The gates of Ashura had never felt so large.
Morning sunlight washed over the stone walls as people gathered near the entrance. Merchants paused their work, children climbed fences to see better, and elders stood quietly with folded arms.
Nearly half the town had come.
Not for a festival.
But to send three young dreamers into the world.
⸻
Farewell to Home
Dazai tightened the strap of his travel bag.
Beside him, Kaizer looked restless with excitement, while Azlea stood calm but focused.
At the front of the wooden travel cart stood Anugus, adjusting the reins of the sturdy mountain horse that would pull them across kingdoms.
Arthur stepped forward first.
He placed a firm hand on Dazai's shoulder.
"The world outside Ashura is different," he said quietly. "People won't always care about fairness."
Dazai nodded.
"I know."
Arora hugged him tightly.
"Eat properly, sleep properly, and don't do anything reckless."
Kaizer whispered to Azlea, "That advice already failed."
Azlea elbowed him lightly.
Nearby, Iris held Kaizer's face between her hands.
"You always run toward trouble," she warned.
Kaizer grinned.
"That's because trouble usually runs away from me."
Orion laughed loudly.
"That's my boy."
Meanwhile Clarice hugged Azlea gently.
"You've always been responsible. Just remember you're still young."
Faron added proudly, "Show them what discipline looks like."
Anugus finally spoke from the cart.
"If we delay any longer, the exam will happen without you."
Laughter broke some of the tension.
But before they left, an elderly beastling raised his voice.
"Remember something!"
The crowd quieted.
"The world beyond Ashura is cruel."
A human merchant added,
"But cruelty isn't the only thing out there."
Another voice followed,
"Bring honor to Ashura."
And finally a child shouted,
"COME BACK STRONG!"
The trio climbed into the cart.
Anugus snapped the reins.
The wheels began to move.
And for the first time in their lives…
They left Ashura.
⸻
Character Status Cards
As they traveled, Anugus decided to evaluate their growth.
"Before entering the academy," he said, "you should understand your current limits."
He wrote their stats in a small training journal.
⸻
Kaizer
Strength : C
Speed : B
Stamina : C
Endurance : B
Mana Control : B
Mana Capacity : A
Class : Rogue
Rank Amateur
Type : Manifestation Caster
Mana Nature : Electricity / Fog
Combat Potential : A
⸻
Azlea
Strength : D
Speed : C
Stamina : C
Endurance : C
Mana Control : A
Mana Capacity : A
Class : Mage
Rank : Amateur
Type : Manifestation Caster
Mana Nature : Water / Wind
Combat Potential : B
⸻
Dazai
Strength : B
Speed : B
Stamina : B
Endurance : A
Mana Control : F
Mana Capacity : F
Class : Fighter
Rank : Amateur
Type : None
Mana Nature : None
Combat Potential : Unknown
⸻
Anugus
Strength : A
Speed : A
Stamina : A
Endurance : A
Mana Control : A
Mana Capacity : B
Class — Vanguard / Myrmidon
Rank — Master
Type — Manifestation & Enhancement Caster
Mana Nature — Electricity / Nature
Combat Potential : S
Kaizer stared at the journal.
"Wait… why is my strength so low?"
Anugus replied calmly.
"Because you skip leg training."
Azlea laughed.
Dazai smirked slightly.
⸻
Six Days on the Road
The journey to the Archon Kingdom took six long days.
Each day brought something new.
⸻
Day One — Forest Roads
They passed through dense forests filled with glowing insects and distant animal calls.
Kaizer tried practicing lightning spells.
A spark hit a tree branch.
The branch caught fire.
Anugus stared silently.
Kaizer gulped.
"…I can fix that."
Azlea extinguished it with a water spell.
⸻
Day Two — Small Village
They stopped at a roadside village.
A traveling merchant sold fried grain cakes.
Kaizer ate five.
Dazai paid for them.
"You said you had money!"
"I said I had plans."
⸻
Day Three — River Crossing
A massive stone bridge stretched across a roaring river.
Azlea watched the water flow beneath them.
"It's beautiful."
Dazai nodded.
"Feels like the world is bigger than we thought."
Anugus replied quietly,
"It is."
⸻
Day Four — Mountain Pass
Cold winds hit the cart as they climbed rocky terrain.
Kaizer nearly fell while trying to balance on the edge.
Azlea grabbed his collar.
"Do you want to die before the exam?"
"Just testing gravity."
⸻
Day Five — Caravan Road
They joined a caravan of travelers.
Different races walked together—humans, elves, beastlings, and dwarves.
Dazai watched them carefully.
"So many people…"
Anugus said,
"The academy gathers even more."
⸻
Day Six — The City Appears
At sunrise on the sixth day, they finally saw it.
The Archon Kingdom's Metropolitan City.
And all four of them froze.
The walls were massive.
At least ten times taller than Ashura's.
Watchtowers stood like giants.
Thousands of guards patrolled the gates.
Carriages, merchants, travelers, and adventurers filled the roads.
Kaizer whispered,
"…That wall could stop a dragon."
Azlea nodded slowly.
Dazai simply stared.
Even Anugus looked impressed.
⸻
The City Gate
A long line waited to enter the city.
Merchants argued.
Travelers chatted.
Guards inspected documents.
After several minutes, it was finally their turn.
A guard stepped forward.
"Identification."
Anugus handed over their travel documents.
The guard scanned them.
"Purpose of visit?"
Anugus replied calmly.
"Academy entrance examination."
The guard nodded.
"Entry tax."
"1 gold coin, or 5 silver, or 10 bronze."
Kaizer whispered,
"Please tell me we didn't spend the entry fee on fried cakes."
Dazai slowly handed over 5 silver coins.
The guard stamped their entry pass.
"You may enter."
The massive gates opened.
And the city swallowed them.
⸻
A Different World
The noise was overwhelming.
Merchants shouted from stalls.
Blacksmiths hammered metal.
Street performers played music.
Carriages raced through crowded roads.
Kaizer turned in circles.
"This place never sleeps!"
Azlea stared at tall buildings.
"There are more people here than our entire town."
Dazai noticed something else.
Everywhere he looked…
There were mages.
People casually using magic for daily work.
Floating lanterns.
Water spells cleaning streets.
Wind magic cooling shops.
He felt something tighten in his chest.
⸻
The Inn
After wandering for an hour, Anugus stopped outside a modest hotel.
"We stay here tonight."
The sign read:
The Silver Stag Inn
Inside, the innkeeper greeted them.
"Four guests?"
Anugus nodded.
"Two rooms."
No thanks one is enough for us
Kaizer whispered to Dazai,
"If Azlea snores, we blame you."
Azlea heard that.
"Sleep outside then."
Dinner was lively.
They ate roasted meat, bread, and soup.
For a moment, the stress faded.
But when night came…
Sleep didn't.
⸻
The Night Before the Exam
Kaizer lay awake.
"What if we fail?"
Azlea stared at the ceiling.
"Then we try again."
Dazai sat near the window quietly.
His thoughts were heavier.
Everyone there will use magic.
Everyone.
He clenched his hand.
But eventually…
Exhaustion won.
And they slept.
⸻
The Morning of Fate
Anugus woke them early.
"Up."
Kaizer groaned.
"Five more minutes."
Anugus pulled the blanket away.
"You have an exam today."
Kaizer jumped up.
"Oh right."
They dressed quickly.
Azlea tied her hair.
Dazai adjusted his sword belt.
Anugus looked at them seriously.
"Today is not about proving you're the strongest."
"It's about proving you belong."
They nodded.
Then they walked toward the Academy of Ascension.
⸻
The Exam Grounds
The academy grounds were enormous.
Thousands of teenagers had gathered.
Humans.
Elves.
Beastlings.
Dwarves.
ETC.
Rich nobles wearing expensive armor.
Poor villagers carrying simple wooden weapons.
Some looked confident.
Some terrified.
Kaizer whispered,
"That's… a lot of competition."
Azlea nodded.
Dazai looked around silently.
They filled out their exam forms.
Then everyone was guided into a massive field.
At the front stood a large stage.
Teachers sat in rows.
Nobles and sponsors watched carefully.
At the center stood the Academy Principal.
An elderly women with silver hair and piercing eyes.
She stepped forward.
And the entire field went silent.
⸻
The Principal's Speech
"My dear students," the principal began.
Her voice echoed across the enormous field.
"Before me stand the future of this world."
She walked slowly across the stage.
"Some of you were born into noble families."
"Some of you walked hundreds of miles just to stand here."
"Some of you believe you are the strongest."
"And some of you believe you do not belong."
Her eyes scanned the crowd.
"But hear this truth."
"Greatness is not decided by birth."
"It is not decided by wealth."
"It is not even decided by talent."
She paused.
"It is decided by perseverance."
The students listened carefully.
"At the Academy of Ascension, we do not seek perfection."
"We seek potential."
" Or even if you lack potential but have determination to do something we welcome you"
"Among you may stand the next great healer."
"The next legendary knight."
"The next mage who will reshape magic itself."
"The next alchemist"
"The next engineer"
ETC ETC .
The air felt heavy.
"But remember this as well."
"Not all of you will pass."
"Not all of you will succeed."
"But every one of you standing here today…"
"…has already shown courage."
She raised her hand.
"So give this exam everything you have."
"Show us your skill."
"Show us your heart."
"And above all…"
"Show us why you deserve to ascend."
The field erupted with nervous excitement.
Kaizer grinned.
"Okay… that speech was awesome."
Azlea exhaled slowly.
Dazai looked toward the testing arena.
His heart pounded.
Because the first step toward their future…
Had finally begun.