3526 N.C
Omniscient POV
"Don't you ever learn? How many times have I told you not to strut around half-naked near the girls' dormitory?" the girl snapped, stomping down on Sakakihara as black lightning cracked beneath her foot, jolting through his body.
Her scowl was sharp and dripping with disgust. Sakakihara, dressed in nothing but a bright red speedo, writhed on the ground with a groan.
"But Satsuki-chan, this isn't even the girls' dorm!" he protested, trying to defend himself.
He'd thought sunbathing early in the morning was a great idea, even though the sun was still so weak.
"Don't act so familiar with me, you damn pervert! This is still a shared space between boys and girls!" the girl named Satsuki barked, her glare somehow growing even harsher.
The two went back and forth, Sakakihara enduring the beating while Hayato, standing a short distance away, quietly watched the spectacle.
Then Sakakihara's dull eyes suddenly lit up as they landed on Hayato.
"Oh, Hayato-kun! Here to sunbathe too? Quite the early riser, I see," he chirped, suddenly at Hayato's side, perfectly fine as though nothing had happened. He placed a hand on Hayato's shoulder, grinning.
Hayato immediately brushed his hand off and took a step back. He'd rather keep some distance from this guy.
"Don't lump me in with you. I'm just here for my morning exercises," Hayato said flatly.
"Don't be like that~. Sunbathing's fun! You should strip down and join me~," Sakakihara teased, moving toward him again—only to freeze when knives slammed into the ground at his feet. He looked up to see Kursh glaring, eyes cold.
"Don't go filling danna-sama's head with your weird habits. Stay back, you contagious pervert!" she snapped with open disgust.
"Ah, Kursh-chan. Always a pleasure~," Sakakihara said cheerfully.
Kursh's reply was another knife hurled his way. He only smiled goofily as he dodged with ease.
Satsuki, clearly done with the whole ordeal, brushed past them.
"So you're the new kid. Don't mix with that idiot," she muttered before leaving.
Hayato didn't respond, but his eyes followed her. Up close, he could see her clearly now.
Her hair faded from black at the roots to blonde at the tips, a star-shaped clip pinned on the left side. The gentle breeze toyed with her loose strands.
She wore the girls' uniform of Sylvania Academy—a white shirt untucked beneath a blue blazer traced with gold, her purple necktie hanging loose.
Black stockings climbed up her luscious thighs. Her hazel eyes burned beneath sharp brows, framed by tanned skin and slightly pointed ears.
With her slightly pointed ears, Hayato could tell she was a dark elf—or rather, half-dark elf.
She was stunning, the dream girl of any single boy—if not for the deadly expression on her face.
She radiated an aura that made you feel you'd die if you got too close. In a sense, she was quite like Hayato, though she was more expressive, especially with her anger, unlike him, who always wore a stoic, neutral face.
As she walked away, Hayato's heartbeat finally settled, though his interest in her had been piqued.
Meanwhile, Sakakihara was still weaving through Kursh's barrage, grinning like it was a game. Catching Hayato's gaze, he chuckled.
"What, interested in her, Hayato-kun? Don't get your hopes up. Satsuki Kirishima—same year as me, third-year, and infamous as a delinquent.
Most keep their distance since she pounds (beats up) anyone who gets close. If not for that, she'd be one of the most popular girls on the campus with her gorgeous face and all," he explained, effortlessly dodging another blade.
Hayato studied him quietly. This pervert had taken a brutal beating moments ago and yet was completely fine.
His speed—whether closing the gap to Hayato in an instant or slipping past Kursh's knives—was unreal.
He was dangerous. In more ways than just his personality.
"Kursh, let's get back to training," Hayato said calmly.
She returned to him, though not without scowling at Sakakihara.
She hadn't meant to truly hurt him, but his effortless dodging irritated her to no end. Sakakihara only smiled and waved goodbye cheerfully.
For the next two hours, Hayato lost himself in his training, though a prickling sensation lingered at the back of his neck. Someone was watching him—he just couldn't tell who, or from where.
*
*
*
After finishing his training, Hayato freshened up, had breakfast, and put on the standard Sylvania Academy uniform.
As he stepped out of the dorm, he noticed Virion coming out behind him at the same time.
"Wan—Nakamura! You're heading out now, too? How do you think the first day will go? Do you think we'll be in the same class?" Virion asked eagerly, quickly correcting himself to just Nakamura after receiving a sharp glare.
Virion rambled on excitedly about the academy, while Hayato remained silent, simply walking toward the Teleportation Portal. He wasn't one for idle chatter; silence suited him better.
It didn't take long for them to reach the portal. Thankfully, an assistant professor was there to regulate the transportation; without S (Status) Cards, new students couldn't use the academy facilities on their own.
"Are you two also new students?" the assistant professor asked.
"Ah, yes! We're new first-years," Virion replied quickly, while Hayato only gave a faint hum in acknowledgment.
"Alright. I'll send you both near the Auditorium. Head straight there after. Now, stand inside the circle," the professor instructed.
They stepped into the circle, and in an instant, mana surged beneath their feet, glowing in a bright blue hue. Their bodies dissipated from the spot, reappearing moments later at the Teleportation Portal near the Auditorium.
Hayato stepped out of the portal, noticing more and more students appearing around the area. He and Virion began walking toward the Auditorium, visible even from here, and before long, he found himself in a wide courtyard paved with pale stone, the air buzzing with excitement.
All around, students in the same uniform gathered in clusters, some pointing at the towering Auditorium ahead. Its colossal doors, carved with runes and lined with gleaming silver, stood firmly shut.
In the middle of the courtyard, a giant board floated several feet above the ground. Names shimmered across its surface, glowing faintly as though alive. Each student's name burned in a unique light, bright enough to catch their attention once they searched for it.
The crowd pressed close, craning their necks and whispering.
"There I am—Class C!"
"Ah, I'm in Class B too, let's do our best!"
"I heard Class D students usually don't last long…"
Excitement mixed with nervousness, and for some, disappointment. Yet introductions, small talk, and hurried handshakes spread quickly.
This was, after all, the dream academy of many.
Hayato stepped toward the notice board, his expression calm as his glasses concealed the flicker of his blood-red eyes scanning over the names.
His own appeared almost instantly, his gaze drawn to it as if the board itself were calling him. His name shimmered on the surface, and beside it was written: Class A—his class.
Virion, who had been hopping on his toes to spot his name, let out a laugh of triumph.
"Ha! Class A! We're in the same class, Nakamura!" he said, almost dramatic in his delivery.
Hayato didn't even glance at him. He simply turned away from the board, uninterested in sharing Virion's excitement.
"Hey, wait!"
Around them, more voices rose as students discovered their fates. Rivalries sparked immediately between some A and B students, while others sighed in relief at being placed with some of their friends.
Then, without warning, the giant doors of the Auditorium groaned and opened on their own. The sound made students pause mid-sentence. Some gasped, others whispered nervously, but eventually, the stream of new students began filing in. They knew it was open for them.
Inside was breathtaking.
The Auditorium stretched wide like a cathedral. Above them arched a vast dome of glass, though the sky beyond was hidden.
Instead, dazzling patterns of light—rainbows, constellations, shifting fractals—danced across the dome, ever-changing as though alive. It was mesmerizing, and the hall buzzed with awe.
Then the lights dimmed. A soft hum rippled through the air as the stage lights flared to life.
From the shadows stepped a woman.
A middle-aged elven beauty with long black hair tied into a bun at the back of her head, faint white strands streaked among the black, walked with graceful poise.
Rimless glasses rested lightly on her nose, and though her figure was voluptuous, it was the aura she exuded that commanded the hall, pressing down the moment she raised a hand.
"Silence."
Her single word rolled across the Auditorium like a wave, quieting even the boldest chatter. Behind them, the massive doors shut with a deep thud, sealing the space.
"I am the Headmistress of Sylvania Magic Academy. Sofia Fia Lespinasse," she began, her tone calm yet commanding. Though she didn't raise her voice, her words carried to every ear as though whispered directly to them.
"Congratulations. You have made it this far, to stand among the chosen few. This Academy is the cradle of future legends. You should be proud of yourselves."
"Wow! Is it really her?"
"It's really Sofia Fia Lespinasse?!"
"Isn't she an Archmage?"
"I heard she's the strongest mage in Eldora—and the most likely to become the next Sage!"
"I can't believe we're seeing her!"
Whispers of awe spread quickly among the students, and it was no surprise. After all, she was that famous—the disciple of the founder's own disciple of Sylvania Magic Academy.
The excited murmurs, however, died down in an instant as her sharp gaze swept over them.
"But do not think this path will be easy. Only one in five of you will endure the next five years and graduate. The curriculum is harsh. The training is merciless. Every year, students die despite our efforts. If you cannot accept this risk, then you will be swallowed by it."
The weight of her words crushed the earlier excitement. Students swallowed nervously, shifting on their feet.
"Yet, for those who endure, your brilliance will shine greater than the rest. So strive. Push yourselves. Give everything. Sylvania will forge you into what you are meant to become. Welcome, new bloods."
The Headmistress's aura receded as she gave a final nod, then left the stage.
One by one, professors came forth to speak: the gruff combat instructor promising pain, the alchemy professor whispering of endless possibilities, the theory master stressing precision. Each introduction gave students a glimpse of what awaited them.
And then the mood shifted again.
When the Student Council President appeared on stage, whispers broke out everywhere.
She was just that awe-inspiring. She had long black hair cascading behind her, her uniform pressed with elegance, her smile refined yet warm. The beauty of her features drew stunned silence, followed by an almost reverent awe. Even Hayato noticed, though his expression didn't change.
"Hello, students. I am the current Student Council President, Isabella Elise Von Strauss," she said with poise and a bright smile that captivated the hearts of everyone.
"Our duty is for the students, by the students. We will assist you whenever you need help, so never hesitate to reach out. Together, let us make these years the best they can be."
The students erupted in cheers, excited by the drop-dead-gorgeous president before them—especially the boys, whose voices rang the loudest. Isabella only kept smiling.
Behind her stood the other council members, wearing the same confident smiles as if they had fully expected such a response.
But among them, Hayato's eyes narrowed when he spotted Sakakihara, waving at him with a goofy grin.
'…Even that pervert is a member?' Hayato thought dryly, unimpressed.
His faith in the student council dipped slightly—only slightly, though. After all, the student council was supposed to be the best of the best.
Then the Council President finished her speech gracefully. "Now, you will be guided to your classes. There, your homeroom professor will issue your S Cards, which are essential for all academy facilities. Please follow the members of the Council in an orderly fashion."
Voices rang out across the hall:
"Class A, this way!"
"Class B, here!"
"Class C, follow me!"
Hayato and Virion followed the call for Class A. At the front of the group, a familiar second-year girl with short lavender hair struggled to keep her voice steady.
"C-Class—ah, no, I mean A-Class, over here please!" she corrected herself, cheeks red. Her meekness was obvious, though she tried hard to sound firm.
Hayato recognized her. She was Chrissy Lars–the one he had met yesterday.
Beside her was Mark, steady as always, helping organize the crowd.
Hayato's eyes flicked over them briefly before he followed along.
Eventually, they reached the Class A classroom. The guides told them to wait inside until the professor arrived.
Students immediately began chatting, introducing themselves, laughter filling the room as bonds began forming.
Hayato, however, ignored them. He took a seat at the very back, near the left window, sliding into the chair silently. Virion plopped down awkwardly to his right.
He was unusually quiet, which was strange, and he looked a bit restless. But Hayato didn't bother asking him anything.
Without a word, Hayato turned his gaze outside. The courtyard was framed by blooming sakura blossoms, petals drifting in the breeze.
He rested his chin on one hand, eyes half-lidded. The voices around him blurred together into meaningless noise.
He waited, patient and detached, for the professor to arrive.
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