I woke up in the morning. Today my father and mother are leaving—they have no more business in the capital. I decided to see them off.
My mother hugged me.
— Be careful in the academy. And eat more.
I didn't listen. That kind of talk is normal for mothers.
And just as I finished saying goodbye, my father suddenly spoke:
— Viren, with how much you've been training, Rina and I didn't even manage to give you your birthday present.
Right. January 7th—my birthday.
My father handed me a longsword.
Third rank. I immediately noticed it.
Runes optimized for wind-element usage. Nothing special… but exactly what I need right now.
— Thank you.
I accepted the sword with a slight smile and hugged both of them. Then I examined it.
Third rank is perfect for me at this stage. Swords above this rank are still too difficult for me to fully utilize.
After all, I can't properly use high-rank effects yet: either I won't have enough aura, or their effectiveness will drop to that of low-rank equipment.
Also, higher-rank weapons are heavier as the metal density increases, so that matters too.
Taking off the scabbard to test it, I noticed a note from the rune master.
In short, it was extremely simple.
No active ability—at this rank it would be useless anyway.
Passive: increases wind aura efficiency on the blade by 10%.
Nothing complicated, but the metal is well-suited for wind, and the runes improve conductivity. In the end, it's an ideal blade for me.
— What will you name it? — my father asked.
— Fengxuan.
My father nodded without asking for the meaning.
"Spinning Wind"—not bad. The name fits.
My parents left. I immediately resumed training.
Two weeks passed in what felt like an instant. I had gotten used to the sword and became roughly 20% stronger.
And finally—the first day of the academy arrived. The placement duels.
There were several classes, and based on the results of these duels we would be assigned. Winning isn't strictly necessary—you just need to demonstrate your strength.
Obviously, my goal is Class 1.
It offers the most benefits: better dorms, better training grounds.
Although training facilities are shared, private ones require merit points, which are earned through academy missions.
There will be three matches in total. With my Second Rank, the chance of failure is minimal—I will definitely show enough strength.
The ceremony began, and the headmaster stepped forward.
He looked like a man around forty, with already graying white hair, a well-trained body, and a height of about 185 cm.
Eldrian Morvel—that was his name.
He began his speech:
— Students of the Academy.
Today you stand at the threshold of a path that will change you forever. Many of you have come here seeking power, fame, or recognition. But let me be clear: the Academy does not grant strength—it only opens your eyes to what you truly are.
Here, your background means nothing. Titles, wealth, past achievements—all of it will not save you from truth. In these walls, there is only one measure: your effort.
Remember: the world beyond these walls does not forgive weakness. But it bows before those who can surpass themselves.
A typical speech about hard work—understood immediately.
Doesn't matter. Finally, the speech ended, and the matches would begin soon.
We moved to the combat grounds.
Luckily, there was more than one arena—otherwise we'd waste a lot of time waiting.
I was waiting for important characters' matches. And finally…
Jian Lei versus some random guy. I don't know who he is. First rank. Irrelevant. A background character.
Jian Lei let him take the first move.
The background fighter drew his spear and launched a series of wind-imbued thrusts. All missed.
Jian Lei has excellent movement technique—I'd estimate around 5-star level at a glance.
Next came a series of slashing spear attacks, but it was obvious who was stronger.
After another minute, Jian Lei decided the demonstration was enough.
A rapid sequence of sword strikes—and the opponent was knocked out. His blade released what looked like sparks of lightning.
The background character wasn't even seriously injured. That's the difference in skill.
After several parallel matches, my turn finally came.
I stepped onto the arena.