The first few days at Elarion Academy were a whirlwind of classes, new faces, and magical experiences.
Everything felt overwhelming.
Ran tried his best to keep his head down, avoiding attention wherever he could. Deep inside, he feared the truth coming out—that he had no magical ability. In a world where magic defined everything, that made him feel like an outsider.
Still, not everything was bad.
One afternoon during lunch, a few boys started picking on him again. Before things could escalate, someone stepped in.
"Leave him alone."
Ran looked up.
It was Edward.
The boys hesitated for a moment, then backed off, muttering under their breath.
Later, as they walked back toward their rooms, Ran finally spoke.
"Why did you help me?"
Edward shrugged, like it was nothing.
"Because it was the right thing to do."
He glanced at Ran and gave a small smile.
"Besides… everyone deserves someone in their corner."
Ran didn't reply, but those words stayed with him.
On the third day, all the students received a letter.
It was short and simple.
The next morning, they would receive their wards—magical companions that would bond with them for the rest of their magical education.
Ran felt a wave of anxiety wash over him.
What if no ward came to him?
What if his lack of magic meant he would always be alone?
The next morning, Professor Manci led the students into a special chamber.
The room was circular, with glowing symbols carved into the floor in a complex pattern. In the center, above an ornate pedestal, floated dozens of glowing orbs—each one different in color and energy.
"These are your wards," Professor Manci explained.
The room fell silent.
"Each ward is a magical entity with its own personality and abilities. They do not obey you—they choose you."
Ran swallowed nervously.
"The spell is simple," the professor continued. "Stretch out your hand and say the words—Gravem Vox Wardis."
One by one, students stepped forward.
A girl named Lily called her ward—
A burst of fire lit up the room as a phoenix-like creature appeared, flames dancing across its body before settling into a glowing form.
Gasps filled the chamber.
Next was Edward.
He stepped forward confidently.
"Gravem Vox Wardis."
Wind gathered around him, swirling faster and faster until it formed a graceful being made of air and light.
Then came Emma.
Her ward was… different.
Dark.
A shadow rose from the ground and wrapped around her like living darkness before shaping into a defined form.
Ran's heartbeat quickened.
Then—
"Ran Dalward."
His turn.
He stepped into the circle slowly.
All eyes were on him.
He raised his hand.
His voice trembled.
"Gravem… Vox… Wardis."
Silence.
Nothing happened.
The orbs didn't move.
The air didn't change.
Nothing.
The silence grew heavy.
"Maybe there's nothing to worry about," Professor Manci said, though his voice lacked confidence. "You're new. Perhaps your ward will come in time."
But the whispers had already begun.
Edward spoke quietly—
But loud enough for everyone to hear.
"I heard wards don't come to people without proper magical heritage."
Ran felt it instantly.
The shame.
The weight.
He was supposed to be special.
The one with pure blood.
The one who would save everyone.
And yet…
He couldn't even summon a ward.
That night, Ran couldn't sleep.
He lay in bed, staring into the darkness, Edward's words echoing in his mind.
"No magical heritage…"
"I'm supposed to be different…"
"Then why do I feel like a failure?"
He clenched his fists.
He needed answers.
The academy library was old and silent.
Tall wooden shelves stretched high into the shadows, filled with ancient books. A soft golden glow floated through the air, as if the place itself held forgotten magic.
It stayed open late.
Perfect.
Ran slipped out quietly and made his way there, careful not to make a sound.
Inside, he wandered for hours.
Books about wards.
Books about magic.
Books about history.
Nothing explained him.
Nothing helped.
Time passed slowly.
Until—
Near dawn…
He found it.
An old, worn book.
Its title read:
Demon's Vortex.
Something about it felt… different.
Like it was calling to him.
Without thinking, Ran picked it up.
By the time he returned to his room, the first light of morning was beginning to appear.
Emma stirred awake.
"Ran… what are you doing awake? It's almost six."
"I couldn't sleep," Ran said quietly. "I found this book. It talks about demons and wards…"
He hesitated.
"Emma… can you read it? I don't understand the language."
Emma sat up and took the book.
She began reading carefully.
"It says… there was once a demon—the god of hell."
Ran leaned forward.
"When his son was born, the king was happy… but something was wrong."
Emma paused.
"The son had no powers."
Ran froze.
"That's like me…"
Emma continued.
"So the king created a ward for him… to give him power."
Her expression darkened.
"But as the son grew older… he became corrupted."
"Violent. Dangerous."
Ran felt a chill run down his spine.
"And the father… sealed him away."
Emma looked up.
"Trapped him… and the ward… in a place between worlds."
The story ended there.
The rest of the pages—
Blank.
"I don't understand," Ran said. "Why blank pages?"
Then suddenly—
He remembered something.
Professor Citric.
Ink revealing hidden text.
That night, when Emma was asleep, Ran quietly left the room and made his way to the supply room.
There, he found a bottle of ink.
Back in his room, under the dim glow of candlelight, he carefully applied the ink to the blank pages.
Slowly…
Something appeared.
Lines.
Shapes.
A map.
Ran's eyes widened.
It showed the area around the academy—forests, hidden paths, marked locations.
And one place…
Circled.
Labeled:
"Demon Temple."
At the bottom of the page, words appeared:
"Three trials must be completed to claim the ward."
A pause.
"The greatest reward awaits the pure of heart."
Ran's breath caught.
This was it.
This was his answer.
This was how he would get his ward.
He had no choice.
He had to find this temple