The past two weeks had been a whirlwind of relentless training, moments of quiet contemplation, and an unspoken tension that grew heavier with each passing day. Evolis had never been one to shy away from pushing himself to the limit, but under Varian's tutelage, he had been forced to reevaluate everything he thought he knew about combat and magic.
Elven magic wasn't just about power, it was about precision, refinement, and efficiency. Unlike humans, who often relied on sheer magical force to overwhelm their enemies, elves honed their Etherion with an artistry that bordered on divine.
Varian had drilled him on the intricacies of magical inscriptions, teaching him how to layer spells for maximum potency while conserving energy. He had learned to use magic circles to amplify his abilities, to wield wind with razor-sharp precision, and to feel the natural flow of Etherion that elves tapped into so seamlessly. His adaptability had allowed him to progress at an alarming rate, much to the astonishment of the elves observing him from the shadows.
Evolis' Gravity affinity, still at Stage 4, had proven to be a formidable asset, allowing him to manipulate battlefield conditions with growing mastery. But more than that, he had unknowingly awakened something new.
Space.
It had happened during one of Varian's brutal sparring sessions, the seasoned warrior having used spatial rifts and teleportation to keep Evolis constantly on the defensive. At first, he had struggled against the unpredictability of instantaneous displacement, but over time, his body had adapted, as it always did. Now, his status reflected his progress:
Name: Evolis Aetherion
Age: 17
Race: ???
Attributes:
Strength: 58 → 78
Agility: 61 → 76
Endurance: 55 → 83
Vitality: 59 → 81
Intelligence: 57 → 71
Charm: 49 → 62
Etherion Core Level: 21 → 37
Talent: SSS
Bloodline(s): Locked
Affinities:
Greater Gravity(Stage 4)
Greater Space (Stage 1) [New]
Time (8% unlocked)
Plantae (32% unlocked)
Fire (57% unlocked)
Earth (63% unlocked) [From battling elves in ruin]
Water (61% unlocked) [From battling elves in ruin]
Wind (72% unlocked) [From battling elves in ruin]
Abilities:
Innate Skills:
The Seer's Gaze [Grade: Stage 1] [Evolvable]
Body of the !O# %F @$%pt$b$%#@y %$& G#$wt% [Grade: Stage 1] [Evolvable]
He hadn't tested the full extent of his new affinity yet, but tonight, he planned to.
'I need to figure out what the conditions are for me to be able to awaken new elements. It looks like I only need exposure to them but it looks like there's something I need to know about the element as well...' Shaking his head to discard those thoughts he narrowed his eyes.
For now, though, he had a more pressing challenge.
The training grounds were eerily silent, save for the occasional whisper of the wind and the distant murmur of the enchanted trees. The air crackled with suppressed Etherion, the runes on the surrounding pillars flaring to life as the barrier enclosed the two combatants within its mystical embrace.
Evolis stood in the center of the ring, rolling his shoulders, his golden eyes fixed on Aeliana with a knowing smirk. She had tied her silver hair into a loose braid, her emerald eyes cool and unreadable, yet there was a glint of something, excitement? Anticipation?, hidden beneath her composed exterior.
Varian stood on the sidelines, his arms crossed. "You've trained for two weeks under my watch, Evolis. Now show me if you've learned anything."
Evolis let out a slow breath, his body relaxing into a fluid stance. He could already feel the difference. His control, his awareness, the refined flow of his Etherion. He was still nowhere near Aeliana's level, but… he had grown.
Aeliana, as poised as ever, tilted her head slightly. "Don't hold back," she warned.
Evolis smirked. "Wouldn't dream of it."
Then she vanished.
Aeliana struck first. Her movements were as seamless as the wind, her agility near-impossible to track. One moment she was in front of him, the next she was behind him, her twin daggers flashing under the morning light.
Evolis barely had time to react.
His Seer's Gaze flared to life, the golden rings in his irises shifting as he caught a glimpse of her movements just a second ahead (I've decided to change future sight from being able to see 5 seconds into the future to only being able to see 1 second into the future as it's too overpowered).
He twisted to the side, dodging her first strike, then lifted his forearm just in time to deflect the second dagger with a burst of controlled gravity.
The sheer force of their Etherion colliding sent a ripple through the air.
Aeliana narrowed her eyes. "You're faster than before."
Evolis grinned, rolling with the momentum. "You sound surprised."
She didn't answer. Instead, she spun on her heel, kicking off the ground and launching into the air. A glyph flared beneath her feet, allowing her to step midair as if she were running on invisible platforms.
Elven Windwalking.
She twisted midair and flicked her wrist, unleashing a barrage of razor-sharp wind blades toward him.
Evolis felt the shift in the air pressure before the attack even reached him.
His training kicked in.
With a sharp inhale, he focused inward, channeling his own energy. A burst of gravity energy expanded outward, warping the space around him. The wind blades curved away, their trajectory thrown off by the gravitational distortion.
Aeliana's lips twitched upward in approval. "Not bad."
Evolis exhaled. She wasn't going easy on him.
And if that was the case…
Then neither would he.
Evolis vanished from sight.
Aeliana's eyes widened slightly as he reappeared above her, using the same Gravity Step technique she had taught him to propel himself upward in a single burst. His black katana sang through the air, the golden runes etched along its cracked surface flickering faintly.
Aeliana twisted just in time, raising a barrier of compressed wind.
The moment his blade connected, the sheer force of their Etherion colliding shattered the wind shield, sending shockwaves outward.
Evolis followed through with the motion, using the rebound force to spin midair and lash out with a gravity-enhanced kick.
Aeliana flipped backward, narrowly dodging. But Evolis wasn't finished.
With a flick of his wrist, gravity surged beneath her feet, increasing her weight and forcing her downward. She hit the ground hard, barely rolling to her feet in time.
"That was dirty," she muttered.
Evolis landed effortlessly, smirking. "Elves aren't the only ones who know how to use tricks."
Aeliana exhaled sharply. Then her expression changed.
A flick of her fingers, and the air around her crackled with raw Etherion.
The ground beneath her shimmered with golden runes, forming an intricate spell circle that pulsed in sync with her breathing. The winds began to converge, not wild and untamed, but precise and controlled.
Evolis' grin faltered slightly.
'Oh… this is about to hurt.'
Without warning, the air exploded.
Aeliana blurred forward, faster than before, her movements enhanced by her spell. Her first dagger slashed forward, but Evolis managed to parry, only for her second dagger to slice past his defenses, nicking his side.
Evolis gritted his teeth as pain flared, but he didn't hesitate.
He spun, using gravity to shift his weight unnaturally, causing Aeliana's next strike to barely miss his throat.
Then, he retaliated.
Summoning his Etherion, he condensed the gravity beneath his feet, turning his next step into an explosive burst of speed.
Aeliana's eyes barely had time to widen before Evolis was upon her.
Evolis noticed a small, pale, silver-colored sliver of Etherion start to gather on the edge of her blade, but before it could fully materialize, Aeliana forcefully canceled it.
The Etherion had been… strange. Different from the usual wind and earth affinities she wielded so effortlessly. It flickered with an almost ethereal glow, something he had never seen before.
But before he could fully process it, she was already moving again.
He ignored it for now and continued forward.
He flicked his wrist, releasing a concentrated gravity pulse at close range.
She dodged half a second too late. The force caught her shoulder, sending her stumbling back.
But before Evolis could capitalize on the opening, Aeliana moved.
With an effortless pivot, she stomped her foot down, activating a second spell circle beneath her.
The earth rumbled.
Then, a wave of sharpened roots burst from the ground, twisting toward him.
Evolis' sharp gaze flickered toward her twin daggers, and for the first time, he noticed something strange. The intricate elven inscriptions etched onto the hilts were not just decorative, they were runes. And not just any runes. The faint shimmer of earth-aligned glyphs glowed beneath the more prominent wind inscriptions. His brow furrowed. Had she been using Plantae magic all along?
'No… not just Plantae. There's something else.'
There, beneath the surface of the inscriptions, almost invisible under the layers of other elements, was a trace of something different. A unique, elusive glow. It was unlike any magic he had encountered before—cool, luminescent, almost ethereal.
It flickered for only a second before vanishing. Evolis narrowed his eyes but filed the observation away for later. This princess had more secrets than she let on.
Evolis reacted instinctively. His Seer's Gaze flashed, allowing him to glimpse the pattern in their movements before they fully emerged.
He leaped backward, twisting midair, but one of the roots still caught his leg, pulling him toward the ground.
Aeliana was already in motion.
She darted forward, aiming her dagger at his throat.
Evolis activated Gravity Repulsion at the last second.
A burst of invisible force launched him backward, breaking free from the roots' grasp just in time.
They skidded apart, both breathing heavily.
The training field was a mess of carved earth, shattered spell circles, and lingering Etherion traces.
Aeliana wiped a stray strand of silver hair from her face. "You lasted longer than I expected."
Evolis exhaled, flinching as he touched his side. "And here I thought I had a chance at actually beating you."
Aeliana tilted her head slightly, an unreadable look flashing across her eyes.
She studied him carefully, but she was no longer looking at his stance or technique. Instead, she found herself focusing on something deeper, his growth.
'This shouldn't be possible.'
He was only at the Awakened Stage. He shouldn't have lasted this long, much less forced a draw against her. Even the most prodigious elven warriors took years to refine their abilities, to develop their Etherion control to the level he had just demonstrated. And yet… Evolis had done it in mere weeks.
It wasn't just talent... it was something unnatural.
She had spent her life training, mastering every technique passed down by her bloodline, honing her magic into something precise and unshakable. And now, standing before her, was a human who, by all logic, should have been leagues beneath her but had instead matched her blow for blow.
'What exactly are you, Evolis?'
Aeliana exhaled, suppressing the unease curling in her chest. Her father had called Evolis an anomaly, and for the first time, she was beginning to understand why.
"You should've lost," she admitted. "You're only at the Awakened Stage. I'm at Peak Novice. The fact that you forced a draw… is unnatural."
Evolis narrowed his eyes. "You make that sound like a bad thing."
She hesitated. Then shook her head. "No. Just… strange."
He studied her for a moment before smirking. "You're blushing again, princess."
Aeliana stiffened, her ears twitching. "I—what?!"
Evolis grinned. "Your ears always give you away."
She whipped around abruptly, crossing her arms. "Tch. This spar is over."
Evolis chuckled, rubbing the side of his ribs where one of her daggers had almost found its mark.
Varian finally stepped forward, breaking his silence. "You both displayed excellent control. However, Evolis—" he turned toward him, silver eyes unreadable—"you still lack efficiency. Your movements are refined, but you waste too much Etherion compensating for reaction speed."
Evolis sighed. "So I still have a long way to go."
Varian's gaze flickered slightly. "Perhaps. But your adaptability… is concerning."
Evolis didn't miss the way Varian glanced toward the palace, as if someone else was watching.
And sure enough…
Far above, hidden within the highest terrace, King Aldorien observed the battlefield through his scrying mirror, his fingers steepled before him.
The power Evolis had displayed was far beyond a mere human.
And if his rapid growth continued…
He would no longer just be an anomaly.
He would be a threat.
Aldorien's lips curled slightly. "Interesting."
Later that night, Evolis stood before his reflection, adjusting the unfamiliar elven robes he had been provided.
The annual banquet, a grand affair where the noble houses gathered, was upon them. A formal event where political tensions simmered beneath the surface, masked by forced pleasantries and exquisite wine.
More importantly, it was also where the younger generation would compete, a tradition that had persisted for centuries.
Evolis had been personally requested by the king to participate, a move that had stirred even more controversy among the nobles.
"You look ridiculous," Aeliana's voice broke through his thoughts.
Evolis turned to find her standing at the doorway, arms crossed, her emerald eyes scanning him with barely concealed amusement.
"You could just admit I look good, you know," he teased.
Aeliana rolled her eyes but didn't refute it. Instead, she walked closer, brushing off a stray thread from his sleeve. "Try not to embarrass yourself in front of the court."
Evolis smirked. "Worried about me, Princess?"
She turned away. "Hardly." But he caught the faintest tinge of pink at the tips of her ears.
---
The air in the private chamber was thick with the scent of aged oak and burning incense, yet beneath the polished elegance of the room, tension hung like a storm ready to break.
Elandor stood near the tall windows, his fingers gripping the goblet of wine in his hand so tightly it nearly cracked under the pressure. His golden eyes burned with barely restrained fury as he stared out at the elven capital below, the distant lights of the royal palace mocking him.
Across the lavish chamber, seated in a grand armchair draped in black and gold, was Duke Valtheris, his father, the head of House Vaenor, one of the most powerful noble families in Veylith.
Unlike his son, Valtheris exuded nothing but icy patience. His expression was calm, unreadable, his long silver hair flowing over his finely tailored robes. A glass of untouched wine sat on the table beside him, its surface still, as if mirroring his own unshakable demeanor.
Elandor finally turned, his voice dripping with venom.
"This is unacceptable, Father."
Valtheris lifted a brow, barely glancing up from the scroll he had been studying. "You speak as if you have been wronged, yet I see no wounds upon you."
Elandor scoffed, his frustration boiling over. "No wounds? He humiliated me, publicly. That human dared to challenge me before the court, and now the King favors him!" He took a sharp breath, pacing like a caged beast. "Do you know what the nobles are saying? That Evolis is an anomaly, a prodigy! That he may even be worthy of the King's protection!"
Valtheris finally set down the scroll, his cold silver eyes meeting his son's. "Worthy?" His lips curled into something that wasn't quite a smirk. "A human is never worthy."
Elandor gritted his teeth. "Then why does the King entertain him?"
His father leaned back, tapping a single finger against the armrest. "Because Aldorien is no fool."
Elandor's scowl deepened, but Valtheris continued smoothly. "The King sees Evolis as an unknown variable, something he does not yet understand. A man with strange abilities, one who is not tied to any faction, who possesses power beyond human limitations…"
The Duke's gaze darkened slightly. "And in politics, my son, anything that is not understood must either be controlled… or eliminated."
Elandor exhaled sharply, his fingers tightening into fists. "Then we must move quickly. If the King is thinking of using Evolis, it will only make him harder to remove later."
Valtheris nodded approvingly. "Now you are thinking like a ruler."
There was a long pause before the Duke spoke again, his voice softer but carrying a weight that made the room feel colder. "Tell me, Elandor, what do you truly desire?"
Elandor hesitated, then exhaled. "The throne should be ours." His voice held no uncertainty. "For centuries, our family has served under the Aldorien bloodline, despite being their equal—no, their better. We have waited, maneuvered, watched as they grew complacent, while we sharpened our blades in the shadows." His golden eyes glowed with intensity. "Veylith belongs to the strong, and the weak should kneel before them. That has always been the way of the elves. And yet, Aldorien allows weakness to fester in his rule."
He took a slow breath before turning back to his father. "You told me from the day I could walk that power is not inherited. It is taken. If Evolis stands in the way of our rightful path, then I will remove him."
Valtheris watched his son in silence, his fingers steepled before him, studying him like a craftsman inspecting his finest blade.
Finally, he nodded. "Good."
Elandor straightened, his pulse steadying. "Then you approve?"
A slow, measured smile spread across Valtheris' lips. "Of course. But we will not act recklessly. Evolis is valuable to the King, at least for now. That means if he dies too soon, the King will suspect foul play. And we do not want to invite Aldorien's wrath just yet."
Elandor smirked, swirling the wine in his goblet. "I assume you already have something in place?"
Valtheris exhaled slowly, his silver eyes sharp as a blade. "The tournament at the banquet is an excellent opportunity. The matches have already been arranged. Of course, a few modifications wouldn't go unnoticed in the chaos of an event so grand."
Elandor chuckled darkly. "You mean a rigged match?"
His father merely raised a brow.
Elandor took a slow sip of his wine, his smirk widening. "Good. Then I suppose I'll be deciding which unfortunate soul will serve as Evolis' executioner in the ring."
Valtheris leaned back in his chair. "Not just in the ring. If he survives, there are... other contingencies in place."
Elandor tilted his head. "You hired someone?"
"A specialist," Valtheris corrected, his voice smooth. "One who deals in discreet eliminations. A shadow among shadows. Someone even the King's spies won't see coming."
Elandor's grin widened. "Oh? Now you've piqued my interest. Who is it?"
Valtheris merely sipped his wine, his expression unreadable. "You'll know when the time comes. For now, enjoy the banquet, my son. It will be Evolis' last."
Elandor's smirk widened, his blood thrumming with anticipation. "He won't leave that banquet alive."
Valtheris leaned back, the shadows of the chamber deepening around him. "Make sure of it."
---
Elsewhere, deep within the palace halls, a hooded elf approached the king, whispering something in his ear.
Aldorien's expression remained still, but the air in the room grew heavy.
"They've breached the western outposts?" he murmured, barely audible.
The advisor nodded. "The dark elves have made their move."
The king exhaled slowly, his silver eyes sharpening. "So it has begun."