Think of this a magical word with swords, dragons magic, ect, and to be accepted by a prestigious academy with the greatest skil–

–Bang bang!

"Tsst-Ah!"

"WHAT THE HELL!"

that is one way to interrupt someone trying to monologue a couple of gun shots.

A male suspicious always looked back a hood over his head, holding a pistol in a resting in a downwards position standing over a pack of wolves corpse. Blood stained his face, acting all nonchalant about it.

and there is me. I'm Chloe Everglass, just your average seventeen year old, a junior in the Unicrest Academy. Just your average academy student doing her best to survive with this hunter is what they call him the same year as me.

"I'm trying to monolog her!"

"Try saying that to the group of dreaded wolves,"

A dreaded look over the girls face.

My face turned pale, looking over at a pack of wolves.

"What? Oh, you gotta be kidding me..."

How could a sweet young girl like me get stuck with such a terrifying and gloomy guy like him?

***

The Sun shined over a small village, the birds singing and the follows blooming a beautiful day out

The girl slept quietly, twisting and turning whimpering tears in her eyes. It was a nightmare from the past.

"–Zzzz, nooo not again..."

Roused up from her slumber, she mumbled to herself.

"Not again... I keep having the same nightmare. "

Today is my first day going to the Unicrest Academy to become a Knight or some other career. I was lucky enough to be accepted by my talent swordsman sparring with some of the local boys. I was the only girl in the village passionate about swordsmanship.

A professor of the Unicrest Academy happened had noticed passing by the village.

The first year is free for the students to get used to the aspects of the academy, but the next four years cost money. Thankfully, if you happen to get good grades and recognition by the Academy, it's possible to get a scholarship and don't have to pay for any of the tuition the next year.

I looked over at the clock hunged up on my wall, half past none

Shit...

Unfortunately, I had woken up late. My darkish lavender hair in a mess undressed only in my undergarments, my pale skin, and blue mint eyes. I yelled downstairs at my mother, who was downstairs, cooking up breakfast

"What the hell, mom, you were supposed to wake me up!" 

"You're seventeen now, sweetie, and you need to learn independent. Now, it should be your job to wake yourself up."

I hated when she was right at the age of sixteen to the age of twenty-five. People in the Unicrest are considered teenagers allowed to get married or drink. Folding a fist in frustrated my mother that she is always right.

My hair is in a mess, and there is no time to brush it.

I quickly got dressed in the academy uniform that the academy provided us with not sure how they know my size, but that is for future me to find out. we were given the standard academy female uniform, a white skirt with a blueish green seafoam outline of the skirt, and a white collared shirt with the same outline of my skirt.

No time for breakfast. I ran past my mother in a flash.

–Swoosh

"Don't forget your katana, honey!"

My mother threw me my katana. I graciously caught it and spun back around and slammed the door shut. It was required to have any kind of weapon to go to the academy. 

–Slam!

I ran as fast as I could look past the horizon of the sparkling lake like twinkling stars overshadowed by the castle-like academy. isolated from the rest of the main land. The academy is on an island. The only way to get to the academy was by going through a bridge. The Academy has many students, at least over a thousand or more. Many shops, training grounds, and other things any student could imagine. It was like its own little city. Guarded by many knights and professors given the nickname Citadel Academy, one of the most protected places in Unicest. 

It's a place where anyone who wants a good life in the empire after the academy.

I wanted a good way to support my mother financially. We were poor being a lowly commoner. My mother had worked hard for me to get me where I am today. If I graduate, I can repay for what she has done for me.

"My only goal is to graduate and get a job!"

I gave my identification card that I was given with the uniforms to the two guards at the gate entrance. In a hurry, I grabbed the card after the guard was done checking it and scurried my way onto academy grounds.

–yoink

There was no time to admire the beauties of the academy many second years and above wandering the area.

I ran like a psychopath pushing and passing by the other upper students. Some gave shivering glares over as I ran up the pathway to the front campus grounds.

Many first years crowded the area, all waiting at the front campus, either playing some game or sitting around waiting for order.

A voice yelled out to me

"Chloe!"

I turned to my left to see... OMG, the best person to ever exist on his planet 'besides me, of course'

Lilia has blue eyes and black hair in the same uniform as me. She is a kind and gentle girl who comes from the same village as me. We were always together at all times. We would get scolded by our parents for going into the forest by ourselves.

She felt very connected to the wild spirits of the forest. Impressive enough, she had even made different lower spirits and a few middle in the village forest.

A talented girl who excels in spirit arts.

Spirits are invisible beings to the naked eyes needed to pour mana in ones eyes to see them. It is hard to contract with spirits for needing to have a large enough mana pool and a similar feeling of mana with the spirit.

Of out the number of people in the Unicrest Academy, only around twenty percent of the students could use spirit arts.

"You were almost late, that's not like you, Chloe, and your hair is in a mess..." 

"Well–"

I awkwardly laughed

"hehehe..."

The two sat on a nearby bench. Lilia gently brushed Chloe's hair, then put it into a ponytail.

"What would I do without you."

"anyways I wonder when they are going to call us for the examination."

"IF ALL STUDENTS COULD REPORT TO THE FRONT OF THE ACADEMY GARDEN FRONT FOR MANA EXAMINATION" 

Right on que.

Mana is the main function of the world. All beings have mana

Depending on the type of one mana, they can use special magical techniques called arts. Elemental arts is the most common and the most basic type of art. All have an affinity for different types of elemental mana. Those who do not have a strong affinity for elemental magic they usually have a specialty for a different kind of magical art

I have an affinity for the elemental arts Pyro and Anemo mana. 

Hundreds of students gathered up at the entrance hall. Ten students were called upon each to get their mana power examined to pass. Each student, depending on the purity and power of ones mana. To pass, a student can not have below the standards they would be allowed to enter.

those who have a specialty for a different kind of art usually take a different test depending on the art

I would be taking the basic elemental mana purity test. I was the most anxious about failing, and everything I had built up for would be in vain, something I could not let happen!

****

I was called up upon next, and nothing could express the amount of stress I am feeling. The professor stood aside and an orb in the middle of the room. All I had to do was place my hand and hope that I would qualify.

not stressful at all, TOTALLY!

I place my hand on the orb. Bright colors loomed in the room, the colors red and light green, and a mix of white glow in between.

I patiently waited for the professors response. The white glow threw me off a bit curiously I never seen a white element before.

The professor looked a bit surprised by the mix of mana.

'A strong purity of Pyro, Anemo, and mantra.'

"Pass, go ahead to the ceremony room, down the hall, and to your left."

'I…I passed!'

I never felt so excited before in my life! My dream is one step complete 

The professor passed and thought about the interesting student.

'A Affinity for wind and fire mana as well as for strong affinity for mantra pretty rare' 

I went through an ominous hall. After a while, a shed of light Lilia stood aside waved her hand, catching my attention 

The loud babbling of the passing students at least a couple hundred past

"Seems you have passed as expected, Lilia,"

"You're giving me too much credit,"

A loud shout echoed in the hall, grabbing the passing students' attention. The room went quiet 

– Riiiiinngg!

A man dressed in a black suit walked up to the stage, slick back hair, and a curly mustache 

"Greeting students and welcome to Unicrest Academy. I am your principal, Iris Zoff. We expect great results, or you will face failure and possible death in the years you will stay."

"Ahem... A few words from the author of the school."

An older gentleman came walking up the stage with a shiny bald head and a long beard. He wore a white mage's robe and glasses and a gleaming smile on his face that shed a bit of warmth to the new students.

All the students felt at ease in his presence.

Even I did. 

The author was known as the strongest sorcerer in the world who had mastered all kinds of magical arts and given the title of The Author and also who is currently the main head of Unicrest Academy. 

There were three previous authors written in the World History book. Lucia Silva, Jacob everharts, and Lork heins. Lucia Silva, the first author, said to be the one who founded alongside a great swordsman whose name was not revealed to the public. There is even a statue of author Lucia out in the middle of the citadel square.

"Hello Students I want to make a couple of notable students of the academy with the highest points; The crown prince Lucas Crest, Saintess Aria Louisbarne, house of the Absolute Noble family Candice Hart, Silena slike, and the most important the Hero Kaioh Ryio."

Other than the authors, there are also other titles such as hero, sage, counsel, and runic. During the golden era, these titles said to be dormant for more than two centuries. No one had earned the titles since. The only way Said to get the titles is to be approved by all the continent authorities. 

besides the title Hero. every two hundred centuries, a hero is born to fight off the demon lord. The Demon Lord said to be the strongest thing in the world against humanity is reborn after the birth of the Hero.

It's not my problem, thankfully. 

"I hope you all will treat these people well." 

Soon after, the Author speech the students scurried back home. Dorms and other information would be given the next day. 

on that day, I lay in bed, dwelled over the excitement of the pros and cons.

A chance of death but a possible good scholarship and money to be able to support my mother.

The next morning was different. I woke up earlier than usual and had time to eat break with my mother and get to the academy. I bumped into Lilia on my way.

"Hi Lilia~"

Lilia is an early bird, so this was no surprise running into her

"Hey Chloe, someone is up and early."

"Heh, I don't want to repeat of last time,"

The day was rather boring. It was really an in and out job: get our dorm room key and spend the rest of the day packing our luggage.0

***

"WHERE THE HELL AM I!?"

The castle was like a maze everywhere I went. Either way led to some random classroom or a dead end. All the rooms are practically looked the same, with no signs or guides.

I even lost Lilia

How do students even navigate around this academy?

–Thud

I slowly turned around fear for my life, please, dont let it be a ghost. 

"EEP!"

A student– male lying on the ground. Shadow black hair that were rare in this country are usually a bad omen around having been born with those features. He was definitely a student from here by his uniform. 

'Will I be cursed?'

But why was he on the ground? Did he just come from the sky? Is this a sign?

His face showed no kind of life, his eyes closed. Is he alive?

"Uhhh, are you alive?"

The student raised a single arm before dropping it. At least he was alive. Might well walk away and act like I never saw this?

–Thud

I quickly stopped… "Errr, maybe it would be a smart thing to ask instead of going blind. Maybe he might know where to go.

"Hey, umm, do you know where the office is?"

"– Ughhhh"

"...and you're completely useless."

『Partial activation: perfect vision』

The girls eyes glowed without her notice

A slight black remnant came from him and an uncomfortable aura emitting from him.

I wiped my eyes and whatever was there was now gone. Was I seeing things?

He looked completely wasted. Did he drink he doesn't look much older than me. I kneeled down and poked at his body a couple of times, no reaction.

So, like the kind girl that I am, I lifted him up from underneath his armpits and dragged him with me. Surprisingly, he was quite light, even if he was a bit bigger than I was.

This academy building is way too big, so they could have added at least a guidance.

How frustrating.

"Now then, where is the office."

The two traveled through out most of the academy, surprisingly they had not run into a professor once.

–Loom

A golden glow coming from a door catching her attention. she could feel the student tense up a bit from his vulnerable state.

Maybe through here? 

"Oh, maybe in here. What do you think alive but probably dead kid?"

'Yeah, I was making fun of him, but he seemed not to care. Heheheheh'

His head dangled like a bobblehead, and his eyes showed no signs of life but was definitely alive...

I opened a door to a huge room, a golden vibrant outlier with many pictures, and looked to be artifacts enclosed behind glass cases. A male in white sitting at a desk made me a bit weary but looked closer.

They looked familiar.

"AHHH, THE AUTHOR"

The author smiled his hands together.

I was in the author's office, not the place I was looking for or wanted to be

"Excuse me, sir, I'll take my leave 'I don't want to die' "

"No- Wait"

" –epp!"

The author lifted his hand, and a key float above his hand

"I think you might be needing this and leave the boy too,"

I nodded. I wanted to leave as soon as possible. I placed the by on one of the couches, and the boy groaned.

"–Ugghh"

some kind of distress? no couldn't be.

I went to the front of the desk of the Author who handed me the dorm key and I quickly scurried on out no way I was spending another second on with the Author the amount of mana emitting from him was something. My eyes hurt just to look at him. 

What pure light, my eyes!

The author's purity disappeared as soon as the girl left in frustration, clearly angry at the male.

"Sit up and stop your acting."

The student who was faking sleeping sat up an emotionless expression in his darkened eyes, resting his arms on the board of the couch

"..."

"You weren't supposed to show yourself yet, and you let a commoner student notice you! I had to give her your dorm key."

The student wasn't listening, focused on something else, thinking that made the author upset. The author stood up and walked to the student, clenching his fist with a furious look and clocking the student in the face. 

– keuk!

He fell to the ground, blood dripped from his mouth to the ground.

–Drip, drip

Still, his eyes kept the same and did not waver, then looked back at the high and mighty author. The author said

"Look how pathetic you look nothing more but a weapon of mine."