"Waaa… So this is the famous campus everyone's been talking about…"
A girl with striking half-black, half-white hair, adorned with a skull-shaped hairpin, stood at the entrance of the sprawling academy grounds. Her uniform fluttered slightly in the breeze as she gazed in awe at the towering buildings and pristine courtyards. The beauty of the place was overwhelming.
A voice echoed across the campus:
"Dear apprentices, please gather in the main hall. The induction ceremony will begin shortly. I repeat, the induction ceremony will begin shortly."
Esper blinked, snapping out of her daze.
"Maybe I should head there… but this place is so huge… I think I'm… lo—"
She paused, her voice trailing off.
"Yeah, just as I thought. I'm lost. I should ask someone."
She scanned the area, eyes darting between unfamiliar faces.
"Let's see…"
Her gaze landed on a woman standing confidently near a marble pillar—glasses perched on her nose, dressed in a crisp white shirt and black pants. Something about her presence felt… heavy.
Esper ran toward her.
"Excuse me… can you please—"
But as she spoke, a wave of pressure washed over her. The woman's aura was suffocating, as if one wrong word could invite disaster.
"Ara… What can I do for you?" the woman asked, her voice smooth and unreadable.
Esper swallowed hard.
"Ah… Sorry, but could you please direct me to the campus hall?" she managed, barely above a whisper.
"You're a new apprentice, I see. Go straight from here and take a right," the woman replied calmly.
"Thank you!" Esper bowed quickly and dashed off.
The woman watched her go, a faint smile curling on her lips.
"That aura she carries… So this is the exceptional apprentice Principal Williamson mentioned. Interesting."
Esper entered the hall, her eyes widening at the sight. Apprentices—male and female—filled the space, each radiating talent and confidence. Coming from a remote village at the edge of the continent, Esper felt the weight of their presence pressing down on her. She clutched her hands nervously.
"Everyone, please gather in a line. The induction shall begin shortly."
The apprentices shuffled into place. Some looked anxious, others stood tall with quiet pride.
Then, Esper saw her again—the woman from earlier—stepping onto the stage.
"Hello everyone. First of all, congratulations to all of you who passed the entrance exam. I am your Vice President, Hana. I'll be conducting today's induction, as Principal Williamson is unable to attend."
Esper's eyes widened. Vice President?
So that's why her aura was so intense… But now, I can't feel anything. Is she suppressing it?
She listened intently as Hana spoke, her words clear and commanding. But around her, many apprentices weren't paying attention. They whispered, exchanged contracts, and laughed quietly. Esper glanced at the staff lining the hall—each one stood motionless, eyes forward, as if carved from stone.
Hana continued,
"So… as I was saying, this campus exists to help our brightest apprentices shine…"
She paused. Her gaze swept across the crowd.
Then, without warning, she slammed the microphone forward with unnatural force. The sound echoed like thunder.
Silence fell.
A dark mist began to seep through the hall, swallowing the light. The aura Hana had hidden now surged outward, blanketing the room in oppressive energy. The apprentices froze, their chatter dying instantly.
Esper stood still, heart pounding.
That aura… it's monstrous. And yet… mesmerizing.
connection to the capital. It's always been called—"
"Come on," someone interrupted. "We don't have time for your village story."
"I'm sorry… I was just…"
Her voice faded as laughter and chatter drowned her out.
Hana, still standing near the gate, watched silently.
"Please, let her finish," came an announcement.
But the crowd ignored it.
"Just wrap it up already," someone scoffed.
Esper lowered her head, silent.
Maybe Mr. Williamson was wrong about me… Maybe I don't belong here.
Hana adjusted her glasses and turned to leave—until a voice rang out.
"No… it's not finished."
Esper stood tall, her voice stronger now.
"My name is Esper. I come from Zeronia. I came here to become a Grim Reaper."
The crowd stirred.
"Don't take this lightly, village girl," someone called. "Didn't you hear Vice President Hana? Half of us will fail."
"I heard," Esper replied. "But I'm determined to succeed. Because… it's my dream."
She paused, then continued.
"When I was a child, my mother told me stories—how Grim Reapers guide souls to their next life. How they help the lost find peace. I always thought… being able to do that must be amazing. I want to be someone who guides others. It's not just my dream—it's the dream of my entire village. And I hope… with your help… I can become a good Reaper."
Silence fell
Then, laughter again.
Esper lowered her head, disappointment washing over her.
But then—clapping.
Hana stepped forward, her voice cutting through the noise.
"That was wonderful," she said. "But don't lower your head. When you do, you're not just insulting yourself—you're insulting your village, the people who placed their hopes in you."
Esper looked up, eyes wide. She bowed deeply to the crowd.
"As the induction ceremony is now complete, all apprentices, please proceed to the Summon Room. I repeat—gather in the Summon Room."