First Day of School

The days after the incident were a blur of medical visits and restless nights. Every ache in Ryu's body served as a reminder of the heavy expectations he carried. Still, he used his enforced recovery to obsessively study mages and their powers, searching for answers in books that often felt more like fables than reality. In the end, nothing was found—the mysteries of the mages remained impenetrable.

When he finally felt ready, Ryu began preparing for his journey to Yamato Institute. Training resumed with renewed intensity. The day of departure arrived quickly—a week had passed, and the wounds from his fight had healed at an impressive rate, probably one of the advantages of being a mage.

Kenjiro's silence was deafening. Ryu rehearsed questions in his mind, but the words never came out."Does he see me as a father? I don't even know him, so I can't be sure," he thought, as the mystery of "pure mana" grew yet another shadow in the tangled doubts surrounding their relationship.

Recalling a previous attack, he murmured to himself,"I tried countless times to use that power, but nothing happened; maybe it was just the adrenaline that helped me endure the attack."

Lost in thought, Ryu then asked aloud,"Why is it that we never know anything about mages? Even now that I'm one, I don't understand my own powers. They always operate outside the city, shrouded in secrets…"He sighed in frustration as his thoughts wandered,"Well, I'll have the answers when I get back to that school."

Moving over to the window, he looked out at the garden where he had spent countless hours honing his skills. He took a deep breath and, with determination, whispered,"When I return, everything will be different."

With his suitcase packed, the boy took one last look at his modest room—which barely contained a bed and a bookshelf—and, with a slight nod, he left.

Descending the stairs, the crackling of the fireplace was the only sound in the room, where Kenjiro sat in his usual chair, seemingly indifferent to his grandson's presence. Taking a deep breath, Ryu bowed and said,"I'm on my way, sir,"his voice filled with the hope of hearing something other than silence.

Kenjiro merely looked up and nodded, his expression unchanging. Ryu straightened up and, before grabbing his suitcase, decided to make one last attempt. He closed his eyes, focused, and invoked the fire element. A bright, intense flame danced into existence in his hand—a display meant to prove his progress."See," said Ryu, with fierce determination in his eyes, "I'm getting stronger."

Kenjiro observed the flame, his expression remaining cold. After an instant that felt like an eternity, the grandfather spoke in a cutting tone,"Fire tricks change nothing, Ryu. True strength isn't shown through displays. Stop trying to impress me with useless stunts and start becoming someone real."

Those words shattered any hope of recognition. Ryu clenched his fist, extinguishing the flame, grabbed his suitcase, and left the house, casting one last look at that man."I promise that when I return, you'll be proud—everything will be just like the old days," he murmured, though his words were swallowed by silence.

As the door closed behind him, Ryu's fists tightened until they hurt, and his gaze grew distant. Still, he vowed to himself that he would keep trying, no matter how hard it got. The flame in his heart burned stronger than ever.

With his suitcase in hand, Ryu stepped into the car that would take him back to Yamato Institute. During the ride, he lost himself in thought, focusing on his own mana core and trying to understand how it worked. Concentrating felt like being at the center of a black hole that sucked all the light away. Though he had yet to see concrete results, the practice soothed his mind.

When the car finally stopped, Ryu could barely contain his astonishment—this time, he had arrived at a different entrance of the school. The towers of the Arcane Institute of Yamato pierced the sky, adorned with runes that glowed softly under the sunlight. Magical gardens surrounded the entrance, with flowers that seemed to whisper in the breeze. More than a school, the place resembled a temple of power.

As he reached for his suitcase, the driver interrupted,"Don't worry, I'll take your bags to the dorms; for now, just wait here."After a few moments, another person appeared to guide him inside. As Ryu entered the school, he noticed more cars arriving.

Led through wide, well-lit corridors, Ryu followed until a man stopped beside a door reminiscent of the exam room."This is your classroom. Feel free to come in," the man said briskly before moving away.

Ryu stepped through the door and felt the curious gazes of his fellow students. Shelves filled with ancient books lined the walls, while sunlight illuminated the space, creating a striking contrast between tradition and youthful energy. A girl with green hair levitated a pencil, while others whispered about their abilities. Ryu moved to a corner and watched in silence.

At the front of the room, Professor Takeda stood next to a large crystal table that emitted a soft glow. He observed the students with a keen eye, waiting for everyone to settle in. The atmosphere buzzed with vibrant, expectant energy, as if something grand were about to happen. Soon, students began to take their seats, and when a girl Ryu recognized arrived, Takeda began his greeting.

"Welcome to Yamato Institute. This will be your classroom for the year. Before we begin, I'll introduce the students who have chosen non-military careers."

The students listened intently, immersed in the excitement and curiosity of the moment. Takeda continued,"You are all now part of this school, but first, those who will pursue other paths, please introduce yourselves."Immediately, four students stirred—one of them being the girl who had taken the exam with me.

As they approached, Takeda instructed them to stand by his side and continued,"This is Alexei Volkov, from the city of Kazan."Alexei, a tall, confident boy with blond hair and bright blue eyes, gave a brief nod. His commanding presence made it all the more intriguing that he had not chosen the military track.

"Next, these are Boonma Sukhum, from Bangkok," announced Takeda.

A girl who had taken the exam with me—a shy girl with brown hair and green eyes—hesitantly raised her hand. Boonma exuded a gentle, serene aura, a stark contrast to Alexei's demeanor.

"Following her, we have Niran Prasert, also from Bangkok," Takeda continued.

The boy, tall and slender, with round glasses and a serious expression, projected an intellectual air.

"And finally, Arisa Thongchai, from Chiang Mai," Takeda concluded.

Arisa, with short black hair and green eyes, appeared determined, though her shy features emerged as she noticed the curious stares of others.

Takeda went on,

"These four will pursue non-military careers and be assigned to the appropriate sectors. Now, the remaining nineteen of you who have chosen the military track, prepare yourselves for a grueling journey."

The four students nodded timidly as they were escorted to their respective sectors. Remembering Hana's words—that not everyone wishes to directly protect others—Ryu wondered,

"What will they do in those other sectors?"

As his classmates departed, he reflected on the various motivations people held.

Soon, Takeda returned, his imposing stature and piercing gaze fixed on the students. After a few moments of silence that followed the hushed murmurs, he spoke,

"Welcome to Arcane Institute of Yamato. You are now part of an institution with a rich history and an even greater responsibility."

Pausing, he surveyed the attentive faces,

"This institute was founded by Yamato, a great mage who lived about 250 years ago. He wasn't just powerful; he was a visionary who believed in the limitless potential of magic when properly taught. His legacy lives in every stone of this institution and in each one of you."

"The Arcane Institute isn't for just anyone. It's a training ground for those who wish to become the guardians of our world. Here, you will learn to master your abilities, strengthen your body and mind, and understand the true essence of magic."

As he walked slowly, his boots echoing on the marble floor, Takeda continued,

"The tradition of this institute is forged through a commitment to excellence and honor. Many of the most powerful and respected mages in the Eastern Union have passed through these halls, facing the same challenges you will. Remember: each one of you carries the potential to become a legend."

Turning toward a large white crystal on the wall, he lightly touched it and said,

"This crystal isn't merely an ornament. It represents the purity and clarity we expect from each of you. Like it, you must strive for perfection in both your abilities and your character."

After a pause to let his words sink in, Takeda concluded,

"You will have the honor of training and learning from the best. The instructors here are masters in their arts and are committed to guiding you every step of the way—but first, I will teach you the basics."

With a smile, he finished,

"Today is a day to prepare. Get to know your classmates, explore the campus when allowed, and ready yourselves for the journey ahead. You will face challenges that will test your skills and your character. And remember, the true power of magic comes from the heart and mind working in harmony."

The students listened in silence, absorbing every word. After the presentation, Takeda indicated that they should take their seats,

"I'm off to get the preparations for our first class. In the meantime, make yourselves at home and get to know one another."

Before the professor left, Ryu noticed the mix of excitement and nervousness on his classmates' faces. Unable to stand still, he quickly approached Hana and greeted her with a smile.

"Hey, Hana, let's hurry up; I think the sooner we meet everyone, the better," Ryu said hurriedly.

Hana hesitated for a moment, surprising Ryu with a side of shyness he hadn't expected. Without wasting time, he gently took her arm and led her over to a group where a girl and a boy were talking.

"Hello," he greeted with a somewhat awkward smile, "my name is Ryu Takeshi, but please, call me Ryu, and this is Hana."

"Ah… Hana Eversong," the girl replied in a tone of mild relief.

Soon, another classmate with a friendly look introduced herself,

"I remember you both; I saw you during the second exam as you tested your affinities. It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Aiko Tanaka," she said with a smile.

Aiko had straight blond hair tied in a ponytail at shoulder length. Her skin was fair, though not as pale as Hana's, and she was a bit taller—though still quite short compared to Ryu.

"I'm Daisuke Watanabe, nice to meet you," said a boy in a rather dry tone.

"And you, Daisuke, did you take the exam with us as well?" Ryu asked, receiving a brief nod of confirmation.

Daisuke, who looked friendly with his light brown hair and blue eyes, was a bit shorter than Ryu and slightly stockier.

After the introductions, a silence fell over the group. Trying to break the ice, Ryu commented,

"Since we're going to be classmates, everyone will soon know: I have affinities with Stone, Fire, Light, and Darkness. But, to be honest, I have a lot of trouble controlling Darkness."

Aiko and Daisuke looked somewhat impressed.

"Four elements? That's impressive, Ryu," said Aiko.

"Yeah, even with the difficulties, it's amazing. But it must be tricky figuring out how to use them," added Daisuke.

"For instance, I only have two: Water and Light, and I still wonder what the best way to combine them is," Ryu continued.

"Honestly, Light and Darkness are very strange elements, almost like abstract concepts," Ryu mused.

"That's been my biggest headache this week," exclaimed Aiko, "because Water and Wind are relatively easy to envision using, but Darkness... What do I do with it? I've tried everything and all I get is this."

Aiko then placed a pen on the table, rested her hands on it, and concentrated. Within seconds, a mass of black substance seemed to emerge from her own shadow, slowly moving toward the pen. When the pen nearly touched the mass, it was dragged along with the dark material until it finally came to rest in her hands. Aiko opened her eyes and let out a long sigh.

"Ah, why does this have to be so hard? Look at that," she said, repeating the experiment. This time, with a simple wave, a gentle breeze brought the pen back to her.

"You could do something similar with Wind—or even with Water," she concluded hopefully, believing the trick might prove useful in the future.

"I, on the other hand, don't have that problem," said Ryu, "I think it's because my elements, Fire and Light, are pretty intuitive. All it takes is to make the Fire as hot as possible, and, from what I can tell, I can even make Light solid. I've got some ideas."

While Hana was speaking, Ryu noticed a boy sitting alone near the group. Gathering his courage, he said,

"I'll be right over there; you guys keep talking."

After leaving the three in conversation, a thought crossed his mind: making friends was exhausting—usually difficult—but at least today it worked out. Without wasting another moment, Ryu approached the boy, who soon noticed him and turned in his direction. Observing him closely, Ryu noted that the guy was a bit thinner, with short green hair and light green eyes.

"Hi, I'm Ryu Takeshi," Ryu began, but before he could continue, the boy interrupted,

"I already know what your elements are—I overheard you talking. I'm Kenji Nakamura. For now, I'm not revealing my affinities."

Surprised, Ryu hesitated for a moment, but before he could form a response, Kenji asked,

"What's your motivation for being here?"

Ryu replied immediately,

"Of course it's to become the strongest. But please, from now on, just call me Ryu—I prefer it that way."

"I hope you have the talent for it," said Kenji in a neutral tone.

"And you? What's your goal, Kenji?" asked Ryu.

"Mine, you know… there's a mage I want to find," said Kenji, his eyes revealing not admiration, but anger. "He's nearly at the level of the Lances, and I know it will be difficult. Becoming strong is merely a means to that end."

"Wow, it's the first time I've met someone who wants something more than just being the strongest. Good luck," commented Ryu, not wanting to delve too deeply into the topic.

The two continued discussing their expectations for the institute. Kenji came across as calm and easygoing, although Ryu couldn't shake the feeling that perhaps his demeanor had been misinterpreted.