The sun rose red again.
A grim omen beneath the lingering Hunter's Moon—a phenomenon most instructors dismissed as an inconvenient mana cycle anomaly. But to the gathered students of the Mysterious Academy, it felt like the sky itself was bleeding.
And above them all, seated in his quiet observation box with his tea and unreadable expression, was Aaron Aetherwyn.
The man who had, in the span of one day, been promoted from unknown junior professor… to whispered god of judgment.
---
1. Rumors: Day Two
Inside the candidates' rest chamber, the air was thick with silence and fear. Only whispers moved.
> "Did you hear? He nodded yesterday at the red-haired swordsman. That kid fainted immediately after."
"A girl blinked wrong and he looked at her—just once. She's in the infirmary now with mana reflux."
"He drank tea… tea! That's a known alchemy catalyst. He's brewing something—inside himself!"
Axel Myrravelle sat in a corner, huddled in a cloak too big for him, scribbling into his notebook.
> Theory #37: Aaron Aetherwyn is a sleeping divine weapon sent to test humanity's worth.
Theory #38: If I survive all rounds, he may recruit me as his underling.
Theory #39: Avoid eye contact. Offer snacks if approached.
He circled theory #39 five times.
Across the room, Kirin Zecht sat cross-legged, muttering a silent focus chant. But his breathing was shallower than yesterday. Even Velis Noxen, the cold strategist, repeatedly glanced at the high balcony.
No one dared say Aaron's name aloud anymore.
They called him "The Professor". Just that. As if saying more might summon him.
---
2. The First Match – The Flame Duelist
The first match of the day featured Saria Vonn, a noble girl from the Emberveil region. Known for her flashy spellwork and dramatics, she stepped into the combat arena in a blaze of embroidered crimson robes, confident and ready.
"I will show him," she whispered to herself. "I will prove I'm worthy of his gaze!"
The instructors looked at each other.
"Oh no," Nova sighed.
Lily, already annoyed, folded her arms. "Another idiot trying to impress him."
Aaron took a slow sip of tea.
The bell chimed. The beast opponent—a thick-furred obsidian bear with mana-resistant hide—snarled into the ring.
Saria smirked. "Perfect stage."
What followed was a dazzling storm of fire sigils, floating glyphs, spiraling incantations, and even a few unnecessary dance steps mid-spellcasting.
Aaron, confused, tilted his head.
Is she… trying to perform?
He blinked slowly.
In the audience, a nearby student gasped. "He's analyzing her weaknesses. She's doomed."
Saria launched her final spell—Flame Waltz of Twin Phoenixes. The temperature in the arena surged. The bear howled. The crowd winced.
And Aaron frowned.
He frowned because the spell had a slight mana imbalance—her right glyph was misaligned by two degrees.
Saria saw his frown.
She froze.
Mid-spell.
Mana backfired.
The phoenix exploded—on herself.
She collapsed in a smoking heap, hair frizzed out like a struck bush.
"Match ended!" barked the announcer. "Candidate Saria Vonn is disqualified due to spell misfire."
As she was carried off by the medical team, Saria sobbed:
"I just wanted him to look at me approvingly…"
Aaron blinked. "She's very dramatic."
Nova leaned over, whispering with a grin, "Congratulations. You've traumatized another one."
"I haven't done anything," Aaron muttered, baffled.
"That's the problem," Lily said flatly. "It's scarier because of that."
---
3. A Gentle Nudge… That Terrifies Everyone
The next match involved a younger student—Rye Grell, one of the better-ranked commoners. He faced a pair of scaled wolves, nimble and fast.
His foot caught on a mana-crack mid-duel. He began to fall toward a jagged edge of summoned stone.
Aaron, ever-helpful, raised a finger.
Flick.
A gentle breeze shot forth, barely visible—meant only to steady the boy's footing.
Instead?
The breeze shattered the stone formation behind Rye, causing a chain reaction of collapsing pillars. Spectators screamed.
Rye spun mid-air, landed perfectly, and finished the match.
Everyone stared at him in stunned silence.
He trembled, turned to the viewing deck, and bowed so deeply he nearly fell again.
"THANK YOU, PROFESSOR!" he shouted. "PLEASE DON'T PUNISH ME!"
Aaron blinked. "Huh?"
Kaelen, standing near Nova, murmured, "His control is improving. Or deteriorating. Hard to tell which."
---
4. Lily Intervenes (Again)
As the arena was reset, Lily stormed over to Aaron's seat.
"Stop scaring them."
"I didn't say anything this time," he protested.
"That's worse."
Aaron blinked. "I'm being quiet."
"To them, that means you're charging a spell big enough to end the continent."
Aaron looked genuinely distressed. "I'm just watching the matches…"
"And your face makes it look like you're calculating their demise."
Nova giggled nearby. "I told you he has the 'Divine Executioner' expression."
Aaron sighed, defeated. "I'll try smiling more?"
"No—No gods, don't do that!" Lily warned.
Too late.
Aaron smiled kindly at a random student below.
The student fainted.
---
5. Axel's Trial Begins
"Next: Candidate Axel Myrravelle," came the announcement.
Axel flinched like someone had just pulled his soul out through his spine.
He stood up. Slowly. Shakily.
He marched toward the arena like a man on his way to execution.
"I can do this," he muttered. "I'm the Chosen One in the original story… right?"
He entered the arena.
His opponent: a mana-infused ironhide lion, glistening with natural armor.
Axel swallowed his fear, pulled out his wand, and began casting. Fire danced around his feet. Ice circled his wrist. His technique was clean, but his hands trembled.
He dodged, parried, countered with decent form. A slash to the beast's paw. A freezing trap. A decent lightning jab.
And then—he looked up.
Aaron was watching.
Their eyes met.
Axel dropped his wand.
He fell to his knees.
"I SURRENDER! I SEEK FORGIVENESS, MASTER AARON! PLEASE—ACCEPT ME AS YOUR DISCIPLE!"
Silence.
Utter silence.
Even the lion blinked in confusion.
Aaron's tea halted mid-sip. "...Eh?"
Nova burst into laughter. Lily groaned and covered her face.
---
The silence after Axel's outburst was so heavy it could have flattened a mountain.
The lion beast, now unsure whether it was supposed to attack or bow, slowly backed into a corner of the arena and sat down.
The instructors in the upper seats blinked in disbelief. Some exchanged confused glances. A few wrote notes like:
> "Candidate displays… humility?"
"Possibly attempting early internship route?"
"Trauma-induced loyalty?"
But one thing was clear to everyone watching:
Axel Myrravelle had just surrendered not to his opponent—but to Aaron Aetherwyn.
---
1. Aaron's Genuine Confusion
Aaron, still holding his cup, slowly lowered it.
"I… don't teach combat," he said aloud, unsure who exactly he was addressing.
Axel raised his hands above his head like a captured criminal. "I know! But please accept my loyalty regardless! I'll polish your shoes! Sharpen your quills! Feed your familiars!"
"I don't have any familiars."
"I'll summon one for you!"
"...Why would you do that?"
Axel's lips trembled. "So you don't vaporize me later."
Aaron gave a long, baffled stare.
Lily whispered beside him, "Just nod."
"Huh?"
"Just nod. It'll calm him down."
Aaron reluctantly nodded once.
Axel collapsed in relief, muttering something about 'divine forgiveness' and 'I am saved.'
The crowd went wild—with fear, not awe.
From above, Kaelen Raventhorn stared at the scene with narrowed eyes. "He surrendered to the professor's presence alone. No contact, no spell. Just... existence."
Nova, giggling beside him, whispered, "He has that effect."
---
2. New Rumors Begin Immediately
Before the next match could even begin, rumors had already started to circulate like wildfire in the student sections:
> "Did you see that? Aaron Aetherwyn accepts servants now."
"You don't even have to pass the match. Just kneel and beg."
"I heard if you make direct eye contact, your family's curse activates unless you pledge fealty."
By the time the next candidate was summoned, ten students had already begun practicing their kneeling form in the waiting area.
One was drafting an oath of allegiance.
---
3. Match Three – A Candidate's Plan Backfires
The next student to fight was Velis Noxen, the calculated prodigy of House Noxen. Known for his intelligence and perfect mana ratios, Velis had no intention of showing off or kneeling.
He entered the arena with cold eyes and calm breaths.
Opponent: A six-legged stone panther with camouflage magic.
Velis prepared with strategic layering spells: traps, counters, predictive formations.
And it was working.
His every move was calculated to minimize movement, maximize mana efficiency, and control the field.
Then came the mistake.
Velis glanced—just once—toward the viewing deck.
Aaron was watching him.
With his usual blank expression.
Velis hesitated.
Only for a second.
The panther struck, almost landing a critical blow.
Velis recovered and finished the battle—but barely.
When he exited the arena, he walked past the medical booth and straight into a corner.
"I need a different career," he muttered. "Maybe potion-making. Or farming."
---
4. Aaron Reflects (and Misunderstands Again)
Aaron leaned back slightly in his seat.
"These kids really crumble under pressure," he said softly.
"They're crumbling under your pressure," Lily snapped.
Aaron blinked. "Me?"
"You have a face like you're calculating how much mana it'd take to erase their bloodline."
"I'm thinking about my next snack."
"That doesn't help."
Nova, sipping wine nearby, added, "To be fair, your snack thoughts do look intense."
Aaron lowered his head to his hands. "Maybe I should wear a mask…"
Lily's eyes widened. "No. Absolutely not. That would make it worse."
Kaelen nodded from the shadows. "Yes. Then you'd be masked judgment incarnate."
Aaron groaned.
---
5. Final Match of the Day – A Surprise Duel
The last match of the day was supposed to be a standard pairing.
But a mana surge in the arena caused a slight change.
Two beasts entered instead of one—an accident, caused by corrupted summoning glyphs.
The instructors were about to step in—until Aaron raised a hand slightly.
Everyone froze.
"Let's see how the candidate adapts," he said calmly.
The student below—an average-ranked boy—stared up in horror.
"P-please… no extra challenge…"
Aaron leaned forward slightly, interested.
The student screamed, activated every scroll in his inventory, and launched a barrage of half-coordinated spells.
Somehow—miraculously—he succeeded.
The crowd erupted in confused cheers.
Aaron nodded slowly.
Another student fainted from the upper stands.
---
6. Closing Moments
As the trials closed for the day, the students were ushered back into the rest halls.
The instructors gathered their notes.
Lily and Nova walked side by side, both amused and tired.
"He's not doing anything on purpose," Lily muttered, "but it's going to cause a wave of obsessed worshippers and broken egos."
Nova smiled. "And here I thought this year would be boring."
Kaelen trailed behind them, eyeing Aaron from a distance.
"That man…" Kaelen whispered to himself. "I don't know where he came from. But if even a fraction of these reactions are genuine, then…"
He stopped walking.
"...he's not here to teach. He's here to test the world."
Back in his room, Aaron sneezed.
"Huh. Weird. Must be dusty."
---
---
As dusk settled over the spires of the Mysterious Academy, the combat grounds were bathed in a golden hue, yet the tension in the air was suffocating.
Candidates had begun to fear not their opponents—but the idea of being observed by Aaron Aetherwyn.
The students in the staging area watched with widened eyes as a new name was called.
"Saria Vonn."
A young girl with shoulder-length silver hair and calm eyes walked into the arena, her breathing steady and face unreadable. She wore no extravagant robes nor obvious magical tools. Just a single pendant and plain leather gloves.
From the viewing deck, Lily arched a brow. "The Vonn girl… interesting. She doesn't look nervous."
Aaron squinted. "Have I seen her before?"
"You probably don't remember, but she was in the top ten written scores. Her family's not noble, but her elemental control is apparently exceptional."
Saria stepped into the center, facing a serpentine flame wyrm summoned as her opponent. The crowd gasped—the creature stood three times her height, radiating blistering heat with each breath.
Still, Saria didn't flinch. She closed her eyes, extended one palm, and whispered a single word.
The flames from the wyrm's breath twisted midair and curved harmlessly away from her body, forming a spiral of harmless embers.
Gasps rang out from the instructor stands.
"She's redirecting elemental intent," murmured one professor. "She's using the ambient mana, not just her own."
Kaelen muttered, "A born harmonizer. Rare."
Aaron nodded in vague appreciation. "That's useful for… gardens?"
Lily let out a sigh that was more like a hiss. "No, for battle! Gardens?!"
The wyrm lunged, fangs glowing.
Saria didn't dodge.
She stood still.
Then, at the very last moment, the wyrm twisted away in midair and slammed into the ground beside her, stunned.
She had done nothing visible—but the mana pressure around her had subtly shifted the creature's trajectory.
Even Aaron blinked.
"I… don't think she's trying to win with strength," he said. "She's reading the beast's instincts."
"She's taming them," Lily said softly, eyes narrowing. "That's not normal. She's either extremely talented… or extremely dangerous."
The wyrm collapsed, no longer aggressive.
Saria lowered her hand, bowed once to the watching instructors, and walked off the field.
No showboating. No speech. No fear.
Just perfect control.
Axel, watching from the sidelines, gritted his teeth.
He glanced up toward the viewing deck—and flinched.
Aaron was watching again.
Axel stiffened immediately, then began scribbling something in his notebook.
When a nearby candidate peeked, it read: "Ten strategies to survive Professor Aetherwyn's wrath."
"Number one," Axel whispered to himself, "Avoid eye contact. Number two… bring offerings."
The instructors began deliberating final scores for the day, while Nova stood and stretched.
"That girl's going into the top bracket," she said, smiling faintly. "Which means we may see her again in the finals. That'll be fun."
Lily crossed her arms. "She's good. Too good."
Aaron leaned over. "Should I be worried?"
"You?" Lily scoffed. "No. She should."
As the crowd started to thin, Aaron remained seated for a while, watching the combat field being cleared.
He noticed something odd.
The shadows in the arena weren't dispersing evenly. One corner remained darker than the rest.
Before he could comment, a voice behind him called.
"Professor Aetherwyn."
Aaron turned to see a nervous assistant bowing deeply.
"The Headmistress requests your presence for tomorrow's assignments. And… she mentioned something about your formal robe measurements."
He frowned. "Robe measurements? I thought we already—"
"She said you'd understand."
Aaron stood, nodding, and followed the assistant. As he left, dozens of candidates bowed in his direction—even the ones who had already passed.
One boy tripped over his own feet from bowing too fast.
Another nearly fainted when Aaron gave a casual wave.
Back in the instructor's tower, Kaelen stood in the shadows, deep in thought.
The trials were progressing. The students were being tested. Fear and respect were being cultivated.
But the true anomaly—the one the world wasn't ready for—wasn't among the students.
He was teaching them.
And no one, not even Aaron Aetherwyn himself, had begun to grasp what that meant.
Not yet.
---
End of Chapter 34