The Mighty Ones Academy stood before Dante, its towering gates a symbol of the greatness it promised. The academy was already bustling with activity as students trained, sparred, and honed their magical and combat skills. Though the semester had begun two months ago, Dante was an exception—admitted as the only new student due to his rare status as an S-rank awakener.
As he walked through the courtyard, the gazes of the students turned toward him. Whispers followed him, not just because he was a new face, but because of his striking appearance. Dante's chiseled features and piercing blue eyes were hard to ignore. Several of the girls in the courtyard exchanged glances, whispering to each other about the new boy.
"Wow, is that him? The S-rank?" one of them murmured.
"He's even more handsome than I expected," another giggled.
But not everyone was so taken with him. A group of boys, standing off to the side, eyed Dante with barely concealed jealousy. His good looks and the attention he was receiving immediately rubbed them the wrong way.
"Great, just what we need—another pretty boy who thinks he's better than everyone," one of them muttered under his breath.
Dante ignored the whispers, though he could feel the weight of their eyes on him. He hadn't come here to make friends or enemies; he had come to master his sword skills. His hand rested on the pendant hanging around his neck, a reminder of his village life and the simplicity he had left behind.
"Dante!" Miss Sapphire's voice called out, pulling him from his thoughts. She approached him with her usual warm smile. "Welcome to the academy. I see you've already attracted attention."
Dante glanced around at the curious eyes still watching him. "I didn't expect to stand out this much."
"You're the only new student this late in the term," Sapphire explained, leading him toward the main building. "It's not often that an S-rank awakener shows up after the admissions period. Everyone's curious about you."
They walked together through the grand halls of the academy. The walls were adorned with portraits of legendary heroes, their weapons gleaming in the soft light. Dante's eyes lingered on the swords displayed in glass cases, each one more magnificent than the last.
"You'll be receiving your first sword soon," Sapphire said, noticing his gaze. "I know it's a lot to take in, but the academy will teach you everything you need to know."
Dante nodded, though the idea of wielding a sword felt both thrilling and intimidating. He had never held a weapon before, but his instincts told him that it would feel natural, like an extension of his own body.
The following morning, Dante found himself standing in the academy's armory. The room was vast, filled with rows of weapons—swords, spears, axes, and shields—all carefully crafted and waiting to be wielded by the students.
Instructor Bane, the academy's swordmaster, stood at the center of the room, his arms crossed over his broad chest. His presence commanded respect, and the students who passed by gave him a wide berth.
"So, you're the new S-rank student," Bane said, eyeing Dante as he approached. "I've heard a lot about you, but now it's time to see if the rumors are true."
Dante stood before him, his heart pounding. This was the moment he had been waiting for—the moment he would finally hold a sword for the first time.
Bane walked over to a rack of swords, his hand hovering over the various blades. After a moment, he selected a sleek, simple longsword and handed it to Dante.
"This is your first sword," Bane said. "It's not enchanted, it doesn't have any special properties, but it will teach you the basics. You'll be expected to learn and master it before you move on to anything more advanced."
Dante took the sword in his hand, feeling its weight for the first time. The cold metal of the hilt pressed against his palm, but rather than feeling foreign, it felt… right. His fingers curled around the grip naturally, as if they had known this sensation all along.
"Good," Bane said, watching him closely. "Now, let's see what you can do."
He led Dante outside to the sparring yard, where students were practicing under the watchful eyes of their instructors. As Dante stepped into the yard, the whispers started again, students curious to see the new S-rank in action.
"Why's he the only new guy? Must be special," one student muttered.
"Look at him—bet he thinks he's better than us," another said, his eyes filled with envy.
Dante noticed the whispers, but he chose to remain focused. He stepped into the sparring circle, holding the sword with unfamiliar yet steady hands.
"Let's begin."
One of the senior students, a skilled swordmaster, entered the ring opposite Dante. The student smirked, clearly underestimating Dante's abilities. He is aware that Dante is an S-rank, and he had heard of Dante closing a gate by himself, but he feels that it is a low rank gate and he has more experience than Dante.
"Try not to embarrass yourself, newbie," the senior student taunted, raising his sword.
The moment the match began, the senior student lunged at Dante, his sword swinging in a wide arc. Instinctively, Dante's body reacted, his sword moving to block the attack with precise timing. The clash of steel rang out through the yard, drawing more attention from the surrounding students.
Dante's movements, though untrained, were fluid and natural. He dodged the next strike and countered with a quick, clean cut across his opponent's guard, forcing the senior student back.
The crowd gasped.
"He's good," one girl whispered, her eyes wide with admiration.
"I wasn't even trying," Dante thought to himself, surprised at how easily the fight was unfolding. His opponent was clearly more experienced, but Dante could feel that he was stronger, faster. He wasn't giving it his all—if anything, he was holding back, not wanting to draw too much attention to himself so soon.
The senior student, now visibly frustrated, pressed forward with a flurry of attacks, but Dante's defense held strong. With each passing moment, he seemed to grow more comfortable with the weapon in his hand, his movements becoming sharper, more deliberate.
Finally, Dante saw an opening. He pivoted on his heel and swung his sword in a smooth arc, disarming his opponent in one swift motion. The senior student's sword clattered to the ground as he stumbled back, his eyes wide with disbelief.
The sparring ring fell silent.
Bane stepped forward, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Not bad, kid. Not bad at all."
Dante lowered his sword, his heart still racing. He could hardly believe what had just happened. He had never trained with a sword, never been taught the techniques, and yet it had all come so naturally.
"You've got talent, Dante," Bane continued, his tone more serious now. "You're an S-rank swordmaster, and that's not something to take lightly. But don't let it get to your head. Swordsmanship isn't like other abilities. Elemental awakeners might see their power scale right away, but sword skills are different. They have to be honed, perfected over time."
Dante listened intently as Bane's words sank in.
"If you slack off," Bane warned, his gaze hardening, "you'll never reach your full potential. Being an S-rank doesn't mean you're invincible. It means you've got the highest potential. But potential means nothing without discipline and hard work."
Dante nodded, gripping the sword tightly. He knew Bane was right. He had been given a rare gift, but it was up to him to make the most of it. The ease with which he had won the sparring match had surprised him, but it was a reminder that there was so much more to learn, so much more room to grow.
As Dante left the sparring ring, the other students continued to watch him with a mixture of awe and curiosity. Some, especially the girls, whispered excitedly about his good looks and mysterious aura. But not all the attention was positive. The envious glances from a few boys told him that he had already made some rivals.
Dante, however, wasn't thinking about the attention. He was focused on one thing—becoming stronger, and mastering the sword that now felt like a part of him.