Meriven, the capital of the Northern Kingdom, stood as a symbol of power and ambition. At its heart rose Saint Academy—the greatest academy in the world. For a thousand years, it had produced legendary mages and swordmasters, individuals whose names were etched into history.
The academy had been founded by the closest companion of the First Saint, the divine pioneer who ended the Great War between humans, elves, beastfolk, and demons. Since that age of blood and chaos, Saint Academy had pursued only one goal: to create new Saints and Saintesses—beings capable of reaching the level of the First Saint.
That dream burned fiercely in the heart of one boy.
Zeke, the son of a nobleman.
Pain exploded through Zeke's stomach as a fist slammed into him, driving the air from his lungs. Before he could recover, a boot struck his legs, sending him crashing to the dirt.
"Get up, King of Failure."
The voice dripped with mockery.
Zeke coughed, blood spilling from his lips as he forced himself upright. His legs shook, but he refused to fall again.
"I'm… not… a failure," he rasped. "You bastard."
A sharp crackle filled the air.
Lightning danced around the fingers of one of his tormentors, illuminating Zeke's bruised face with cruel light. "Someone like you—someone who hasn't even awakened his mana—doesn't deserve to be here."
The bolt struck.
Agony tore through Zeke's body as electricity ripped through his nerves. His muscles seized, and he collapsed once more, biting back a scream as his vision blurred.
Cold laughter echoed around him.
"You're just our training dummy," another voice said. "And we're not done yet."
They weren't.
Hours passed in a haze of pain. Fists, boots, and spells rained down on him without mercy. His body trembled, bones aching, skin burning—but Zeke never screamed. Not once. He clenched his teeth until they threatened to crack, swallowing every cry.
Eventually, one of them wiped the sweat from his brow and laughed. "Damn. You make a great punching bag."
A foot pressed down on Zeke's ribs, grinding into them until he groaned despite himself.
"Tomorrow's the monster exploration test, right?" the bully continued. "Guess you'll fail that too."
Zeke's vision swam, but hatred kept him conscious. He spat blood onto the ground and forced the words out. "We'll see."
That only made them angrier.
A fist slammed into his face, accompanied by a sickening crack. Pain exploded through his nose as blood poured freely. "This is your last semester," a voice sneered. "Fail tomorrow, and you're gone. So we'll enjoy you while we can."
Laughter followed them as they finally left, their footsteps fading into the distance.
Zeke lay motionless in the dirt, staring at the sky. Shame and rage burned behind his eyes, hot enough to drown out the pain. Slowly—agonizingly slowly—he dragged himself back to his dorm.
Inside, he collapsed onto his bed and reached for a first-aid kit. His hands trembled as he wrapped bandages around his bruised arm. A surge of frustration welled up inside him.
"Damn it!"
He slammed his fist into the wall, hissing as pain flared through his knuckles.
"Why…?" His voice cracked. "Why can't I awaken my mana?"
He stared at his reflection in the mirror—fifteen years old, battered, and broken. "I should've awakened it five years ago. I'm a noble… I'm supposed to be gifted…"
His shoulders shook.
"Please…" he whispered. "First… whoever you are… please… let me awaken. Just once."
The First Saint—the being who had awakened divine mana and changed the fate of the world.
Zeke clenched his fists until his nails bit into his palms.
"If I don't awaken now, I'll be expelled," he murmured. "Maybe… maybe that's for the best…"
He shook his head violently, forcing the thought away.
"No. I won't think like that. I won't give up."
Under the cover of night, Zeke slipped out of the dormitory and into the forest beyond Saint Academy. Moonlight pierced through the trees like silver blades, illuminating the quiet clearing ahead.
He took a stance, his battered body screaming in protest as he steadied his breathing.
"No matter what…" Zeke whispered into the night. "I won't give up."
His eyes burned with resolve.
"I'll awaken my mana… or die trying."