The professor paused as I walked by, eyes narrowing slightly. A resonance for Anemo and Pyro mana… and a strong resonance for Mantra… he muttered silently. How rare.
I passed through an ominous hall, the high ceilings and stone walls echoing every footstep. After a while, a shed of sunlight spilled across the floor. Lilia stood there, waving her hand and catching my attention. Around us, the hall buzzed with students: some crying with joy at passing, others bouncing with excitement, and a few shouting grand declarations like, "I will be a legendary knight someday!" I rolled my eyes; let them dream.
"Seems you passed, as expected, Lilia," I said, walking up beside her.
"You're giving me too much credit," she replied, blushing faintly.
Before we could say more, a sharp, commanding shout echoed through the hall: "EVERYONE QUIET!"
The crowd instantly stilled. A man in a black suit ascended the stage. His light-red hair caught the afternoon sun, and his curled mustache twitched with authority.
"Greetings, students, and welcome to Unicrest Academy," he began, his voice booming over the crowd. "I am your principal, Iris Zoff, working alongside the academic faculty. Should you have questions or complaints, direct them to your professors. We expect excellence. Failure… or negligence… will have consequences, including death in extreme cases, throughout the years you remain here."
A brief murmur ran through the students at that.
"Ahem…" Another figure appeared, walking onto the stage with deliberate grace. The older gentleman's bald head shone under the hall lights, and a long, white beard framed a gentle, gleaming smile. He wore a pristine white mage's robe and glasses that caught the light in small, bright flashes. The aura he exuded seemed to quiet the entire room, easing the nervous hearts of the new students.
He was The Author, the greatest sorcerer in the country. Having mastered all branches of mana arts, he had been granted the title by the king himself. As the current head of Unicrest Academy, he outranked even the principal. His predecessors Lucia Silva, Jacob Everharts, and Kira Hein were legendary figures recorded in the World History books. Lucia Silva, the first author, had even founded the academy alongside a great swordsman whose name had been lost to history. A statue of her still stood in the middle of the Citadel Square, watching over the grounds like an eternal sentinel.
As the author continued speaking, my vision blurred for a fleeting moment.
『Forced Partial Activation: Perfect Vision』
A faint glimmer appeared in my eyes, barely noticeable to anyone, not even me at first. For a split second, I saw something a figure in the distance, emanating dark, swirling particles. My breath caught in my throat.
I rubbed my eyes, hoping the vision would vanish. "Was I seeing things?" I murmured under my breath.
Lilia, sensing my unease, leaned close and whispered, "Is everything alright?"
I swallowed, uncertain, trying to steady my racing heart. Could it have been a glimpse of danger? Or was it just my imagination?
"Y-yeah…" I murmured, still a little dazed.
The Author raised his hand and addressed the students again. "Hello, students. I wish to announce a few notable individuals who achieved the highest evaluations: the crown prince, Lucas Crest; Saintess Aria Louisbarne; Candice Hart, of the Absolute Noble family; Silena Slike; and perhaps most importantly, the newly appointed Hero, Kaioh Ryio."
Titles in the academy carried weight. Beyond the Author, there were others Hero, Sage, Counsel, Runic, and Sentinel. During the golden era, these titles had lain dormant for over two centuries. No one had earned them since. To receive one, a student must gain approval from all the continent's arbiters a fact considered common knowledge across the lands.
The Hero, however, was different. Every two hundred years, a Hero is born, destined to rise against the Demon Lord—an entity said to be the strongest threat to humanity. Each time the Hero is born, so too is the Demon Lord, reborn to challenge humanity anew.
I shoved the thought aside. Not my problem, thankfully. And hopefully never will be.
"I hope you all treat these individuals with respect," the Author concluded.
With that, the students began filing out of the hall, returning to their dorms and homes. More information on rooms, schedules, and rules would come the next day. I trudged back to my bedroom, arms slouched, katana resting against my shelf, and collapsed onto my bed, utterly exhausted. The principal's hour-and-a-half speech after the Author had drained me mentally—hopefully, never again.
I stared at the ceiling as the clock ticked steadily. I weighed the risks and rewards: danger and possible death, yes—but also scholarships, money, and a chance to support my mother. All of it felt worth the risk, even my own life.
But the dark particles lingered in my mind. The shadowy figure I had seen… I was certain it was real.
Morning came with the sun glaring through my window, pulling me from a restless sleep.
"Ugh…" I groaned, rubbing my eyes. "I hate mornings."
I sat up, lavender hair in its usual tangled chaos. The clock told me I still had time. I threw on my collared shirt, straightened my tie, and zipped up my skirt. Downstairs, the aroma of breakfast made my stomach rumble.
"Morning," I yawned, trudging down the stairs.
"Morning, honey," my mother greeted, noting my readiness. My katana was already strapped to my waist.
"Leaving already?" she asked with a teasing glance.
"Yeah," I said, opening the door halfway. "I don't want a repeat of yesterday."
She smiled, a faintly devious smirk, glancing at the clock. "Have fun then."
I stepped out, stretching, and letting the bright sunlight wash over me. The scent of fresh grass filled the morning air, carrying hints of fall approaching. Townsfolk bustled about in their usual routines, indifferent to the academy that towered just beyond the horizon. It was a
I handed my identification card to the guards at the front gate. One of them gave me a strange, suspicious look, leaning close to whisper to the other.
"Isn't that the crazy girl from the other day?"
"Shush your mouth!" the second guard hissed.
I pretended not to hear, keeping my expression neutral and waiting patiently.
"You're clear to go, ma'am," the first guard finally said.
Passing through the town, I expected to see other students streaming toward the academy, but the streets were almost barren. Only local patrol knights and a few upperclassmen wandered the empty roads. Where was everyone?
The academy itself was equally deserted. Its massive stone walls and towering spires seemed to loom over me, yet not a single soul was in sight. Tick tock… tick tock… Time passed. And passed. And still, no one showed up.
Curiosity and a creeping impatience got the better of me. I tried pushing on the massive doors, but they didn't budge. Brute force alone wouldn't open them. If only I could see a way in…
『Forced Partial Activation: Perfect Vision』
Runes shimmered into existence across the center of the door. My hand moved almost on its own, pressing against the largest rune. Immediately, my mind went fuzzy, a wave of dizziness washing over me. Mana seemed to drain from my body in slow, cruel increments. The minutes stretched into what felt like years, each one sapping my energy.
When I finally pulled my hand away, I gasped. Not all of my mana had been drained—it felt like something deeper, something other, had been pulled as well. The heavy door groaned and slowly swung open. I smirked weakly, trying to mask my exhaustion.
"Not like anyone here can stop me anyway," I muttered, stepping inside.