Chapter Text
The sky above Shānyáng Academy was perpetually cast in shades of twilight, a sky neither day nor night, steeped in the mystic aura that cloaked the school in secrecy and ancient power.
As Xie Lian stepped through the portal, a shimmering rift in the air behind him sealed shut, leaving him standing alone at the base of a grand, ancient staircase. Shānyáng Academy, renowned across the realms for its rigorous and mystical teachings, loomed before him.
The academy’s architecture was a blend of traditional Eastern design and otherworldly enchantment. Pagodas with sweeping, tiled roofs that glinted in the twilight, stood tall, connected by bridges that arched gracefully over koi-filled ponds and enchanted streams that never froze, even in the harshest winters. The buildings were constructed from dark, polished wood and stone, intricately carved with arcane symbols and ancient characters.
Students moved in clusters across the courtyards, dressed in the academy’s uniform: a robe of deep indigo with silver embroidery that depicted their respective elemental faction’s emblem. There were four factions: the Azure Dragons of the East for Water, the Crimson Phoenixes of the South for Fire, the Golden Tigers of the West for Earth, and the White Kylins of the North for Air. The students’ uniforms bore accents of blue, red, gold, or white to denote their allegiance.
Xie Lian clutched his suitcase tightly, its leather exterior weathered yet sturdy. Inside, he carried all that he would need for his studies: a set of new books bound in dark silk, their titles embossed in silver; a variety of crystals that glowed faintly with internal light; small, stoppered vials of rare ingredients for potion-making; and a deck of occult cards, each card inscribed with symbols and sigils that promised to reveal secrets of the arcane to those who knew how to read them. His uniform was neatly folded inside as well, a rich indigo robe with silver thread, waiting to be worn.
As he stood absorbing the scene, a young man in similar attire approached him. “You must be Xie Lian,” he said. “Welcome to Shānyáng Academy. I’m Lan Wangji, a senior student. I’ve been assigned to help you settle in.”
Xie Lian nodded, grateful for the assistance. Lan Wangji gestured for him to follow, and they began their ascent up the grand staircase. “The headmaster will address the new students shortly,” Lan Wangji explained as they walked. “You’ll receive your elemental faction assignment and then be shown to your room.”
They passed through grand hallways that smelled like incense and aged parchment. They were illuminated by lanterns that floated freely. Murals depicting magical plants and mythical creatures adorned the walls.
They reached a vast hall where the new students had gathered. At the front, a raised dais held a podium behind which stood the headmaster, an imposing figure with a long beard and piercing eyes. He wore robes of deep black, embroidered with symbols of all four elements. He raised his hands, and a hush fell over the room.
“Welcome, new initiates, to Shānyáng Academy,” his voice echoed. A voice both powerful and serene “You are here to master the elements, to unlock the secrets of the arcane, and to uphold the traditions that have been passed down through generations. You will be assigned to your factions shortly.”
One by one, the students stepped forward as the headmaster called their names, facing the four glowing spheres that represented the elemental factions: Earth, Water, Fire, and Air.
Each sphere hovered gracefully in the air.The Earth sphere, a deep emerald green, crackled with the energy of mountains and forests. The Water sphere shimmered like a sapphire, its surface rippling gently as though touched by an invisible breeze. The Fire sphere burned a brilliant crimson, flickering with the intensity of a thousand suns. The Air sphere was a bright silver, swirling with the lightness and speed of the wind.
Xie Lian watched as the first student approached the spheres. The orbs began to pulse in response, each vying for the student’s attention. Suddenly, the Air sphere shot forward, wrapping the student in a gentle breeze as it settled above their head, marking them as a member of the Air faction. The student smiled in relief and stepped aside, joining the other newly chosen Air faction members.
Another student followed, and this time, the Fire sphere darted toward them, its flames dancing excitedly around their form. The student, clearly pleased, nodded in acceptance and moved to stand with the Fire faction.
As more students were chosen, Xie Lian’s turn finally came. He stepped forward, feeling nervous and excited. The four spheres reacted immediately, their lights growing brighter as they sensed his presence. For a moment, all four seemed to surge forward, as if undecided, but then they paused, hovering in place.
Xie Lian held his breath, wondering which element would choose him.
The spheres wavered, their energies swirling and intertwining, as if debating.
The Water sphere rippled with greater intensity, sending out soft waves that lapped at Xie Lian’s feet. The Earth sphere glowed warmly, a comforting presence, while the Fire sphere flickered with an eager, wild energy. The Air sphere swirled lightly, its silver light shimmering like a mirage.
Then, as if making up its mind, the Fire sphere surged forward. The other spheres slowly retreated, their lights dimming as the Fire sphere solidified its claim.
“The Crimson Phoenixes,” the headmaster announced. “Welcome to the faction of Fire.”
The students applauded politely, and Xie Lian stepped back.
Before they could leave the hall, the grand doors creaked open, drawing everyone’s attention. A lone figure entered, dripping wet and covered in mud, clearly having traveled a great distance on foot. His dark hair clung to his face, and his clothes, though once fine, were tattered and soaked. The students exchanged glances and murmurs as he approached the dais, their curiosity piqued by this unusual arrival.
The headmaster’s eyes narrowed as he observed the new arrival, but he made no move to dismiss him. “State your name,” he commanded, his voice echoing through the hall.
“Hua Cheng,” the boy replied, his voice steady despite his bedraggled appearance.
A hush fell over the room as Hua Cheng stepped forward to take his place before the elemental spheres. The other students, who had been watching with mild interest before, now leaned in closer, their eyes fixed on the mysterious figure. There was something about Hua Cheng—his quiet confidence, the aura of power that seemed to radiate from him—that made everyone pause.
The four spheres, sensing his approach, began to react almost immediately. The Fire sphere, usually the most aggressive, flared up with a brilliant crimson light, its flames licking the air as if eager to claim him. The Earth sphere pulsed with a deep, resonant energy, solid and unwavering, while the Air sphere swirled with an erratic, lightning-fast speed, desperate to reach him first. But it was the Water sphere that seemed to sense something deeper in Hua Cheng, something that resonated with its own nature.
For a brief, tense moment, all four spheres surged forward, their energies clashing violently in the center of the room.
The Air sphere struck first, its silver light shooting towards Hua Cheng like a bolt of lightning. But the Water sphere was faster, intercepting the Air sphere’s approach with a powerful wave of energy that sent it spiraling back, its light dimming as it retreated in defeat.
The Earth sphere, watching this battle, hesitated for a moment, but then it too surged forward, its energy crackling with determination. The Water sphere, undeterred, responded with a powerful current that crashed against the Earth sphere’s defenses.
The Fire sphere roared to life, its flames growing more intense as it pushed forward, trying to engulf Hua Cheng in its fiery embrace. But the Water sphere met it head-on, its cool, blue light flaring with an intensity that matched the Fire sphere’s heat. The two forces collided in a burst of steam, the room filling with a hiss as the fire was extinguished, leaving the Fire sphere sputtering and weakened.
As the other spheres retreated, battered and defeated, the Water sphere moved forward, its light intensifying as it enveloped Hua Cheng. The room was filled with a radiant blue glow, the energy of the sphere swirling around him in a protective, almost possessive embrace. It was clear to everyone present that the Water sphere had fought fiercely to claim Hua Cheng.
“The Azure Dragons,” the headmaster declared. “Welcome to the faction of Water.”
The students exchanged glances, whispers of disbelief and surprise rippling through the crowd. Hua Cheng, standing amidst the aftermath of the elemental battle, simply nodded, acknowledging the sphere’s choice with a quiet confidence that only deepened the sense of mystery surrounding him.
"Did you see the way the spheres reacted to him?" one student murmured, his voice tinged with disbelief.
"I heard he’s from a family with no magic at all," another student whispered, his tone incredulous. "How can someone like him have that much power?"
"Maybe he’s not even human," a third student suggested, half-joking, but with a nervous edge. "I’ve never seen the elements fight like that for anyone. He just walked in here, and the spheres went crazy."
"But did you see the Air sphere?" a student in the back added, his voice low with awe. "It broke. I’ve never heard of that happening before. It’s like the Water sphere was willing to destroy the others just to claim him."
"I bet he’s dangerous," one of the snobbier students muttered, narrowing his eyes. "That kind of power shouldn’t belong to someone with no lineage. He’s probably using some dark magic to control the elements."
"Or maybe he’s just that strong," another student countered, his tone filled with reluctant admiration.
Xie Lian, watching from his place among the other students, realized that there was far more to this boy than met the eye.
Lan Wangji led Xie Lian and the other new Crimson Phoenixes out of the hall, casting a final curious glance at Hua Cheng as they left.