The dormitories of Shearer were spacious and built to last. Thick stone walls and polished wooden floors gave each room an almost fortress-like feel, though there was little in the way of luxury. Everything was practical, sturdy, and designed to endure.
Bright rays of sunlight streamed through the windows, gently rousing Levi from his sleep. Today was unlike any other. After years of wondering, he would finally learn about Aether.
He knew very little about it. In fact, discussing Aether was heavily discouraged among young trainees. Adults rarely spoke of it, and whenever they did, their words were always vague. The only thing Levi had ever managed to learn was that Aether was deeply influenced by a person's innate desires and personality.
He climbed out of bed, enjoyed a warm shower, and put on the neatly folded Shearer uniform waiting beside him. It consisted of a crisp white shirt, tailored black trousers, and a black blazer lined with a luxurious fur collar bearing the academy's silver emblem.
As soon as he stepped into the corridor, he spotted Mika leaning casually against the wall, already waiting.
"Wow, you woke up extremely early today. You must be excited to learn about Aether," Levi said.
"It's only natural to be excited, right?" Mika replied with a grin. "I've wanted to learn about it ever since I was a kid, but it was always treated like some hidden secret no one was allowed to talk about."
The two walked through the quiet corridors, chatting about training and whatever else came to mind. Most of the students had already left for the hall.
Levi and Mika simply enjoyed sleeping too much.
As they approached the academy's grand central hall, Levi found himself admiring the campus once again.
The entire place felt impossible.
Ancient stone towers stood alongside mechanisms that transported people effortlessly throughout the school. Massive buildings carried the elegance of civilizations long gone, yet possessed engineering far beyond anything Levi had ever seen.
'Who could build something like this? he wondered. A civilization? A genius? Or someone who mastered Aether beyond imagination?'
Moments later, they stepped into the enormous hall.
It was already filled with students.
Standing at the front was a tall, breathtakingly beautiful woman who appeared to be in her late twenties.
'Whoa...'
Levi found himself momentarily captivated.
Despite her warm smile, her presence carried the quiet menace of a lion resting before a hunt.
"Relax, tiger," Mika whispered with a smirk.
A moment later, the woman faced the sea of students.
"Looks like everybody is present."
Though she spoke normally, her voice echoed effortlessly throughout the vast hall.
'She must be using Aether to amplify her voice.'
"I believe you're all aware of what you'll be learning today, so there's little need for lengthy introductions."
'She must be the principal.'
Without warning, her calm demeanor melted into a bright, welcoming smile.
"The new talents that shine with limitless potential stand before me once again. From all seven continents, rough gems have arrived to be polished."
She paused, her smile widening.
"For that... I am truly grateful."
Levi blinked.
'That mood changed fast.'
Judging by the expressions around him, everyone else had noticed it too.
"I know your teachers and mentors have deliberately avoided teaching you about Aether."
Her expression became serious once more.
"So I shall have the honor."
The hall became completely silent.
"Aether is the force that remained—no, the force that grew stronger—after the disappearance of the sun."
She slowly raised three fingers.
"It manifests through three fundamental principles."
"Creation."
"Preservation."
"And Destruction."
"Every individual possesses one of these principles, shaped by the deepest parts of their personality and the desires that define them."
Levi listened without blinking.
"Those who manifest Creation gain the ability to bring into existence that which did not previously exist."
"The possibilities are nearly endless."
She smiled.
"But if your goal is strength, do not spread your efforts across countless creations. Master one path before pursuing another."
She raised a second finger.
"Those who manifest Preservation gain the ability to alter what already exists."
"They are often gentle, patient, and compassionate."
Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
"But should you earn their wrath..."
"...they can become more terrifying than any beast."
'Is she describing herself?' Levi wondered.
Finally, she raised her third finger.
"Those who manifest Destruction possess the ability to erase anything that exists... or could exist."
"There is a widespread belief that those blessed with this principle are naturally violent."
She shook her head.
"That belief is born from ignorance."
Mika leaned closer.
"What principle do you think you'll get?"
Levi opened his mouth—
—but the principal continued before he could answer.
"However..."
Her voice turned cold enough to freeze the atmosphere.
"When manifesting your principle..."
"...never force your body beyond what it can withstand."
Silence filled the hall.
"Now..."
"Without further delay..."
"I will teach you how to awaken the power that resides within every living being."
Levi's heart pounded.
'Finally... I've waited my entire life for this.'
"Sit in the lotus position."
Hundreds of students obeyed.
"Close your eyes."
Levi did.
"Ignore everything around you."
"Ignore every sound."
"Ignore every distraction."
"Breathe."
His heartbeat slowed.
The chatter of hundreds of students gradually disappeared.
The sensation of the stone floor beneath him faded.
Even the feeling of his own body dissolved.
Until...
Everything became silent.
...
Whoa...
What is this place?
Levi stood upon an endless landscape swallowed by darkness.
High above floated a dim, sun-like sphere that barely illuminated the world below.
Its pale light stretched only far enough to reveal the barren wasteland surrounding him.
'That thing's incredibly dim.'
His gaze dropped.
The ground beneath his feet was fractured beyond recognition.
Countless cracks stretched endlessly across the earth, each one pulsing with blue-white lightning as though the land itself were barely holding together.
Then...
Levi looked into the distance.
His breathing stopped.
Far beyond the fractured plains stood something so enormous that, for a moment, he mistook it for a mountain.
Its silhouette towered over the landscape, silently watching.
Levi's eyes widened.
"What..."
"...is that?"