Chapter 4 Threads of Fire and Starlight

Zane

“I am a normal college student. Normal college student. I am not going to stand out. I am not going to stand out.”

My thoughts hiccuped as I walked through the grounds of the Academy. What a manifgnact place. And this was just the landing area, where kids got dropped off and picked up. Groups of students were already moving together as upper classmen directed freshman to various places, dorms, orientation halls, student aid. It was a mess of exictement yelling and craziness.

The whole thing was Insane really.

I walked trying to remain unnoticed, but saw a girl, probably an upper classman, looking at me, many people around her.

She was maybe five feet tall though it was hard to tell in the heels she was wearing, draped in pink silk and mana-thread bows. Her curls shimmered like spun rose-gold sugar. Her uniform had been tailored—tightly. Every line of her blazer, every inch of enchanted heel, demanded attention. Her smile looked like it had been practiced in front of three mirrors and a mana influencer.

Pretty girl. Like really pretty.

She smiled at me. I had to look back over my shoulder. Strange. Pretty girls don’t smile at me. I am boring.

Commotion and distraction came as the air shifted—like the city itself had paused to inhale.

A hush rippled through the crowd.

Above them, a formation of sleek skycars descended from the upper layers of the capital’s leytrack, their engines humming in harmonious synchronization, like tuned instruments in a symphony. They moved in perfect formation—precision without effort, power without noise.

At the center of the fleet, a vessel unlike the others glided into position.

Obsidian-black and trimmed in deep violet, its frame shimmered with subtle spelllight, every line of its design whispering wealth and authority. It rotated once mid-air, just enough to catch the rising sun and scatter prismatic reflections across the courtyard, before descending with impossible grace.

It didn’t land.

It settled.

And then the door opened.

She stepped out like light spilling into the world.

Aurelia Vael Taranis.

Oh. Damn. Seriously?

Aurelia Vael Taranis. Here? Like right now. Wow. Her robes moved like living silk, tailored mana-thread catching the wind in waves. Her hair, pinned in a high twist laced with silver and stormglass, gleamed faintly under the morning sky. But what drew every eye, what made the crowd part before her without a word, were the wings.

Iridescent and spectral, the magic of her house manifested in twin arcs of glowing energy—like the suggestion of wings rather than physical ones, carved from light and pressure, humming with barely contained power.

The Taranis Crest glowed at her collarbone.

The flowed to the ground. I swear it was like watching something in slow motion.

And the moment she stepped forward, the crowd instinctively cleared a path—not out of fear.

But out of reverence.

A young man, clutching a bouquet of enchanted flowers, stepped forward hesitantly. "Lady Aurelia," he began, his voice wavering, "I've admired you from afar. Please accept these as a token of my affection."

Aurelia's expression softened, a gentle smile gracing her lips. "Thank you," she replied, her voice melodic. "Your gesture is truly appreciated."

She accepted the flowers with grace, her demeanor radiating warmth and kindness. Yet, beneath her serene exterior, a calculated mind assessed every detail, every potential threat.

As she continued her procession, her gaze swept over the crowd, and for a split second, locked with mine. A jolt, sharp and unexpected, coursed through me, like my mana had suddenly resonated with hers. My senses heightened, picking up the subtle hum of her power, the faint scent of ozone clinging to her robes. Then, just as quickly, her eyes moved on, and the moment was gone.

"Zane!" a familiar voice called out, breaking the trance. I turned to see my friends approaching: Kael, with his ever-present grin; Elaine, her eyes sharp and inquisitive; and Mira, who offered a shy smile, her cheeks tinged with pink.

"You won't believe who just arrived," Kael said, excitement evident in his voice.

"Aurelia Vael Taranis," Elaine added, her tone a mix of awe and skepticism. "She's even more impressive in person."

Mira nodded, her gaze flickering between me and the direction Aurelia had gone. "Did you see her wings? They were... breathtaking."

I offered a noncommittal shrug, my thoughts still lingering on the brief connection I felt. My friends chatted animatedly, but I remained somewhat detached, the weight of my responsibilities ever-present.

"You okay, Zane?" Mira asked, her voice gentle.

I nodded, forcing a smile. "Yeah, just a lot on my mind."

We continued toward the university, the grandeur of the campus contrasting sharply with the modest life I led. As we walked, whispers about Aurelia's arrival buzzed around us, but I remained silent, my thoughts already on the deliveries I would need to make later.

The orientation hall buzzed with anticipation as students settled into their seats. I, accompanied by Kael and Elaine, found a spot near the back. The holographic display at the front shimmered, preparing to project the university's welcome message.

As the auditorium lights dimmed for orientation, my wrist console gave a subtle pulse. I glanced down at the flickering mana screen.

PrincessFlyer: “You said today was your first day. Did you make it? Hopefully no one’s trying to bully you already.”

A smirk tugged at the corner of my mouth.

I typed back with one hand, the other resting casually on my leg.

SwordWannabe: “Yeah. Just waiting for orientation to start. There was a whole scene at the front gate. Some noble descended in a skycar formation like she was royalty. Very dramatic. Pretty sure half the school’s still talking about it.”

Their conversation had started in a realm known as the "Sword Master's Sanctum," a magically conjured space accessible only to those attuned to its unique frequency. Within this realm, enthusiasts and scholars gathered to discuss the elusive Sword Master's Manuscript—a legendary text said to contain techniques so powerful they could shift the balance of power in any conflict. Rumors claimed that fragments of the manuscript were hidden within various realms, waiting to be discovered by someone worthy.

Kael leaned over, catching a glimpse of my screen. "Is that your mysterious realm buddy again? What's her name—PrincessFlyer?"

Elaine smirked, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Sounds like someone has a magical admirer."

Mira's expression shifted subtly, her smile faltering for a brief moment. "You two seem to spend a lot of time in that realm," she remarked, her tone light but tinged with something else.

I shrugged, trying to deflect. "It's just a hobby. Nothing serious."

Kael nudged me playfully. "Sure, sure. Just don't get too lost in the realms and forget about us."

Elaine added, "Maybe we should join you in the realm sometime. See what all the fuss is about."

Mira nodded, her gaze lingering on me. "Yeah, maybe we can all explore together."

I forced a smile, the weight of my responsibilities pressing down on me. I had always kept my realm activities separate, a sanctuary from the complexities of my real life. Now, that boundary was blurring.

The orientation speaker droned on, talking about “unity through magical integration” and the “ethics of interfacing,” but my attention was nowhere near the stage.

Another message pulsed across my interface.

PrincessFlyer: Wait. That girl who descended in the obsidian ship… that was Aurelia Vael Taranis, wasn’t it?

I rolled my eyes and typed with one hand beneath the desk.

Swordwannbe: Yep. Big-shot heiress. It’s so strange to see celebrities in real life.

I didn’t expect the response to come instantly, but it did.

PrincessFlyer: Ha! You tried to play it off like you were from somewhere “small.” I knew it. I KNEW you lived in The Capital. You’re here. You’re totally here and you totally go to my University. You might as well just confess who you are and agree to be my slave.

I exhaled through my nose, lips tugging into a lopsided grimace.

Swordwannabe: What a strange thing to say. I never actually said I wasn’t a student here. You just assume too much. Not like it was a hard guess, genius. Beat me first before you talk about slave work. And remember—strictly professional. No personal stuff. That was the rule.

The message dots pulsed again.

PrincessFlyer: Totally professional. Just two sword nerds trading lethal techniques in a demiplane of honor and steel. While we flirt shamelessly.

SwordWannabe: When have I ever flirted with you?

PrincessFlyer: Please. I know what I look like. And the Avatar engine doesn’t allow false renders even if its not my true face. Don’t pretend you haven’t checked me out once or twice. You’re clearly a leg man. It’s fine. Honestly? Flattering.

SwordWannabe: You’ve been breathing in too much ether dust and I am butt man if you must know.

PrincessFlyer: Sure you are. Now uou’re just being stubborn. But hey—maybe we should meet. Just once. Say hi. Professionally, of course.

My fingers hovered over the reply field.

I knew exactly what she was doing—pressing just enough. A challenge wrapped in silk and sarcasm. The kind of message that danced the line between casual and curious.

And maybe… she wasn’t wrong.

Because part of me?

Yeah. I wanted to say yes.

Still…

SwordWannabe: I don’t think that’s a good idea. Not a good idea.

The response took only seconds.

PrincessFlyer: Why not?

SwordWannabe: Because if we meet, it changes things. I’ve got too much going on outside the realm. You wouldn’t get it.

There was a pause.

Long enough for me to think maybe that was the end of it.

Then a soft pulse from my console—not a message, but an image attachment.

I stared at it.

Hesitated.

Then opened it.

It was a picture.

Her legs—stockings, crossed, just enough of a velvet-trimmed academy skirt in frame to be suggestive, without giving away anything explicit. The angle was playful. Bold. Daring me to react.

A caption hovered beneath it.

PrincessFlyer:“You sure? I’m very professional.”

I blinked.

Then sat back in my chair and muttered under my breath.

“Amazing.”

I wasn’t exactly girl crazy.But I noticed a beautiful woman as much as the next hot-blooded man, and if those legs belonged to PrincessFlyer—gods help me.

The avatar was one thing. Real life was another. Clearly, she was a pretty one.

PrincessFlyer: Still strictly professional?

My ears lit up like I’d been tagged by a fire glyph. I swiped the interface away fast, casting a quick glance around the room.

Kael was still nose-deep in his phone, half-laughing at something no one else could hear.

Elaine, as always, was scribbling notes in that slow, deliberate hand of hers.

But Mira—Mira was watching.

Eyes narrowed. Head tilted.

She knew me too well.

“You good?” she asked, voice low.

“Fine,” I muttered, dragging my hood over my head. “Just… distracted.”

At the front of the hall, the orientation drone finished its welcome address, projection flickering as it looped through its scripted conclusion.

“Welcome to The Nine Pillars. May your time here be… transformative.”

I slouched deeper into my seat.

Transformative.

Yeah. That was one word for it.