The Royal Academy grounds were vast.
Students and nobles gathered in groups, their voices filling the open space with quiet tension.
Everyone here had one goal.
To pass.
Hiro stood among them, silent.
Observing.
Some looked confident.
Others nervous.
Some arrogant.
Typical.
"You there."
Hiro turned.
An instructor stood nearby, holding a clipboard.
"Step forward."
Hiro walked calmly to the center of the testing field.
"The evaluation will be simple," the instructor said.
"Demonstrate your magical ability."
A large target was placed at a distance.
Hiro raised his hand.
Mana gathered instantly.
But—
He paused.
No…
Let's push it a little.
He compressed the mana slightly.
Refined it.
"Fire Arrow."
The spell fired.
Faster than before.
Sharper.
It struck the target—
And pierced through it completely.
A brief silence followed.
"…Impressive," the instructor said.
But Hiro wasn't focused on that.
Because—
Something felt wrong.
Again.
The Glitch
A faint distortion flickered in his vision.
[Analyzing…]
[Subject Growth Rate: Abnormal]
Hiro's eyes narrowed.
"…What?"
The message disappeared instantly.
As if it wasn't meant to be seen.
Something Watches
From a distance—
Someone observed him.
Hidden.
Silent.
Interested.
"…So it's begun."
Final Line
Hiro lowered his hand slowly.
This place—
The Academy—
It wasn't just a school.
It was something more.
And whatever had started inside him…
It wasn't going to stay hidden forever.