The sun shone brightly, its rays slipping through the gaps in the window and burning against my skin. I was a high school student attending Ravenhill High School, and a citizen of Asteria—a nation that controlled much of the western region of the European continent.
"Eugh…" someone muttered, having been lying on the bed before waking up due to the sunlight hitting them.
Yes, that was me. Shirakawa Rei—the son of a highly influential politician in the nation of Asteria, a man who was both extremely intelligent and powerful. Even so, I kept the fact that I was his son hidden. His name was Shirakawa Reji.
After waking up, I immediately got out of bed, walked toward the living room, and entered the bathroom while carrying a towel to do my daily routine—taking a shower.
Once I was done, I headed to the kitchen and brewed a cup of tea. While waiting, I took out my phone and checked the time. I let out a quiet sigh as the tea finished brewing.
I walked into the living room and sipped my tea after changing into my usual high school uniform. Once finished, I stood up and headed to school, where I ran into my childhood friend, Yukimura Shizune—a beautiful and perfect girl with white hair just like mine.
I sighed softly and gave a faint smile as she walked beside me calmly, coldly, and elegantly.
"Ah, Shizune-san. I think today will be fun, don't you? Considering we'll have magic practice," I said kindly while trying to sound mature.
Shizune glanced at me from the corner of her eye, then looked forward again as she continued walking. Not long after, she replied.
"I'm not sure. I think it'll just be exhausting since it consumes a lot of magical energy," she said coldly.
I simply chuckled and kept walking, while Shizune gave a faint smile. Even though she had been my childhood friend since elementary school, she still acted cold in public—as if wearing a mask.
When we arrived at school, my seat was in the corner of the classroom. I glanced out the window, since I still wasn't close to anyone except one person…
"Oi, Shirakawa!" someone called out from across my desk, smiling at me.
Realizing it, I turned toward him and gave a small nod with a faint smile.
"Ah, Takahashi," I said kindly. His name was Takahashi Haruki.
Not long after, another boy—handsome, gentle, and about the same height as me—walked over and sat in the seat beside mine.
After sitting down, he turned toward Takahashi and me, smiled lightly, and greeted us.
"Ah, Shirakawa-san, Takahashi-san. Good morning," he said politely. His name was Yamato Ren.
I gave a small nod and chuckled. For a few minutes, no one spoke. Eventually, Takahashi grumbled and broke the silence.
"Hey, I'm curious about your magical elements!" he said enthusiastically.
"Well… I have the lightning element. What about you two?" I asked kindly.
"Me? If I'm being honest, my element is Water," Yamato replied.
"Water?! I've heard that's really effective and strong! And lightning too—I've heard it's powerful in many situations!" Takahashi said excitedly.
I smiled faintly, already expecting that reaction, but Yamato spoke again.
"What about you, Takahashi-san?" he asked.
"Me~? I've got the Fire element. I could even beat both of you, you know!" Takahashi said arrogantly.
"Is that so? I'm looking forward to seeing it. Right, Yamato-san?" I said gently, accepting his statement.
"Yes, I'm sure you're strong, Takahashi-san," Yamato replied with a chuckle.
Soon, the bell rang for the first class. I looked out the window and unintentionally locked eyes with Shizune, who was in the girls' building. This school had two connected buildings—one for boys and one for girls.
I smiled faintly and gave a small wave. Shizune, having made eye contact with me, blushed slightly before smiling brightly like she used to when we were together, then waved back.
Seeing this, Yamato smiled quietly and returned to his work.
"Wow~ you two are really close, huh, Shirakawa-san?" Yamato murmured teasingly.
Hearing that, my cheeks naturally flushed. I shook my head rapidly in denial, waving my hands instinctively.
"I-it's not like that! We've just been childhood friends! That doesn't mean we're that close…!" I stammered.
Yamato made a "shh" gesture to calm me down, then smiled faintly, telling me to relax.
I sighed softly and returned to my usual calm state. During lunch break, the three of us sat together at a cafeteria table. While waiting, I was spacing out—until Shizune sat beside me.
"Rei-kun, can I sit here?" she asked kindly, though she was still just as boyish as she'd been in my childhood.
I flinched slightly, but when I realized it was Shizune, I sighed and nodded. After she sat down, I turned to her, my face filled with confusion.
"Ah, what brings you here, Shizune-san?" I asked politely.
"Don't call me so formally~ We've been playing together since forever, you know~" she said with a soft laugh and gentle smile.
"Ah, maybe my friends won't like hearing this, since I'm actually friends with a girl like you, Shizune—" I said, but my words trailed off.
Before I realized it, Yamato and Takahashi were sitting across from us, watching the entire conversation. Yamato chuckled, while Takahashi looked utterly shocked—unable to believe I was close to Shizune, who was known as a cold, calculating, highly intelligent, and gifted person.
"Ah, you guys are here already?" I said with a gentle smile.
But then I realized something. My cheeks flushed as I panicked and pulled away from Shizune.
"HAAA?! I-I'M JUST TALKING TO HER, OKAY?!" I shouted, clearly embarrassed.
Shizune laughed softly, as did Yamato, while Takahashi looked irritated that I had hidden my close relationship with Shizune for the sake of a peaceful high school life.
In the end, we all ate together. I remained stiff at first due to my blunder, but as the conversation went on, I gradually relaxed.
During the third period, we had magic practice along with theoretical lessons. Before practicing, each student had to study how to control their magical abilities.
In this world, every living being possessed a magic tier:
Tier XI – Initiate: Humans who have just "touched" power.
Tier X – Awakened: Senses and soul begin to change.
Tier IX – Bearer: Able to withstand power.
Tier VIII – Practitioner: Ordinary entities still in training.
Tier VII – Ascendant: Surpasses humanity.
Tier VI – Transcendent: Stronger than any human.
Tier V – Herald: Bearers of conceptual will.
Tier IV – Apostle: Representatives of cosmic power.
Tier III – Archon: Rulers of the Multiverse.
Tier II – Sovereign: Demi-gods.
Tier I – Absolute Existence: Absolute authority. Only one exists, and it has never been identified—an omnipresent and omniscient being.
Most middle and high school students were usually around Tier IX. Elites like Shizune were at Tier VII. Talented or hardworking individuals also reached Tier VII.
Currently, I was at Tier VIII, just like my friends. During the Void Energy control test, I achieved 89% control. Takahashi had 86%, Yamato 89%, and Shizune achieved 100%, as she had already reached the Ascendant realm.
Void Energy was the energy within the mind, magical ability, and physical body—similar to stamina, but in a broader sense. It could be trained.
100% was not the limit. One could exceed it, but the ultimate state was Absolute Void, which only entities from Tier IV to Tier I could possess. Such beings were extremely rare, existing only in a few Hyperverses. Each Hyperverse had one Tier II entity capable of creating or destroying anything—without limits.
"Why are you guys so calm that you can control your Void Energy so well?!" Takahashi complained.
I chuckled and glanced at Yamato, subtly teasing Takahashi for his earlier arrogance.
After the control test, it was time for physical combat training. Although magic was the primary weapon, physical strength was crucial for controlling Void Energy and maintaining a healthy body.
I was assigned to fight a student from Class 1-2—one of the talented and intelligent ones, at the same tier as Shizune: Tier VII, an Ascendant. His name was Yagami Ryuu.
I smiled faintly. All students were fighting simultaneously, so no one felt overly pressured by attention.
"Yagami-san, it's nice to meet you," I said politely.
"I never thought I'd meet you again," he replied coldly.
He was slightly taller than me—190 cm compared to my 188 cm. What made him intimidating wasn't his build, but his gaze.
He was more terrifying than anyone I'd ever met—tall, strong, and incredibly intelligent. Feared throughout the school. Yet strangely, I felt no fear toward him.
"All right, students. I'll count—One, Two, THREE!" our homeroom teacher shouted, blowing the whistle.
Yagami charged at me instantly. I had predicted it. He missed, then followed up with a rapid spinning back kick—so fast it surpassed the blink of an eye.
I lowered my head just in time. He was aggressive—so I mirrored his style.
I threw a straight punch with my right hand. When he caught it, I stepped forward with my left leg and slammed my left elbow into his face, making him grunt in pain.
He released my hand, and I used the opening to flip acrobatically behind him and kick his head hard.
Yet no matter how strong my attacks were, he endured them. He grabbed my leg with crushing force, but like him, I tolerated the pain.
I was hurled violently into the barrier surrounding our combat zone—so strong it nearly cracked a barrier said to be as tough as a house.
I tried to stand, but my body felt heavy. As Yagami approached, I grinned slightly, my right eye gleaming.
I laughed—the kind of laughter one makes after rediscovering the thrill of battle. I stood up and took a fighting stance.
"I win," I said with a wide smile.