After finishing all his training, Shion Lan returned home and began arranging his clothes for entering the academy. He glanced at them — black pants and a dark blue shirt, both finely made. Then he looked at the badge he received after passing the entrance test — it was golden in color.
'The red badge is for the first-year class, gold for the second-year, blue for the third, and white for the fourth.'
Shion turned the badge in his hand, staring at it with interest, unable to sleep.
"Well, I suppose tomorrow I'll be seeing some people I don't like… and who don't like me. I wanted to raise my power to the fourth level, but I'll just have to endure everything in the commoners' class. I think I have overestimated myself to reach the fourth level."
He closed his eyes and fell asleep.
The next morning, Shion went to his mother, who was preparing food and arranging everything he needed since he'd be living at the academy. When he came downstairs, he smiled and said,
"Alright, Mom, is everything ready?"
"Yes, everything's set. You can head to the academy now."
Shion ate, changed his clothes, and looked unusually handsome. His mother was amazed.
"Even though I saw you last year, you look so much better this year."
Shion smiled and hugged her. "Thank you for everything, Mom. I'll write to you every week."
She was so moved that her eyes teared up — her son had completely changed.
"I love you, my son."
…
Outside, near the teleportation circles, Shion found familiar faces — Baro Ferrer and Fiore Tai — both wearing red badges, looking slightly nervous. He also saw Sol Hart, who smiled at him, wearing a blue badge, along with many other students from various grades. Among them were people Shion knew, as Shion Ranus. Some who recognized him avoided eye contact, while others whispered behind his back or mocked him.
Shion took a calm breath.
"All that was in the past. I should forget it and start anew."
He ignored all the looks, stood with Baro and Fiory, and waited. When it was time, the teleportation circles activated, glowing and vibrating. In an instant, the scene changed from the commoners' district to the grand entrance of the academy.
Shion walked toward the main gate and entered. The decorations from the test day were gone, leaving the academy in its usual grand, ancient aura. He went to the dorm area, submitted his badge — as did the others — and received his room key. He would be sharing a room with Baro and Fiore, and they were thrilled.
"Well, looks like I'll be avoiding trouble."
Their room was spacious, divided into three sections, each with a bed, and a stone embedded in the floor. Shion recognized it, stood on it, and a holographic layout of the room appeared.
"Where do you want to sleep?" he asked.
Baro and Fiore didn't understand what he meant until Shion drew a line on the layout — and instantly, a wall rose where he drew it. The two were stunned. Shion continued drawing partitions to separate their sleeping areas.
Then he went to his small section — it had a window that allowed him to look at the stars every night.
"That gloomy feeling inside me… it's fading. I wonder how Shi Yun Lan is doing?"
He entered the Veins and found Shi Yun Lan still weak.
"When will you recover?"
"In about a day, I'll be back. For now, don't get involved with anyone stronger than you — I won't be able to help. Also, study these techniques."
Shi Yun Lan brought out all the books stored in the Second Vein. Among them was one ominous manual that reeked of blood.
"What's this?"
"It's a technique from the Blood Feast cult — a group of scoundrels who use blood in their arts. Read it in case you ever face something similar."
Shion left the Veins and his room.
"Baro! Fiore! There's an opening banquet for the new academy year — let's go."
"Got it!"
They went down to the academy's courtyard, which was now beautifully decorated — something that hadn't been there when they entered. Shion squinted.
"I didn't expect a seven-circle mage to personally decorate the place."
Baro and Fiore noticed the area was divided into sixteen sections. Shion, realizing what they were thinking, explained,
"The academy has four grades — from first to fourth — and each grade is divided into four groups. The first is the Royal Division, which includes members of the royal family and the six great houses. The second is the Noble Division, for noble and wealthy families. The third is the Special Division, for the children of officials and high-ranking figures. The last one — ours — is the Commoners' Division, which includes talented and strong individuals chosen through the entrance exam. Now, let's all go to our assigned groups."
After separating from Baro and Fiore, Shion went to his second-year group. The students' attention was focused on one person among them, but Shion ignored it and sat down.
"Although ten commoner students can enter, the minimum number for a division is fifteen. The rest are chosen through nominations from heroes and knights recognized by the kingdom. That boy, named Harry Gill, is a dual-star swordsman using the Wind element — and he can also use a rare secondary element, Sound, which forms thunder-like attacks that strike enemies from all directions. He was nominated by the Barbarian Hero known as 'The Hurricane.' From what I remember, that boy despises nobles intensely. I'm not sure why — probably had a rough childhood. I was once the target of his anger. I bet he'll try to pick on me again, but this time, I'll put him in his place."
Shion dismissed the thought and glanced toward the first-year group, where Baro and Fiore were talking with Cole Leon, Rose Gard, and Vione Lucius. Among them was another boy who bore numerous scars on his hands — likely from strong magic or dagger training.
"Another one like Harry and looks like he uses either powerful spells or a short blade."
Then Shion's gaze drifted to another group — the Second Princess, Jina Joul, shone like the radiant sun, outshining everyone around her. He then noticed the Special Division of his own grade — among them was a girl with fiery red hair and ocean-blue eyes, her beauty both captivating and dangerous.
"If the Second Princess embodies noble beauty, this girl of my age has a seductive charm that could drive minds mad. And since she's the daughter of the head of the great merchant guild, no one dares lay a finger on her. Only those in the Royal Division are considered 'worthy' to pursue her."
Shion then looked toward the Noble Division, where Kin Light was, and finally the Royal Division — where Nell, his fiancée, stood.
"So that's why they were engaged. But… wait, wasn't she not originally part of the Royal Division? Oh, right — she was distantly related to one of the Great Houses, not close enough to qualify as royalty… but thanks to me, she got there!, as she got a spot, And instead of thanking me, she attacked me. Unbelievable."
He smiled at his own absurd thoughts and then looked at the third-year group, where Sol Hart stood — surrounded by an invisible aura that made everyone avoid her as if cursed.
"Seems I really underestimated that presence… but honestly, I used to face Shi Yun Lan daily. Compared to that, this is nothing."
His gaze moved to the fourth-year group — in the Royal Division stood Prince Jaiden Joul, known as the first fourth-level powerhouse of Carath Academy's generation.
"Wait… wasn't he the one who used a forbidden element in the kingdom? Shouldn't he have been punished for that? His engagement to the Second Princess was supposed to make that impossible. Since they're competing for the throne, using something like that should have been a perfect excuse to eliminate him… but from the looks of it, he's enjoying his life freely, and he even put that artificial ring back on! Isn't he afraid of exposure? Only the princess, the royal physician, and I know about it…"
Then realization struck him.
"Of course — the physician could be easily dealt with. Either recruited with bribes or silenced with false charges. And since the princess is his sister and they're both royals, they'd never expose each other. That leaves… me — a student at the academy with no factional ties. The usual tricks won't work here because of Magus Tim's strict supervision. But since I know the truth, I might become a threat — meaning I'll be targeted. If not by both of them, then surely by the First Prince, who'll be furious at me. To prevent that, I'll have to side with the Second Princess… though I'm not sure whether she'll suppress me first or try to recruit me. Either way, after my duel with Feri Lucius, I've gained quite a reputation…"
Shion smirked to himself.
"I really want to create a Fire Star, but that might suppress my Water element, leaving me at my weakest. The Star Body can balance conflicting elements, though. If I can form a level-one Fire Star while activating the Star Body, I'll be fine. But if I use higher-level power, Water will erase Fire, and I'll have to start over. That means I'll need to keep my strength at level one — basically no better than trash here. Even new students are stronger than that… but maybe that's perfect. The First Prince won't take me seriously, nor will the Second Princess. I'll be ignored and left alone — they'll think I'm just someone who relied on potions to beat Feri Lucius and doesn't deserve a place here. And that's fine by me — it'll give me time to train in peace."
"Hey, you!"
Shion turned toward the voice — it was Harry Gill, the student of the Barbarian Hero known as The Hurricane.