The sun struck the golden towers of the great city...
Lunin stood before the mirror, adjusting his uniform.
The official attire of the Royal Academy:
A jet-black jacket.
A golden crest on the chest.
Blue-stoned cufflinks.
A tightly buttoned shirt choking his neck.
Lunin stared at the reflection.
"This isn't me…"
But still—
"…this is who I am now."
A voice called from downstairs.
"Are you ready, son?! The carriage is waiting!"
Lunin took a deep breath.
He stared one last time into the mirror.
For freedom… for my father… for the world beyond…
"I'm ready," he whispered.
The Streets of the Capital.
The road to the academy was crowded.
Horse-drawn carriages, nobles in luxurious clothing, sword-bearing knights…
All heading in the same direction.
Lunin gazed out the window.
So many rich people… so much luxury…
Do they even live in the same world as I did?
When the carriage stopped, he stepped out.
And there it stood.
The Royal Academy.
A towering structure of sapphire-blue stone, over 200 meters tall.
Guards stood at the entrance—some wielding swords, others, magic.
Dozens of banners fluttered above.
And hundreds of young people walked through the gates.
Some were confident.
Some were nervous.
Some were only there to show off.
Registration Hall.
Lunin placed his forged documents on the desk.
The woman behind the desk adjusted her glasses and picked them up.
"Name… Lunin Edevane?"
"Yes," Lunin replied.
He avoided eye contact.
The woman scanned the papers briefly, then handed him a sheet.
"Your first trial is tomorrow morning. Location: Open Training Field. Magic Affinity Test. Good luck."
Academy Dormitory.
Lunin's room was far more luxurious than anything he had ever known.
A single large bed, bookshelves, a private bathroom—it felt like a dream.
He shut the door behind him.
Fell onto the bed.
"Magic test, huh?"
"I don't have any damn magic… What am I supposed to do?"
But the voice from his dream echoed in his mind:
"I've given you them. Let's see what kind of being you become…"
What did that mean?
Was something truly inside me?
He couldn't sleep that night.
The Next Morning.
The testing ground was packed.
Students lined up in a row.
Each one stepped forward, placing their hand on the glowing crystal.
Some caused it to shine brightly.
Others were laughed at when it didn't react at all.
Lunin's turn came.
The instructor looked at him.
"Lunin Edevane… Let's see what you've got."
Lunin approached the stone.
Please… light up.
Please… something, anything…
The moment his hand touched it—
The crystal trembled and floated into the air.
Then,
A blinding white light exploded from it.
Silence fell.
Everyone's eyes widened.
Even the instructor stepped back.
"…That… shouldn't be possible…"
Lunin stood frozen.
What… did I just do?
To Be Continued...