[Supreme Soul Academy – The Premier Academy of the Riena Kingdom]
Aryan stood before the colossal academy, awestruck by its sheer size and grandeur.
Aryan: "Ramon... Is this it?"
The academy resembled a towering royal palace, its ornate walls and massive gates reflecting its prestige and dignity.
Ramon, with a faint smile: "Yes, this is it. I was just as amazed when I first saw it."
Aryan: "And you're still insisting on not telling me about your past here?"
Ramon, with a mysterious grin: "Perhaps... You'll find out one day."
Aryan, with a somber expression: "Will you really tell me?"
Ramon: "I won't say anything now, but trust me—you'll know everything when the time is right."
Aryan approached the enormous gate, made of a steel-like material, and felt a cool breeze enveloping him.
Aryan, surprised and suspicious: "Whoa... What's this cold air?"
Ramon, quickening his steps: "Come on, don't waste time."
Aryan stepped through the gate hesitantly, then muttered to himself: "Don't worry... This is your first step toward becoming the best. Yes... the greatest swordsman on the continent. To achieve that, power is the only path... even if it seems impossible."
He raised his head to gaze at the academy's interior ceiling, which looked like a meticulously painted masterpiece.
Aryan: "Wow... This is incredible! I've never seen anything like it."
Ramon: "No surprise there. This is one of the kingdom's three great pillars. Despite its age, it remains a source of pride for the people. It produced the strongest man of our era."
Aryan, excitedly: "Emperor Simon de Lux Brough, right?"
Ramon: "Exactly. Well, I'll leave you now—I have some business to attend to. See you later!"
Aryan waved goodbye to Ramon and continued walking through the academy. As he marveled at the intricate details of the place, he accidentally bumped into someone who appeared to be a noble.
Aryan, nervously: "Ah... I'm so sorry!"
Tom: "You fool! Do you realize who you just bumped into? Do you even know who this is?!"
Aryan, calmly: "No, I don't. Who is he?"
Laughter erupted around the hall, further enraging Tom, whose veins bulged in anger as he shouted: "You ignorant commoner! This is Edmond Clown, the second son of Duke Nerion! How dare you bump into him?!"
Aryan glanced at Edmond, who stood with composed confidence. His cold gray eyes and dark blue hair made him the very image of arrogance. The blue shark ring on his right hand marked him as a scion of the high-ranking Clown family.
Edmond's icy voice cut through the tension: "Tom, let's go. The ceremony is about to begin."
But Tom grabbed Aryan's pendant and sneered: "Consider yourself lucky today—"
Before he could finish, Aryan seized his throat with a crushing grip, his voice sharp and menacing: "If you touch it again, I'll slit your throat."
The hall buzzed with murmurs over the confrontation. Suddenly, a commanding voice rang out from the podium above.
The Voice: "Welcome to the Supreme Soul Academy!"
Everyone turned toward the podium, where they saw a young woman with an imposing aura. It was D
irector Elizabeth—the fourth head of the academy.
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