Suddenly, a thunderous voice filled the hall, carrying an indescribable authority — a pressure so heavy that it froze everyone in place:
"What kind of disgrace is happening in my hall, you bastards?!"
---
[Supreme Soul Academy — Healing Wing]
At that same moment, an annoyed and sharp voice rang out:
"Ran, you idiot! Are you bullying the newcomers again?!"
Ran's face instantly turned innocent.
"No, no! I didn't do anything!"
But Arian and Cloud said at the same time:
"Yes, yes, you totally did! This woman we don't even know hit us, bullied us, insulted us, and even tried to enslave us!"
Ran, panicking, grabbed Arian by the neck with her right hand.
"No! They're joking, Teacher! Right?!"
Arian, face red and voice strangled:
"C-can't... breathe... h-help...!"
The teacher's cold, skeptical gaze shifted between them.
"Ahem..."
Ran slowly lifted her eyes from the floor to her teacher's face, stammering:
"I... I didn't insult them."
The entire wing went silent. Even the groaning of the injured stopped. Every student stared at her — dumbfounded by her sheer stupidity.
The silence was broken by the old janitor, Teal, who spoke with heavy sarcasm:
"So... you hit them, bullied them, tried to enslave them... but didn't insult them?"
Ran's face turned bright red. "Brilliant, Ran. You've outed yourself completely... No way out now — time for the acting plan!"
She instantly began fake crying.
"You see, Uncle Teal?! I'm always the victim! I tried to help them and suddenly I'm the villain!"
Teal sighed.
"Ran, I've told you before — acting doesn't suit you. You're a terrible actress."
The chaos resumed. Shouting and laughter filled the hall again.
Meanwhile, Arian poked Cloud's arm and whispered:
"Hey, hey... who's that gorgeous woman with the blue eyes standing next to the ogre?"
Ran roared in outrage:
"Who are you calling an ogre, you moron?!"
Cloud ignored her and answered:
"I don't know, it's my first time seeing her. That's like asking why the ocean's color is transparent."
Arian blinked.
"But... isn't the ocean blue?"
At that moment, everyone in the hall realized there was indeed someone dumber than Ran.
The blue-eyed woman finally spoke, her tone calm and composed:
"I'm Elora Faelan, the supervisor of this division. You must be Arian and Cloud, right?"
Cloud shouted, trying to pry Arian's hand off his arm:
"Stop pinching me! You already heard her name!"
Then, suddenly, several books fell from Elora's hands. She rushed toward Cloud, holding his face with trembling hands, studying his features closely.
Cloud shouted angrily:
"What the hell are you doing?! Do I look like a pillow to you?!"
But Elora seemed lost in a trance. Her voice quivered:
"Is it really you...? But how... They said you died... No, it must be a dream. A cruel one — but I wish it could last."
Snapping back to herself, she sighed deeply and muttered with pain:
"I'm sorry, Cloud... I don't know what came over me. You just... look like someone I once knew — someone precious to me. People thought he was cold, heartless even... but I saw the kindness beneath. He was strong, selfless... and so damn handsome that even wicked women fell for him. He fought the dragons... but never came back. They said he died, so... I don't know."
Elora (thinking): "Hmm... this brings back memories. I used to fight over him with that red-haired harlot... What times those were."
Then aloud:
"Ran, introduce yourself properly."
Ran sighed:
"I already did."
Elora gave her a dry look.
"You're shy. Fine. This is Ran Kleilman, a senior by one year, specialized in magic and healing magic. She's my student."
Arian frowned.
"Magic and healing magic? That sounds the same."
Ran smirked proudly.
"That's because I have a unique nature-based affinity. What about you?"
Arian shrugged.
"I don't know."
Everyone:
"WHAT?!"
Arian said seriously:
"I don't know, but I came here to become the strongest."
Cloud facepalmed.
"You idiot! You have to choose a field that matches your talent!"
Arian blinked innocently.
"Oh... I guess I'll be a magic swordsman, then."
Ran and Cloud in unison:
"We'd bet our lives you've never even held a sword!"
Arian:
"Cloud, what's your field?"
Cloud:
"Free Swordsmanship."
Arian tilted his head.
"???"
Elora explained:
"It's a rare discipline practiced by only a few students."
Cloud nodded proudly.
"Exactly."
Elora smiled softly, patting Arian's head.
"How adorable... The test you'll take here will determine your specialization and acceptance. It'll also help you understand your abilities — alongside the main entrance exam tomorrow. If you have any questions, ask away."
Cloud raised his hand.
"Ms. Elora, what exactly does this test involve?"
Elora:
"A good question. It measures your mana quantity, physical strength, and endurance using devices developed by the Mythos Tower."
Arian:
"What's the Mythos Tower?"
Elora looked at him in disbelief.
"You mean you don't know? It's a research institute for arcane studies and magical constructs. It belongs to the Lua and Nors families."
Arian:
"Lua and Nors?"
Ran giggled.
"One of the six families that rule the kingdom alongside the royal bloodline, genius."
Cloud chuckled.
"Do you even live on the same continent as us?"
Arian:
"Ran, who's that mummy lying on the chair?"
Ran:
"That jerk fainted during the endurance test. His name was Fiona... I think."
A loud yell erupted:
"It's Flar! Not Fiona, you idiot!"
Before he could finish, Ran's fist — infused with nature magic — struck him squarely in the face.
[Seventh Gradient: Queen of the Forest's First Form — Verdant Fist!]
Elora sighed.
"So, he didn't faint from exhaustion earlier... it was from a mana-using squirrel attacking freshmen. To the wall, Ran! You're on cleaning duty after class!"
Ran, accepting her fate:
"Yes, ma'am..."
Then to Arian and Cloud:
"You two, head to your evaluations. After that, your rooms."
Arian:
"What about the mummy?"
Elora:
"Leave him. He'll wake up... eventually."
---
Two hours later, Arian wandered through the academy's long corridors, lost and tired. Suddenly, a voice called after him. It was the old janitor, Teal, panting heavily.
"Wait, boy! You forgot to take your room key!"
Arian sighed in relief.
"Thank you, Uncle Teal! Without you, I'd still be lost. Uh, can you also show me the way?"
Teal smiled.
"Sure. So, how did you like the Healing Wing?"
Arian scratched his head, embarrassed.
"It was... amazing. Those machines were incredible, and I met some... interesting people."
Teal chuckled.
"You mean Ran and Elora? Ran's a good girl — just lonely, that's why she acts out. Elora... well, she's sharp and distant, but kind at heart. Funny thing — today was the first time I've seen her talk that freely in five years... since she was a student herself."
Arian blinked.
"So she's young? How old is she?"
Teal thought.
"Maybe twenty-three or twenty-four."
Silence hung for a while, until Arian asked seriously:
"That person she mentioned earlier... who was he? You heard everything, didn't you?"
Teal stopped walking.
"You've got sharp ears... but here's a piece of advice — never mention that story. Not to any teacher. Forget it ever existed. Some things are best buried."
Arian, unsettled by Teal's tone:
"But... why?"
Teal simply smiled.
"Here we are. Your room. See you around, boy."
Arian waved.
"Goodbye, Uncle Teal."
As Arian turned away, Teal's smile vanished, replaced by a dark, cold expression.
"Elora... you shouldn't have told anyone about him. That memory must stay dead."
---
[Supreme Soul Academy — Male Dormitory]
Arian stood before a door engraved with the number 165.
"So many questions... I'll need to find Cloud later — and maybe Ramon too, even though he told me not to look for him. I'll figure that out after I'm accepted. For now, a bit of rest won't hurt."
He opened the door slowly... only for a pillow to smack him straight in the face.
"Who the hell greets people like this?!"
As the pillow fell, he saw Cloud wrestling with Flar on the bed near the window. They froze as they noticed him.
Cloud: "Arian?"
Flar: "That guy?!"
Arian sighed. "Cloud... and the mummy?"
Flar, offended:
"It's Flar! Not 'mummy' or 'Fiona'! That's an insult!"
Arian smiled.
"Sorry. I'm Arian — your new roommate."
Flar grinned proudly.
"I'm Flar Vontrain, second heir to the Merchant Guild. If you ever need potions, gear, or weapons — I'm your guy!"
Cloud smirked.
"So you're a salesman, huh? You didn't tell me that when we met."
Flar shrugged.
"Well, you look broke enough, so I assumed you couldn't afford my wares."
Cloud: "You bastard!"
Flar: "Scum."
Arian: "Stop it already! Flar, since you're from the Merchant Guild, can you share some info?"
Flar:
"Sure. Since it's your first deal, it's free. What do you want to know?"
Arian:
"I heard the term 'Grand Flay' a lot today. What does it mean? Also, how do we actually get accepted here, and what are the combat disciplines?"
Flar crossed his arms.
"Simple—
1. The Grand Flay are the 38 strongest individuals on the continent, ranked by power and achievement. They wield immense influence — some serve as adventurers, academy instructors, or members of great towers and guilds.
2. The main combat paths are Magic, Swordsmanship, and Magic Combat, each with its own branches.
3. As for the entrance exam — it tests your innate potential. Usually, students aren't expelled until the mid-term evaluations... except in special
---
Arian, grateful:
"Thanks! You owe me one now."
Cloud, mocking Flar:
"So this is the skill of a merchant? Haha! That's common knowledge, you scammer — he doesn't owe you anything!"
Flar, angrily:
"You bastard! Stay out of this!"
But suddenly, Flar froze in place. His playful grin faded, replaced by a look of pure tension.
He pointed at Arian, his voice uncertain:
"Your name... it's Arian, right?"
Arian, puzzled:
"Yeah. Why?"
Flar swallowed hard, his tone low and uneasy.
"You really don't know, do you? You're... under the supervision of Professor Roger."
Arian and Cloud said in unison:
"So what?"
Flar's expression turned grave, his voice tightening.
"He's... one of those special cases I mentioned earlier..."
He didn't finish the sentence — because, in that very moment, a furious pounding echoed through the room.
The wooden door trembled under the impact, each knock louder and heavier than the last,
as if someone on the other side intended to break it down.
---