"Kazuki-sama, wake up. It's almost time for you to leave for the Academy. I've prepared breakfast; please have it before it gets cold."
Kazuki heard Kuroha's voice and slowly opened his eyes. Sunlight trickled into his room, and the weather was calm and clear.
'It's already time, huh…' he thought, rising from bed and heading to the dining room after freshening up.
"It's delicious," Kazuki complimented the moment he took his first bite.
Kuroha had prepared quite a spread for breakfast today.
"Kazuki-sama will be joining the best Magic Academy today. I thought that called for a celebration," Kuroha said as she poured him a cup of tea.
"It's not yet decided, Kuroha. I'll have to clear the entrance exam before I can join the Academy," Kazuki responded after finishing his breakfast and taking a sip of tea.
Kuroha gave him a deadpan look.
"If even Kazuki-sama cannot join the Academy, I doubt anyone will be joining this year," she stated bluntly.
Hearing her bold words, Kazuki just laughed and shook his head. He knew she wasn't far off. After being trained by someone like Hikari for three years, he knew his capabilities.
"Well, I shouldn't waste more time here. It wouldn't be funny if I missed the exam after all this… and…" Kazuki's voice trailed off as he suddenly recalled the threat Hikari had given him, sending a chill down his spine.
[Limitless Steps]
Limitless Steps is an Elementless Spell, building on the foundation laid by the Basic Spell, Flash Steps. While Flash Steps grants a short, impulsive burst of speed for quick maneuvers in close-quarters combat, Limitless Steps enhances this by channeling mana directly into the caster's legs. The spell gradually increases movement speed as the mana becomes more attuned to the user's body, providing sustained power without causing physical damage to muscles and tendons.
{The spell will remain active as long as the user has enough mana, the boost in speed starts from 120% and reaches 200% within 10 minutes, the mana consumption also increases with time so the castor is advised not to keep the spell active for longer durations.}
Without hesitation, Kazuki cast the movement spell, Limitless Steps, an advanced Elementless spell. Mana flowed through his legs, and his body disappeared from the house as he sped towards the Academy.
Kuroha smiled, shaking her head as she watched her usually calm master panic at the mere thought of Hikari's wrath. She returned to her work, amused.
*Swish* *Swish*
The once-tranquil wind stirred rapidly as Kazuki dashed through the streets of the capital, his speed increasing with every passing second. The weather was bright, and the city was bustling with more energy than usual.
It was no wonder—the Entrance Examination for the most prestigious Magic Academy in the Three Kingdoms, Regia Nevaris was today. People from all over, even from other kingdoms, had gathered in the Royal Capital, Arcathis to witness the event, even if their own children weren't taking part. The significance of the day was undeniable.
As Kazuki glanced around, the seemingly jovial atmosphere of the crowd quickly fell apart in his eyes. He easily spotted the greed and hunger in the eyes of many—those who sought any edge or advantage they could find.
But today wasn't the day to worry about them. He had something far more important to focus on. With a determined look, Kazuki pushed more mana into his spell and vanished in an instant, leaving behind only a gust of wind in his wake.
*Step* *Step*
Arriving at the gates of the Academy, Kazuki couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. Though he had seen images of it in books, nothing could compare to the real thing. The Academy was often described as one of the most beautiful and masterfully crafted buildings in the Three Kingdoms, but even that felt like an understatement.
The massive gates, made from Everfield Darkwood—a rare material found only in the depths of the Malraven Forest—were imposing. The Academy itself was a grand, castle-like structure divided into three towering spires, each representing one of the key decision-making bodies within the institution.
The tower on the left was a gleaming silvery white, the one in the middle a somber gray, and the tower on the right had a yellowish-red hue. Each tower exuded a majestic presence, drawing the eye toward them.
Kazuki passed through the gates and immediately felt several gazes sweep over him, some lingering longer than others. But most of them quickly lost interest—he was just another face among the many potential students vying for a place in the Academy.
He mentally sighed at the sight of all the nobles and their protégés. Almost everyone here seemed to have some backing or prestigious lineage. But Kazuki paid them no mind. For now, his focus was clear: the entrance exam.
Reaching the registration counter, Kazuki felt another wave of gazes as students inside scanned him. But, just like before, their interest waned when they realized he wasn't anyone well-known.
That is, until the next exchange shattered their indifference.
"Are you here to register for the Entrance Exam?" the mage at the counter asked in a monotonous voice, he had only asked the question for formalities sake.
Kazuki nodded. The woman next to the mage then produced an Astralyte Prism, a mana crystal that measures the amount and quality of mana an individual possesses.
"Before we proceed with the mana measurement, could you tell us your official name and hand-in your ID?" the woman asked in an emotionless tone.
Kazuki handed over his ID card, his calm voice carrying a surname that would turn heads throughout the room.
"My name is Kazuki, Takamura Kazuki."
The moment those words left his mouth, every gaze that had once dismissed him snapped back in shock and disbelief.