Saint High Academy.
The name alone carried weight throughout the Kingdom of Valtoria.
It was spoken in hushed reverence in taverns and noble halls alike, whispered by hopeful children and bitter failures. To attend Saint High was more than an education it was a declaration. A declaration that you were meant to stand above the masses, to carve your name into history.
The strongest mages ever recorded. Generals who turned the tide of wars. Archmages who reshaped magical theory itself.
All of them had once stood before these gates.
And to fail?
To fail was to fade into obscurity, remembered by no one but yourself.
Today, the academy's massive gates loomed over more than fifteen hundred students, all gathered in the wide stone courtyard outside Saint High's walls. The structure itself felt alive towering spires etched with ancient runes, walls infused with protective enchantments so dense they shimmered faintly in the sunlight.
The air buzzed with mana, ambition, and fear.
Some students stood tall, wearing expensive robes embroidered with their family crests. Others clutched worn satchels and simple staffs, eyes darting around nervously. Noble heirs, prodigies, mercenary-trained fighters, scholars everyone was here for the same reason.
A chance.
A deep, booming voice echoed across the courtyard, amplified by magic.
"Students!"
The chatter died instantly.
"You stand here today to take the entrance examination for Saint High Academy the most advanced magical institution in the Kingdom of Valtoria!"
The voice rang with authority, pride woven into every word.
"If you pass, you will earn the right to study here. If you fail... your journey ends today."
The crowd shifted uneasily.
From the raised platform overlooking the courtyard, a woman stepped forward.
Her presence alone was enough to silence even the boldest whispers.
She was tall, her posture straight and unyielding. Long silver hair flowed neatly down her back, and her sharp emerald eyes swept across the crowd like blades, measuring, judging.
The moment her mana brushed against the air even restrained it felt heavy. Oppressive. Like standing beneath a storm cloud ready to burst.
"My name is Victoria Ervenwood," she said, her voice calm yet iron-hard. "I am the Vice Principal of Saint High Academy."
A murmur rippled through the students.
Ervenwood. One of the strongest mages in the kingdom.
Victoria's gaze hardened.
"Unfortunately," she continued, "we cannot accept all of you."
She paused deliberately.
"Out of the fifteen hundred students gathered here today… only one hundred and twenty will be admitted."
The courtyard erupted.
"What?!" "Only 120?!" "That's insane!"
Shock, panic, and disbelief clashed violently.
Victoria raised a single finger. Her mana surged. For just a moment.
The atmosphere collapsed.
It felt as if an invisible hand crushed down on everyone present, stealing the breath from their lungs. Students froze mid-motion, hearts pounding as fear clawed up their spines.
Silence.
"This academy's strength," Victoria said coldly, "comes from its selectivity. We take only the best of the best. The finest students. The finest teachers."
Her eyes glinted.
"If you fail, it simply means… you were not worthy of Saint High."
Some students swallowed nervously. Others clenched their fists, anger and determination burning in their eyes.
"Now," Victoria said, a faint smirk forming, "the first test begins."
She gestured sharply.
"The written examination. If your performance does not meet our standards you go home."
The pressure lifted.
A collective exhale rippled through the crowd.
"You have one hour to prepare. So Goodluck to all who need it."
The moment she finished speaking, chaos erupted.
Students scrambled for scrolls, notes, enchanted tablets. Some muttered formulas under their breath. Others argued, panicked, or paced restlessly. The tension in the air was thick enough to taste.
And then
There was Ragnar Wryd.
He leaned back against a stone railing, hands folded behind his head, staring lazily at the sky.
"Arghhh… come on already," he groaned. "Just start the test. I'm bored."
'The only thing I have to worry about is the magic part of this entrance exam cause if I fail that I'm royally screwed.'
A few students shot him incredulous looks.
This wasn't arrogance.
Ragnar wasn't careless.
In fact, if he had chosen any path other than magic, he would've been accepted into nearly every prestigious academy in the kingdom. Mathematics. History. Alchemy. Languages.
Since childhood, he had never scored below perfect on a written exam.
Magic was the only thing that ever betrayed him.
"Hey."
A sharp voice cut through his thoughts.
Ragnar turned.
A girl stood a few steps away, long black hair cascading down her back, ocean-blue eyes blazing with irritation. She stood with impeccable posture noble to the core.
"You're distracting others," she said coldly. "If you aren't serious about this exam, then leave."
Ragnar blinked.
'How I'm I disturbing others I've barely said a word since I've got here?'
Then raised an eyebrow.
"And who exactly are you supposed to be, miss?" he asked casually. "Didn't your mother ever teach you to introduce yourself before scolding people?"
Her eyes widened in fury.
"How dare you—!" Her voice shook with anger. "You piece of common filth!"
A hush fell around them.
"Very well," she snapped. "If you must know my name is Alys Voldric!"
The effect was immediate.
Whispers spread like wildfire.
"Voldric…?" "The Duke's family…" "That's his daughter?!"
Ragnar simply smirked.
'Commoner?... oh yeah I did tell Vincent not to involve me in any royal duties so I guess people think I'm a commoner.'
"Oh," he said lightly. "Nice to meet you, Iris."
He turned and walked away.
Her face flushed bright red.
"It's Alys! You stupid commoner!" she screamed, fists clenched.
Ragnar didn't even look back.
"Sorry I meant to say Alfred."
He wandered until he nearly bumped into a man wearing robes distinct from the Saint High faculty simpler, travel-worn.
"Ah—careful there," the man said with a warm chuckle. "Aren't you supposed to be studying, young man?"
Ragnar shrugged. "I'll be fine. Exams aren't really my thing."
'Who is this dude he looks different from the teachers, maybe his parent that came here to support his child?'
The teacher studied him carefully, eyes narrowing slightly.
"So confident," he murmured. "What's your name?"
"Ragnar," he replied. "Ragnar Wryd."
The man's eyes widened almost imperceptibly.
So this is him…
As Ragnar walked away, the teacher remained still.
The boy who passed every non-magic exam in the kingdom with perfect scores. The prodigy every academy fought over…
And yet he chose magic.
Soon, the announcement rang out again.
"Students! Take your assigned seats! The written exam begins now!"
Ragnar cracked his knuckles.
"Finally."
'I'm going to ace this exam and finally... start worrying about passing.'
Ragnar let out a big smile.
"Come Ragnar remember what the old man believe in yourself you can do anything." He scratched the back of his neck unsure of himself. "... well at least I hope I can."
The exam was brutal.
Three hours of relentless questions magical theory, historical analysis, complex equations, ancient languages, potioncraft principles.
Students groaned. Some trembled. Others broke down halfway through.
Ragnar worked calmly, expression neutral, hand moving steadily across the pages.
When time was called, he stretched.
"That was easier than expected. Almost to easy."
Vice Principal Victoria returned, holding a thick stack of papers.
"After reviewing your results," she said, "only two hundred students passed."
The courtyard erupted.
"The remaining thirteen hundred… failed."
Silence followed.
"The names are posted," she continued. "From highest to lowest score."
"And for those who failed don't be disheartened I'm sure you will find other means to succeed."
The crowd surged forward.
"Who's first?" "No way…" "That name!"
Ragnar scanned the board.
At the very top:
RAGNAR WRYD
"Of course," he muttered. "Knew it."
'Why does everyone look shocked?'
He scanned the crowd and saw that most people were looking at Alys and Magna.
He was a but dumbfounded.
'Do you guys associate nobility with IQ or something?'
Victoria clapped.
"The highest score this year belongs to Ragnar Wryd. Congratulations."
The crowd exploded.
Alys stared in disbelief.
"How… how did a commoner beat me?!"
Ragnar passed her with a smirk.
"Because unlike you," he said quietly, "I'm not stupid."
As he said those words he felt the temperature rapidly drop down. This ice cold pressure was coming from Alys.
'Is she angry or something? I only pointed out the obvious'
"Enough," Victoria snapped.
"The magic exam is about to begin."
The magic exam is a 1 on 1 with a teacher to determines if you will get in or not and it also determines what class you will attend. This exams usually last three days or more.
Three days later.
Only four students remained.
Ragnar Wryd. Alys Voldric. Magna Voldric. Light Excalibur.
"Student Magna Voldric," Victoria called. "Step forward."
Gasps echoed.
The Duke's son himself.
Magna stepped into the arena, aura heavy, expression cold.
"Let's get this over with."
A cheerful woman stepped opposite him, smiling warmly.
"I'm Lilia Meldric," she said. "A 6th-grade water mage."
Magna smirked.
"Then try not to die."
"Begin."
Magna summoned a blazing [MangaBlade(9th Grade)], lunging forward.
The blade passed through her And her body dissolved into water.
Lilia had a big grin on her face.
"Magna did you really expect that sorry excuse for a spell to harm me?"
"What! How?" Magna froze.
Lilia's voice echoed playfully.
"We have healers on standby."
A water spear pierced his arm.
He screamed.
"That means we can play rough a little. Meaning your chances of winning this fight are basically zero." Lilia said cheerfully.
Magna grinned through the pain.
"…I should've really stayed at home."