The Climb Begins

The next morning came with pale light and a cold breeze drifting in through the high castle windows. 

Noah sat up in bed before the others stirred. He had barely slept. Not because of nerves or fear, but because of what burned inside him. 

Every breath he took felt hotter than the previous one, as if something was burning under his skin, wanting to break free.

He rose quietly, stepped into the washroom that had been built into the side of their quarters, and bathed in the warm water that steamed from polished stone basins. 

The rest of the boys followed in turns, joking among themselves, avoiding Noah's presence without saying a word. Even Ben hadn't tried anything else, but the scowl he threw Noah's way was enough to tell everyone that he hadn't let things go.

Master Edric had made provisions for new clothes, so they dressed themselves in their new attires, black shirts, and in the case of the women, black blouses, with silver linings.

After that, they were led to the courtyard, where several long carriages waited.

Each carriage was gilded with blue banners bearing the lion and rose crest of Camelot. The wheels glowed faintly, enchanted to glide without bump or sound. 

Horses weren't needed. The front of each carriage had no reins, only runes that shimmered with magic.

Noah climbed into the last one. He sat near the window, watching as the gates of the royal palace opened and the caravan began its slow roll through the heart of the kingdom.

A minute later, he had his first view of the capital.

Stone roads stretched through packed districts. Merchants shouted over one another, their stalls bursting with spices, scrolls, weapons, glowing orbs, and things Noah couldn't name. 

Children darted between fruit carts, laughing with one another as they played.

There were theaters carved into marble, and towers that stood over the streets with silver bells. 

Magic was everywhere. Hovering lamps, floating market signs, coins flickering with enchantment as they changed hands.

People stopped to point at the carriages.

"The heroes!" Someone whispered loudly.

Noah saw hands raised, some waving at them, and some in awe.

The carriages rolled steadily down the road, each one controlled by hooded men.

After more than an hour of riding, they reached the outskirts of the capital, and the academy came into view.

It rose into the air like a giant treasure, a vast sprawl of buildings atop a sloping green hill. 

At its center was a towering spire of white stone, etched with golden runes that shimmered with steady light. 

Around it sprawled domed lecture halls, training arenas shaped like coliseums, and glass walled libraries that shined even under the morning sun.

There were practice fields, each the size of stadiums, and lakes that shimmered with mana. 

Trees grew in carefully shaped spirals, their leaves colored green, blue and violet.

The Royal Academy of Magic.

The carriages stopped at a large gatehouse, where instructors in navy robes checked scrolls and nodded the new students inside.

Noah stepped out into the sunlight and followed the others into a massive building shaped like a cathedral. 

Its stone pillars rose high into an arched ceiling of stained glass. Rows upon rows of chairs were filled with hundreds of other first year students.

And every single one of them was looking at the twenty.

Whispers passed like wildfire.

"Those are the summoned ones."

"From another world."

Noah didn't react. But he noticed how some eyes narrowed, staring at them with intense emotion. Some faces turned with awe. Others with jealousy.

And then came the other whispers.

"I heard one of them has FFF rank potential."

"Seriously? What kind of trash gets summoned as a hero and ends up worse than a stablehand?"

"He probably can't even lift a broom."

"Imagine having five affinities and being worthless."

The voices laughed.

Noah's expression didn't change. He sat at the back of the group, with Ben and his cronies at the front, soaking in the praise.

Noah simply folded his hands calmly in front of him.

Let them speak. Let them guess.

The principal took the stage, an old man with long white hair and a robe patterned in red and gold. His presence quieted the room like a falling stone.

He raised his staff once, and the hall fell completely silent.

"Welcome, new students." He said, his voice deep. "I am Principal Aldred Kael. You stand now at the gate of power. Here, you will be tested, broken, refined. Some of you will rise. Others will fall."

He walked slowly across the stage.

"Every student here has awakened, and in the Royal Academy of Magic, your potential determines your starting tier."

"There are four tiers." He raised four fingers. "Stone, Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Those with the highest ranks begin in the Gold tier. They will be given personal instructors, elite resources, and private training halls."

A few students sat straighter.

"Bronze and Silver tiers will have standard access. Stone tier, however, will have restricted spell libraries, reduced meal tokens, and no personal guidance."

Some murmurs started, low and uneasy.

Principal Kael raised a hand. "However, not all students shall remain in their tiers as the school term progresses. Any student can rise in tier. Skill and effort matter. But remember. Your starting point reflects your potential. It is not a judgment."

Noah narrowed his eyes.

That was a lie.

He'd seen enough systems to know how they worked. The top stayed on top because the bottom wasn't given a ladder.

It was dressed up nicely, with speeches about growth and fairness. But in the end, it was just another way to decide who got power and who got forgotten.

Just as things had been at Clarkson private school. The ones with the rich and powerful parents enjoyed all the privileges, while he would be stuck at the bottom.

Right then and there, he made his declaration within himself. 

'Even in this world, you want to chain me down forever? Let's see you try. I'll tear down all the systems that keep the rich up and the destitute down. I'll create a ladder from the bottom to the top.'

'I will show you all that your power and money means nothing. Just you wait and see.'

Principal Kael struck his staff once against the stage.

"Now," he said, "each of you will report to the faculty building and receive your tier assignment. From there, your schedule will be set."

He turned. "Your path begins now. May you walk it with strength."

The doors opened.

The students stood.

Noah followed the others out, his hands loose at his sides.

Whatever this academy thought they knew about him, they were wrong.

Let them place him in Stone.

Let them laugh.

He wasn't here to be a hero.

He was here to rise to the top and trample over all those who laugh at him with their privileges.

And in time, he would burn it all down if he had to.