Ch -1 (Whispers at the Academy)

...––Royal Academy, Dragon Wing Kingdom––...

The wind carried a crisp bite, signaling the end of summer as students poured through the towering gates of Rolal Academy. Golden banners fluttered above, bearing the sigil of a winged dragon—proud and untamed.

Nobles from across the Dragon Wing Kingdom and beyond gathered, each arriving in carriages bearing their family crests. Some hailed from ancient bloodlines that stretched back to the Celestial Age; others, from new nobility clawing their way up through valor or cunning.

Inside the Great Hall, chandeliers glittered with a thousand flames as the buzz of conversation filled the air. Students—dressed in uniforms embroidered with Academy insignias—stood in awe beneath the stained-glass dome.

All eyes turned to the stage as the headmaster appeared, accompanied by a figure whose very presence hushed the room.

Crown Prince Cain Tempest stepped forward.

He moved like a storm contained in human form—golden hair like streaked sunlight, deep blue eyes steady as the ocean before a tempest. Every line of his face, every movement of his body, spoke of discipline and command. He wore his crown not as an ornament, but as an extension of his very soul.

"This academy is a crucible," he began, his voice cutting through the hall like steel. "Only the worthy shall endure. Weakness is shed here, or it destroys you."

His words rang sharp, lingering in the silence that followed.

Later that night, the Moonlight Courtyard came alive with music and lanterns. The banquet tables overflowed with delicacies—roast wyvern, honey-pickled pears, dragonfruit tarts.

The top five students from the entrance exams were presented one by one.

Blair Auryn, with his blood-red hair and glacial expression, stood like a statue.

Prince Cain, now dressed in deep obsidian robes lined with silver.

Selene Rivira, regal and polished, smiled with her eyes alone.

Yuki Nazuka, a quiet girl with foreign features and unreadable intent.

And Haruka, a commoner whose name stirred whispers of surprise.

Iris found herself among the crowd, sipping from a glass of cider as her eyes landed on Yuki, seated alone beneath a blooming moonvine. With her striking silver hair and golden eyes, Iris was hard to miss—but she approached without ceremony.

“Hi,” she said, her voice warm.

Yuki looked at her for a breath of a second, then away. The silence stretched.

Iris tried again, unfazed. But before she could say more, Cain’s voice called her from across the court.

She gave a soft smile. “Bye, then.” And left. Yuki’s gaze never followed.

...——The Next Day——...

The first history lecture began in the early hours of dawn. The classroom, shaped like an amphitheater, held tiered seats and an enchanted blackboard that shimmered when used.

Students filed in, some eager, others bored, most bleary-eyed from the previous night’s festivities. Cain and Blair entered side by side—still commanding stares. Iris trailed behind them, sharp-eyed and alert.

She paused near Yuki’s desk but didn’t speak. Just as she was about to continue to her seat, she overheard hushed voices from the row behind.

“She tore up Lana Krist’s books,” one whispered.

“And ruined her alchemy kit. It was sabotage,” said another.

“I heard she even set fire to her practice robes last week. Lana’s scared of her now.”

Iris turned sharply. “You don’t know what you’re saying. Rumors aren’t truth.”

The group fell silent as Iris faced them. Even without a noble title, her closeness to the crown prince made her words weighty.

“It’s not just rumors,” one girl murmured. “Lana’s never caused trouble before. And this... just seems like a pattern. You should stay away from Yuki, Iris. She’s... unstable.”

But Iris said nothing more. The teacher had entered.

He was a tall, lanky man with parchment-stained fingers and a robe embroidered with constellations. He scribbled two words on the board in golden chalk:

...‘Ancient History’...

“Today, we begin with the world before the Imperial Era,” he said. “Before kingdoms, before calendars as you know them, there was only the Celestial Cycle—the Year of the Gods. A time when divinity walked the land.”

He explained how time had once been guided by the Saint—blessed by all twelve gods—who created the foundation of magic and society. After the Saint’s disappearance and the devastation of the Great War, most of that knowledge was lost.

“Only fragments remain,” he said, holding up a faded scroll. “And only a handful of people can still read this ancient script.”

He turned to Cain. “For the royal family, it is a requirement.”

A silence followed. Then the teacher added with a grin, “You may think this class will be dull, but hidden in these texts are secrets that shaped our world—and perhaps threaten it still.”

As he passed by Iris’s desk, he glanced at the margin of her open notebook and paused—curiously eyeing the line she had doodled:

...“Many unsaid secrets keep all nations asleep nightly.”...

A strange phrase. And yet... perhaps not meaningless.

...——To Be Continued——...

Hey there these are:

Question for the Reader:

Power may shape kingdoms, but whispers shape people. Who do you think is telling the truth—Lana, with her gentle reputation, or Yuki, shrouded in silence? And how do you decide what’s true when no one is willing to speak plainly?

BTW I've hidden my name in the Novel, Lets see whi can find it although it is not so difficult, i will rise the difficulty with each answer.

Hint:

Initials can be deceiving. 🗝️

And tell me if i should put these in author note, thiugh i doubt it will fit

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