Massive white stone walls stretched toward the sky, reinforced with glowing runes that pulsed faintly with energy. Several tall academy buildings rose behind the walls, their rooftops visible above the courtyard. Even from outside the gates, the academy felt enormous.
Oscar slowed his steps slightly as they approached.
He had seen the academy from afar before—during the entrance exam.
But standing in front of it now was different.
It felt… heavier.
Like the air itself carried weight.
The schools from where I’m from weren’t even half the size of this place.
Around him, the surviving applicants walked through the gates with exhausted expressions. Some leaned on each other for support. Others were being carried, their injuries still fresh from the fight with the corrupted lion.
Past the main gate, the massive courtyard buzzed with activity.
Dozens of instructors moved quickly through the area, directing injured students toward the infirmary. Several healers were already working, glowing energy flowing from their hands into the wounded.
Aster looked around with wide eyes.
“Okay,” he muttered. “This place is insane.”
Alexander nodded slightly.
“It’s much bigger than I imagined.”
Elaina said nothing.
Her golden eyes quietly studied the academy buildings surrounding them.
At the center of the courtyard stood a massive board nearly twenty feet tall.
Oscar frowned.
“The hell is that?”
Aster shrugged.
“No idea. Probably some ridiculously expensive academy gadget.”
Before anyone else could answer, a loud bell rang across the courtyard.
The sound echoed through the academy grounds.
Conversations immediately quieted.
Several instructors stepped aside as a tall figure approached the massive board.
Haruto.
He stretched his arms casually as he walked forward, looking completely relaxed despite the hundreds of applicants gathered around.
“Well,” Haruto said loudly, scratching the back of his head.
“Congratulations to everyone who managed to survive.”
A few applicants groaned.
Haruto smirked.
“What? That’s an accomplishment in itself.”
A nervous wave of laughter spread through the courtyard.
“As you’ve probably guessed,” Haruto continued, “the entrance exam ended earlier than expected.”
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Murmurs spread through the crowd.
Oscar and the others exchanged glances.
None of them were surprised.
“Unfortunately,” Haruto said casually, “things like that happen sometimes.”
His relaxed tone didn’t quite match the tension lingering in the air.
“But despite that interruption,” he continued, “we were able to evaluate everyone’s performance.”
He tapped the massive board beside him.
“This is the ranking board.”
The screen suddenly lit up.
Names and point totals began appearing, ranked from first to forty-eight.
Applicants instinctively leaned forward.
Aster grabbed Oscar’s arm.
“Ah hell nah,” he muttered. “We didn’t go through all that just to fail.”
His eyes darted across the board.
“WHERE THE HELL ARE WE?”
The top rankings slowly appeared.
-
Vega — 990 points
-
Elaina — 985 points
-
Alexander — 950 points
-
Oscar — 930 points
-
Aster — 899 points
-
Lillie — 880 points
The top names glowed brighter than the rest.
For a moment, the courtyard fell silent.
Some applicants stared at the board in disbelief.
Others slowly lowered their heads.
The realization that they hadn’t passed hit them all at once.
Aster stared at the board.
“This has to be rigged,” he said.
“There’s no way you scored that many more points than me.”
Oscar shrugged.
“Remind me who had more jewels.”
Aster groaned.
“YOU STOLE THEM FROM ME.”
“Nuh uh.”
“Yuh huh.”
“Nuh uh.”
Nearby, several applicants whispered.
“Elaina ranked second?”
“That storm user is third.”
“Who’s Oscar?”
A few students glanced toward him curiously.
Oscar shrugged.
“…Damn. They staring.”
Elaina barely reacted to her rank.
She already knew Vega deserved first place after the battle.
Alexander crossed his arms quietly.
Vega didn’t react at all.
He stood several feet away from the others, his expression unreadable.
Haruto clapped his hands once.
“Pretty awesome scores all around.”
He pointed lazily toward the board.
“Vega had the highest combat score.”
Vega remained silent.
“Elaina showed the highest core output during the exam. She also protected the most students.”
Elaina gave no reaction.
Haruto continued.
“Oscar had the highest tactical score.”
Several instructors standing nearby exchanged glances.
Oscar blinked.
He hadn’t expected that.
Haruto grinned slightly.
“Turns out holding off a corrupted alpha while protecting half the exam field earns you some points.”
He paused.
“You should thank your teacher for being so incredible.”
Oscar just laughed.
Across the courtyard, a group of instructors gathered near the ranking board.
Their expressions were serious.
“We do not yet know how a corrupted alpha entered the exam forest,” one instructor said.
“But rest assured—the professional Guardians will handle the situation.”
Oscar’s eyes sharpened.
So I’m not the only one thinking about it.
Haruto suddenly raised his voice again.
“Alright everyone.”
The courtyard quieted.
“Those who didn’t pass may leave.”
Several applicants slowly began walking toward the gates, disappointment written across their faces.
Soon only a small group remained.
“The forty-eight of you who passed,” Haruto continued, “are now officially students of Aegis Academy.”
A few students cheered weakly.
Haruto scratched his chin.
“…Damn. Tough crowd.”
Oscar simply looked relieved.
Haruto pointed toward the massive academy buildings behind him.
“Your real training begins tomorrow.”
Aster blinked.
“Tomorrow… as in the day after today?”
Haruto smirked.
“Mhmm. That is generally what tomorrow means.”
He shrugged.
“But don’t quote me on that.”
He glanced around the courtyard.
“That entrance exam?”
He pointed back toward the forest.
“That was the easy part.”
The bell rang again across the courtyard.
Several instructors began leading students toward their dormitories.
“Elaina,” Haruto said casually.
She turned slightly.
“Try not to cause too much trouble this year.”
She smirked faintly.
“No promises.”
Haruto then looked at Oscar.
For a brief moment, his expression turned more serious.
“Try not to die before classes start.”
Oscar rolled his eyes.
“You really suck at motivating people.”
Aster leaned toward him.
“I didn’t realize Haruto was such a weirdo.”
Oscar sighed.
“Trust me. You get used to it.”
The students were soon divided into groups.
The top sixteen remained behind.
One final instructor stepped forward beside Haruto.
Haruto spread his arms dramatically.
“Allow me to introduce my good friend… Clarence.”
Clarence stepped forward.
His presence alone quieted the courtyard.
“Hello, Initiates,” he said calmly.
“I will be overseeing your training from this point forward.”
He scanned the group carefully.
“By the end of this year, some of you will become Guardians.”
He paused.
“The rest of you will learn exactly why you shouldn’t have come here.”
Haruto clapped slowly.
“What an introduction. Don’t scare them too much.”
Clarence ignored him.
He turned and began walking toward the academy buildings.
“Follow me.”
“I’ll show you where you’ll be staying.”
Oscar took a deep breath.
His first goal was complete.
But this…
Was only the beginning.
Arc 1: The Entrance Exam — Complete.
Next Arc: Aegis Academy
New rivals.New training.
And the mystery of the corrupted alpha begins.