Essentia Academy of Arts, Day One.
The campus was massive. Like, unnecessarily massive. Towering marble buildings stretched into the sky, each adorned with floating banners that shimmered with magic. Students in pristine uniforms bustled about with confidence and purpose.
Ezren and Kagetsu… did NOT fit in.
"Okay, classroom B-1…" Ezren muttered, turning the map upside down for the fifth time. "Is it just me, or is this thing written in ancient cryptic chicken scratch?"
Kagetsu leaned over his shoulder.
"That's the campus logo, dumbass. The classrooms are that way."
"You sure? I think we passed that fountain three times already."
"Yeah, because you keep walking in a circle."
"Don't blame me! The statues move when I'm not looking!"
A nearby group of girls giggled as they passed, tossing judgmental glances at the bickering duo.
Ezren adjusted his crooked tie. "Ugh. We look like transfer students from the Land of Lost Causes."
"Speak for yourself." Kagetsu straightened his jacket. "I look sharp. You look like a charity case."
"I am a charity case!" Ezren snapped. "Old Man Qiu literally bribed the school to take me!"
They turned a corner and finally found a massive wooden door marked "Classroom B-1."
"Finally!" Ezren cheered, nearly kicking it open. "We made it without fighting any minotaurs or getting lost in a pocket dimension!"
"Small wins," Kagetsu smirked.
Inside, rows of elegant desks stretched across a lecture hall. Students were already seated, chatting or minding their own business. But two familiar faces stood out immediately.
Enjin, stoic and unreadable, sitting by the window. Kaguro arms crossed, eyes half-closed, somehow radiating menace while doing absolutely nothing.
Ezren froze.
"Oh no."
Kagetsu raised an eyebrow.
"What's the problem?"
"We're in a class… with them."
"So?"
"One's built like a volcanic demigod and the other growls at trees for fun!"
Kagetsu smirked. "Good. We'll be the fun ones in class."
Before Ezren could protest, Kagetsu dragged him over and plopped into the seat beside Enjin.
"Yo."
Enjin gave a nod. Kaguro didn't even bother to look.
Ezren sat down slowly like he was trying not to set off a landmine.
"So… is everyone ready to get educated?"
"Don't speak," Kaguro grunted.
"Cool cool. Loving the vibes already," Ezren mumbled.
Suddenly, a thunderous SLAM shook the room.
The classroom door burst open.
And through it stomped a mountain of a man.
He had muscles on his muscles, a crimson tank top barely containing his tree-trunk arms, and a buzzcut that looked like it was trimmed with a sword.
He dropped a thick stack of books on the podium with a bang that echoed like a war drum.
"SIT. DOWN." he boomed.
Everyone was already sitting. Still, half the class flinched and double-checked their chairs.
The man cracked his knuckles. "Name's Bront. I'll be your homeroom instructor. I'm not here to babysit. I'm here to turn you into weapons."
Ezren leaned toward Kagetsu and whispered:
"I think this guy arm-wrestled a bear and won."
Kagetsu whispered back, "No way. He ate the bear."
Bront paced the front of the class like a general surveying his troops.
"You're the bottom of the barrel. First years. The Academy doesn't care how rich your family is, or what fancy magic you've inherited. If you can't survive the curriculum…"
He punched the podium. It exploded into splinters.
"you're out."
Everyone went dead silent.
Ezren leaned toward Kagetsu again.
"So... this is what normal school looks like here, huh?"
Kagetsu shrugged.
"Better than jail."
"Barely."
Bront folded his arms.
"You'll be learning combat strategy, Essentia theory, elemental control, and how to not die in a dungeon. We start tomorrow at sunrise. Until then, everyone will stand up, one by one and say their names and state the reason why they joined this academy.."
The tension in the room thickened.
Ezren let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.
"So, just to be clear… we're in a magic school, right?"
Kagetsu smirked. "Yup."
Enjin finally spoke, voice calm and cool.
"This is going to be interesting."
Kaguro muttered, "Hope they put me with you clowns."
Ezren stretched, already exhausted.
"First day and I already want to drop out."
"Tough luck," Kagetsu grinned. "We've got introductions coming."