The towering gates of Alderon Academy loomed ahead, their ancient carvings glinting in the morning sun. Students buzzed with excitement, some nervously clutching their bags while others chattered eagerly about their futures. Among them was a young boy, his silver hair shimmering in the light, his violet eyes scanning the crowd with quiet confidence.
Caden Vernhart, the youngest son of Duke Vernhart, stepped through the academy’s gates without hesitation. His family had been renowned for their magical prowess for generations, yet no one expected much from the youngest son, who had always remained hidden in the shadow of his older siblings. However, Caden’s talents were anything but ordinary.
As Caden walked through the bustling courtyard, he overheard the whispers.
"Isn’t that the Duke's youngest son?"
"Yeah, but they say he’s the weakest of the family. His brothers are the real geniuses."
"Why is he even here? He’ll never live up to the Vernhart name."
Caden's lips curled into a small smile. Let them talk. They’ll see soon enough.
The academy's vast entrance hall was filled with students lining up for the Sorting Ceremony, where each would be placed into one of three houses: Ignis for fire magic, Ventus for wind magic, and Terra for earth magic. Caden stood in line, patiently waiting for his turn.
“Next, Caden Vernhart!” The headmaster’s voice echoed through the hall. The crowd hushed, turning to watch the duke’s son.
Caden stepped forward and placed his hand on the glowing crystal that would determine his magical affinity. His heart raced, not with nervousness, but with anticipation.
A brilliant light engulfed the hall as the crystal flickered, shifting through all colors of magic. The crowd gasped in shock, for no student had ever made the crystal react this way. The headmaster, an elderly man with a long beard, leaned forward in disbelief.
“What… what is this?” he muttered.
Caden remained calm, his violet eyes watching the light dance. He could feel it — the magic inside him was too strong for the crystal to handle. Finally, the light settled into a brilliant, blinding white.
“Impossible!” one of the teachers exclaimed. “No one possesses all elemental affinities!”
The hall erupted into chaos as students and teachers alike murmured among themselves. Caden remained silent, stepping back as the headmaster rose to his feet.
“Silence!” The headmaster’s voice cut through the noise. His eyes focused on Caden. “Young Vernhart, step forward.”
Caden did as he was told, meeting the headmaster’s gaze without flinching.
“You… you possess affinities for all the elements,” the headmaster said, his voice trembling slightly. “This has never happened in the history of Alderon Academy. What do you have to say for yourself?”
Caden tilted his head slightly, a faint smile on his lips. “I believe it’s only the beginning, Headmaster.”
The headmaster blinked in surprise, clearly taken aback by Caden’s calmness. “Very well,” he said after a moment, regaining his composure. “You will be placed in Ventus, the house of wind magic, as a starting point. But we will be watching your progress closely.”
As Caden turned to leave, the whispers around him grew louder.
“A prodigy?”
“No way. That can’t be right.”
“How did someone like him hide such power?”
Caden ignored the comments, walking towards the Ventus quarters. He had no interest in proving himself to anyone. The only thing that mattered was mastering his power. But he knew that this was just the beginning. His true goal lay far beyond the walls of the academy.
As he entered the Ventus dormitory, a group of students approached him. The leader, a tall boy with sandy blonde hair and a sharp smirk, blocked his path.
“So, you’re the new ‘genius’ everyone’s talking about,” the boy sneered. “I’m Darren, top student of Ventus. I’ll make sure you know your place.”
Caden met Darren’s gaze, unphased by the threat. “And what place would that be?”
Darren’s smirk faltered for a second, but he quickly recovered. “Below me, of course. You may have impressed the headmaster, but around here, we don’t care about titles.”
Caden raised an eyebrow. “Titles? I wasn’t aware that being ‘top student’ was a title worth caring about.”
Darren’s face reddened with anger, and a spark of magic flickered in his hand. “You think you’re funny? Let’s see how funny you are after I—”
Before Darren could finish, Caden’s hand shot up, and a gust of wind erupted from his palm, sending Darren stumbling back. The crowd gasped as Caden stood calmly, his hand still raised.
“I don’t have time for this,” Caden said softly. “If you want to challenge me, at least make it worth my while.”
Darren’s eyes widened in shock, but before he could respond, the dormitory door opened, and a stern-looking professor entered.
“What’s going on here?” the professor demanded. His eyes narrowed on Darren. “Starting trouble again, Darren?”
Darren quickly dropped his hand, the spark of magic disappearing. “N-no, Professor, just welcoming the new student.”
The professor turned his attention to Caden. “You must be Caden Vernhart. I’ve heard about your display at the Sorting Ceremony. Try not to cause any more commotion.”
Caden nodded. “Understood.”
As the professor walked away, Darren shot Caden a glare before retreating with his group of friends. Caden sighed, making his way to his room.
Alone at last, he sat by the window, gazing out at the academy’s sprawling grounds. He knew this would not be the last challenge he faced. But he welcomed it. His true strength was yet to be revealed, and when it was, no one would be able to stop him.
For now, though, he would play along, learning what he could from the academy. After all, even a genius needed to start somewhere.