Days passed, strolling, eating, and sleeping as Ray settled into life in Decoron City. He spent time gathering the essential information he needed and indulged in the pleasures of civilian life, relishing a freedom that training with Zen had rarely allowed.
He often found himself encountering Princess Katherine in seemingly coincidental and amusing moments, such as when they brushed past each other at the market or shared a fleeting glance at the library. These meetings sometimes left Katherine blushing, unsure of how to react to his steady, unreadable gaze.
After days of this, Katherine found herself more intrigued by the enigmatic figure who visited the same restaurant daily and also someone loved by spirits, which was unusual as only elves were attuned and blessed for it.
Hidden beneath her hooded attire, she would watch him curiously from across the room, her emerald eyes subtly glistening under the soft light. Ray, keenly perceptive, had noticed. One afternoon, unable to hold back his curiosity, he strode to her table. This time, Katherine felt her breath catch.
"Surely, he'll pass by again," she thought. But Ray stopped, meeting her eyes directly.
"I've felt your gaze on me each time I eat here," he said gently.
"Have I done something to trouble you? My name is Ray, by the way. Just Ray."
Katherine barely registered his words; her mind caught on his name, which carried a weight she couldn't explain. Realizing she might seem rude, she stumbled through a response.
"No, it's not that… I just…" She bit her tongue, her cheeks turning red.
Ray chuckled lightly, his blue eyes warm and disarming. Before she could gather herself, Katherine spoke again.
"My name is Katherine, and this is my friend Sara. I was just curious about your attire…"
Ray scratched the back of his head, slightly embarrassed.
"Well, my teacher gifted me this, and—"
Before he could finish, a sharp shift in the air signaled the arrival of Morris and Xavier. Sensing their attention, Ray nodded politely and stepped away, leaving Katherine puzzled at his abrupt exit.
----------
The day of the entrance exam arrived, casting a buzz of anticipation across the continents. Ray prepared carefully, taking out the sword Zen had gifted him and securing it to his waist. He pulled on gloves to conceal the intricate sword insignia on his hands and stepped out of the inn, an early start giving him the advantage of a quieter journey to the spatial gate.
The gate shimmered as he activated it, the world around him dissolving into a blur before reassembling into the bustling sight of Bolivia. Before him stood the prestigious Adencia Van Academy, its grand facade bathed in the morning sun. The building rose tall and majestic, flanked by stone-carved dragons coiling up its pillars.
To the right sprawled vast training grounds, outlined by sparring rings and equipment shimmering with enchantments. A walkway paved with marble and lined with verdant hedges led to a statue that dominated the entrance, a hero astride a dragon, sword lifted triumphantly to the sky, an eternal symbol of bravery and triumph.
Ray moved into the grounds, where other applicants had already gathered. Some stood alone, others clustered in tight groups, talking in hushed tones or exchanging wary glances. He noted the presence of the five elves, their aura unmistakable even amidst the crowd. Luna's voice rang softly in his mind.
[How are you feeling? Being among so many… perhaps someone here will pique your interest, Ray?]
Ray's eyes swept over the assembled students. Most were beginners, their mana flaring unevenly, betraying their nervousness. But a few stood out: the elven group with their measured calm, a purple-haired girl gripping her sword with confidence, an orange-haired boy twirling a spear, and a blonde girl with mana brimming just beneath her skin, potent and barely contained. A handful of others cloaked their presence well, but to Ray, they seemed little more than posturing.
He let out a quiet sigh, adjusting the flow of his own mana. Over the weeks, he'd refined a technique he called Mana Concealment, allowing him to blend seamlessly into the background, appearing as nothing more than a commoner with negligible power.
Ray asked Luna for, "status"
[Origin System]
Name : Ray ??? ?????????|
Age : 12
----------------------------------
Mana Core : Mage King
Attributes : S???, Time, Life, Darkness, Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, Ice, Lightning, Magma,...
----------------------------------
Dragon Core: Sword King
Aura : Silver Aura [Time], [???]
----------------------------------
Traits : World of Mana, Dracos, Chronos, Healthy Body, Creation, [Locked], [Locked]...
Blessings : Goddess of Life, Dragon God, Goddess of Alusean, [Locked], [Locked]
Skills : Eye of Limbo, Temporal Cognition, Meditation, Time-Splitting Sword, Mana Concealment, [Locked]
-----------------------------------
Techniques : Eldric's Sword, Silver Sword, Destructive sword, Moon sword, Elemental Sword
Spells : Dark - tier 4, Basic and Deviant elements - tier 6
----------------------------------
While Ray was seeing his growth,
Suddenly, an electric tension swept over the grounds. Heads turned upward as an imposing figure appeared at the top of the academy's entrance staircase. The air crackled as the elder's powerful presence resonated with the surrounding mana.
"Welcome to Adencia Van Academy, dear children," the voice called, deep and commanding, reverberating through the crowd like a storm.
Ray's eyes narrowed slightly, his anticipation swelling. The trials were about to begin.