"The wind howled. The stench of dried blood reeked through the battlefield; it almost made me throw up. The field of corpses stretched throughout the distance… I-I had to trample my way through the pile of disfigured bodies. I struggled to lift my blade; my arm was busted. The adrenaline coursing through me was the only reason my eyes were still open—"
"Wait, wait, wait". The old man interrupted, "Start from the beginning; I've been zoning out."
I hesitated. "Yes, Sensei," I replied. "I guess it started as..."
****
Zero Langham
I ran through the hallways, pushing everyone aside. My excitement was filling me up. Then, I finally found him.
"Ay, Zero!" He yelled through the hallways. I walked up to him.
"Toho! We did it! We actually got in!" I blurted as we did our handshake.
I just got accepted into Celestia Academy, the most prestigious academy in my hometown of Celestiala, the capital. Toho, my childhood friend, and I had just recently turned fifteen, so we barely made the age requirement.
Toho and I also ended up in the same class, led by Sensei Johan. We made our way to the classroom, room A001. We entered the classroom to meet our new teacher. His physique was tough, with muscles creasing through his forearms and shoulders. He gave off a sort of aura that pressured us, yet his face was sincere. His deep voice echoed through, telling us to pick our seats. Toho and I walked past the aisles of many desks, even though the number of students was small. I shook my head, moving a strand of my wheat-like colored hair out of my eye.
My gaze turned to this girl. She was adjusting her uniform and skirt in her seat.
"Hey, can I sit here?" I asked.
"Yeah! Of course, " she replied. Her smile was bright, her eyes soft, yet she gave off a strong presence. I sat behind her, and Toho sat to my right. A gap separated us.
She turned around in her seat and smiled again. She spoke, addressing Toho and me: "So, what's your name? I'm Terra Kincaid."
Toho went first, stepping into the aisle and leaning forward. He introduced himself briefly, "I'm Toho Isei, nice to meet you." Toho extended his hand out, inviting her to shake his hand.
After they exchanged their pleasantries, I introduced myself: "I'm Zero Langham, nic—"
I was interrupted as another girl skipped through the aisle that separated me from Toho. Her high-pitched voice yelped,
"I'm Anya!" She yelled, joining in on our conversation. She wrapped her arms around Terra's neck and hugged her.
"Oh, are you two sisters?" I asked. Terra explained that they were childhood friends, similar to how Toho and I are. In hindsight, it was a dumb question. Terra had graceful silver hair, whilst Anya had black hair, with light pink highlights that stood out. Not to mention, their eye colors and facial features were completely different.
A loud thud came from across the classroom. When we all looked over, we saw another student, almost similar to me in looks. He was sitting on the back of a larger student.
"A fight already?" Toho asked with a wide smile. Toho wanted the entire school experience, which meant moments like these also count towards that goal.
The student got up and began to charge up an attack but was stopped by a mysterious figure that flashed before him.
"No magic or abilities are allowed to be used by those under the age of sixteen." The figure said; his voice was cold. It was Johan. His once gentle face was erased, replaced by a much colder stare. This was exactly how I pictured an Academy teacher, yet it still scared me.
***
After everyone calmed down, we began the introduction with our teacher, Johan. Johan was a Superior Sorcerer; however, not active anymore. He worked as a Sorcerer for almost thirty years before retiring and becoming a professor.
Superior Sorcerers, also commonly referred to as Superior, are the rank given to those at the top of the Sorcerer world. The lowest rank was Rookie, followed by D-rank, C-rank, B-rank, A-rank, Warrior, and Superior. All students under sixteen are unranked. Once you are above sixteen and sponsored by a teacher, you can get tested and ranked.
After Johan finished his introduction, the students went up and introduced themselves individually. I found it a bit odd that Sensei Johan wanted us to reveal our Innate Techniques to our peers, but I chalked it up to building relationships with our classmates. I'd be seeing these people for the next four years of Academy, so my theory made sense.
"My name is Caelan Rook," The young man announced in front of the class. "My technique is Phantom Forge. It allows me to mold Essence into a chosen weapon or object." His voice was a bit high-pitched, but that may be due to him having to introduce himself in front of the class. The tiny droplet of sweat on his temples confirmed that.
Caelan finished his introduction and then went on to the next. The next person was the student who caused the fight earlier. He had blonde hair similar to mine. Even his diamond-shaped face reminded me of myself.
"Everyone!" He yelled, "Be honored. You're in my presence, Lucian Wraith."
I leaned forward, crossing my fingers and resting them in front of my mouth. Wraith?,
I whispered to myself. It was the name of one of the noblest families in Celestiala. My family once actually met the Wraiths.
This kid, Lucian, is their child? I asked myself.
"My Innate Technique is Spectral; I can summon and control spirits or ethereal beings and use them as scouts or attackers. Don't confuse me with any regular classmates... you are not my peers..." Lucian said with a smug grin.
Oh, this kid is all sorts of obnoxious...
"Please, refrain from talking like so, Mr. Wraith... I'm looking at my notes here, and they say there is also a downside to your technique." Johan interrupts, raising his eyebrow.
Lucian stutters, "Well, sometimes my spirits are unpredictable and might turn on me or go rogue... It-it happens very rarely, doesn't even count as a downside..." He finished.
I looked around the class and could tell from the expressions on everyone's faces that they all recognized him as a member of the noble family. Some even wore an expression of distaste.
"Next is Zero Langham." Johan pointed to me.
My classmates, just as they reacted to Lucian's last name, reacted similarly to mine. Unlike Lucian, I didn't receive any facial expressions of negativity. At least one someone I could spot.
"My name is Zero Langham, and I am from the noble Langham family." As I tried to find the words to continue, some students in the back murmured to each other. As did some in the front, but less inconspicuously; despite their efforts to hide it, they chatted. Though they tried gossiping in whispers, it could still be heard,
"Didn't his parents..."
"Thought the news said the head of the house in that family perished, how does this kid exist?"
I suddenly blanked, unable to think of anything. Johan's voice cut through my silence: "Let's please keep the chats non-existent. Furthermore, treat your peers with more respect!"
Johan stood up for me. I appreciated it; however, it made me seem like the kid in novels without friends who people picked on, or thought was weird. The type of kid who can't stand up for himself, so teachers stepped in. Obviously this wasn't a novel, yet I felt like that type of kid in this moment.
"I apologize, Mr. Langham. Please, proceed." Sensei Johan gave me the green light.
I didn't feel like standing up here anymore when everyone was giving me looks. It may not have been intentional, but some were gawking at me. I couldn't help but feel embarrassed, my face heating up.
"Can I just—I'm gonna sit down... is that fine?" I stepped off the front platform, not waiting for an answer. Sensei Johan's mouth opened to reply, but he didn't bother, as he already saw me walking to my desk.
It was day one, only ten or fifteen minutes into class, and I had already managed to make a fool of myself. Terra turned around as another student got up and began presenting herself.
Terra whispered, "I knew your name sounded familiar." She remarked. "Are you alright? People can be so inconsiderate..."
"I'm alright, thanks..." I responded, letting out a light chuckle to signify I wasn't deprecating myself too much. She nodded, turned back around, and focused on the introductions.
Deep in my mind, I began dwelling on past memories. Memories of when one of my parents was alive. I closed my eyes, my right hand massaging my temples as I zoned out into thought.
***
I snapped back to reality at Toho, shaking my shoulder. "You okay?" Toho was shaking me violently, yet his voice was low.
"I'm fine, I'm fine. That hurts..." I whispered harshly, gritting my teeth at his roughness, to which he chuckled.
"Well, that concludes the introductions. It was a pleasure to meet all of you, and we will begin education tomorrow. Settle into your dorms and explore campus; those are your two homework assignments for today. Class is dismissed!" Johan yelled.
Terra got up and walked out of the classroom, surrounded by Anya and a couple of others whom I didn't know because I wasn't even paying attention.
I got up from my desk, turning around to speak with Toho, but instead met Lucian in my face. I yelped before pushing him back. "What the hell is your deal?"
Lucian smirked, "You!" He pointed his finger at me, "My family met yours one time, not much of an impressive lot. I can't wrap my head around how your patrician family still has the honor of being a noble."
Toho stepped in, repeating exactly what I said, "What the hell is your deal?"
Lucian let out a chuckle, tinged with villainy. One look at this person up close, and you could easily think of him as a villain in some sort of fairy tale or story.
"You realistically only got into this school because people still consider you a noble. Unlike me! I worked to get here! I didn't need the help of my family...."
My brows furrowed. I knew the power the Wraith's family held. Lucian's two older brothers were both members of the World Council. They were Governors, so they had immense political power, but also strength as Sorcerers if they got to where they are.
He let out another hysterical laugh, "Oh wait—you don't even have parents who could have gotten you in..."
That comment sent me over the edge. I almost prepared to pounce on him; however, Toho extended his arm out, blocking me. Toho gazed at me intently, making me hesitate before I did anything.
"Let your boyfriend protect you," He laughed and walked off. He grabbed his satchel, preparing to exit the classroom. "Even if you think of yourself as a noble, don't forget... you're still a Kuro."
***
After the minor conflict, Toho and I found our dorm room. The entire walk, he carefully glanced over multiple times to ensure I wouldn't lose my cool. I had gotten over the confrontation, and my dull mood was lifted. It was only the first day; I still had the whole year!
Toho and I agreed to be roommates to save ourselves some money. I still won't inherit my parents' fortune for another year, so I have to ration the money my aunt saved up for me. Toho and I settled into our rooms, relaxed on the couch, and turned on the TV. My mind drifted off as random thoughts came and went.
I cleared my mind and focused. My main focus in coming into the Academy was to become the strongest Sorcerer. I've had an aspiration to become the strongest Sorcerer. Many fall into that delusion and fail, but I know I'm different. But before I fully commit to that goal, I just need to become a Superior Sorcerer first and cement a legacy.
It'll be hard to surpass Seraphis Valor, the current strongest Sorcerer of our time. My mind lingered, adapting to these changes as I tuned out everything else. I was almost falling asleep until Toho shook me awake.
"Hey! Hey, look at this!" Toho was pointing to the newspaper in his hand. In my groggy state, I sat up, my eyes still adjusting to the lighting. I leaned in, finding it hard to read the small print, but managed.
"The World Council has officially placed an executive order, diverting a large portion of Elor's resources to begin searching for the 7 Wonders." The news article stated. My half-asleep state instantly vanished as I was jolted awake.
I stood up, grabbing the thick, folded paper from Toho's hand, forcing him to stand up to read alongside.
Everyone had always thought it was a myth. Though the Marion, the book of the Father's words and law, stated he created 7 Great Wonders, no one was able to find them. The last historical recording of these Wonders was the Great War, centuries ago. The galaxy's inability to find the Wonders caused society to believe it was a myth.
The 7 Wonders, each granting an ability over existence. The 7 Wonders took the form of different objects and weapons.
Long ago, during the Great War, the Kuros, my race, used them in an attempt to wipe out all other races on this planet and take it for themselves. They believed they were the superior race; every race believed that, but the Kuros decided to act on it. They decided to use the power of all 7 Wonders to claim each and every planet for themselves.
Elor, my planet, allied with several planets in our solar system. Despite the power the Kuros race held with the Wonders, they weren't able to find them all. The entire solar system fell on the Kuros in a series of battles that would come to be known as the Great War.
The final battle, the one that defined the Kuros' loss, was the Battle of Battlefront. The battle took place on Elor, which destroyed half of the entire southern part of our planet; it has now become a wasteland, a dead land named Battlefront.
The Great War was so catastrophic it destroyed just a little less than half of the population... that's billions of lives lost. Even today, our population still hasn't recovered, and the Wonders have been lost throughout the universe.
"It's actually true..." Toho said softly, in a tone that signified he couldn't believe himself.
I continued reading the newspaper, "One of the 7 Wonders has been located; it is currently safely hidden with Seraphis Valor, the planet's Angel. This proves their existence, and the World Council plans on locating all of them before other planets do."
Seraphis Valor, her countless years as a Sorcerer, and her performance deeming her as the strongest of this era earned her the title across the planet: "The Guardian Angel"
Toho looked at me, "Dude! This is insane!" He yelled right next to my ear.
"This may be a good thing for our planet, but still, Toho... this proves us Kuros as the genocidal race." I retorted. Toho's expression changed to more somber after a couple of seconds of realization.
Although the existence of the 7 Wonders has always been considered a myth, society still believes that our Kuros ancestors did try to erase our planet's population, then move on to the solar system. Historical records couldn't prove the existence of mythical powers like the Wonders, but there was proof of the genocides caused by the Kuros. Many historians couldn't pinpoint how the Kuros caused so many deaths, which is why small portions believed in the 7 Wonders before they were found.
"This proves that Kuros had the means and ways to do what they did..." I couldn't bring myself to say the exact action, but Toho knew. I paused for a moment, slowly continuing, "This will only make our lives harder. What about our dreams—"
Toho interrupted, "No. It was our ancestors from centuries ago. Yeah, they discovered the Wonders, but it proves it was our ancestors. If people still blame the current-day Kuros, then they're idiots." Toho spoke aloud, determined. He shared the same sentiment about this situation that I did because he too was a Kuro.
Toho jumped in again, "This does change a lot, but after we graduate—no, straight after we turn sixteen, we can become Sorcerers. Once we rise in the ranks and cement ourselves as top heroes, we'll get nothing but respect. We can prove that Kuros aren't the genocidal race anymore." Toho shot a confident smile.
I smiled back, "Yeah... you're right." I slowly became more comfortable with the idea. Toho clenched his fist hard, extending his hand for a side fist-bump, which I followed through.
We continued reading, "The current Wonder they have found is of unknown details. However, our planet's Guardian Angel is tasked with finding the power granted by the Wonder. The current object or weapon that the Wonder takes the form of is not revealed yet. Seraphis Valor has confirmed that she will appear in public and reveal further details. Our planet is changing, and Elor's new feat will leave the other planets on edge..." The newspaper went on, but the details became less important.
Toho and I glanced at each other. I spoke first: "The top together?" I extended my arm in a handshake.
He reciprocated, shaking my hand firmly: "Together."
****
The old Sensei cut in, "I remember that day. It's only been a couple of years since. Reading that newspaper gave me goosebumps... it changed everything."
"Yeah," I replied. I considered how much my voice hasn't changed since my Academy year till now.
"Well, at least we both agree on that..." He said. "Come on, continue."
"Yes, Master Renzo"