As Elena embarks on her new journey at Lumina Academy, she steps outside and gazes toward the Hero's Tower, where Nexus resides. The tower was built as a gift for him after he defeated Daemon. She considers whether she should meet him and ask about Kathrina, but decides to wait until she returns from her first day at the academy, wanting to keep her mind fresh.

Upon reaching Lumina Academy, Elena was surprised to find it was housed in a modest three-story building, much smaller than the grand Academy for commoners. Inside, only eight other students occupied the space with her. The room was cramped, with book racks and serum bottles lining the walls. Choosing an empty spot on the second bench, Elena couldn't help but notice the camaraderie among the other students, evident from their interactions and their refined attire, marking them as either celestial.

Feeling uncertain about approaching them, Elena's thoughts were interrupted by the sudden appearance of an elderly woman. Her long, grey hair pulled back and clad in a black robe, she exuded an air of authority. Without delay, the woman introduced herself as Diana Rosevale, a Celestial from Rosevale house, before launching into the day's lesson.

Though it was initially challenging for Elena to keep up, she gradually grasped the concept that everything in the universe is composed of different particles. As the lesson unfolded, she learned how these particles interact and combine to form fundamental elements such as water, fire, earth, and metal. The instructor explained that these same particles exist within the human body, and with the proper knowledge and focus of ruah, one can harness them to conjure and manipulate these elements. Despite the complexity of the subject, Elena found herself intrigued by the possibilities that lay before her.

This new understanding of elemental manipulation differed from Elena's previous training with Erza, where she had focused solely on channeling her ruah to control existing elements like water. Now, she realized the profound revelation that elements such as water or fire could actually be created from the particles within oneself.

Diana's demonstration captivated the class as she showcased the practical application of their lesson. With a simple gesture, she extended her hand and materialized a gleaming metal coin from her palm, leaving her class in awe of her mastery, with that todays class was ended.

As Elena rose from her seat, ready to depart, she was approached by a girl, slightly younger and with a distinctive purple tint to her dark hair, tied back in a ponytail.

"Hi, I'm Victoria Darkstone. Nice to meet you," Victoria greeted warmly.

"Welcome to Prastan! You must be feeling pretty good after living all those years with the worms," remarked a boy who accompanied Victoria.

"Don't call them worms, Adam. This is Adam Starfall, by the way. His tongue doesn't match his handsome figure," Victoria interjected with a playful smirk.

"Thanks," Adam replied, his pride evident in his tone.

Victoria rolled her eyes and placed a hand on her forehead. "Hi, nice to meet you both," Elena responded, returning the greeting with a smile.

As the trio exited the academy, Adam wasted no time in demonstrating his skill to Elena, he placed a parchment on the ground which had some symbols scribbled on it and placed his right palm on it,  a majestic beast  was summoned from it after sometime. The creature, towering over Adam with its imposing stature and sealed mouth, served as his noble steed.

"Well, can't be seen walking like a commoner. My grandfather is a king," Adam declared before disappearing atop his summoned companion.

Victoria rolled her eyes. "He likes to remind everyone that he's King Marcus Starfall's grandson."

Curious about the spectacle she had witnessed, Elena inquired about the nature of the creature and its summoning process.

"Have you never seen a magical beast before?" Victoria asked incredulously.

"I have seen one, a creature named Nisob carried me when I traveled to Prastan," Elena replied.

"Indeed, this is another type of magical beast. By forming a contract with one, you can summon it using a summoning circle," Victoria explained, producing a similar marked parchment from her bag and showing it to Elena.

Comparing the markings, Elena noticed the uniqueness of each summoning circle, reflecting the bond between summoner and beast.

"How can I form a contract with a magical beast?" Elena inquired.

Victoria elaborated, detailing the process of locating and defeating a magical beast to place a  unique summoning mark on the beasts body and the same summoning mark should be used to summon it. She added that in rare cases, a creature might permit a contract without a battle if it deems the summoner worthy.

"It doesn't sound easy," Elena remarked.

"There's an easier way," Victoria continued, mentioning the Luminary house's involvement in the magical beast trade. "They might even provide one for free, given your celestial status."

Though tempted by the offer, Elena resolved to earn her magical beast companion through the traditional method, determined to face the challenge of defeating a magical beast and earning its allegiance.

As they strolled along, Elena couldn't help but notice the increased presence of soldiers patrolling the streets.

"There are many soldiers on the street today, is it because of Jasper's execution?" Elena asked, voicing her concern.

"Yeah, they'll be executing him soon. Celestials are restless, and the king has dragged it out for too long," Victoria confirmed.

"The king is fully prepared for any surprises during the execution," Victoria continued.

"You mean the Phoenix?" Elena inquired, recalling the legendary group of formidable warriors.

"Yes, indeed. They're a force to be reckoned with. Going up against them won't be an easy task," Victoria affirmed, her expression grave.

Lost in thought about the impending execution and the potential conflict with the Phoenix, Elena suddenly realized they had arrived at her home.

"This is where I stay. Do you want to come in?" Elena offered.

"Some other time. It's going to be dark soon,  my mother will scold me if I am late," Victoria replied with a laugh, bidding Elena farewell as she departed into the fading daylight.

Exhausted from the day's events and the weight of newfound knowledge and looming tensions, Elena wasted no time in retreating to the comfort of her bed.

Upon waking up , Elena delved into her textbook, revisiting the lessons she was taught today in academy, she stumbled upon a fascinating revelation. Not only could individuals conjure elements through the particles within their bodies using ruah, but some are born with a predisposition towards certain elements. Reading further, she learned that certain families, like the Emberforge lineage, possessed unique particles in their body that enabled them to conjure a very different elements—such as black flames.

The mention of black flames sent a shiver down Elena's spine, stirring memories of a haunting dream where she found herself engulfed in their sinister embrace. Recollections flooded her mind, including the enigmatic behavior of Draken Emberforge during her naming ceremony, where he had inexplicably apologized to her.

The thought of seeking counsel from Nexus tugged at her mind. It wasn't too late, and she felt a growing urgency to unravel the mysteries swirling around her. As Elena made her way to the Hero's Tower, she saw Jerald, who was heading towards the Emberforge Tower, she gave him little thought, her focus fixed on her own destination.

Upon entering the tower, Elena inquired with a servant about Nexus's whereabouts, who promptly directed her to his chamber. However, upon arrival, she found the room empty save for opulent displays of wealth. Golden trinkets adorned a lavish table, including a chessboard, mug, and plate—all gleaming in the soft light of the chamber.

"What brings you here at this time?" Nexus's voice broke the silence, startling Elena.

"Sorry to disturb you this late, I just had something to ask," Elena replied, feeling a bit apprehensive.

"And only I can answer it, in all of Prastan?" Nexus questioned with a hint of amusement.

"I just thought you might have an answer," Elena said, her voice faltering slightly.

"Okay, go ahead, ask away," Nexus offered, his demeanor calm and composed.

Elena hesitated for a moment, gathering her thoughts before finally speaking up. "Who is Kathrina?" she inquired, her tone filled with curiosity and a hint of urgency.

"I have no idea who that is," Nexus replied, a smirk playing on his lips. His response seemed insincere, as if  he wanted Elena to know that he was lying.

"Where did you come across that name?" Nexus probed further.

"I saw that name in some research papers in Alaric's lab. I think she also had blood magic," Elena explained.

"Oh, is that so?" Nexus responded, still wearing a sly smile.

"Please tell me if you know anything," Elena pleaded, her frustration mounting.

"I can't help you with that, Elena, but you are going in the right direction," Nexus replied cryptically, leaving Elena with more questions than answers.

"I feel you know who Kathrina is, but you're not telling me," Elena persisted, her voice tinged with frustration.

"I don't trust you, Elena," Nexus retorted, his tone firm and guarded.

"What? What did I do?" Elena asked, taken aback by Nexus's mistrust.

"I'm sorry, that came out wrong. I meant to say, I don't trust anyone, and you shouldn't either," Nexus clarified, his words carrying a weight of caution. It was a sobering reminder of the complexities and dangers lurking beneath the surface of their world, urging Elena to tread carefully in her pursuit of answers.

With a heavy heart and a mind swirling with unanswered questions, Elena made the decision to return home. Though she hadn't received the answers she sought, Nexus's cryptic responses only fueled her determination to uncover the truth.

"No one will answer me truthfully; I need to find the answers on my own," Elena mused, the questions swirling in her mind like restless spirits. "What is Pluton? Who is Kathrina? And why did Draken Emberforge apologize to me? And those black flames, which can be conjured only by Emberforge, why do they haunt my dreams?"

Her thoughts echoed in the solitude of her mind, each question a puzzle piece waiting to be solved.

As the moon cast its ethereal glow upon the forest, the two soldiers of Elysium found themselves locked in a desperate battle against the masked figure shrouded in darkness.

"What do you want? Why are you behind us?" the first soldier demanded, his voice tinged with defiance."I want your help to get in," came the reply from the masked figure, the words dripping with an urgency born of desperation."Get in? Where?" the second soldier pressed, his confusion evident."Prastan..." the masked figure uttered, the word hanging in the air like a whispered secret."What? We ourselves are not authorized to go inside," the first soldier retorted, his tone incredulous.With a swift and decisive motion, the masked figure raised both hands towards the soldiers, conjuring a sinister black flame that engulfed them in its dark embrace. Agonized screams pierced the night as the soldiers writhed in pain."You guys are useless," the masked figure spat with disdain, the piercing blue eyes glaring through the mask.