Ascension Gates: Rise of the Beast Monarch-Chapter 12: The Academy Begins to Notice

The conversation with Darius did not end the way most important revelations usually did.

There was no dramatic conclusion, no sudden attack, and no immediate answers about Aether’s parents or his sister. Instead, Darius simply left after giving a final warning.

"Be careful, Aether," he had said before turning away. "Your existence has started to ripple across this world."

Then he disappeared into the night as if he had never been there.

But the effect of that meeting did not disappear.

It stayed with Aether.

And it would soon begin to affect everything around him.

---

The next morning inside Skygate Academy felt unusually normal.

Students walked through the wide training courtyards, instructors discussed assignments near the arena halls, and various beast tamers practiced alongside their contracted companions. Fire, wind, earth, and lightning abilities flashed across different training grounds as usual.

Yet rumors were spreading.

They moved quietly at first, whispered among students who had witnessed strange energy the previous night.

Aether noticed it immediately when he entered the main courtyard.

People were looking at him.

Not openly.

But enough to notice.

The Fire Pup trotted beside him, small flames flickering lazily as if it didn’t care about the attention.

Aether glanced down at it.

"You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?"

The Fire Pup barked once, which Aether had started interpreting as something between agreement and pride.

He sighed lightly.

"Of course you are."

As they continued walking, a group of students stepped into their path.

Three of them.

All wearing the insignia of one of Skygate’s stronger training groups.

The one in front crossed his arms.

"So you’re Aether."

Aether stopped.

"That depends," he replied calmly. "Who’s asking?"

The student smirked slightly.

"Name’s Kael."

He looked down at the Fire Pup.

"That’s the beast that caused all the rumors."

The Fire Pup’s flames flickered slightly brighter.

Kael leaned closer.

"It doesn’t look that impressive."

Aether didn’t react.

But the students behind Kael laughed quietly.

One of them said, "Maybe the stories were exaggerated."

Another added, "Probably just got lucky."

Aether looked at them for a few seconds.

Then he said simply,

"If you’re done talking, I’m going to class."

Kael’s smile faded.

"You think you’re above everyone already?"

"No," Aether replied. "I just don’t like wasting time."

That answer irritated Kael more than any insult could have.

He stepped forward.

"Then how about a spar?"

The surrounding students slowed down, sensing something interesting about to happen.

The Fire Pup tilted its head.

Aether considered the situation for a moment.

Then he said,

"Fine."

---

The sparring arena inside Skygate was enormous.

Multiple battles happened there daily, but when a fight involved someone who had already started attracting rumors, the crowd gathered quickly.

Within minutes, dozens of students had formed a circle around the arena platform.

Kael stepped forward confidently.

His beast appeared beside him — a Wind Lancer Hawk.

A fast aerial combat beast known for quick attacks.

The Fire Pup looked up at it curiously.

Aether crouched slightly beside his companion.

"Don’t go all out," he said quietly.

The Fire Pup blinked.

Aether added,

"We’re keeping a low profile."

The small beast snorted a little flame as if disappointed.

Across the arena, Kael raised a hand.

"Ready?"

Aether nodded.

"Whenever you are."

---

The battle started instantly.

The Wind Lancer Hawk shot into the air like a blade of wind, diving toward Aether at incredible speed.

Several students gasped.

"That’s fast."

But Aether didn’t move.

Instead, the Fire Pup stepped forward.

A small wave of fire burst outward — not explosive, but precise.

The hawk had to shift direction mid-dive.

Kael frowned slightly.

"Not bad."

Then he commanded,

"Second strike!"

The hawk circled and attacked again, faster this time.

But the Fire Pup had already predicted the movement.

This time, instead of a flame burst, it simply leaped upward.

For such a small creature, the jump was shockingly powerful.

The hawk narrowly avoided a direct hit.

The crowd murmured.

"He’s controlling the battlefield."

"Is that really a basic fire beast?"

Aether remained completely calm.

He wasn’t trying to dominate.

He was measuring.

Understanding how strong the academy students actually were.

Kael noticed that too.

And it annoyed him.

"You’re not even fighting seriously."

Aether replied,

"I am."

Then the Fire Pup moved.

For the first time in the battle, its flames deepened slightly.

Not fully revealing its true potential — but enough.

A sudden spiral of fire formed in the air.

The hawk tried to escape.

But the heat forced it downward.

Landing directly in front of the Fire Pup.

The arena went silent.

Kael’s expression changed.

He realized something important.

He had been outmatched from the start.

After a few seconds, he raised his hand.

"I surrender." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

The crowd erupted into noise.

Some were impressed.

Others were confused.

A few looked concerned.

Aether simply nodded.

"Good match."

---

Later that day, word had already spread through several parts of the academy.

Not because Aether had defeated Kael.

But because of how easily he had done it.

Inside one of the higher towers of Skygate, a group of instructors watched a replay of the battle.

One of them spoke.

"He’s holding back."

Another nodded.

"By a lot."

A third instructor said quietly,

"And that fire beast is unusual."

The oldest among them looked thoughtful.

"This might attract attention from outside factions."

---

Meanwhile, Aether sat under a large tree near the training grounds.

The Fire Pup rested beside him, looking satisfied.

"You’re getting stronger," Aether said.

The small beast wagged its tail, sparks flying.

But Aether knew something else too.

This was only the beginning.

He could already feel his power increasing steadily.

And soon, the academy would not be the only place watching him.

Across the Lower World, powerful factions had started paying attention.

And some of them were not friendly.

Still, Aether wasn’t worried.

He leaned back slightly and looked at the sky.

"We have time," he said quietly.

The Fire Pup barked once.

For now, the academy thrill is just started.