A year and some days passed... I went through all the seasons. It's now summer—August 12, 1458.
All I did was train, often to the point where I couldn't feel my body anymore. Celvar had said it would take three months to get me to a good level, but I managed it in only two. He taught me the secret martial art—an unnamed art. We had different types of training, but most of it was in nearby forests and on mountains. We traveled a lot around Bosoru, though we didn't go far.
On a hot day, I went to the kitchen for water. I filled a glass, disappointed to find no ice cubes, and then walked to the living room. Celvar was reading, completely unbothered by the heat.
"Hello, Celvar."
"Hello, Von. I'm glad you're here—I need to tell you something important. We need to stop training. You've finished all 10 phases, so that's enough. I have to travel to another country, but in the meantime, I've enrolled you at Bosoru's most famous adventurer school, Veldic Academy. Your first day is tomorrow."
"What? Tomorrow? Isn't that a little soon? Am I even ready, Celvar?"
"Don't worry, Von. I've trained you more than enough for adventurer school. Just relax and remember to behave as I taught you. Be respectful and kind; that's most important."
"Yes, Master."
One minute ago, I was worried. But after what he said, I felt calm. There was no need to worry; I'd built my body and mind over the past months. I wanted to ask where Celvar was traveling to, but if he didn't tell me, I wouldn't press.
"Also, Von, there may be people who want to show off. Just ignore them. Only fight if you absolutely have to."
"Understood, Master."
I went to bed early, but I couldn't sleep. I was too excited and nervous. Since spending time with Celvar, I felt like my emotions were coming back. I started feeling happiness again and enjoying life. After just three hours of sleep, I was up at 7 a.m. I showered and looked in the mirror; my body was different, more muscular. My confidence had grown. But I knew this world wasn't just about muscles. There was also magic—something I needed to learn.
Celvar had tried teaching me magic, but all I could do was blood magic. He'd said blood magic was one of the most powerful kinds, but so far, all I could manage was creating a single blood drop. Very useless... Anyway, I hoped they'd teach more about magic at adventurer school.
After showering, I put on the clothes I bought recently. Celvar had taken me shopping a few times. He's kind and treats me like his own son. I packed my backpack with only the essentials, knowing the school had a student residence where I'd have my own room.
I went to Celvar's room and found a note on the table:
---
Hello, Von. You might be up early. I had to leave early too, so I couldn't say goodbye. Visit me after two years, and if you fail at school and don't get your license, I'll make you do 10,000 pushups... And one more thing—don't use your blood magic. Don't tell anyone about it, either.
Your wonderful Master
---
After reading the note, I left the house, closing the door behind me. I wouldn't see this place again for two years.
On my way to the school, my stomach churned with nerves. I don't think I'd ever been to a school before.
"H-hi, do you know where Veldic Academy is?" I asked a food vendor.
"Yes, kid, just go..."
"Alright, thanks for your help."
"No problem."
It took me about 40 minutes to walk there. Bosoru is a huge city. I'd lived here for a year, but I hadn't gone far from home before.
So, this is it—my new school.
The academy was unexpectedly large, with tall walls surrounding it. As I entered the gate, a woman asked for my name.
"I'm Von."
"Von? Wait a minute..." She looked through some papers. "Von Vendar?"
Huh? Did Celvar put his last name as mine?
"Y-yes, that's me, Von Vendar."
"Alright, place your finger on the fingerprint scanner... Y-yes. You're good to go."
She handed me a school ID card with the name "Von Vendar" on it. It sounded strange, but it didn't matter.
As I entered, I looked around in awe. There were so many buildings—cafes, a clothing shop, multiple training fields. Everything a student could need. But oddly, I didn't see any other students.
Suddenly, a tall Black guy sprinted past me, holding a baseball bat. "Hey... you!" he called.
"Me?"
"Yes, what are you doing? Run! The opening ceremony's about to start." He grabbed my arm, pulling me along with him.
We entered a sports hall packed with students, all of whom turned to look at us. A man on the stage with a microphone said, "What do we have here? Two late students, huh? Sit down quickly and listen."
I took a seat in the last row, and the guy who had helped me sat next to me.
"Hola. That was close. I'm Ryu, by the way. And you?"
"I'm Von. Thanks for your help, Ryu."
"No problem. I'm just glad we weren't that late. Looks like they just started—" Before he finished, the man on stage spoke again.
"Hello, everyone. As I was saying, I am Esrida Vendar, the school principal."
Vendar? Could he be related to Celvar? I wondered.
After the principal's speech, we were called by name. My name was announced, and I checked my ID: Class A3.
Our class lined up and walked to our classroom. It was a standard classroom, though each student had a weapon—axes, swords, or, like Ryu, a baseball bat. I felt out of place without one.
"Alright, everyone, sit down," said our classroom teacher, a man who looked to be in his twenties.
I took a seat in the last row by the window.
"Hello, everyone. I'm Derosa Lendor, and I'll be your teacher for the next two years. I hope each of you passes the exams, though not everyone usually does. Every year, less than half the class makes it, so do your best."
"The first three lessons will test your strength, magic, and academic knowledge. We'll start with strength."
He pointed to me. "You, in the back. You'll be starting the strength lesson along with the one holding the baseball bat."
"Yes, Teacher," Ryu replied loudly.
I nodded.
We went to a training field enclosed with metal walls and a roof. I wondered if he'd chosen me and Ryu because we were late. I'd be annoyed too if new students showed up late on the first day.
"Von and Ryu, step inside the circle and face each other." The teacher was holding a paper and taking notes.
There was a white circle painted on the ground, and Ryu and I took our places inside it.
"I'll count down from three. When I say 'one,' start the fight. The first to knock their opponent down or push them outside the circle wins. This is graded, so don't hold back."
As he counted down, the other students watched, likely wondering which of us would win. I'd just met Ryu, and he seemed nice. I didn't want to hurt him, but I had no choice.
"One... start!" the teacher said.
Immediately, Ryu threw a fast punch at my face. He was quicker than I'd expected, and I wasn't paying attention.