The sun gave its final beam of light unto the small town of Zorel as it set.
Watching the sun from the top of an almond-roofed brick building was the hero from earlier. His jet-black hair was blown by the evening wind, and his dark leather jacket obeyed the motion of the cool breeze, the steel buckles and zippers shimmering with a quiet elegance.
His hands were folded tightly as he gazed at the horizon, staring casually at the setting sun, his eyebrows narrowing in deep thought.
A subtle yet intimidating voice escaped his lips.
"Thsk!" He sighed.
"I wouldn't even call those losers a training session!" Sai muttered angrily—a mixture of anger, contempt, and frustration etched across his face.
"In this world, magic is everything!" he continued, placing his hand in front of him, squeezing it tightly but firmly while staring at it with burning intensity.
"These people think they're special because they were lucky enough to be born with Mana?!" He seethed.
"I'll show them! I'll show them all! With my abilities, I'll climb to the top of the food chain! And as for good and evil…? I reject them both! I learned this the hard way from Mum. I'll create a path that favors me!"
"THIS… IS MY DARK FALLACY."
---
A Week Later
In Zorel Academia for Witchcraft and Sorcery, murmurs of young witches and wizards rippled through the halls as the sun blazed over the horizon.
The summer sun beamed down, smiling broadly on the school's entrance as students of Zorel Academia made their way inside.
"Come on, Maya! We're going to be late again," Leah said, grabbing Maya's arm and pulling her toward the entrance.
Maya, however, was lost in thought, her mind somewhere far from the present.
"Oh… come on!"
"Don't tell me you're still thinking about that guy, are you?!" Leah teased, noticing Maya's flustered expression.
"Y… yes. He's all I can think about," Maya admitted, clutching her hands to her chest, cheeks flushed, letting out a soft sigh.
"Well, you can think about him after school, but right now… we need to focus. We've got classes," Leah said, holding Maya's hand firmly as she dragged her along.
"Right!" Maya replied, falling in step as the two girls entered the school.
Sai stood at the edge of the school gates, jet-black hair falling in sharp strands, two locks framing his face like shadows. The morning sun reflected off the building's silver panels, making the school resemble a fortress more than a place of learning.
He didn't move immediately. Instead, he tilted his head, studying the tall structure with unreadable eyes. The wind tugged lightly at his leather jacket—sagged low, halfway across his arms like armor worn wrong on purpose. His uniform shirt was half-tucked, collar loose, every piece of him radiating quiet defiance.
This was his first day—a new start, or just another place to survive.
"Zorel Academia, huh," Sai muttered.
"Better go in," he said, lazily placing his hands behind his neck in a relaxed but defiant manner.
"Ugh… what a pain." Without another word, he stepped forward into the school.
---
Meanwhile, in the hallway seconds before class, Maya and Leah walked side by side, the clicks of their heels echoing on the polished floor. Dressed in crisp uniforms that hugged their forms, the two carried themselves with poise and quiet confidence.
Their shirts, neatly buttoned but gently strained across their chests, drew glances they pretended not to notice. Hair tied back, eyes sharp—they were more than their appearance, yet impossible to ignore. The aura they radiated was complemented by matching gold necklaces and silver heels, shimmering as if the midnight moon had gone for a stroll. Their presence turned silence into tension, casual moments into something charged.
"Phew! We made it in time!" the girls simultaneously sighed as they headed for two empty front-row seats.
"Wow, you really take your class attendance seriously, don't you?" Maya remarked as they settled.
"Yeah, never been late to class in my life," Leah said, head held high, folding her arms proudly.
The murmurs of the class thickened as students awaited their teacher's arrival. Moments later, a white-haired woman in her late twenties entered. Her hair was tied into a neat bun, and she wore a white shirt and black skinny skirt that accentuated her form. Her presence radiated warmth and grace, even more so than Maya and Leah's. A pair of half-framed rectangular glasses rested on her pointed nose, and in her right hand, she held her magic wand.
---
"Everyone, settle down please. Our class will begin shortly," she said, oblivious to the class's awe.
"Wow, Miss Rose is so pretty."
"She's even more gorgeous than I remembered."
"Yeah, she is."
Compliments whispered through the room as all eyes followed her.
"Today, you all will have a new classmate," Miss Rose announced, clapping her hands together with her wand between them. Murmurs rippled across the students.
"A new classmate? Is he a noble? Or maybe a royal?"
"A new classmate?" Leah wondered aloud, curiosity piqued.
Maya's hands were stacked on her desk, thoughts drifting to her hero. Her cheeks deepened in red.
"Come in, Sai," Miss Rose said teasingly as the classroom door creaked open.
Sai stepped in. The room fell silent. His presence was heavy, unspoken. Jet-black hair framed his face, eyes cool and unreadable. His uniform was worn, but the leather jacket draped across his shoulders gave him a sharp, offbeat edge. He didn't look around, nor flinch under the sudden attention.
---
"Sai, please introduce yourself to the class," Miss Rose said cheerfully, gesturing to the students with a friendly smile.
"Wow! He's hot," a black-haired girl with a pink bow murmured.
"Hmm… that guy looks familiar. Do I know him from somewhere?" Leah wondered.
Maya blushed deeply, ecstatically smiling, as if Christmas had come early.
"You seem awfully happy! Spill it—who is he?" Leah asked, curiosity in her tone.
"What! You really don't remember?" Maya whispered, shocked at her friend's forgetfulness.
"He's the one who saved us, remember?"
"My name's Sai Taakka. I just moved here a few weeks ago. Nice to meet you all," he said, a sudden gust of wind brushing past him, ruffling his hair and jacket.
"Even his voice is dreamy," Maya whispered, clapping softly.
"You all are aware that once a teenager reaches fifteen, they awaken their spiritual energy, called Mana, and can use magic. But sadly…" Miss Rose paused.
"Sai has not awakened, and is therefore unable to use magic."
---
"So he's ordinary?!" a class bully shouted.
"Preposterous!" another corrected, adjusting his glasses.
The room buzzed with murmurs.
"That's enough!" Miss Rose commanded. "Regardless, Sai is still a human being. Despite his lack of magic, he is capable of impressive feats. I've been told he is just as capable on the battlefield as anyone in this institution, even without magic."
The murmurs escalated—"impossible! More than the school leaders?"
"That's all for now. Sai, welcome to Zorel Academia. I hope you find solitude in our mist," Miss Rose said cheerfully.
Sai remained unphased. He walked calmly to the back of the class, the silence unable to touch him.
The girls couldn't help but stare as he passed.
"Um, welcome to our academy, Sai. I'm Ryan," an orange-haired boy said, offering a hand.
Sai gave a slight nod. "Yeah."
"Nice to meet ya too, buddy," Sai replied.
And just like that, Sai took his seat—no fuss, no smile—just the quiet certainty of someone who didn't come to fit in.