Ethan saw students from the other houses up close, including Selene Moonshadow, the commoner prodigy from Cancer, and Gareth Ironwood, the strong but disciplined Aries student. Liora Ravenscroft, the noble from Aquarius, sat confidently among her peers, casting judgmental glances toward the Virgo table.

  Darius, from Aries, sat with his housemates, his expression unreadable as he watched Ethan interact with his new allies. His father’s disapproving words from earlier echoed in his mind. He clenched his fists, determination hardening in his gaze.

  As the night went on, whispers spread throughout the hall—some admired Ethan’s talent, others questioned how a late-bloomer commoner could be so gifted.

  The real trials were just beginning.

  Ethan and his friends made their way to the grand Virgo Hall, a massive chamber filled with historical artifacts, ancient texts, and enchanted relics showcasing the rich history of the House of Virgo. The atmosphere was serene, with soft glowing lights reflecting off the polished marble floors.

  Ethan’s roommate, Orion, whistled in awe. “This place is incredible! Imagine how much this stuff is worth. I bet if we sold just one of these artifacts, we could eat like kings for a year.”

  Callan chuckled at Orion antics. “Or… we could appreciate the history and knowledge preserved here instead of thinking about selling everything?”

  Ethan smirked at their banter but soon found himself captivated by the artifacts around him. Ancient scrolls floated in the air, their inscriptions shifting as if they were alive. Intricate tools and enchanted objects designed by Virgos of the past stood encased in glass, each holding a story of innovation.

  As they wandered further into the hall, Ethan’s eyes landed on a statue in the very center of the chamber. His breath caught in his throat.

  The statue was a perfect likeness of his sister.

  His heart pounded as he stepped closer, his mind racing. The flowing robes, the calm yet powerful expression, the slight tilt of her head—it was undeniably Sophia.

  “Who… who is this?” Ethan asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

  Orion glanced at him, then back at the statue. “That’s Virgo,” he said with reverence. “The celestial embodiment of our house. She represents mastery, wisdom, and the pursuit of perfection. Every Virgo aspires to walk in her footsteps.”

  Ethan’s mind reeled. It didn’t make sense. Why did this statue look exactly like his sister? Was it just a coincidence, or was there something deeper at play?

  Orion nudged him. “You okay, Ethan? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

  Ethan forced a weak smile, still staring at the statue. “Yeah… just surprised, that’s all.”

  But deep inside, he knew this wasn’t something he could ignore.