estled in the heart of the Fiore Kingdom lies a hidden valley, a place of breathtaking beauty. Crystal-clear streams wind through rugged, peculiar rock formations, while lush greenery and strange, wild fruits seem crafted by some divine hand. Magical beasts roam the area, and the scenery is nothing short of otherworldly—a pocket of paradise. At the center of this valley sits Demisole Magic Academy.
Surrounded by towering mountains that pierce the clouds, the academy is nearly impossible to access. Birds struggle to fly over the peaks, and a powerful defensive magic array seals the valley off from the outside world. Even a flying wizard would find it tough to get in or out—the anti-air measures are top-notch. Inside, the academy is practically its own little world, self-sufficient thanks to magic, rarely needing supplies from beyond the valley.
There's only one road in and out, guarded by dedicated sentinels. It's rarely open, except for the annual recruitment event. Otherwise, the valley stays sealed, no matter who you are—even the King of Fiore or the head of the Magic Council would have to sneak in and out quietly.
Half a day's journey east from the valley lies a city called Harms.
Harms is the closest city to the valley—or rather, to Demisole Magic Academy. It's the hub for the academy's communication with the outside world, handling supplies, social training, and, most importantly, recruitment exams. Drawn by the academy's prestige, many flock to Harms, some even settling there in hopes of earning a spot to study magic.
Right now, Kira stood on Harms' bustling main street, accompanied by three kids. For some reason, he couldn't shake the feeling that their group resembled a ninja squad from that Naruto series next door—one jonin leading three genin.
"Boss Kira, didn't the academy folks invite you here? Why are we just standing around?"
The question came from Ika, a die-hard fan of Magic Shatters the Sky, with short black hair, a blue-green outfit, and a dark cyan cloak slung over his shoulders. He looked like a lively, goofy kid—and he idolized Kira, calling him "Boss" and even copying his cloak-wearing style.
Ika's other hero was Natsu, ever since Kira told him Natsu was the inspiration for the novel's protagonist, Flame.
Kira flipped the invitation letter in his hands, frowning. "Beats me. The letter just says 'Harms City,' no specific address… But don't worry. A place like Demisole wouldn't make a rookie mistake like forgetting an address. I bet this is part of the test!"
Ika's eyes lit up, practically sparkling with admiration. "Whoa, of course! You nailed it, Boss! You figured out their game just like that!"
"Naturally!" Kira grinned, eating up the praise. He waved a hand grandly. "Anyway, to avoid any awkwardness when we meet them, let's explore the city first and track down the academy's reception office. If we can't find it, we'll just say we got distracted by the city's sights. Perfect excuse!"
"Got it! Boss, you're a genius!" Ika nodded eagerly.
Nearby, the other two kids watched the exchange. Akas, dressed in a red hooded outfit like Little Red Riding Hood, sighed. "Kanna was right. Sometimes, Teacher Kira acts like a total idiot…"
"There's gotta be a reason for it," said the third kid, Sanmaru. "Teacher Kira always has a plan. It's like sticking to exercise or healthy habits—if you keep at it, you'll see results!"
Sanmaru, thanks to years of training, was taller and more muscular than most kids his age, with darker skin… and a bit less hair.
Akas thought for a moment but couldn't see how exercise related to trusting Kira. Sanmaru's got something wrong with his head too. Doesn't he love that big guy from Fairy Tail who's always yelling about being a 'real man'?
"Yep, their brains are all muscle…" she muttered.
For the next hour or so, Kira led the trio through Harms, wandering aimlessly.
"Boss Kira, look! A food street!"
"Ohhh, let's eat!"
"Boss Kira, over here! There's an amusement park!"
"Woo! Let's play!"
"Boss Kira, move! This shop's a rip-off, charging way too much!"
"Argh! Run for it!"
"Boss Kira…"
…
"Huh, who's that…?"
Kira suddenly stopped in the middle of the street. Ika, trailing close behind, crashed into him and toppled to the ground with a thud.
"Ouch!"
Kira turned, looking down at Ika sprawled on the pavement. "What're you doing lying on the ground?"
"Uh… got tired from running. The ground's nice and cool…" Ika mumbled.
Akas, catching up, facepalmed. This fanboy is hopeless…
"Teacher Kira, what're you looking at?" Sanmaru asked.
Following Kira's gaze, Sanmaru spotted a small crowd gathered in a corner of the street. At the center was a kid about their age, performing to make a living.
It was less "street performance" and more a magic show.
Fiore was a kingdom of magic, where the art was so widespread that even kids learned it young. Scenes like this weren't uncommon. Back in Magnolia, they'd taken similar gigs themselves.
With Demisole's recruitment season in full swing, Harms was crawling with wizards. A good performance could catch attention, maybe even land you a spot in a magic guild with steady work. If you were really lucky, someone from Demisole might notice you, securing your future. In short, this was a golden opportunity.
"That kid's magic looks pretty strong. Could be here for the entrance exam," Sanmaru thought. "If Teacher Kira's right, this might be part of his test…"
He kept quiet, waiting for Kira to speak. Ika and Akas, noticing Kira's focus, turned to look too.
The performer was a boy with long golden hair, wearing a red nobleman's hat and a white gentleman's outfit, styled like a bard. Despite busking on the street, he carried himself with confidence, no trace of shyness, his movements laced with a subtle, gentlemanly charm.
Seeing his idol fixated on some random kid his age, Ika felt a pang of irritation. Boss Kira's MY boss!
"What's so special about this guy? He's just showing off some magic tricks," Ika grumbled.
The boy waved a hand over his head, conjuring a bright flame. Then came ice, water, lightning, and wind—none particularly powerful, but his elegant movements and flashy effects dazzled the crowd, earning cheers.
The applause only soured Ika's mood further. His kid-sized temper flared. "Pfft, show-off! Big deal! I'm way better at fire magic!"
Despite his words, Ika secretly admired the kid's ability to make elemental magic look so stylish.
Kira, oblivious to his fanboy's sulking, was focused on someone else entirely—a familiar woman standing behind the performing boy.
Ultear!
Kira frowned, puzzled. "Why's she here? At this point, shouldn't she be back with Grimoire Heart?"
If Ultear was in Harms, could the rest of the Seven Kin be here too? Maybe even… Hades?
She seemed to be… watching the street performance? Since when does she care about this stuff?
Following Ultear's gaze, Kira finally noticed the performing boy. His eyes widened. "Wait a sec… that kid looks familiar!"