Arian woke up to the morning light seeping through his window. The air felt different—lighter, calmer… yet heavier with the weight of what had happened yesterday. He remembered the moment he walked out of the Trial of Darkness, his staggering steps echoing through the silence of the academy like a declaration of victory no one had achieved before. He remembered the director's eyes, which for the first time betrayed astonishment. And he remembered the metallic emblem placed in his hands, making him officially the first student to ever earn the Rank of the Distinguished from his very first trials.
Now, lying in bed, he realized it hadn't been a dream. Everything had been real. He smiled faintly, but the smile froze when he turned his head… and saw a familiar creature sleeping beside him on the bed.
Falco.
But not in the massive size he had seen in the forest. Instead, Falco was the size of a small cat, wings folded, breathing softly in deep sleep. At first Arian was stunned, then a wave of joy—one he hadn't felt in years—flooded his chest. Gently, he reached out, touched the soft fur, and whispered:
—"Falco… didn't I leave you behind after we left the forest? How did you get here?"
The beast opened his golden eyes and gazed at him calmly. Then he rose slowly and spoke in a deep voice despite his small size:
—"I never left you. I chose to continue the journey with you. And don't worry… I have a shrinking technique. I can change my size to any form I wish. Here, I will stay, waiting for you until you return from the academy."
Arian's heart burst with pure joy. He was no longer alone. No longer just a stranger feeling his way through an unfamiliar world. He smiled widely and whispered:
—"At last… I've found a companion."
He rose, washed his face, and put on the academy uniform: a dark robe laced with silver threads, with a belt bearing the emblem of a crossed flame and sword. Before leaving the room, he turned back to Falco with a grateful smile:
—"Wait for me here… I'll tell you everything."
Falco replied with a mysterious smile:
—"Go, Arian… and don't forget, you are not an ordinary student."
---
Arian stepped out of the House of the Distinguished. The morning sun reflected on the massive white buildings, adorned with glowing magical lines that gave them even more sanctity and grandeur. In the training grounds, students were practicing: some lifted boulders with their minds, some shaped water into weapons, others fought phantom beasts. The sounds of shouting, the rustling of wind, and the clash of swords created a majestic symphony of life inside the academy.
As he walked along the main path, his eyes caught sight of her… the girl with long black hair tied in a ponytail, her eyes cold as a sea that reveals nothing and spares no one. She stood at the edge of the courtyard, watching him. She smiled briefly, a smile mixed with confidence and chill.
He approached her, his voice nervous:
—"I'm still new here… could you show me where the first lecture hall is?"
She raised an eyebrow, a faint smile curving her lips:
—"Follow me."
He walked behind her silently. As they passed, whispers rose among the students:
—"That's the one who came out of the Trial of Darkness?"
—"Impossible… no one has ever returned alive from that trial."
—"Maybe it was just luck… or a curse!"
But Arian didn't pay attention. His heart was pounding, trying to absorb the greatness of the place he had just entered. Finally, they stopped before a massive hall, its towering doors carved with ancient symbols that glowed faintly. The girl pushed the door open and gestured for him to go in.
---
Arian sat among the others, and when the teacher entered, silence fell. He was a tall man, gray-haired, with eyes sharp as blades. He stood at the front and spoke in a voice that shook the hall:
—"Today, you will learn the foundations of power. For one who does not know its ranks… remains blind in battle."
He raised his hand, drawing circles of light and shadow, and began to explain:
—"Power has nine levels:
1. The Novice Body.
2. The Warrior's Body.
3. The Inner Spirit.
4. Spiritual Harmony.
5. The Iron Heart.
6. The Spiritual Warrior.
7. The Battle Master.
8. The Celestial Radiant.
9. The Saint."
He paused, then continued:
—"As for techniques, they are four ranks: Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, and Legendary. Weapons have ten levels: from ordinary iron to divine weapons that only Saints dare to touch. Finally, spirits… six ranks, starting from the Sleeping Spirit and ending with the Spirit of the Saint."
Every word struck Arian's ears like the tolling of a battle bell within him. He was still at the very beginning, barely past the Novice Body. Yet the fire burning inside told him this wasn't his true limit.
As he tried to focus, one of the students stood up. He was broad-shouldered, grinning mockingly. His voice rang out for all to hear:
—"Is this what the academy is proud of? A nobody… no lineage, no origin. Just a stranger who survived by chance."
Soft laughter spread through the hall. Arian clenched his fists tightly, anger surging within. He was about to explode… but before he could, the girl who had led him here stepped forward.
She stood before the arrogant student, her gaze sharp as a dagger, and said in a deadly calm voice:
—"Be silent. One who returned alive from the Trial of Darkness… deserves more respect than you."
The hall fell silent. The student swallowed his anger and sat down, while Arian felt a deep gratitude. He moved closer to her and whispered:
—"Thank you… but I still don't know your name."
She turned to him briefly, her eyes flashing with something he hadn't seen before. She said:
—"My name is Celia."
---
After the lecture, Arian wandered through the academy until he reached the library. It was larger than he had ever imagined: walls covered with scrolls, the air cool and heavy with ancient dust.
Among the shelves, a book caught his eye. Its cover was black with silver writing: "Dance of Shadows." A second-level technique that granted speed akin to illusion, movement untouchable by the enemy.
It felt as if the technique was calling out to him. He took the book, registered it under his name, and headed for the Training Tower. There, in the center of a circular hall surrounded by glowing magical symbols, he opened the book and began to read.
With his first attempt, he felt his body split between light and shadow. He took his first step—and it was as if he vanished and reappeared like a shadow. His breath quickened, veins aflame, cold sweat covering his forehead.
Despite the strain, he laughed breathlessly and said:
—"This is only the beginning… what comes next is greater."
He lifted his eyes toward the sky, visible through the open tower ceiling, and whispered to himself:
—"My true journey… begins now."