Lian Grey, the ugliest and weakest noble in the country of Ziorna. He was viewed even lower than commoners. His family is one of the highest noble families in the country. He is a disgrace to the Grey Family.
When children turn the age of fifteen, they can get legally disowned. This would have happened to Lian if not for his caring and loving grandfather.
He negotiated with Lian's father, the current head of the Grey Family, and they agreed.
"If Lian does well in my academy, no, if he passes the first year's exam with flying colors, he will stay in the Grey family. If he fails, he has to work as a butler in the academy." Lian's grandfather said.
Lian's grandfather was a great archmage back in the day. Now, he owns one of the most prestigious academies for mages in the country. He and his father raised the Grey family's reputation from scratch.
They were great friends with the fourth king of Ziorna. That wouldn't make them a first-class noble, but Lian's grandfather also fell in love with the king's sister.
They had kids, and Lian eventually came to life after a few generations. If he ends the bloodline here or continues, the great family does not depend on him. He has an elder brother and an elder sister who are very successful, unlike himself.
Now with minimal experience, he got into the great Priscilla Academy with special ties (the academy is named after his grandfather's late wife).
Will he become great like the rest of his family, or will he become human scum?
...
"I can't believe my son is actually stepping outside the manor's property!" Lian's mother cried.
'Really? Was I that low?' Lian rolled his eyes.
"Yes," his whole family said in unison.
"How did you read my thoughts?!" Lian exclaimed with a shocked expression.
"Young master, I can't believe I'm saying this, but I will miss your company," the senior butler said while wiping the tears off his face with a handkerchief.
'At least I have one person who believes in me,' Lian smiled.
A luxurious carriage stopped beside Lian on the road. It was his ride to the academy.
"Well, looks like time's up. I'll be going then..."
"Lian," his elder brother said in a sharp tone.
"Don't tarnish the Grey family's name. I can't believe you can attend the best academy in the country with no experience!"
"Well, seize that opportunity to the fullest," his elder brother added.
Lian gently nodded and left for the academy.
'Elder brother seems cold and ruthless, but he's actually the kindest in our family.'
"Young master, I know I'm not in a position to give you advice, but please hear me out. Whatever the other mages say to you, do not take it to heart. I believe that you will come back to the Grey Family as a great mage," the man who drove the carriage said.
"Thank you, I don't really care what others say. I just want to see my father's reaction when I come back as the greatest mage in the academy!" Lian said with a prideful tone.
The carriage driver laughed heartily.
"We will see about that," he said.
...
'So this is the great Priscilla Academy...' Lian's eyes shone when he saw the academy grounds.
He heard murmurs from the young mages around him.
"Hey, isn't that the trash of the grey family?"
"What's a guy like that doing here?"
"He probably begged his grandfather like a dog to join."
"I worked hard for this, and he gets to come for free?!"
Lian felt intense gazes from around him, but they all went by in a moment.
"That's the ice princess!"
"I heard she's the most promising mage in the country!"
"The Licilla family raised her well. She's beautiful, incredibly strong, and she's beautiful!"
"You already said she's beautiful."
Lian was amazed by the academy, but his eyes shone even brighter when he saw the ice princess.
Wherever she was, a crowd of fanboys and fangirls formed around her.
'She's the same age as me, but she's so far ahead of me...'
Suddenly, the ice princess glanced at Lian from the side but immediately turned her head back up front when she realized that Lian was watching her.
'Staring at women can be considered creepy!' she thought with a purple face.
Eventually, the crowd faded away, and Lian headed for the academy building.
The academy grounds were beautiful, with many plants and many training grounds as well.
The dormitories were split by age group, with the first years being in the lowest story.
When Lian entered the main academy building, he was taken aback.
'There are so many... hot women!'
"Who knew I had a fetish for hot mage chicks?!"
Lian's voice echoed throughout the academy, ringing in everyone's ears.