I, Selena Aurelius, am the third daughter of the illustrious House Aurelius, one of the most powerful families on Mars, bound by centuries of loyalty to the Royal Family.
For generations, our diplomats have navigated the complex politics of the solar system, shaping its future.
Our warriors have forged a legacy of glory that has defined Central Mars and beyond.
The Aurelius family stands as a beacon of power, wisdom, and prestige, and I take immense pride in that heritage.
We are masters of elemental magic—fire and lightning, forces that bend to our will.
From the day I could walk, I was trained relentlessly in these arts.
Even though combat techniques are reserved for university students, I was taught in secret by my older brother, the second son of our family, Lucius, the prodigy who now commands the Royal Guard.
My siblings are exceptional, each of them a paragon in their own right.
But never once did I feel overshadowed. There was no pressure from my parents to live up to their greatness.
My father, Benedict Aurelius, loved us all equally, despite my mother being his third wife.
I was given everything—an esteemed family, loving parents, and siblings who cared for me.
But having everything didn't mean I could allow myself to be complacent.
I had no desire to tarnish our family's honor.
No one expected me to rise to the top, but I demanded it of myself.
And so, when I was accepted into Central Magic Academy, the most prestigious institution in the galaxy, I vowed to prove my worth and elevate the Aurelius name even further.
I dreamt of standing at the pinnacle of the academy, admired by all, just like my siblings before me.
My ambitions were clear: not only to match their greatness but to surpass them, etching my own legend into the annals of history.
However, those dreams were shattered by someone I never saw coming—a commoner boy with no noble blood, no drive, and no ambition.
He effortlessly took the place that should have been mine. It was a humiliation I would never forget.
Until middle school, I gave my best in my education to redeem myself at the pinnacle again, but there was always him, standing in my way.
However, things are different now.
With the introduction of this new curriculum, I have regained my position I deserved.
On the other hand, he has fallen right to the bottom.
Nothing could be more satisfying than that for me.
But, I can't make the same mistake of being complacent now.
I have to remain at the top.
For that purpose, I have to lead my group to the top of the rankings in this first lesson.
***
After arriving at the training grounds, the portal closed behind us.
Our group consisted of me, my best friend Arlan, the daughter of Elven chief Aria, a rich commoner boy Elric and that shithead Kai.
As I took in my surroundings, it became immediately clear that this place was unlike anywhere on Mars.
The skies here weren't painted with the familiar crimson hues of Martian dust storms. Instead, a thick mist clung to the air, swirling around us like a living entity.
The sunlight struggled to pierce through the fog, casting everything in a soft, ethereal glow.
The forest that stretched out before us seemed endless. Towering trees with silver bark rose like sentinels, their emerald leaves dripping with dew.
Their branches were tangled, weaving an intricate canopy that blocked out the sky almost entirely.
Beneath our feet, the ground was damp with moss and soft soil, and the rich scent of earth and pine filled the air, a stark contrast to the metallic, dry atmosphere of Mars.
Mesmerized by the scenic beauty of the forest before me, the only description that came to my mind was,
"Beautiful."
It was most definitely not Mars.
So, either this was a whole different planet, or it was computer simulated.
If it were to be the later, then, the accuracy of simulation of natural light and other elements is quite out of this world.
Keeping that aside, when I looked at my groupmates, they also had the same kind of mesmerized look I had a few moments ago.
Except, there was one person missing.
Arlan pointed it out.
"Where did Kai go?", she asked.
As everyone got back to their senses after Arlan's question, we looked around and saw him leaving us and going off on his own towards West.
It was his message that he didn't want to cooperate with us.
Honestly, I didn't quite like the idea of him being shoved into our group, but right now I don't really care about that.
The task given to us, might seem like a group task, but it's true that useless members would only drag the group down.
For detecting a mana stone, we have to use our skills that use mana.
But, as he doesn't have any skill, he can't detect the mana stones at all.
Moreover, even if he, somehow, is able to find out a mana stone, he can't defeat the simulated monster protecting it, without a skill.
Basically, he is at the level of just carrying our mana stones around.
"It doesn't really matter, wherever he goes. We don't have any use for him. So, it's better this way.", I reassured my groupmates.
"Are you sure about that, Ms. Selena?", asked Aria Leafsong with a straight face.
She is the daughter of the displaced Elven chief, so basically she is a princess.
But unlike other elves that attend our academy now, I don't see any expression on her face.
Maybe she is not that expressive.
"There is no need to be too polite here, Princess Aria. We are all equal here. ", I replied.
"Alright, I would do so. Then, you also have to stop calling me Princess,......... Selena."
"Understood, Then, Aria,........ we don't need to worry about his absence at all, is what I am saying."
"But, have you considered the possibility that, he might try to sabotage our group in various methods?", she asked a quite plausible question.
It would not be unusual if he intentionally, gives our information to other groups, or try to spy on our location, or even be absent at the central area for evaluation to disqualify our group.
That's because, he hates me, as much as I hate him.
However, ...............
"He wouldn't do anything like that. I am sure of it.", I said firmly.
There was a reason behind my statement, of course.
"How can you be so sure? Didn't you declared yesterday to his face that you don't trust him at all?", another question from Aria.
"..........It's true that I don't trust him, but I am aware of his thinking pattern. Each member of our group would be rewarded attribute points if we place in any position in the top 3, which could be used to increase stats. He also needs those points to increase his mana stats for at least getting a skill. So, it's actually, beneficiary for him if our group places at the top. Hence, I think he wouldn't do anything to sabotage our group."
After my explanation, Aria seemed to be understanding the reasoning, as she didn't ask any further questions.
On the other hand, Arlan raised her hand and asked.
"So, you are saying that, he would just rip the profits, whereas we 4 would have to do all the hard work? Isn't that totally unfair?"
"....Don't worry about that. I have an idea for that as well, but for now we should focus on the task at hand. okay?"
Everyone nodded, as I went through my plan of action for this mana stone collecting task.
I would definitely succeed this time as well.
***
Inside the cabin of Dr. Berlint, a group of 20-25 people had gathered.
They were not the teachers or staff members from the CMA.
These distinguished personalities were the family heads of all the noble families situated in Central Mars, along with the Elven chief, at the center.
Various panels showing different locations of the training ground was floating in front of them.
Dr. Berlint stood at a corner near the door, observing the footages closely as well.
Then suddenly, a staff quietly opened the door, as not to disturb the family heads, and called Dr. Berlint.
As he went outside along with the staff, a very young lady, stood before him.
Dr. Berlint regarded the young woman with a curious glance.
She appeared to be in her early twenties, with sharp eyes and an air of confidence that instantly marked her as someone of importance.
The young woman standing before Dr. Berlint exuded elegance and authority.
Her long, silver hair cascaded smoothly down her back, catching the light and shimmering like strands of moonlight.
She wore it in a sleek, high ponytail, which emphasized her sharp, angular features—a strong jawline and high cheekbones that gave her a regal air.
Her eyes were a piercing shade of icy blue, cold and calculating, with a gaze that seemed to see through everything and everyone.
She was dressed in a tailored military-style uniform, deep navy with gold accents, denoting her high rank and noble heritage.
The uniform hugged her slender but athletic frame, displaying her poise and discipline.
A dignified crest of a flaming phoenix intertwined with a lightning bolt, the symbol of the Magic Special Force was shining as if to emphasize that fact alone.
"Hello, miss. You could've informed me prior, if you were coming.", greeted Dr. Berlint to the lady.
"..........What did he say?", the lady asked.
"...I don't follow. What did 'who' say?", Berlint asked in confusion.
"Haaa.......What did Kai Rayleigh say about his sister?"
"Ah, you were referring to that matter, I-I see. Kai didn't say much, but it didn't seem like there was any problem. Is there any new development?", beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, as he noticed the agitated state of the lady in front of him.
"Alright. After this lesson screening is over, you are coming with me."
"Miss, is something wrong?", Berlint asked with somewhat worried face.
Suddenly, a tinge of terror filled his heart, as he realized something.
Then, the lady, finally, confirmed his suspicions.
"That's right. The MSF has decided to resume it's search for Kai Rayleigh's sister."
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Author's Notes :
Please comment down your thoughts about the story so far.
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