"Wow, this place is incredibly huge."
Van spoke up beside me, his eyes sweeping over the towering buildings that looked more like a royal fortress than just an educational institution.
It was no wonder he said that. This academy... they say, spans the size of an entire country. But judging by its current scale, it could rival two large kingdoms combined. Vast, and not without reason. This academy stands right on the front line. The boundary between our world… and *them*.
Monsters.
The word went unspoken, but it echoed in my mind like a spirit's whisper.
We continued our journey, our steps following the path according to the map attached to the letter. Soon, a mansion-style building with ancient architecture came into view.
"Wow, a pretty ancient-looking dorm."
Van said again.
I didn't respond. The fatigue accumulated since returning from the Tower made my mind slow to react to anything other than the need to lie down. I stepped inside first—and was instantly greeted by a stark contrast.
From the outside, it might look like a relic from an archaic era. But the inside... was filled with technology harmoniously blended with magic. Lamps hanging from the ceiling rotated slowly with spiritual energy, and the walls looked as clean as water, flowing with mana currents.
We went up to our private rooms as stated in the letter.
"This academy must be incredibly rich to let students have private rooms."
I nodded slowly. After years confined in the Tower, where sleeping meant leaning against a cold, dark wall, having my own bed felt like an unfamiliar luxury.
[699] [700]
Even this academy assigned rooms based on one's rank. It seemed they highly valued strength.
"See you tomorrow."
"Yeah, see you."
I bid farewell to Van and entered my room.
The dorm room felt more spacious than it looked from the outside and was furnished quite modernly.
— Looks like this will be my temporary home.
One of the reasons I wanted to come to the academy was that I had nowhere else to go.
Home…
The word tasted bitter.
I used to have one. But now, it's probably just rubble or maybe… already replaced by other people's lives. I wasn't sure I wanted to see it again.
I slowly fell asleep on the bed, a familiar sense of solitude making me feel comfortable.
I closed my eyes. A feeling of loneliness—a kind of silence that felt familiar—crept in. But it wasn't a torturous loneliness… rather, a calming solitude. Like the sound of your own breath in the darkness.
Morning came too quickly, greeted by the blaring sound of a bell.
***
~~Kring... Kring...
The doorbell sound woke Dex.
"Geez... so noisy."
I walked half-asleep toward the door. And as expected...
Van.
"Where have you been? You're going to be late on the first day!"
He shook me like someone trying to wake a corpse.
"I overslept. I was tired."
"Just hurry up and get ready. Don't forget to check the closet and the desk drawer."
"Okay"
After showering, I opened the closet. An academy uniform hung neatly—vibrant red, with a red gem embedded on the chest.
"Their color taste is truly pathetic."
I liked blue. In my mind, red was only suitable for blood and war.
I put on the uniform, then opened the desk drawer. Inside were a letter and a watch. The watch looked too luxurious for a first-year student. It was engraved with the academy's emblem—three interconnected circles with golden lines, a symbol said to represent the Connected Worlds.
As I touched it, the letter vanished into the watch, and a hologram instantly opened.
---
＞Name: Dex
＞Rank: 699
＞Class: First Year, Class 2
＞Abilities: –
I opened the room door. But before I could step out, a piercing sensation pressed against my back.
— Someone is watching.
Dex severed the spiritual flow spying on him—as if slapping back that invisible presence. The sensation vanished immediately.
***
Somewhere, not too far away—
"Hmmm... as I thought, that boy is no ordinary one."
A woman cloaked in a dark mantle stared at a flickering crystal screen, her gaze sharp yet a look of surprise on her face.
On the back of her hand, a symbol glowed faintly.
Lust.
"If he doesn't interfere with our plans... let him be."
***
We walked to the assigned classroom.
Upon entering, the class was filled with many uniquely dressed people.
"It's crowded."
"Yeah, probably more than 100 people."
Despite the crowd, the room felt spacious. It was too large to be called a classroom. Van and I sat in the back corner, the best spot for lazing around.
— Hoamm… I want to sleep again.
I rested my head on the desk and almost fell asleep if not for Van gently tapping my face.
"Hey, lazybones, class is about to start."
"Hmm... Yeah."
A few minutes later, a woman stepped in. Her steps were light, graceful, but carried an invisible pressure. Her wavy blue hair danced like spirits in the air.
"Good morning, everyone. Nice to meet you."
Her spiritual aura was so strong that all the students fell silent.
Yet, the teacher radiated an incredibly cheerful vibe, as if there were flowers blooming behind her.
"My name is Lisa Liondai. I am a Rank A Special Ability user, a Spirit Affinity."
"Wow"
"So Lisa Liondai is a Special Ability user!"
The class erupted in admiration and surprise.
High-level Special Ability users were extremely rare and could only be obtained through luck. Almost everyone only got low-level ones. High-level ability users were treated like diamonds wherever they went, and now our homeroom teacher was one. No wonder the class was buzzing.
Even for Dex back in the Tower, Special Ability users were terribly annoying.
Dex just snorted.
In the Tower, they were a nuisance—claiming training spaces, being annoying, making it hard to sleep.
"Quiet."
Lisa's voice wasn't loud, but it rumbled like a thunderstorm in everyone's heads. Everyone fell silent.
"Let's begin our first lesson…"
The day was only filled with introductions, probably because it was the first day.
Many of them were talented. On average, they had B-rank Talents. But the most outstanding one...
Anna Rudosh.
Daughter of Count Rudosh. Rumor had it she possessed a Special Rank Talent. There were even rumors she had a high-level special ability.
Class ended quickly. I didn't remember a single name or face from the introductions.
"Haaa... I'm heading back."
"Where do you think you're going? If I let you go back, you'll just spend the whole day sleeping."
Dex, who had no energy left, was dragged by Van to accompany him.
Van pulled me along like a sack of rice.
***
We arrived in front of a majestic white building. Its walls reflected light like mirrors, and the spiritual aura was almost suffocating.
"What place is this?"
"The museum."
Van smiled. But his smile was full of something. Admiration? Fear?
"This is the museum, where everything obtained from the Arena is displayed."
The Arena.
The Arena—a place where two Worlds meet, where the strongest from each world battle.
To defend their sovereignty or freedom. The winner takes everything, including the lives of everyone in that world and the world itself.
This academy was built thanks to the union of Three Worlds. The Headmaster had participated in 2 Arena matches to defend Larion.
Thanks to the Headmaster's kindness, she freed people from other worlds to help fight monsters and threats from outside.
One win. One submission.
Our Headmaster... they say she fought twice in the Arena to defend this world.
"Alright Dex... let's go in."
I looked at the large door before me, filled with confusion.