The stone gates of Saint Elyria Academy towered over the valley, lined with silver runes that glowed whenever anyone passed beneath them. The barriers were designed to filter out external threats and keep high-tier malice outside the campus grounds. For Kazuki, walking through those gates felt like entering a sanctuary.
Deep within his soul, the dark memories of Azrakar—the legendary Demon King—stirred against the spiritual chains locking them away.
'You intend to hide among these children?' Azrakar's voice echoed in his mind, sharp and unimpressed. 'The monarch of the infernal realm, taking notes in a lecture hall?'
'I intend to train without an entire army chasing me through the streets,' Kazuki replied mentally, adjusting the wooden charm beneath his shirt. 'Keep your aura buried. If the academy's Grand Ward picks up a trace of your mana, this entire school turns into a battlefield.'
Azrakar went quiet, letting the dark energy settle back into Kazuki's core.
The evaluation plaza was packed with hundreds of new recruits. Noble heirs in custom-tailored coats and prodigies from famous martial clans stood in line, waiting to test their magical aptitude against a massive Obsidian Orb on the main stage. Every time a high-ranking student placed their hand on the stone, vibrant pillars of gold, crimson, or cyan light shot into the sky, drawing applause from the faculty.
When Kazuki walked up the steps, the proctor didn't bother looking up from his parchment.
"Name?"
"Kazuki Arata."
"Place your right palm on the orb and channel your mana."
Kazuki reached out, his hand hovering an inch above the cold surface. Beneath his skin, the vast ocean of Azrakar's ancient energy surged, powerful enough to shatter the stone orb and flatten the surrounding courtyard.
Instead of unleashing it, Kazuki drew on his absolute control. He pinched the energy down, releasing only a microscopic thread of basic, unrefined human mana—less than half a percent of his actual reservoir.
The Obsidian Orb gave a faint, dull gray flicker, then went completely dark.
The proctor tapped the orb, checked his ledger, and let out a light sigh. "Mana Output: Class E. Lowest threshold. You meet the basic entry requirement, but you'll be assigned to the remedial dormitories and baseline physical classes."
Snickers broke out among the noble students waiting in line behind him.
"A Class E commoner," someone muttered. "Why do they even bother letting them in?"
Kazuki pulled his hand back, gave the proctor a polite nod, and walked toward the path leading to the lower-tier dorms. The laughter behind him didn't matter. He didn't need ranks, titles, or public praise.
He had a roof over his head, a barrier protecting the perimeter, and complete anonymity. In the quiet corners of Class E, he could refine his dual nature, build his strength in secret, and make sure that when he finally stepped into the light, no one could ever force his hand again.