It was a beautiful spring morning.
Sunlight spilled across the grand gates of Azure Magic Academy, where students from all over the kingdom had gathered for one purpose, to prove themselves worthy. Proud nobles stood tall in elegant attire, their confidence almost suffocating the air around them.
Ambitious commoners stood firm, quieter—but no less determined. Among them stood a boy. Keith Nova, beside him were his parents.
"You've got this, my boy," his father said, gripping his shoulder.
"Show them who's boss," his mother added with a confident smile. Keith smiled faintly.
"Don't worry… I'll do my best."As he turned toward the gate
"Bye! All the best!" his mother waved.He raised a hand slightly in response and walked forward.
"…Look, he brought his parents."
"What is he, five?"
"Just a lousy commoner…"
Whispers drifted through the crowd like poison. Keith didn't react, he simply kept walking.
Yeah… nobles.
Same everywhere.
I'll just avoid them.
"Hey."
A figure stepped into his path, Keith stopped. A well-dressed noble stared down at him with clear disdain.
"Shouldn't you be ashamed?" the boy sneered. "Coming here with your parents like a child. Do you see anyone else doing that?"
The crowd quieted, Eyes turned,Waiting.
Watching.
Keith met his gaze.
"Yeah," he said calmly. "I don't see anyone else."
A pause.
"Guess I'm just lucky." said Keith looking him dead in the eye
"…What?"
"My parents cared enough to see me off."
Silence.
The air shifted.
"…Such insolence," the noble muttered, his expression darkening.
"Can you step out of the way?" Keith said flatly. "You're wasting my time."
"…Do you know who you're speaking to?"
The noble straightened proudly.
"I am Herald Einsworth, son of Duke Einsworth—the man in charge of the kingdom's transportation system."
"…Cool." Keith said flatly.
"…What?" said Herald in shock
"Move." Keith insisted
A vein pulsed on Herald's forehead.
"Make me."
Keith sighed.
Then—
His foot shifted.
The ground beneath Herald suddenly moved.
A subtle tremor and the earth slid just enough to throw him off balance, forcing him a step to the side. Keith walked past him.
No rush.
No hesitation.
The silence that followed was louder than any insult.
"…He just… moved him?"
"…Without chanting…?"
"…That was earth magic…"
Herald's face burned with humiliation.
"…You little—"
But Keith was already gone. Arrival of the Storm, A shadow passed overhead.
A carriage descended from the sky, Elegant,
Radiant, Recognizable, The crowd stirred instantly.
"…That's—"
"The Eldridge family…"
"She's here…"
The door opened And she stepped out. Maki Eldridge.Silver hair shimmering under sunlight. Blue eyes like calm oceans hiding violent depths.Grace in every step.
Confidence in every breath.
"…She's beautiful…"
"…As expected of the Eldridge family…"
"…A true noble…"
Even Keith, now further ahead, glanced back.
"…Damn…"He blinked once."…She's beautiful…" Then his expression flattened.
"…But she looks like trouble."
Meanwhile Maki wasn't even paying attention.
"I wonder if Hayato is here…If he is… he probably already saw me…
…and chose to stay away." She thought to herself.A noble suddenly stepped in front of her.
"Lady Eldridge," he said with a deep bow. "You look absolutely radiant this morning."
"…Who the hell is this bozo? and why is he talking like an NPC?"
"Thank you," Maki replied with a polite smile. "You look… just as good." she said with a hint of hesitation and sarcasm
"Would you allow me to escort you, my lady?"
"I'd rather not," she said immediately.
The smile stayed, the words did not."But thank you. I don't appreciate it."
The noble froze, the crowd murmured.
"…That's two today…"
"…She shut him down instantly…"
"…Cold…"
Maki walked past him like nothing happened.
"…I really hope you're here, Hayato…I want to see what happens next."
The Assembly Hall
Students gathered inside a massive hall.
Naturally. they split. Commoners to the left.
Nobles to the right.An invisible line drawn by pride.
At the front stood a man in robes.The principal.A presence that silenced the entire hall without effort.
"Welcome," he began."To Azure Magic Academy. I am your principal Gazet Gathar. A First-Class Mage wielding three attributes."
The crowd mamured in awe
"The legendary Gazet Gathar the one who managed to kill a hydra all by himself"
"He's not just a first class mage but one of the most powerful"
His gaze swept across them.
"And today… you will prove whether you belong here."
A pause.
"The entrance exam will consist of combat evaluation."
Murmurs erupted.
"Magic battles will determine your eligibility Lose… and you will not be enrolled."
Silence returned.
Heavy.
Sharp.
"After the exam, successful candidates will register tomorrow."
A hand raised.
"Sir, why not register today?" asked Maki
"Because," the principal replied calmly, "we do not measure potential based on exhaustion."
A faint smile.
"Power must be judged at its peak.From here, you will be assigned waiting areas.Your opponents will be selected at random. Win… and advance. Lose… and leave."
The Arena Four massive arenas stood like stone coliseums. Where futures would be decided. Where dreams would either rise—
—or shatter.
Keith sat in a waiting room, Silent. Focused.
A staff member handed him a slip.
Victory Conditions: Incapacitate your opponent Force surrender Death will not be penalized
"…Do you still wish to proceed?"
Keith stood.
"…Yes."
The arena roared with anticipation.Keith stepped forward.
And there Waiting Was Herald Einsworth.
"…Of course," Keith muttered.
Herald grinned. "Looks like fate is on my side." He spread his arms."That means I get to kill you myself." He said confidently
"You heard the rules, right?" he continued. "If you die… it's not my fault."Mana surged around him. His aura flared violently. Keith exhaled slowly.
"…I didn't come here to lose."He stepped forward. "I came here to enroll."
Herald laughed."You really think you can defeat me?"
Keith's eyes sharpened."…Let's find out."
"Then die!" Herald thrust his hand forward.
"Flame Burst!"
A blazing sphere of fire shot forward—
Keith moved.
No chant.
No panic.
Just motion.
The fire grazed past him He closed the distance instantly.
"…What—?!"
"Too slow." Keith's fist slammed into Herald's stomach.The impact echoed.Air exploded from his lungs. Herald staggered but didn't fall.
"…You—!" He slammed his foot down.
"Flame Spear!"
Spikes of fire erupted from the ground—Keith jumped.
Mid-air—
"Wind Step." A burst of air shifted his direction.
He twisted
Dodged—
Landed behind him.
"…Impossible !…" Herald yelled
"Not really." Keith raised his hand.Lightning crackled faintly then vanished.
"…Still not stable…" Keith groaned
Instead ,Fire ignited. Wind wrapped around it.
"Flare Cyclone!" A spiraling blast slammed into Herald, Engulfing him.Throwing him across the arena.
Silence.
Smoke.
Then—
A body hit the ground hard. Herald didn't move. The examiner raised a hand.
"…Winner."
Murmurs exploded.
"…A commoner beat an Einsworth…"
"…He used multiple attributes…"
"…Did you see that control…?"
Keith stood still. Breathing steady. "…One step closer…"
Elsewhere…
Maki stood at the edge of another arena watching quietly. Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"…That guy…No way, he used three attributes, even I can only use one" A faint smile formed. "…Interesting."