The sun rose like molten gold over the horizon, casting long shadows over the vast land that surrounded Dorothrel Magic Academy. To call it a school would be a disservice. It stood not as a building, but as a monument to ambition, a fortress of magic, etched into the land like a scar made by the gods themselves. Arin stood before the main gate, his breath caught somewhere between his throat and chest.
The gate alone was twenty feet tall, made of obsidian metal laced with glowing mana veins, pulsing like a heartbeat. Cresting its top was a massive sigil — a sword pierced through a book, wrapped by a coiling dragon. The school's motto beneath read:
"From Mind, Body, and Will — Magic is Born."
Around him were hundreds of hopefuls, their faces a mix of pride, fear, and burning determination. Some wore fine robes stitched with enchantments, while others, like Arin, had travel-worn clothes and dusty boots. Nobles, commoners, foreigners, all gathered for the same purpose — to be recognized. To be chosen.
Arin adjusted the strap of his worn satchel and exhaled. He had kept his promise. He was here.
"I will join the Magic Academy... and create the strongest core."
Inside the Academy Grounds
As the gates creaked open with a hum of magic, a sea of hopefuls entered the academy grounds. The cobbled path led to a massive courtyard where a crystalline tower pierced the sky in the distance — the Main Hall. Floating spires levitated above shimmering lakes. Trees with blue leaves swayed in rhythm with the wind, as if whispering secrets.
A magical announcement echoed through the air in a deep, ancient voice:
"Welcome, future Magi. Prepare for your Entry Trials."
Floating name-plates hovered above designated spaces, signaling candidates to find their groups.
Arin's Group – First Encounters
Arin found himself in Group 7, which had around 30 students. And here, the stage was set for the first of many fated meetings.
1. Kael Dorne – A tall, lean noble with jet-black hair, gold-trimmed robes, and an aura of raw, refined magic. He gave off a sense of arrogance, but not the ignorant kind. His eyes scanned people like puzzles he'd already solved.
"Most of you will fail today. It's not personal—it's just numbers."
2. Lireya Dawnveil – A red-haired girl with eyes like molten silver. Her mana flared even when she wasn't casting. She didn't speak much, but her presence made others step back instinctively. She was the kind of prodigy who didn't need words to dominate.
3. Dregan Thorne – Towering, broad-shouldered, muscles barely contained by his tight training armor. His mana signature was faint, but the way he carried himself said one thing — if it came to fists, he'd bury you.
"Magic's fancy. But I like it simple. Hit first, ask later."
4. Nessa Varn – A small, quiet girl with round glasses, always scribbling in a floating notepad. She gave off no obvious magical presence — until you noticed how the air around her crackled with subtle enchantments. She wasn't flashy, but her brain worked like a thousand gears in motion.
5. The Noble Quartet – Four loud-mouthed nobles in shimmering outfits, laughing too loudly, mocking the "peasants." One of them looked at Arin and smirked.
"You'll be out before lunch. Maybe sooner if the magic test doesn't kill you."
6. Fen and Jilo – Two scrawny boys with patchy clothes, clearly poor. But when they spoke, it was in rune-speak, discussing complex magical theories that made even some nobles raise eyebrows. Genius misfits, with zero social skills.
Arin didn't react to any of it. He simply observed. Calm, quiet, focused.
"So many strong people... and that's just one group. Hiding my strength was the right choice. For now."
The First Test – Magic Aptitude Assessment
The groups were led to a massive, circular arena where the Magic Aptitude Test would begin. The proctor, a sharp-faced woman in flowing silver robes, levitated in the center.
"You will each place your hand on the Prism Stone. It will measure your mana potential."
The Prism Stone was a hovering crystal that glowed in shifting colors. Each student stepped up one by one, placing their hand on it.
Kael Dorne's crystal turned deep violet — a sign of royal-tier magic affinity.
Lireya's shimmered red and gold, a dual-affinity anomaly.
Dregan's barely flickered, but the proctor wrote something down with wide eyes.
Nessa's crystal sparked green, then white, then blue, an unpredictable genius tier.
The nobles' crystals were mostly pale blue, mid-tier, but they cheered like they'd won.
Then Arin stepped up.
He placed his hand on the crystal.
The crystal pulsed… faint yellow. Average. Forgettable.
The proctor blinked once, unimpressed. The nobles smirked. The geniuses ignored him. Arin walked off silently.
"Perfect. Just the way I wanted it."
As the sun began to dip, the students were led to the dormitories. Arin stood at the window of his small shared room, staring at the distant Main Tower.
"They're strong. All of them. But I've trained harder. I've survived worse."
He opened the book the old man gave him — "World of Body and Mind."Page 1: "To awaken a true warrior's magic, one must first master his breath."
He smiled.
"Let's see what this academy really has to offer."