The grand ceremony concluded, and students were finally assigned to their classes. Class A, the most prestigious, was filled with powerful and talented Gifted capable of facing monsters and demons. Meanwhile, Class F was reserved for students with support-type abilities—Appraisers, Barrier users, and the like.
Lumiel, Lady Nishia, Mister Claud, Cliffhard, and Skye—somehow—were all placed in Class A.
"Yo, Civilian. What was your name again?" Claud asked, turning to Lumiel with a cocky smirk.
"Lumiel. You're Mister Claud, right?" Lumiel replied, offering a casual nod.
"Geez, just call me Claud," the older boy grunted.
"Alright."
"By the way," Claud leaned in with curiosity, "mind showing me that attack from before?"
"What attack?" Lumiel asked.
"You know, the one the instructor stopped you from doing during the test."
"Oh… maybe some other ti—"
A voice snapped behind them.
"Oy! What attack are you thinking of showing, huh!?" barked a woman.
The students straightened instantly. The voice belonged to their teacher, who had approached without anyone noticing.
"Get back to your seats—we're starting class," she ordered, eyes sharp as daggers.
"I'm Ms. Viera, twenty-eight years old. I'll be your teacher this year," she said with a harsh tone that cast a heavy silence across the room. Then, raising her voice, she shouted, "You got a problem with that, huh!? Whether you like it or not, I'm your teacher!"
Cliffhard whispered under his breath, "I get why she's still not married…"
"I HEARD THAT, BRAT!" Viera roared, making the shadows in the room seem to recoil.
"…Let's leave the introductions. Follow me to the training hall."
The students gathered in the training hall. One raised a hand. "Ms. Viera, what are we doing today?"
"Of course—to see your Gifts," she replied. "Now! Who wants to go first!?"
Cliffhard raised his hand smugly.
"You dumb-faced showoff! Come here!"
Cliffhard stepped forward. Shadows engulfed him as he demonstrated his improved technique, slashing the practice dummy repeatedly with fluid, rapid movements. He stopped after fifteen seconds, confident. He looked at Ms. Viera, expecting praise.
"Next," she said flatly.
Skye made his way toward Lumiel in the crowd.
"Lumiel, it's good to see you again," he said cheerfully.
"Skye? You're in Class A too? That's great!"
Skye smiled. "Hey Lumiel… what's your Gift?"
Lumiel answered honestly, "I have the Heaven and Earth Sword Style, Earth Manipulation… and a floating box."
Skye looked at him in disbelief. "That's impossible. You can only have one Gift. You're lying."
"It's true though. I'd never lie."
Before their conversation could continue, the room trembled. A crater formed beneath Lady Nishia's feet, but the training dummy remained standing. Skye's eyes widened.
"She's strong."
"Yeah, I know right?" Lumiel smiled. "She's Nishia, a sword prodigy."
Skye tilted his head, asking, "Do you like Nishia?"
"No—no!" Lumiel stammered. "We're just friends."
Nishia glanced back as she returned to the group and caught Lumiel waving. Her face turned red and she quickly looked away.
More students showcased their incredible powers—Ogre Strength, Mirror Reflection, even Druidic Growth that created trees and toxic gas-emitting vines.
Then came Skye's turn.
As he stepped forward, a powerful heatwave burst from his body, causing metal to bend and surfaces to melt slightly. Lumiel's eyes narrowed—it was the same gift that thug Raskin had used, only much stronger.
From behind him, Kurt's voice echoed in his mind.
"Hey Lumiel. That kid's using Heat Control—the same one the thug had. But this is more powerful."
"Yeah," Lumiel responded silently. "I noticed that too."
Skye returned to Lumiel's side.
"Hey… what's your Gift, really?" Lumiel asked.
"I don't really know. It's always random," Skye replied. "Every time someone tries to appraise me, it just comes out as Unknown."
Curious, Lumiel triggered his System Appraisal.
> [System: Appraisal failed.]
He tried again.
> [System: Appraisal failed.]
On the third try—
> [System: Appraisal Activated]
Target Identified. Displaying available information…
Name: Skye
Age: 13
Title: Student of the Gifted Academy
Race: Human
Class: Gifted
Gift: Mimic
Description: Able to copy any ability and increase its power by tenfold. Copied abilities are one-time use only. Can store and mimic up to 10 abilities.
Limitations: Currently unable to fully control the power of Mimic. Gift remains undisclosed to others—only Lumiel is aware of its true nature.
Status: Stable
Synchronization Influence: High Potential – System recognizes extreme latent power.
[System Note:] This individual possesses an unmeasurable Gift. Potential threat level contingent on emotional state and accidental activation. Proceed with care.
"You're gifted with Mimic," Lumiel blurted before thinking.
"Mimic? How do you know? Are you sure?" Skye asked, confused.
"Oh—it's just a guess," Lumiel lied quickly. "I saw you use one of the abilities that thug used earlier."
"I… I told you, it's random. I can't control it."
Lumiel's eyes lit up. "Then I'll help you control it. I promise you."
Skye looked uncertain, but nodded slowly.
"OY! BRAT!" Ms. Viera bellowed. "It's your turn. Everyone else is done!"
Skye wished Lumiel good luck and went to the front.
Lumiel exhaled deeply. He stepped forward and drew his new blade. Lady Nishia and Claud both took notice. With a calm breath, he raised it—and unleashed his technique.
Far above, in the highest tower of the academy, Principal Caldras stood still, his eyes narrowing.
"…Fascinating," he murmured. "That aura… A trace of the first hero. Sir Dilhevy, it seems someone special has arrived at our academy."
Below, Lumiel struck.
"Earth Rend!"
A crater exploded from the point of impact, the path ahead obliterated entirely.
> [System: New unregistered ability unlocked — Earth Rend: A technique made for pure destruction, reducing anything in its path to ash, leaving nothing but a mark of its strength.]
Lumiel stared at the destruction, eyes wide.
"…I'm screwed, aren't I," he muttered.
Kurt appeared beside him.
"Wow," he grinned. "What a performance for your first day at school."