An hour after leaving the hospital, the limo slowed as it approached a towering iron gate engraved with a regal crest—half rabbit, half wolf, intertwined in a frozen snarl. Beyond it stretched a long, immaculate road, manicured grass rolling outward in perfect symmetry. Greek-inspired statues lined the path, each carved in dynamic poses of battle, wisdom, and restraint.

  The gates opened silently.

  The limo rolled forward.

  Hiruzen pressed his face lightly against the window, eyes wide.

  Hiruzen: Wow… Reito, your place is insane. Those statues alone probably cost more than everything I’ve ever owned.

  Reito glanced out the window, unimpressed.

  Reito: Yeah. It looks nice. That’s about it. Wait until you see the inside.

  The limo came to a stop. The doors opened.

  Inside the mansion was controlled excess—marble floors, a fountain running quietly through the center hall, a buffet that looked untouched, a pool off to the side, even a miniature golf course built into the floor layout itself. It was impressive, but sterile. Like a place designed for power, not comfort.

  Hiruzen turned a corner—

  And froze.

  Jonathan and Kai were arguing loudly at the buffet table, both holding plates stacked too high, while Owen, Willow, Walter, Daniel, and Elric stood nearby.

  Hiruzen: GUYS!

  Every head snapped toward him.

  Emma was the first to move.

  Emma: Hiruzen! Are you okay?! You were out for a week—you shouldn’t even be standing right now!

  Willow: Yeah, you were hurt really badly. You don’t need to push yourself if you’re in too much pain.

  Hiruzen smiled faintly.

  Hiruzen: I’m fine. My body recovers fast… honestly, the pain stopped halfway through the drive. I should be asking you guys that though. Willow, Owen—those burns looked pretty bad.

  Owen: They were. We still got scars but Mrs. Zinc and the medical team worked miracles.

  Willow nodded quietly.

  Hiruzen: I’m really glad you’re okay.

  A brief silence followed.

  Hiruzen: …Where’s everyone else?

  Emma hesitated.

  Emma: Walter, Daniel, and Elric were already called to the training room.

  Mai was deployed to one of the Five Islands— specifically Shardbound Isle where Asura has been for the past few months.

  Hiruzen swallowed.

  Hiruzen: And Caitlyn?

  Reito answered before anyone else could.

  Reito: She’s with her family. Every resource they have is focused on finding Aaron.

  Hiruzen looked down.

  Hiruzen: …I see.

  Reito clapped his hands once—sharp, commanding.

  Reito: Alright. Enough standing around. Everyone, follow me to the training room. This isn’t a vacation.

  They followed him down a long corridor to a pair of massive reinforced doors.

  The moment they opened—

  An explosion shook the room.

  The training hall was enormous. Multiple full-scale arenas, obstacle courses, simulation chambers, and rows of advanced monitors filled the space. Elric and Daniel were mid-fight, debris scattered across one arena floor, while Walter leaned against a railing watching.

  Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

  Reito: That’s enough sparing for you two.

  The pressure in the room shifted instantly.

  Daniel: Aw, c’mon, Reito. I was about to win.

  Elric: Yeah, right.

  They stepped back and joined the others as a massive screen lit up behind Reito.

  Reito turned to face them.

  Reito: Before we make you stronger… you need to understand what you actually are.

  The screen displayed a human figure layered with complex schematics.

  Reito: You already know our abilities fall into five classifications. Who can name them?

  Willow raised her hand.

  Willow: Enhancement. Elemental. Materialization. Cerebral. Abstract.

  Reito: Correct.But does anyone here know what those powers are actually called?

  Silence filled the room as everyone looked at each other to see if anyone knew the answer

  Jonathan nudged Emma.

  Jonathan: C’mon, honors student you should know this.

  Emma frowned.

  Emma: They never taught us that part.

  Reito nodded.

  Reito:Well since no one can answer I’ll just go ahead and tell you.These powers are called Aspects.

  The word seemed to hang in the air.

  Reito: Humans born with Aspects are called True-Borns.It’s believed that each True-Born carries a shard of the One within their soul—the original existence before reality fractured.

  Owen: So… our powers are Aspects.

  Kai smirked.

  Kai: True-Borns huh. Yeah. Sounds about right.

  Reito gestured to the screen again.

  Reito: Yes, now to go into more detail everyone’s aspect is unique to them completely. Even aspects that seem similar have their differences. For example, me and Hiruzen both have ice-based aspects, but they function differently, I specifically make Ice IV and there needs to be moisture in the air for my aspect to work. Hiruzen on the other hand has control over all forms of ice and can produce it from his body directly no matter the environment so he does not have restrictions unlike me but not only that but his ice has unique properties from normal ice as it’s able to do unique things. It’s the same reason why I’m classified as an Elemental type and Hiruzen is classified as an abstract type.

  Hiruzen raised his hand

  Hiruzen: Can someone fall into more than one category?

  Reito: Good question. Yes.

  Daniel, for example, his aspect is classified as both Abstract and Materialization.

  Emma frowned.

  Emma: But Reito sir, why weren't we taught any of this in classes at the academy? Isn’t this important?

  Reito: This information is taught to second year students and above but only as a final topic of lecture

  Kai: So that’s why me and Mai didn’t know about it. We were only halfway through our second year

  Reito: Exactly

  He tapped the screen.

  Four sections appeared.

  Reito: Aspects evolve through four stages.

  He tapped the screen and the first section expanded.

  Reito: The first of the four stages is the awakened stage which is achieved when the Aspect has activated and can be consciously used but remains externalized. Key traits are Power must be triggered intentionally, Clear physical tells (movement, gestures, focus), Heavy stamina drain, Poor control, and The Aspect reacts more than it obeys. This is common among first years, but this class of freshmen are more talented than the last so most of you fall in the second stage

  Reito taps the screen again and the second paragraph expands

  Reito: The second stage of evolution is called Refined which is achieved when the Aspect becomes integrated into the user’s physiology.

  Willow: What are the key traits for this one?

  Reito: The most notable ones are Reduced activation delay, Precision control, Can multitask Aspect use with combat, Can shape, compress, or layer abilities, and your Aspect begins to respond instinctively. The one among you who have achieved this stage are Hiruzen,Emma,Jonathan,Willow,Daniel,and Owen.

  Walter: Hey, what about me?

  Elric: Yeah, me too?

  Reito: Walter, you have been using the same 4 armors since you enrolled. Don’t get me wrong they are impressive, but you haven’t made any effort to go beyond basic stat boosts like attack, speed, and defense, and Elric your control over bones is still basic you haven’t been trying to think outside the box, have you?

  Walter: I…I guess I never thought I would need anything else. My four armors have always served me well the only time they were really tested were during the midterms

  Elric: Whenever I try to innovate with my aspect, I always hit a brick wall my parents always told me I’m just not trying hard enough but I know it’s something more than that

  Reito: Exactly during this training, you two need to at least reach the refined stage before I can clear for this upcoming mission the 5 islands. Now onto the third stage

  Reito taps the screen and the third paragraph expands

  Reito: The third stage of evolution is called Ascendent. This is when you reach such high control over your aspect that you are able to manifest it without conscious command and can suppress other aspects nearby. This is the stage I have reached alongside Mrs.Zinc and there are only two students in this tier, and they are Aaron and Skadi.

  Hiruzen upon hearing Skadi’s name begins to clench his fist as the temperature around him starts to drop but Emma takes his hand and he starts to calm down

  Emma (concerned look on her face): Hiruzen it’s okay

  Hiruzen: Yeah,Yeah i know sorry

  Emma: Don’t worry about it I understand

  Reito taps the screen again and the final paragraph expands

  Reito: This is the final stage of aspect evolution and it’s called Sovereign. This is achieved when the user and the Aspect become functionally inseparable. The most notable traits are your Aspect is always active, Laws bend automatically, Environment reshapes passively, True born who achieve this stage can contest Primordial influence, and Power expression is conceptual, not mechanical. There is only one man who has achieved this stage and his name is classified at the current moment

  Hiruzen: Okay this is a lot to take in but exactly how much stronger do we get when achieve the next stage

  Reito: The increase in overall power is about 5 to 10 times greater upon evolution. This training program assigned to me by the dean will last two months and will be followed by 1 week of physical training. By the end of the program you should all hopefully have achieved stage 3. So, tell me students, are you ready!

  Hiruzen and his fellow students all look at each other with determined looks on their faces before answering

  Students: YES, REITO SIR!!!

  End Chapter