Chronicle Of The Stars

In the carriage that was carved with the symbolism of the Knight of Embers, Velmir and Elize sat opposite each other. "A month just passed like that?" - Elize said to Velmir with her eyes fixed on the beautiful scenery of the sunflower field.

High expectations are what people can see when looking at her. The wind breathed into the carriage as the floating calendar appeared.

February the First, Year 1635 - etched in the annals of the Caelis Empire.

"Was it the day I was transmigrated a year before?" - Velmir questioned in his head with an unsure mind. He couldn't remember it, but he could sense it. As if something deep inside him resonated with this day.

"The moment has come, your path awaits... lord Luminian and Lady Cielfir." - The coachman said with respect filled in his voice as the wheels stopped nearby an Aether Shard.

Velmir, with the corner of his lips wicked up, quickly put his hand on Elize's shoulders before going out. "Good luck, Elize." - The moment words are spilled out, a circle with ancient runes appeared underneath him, and he was teleported away. 

Elize, who was looking at Velmir the whole time, whispered once he vanished and then stepped onto the ground and disappeared. "Good luck, too, Velmir." 

Velmir then opened his eyes, and he found himself in the square as others were appearing. "A ring?" - He asked while examining everyone. "Uniform, huh?" - Black trousers with luxurious black-leather boots and a linen shirt wrapped by a vest-like suit with an ulster coat that was embroidered in silver-gray pattern.

There was also a bronze number on the shoulder. "Number 0009.... so that's my code?" - He wondered and quickly realized something.

Everyone had a mask on their face. He could sense it, the power of magic as if it were enchanted to conceal their identity.

Girls also had the same uniform, with the only difference being their lower part, skirts which length just above the knees, paired with white socks and black-heeled shoes. 

After observing the crowd, Velmir closed his eyes. Ignis - He whispered, letting his awareness spread. His Ignus was so pure, yet unreasonably thin.

"Where's Elize?" - The mask's enchanments made it hard to find her, but he found a presence. A trace of his Ignis resonance with the one he'd left when he touched her shoulder. It pointed to the girl who was sitting under the glowing tree in the middle of the lake.

He moved closer to her, but he didn't talk to her right away; instead, he kept his distance. "This symbol...they match those in that memory." - He narrowed his eyes. The troops around the square wore white armor tinged with azure and the mark of runed ice. They looked exactly like what he had seen from the realm.

While lost in thought, an old man in a long cloak and a magician's hat descended from the sky. His piercing gray eyes swept across the square. It was filled with mystery.

"For the 1635th time, Niren Academy has opened its door to newcomers - May your path to seek the truth begin!" His voice echoed as the four bells rang from four different churches. 

At that moment, everyone's ring trembled. A black seal carved with white-glowing lights flew out and attached itself to the collar. 

"These rings can store your belongings. Let the seal guide your way." - The principal marked the end of his speech before slowly fading away.

"Lucas said that this academy is a smaller version of society... I'll need to say hidden." - Velmir reminded himself as he approached Elize and gave out his hand. "Elize, do you want to go with me? - Elize quickly realized him despite the usage of the mask. "Let's go." - She replied with a smile and took his hand. As the two walked away, Elize looked back at the tree as if there was something that belonged to her.

In the hallway, the scent of old wood covered the whole area, and ancient stones that were layered with moss formed a strange structure.

The two then continue their exploration of the academy. This is when they learnt about this academy's design. As Velmir spread his Ignis throughout the Academy, he muttered with his voice lowered in awe "It's....too large."

Through his body, sparks of Ignis flowed and were discharged from his finger; therefore, he gained his powerful vision.

The main academy rose in four grand levels, with each floor serving a different purpose.

With lowest floor was known as the functional hallway. It held the Great Library, the music room, and many student clubs. At the middle of the room stood a laboratory, divided into four research chambers - Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Geography.

Above it, the four remaining floors were reserved for student study. Each floor was designed specifically for an academic year. From the first year to the fourth year seniors. "No residence hall?... Wait..." - Velmir blinked in disbelief.

"There are four training areas!?" - Velmir was stunned.

To the northwest of the main academy, the spear training area.

The northeast, the sword arcane.

The southwest, the magical space.

To the southeast, the gravity conditioning ground.

As he constantly observed this place, he was impressed, but his fingers were unconsciously shaking "No...this isn't just an academy....it's a city in disguise."

Beyond the main academy, there are three additional distinct parts that include the noble land, a place for the nobles or wealthy merchants to stay.

Further to that place, it's the town, where shops, merchants, and churches are settled. As for the last place, it's the defensive wall, created to protect the academy.

"All of that was floated above the vast sunflower field!?" - Velmir couldn't hold it in as he continued to spread his consciousness. And found out that this entire civilization floated above a golden sea of sunflowers. 

As he continued to spread his consciousness more, he was once again surprised "This is..." The Academy itself is surrounded by four mountains, which are connected to each other in four directions, and each has a magical path linked to the floating land. 

But right as he was about to stop examining everything, blood spilled out from his nose, and he fell to the ground. "Velmir! Are you okay?" - Elize lent him a hand while she quickly took a potion from her ring and gave it to Velmir.

"Ah, thank you, I'm fine." - He replied and asked a question in return.

"Didn't you try spreading your Ignis too?" - Elize stood for a whole minute and asked back.

"Is that a spell?" - Velmir now realised, apart from him, he had never seen anyone use Ignis in this way, so he thought in his mind.

"....Is this the reason why I can't use ...elements?" But aloud, he chuckled. "I was just joking." 

Then they wandered in the city for hours until the sun dipped below the floating island. The sky dimmed as the floating lanters of Niren Academy lit their blue fire.

Though Elize returned to the mansion that was prepared for her, Velmir made a different choice. Instead of going to his mansion, he stopped in a nearby inn before coming in. "Terry for rent rooms, that'll do for a room, eh?." 

Behind the door was a broad-shouldered woman. She leaned against the wall and quickly asked with a husky voice after seeing Velmir, "A scholar, aren't you?"

"One room for 5 pence, 10 pence for a VIP one. No discount." - She took out the price list and said in a disgusting manner.

"I'm not here for any feathers." - Velmir replied in a sharp tone, while calculating in his head.

"Uhmm... a farthing worth a quarter of a pence...But I don't have both of them...let me see."

"A shilling worth...uh...12 pence!"

"Right, right, a florin worth 2 shillings and a crown worth 5 shillings!"

"There's sovereign too... each of them is equal to one pound....oh that's 20 shillings." 

He thought for a whole minute before pulling out a silver coin and handing it to the landlord. a shilling! She then quickly gave Velmir 7 pence in return and prayed for him.

"May the Ethereal Stars God bless you."

"You too, may the Ethereal Stars God bless you. - He prayed back for her and swiftly went to the upper floor. "Room 34... I see" Velmir looked at the board sign and opened the door, then he took off his mask and took a shower. 

"Living in a mansion will catch attention... I'll live like this first." - He said after the bath and lie on the bed to sleep.

On the next day, he woke up and went to do his morning routine as always, but the moment he opened his door, a girl bumped into him, and the two fell to the ground.

"Ah!" - He was confused, but still, he got up and gave out his hand, and pulled her up before turning away without saying a word. "Number 0035, bronze. She's a first-year student."

"I don't want any troubles... the help should be polite enough." - He said in his mind with an exhausting face and went to the academy.

In the hallway, he quickly found his classroom with the resonance from the black seal "Class A-01" - just like what Lucas told me. He looked at the sign and decided to go in. In the classroom, most of the students were already there, but he saw something.

"They had separated from each other? I see. A group of five took off their mask. Foolish. Elize? She found a friend... I guess I have to sit alone then." - Velmir analyzed in his mind before taking a seat next to Elize's table.

After some minutes, the class was all there, and the guy who looked like the leader of the unmasks gave his speech.

"I - the son of Earl Bathon, am kind-hearted enough to accept those who want to be friends with me!" - His voice was filled with haughtiness, but before anyone could reply, the professor came in.

She also wore a mask with a wand in her hand and started her lecture. 

"As you may already know, Ignis is the power of soul, will, and knowledge. The more you learn about the nature of this world, the greater your Ignis capacity becomes. it is the foundation of everything, but without a body strong enough to contain it, it is meaningless."

"There are six stages of ignis cultivation."

"First, Cognitive heart - awaken Ignis through the heart."

"Second, Upper body refinements - link it through the head, arms, and chest."

"Third, Lower body refinements - torso and legs."

"Fourth, Inter-perfection - let it flow through your internal organs."

"Fifth, Overclocking - double the Ignis in every part."

"Sixth, Surpassing - ascension, beyond mortal limits."

"So any questions?"

She ended her speech as the boy who sat next to Velmir raised his hand. "Miss, how can a person purify their Ignis?" - Velmir looked at him as he was about to ask the opposite question. "0005..." - Velmir whispered.

The boy's question piqued the curiosity of the others, while she nodded.

"Ignis purity doesn't change with stage, but there's one method - your consciousness."

The moment she ended her sentence, she turned, her cloak fluttering as she walked to the door.

"Lecture ends here. Learn as you wish." - But before she could go out, a voice broke the silence.

"How do you.... become a mythweaver?"