One day, while I was working on the terrace, I heard something strange from up in the sky. I looked up and saw something falling, like a shooting star. But mid-fall, it vanished. Still staring at the sky, trying to figure out what I just saw, I suddenly heard someone calling my name from below.
I went down and saw academy students lining up. That's when I remembered—it was the graduation ceremony today.
The principal was the one who called me. I went straight to his office. When I entered, I saw him near the bookshelf, checking through some books. I asked him why he called me. Without answering right away, he went to his drawer and took out an academy uniform—with my name stitched on it.
I sighed .
He smiled. he went back to the shelf, he continued looking through books and said, "Winter, you see… I want you to go on your own journey. Now that you've learned everything this academy has to offer."
a little shocked, I asked, "Was this the reason you called me here? But sir… I can't graduate. I'm not even a student of this academy ."
He finally found the book he was looking for, pulled something out of it, and walked towards me. It was a photograph—a class photo. I was also standing in it.
"Winter, why are you also standing in the class photo ?" he asked with a grin. "The only explanation I could think of is that you're part of this class."
I stared at it, confused, then quietly said, "...Alright I lose you win . I'll graduate from the academy. But I'll need a little more time to prepare for this so-called journey ."
I took the uniform and left his office.
***
After changing in the restroom, three students walked in and saw me wearing the uniform. All three burst out laughing and one of them patted me on the back , saying, "Big brother Winter finally realized he's part of the academy!"
We all laughed, talking about the academy and how much it had changed over the past five years. Then we walked to the hall and sat together. Names were called one by one, and each student received their certificate. When my name was called, I stood up, nervous.
As I walked to the stage, I remembered watching graduation ceremonies every year . The thought of graduating myself had never crossed my mind. I took the certificate from the principal, who smiled at me seeing wearing the uniform .Everyone clapped as I returned to my seat. After the ceremony, everyone began taking pictures, but something unexpected happened. Half the students bowed their heads toward me.
"Big brother Winter, thank you for helping us through the whole school year," they said.
I also bowed my head back. "Thank you all… for helping me too."
``````
A week went by. I was still deciding—should I go on the journey the principal talked about? Or stay and keep working at the school? The pay was good, and I had saved quite a lot.
I checked my savings. I had 5 gold coins, 20 silver coins, and 2,000 copper coins. Thanks to my pocket dimension, I didn't need to carry them around. I could eat three meals a day for two years straight with what I had.
I made my decision. "I would go on the adventure''.
I checked the time and then decide to go the training grounds and I began with physical training—no magic, no body enhancement spells. Just raw strength and stamina. I practiced my sword forms, refining every movement. Once that was done, I moved to magic training.
I tried combining two different elements in a spell. It worked, but it drained my mana fast and left me exhausted. That's when I remembered that combining elements cost more mana and stamina. That's why body enhancement spells were important—they reduce mana usage and don't drain stamina as quickly.
I sat down to meditate. After thirty minutes, I recovered fully. I cast a body enhancement spell, then began using every spell I knew, focusing on casting speed. while also healing myself to recover between each spell to continue cast spells.
Then, something happened, Using a wind spell, I launched myself into the sky. As I looked down from above, I suddenly felt something heavy slam into my back. Before I could react, I was smashed toward the ground—but I managed to push myself slightly upward with another wind spell, avoiding a fatal impact.
Lying on the ground, I turned my head and saw a person wearing a mask. Just from analyzing the mask, I could tell—he was from one of the most notorious criminal organizations. I quickly chanted a spell that tied his hands and legs to the ground. I approached to remove his mask, but something in me screamed danger. My instincts flared, and I immediately teleported both of us away from that spot.
as a explosion happened where I was standing .
Just as I reappeared, another masked man was standing where the explosion happen he looked at me but then he vanished—then reappeared in front of me with a glowing hand, casting a fire spell. He punched me in the stomach, and I was sent flying backward from the impact .but somehow, I caught my balance—just barely. In the same breath, I teleported in front of him and unleashed my strongest fire spell: Fire Burst.
The explosion pushed him back. I grabbed the restrained man and teleported us again. This time, I appeared in the principal's office. Without wasting time, I grabbed the principle and teleported again—just as the enemy prepared to slash through me mid-teleport. I teleport us a little farther and appeared on the end of training ground.
The masked enemy appeared again, faster than i expected. Before I could act, the principal punched him, sending him flying. While rotating midair, the man cast a fire spell and hurled it at the principal—but the principal countered it with a water spell.
The two spells collided. Smoke filled the area.
I tried sensing him, but he had vanished. The principal used a wind spell to clear the smoke.
"He's gone," he said calmly.
We teleported back to the office. There, the previously restrained masked man was now sitting down… eating.
I stared at him. He looked my age.
As soon as he noticed us, he stood, ready to fight—but the principal effortlessly tied him up with a wind spell.
I thought, This guy's dead for sure. Not because he was part of a criminal organization.
But because he was eating the principal's lunch.
Chapter 1 End