The morning sun filtered through the academy windows, casting a soft, golden hue over the bustling courtyard of Cresent Academy. After the entrance ceremony concluded, Hiroshi found himself standing in front of a large bulletin board where the results had been posted. His heart raced slightly as he scanned the list for his name. When he found it, a sense of relief washed over him—he'd passed.
[Name: Hiroshi Matsumoto]
[Rank: First Year]
Selene's name was just a few ranks above his, as expected. She had made it clear she considered herself superior, and the ranking system seemed to confirm that. As Hiroshi observed the other students scanning the list, it became obvious that today was about more than just making it into the academy—it was about establishing one's place, forming connections, and meeting rivals.
He walked towards the training ground where they were to assemble for their first class, his mind still swirling from the previous night's strange events. It wasn't every day that you had an encounter with a succubus—or so he thought.
Just as he turned a corner, a loud voice rang out from behind him.
"Hey! You're the foreigner, right?"
Hiroshi paused, turning to face a tall, broad-shouldered student with striking black hair and an intense gaze. His uniform was pristine, and a faint smirk played on his lips as he strode over, flanked by two other students. Clearly, this wasn't a random introduction.
"Hiroshi Matsumoto, right? Passed the exam with ease, I hear," the student continued, looking him up and down.
"Yeah, that's me," Hiroshi replied calmly, noting the confident tone in the student's voice. "And you are?"
"The name's Viktor. Top of the class, naturally." He flashed a grin that didn't reach his eyes. "I'm sure you've heard of me."
Hiroshi raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He could already tell that this was one of those people who thrived on competition, and from the looks of it, Viktor didn't particularly like the idea of a foreigner standing out.
"You might have gotten through the entrance exam, but the real tests are just beginning. Try to keep up." With that, Viktor and his entourage walked away, leaving Hiroshi standing there.
"Well, that was something," Hiroshi thought, suppressing a sigh. It seemed his peaceful academy life was going to be anything but quiet.
He entered the training hall, where the first group of new students had gathered. Selene stood near the front, looking as haughty as ever, her back straight and chin raised as she surveyed the room. Her eyes flicked briefly over to Hiroshi before returning to the instructor.
Among the crowd of first years, Hiroshi noticed a few other faces that caught his attention. A girl with short silver hair stood silently by the window, her arms crossed as she stared outside. Her expression was unreadable, but there was something about her presence that felt… powerful. She gave off the air of someone who knew more than they let on.
Then there was the boy in the back, clearly nervous, clutching a staff tightly in his hands. His eyes darted around the room as if he expected something to go wrong at any moment.
The instructor entered shortly after, his stern voice cutting through the idle chatter. "Welcome to your first day at Cresent Academy. As you all know, making it this far is just the beginning. Each of you will be tested today, not only to determine your skills but to place you in the appropriate rank and class."
Hiroshi listened attentively, trying to suppress the tension in his stomach. He knew he would have to give his best performance, especially since he was new to this world. But with his intellect and the few skills he'd learned, he was confident he could hold his own.
The tests began with basic magical aptitude. Students were asked to create magic circles, demonstrating their ability to manipulate mana. One by one, they stepped forward. Some struggled to form even a single circle, while others managed three or four with ease.
Selene went before Hiroshi, her arrogance on full display as she summoned four glowing circles with a graceful wave of her hand. A murmur of approval swept through the room. She turned and shot Hiroshi a smug look as if daring him to beat her.
When it was Hiroshi's turn, he stepped forward, closing his eyes and focusing on the energy within him. He had learned about magic in his dream, but this was his first real test. Slowly, he extended his hand, and one by one, magic circles began to form in front of him. Five glowing circles appeared, pulsing with energy.
He opened his eyes, expecting disappointment. "Only five," he thought.
But the room had fallen completely silent. Students stared, mouths agape, while even the instructor raised an eyebrow in surprise. Hiroshi looked around, confused by the reaction.
"Five circles…" the instructor muttered. "That's remarkable for a first-year student."
Hiroshi blinked, realization dawning. It seemed creating five circles was far from a failure.
The silence that followed Hiroshi's demonstration felt heavier than the pressure of summoning those five circles. Whispers rippled through the group of students. Some were in awe, others in disbelief.
"He created five circles," one student muttered.
"Even the best students only manage four at this stage!" another said.
Hiroshi's heart raced, but he kept his expression calm. He hadn't realized that five magic circles would cause such a reaction. Perhaps the magic he'd learned in his dream with Aiko was more advanced than he'd thought. His mind briefly wandered back to the dream—Aiko's mastery of magic, the hundreds of circles she had summoned with ease. There was so much he still didn't understand about this world's magic.
The instructor stepped forward, his stern gaze assessing Hiroshi. "Impressive. Five circles on your first attempt? You might not fully grasp how rare that is, but I assure you, this is no small feat." He turned to address the class. "Take note of this. It's not just about the number of circles, but the control and precision behind them."
Hiroshi nodded politely, though inwardly, he was still piecing things together.
After the test, Hiroshi took his seat near the back of the classroom, trying to avoid the gazes of curious students. He had already drawn enough attention, and it was clear that not all of it was positive.
The rest of the day was filled with other tests—combat exercises, basic magical theory, and a brief written exam on strategy and tactics. Hiroshi performed well in most of them, his analytical mind giving him an edge. However, the combat test, which required physical strength and endurance, proved more challenging. He managed to hold his ground, but it was clear that physical combat wasn't his strong suit.
By the time the day ended, he was exhausted. As the students were dismissed, Hiroshi gathered his things, looking forward to some rest before tomorrow's lessons.
As he stepped out of the classroom and into the hallway, he spotted a familiar figure waiting for him near the entrance—Aria. She waved cheerfully as she saw him, her usual upbeat energy evident even after a long day.
"Hey, Hiroshi! How was your first day?" she asked, walking over.
"Intense," Hiroshi replied with a small smile. "I didn't expect the tests to be so... varied."
Aria laughed. "Welcome to Crescent Academy. They like to keep us on our toes. How did your magic test go?"
"I managed five circles," Hiroshi said, still unsure whether he should be proud or concerned about it.
Aria's eyes widened in surprise. "Five? That's amazing! Most first years can barely manage three!"
"Really?" Hiroshi scratched the back of his head, feeling a little sheepish now that he understood the significance. "I guess it went better than I thought."
"You're full of surprises," Aria teased, her grin widening. "You're going to make a lot of people take notice with skills like that."
As they walked through the academy courtyard, Aria suddenly paused and turned to Hiroshi, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Hey, since classes are over, why don't we spend some time together? I know a nice spot just outside the academy where we can relax. It's been a while since we've had a proper chat."
Hiroshi blinked in surprise but nodded. "Sure, I could use a break."
With that, they headed out of the academy grounds, leaving behind the day's tension and stepping into the quiet evening air.