[Throne Room]
Heavy footsteps echoed between the massive stone pillars of the palace as a lone figure in black armor and a flowing cape silently approached the grand throne room. The guards at the entrance bowed respectfully before the mysterious man. The figure lowered his head and knelt before the king.
The king's sharp and cold gaze fixed on him, his voice filling the hall with authority.
"Pride... The first of the Seven. Your loyalty has never disappointed me."
Pride bowed his head and replied,
"At your command, Majesty."
A faint smile appeared on the king's lips, the light in his eyes reflecting the magnitude of his hidden plans.
"I will give you a mission outside. This mission... must remain a secret. No one must know."
The hall fell into a deep silence. Everyone felt the weight of those words. Pride said nothing more and quietly left with heavy steps.
---
[King's Private Chamber]
An hour later, the door to the king's private chamber opened slightly. A tall man with a serious expression entered. The king's hand—his most trusted aide—stood there, dressed simply but with an air of nobility.
"Your Majesty," he said respectfully, "We have a great opportunity. The Valenhardt family holds almost absolute control over the kingdom's economy, dominating agriculture and mining. If we marry the heir prince to the Valenhardt daughter, this power will be directly tied to the throne."
The king flipped through the documents on his desk, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"And my son's desires?" he asked, dismissively.
The king's hand bowed his head.
"Your Majesty, the kingdom's interests come before all else."
The king took a deep breath and spoke with determination:
"Proceed at once. I will summon you again in an hour. This wedding will be the grandest seen in years."
---
[Royal Garden]
That night, the king walked alone on the stone-paved paths of the royal garden. He lifted his head toward the sky. The stars were dim, and the moon barely visible. Storms raged inside him, though no one knew.
"I must shine like a god in the darkness..." he muttered.
---
---
🔹 [Class E – Introduction Scene]
Lunin sat in the far back corner of the classroom, closest to the wall. He couldn't see outside; after all, Class E was windowless—dim and worn down. Even their uniforms made that clear—faded, colorless fabric—broadcasting their status as the lowest of the low.
The teacher stepped in. A man with long white hair tied behind his head, his presence charismatic, his gaze stern yet just.
> "Alright, children. Quiet down. Time to get to know each other. Starting from the left, please introduce yourselves."
The first student, a timid boy near the wall, stood up with a trembling voice:
> "My name is Ryen Halden... Nice to meet you all."
He sat down quickly. No one even looked at him.
The next student rose with confidence. A red-haired girl stood tall, her eyes sharp and focused.
> "Sora Valenhardt."
That was all she said. Her tone was clear, but there was something broken beneath it. The class paused for a breath. Valenhardt... one of the great houses of the kingdom. But Sora was the middle child—neither raised for the throne, nor allowed to live freely. Always stuck in between. A noble born in the shadows.
Her gaze briefly flicked toward Lunin. Her eyes narrowed—just a little—but then she looked away.
At that moment, a new kind of energy burst into the room.
A boy jumped to his feet with a huge grin and a booming voice:
> "Hey! I'm Donald! Donald Eravyn!"
The class turned, startled. His grey hair was parted to both sides, eyes brimming with excitement.
> "I know, a bit dramatic—but hey, silence is boring! Gotta bring some life to the room, right? Hehe."
Some students chuckled despite themselves. Even the teacher's face softened slightly.
> "Not a famous bloodline, I know. But my dad says the Eravyn name goes way back. Personally though... I believe in fresh starts more than legacies."
Donald made a small, exaggerated bow and flopped back into his seat. He shot a curious look at Lunin.
It was Lunin's turn.
He stood calmly. His expression unreadable, but his posture was firm.
> "I'm Lunin Edevane."
Silence swept the class. A few hushed whispers followed. Edevane… a fallen noble line. Once seated beside the Valenhardts, once fighting in the same wars. Now... just a name with dust on it.
Sora stiffened at the mention of the name. Familiar—but distant. Maybe bound by blood... but not by memory.
The teacher's eyes narrowed with surprise.
> "Edevane? A noble... in Class E?"
Lunin gave a faint smile. Neither proud nor ashamed.
> "Yes. Apparently, I was born without any magical aptitude. But I enjoy reading. Especially thick, dusty books about history. I prefer to seek truth in silence."
Donald gave a playful nod. Sora turned her eyes away again.
After a moment's pause, the teacher walked toward the chalkboard. He picked up a piece of chalk.
> "That concludes our introductions."
He wrote four bold words across the board:
THE FOUNDATIONS OF MAGIC
> "Now... let us begin with the real lesson."