Magic in Anterthon: The Awakening Fire

As Kenneth walked into the classroom, he took in the sight—a room that could have been pulled straight from a fantasy novel. The medieval décor, with its wooden desks and arched window, gave the room a timeless feel. Seated in one of the chair was a blond-haired young man, reading intently.

Aine gestured to him. "Lucian, we brought the successor of Fireon," she said, her voice lively. "Kenneth, meet Lucian, the successor of Luminel. He’s the one who will inherit the Ultimate Light."

Kenneth nodded politely. "Nice to meet you."

Lucian glanced up briefly, his expression unreadable, before returning his attention to the pages of his book. There was something about his demeanor that suggested he was taken aback, but Kenneth couldn’t quite place it.

Aine scratched the back of her head with an awkward smile. "He’s new to our class too, so he’s still getting used to things. Don’t take it personally."

Kenneth felt a mix of curiosity and caution as he observed Lucian. The atmosphere felt charged, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more beneath the surface of this encounter.

He shrugged and made his way to his seat. But just as he sat down, Rika, Ash, and Aine quickly surrounded him.

"So, how did you become the successor of Fireon?" Rika asked, her tone curious but serious.

Kenneth hesitated, then gave a thoughtful answer. "Honestly, it all happened by accident. I awakened something, and before I knew it, I was pulled into all of this"

Trying to shift the attention away from himself, Kenneth quickly turned the question back to them. "But I didn’t know you guys were successors too. That's quite the surprise."

Rika and Ash exchanged uneasy glances and avoided his gaze.

"There are some things that have to be kept secret, especially when living in the mortal world," Ash said with a slight sigh.

"Yeah," Kenneth nodded. "Though, it's interesting. How is it that I know about Lucian and Eumie—I mean Aine's families before knowing about yours?"

"How did you know Aine’s—well, never mind," Rika started but quickly shifted. "I’m from the Maridian family, water Wizards, and Ash is from the Gairos family, earth Wizards."

Ash looked impressed, eyeing Kenneth. "Wow, I didn’t expect that. Especially not from someone I know. And to think, President becomes the successor of Fireon."

"Don’t call me 'President' now," Kenneth said with a light laugh, shaking his head. "That was back in the mortal world, and things are different now."

“By the way, has the position of Fireon successor always been empty?” Kenneth asked, curiosity tugging at his thoughts.

Aine chimed in, crossing her arms with a slight frown. “Well, after Fireon’s downfall, it’s like they disappeared overnight. No one’s heard from them for years. Some of their retainers either joined other families or just vanished. There are even rumors they took on new identities.”

Aine’s voice dropped conspiratorially. “Some say the emperor himself might’ve had something to do with it. Maybe to protect the bloodline.”

Rika gasped, leaning forward, her eyes gleaming with intrigue. “Wait… don’t tell me. Are you the secret son of the Fire Guardian?”

Ash’s eyes widened in surprise. “I heard the Fire Guardian had a son before everything went quiet. Was that you?”

Kenneth quickly shook his head, feeling the weight of their curiosity pressing in. “No, no, it’s true the Fire Guardian had a son, but it wasn’t me.”

He hesitated, his thoughts drifting to Joash—the rightful heir of Fireon, the one who should have held this role. Guilt gnawed at him.

Rika’s eyes widened in sudden realization, her voice dropping to a whisper. “Are you… the son from outside the family?”

Both Ash and Aine stared at her in shock, their expressions mirroring Kenneth’s internal confusion.

He hesitated for a moment, glancing at Rika. The memory of her visiting his apartment floated to the surface of his mind, offering a strange sense of both comfort and confusion.

“Rika, you’ve met my parents before,” Kenneth said, his voice quieter now, as if he was trying to piece together a puzzle in real-time. “You know I’m not some long-lost son of the Fireon family. I look just like my dad.”

Rika blinked, her expression softening. “Yeah, I did meet them. When I visited your apartment last year, I remember thinking how much you resemble your father. There’s no way you’re from some hidden Fireon bloodline.”

Kenneth sighed, relieved that she remembered, but still unable to shake the larger mystery. “Exactly. But… then why me? How could I have awakened the Ultimate Fire if I’m not part of the Fireon family?”

Ash leaned back, scratching his head. “That’s the strange part, isn’t it? There’s gotta be more to this”

Aine tilted her head thoughtfully. “Or maybe it’s not about bloodline at all. Maybe the it chose you for another reason.”

Rika looked at Kenneth with concern. “Are you sure your parents didn’t keep something from you? I know it sounds far-fetched, but… what if there’s more to your family than you know?”

Kenneth shook his head firmly. “I’ve thought about that, trust me. But my parents have always been open with me. And you’ve met them—they’re just regular people. There’s no big secret hiding in our family.”

Rika nodded slowly, though the doubt lingered in her eyes. “I know… but with everything happening now, it makes you wonder if there’s more going on.”

Rika, Ash, and Aine exchanged glances, the weight of his words settling between them like a thick cloud. The lightness of their conversation from earlier had dissipated, replaced by something heavier, more pressing.

Rika leaned in, her expression softening, but her voice carried a note of concern. “Are you… okay with all of this, Kenneth? Being the Fireon successor?”

Kenneth swallowed hard, his gaze momentarily dropping to the floor. Was he? Could he really accept being the Fireon successor? The responsibility felt like a boulder strapped to his shoulders, growing heavier with every passing day. And yet, what choice did he have? The Ultimate Fire had chosen him. Not Joash. Not anyone else. Him.

He forced a smile, but it was faint, barely reaching his eyes. “Do I really have a choice?” he replied, his voice tinged with resignation.

The room fell into a brief silence, the tension hanging in the air. Rika’s brow furrowed, and Ash shifted slightly, as if wanting to offer some kind of reassurance but unsure of what to say.

＊＊＊

They had a short break before the next session. Rika, Ash, and Aine were called away by the professor to run some errands, leaving Kenneth by himself. He decided to take the opportunity to explore the academy on his own.

As he wandered down the hallways, a strange sense of déjà vu washed over him. The architecture, the atmosphere—this place… it feels just like the academy in the novel, Kenneth thought, his footsteps quiet against the stone floors.

But the feeling was too intense to simply be from something he’d read. It felt deeper, more personal, as if the walls themselves whispered secrets only he could hear. He frowned, trying to shake off the sensation, but it clung to him, persistent and unsettling.

He turned a corner, and something majestic caught his eye—a massive tree standing at the heart of the academy courtyard. Kenneth had seen it briefly from the town square, but now, up close, it struck him with a sense of awe. Its sprawling roots dug deep into the earth, and its towering branches seemed to reach endlessly toward the sky.

A memory—faint and distant—flickered in his mind. This tree… I’ve seen it before, but not just in the novel. It was as though a forgotten part of him stirred, some hidden fragment of his past that remained just out of reach. The feeling gnawed at him, growing stronger the longer he stood there.

He took a step closer, drawn in by something he couldn’t name. The tree’s presence was overwhelming, as if it held a significance he had yet to understand. For a moment, Kenneth could almost hear it—an echo of something lost in time.

Why do I feel like I’ve been here before? he wondered, his heart pounding. The déjà vu was no longer just an afterthought—it was a shadow of something long buried, something he wasn’t ready to face yet.

While lost in his thoughts, Kenneth suddenly bumped into someone.

"Watch where you're standing!" a guy yelled, his tone aggressive.

"Sorry," Kenneth said, taking a step back.

The guy smirked, reaching for something near his chest. "How could an Commoners bump into the future Element Guardian?"

Kenneth frowned, confused. "Element Guardian? I thought there were only five—including Fireon. Who are you?"

The guy’s smirk vanished, replaced by irritation. "You don’t know the Ekaitz family?" another person beside him chimed in. "This is Raiden, the successor of the Ultimate Lightning."

Ekaitz. The name rang a bell—Kenneth remembered from the novel that they were a powerful family of lightning Wizards. Though not officially one of the five Elemental Guardians, they were often referred to as the Uncrowned Guardians. After Fireon's downfall, they seems eager to claim that spot.

Before Kenneth could respond, he heard a familiar voice call out to him.

"Ash?" Kenneth looked up as Ash approached, his expression darkening the moment he laid eyes on Raiden.

"Oh, Ash. You're hanging out with a Commoners now?" Raiden sneered. "Is that what you learned from your time in the mortal world?"

Ash rolled his eyes, his voice steady with barely concealed irritation. "At least the people there have better manners than you."

Raiden clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Let’s go," he said, turning away. But before he could leave, Ash wasn't done.

"Raiden, don't even think about trying to steal Fireon's place." Ash warned.

Raiden didn’t reply, continuing down the hallway with his group.

After they left, Ash turned back to Kenneth. “Sorry about that. I should’ve stuck around. Here, I brought this for you.” He handed Kenneth a small box.

Kenneth opened it, revealing a small, intricately designed pin inside.

“That’s the pin for students in the Special Division,” Ash explained. “It took them a while to make it, but once you wear this, no one should bother you again.”

Kenneth stared at the pin for a moment, running his thumb over the smooth metal before fastening it to his chest. “Thanks,” he said aloud, but inwardly, a thought lingered.

I still don’t feel like I deserve it.

＊＊＊

After the confrontation with Raiden, Kenneth and Ash made their way to the large classroom, where students from all divisions—Theory, Practical, and Special—gathered. Kenneth noticed Rika, Aine, and Lucian seated together across the room. Rika waved at him, a warm smile on her face.

As Kenneth made his way to his seat, he overheard whispers from the other students. They were clearly curious about him—the rumored successor of the fallen Fireon family. He tried to ignore the chatter, sitting quietly in his seat, but the weight of their stares was hard to shake. Across the room, he spotted Joash sitting at the back, who quickly averted his gaze.

A professor entered the room, silencing the chatter. He appeared to be in his early 30s, with sharp eyes and a confident demeanor.

"I’m Professor Rowan," he introduced himself, his voice clear and authoritative. Kenneth immediately recognized him from the novel as the supporting character. Rowan was a remarkable character—despite being a Commoner, his vast knowledge of magic and theory earned him immense respect, even from the elite students in the Practical Division.

"I’ll be teaching you Magic Construction," Rowan announced.

There was a sudden scoff from one of the students in the Practical Division. Kenneth recognized him as part of Raiden's clique.

“You? A mere Commoner teaching us spells?” the student sneered, his voice dripping with contempt.

The room went deathly silent, the air thick with tension. Most of the Theory Division students shot furious glares at the offender. Professor Rowan, after all, was more than just a teacher to them—he was a role model. A Commoner who had risen to earn the respect of the elite.

Unfazed by the hostility directed at him, the student raised his hand, determined to prove his point. Without warning, he cast an Ice Magic spell, sending a volley of sharp icicles hurtling toward Professor Rowan.

In an instant, Rowan reached into his robe and pulled out a simple, unassuming wand. With a swift flick of his wrist, a shimmering defense barrier materialized, effortlessly intercepting the attack. The icicles shattered upon impact, raining harmless fragments onto the floor.

The room was still, shocked by how quickly the situation had escalated—and how easily Rowan had handled it.

Rowan glanced down at his wand, noticing that it had crumbled into dust in his hand. He gave a small, calm smile. “Well, looks like the prototype didn’t last long,” he remarked, his tone light, as though nothing serious had happened.

He then turned his gaze toward the offending student, his eyes sharp and commanding. “Mr. Ilgar,” he said, his voice taking on an authoritative edge, “reflect on your actions. Outside the classroom. Now.”

The student, visibly shaken, quickly left the room without a word.

Rowan dusted his hands off and addressed the class once more. "All of the spells you’ve learned and use in battle were born from the research and effort of Theory students. Never underestimate the power of Commoners and Elementless"

His words carried a weight that silenced any further doubts, and the class resumed.

Kenneth sat in awe. Seeing Professor Rowan in person—his knowledge, his strength, and his ability to command a room—was even more impressive than in the novel. For the first time since arriving, Kenneth felt a spark of excitement about this world.