Chapter 9: The Pillars of Power

  Virtus Academy, the mightiest educational institution in the continent, was more than just a school for the elite and powerful. It was the beating heart of the Empire's future. Within its vast grounds and towering halls, the most formidable arts were taught—not only to train, but to shape destiny itself.

  The curriculum was divided into core disciplines, each taught by master-class instructors with real-world experience. Here, learning wasn’t just theoretical—it was forged in trials of fire, steel, and spirit.

  1. Magic Department

  The most populated and prestigious branch. Students were sorted into affinity groups—fire, water, wind, earth, lightning, ice, shadow, and light. Specialized training halls allowed for intensive elemental practice.

  Each student was assigned a personal mana crystal to track growth. The higher-ranked classes had access to rare magical beasts for bonding and elemental fusion trials.

  Spell theory, incantation structure, and elemental fusion were mandatory. Higher students explored concepts like spirit summoning and elemental blending.

  Professor Varnel, a stern elf known for his control over wind and silence, oversaw this department. His presence alone could hush an entire hall.

  2. Swordsmanship Division

  Every student, regardless of class, was required to pass at least the basic sword training course. But those who specialized in the blade followed the ancient traditions of the Empire’s legendary warriors.

  Dual wielding, greatsword mastery, rapier finesse, and even elemental sword fusion techniques were taught.

  The Grand Swordmaster Irene Karsel, once general of the frontier legion, personally trained elite duelists. She was known for her one rule: “A sword drawn must never hesitate.”

  3. Martial Arts Hall

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  The domain of body-over-mana discipline. Students trained under the scorching sun and freezing nights to refine chi, physical resilience, and raw combat instinct. Internal energy control, pressure point strikes, and body-tempering techniques were emphasized.

  Martial artists believed in becoming the weapon themselves.

  The master of this division was Old Zedo, a seemingly frail man whose strikes could shatter boulders. Many underestimated him—only once.

  4. Alchemy Department

  Potions, poisons, enhancers, and bomb-making. It was the chaotic wing of the academy, always filled with smoke and occasional explosions.

  Students learned plant essence extraction, mana-infused brewing, and the crafting of soul-bound potions.

  Professor Alria, a young prodigy with volatile experiments, ran this wing with wild energy. She often scolded students by throwing soft potions that exploded into colorful smoke.

  5. Arcanum Studies

  The most mysterious—and empty—discipline.

  Arcanum was the study of magic before language. Before words gave structure. It delved into the primal essence of the world: raw aether, laws of creation, and reality weaving.

  People used to think magic and arcanum is same.But when The Queen of Witches showed the difference it was massive. Arcanum unlike magic is not bound by laws.Arcanum magics created to bend the laws that bounds humans such as Gravity,Space,Reality,Soul etc..

  The only instructor was a hooded figure known as Instructor Null, who had not spoken in years. Most students feared even passing by the Arcanum Tower. No students had chosen this course in decades.

  And yet… whispers said one had once survived the full Arcanum curriculum—and vanished into legend.

  6. Rune Crafting

  The language of symbols, forgotten by most. Runes could enchant weapons, strengthen armor, and even curse enemies. But the study was painstaking, requiring immense patience and spiritual harmony.

  Only one student in the past fifty years had ever completed the Rune Trials.

  Now, the runesmith chambers remained dim, save for the caretaker, Master Lithan, who still carved each day in silence.

  These disciplines formed the core of the Academy. Every student had to choose one main path by the end of their first year, can choose more than two,of them must be secondary and others optional.People mostly chose two but few talented people chose more than two or three in history.

  Royals and Elites usually claimed magic or swordsmanship.

  Peasants leaned toward martial arts or alchemy.

  No one dared touch Arcanum or Runes.

  But that was about to change.

  Because hidden among them was someone who would walk the forgotten paths.

  A boy who wore another’s name.

  Lucien.

  The winds whispered his arrival long before his name appeared on the board.

  And somewhere deep in the Arcanum Tower, Instructor Null opened a book that hadn’t been touched in forty years.

  “Another one… has come.Welcome to the Hall of Arcanes.”