Aether Rails was a revolutionary technology invented around ten years ago.

It was a system of transportation that connected major points across the continent—swift, silent, and powered entirely by Aether. Naturally, there existed one between all five major academies and the Great Hall, the central hub of all mage activity.

Each rail line consisted of several carts linked together, capable of carrying dozens of passengers at once. These carts didn't move through any physical force—no horses, no engines, no push or pull. Instead, they glided along invisible currents of Aether that flowed through the air itself.

The track, made of silverstone and Aether conduits, ran from point A to B with several stations in between, all managed jointly by the Great Hall and the Towers. The carts moved by reading the Aether flow pattern, which told them the right direction to travel, almost as if they possessed a will of their own.

This single invention had transformed the world.

Long-distance travel became faster and safer. Traders could move heavy loads between cities in a fraction of the time. And best of all—the cost of travel had dropped drastically. No more hiring horse-drawn carriages or paying high prices for guards to fend off bandits.

Truly, it was a masterpiece born from the ingenuity of the Tower of East Wind.

— — —

That morning, the students of Ardentia Academy gathered before the front gate. From there, they would walk together to the nearest Aether Rail station, where a train awaited to take them to the contest venue.

William and Emma, as usual, arrived a little later than the rest. Emma had taken extra time to prepare some lunch for the trip, while William was busy stuffing his clothes into his bag at the last minute.

When they reached the gate, the other three students—Natalie, Kevin, and Gizel—were already waiting alongside the vice-headmaster and their instructor, Madame Russel.

"We can't be late for this, you two knew that, right?" Russel's eyes narrowed, her voice firm.

Emma quickly replied, "William was discharged late this morning, Madame."

Russel scoffed softly, folding her arms. "Well, since you're here, let's not waste any more time. Sir David?"

The bespectacled man gave a nod. "Yes, let's get going."

He began leading the group toward the station.

The market William had promised to take Emma to was in the southern district, but the station lay in the opposite direction—much closer and easier to reach.

They walked across the sprawling academy grounds. Kevin and Natalie walked together in the middle, chatting quietly. Gizel trailed behind them, lost in thought. Emma and William followed at the back, their pace a little slower.

Emma tilted her head upward, watching the shifting clouds. "It might rain today," she murmured.

The sky had turned dim, blanketed with heavy clouds carried by restless winds. The air had grown cool, brushing against their faces with a soft bite.

"I feel like God was fooled into thinking we were going on a date," William said with a wry smile.

Emma giggled softly.

He still remembered what happened the last time he'd tried to plan a date with her. Everything had gone wrong before it even started. Though, in the end, they'd spent a warm, quiet evening together in her room—so maybe it wasn't a complete disaster.

Still, it was strange. They had already confessed their feelings, kissed more than once, and yet… they hadn't managed to go on a proper date.

"After we return," Emma said, brushing her hair back with a smile, "let's go on a long date."

"A long date?" William raised an eyebrow.

"Yes," she replied with a small grin, "we'll be visiting your house, won't we?"

William sighed, his shoulders drooping a little. "Yeah… that."

Emma blinked, puzzled. "You don't want to introduce me to your father?"

William waved his hands quickly, realizing how that sounded. "No, it's not that! I'd be happy to. It's just…" He scratched his cheek awkwardly. "My stepmother and my siblings—they have a knack for saying things that make my blood boil."

Emma reached over and gently took his hand. Her voice softened. "Don't worry about them. I can handle people like that."

William chuckled under his breath. "I'm sure you can."

Soon, the group reached the Aether Rail station. Four sleek, silver carts floated a few feet above the ground, gently humming with Aether energy. They were long enough to seat twenty people each, with polished frames and glowing lines tracing along their surface.

A uniformed train operator stood near the entrance, bowing politely as the group approached.

"Come on, get inside," the vice-headmaster instructed. "And don't sit in separate compartments."

The students boarded the second cart, while the two instructors took the first.

The cabin interior was wide and comfortable, the seats fixed to the walls and cushioned with soft velvet padding. Large windows lined both sides, offering a clear view of the misty morning landscape.

William sank into one of the seats, instantly feeling sleepy from how soft it was. Emma sat beside him by the window, her shoulder brushing lightly against his arm.

Across from them sat Kevin and Natalie, while Gizel quietly occupied the row behind.

Kevin glanced at Emma, his jaw tightening slightly. Just for a moment, he imagined himself sitting where William was. He imagined spending the trip beside her—talking, laughing, sharing lunch, maybe even dozing off together as the train glided across the clouds.

But that seat wasn't his anymore.

That thought twisted like a knife in his chest. His hands clenched, his throat heavy.

Before he could sink too deep into his thoughts, a soft voice broke through.

"Kevin?" Natalie called. She followed his gaze to Emma before lowering her eyes, her voice trembling just slightly. "...Do you want to sit with her?"

Even though she knew it was impossible—she still asked. She didn't know why. Maybe she just wanted to hear it from him.

Watching him look at Emma like that, so quietly and longingly, made her chest ache in ways she didn't want to admit.

Kevin softly smiled before he shook his head, "Ah, no…I just thought that being with William has just excluded her completely from our group."

Natalie exhaled a sigh, both because of his lie and the truth in his words.

"Well…William doesn't have the personality to make friends. Conversing with him is difficult…and considering our past, it's not a surprise that he doesn't want to do anything with us."

Her gaze landed on Emma before she voiced, "And…Emma isn't going to even look at someone whom William doesn't like. That is for sure."

°°°°°°°°°

A/N:- Thanks for reading. Please add the book to your collection.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.