Nanako stood before the grand gates of the academy, taking a deep breath. "So, I'm finally here. I wonder what awaits me on this journey." With anticipation, she entered the Arcane Academy.
Inside, Nanako encountered various magicians practicing their respective elements. Fire magic users trained together, water magic users swam gracefully, earth magic users meditated, lightning magic users honed their skills, and wind magic users glided through the air.
As the new students gathered in the hall, they were separated into different sections based on their magic types. Nanako found herself placed in the wind section. It was there that she heard a cry for help from a small girl named Misa, who had been separated from her friend due to their different magical abilities. Nanako, also a wind magic user, seized the opportunity to approach the girl.
"Why are you crying, little girl?" Nanako asked, concerned. "The teachers... sniff... they separated me from Misa... sniff," replied the teary-eyed girl. "What's your name? Would you mind if I accompany you in the wind section?" Nanako inquired. Excitedly, the girl replied, "Really...? My name is Shiro!" Nanako smiled and introduced herself, "That's great, Shiro! I don't have any friends in this section anyway. My name is Nanako."
The opening ceremony commenced, and the student council introduced themselves to the new students. Syria, the school president, Alexia, the vice president, Geopard, the secretary, and others made their introductions. They explained the academy's objectives, emphasizing the development of each student's magical potential. Nanako couldn't help but notice the absence of the light element and wondered about it silently.
After an impressive play demonstrating the five elements, Syria addressed the students once more. "Attention, all students. Please proceed to the arena for a test of your abilities and strength." Eagerly, the students made their way to the arena. Each student would summon a monster based on their initial strength and attempt to defeat it using their most potent magic.
When it was almost Nanako's turn, she made an unusual request for a cylindrical magical ore. Though confused, the staff handed her the ore. Nanako entered the arena, surprising the crowd as she held the magical ore in her hands. She attempted to mimic the process she had used to create a wind blade from her hilt relic, and to everyone's astonishment, she succeeded. However, no one understood what she was doing until she summoned her monster.
A loud screech echoed, leaving everyone even more astonished. Nanako fell to the ground, unable to move, as a wyvern, a creature with two wings and two feet, materialized before her. Overwhelmed, Nanako shed tears of fear. Suddenly, Shiro stood up and shouted, "You've got this, Nanako! I believe in you!" The crowd joined in, offering their support. Determined, Nanako realized that if she couldn't defeat the illusory wyvern, she wouldn't be able to avenge her lost friend, Hanako. With newfound resolve, she stood up, trembling but determined. She leaped and struck the wyvern, though it proved insufficient to vanquish the creature. Undeterred, Nanako prepared for another attack, but the wyvern vanished.
"Only your first strike counts, Nanako," explained a fellow student who entered the arena—a girl with white hair fading into green. "Nonetheless, it was impressive. If you had been given a chance to strike the wyvern a few more times, you would've defeated it." Syria, the student council president, personally congratulated Nanako on her performance before departing. Confused yet moved, Nanako sank to her knees. A staff member rushed to her aid and assisted her back to her seat, where Shiro awaited.
"Nanako! That was amazing!" Shiro exclaimed, clinging to Nanako in excitement. "Thank you, Shiro, but I need to become even stronger," Nanako replied determinedly. The tests continued, and each student received their rankings, granting privileges based on their performance. Nanako achieved an S-class ranking, while Shiro attained A-class. Shiro, adept at supporting others and exceptionally powerful despite the initial evaluation, received a raise due to her unmatched support abilities.
The students were then divided into groups based on their rankings. Nanako and Shiro bid each other farewell for the time being, and the S-rank students were led to a large building. Syria announced, "Congratulations to all the students who achieved S-rank. This will be your dormitory. Each of you will have a personal room, and you'll receive the highest quality food the school offers, free of charge."
Among the 20 S-rank students was Marcus, known as the "Pseudo-Light," with red hair that faded into orange and wearing a white cape over a black outfit. Marcus raised a question about whether S-ranks would train with lower-ranked students, expressing concern for the latter. Syria assured him that S-rank students would train among themselves, putting his worries to rest. Nanako, raising her hand, inquired about the absence of light users in the academy, mentioning her previous encounters with individuals using light magic. Syria explained that light users were trained separately to combat the demonic forces, as they were the only ones capable of withstanding them. Satisfied with the answer, Nanako nodded and the students were dismissed.
Returning to her luxurious room, Nanako marveled at the spaciousness, with a large bed, closet, and other amenities. She happily jumped onto the soft bed, cuddling the pillow. "So soft... yawns... I feel tired. Time to sleep," she murmured, quickly succumbing to slumber.
In her dream, Nanako heard a familiar voice. It was Hanako, her long-lost friend. In a dimly lit room, Hanako beckoned her, and Nanako rushed toward him. But as she reached Hanako, the figure vanished. From behind her, a whisper echoed, "Nanako, soon you will become a great dark magic user." Startled, Nanako turned around, only to find darkness consuming her vision. She awoke with tears in her eyes, feeling a mix of emotions and confusion.
~To be continued~