Lucian boots echoed softly as he passed beneath the towering iron gates of Arcadia Grand Academy of Mysticism. Morning light filtered through floating crystal lanterns, scattering prismatic reflections across the polished marble floor. Around him, noble heirs and arcane prodigies flowed into the grand entrance hall—robes embroidered with ancestral sigils, staves glowing with latent power. Every student here bore the weight of their lineage like a crown. Lucian bore his like a blade sheathed in quiet shadow.
He paused, inhaling deeply. Beneath the marble tiles, mana currents flowed in braided rivers, humming softly beneath his feet. Arcane runes pulsed on the walls, whispering centuries of secrets. His super sense has reach a whole another level that somewhere deeper in the corridors, he could hear and see the distant murmur of spells—flame-shaping incantation and illusions born of glass.
This was Arcadia: a forge for power, where talent was tempered and honed, where only the worthy rose.
The Grand Hall was a cathedral of arcane splendor. Columns spiraled like stone vines into vaults carved with starlight. At its center stood Chancellor Elysia Valtaren, draped in violet robes embroidered with living golden thread. Her silver hair flowed like moonlight, her eyes sharp, reflective—watchful as a hawk.
Elysia snapped her fingers, and the gossiping students abruptly fell silent—not because they stopped speaking, but because the sound itself slipped beyond audible frequency, rendered magically impossible to hear.
She raised her voice, cold and clear.
"Welcome, heirs of magic and ambition. Let us speak plainly—Arcadia is not impressed by birthright or any privilege. You earn your name here, or you lose it."
A silence swept the chamber.
Glyphs shimmered around her, forming ethereal banners that hovered midair.
Elysia "Without any waste of time will begin the entrance exam the Arcane Crucible—a trial by combat. Form teams of five members each in it. Many kinds of monsters will appear beyond the gate, the bigger it is the more the points. Defeat them. Earn one hundred points to pass. If Failed, there will be no second chance to enter."
Whispers flared like fire through the crowd—strategies forming, alliances forged in hurried nods and calculating glances.
Lucian remained still, he was busy seeing the mana path of everyone, figuring out how much he have to restrict his mana flow to reach there level .
Then, a blond youth stepped forward, hand extended.
Maximus Ravenshade: "I'm Maximus. A pleasure to meet a" he graze on the button embedded by the symbol of Rutherford stuck to the Long-tail coats "Rutherford. Join my team—Ravenshade Vanguard. We aim to win."
Lucian studied him—steady gaze, strength under restraint. He took the offered hand.
Lucian " Why not. Nice to meet you, myself Lucian Rutherford."
Behind Maximus, Isolvia Valmont, cold air surrounds her, calm and beautiful like ice.
"What was the name he say?"
Elias Draxen, an protagonist of defense type magic of an high class family Draxen.
"Lucian Rutherford", he extended his hand, "It's a pleasure to meet you, myself Elias Draxen. . . And I am sorry for the loss of the Rutherford Patriarch."
Maximus glare at Lucian for a brief moment and then suddenly shouted " You are the son of Edmund Rutherford the Nations First Rank Magic Swordsmen."
"Magic Swordsmen," Lucian said to himself, "even I don't know that I catch a Meg while fishing for sharks in the sea."
He say with an smirk " Yes I am the youngest son of Rutherford family,"
Viker Ardent comes from the side by running, a quiet swordsman, his blade thrumming with emerald aura under the sheath.
" I just hear First Rank Magic Swordsmen son is here."
Elias nodded while giving a look towards Lucian "Yeah, meet Lucian Rutherford."
Viker stretched his both hand "It is an honor to stand before you, myself Viker Ardent."
Lucian accept his hand " An honor to make your acquaintance."
Maximus grinned " They are all the members of Ravenshade Vanguard".
Isolvia put her hand on the left shoulder of Maximus with an dark face " Who are you to name our team?"
Maximus "Together, we'll crush everything ahead us."
Isolvia shock his shoulder in anger " Why are ignoring my words?"
A deep bell tolled. The gates creaked open, a bright light immerged.
***
Above gate a number appeared 001.
Viker "Why don't anyone is going in."
Maximus "Looks like the person must have forget his number."
Isolvia come beside Maximus "Haven't you received an a paper by the invigilator in the beginning."
"You are right, they give me something like a paper" he took out an crumble paper from his pocket inside the long-tail coat and uncrumple it " Why 001 is written here."
Isolvia give a smack on Maximus head "This is our role number to enter it, dumbass."
The team stepped into the Arena of Aether Walls—a vast amphitheater carved from moonstone and laced with glowing runes. Mist curled across the floor, heavy with anticipation.
Professor Elara, a 7th-class magician, stood high above, robes fluttering in winds.
Elara with an simple on the face "Begin."
The summoning pillars ignited. Arcane pulses roared high to the skyward.
A monster immerge from the ignited pillars, above there head a faded line appeared in red "Golem of Shattered Steel."
Following it, big houndsform from nothing run towards them with an monsteras eyes. An a yellow line appeared "Wraith Hounds."
They all came in waves one after another.
Maximus struck first, his wind-forged mana lance carved into the golem's chestplate in a single shot, shattering it in remnants.
Elias struck his hands forward and cast a spell
"O spark that knows no master's chain,
Devour the void, unleash thy flame—
Rise, fire of despair and dawn,
Let the stars themselves be drawn!"
Striking fire sphere upon the wraith hounds who were running towards them in madness, burning them in an a unbearable fire till no bones left.
Isolvia raised her staff. A icy rod engrave with golden sculpture sprang an loads of cold mana direct upon Arcanese Serpent a red class monster, freezing the serpent's at the spot. From the edge, Viker danced forward, emerald blade flashing cutting each serpent froze by Isolvia.
Their simultaneously strike was much more handful for an venomous type monster, which may hinder the survival rate if anyone get even a small drop on them.
Lucian observed them with blazing eyes, as it is his first time to see something unique and new. Well he may have seen many high class skill and magic when he was against the hunters but they still have limited skills that they have awaken by nature on the other hand this world have no such a limited concept, with mana control one can do anything they imagine.
Two hounds turned on him with their mouth dripping with saliva. He raised a hand and surge it with mana.
Lucian: "Inferno Orbs."
Three spheres of magma fire erupted in air—detonating in rapid bursts as soon as they touch them. The hounds disintegrated in air even before they could react, the third sphere directly hit the golem's knee joints that buckled under the concussive wave.
Thanks to that he have read some basic books upon fire magic kept in the Library of Rutherford's on prior night.
Maximus shouted " Thanks Lucian for the spell, I don't think that even Void Titan an black class monster will also be here". Elias standing Infront of him cast a an horizontal whirlwind while maximus launch an massive conflagration through the middle of it.
Their combined strength results in a huge Wind-Flame Cataclysm that rattled the arena's foundations piercing golem shattering it in many pieces.
Then came another Titan from the flames of Pillars, It moved with deceptive speed much higher than prior one, shattering the ground every time it moves.
Viker unsheathe his sword an rush towards it with an destructive power: "Edge of Dawn!"
His blade gleamed—an arc of emerald flame slashing deep into the titan's forearm cutting it.
Isolvia raised her staff towards the titan, water molecules formed barrier around her. An a icy mana surge at the end of staff, rotating around its axis's by growing bit by bit. As she shouted "Frost fire" an ray of chilled mana strike directly upon the Titan.
It freeze for a second than turn into liquid form.
But still there was more to go.
Arcane Serpent appear from the side of Viker who was unarmed at that moment.
Elias locked the serpent in a mana barrier for a short moment. Till that time Viker struck it with gale-powered speed, coil sliced it.
But there still a monster left the, Giant Void titan.
Veridion standing at the Imperial Balcony say to the professor beside him "Isn't you think the Giant Titan is to much for the entrance exam.", Lysandra Wythe an elite teacher of Academy say with an annoyed tone " Please Headmaster don't lower our standards anymore previous year too you don't allowed it, this is just an a small monster if they can't even win against it than they are not worthy to fit in our Academy."
"We are not invisible to King," Veridion said with grim voice as he turned around and walked toward the door. "If he found out that future talents are being crushed at the very beginning, I will not be responsible for any trouble that the Academy faces."
Chancellor sitting on a throne nodded to his words "He is right we don't want any humiliation upon our reputation, be ready to interfere at anytime."
Lucian hold the hilt of his sword Nihility Fang butchange it appearance to a normal sword for less attraction, he thought that everyone showed enough skills to pass the entrance exam. it's his time to make a move.
Giant titan start heading towards Lucian who was standing alone with almighty speed, Maximus try to run but he don't have any mana left for any further magic and the same case was with everyone.
Lucian remained clam, standing without any hitch, waiting for the Titan to lesser the distance between them. When the titan threw his arm to crush him, he unsheathed his sword, which shone as bright as light, and in a split second, he reached behind the Giant Titan to sheathe his sword.
The instant he sheathe it the Giant Titan get slash in half by an unimaginable flame, it was too fast for Maximus or anyone present there to understand what was happen, Lucian was so fast that it almost was like he vanish and reappear behind the monster.
Magnus watching it all from a distant place " What a monster, to think he learned the second form Hellfire Cross Rend in just a night. It takes me years to master it."
Cadrina " I don't expect that he would be able keep his words, but still if he gain this much attention, peoples will try any means to dig up his past and if she get her eyes on him ..."
Magnus turn towards her " Then what, will she found that he is not a Rutherford."
Cadrina touches her forehead by three fingers " No. Thanks to our clans nature to hide there secrets from the world, we can come up with an a excuse of his past and sudden appearance "
The arena also fell silent.
Professor Elara raised her staff. Glyphs surged into the sky as the gate open behind them.
She announced "Ravenshade Vanguard –200 Points."
The student's cheer echoed, and Applause followed as the Ravenshades came out of the gate.
Chancellor Valtaren voice descended from behind the students, no student knows when she comes in the middle of them, her eyes were as violet as her magic, her tone get more measured as she continued.
Valtaren: "Impressive, I don't expect that this generation has still some talent left in it. I assign all five of you to… Grandmaster Class."
As they watch, every student's jaw drops in shock. Seeing someone go to Grandmaster class right at the starting of the exam is too much for them to bearer. Some get excited, some get mad, and some disappear away in fear.
"The Grandmaster Class is regarded as an echelon of true excellence—an elite rank whose privileges, authority, and arcane benefits far surpass anything accessible to ordinary magicians. Even those who reach the esteemed Sixth Class often spend their lives unable to claim the opportunities reserved for a Grandmaster."
Lucian and his team standing beside him bowed slightly. Their eyes now held respect—not for a name, but for earned power.
***
The Chancellor sat behind her desk, carefully reviewing the documents of each student, her expression focused yet in a doubt.
Headmaster Veridion stepped forward, his tone thoughtful.
"Lady Elysia, have you heard anything about the youngest son of House Rutherford?"
The Chancellor shook her head, eyes narrowing slightly.
"No. I find it puzzling, to be honest. That's why I'm examining his records closely. There's a possibility they've been forged."
Veridion folded his arms.
"I once attended a banquet at the Rutherford estate. I remember seeing only Magnus and Cadrina—not a third heir. But still forged documents by them... is to much to say."
Elysia leaned back in her chair, her gaze distant.
"You are correct, Rutherford's are not ordinary peoples, if they want they can hide there secrets even from king or an a whole nation. I still doubt that Edmund is still alive somewhere."
***
That evening, the Azure Dining Hall specially made for grandmaster class glowed with soft light. Plates of spectral cuisine shimmered. Toasts rang in every direction.
Maximus raised his goblet.
Maximus: "To Lucian Rutherford—our unexpected champion."
Lucian inclined his head, faint smile playing on his lips as he lift his glass.
"This is just the beginning."
It's been an hour they start eating and drinking, but only Lucian and Maximus still fine after drinking 3 bottles of wine.
Well they are only 16 years old but no one cares for moral posturing and the case of Lucian is just different.
From beside Lucian, Isolvia leaned back on chair with her stomach full.
Isolvia in a low voice "Have you heard the rumors? Beneath the academy… there's a hidden Vault Chamber."
Lucian's expression sharpened.
Lucian murmured inwardly" Finally something useful to hear."
Viker bang his glass on the table with excitement"You mean—relics? Forbidden artifacts?"
Elias say while cutting the steak "They say it holds the Grimoire of Primordial Light—a spellbook said to rewrite reality."
"However, in order to attain it, one must successfully complete the trials established by Arcadia's original founders to demonstrate that they are the chosen one." Isolvia wipes her mouth with a handkerchief. "Ancient traps. Living enchantments and whatever you can imagine."
Lucian's fingers curled slowly around his goblet.
As I expected, Academy is sure best place to hide Ancient Artifact.
Viker shout "Then I should try the tir...." a voice from side interrupted him.
Maximus shot Viker a dry look "I didn't know you were capable of dreaming while awake."
As laughter and celebration filled the hall, Lucian stared toward the moonlit windows, eyes narrowed.