“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken”

Time had passed. In the blink of an eye, sixteen years had gone by, and the younglings now stood upon a magical teleportation circle, ready to be transported to the Academy.

Normally, phoenixes would never allow their offspring to leave the planet they called "home." However, the past millennium had brought many changes—especially in the last three hundred years. For the first time in history, dragons had proposed peace, and, against all expectations, they had upheld it. This shift was tied to the new heir who had taken the throne three centuries ago. Unlike his predecessors, he genuinely sought peace among the species and was known for his unwavering seriousness. Under his leadership, war had become undesirable.

Of course, a few voices still opposed this new order, but the clan leaders maintained control. The universe had finally attained the long-awaited peace. There were whispers of beasts preparing to fight the fairies, but that was of little concern to the phoenixes. Their world remained tranquil.

The grand plan of the twelve primary races was to send all their heirs to the Instrum Academy, where they would receive an education covering everything they needed to know. This initiative, spearheaded by Alocanai, had required years of negotiations and treaties. Finally, it was becoming a reality.

A significant contributor to this endeavor was the Academy's current director, an ancient and noble Dark Eye who harbored a deep love for history and magic. His name was renowned across the universe, for he was the one who had discovered how to deal with creatures of the shadows.

Beyond the dragon heir's influence, this Dark Eye had also revolutionized the world. He established education as a separate power in the universe. Previously, the balance of authority had been a triangle of political, economic, and divine forces. Thanks to him, new domains flourished—sports, entertainment, and schooling among them.

Now, there were six forces maintaining the universe's equilibrium, all thanks to his efforts. In addition to the many schools he had founded—open to all species—the past few years had seen a joint effort among these six powers to establish an academy focused not only on magic but also on history, etiquette, combat, and more.

The goal was to strengthen the students while fostering relationships among different species and domains. The time had come. Each family would send their children to be educated together.

Seven young phoenixes stood within the teleportation circle, adorned with gemstones and shimmering fabrics. Their fiery red hair, each shade more vibrant than the next, was styled into simple braids with golden hairpins. Among them, however, one figure stood out—a girl with jet-black hair.

Unlike the others, she wore a plain uniform with minimal embellishments. The only decoration was a brooch signifying her admission rank. Her attire was predominantly black, accented with only a few hints of color. Her hair was tied back with a white ribbon. While her face was neither delicate nor traditionally beautiful, it possessed a certain allure. Her cold, black eyes gave her an unusual elegance.

She was impossible to ignore, yet no one spoke to her. The others engaged in conversation with the adults standing at the edge of the teleportation circle, but she remained silent, absorbed in the book in her hands. This was the same black hatchling that had emerged from an egg sixteen years ago. She had been given the name 'Csendez', though most called her 'Orülti'—the crazy one.

The circle began to glow, signaling the imminent teleportation. The young phoenixes hastily bid their farewells, and then, in an instant, they were gone.

A new chapter was about to begin—not just for them, but for an entire generation. The adults waited with anticipation, and so did the students.

The phoenixes reappeared on an open field behind an impressive structure. The Academy stood before them, resembling a modern-day building but with an undeniably alien touch.

The planet chosen to house the Academy had been carefully selected. Its location was difficult to access, situated in a prime yet isolated region. The planet's geography had been manually altered by multiple Gods and enhanced with magic to serve as an educational resource. It featured hunting grounds, plantations, and diverse terrains. The main building, serving as the campus, was equipped with extensive facilities. Even the student dormitories were well-monitored while still ensuring privacy.

Students from various races gathered in groups. No one was in a hurry to mingle.

Then, a radiant light formed in the air. A figure appeared before them—a man who seemed to be in his late thirties or early forties. His skin was pale, and his curly hair was the color of storm clouds. His eyes lacked pupils, appearing entirely white—a trait unique to the Dark Eye.

This was the Academy's director—Shu Yun.

"Dear students! Welcome to the Academy that will shape your character and future! I am delighted to see you all here and look forward to getting to know each of you. Please enter the building before you so that we may begin the entrance ceremony and proceed with the planned activities."

It was merely a recorded projection. As soon as it vanished, the students moved toward the grand building.

From a distance, the Academy appeared to have four floors. However, as they approached, its structure became more complex and imposing. From above, it resembled a lotus flower, while from their perspective, it had a shape filled with elegant curves.

The entrance was marked by a massive archway, its pillars adorned with intricate symbols and carvings. Beyond it lay the Academy's great hall—an enormous space that occupied an entire "petal" of the lotus-shaped structure.

Two symmetrical staircases spiraled upward along the walls, providing access to all floors while maintaining an aesthetically pleasing design. The flooring was black stone, while the wallpaper was a muted silver. The stairs were crafted from dark wood to match the floors, and the silver banisters resembled climbing vines, intricate and elegant.

Directly ahead, another archway led to the Academy's inner garden—the very heart of the lotus. The grass was golden, with white-leaved trees scattered throughout. Small ponds dotted the landscape, their waters home to tiny fish. Benches and pavilions were strategically placed, and the cobblestone pathways were painted in a spectrum of colors, creating a serene atmosphere.

Above the grand hall, a chandelier hung from the ceiling, designed in the shape of stamen filaments. Its crystals provided gentle illumination while also purifying the air and energy. In fact, the entire Academy used these crystals to ward off shadow creatures, ensuring both the students' and the buildings' safety.

The massive hall, now filled with nearly five hundred students, quickly transformed. Rows of chairs materialized, each bearing a number on its back. The chairs were categorized by color, representing different classes.

There were six classes in total—A through E, as well as the exclusive S class. Each class contained sixty students. The seating arrangement was determined by the entrance exam results. Although the numbers on their brooches revealed their rankings, they were magically concealed from prying eyes.

All admitted students had received a letter along with a brooch engraved with their class symbol and an inscription in golden script.

Csendez's symbol was the sun, and her number was a deep purple "1."

She made her way through the crowd without sparing a glance at the moving figures around her. The air around her felt oddly cold. A faint furrow formed on her brow as she walked.

Her seat was located at the very front. As the student ranked first, her chair was the very first in the row.

A small podium stood before the chairs, and behind it, ten grand seats resembling thrones awaited their occupants.

As she took her seat, she felt the weight of many gazes upon her—especially from those in her class.

It didn't take a genius to understand what the numbers represented. They were arranged in descending order by rank, and number one always attracted attention.

Though only a few were present in that area so far, the intensity of their stares was palpable.

Csendes met their eyes and smiled.

Surprised, they returned her smile, mistaking her for someone polite and approachable.