A Fresh Start

The wheels of the carriage rolled steadily along the cobblestone path, each turn bringing Theo farther from the life he knew. The forest thinned, giving way to vast grasslands where tall banners of the empire fluttered with the wind. Sitting across from him, Master Krom leaned back with his usual calm, hands clasped on his lap.

Theo stared out the window, eyes wide. The world was so much bigger than he had imagined. He'd only seen a few parts of his region growing up, but this road stretched far and open, carved smooth by generations of travelers and imperial funds.

"You alright?" Krom asked, his voice warm but direct.

Theo nodded. "Yes, Master."

Krom smirked. "Good. Take everything in. This academy will be your new home for a while."

The cart picked up speed as the Academy walls came into view.

And what a sight it was.

Moonblade Academy stood like a gleaming fortress atop a hill. White marble walls lined with golden inlays. Towers that reached for the skies. Water flowing in magical streams around the structure. A single crystal orb floated above the main dome, glowing softly like a beacon of mana.

Theo's jaw dropped slightly as his small hands pressed against the window.

But as the carriage climbed the final bend, it wasn't the academy itself that stunned him—it was the carts.

Noble families had arrived in all their grandeur. Enchanted carriages of silver and sapphire, some with flying beasts instead of horses. Armored guards, personal servants, even a few knights stood waiting beside their young masters and mistresses. A few children stepped out wearing robes threaded with mana runes. Their hair shone, their eyes glittered with mana sensitivity.

Theo instinctively glanced at his own plain tunic and leather bag.

"…Are you nervous?" Krom asked.

Theo looked down. "A little."

Krom smiled. "That's good. Means you're not overconfident."

The carriage came to a halt at the academy gates.

A tall mage in black and silver stood beside the entrance, holding a long staff embedded with a pulsating crystal. As each child approached, he chanted a short spell—and one by one, the students vanished into shimmering light.

"Teleportation spell," Krom explained. "Sends them directly to the Grand Hall."

Theo stepped out of the cart slowly. Krom followed behind.

Other children were arriving as well. Theo noticed a boy dressed in a red cape, shouting at his servants for packing his cloak improperly. A girl with violet hair and piercing eyes watched everything coldly, arms crossed. Some were crying—tears and sobs, holding onto parents tightly.

Theo paused, his heart sinking at the sound of one boy crying for his mother not to leave.

He looked down.

"…I guess I wasn't the only one."

Theo stepped forward toward the mage.

"Name?" the mage asked, his voice echoing with magical resonance.

"Theo Elwin."

The mage's eyes scanned a glowing parchment beside him. "Elwin… ah. The boy from Whitehill Village. Proceed."

Krom placed a reassuring hand on Theo's shoulder.

"You've got this."

Theo nodded.

The mage tapped his staff to the ground, and in a flash of radiant blue light—

Theo vanished.

A second later, Theo found himself standing in a vast circular hall lined with crystal chandeliers floating mid-air, illuminating everything in soft golden light. Hundreds of children filled the room—some standing, some seated on benches. Above them were wide platforms meant for the professors and staff. Banners bearing the Moonblade insignia—a silver crescent wrapped in feathers—hung along the walls.

The noise was overwhelming. Laughter, crying, chatter, whispers, arguing.

Theo quietly moved to an empty bench and sat down.

He looked around, observing.

To his right, a girl with short silver hair sat alone, looking calm and disinterested, twirling a coin between her fingers. Her eyes met his for a second—icy and calculating. She quickly looked away.

On his left, a chubby boy was nervously muttering to himself. "Just breathe, Arven. You're gonna be fine. Mother said you're special. Breathe, Arven…"

Across the hall, Theo noticed a boy standing proudly, surrounded by other children. He had blonde hair, royal blue robes, and a faint golden aura around him—clearly a noble of high bloodline. Theo couldn't hear what he was saying, but the way others looked at him made it clear: he was someone important.

"They all look so different…" Theo thought.

Some children were beautiful, refined, noble. Others looked as humble as he did. Some looked arrogant already, laughing loudly, mocking others. One boy used a flame trick to scare another. A girl snapped her fingers and made flowers bloom from her palm.

Kael was watching too.

"Hmph. A room full of potential threats. Some of these kids might become real monsters one day… if they survive long enough."

Suddenly, a deep voice boomed across the hall.

"SILENCE."

Everyone stopped talking at once.

An elder man stepped forward onto the platform. His robe shimmered with black and gold. His presence alone silenced the entire room.

"I am Headmaster Vireon, your overseer for the next three years. Welcome to Moonblade Academy."

He paced slowly.

"You come from many lands. Some of you are nobles, others commoners. Some awakened through ceremony, some by trauma. Some of you have been trained. Others barely know how to hold a blade. But here, none of that matters."

His voice sharpened.

"Here, you start from the same line."

A murmur spread among some of the nobles.

Headmaster Vireon continued, ignoring them. "This Academy is your first trial. You will be evaluated, tested, pushed, and if you break… you will be sent home. Or worse."

Theo swallowed.

"Each of you will now be assigned to your respective halls, where your journey begins. Make friends—or don't. Impress—or fade. Survive—or surrender. But remember this…"

His eyes scanned them all.

"The Empire watches."

With a gesture of his staff, shimmering lines of light began separating the students into groups. Theo found himself being led along with about 30 other children toward a long staircase that descended deeper into the academy.

Some looked around nervously. Others held their heads high.

Theo kept a calm face.

The silver-haired girl walked ahead silently.

The noble boy in the blue robe scoffed. "Guess we're not even grouped by bloodline. Disgraceful."

Theo didn't care.

He was here now.

And he had work to do.