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Caelum stood in the small, dimly lit room of his modest orphanage, the ancient walls worn with age, a stark contrast to the excitement brewing in his chest. It had been a week since he arrived in this world—since his soul had been thrust into the body of a nameless extra in a novel he had once read. Despite the passage of time, Caelum still struggled to come to terms with his new reality. He had read about the academy, but standing before the entrance now, it felt surreal.
The academy was a place that spanned the entire continent, a symbol of unity and strength. It was a prestigious institution where students from all races—dragons, elves, fairies, dwarfs, and titans—came together to hone their powers, to better themselves, and to serve the greater good of the world. In a land filled with magic, elemental forces, and bloodlines, the academy was the melting pot where the brightest minds and the strongest warriors trained.
Caelum's thoughts were interrupted as the heavy wooden door to his room creaked open. The headmaster of the orphanage, an elderly woman with a long gray braid and piercing blue eyes, stepped inside with a warm but solemn smile.
"I trust you've received your invitation?" she asked, her voice soft but firm.
Caelum glanced up at her, his silver eyes shimmering with an odd, unreadable light. He nodded in response, though inwardly, he couldn't quite shake the feeling that something was wrong. He had learned the details of the academy's entrance exam earlier that morning, and the more he thought about it, the more questions surfaced.
"Yes, I've received it," he said quietly, pushing the envelope aside.
The headmaster studied him for a moment, her expression unreadable. "It's an extraordinary opportunity. The academy will test your potential, your strength, and your ability to survive. It's not for the faint of heart, Caelum. You must be prepared."
Caelum's hand instinctively brushed over the envelope, his fingers tracing the unfamiliar seal. It felt like the weight of his future rested within it, yet he was certain of one thing: he would not be intimidated. Though the academy's entrance exam was known to be brutal, he knew he possessed abilities that went far beyond what others might expect from someone like him.
The headmaster continued, "The entrance exam will take place tomorrow. You'll be fighting against others from all walks of life, representing different races and backgrounds. It's a battle royale-style test—only the strongest will advance."
Caelum's brow furrowed as she spoke. He had read about the academy's entrance exam in the novel, but hearing it described so plainly made his pulse quicken. The idea of a battle royale among so many different races intrigued him, though he knew the implications were far more dangerous than they appeared on the surface.
"There's more, isn't there?" Caelum asked, his voice low but insistent.
The headmaster's gaze softened as she leaned against the doorframe, crossing her arms over her chest. "Indeed. There's a tension in the air that you might feel. The demons, Caelum, they are not part of the academy."
Caelum's eyes narrowed slightly at the mention of the demons. He had read about them in the novel, of course, but hearing about them in this context was different. The demons were a race of fearsome warriors and dark magic users, known for their hostility toward all other races. Their absence from the academy wasn't merely a quirk of the school's structure—it was a reflection of a long-standing war between the demons and the other races. It was a war that had left deep scars on the world, one that still simmered beneath the surface, even as the academy's students learned to coexist.
"The demons have always been a threat," the headmaster continued, her voice heavy with history. "While the other races work together, they refuse to acknowledge the academy's role in fostering peace. They see it as a betrayal of their ways, their traditions. As a result, they have cut themselves off from us. Their warriors remain isolated, their powers untapped by the lessons of unity and discipline the academy offers."
Caelum nodded, absorbing her words. He had learned much about the tension between the races during his brief time in this world, but the demons' refusal to join the academy struck him as more than just stubbornness. It was a statement of war, a defiance that rippled through the world like a storm cloud, ever present but never fully realized.
"But it's not just their absence that will affect the exam," the headmaster added, her eyes locking onto his. "You've likely heard of the bloodlines that run through the academy. The unique abilities that each race carries within them. You, Caelum… we do not know what bloodline you possess. But it is clear that you have power within you. Something… beyond the ordinary."
Her words sent a strange thrill through Caelum. The idea of a bloodline—a unique power tied to his heritage—was not new to him. In the novel, the protagonist had wielded an extraordinary bloodline that shaped his destiny. Caelum knew that his own bloodline was similarly potent, but what it was, he couldn't yet say. There was a deep, latent power inside him, something he could sense with every fiber of his being, but it was still cloaked in mystery.
"I can feel it," Caelum muttered, almost to himself. "The power inside me, it's unlike anything I've felt before."
The headmaster gave him a knowing look. "Whatever it is, you must harness it if you hope to succeed. The entrance exam is just the beginning. The real test begins when you enter the academy and face the challenges that lie ahead."
She turned to leave but paused at the door. "One more thing, Caelum. The races are not the only challenge you'll face. There are those who will try to sabotage you, to bring you down. Do not trust everyone you meet. The road to power is fraught with danger."
With that, the door closed behind her, leaving Caelum alone with his thoughts.
The tension in the air seemed to grow heavier after her departure. The thought of the demons not participating in the academy lingered in his mind. They were powerful, ancient beings, and though they were enemies of the other races, their absence left a gaping hole in the academy's structure. How would their absence affect the dynamics of the entrance exam? What role would they play in the larger war that was brewing just beneath the surface of this world?
Caelum sat back down on the small cot in the corner of his room, closing his eyes to quiet the swirling thoughts. He could still feel the energy inside him, the pulsing power that surged through his veins. Whatever this bloodline was, it was unlike anything the other students would possess. He had read about the academy's entrance exam, about the fierce battles, but he knew deep down that the challenges awaiting him would be nothing compared to what he was capable of.
Tomorrow, the battle royale would begin. Caelum's future would be decided, but he wasn't concerned. He had already decided one thing: he would not lose.
He was destined for something greater, something far beyond the confines of the academy. The real test was only just beginning, and Caelum was ready.