The Pursuit Of Catalyst: A Dive Into Another Verse

After the Duel

As the dormitory crowd thinned, Sylves turned to the boy with the golden hair.

"You must be Prince Elas," he said respectfully, giving a short bow. "It's an honour to meet you, Your Highness."

Elas smiled lightly, offering his hand — not with the air of royalty, but of someone extending friendship. "Call me Elas. Titles are too stiff, especially among classmates."

Sylves hesitated, then shook his hand firmly. "Very well. I'm Sylves Ellesmere, and this is Ashia—my personal maid… and classmate."

Ashia bowed deeply. "Your Highness…"

Elas nodded to her kindly. "A pleasure. And no need to worry — your presence at this academy was officially approved. No one will dare challenge that again after what just happened."

Sylves inclined his head. "Thank you… for speaking to the warden. That could've turned complicated."

Elas waved it off. "Just told the truth. Come — let me show you to the reception desk."

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At the Front Desk

The clerk greeted them with wide eyes and stiff manners — the combined presence of the Duke's heir and the Crown Prince left most faculty off balance. A key was handed over quickly, along with room details and a formal bow.

"I'll head to lecture now," Elas said as they turned down the hall. "Once you've unpacked, you should join us — orientation has been done... Only a single lecture will be held today."

"We'll be there shortly," Sylves replied.

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Dormitory Room 104

The door creaked open to reveal a modest yet elegant space — polished floors, a small desk, one wardrobe, and at the center, a bed. Wide, white-linened, and unmistakably meant for more than one person.

Sylves stepped inside with calm curiosity, setting his travel case by the desk.

Ashia lingered near the doorway, her gaze fixed on the bed. A nervous frown crept onto her face.

He noticed it immediately. "Something wrong?"

"N-no, Master. It's just…" She looked away, flustered. "There's no futon here for the maid. I'll head back to the reception to request one—"

Sylves turned, voice low but firm. "What are you talking about?"

She blinked.

He pointed casually at the bed. "It's a double, Ashia. Not a single. And neither of us is a knight in armor. That thing could fit three or four Ashias, easy."

Ashia's face flushed a deep pink.

"N-No, Master! I-I'm a maid, I can't… I don't deserve to share a bed with you. It's improper! I just— I mean—" Her words tumbled over each other in a growing panic.

Before she could spin toward the door again, Sylves stepped forward and gently but firmly held her by the shoulders.

His expression was steady, his voice softer now — but resolute.

"Ashia. You're under my care. No one will say a word, and no one will harm your dignity. You don't have to worry about anything… as long as I'm here."

She froze.

The tension inside her seemed to melt — a wall she hadn't even realized she'd been building started to crumble. Her panic faded, replaced with a deep sense of warmth… and something else. Something unfamiliar, fluttering quietly in her chest.

She looked up into his eyes — earnest, kind, protective — and smiled softly.

"…Thank you, Master."

Sylves gave her a slight nod, then turned toward his luggage. "We should unpack before we're late."

Ashia watched him for a moment longer, heart strangely light.

Respect…

And something else she don't understand yet…

Perfect — here's the next scene, continuing right after they unpack and head into their first academy lecture. It sets up the world of magic, politics, and mystery around Sylves's power, while keeping the pacing energetic and immersive:

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Imperial Asphalia Academy – Main Lecture Hall

The grand doors creaked open as Sylves and Ashia stepped into the lecture hall.

It was colossal — large enough to fit nearly a hundred students, with tiers of marble steps, floating light-crystals illuminating the room in a soft golden glow. Murals of ancient battles, royal crests, and Catalyst sigils adorned the high vaulted walls. At the front stood a tall, silver-haired man in deep navy robes, scribbling equations into thin air with a wand-like conductor.

Dozens of students were already seated, whispering, chuckling, or pretending not to notice the late arrivals.

And yet… they did notice.

All eyes turned to Sylves and Ashia as they took their seats. Whispers stirred again like leaves in wind.

"They're the ones from earlier…"

"The maid girl too? She's attending lectures?"

"Wait, that boy is the one who knocked out Kavel?"

At the center of the front row, Elas glanced back and gave a subtle nod of approval. Sylves returned it with the faintest smirk before guiding Ashia to two vacant seats beside him.

The silver-haired professor cleared his throat, and the murmuring ceased instantly.

"Welcome," he began, voice deep and controlled. "I am Professor Magren Vastholm, High Theorist of Arcana and your First-Year Principal Lecturer."

He waved his hand, and glowing letters formed in the air above the blackboard.

"Catalysts: The Fundamental Pillars of Power."

"Magic, swords, spirits, bloodlines — all forms of energy in our world stem from the ancient Catalysts. Five in total: Creation, Destruction, Order, Chaos, and Transition. But with great power…" His eyes swept over the class. "…came great fragmentation. Some humans inherited sparks of Catalyst power — and some… were born as hosts."

Ashia's eyes widened slightly. Sylves kept his face neutral, but the word host echoed in his mind.

Magren continued. "In recorded history, only seven verified hosts have existed but it was so much in past that hardly anyone remembers. All of them powerful. All of them unpredictable. And now…"

He paused.

"An eighth has been born among this very class. I'll introduce but before that..."

All eyes turned again — this time not whispering, but searching.

Scanning.

Sylves remained still. Calm.

Magren said after a beat, "We will begin your evaluation today. Your abilities will be assessed through a basic mana resonance and control test. It is non-lethal. No spells. No weapons. No duels." His tone turned dry. "At least for now."

Nervous laughter from a few students.

Magren flicked his wand, and dozens of small glowing stones floated from the sides of the room. Each hovered before a student's desk.

"These are Manalith Crystals. They react to internal mana. Touch the crystal. Focus your energy inward. Your mana output and nature will be recorded instantly."

He stepped back. "Begin."

One by one, students placed their palms on the stones.

Blue for elemental mana. Green for healing. Red for fire. Dull gray for the unawakened.

Ashia placed her hand gently on hers.

A soft light flared — pale silver-blue.

The students nearby turned in surprise. Magren arched a brow.

"A natural synchronizer?" he muttered.

Sylves stepped forward last. Other students started whispering...

"…Is he the one?"

"The Sovereign?"

"Catalyst of Creation…?"

Professor Magren stopped Sylves, "You are exempted from the test, Mr. Ellesmere. I have some questions... Please come to the Staff Headquarters at 5 o'clock of evening... Along Miss Ashia. Orientation is concluded. You all are dismissed."Orders Professor Magren.

Professor Magren whispers to himself as he leaves with a smirk, "With this, this year's First Lecture is concluded. Seems this year will be... Interesting."

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