Rai kneeled in front of the small wooden table, his hands pressed together in prayer. The soft glow of the morning sun filtered through the window, casting a warm light over the room. In front of him, a picture of his parents rested in a simple frame. Their smiles were captured in that moment, full of warmth and pride.
With a hopeful tone, Rai whispered, "I'm off to conquer the world, Mom and Dad, like you always told me I will." His voice was steady, but there was an undercurrent of excitement and determination.
As he spoke, the memory of his parents' words echoed in his mind. They had always believed in him, always told him that no matter the obstacles, no matter the odds, he was destined for greatness. "Magic or not," they would say with unwavering certainty, "you will rule this world one day."
A small flashback danced across his mind—a memory of his parents standing side by side, their gazes filled with pride as they looked at him. It was a time before doubts could ever creep into his heart, before he even knew what it meant to be different.
Now, standing at the threshold of his destiny, Rai stood tall. It was time to begin his journey.
The gates of Magia Elemental Academy, the greatest magic school in all the lands, rose before him. Towering and majestic, they loomed like a monumental testament to the world of magic that awaited beyond. Every student who had been accepted into these hallowed halls was a prodigy of their respective elements—fire, water, earth, wind. Yet Rai, a boy with no magic to speak of, had been allowed entry.
How had this happened? No one knew. One day, his parents had simply appeared at the gates with a letter, and just like that, Rai was welcomed. There had been no explanations, no discussions. Just the simple acknowledgment that, somehow, Rai belonged here.
As he stepped forward, he could feel the eyes of the other students on him. They were not subtle. They watched him with curiosity, judgment, and some measure of pity. His eyes were ordinary—no glow, no spark of magic to signify any power. How could someone like him hope to belong in a place like this?
But Rai was undeterred. He held his head high, his eyes steady as he made his way through the gate. "They'll see," he muttered to himself, "they'll see what I can do."
As he entered the academy grounds, a commotion stirred ahead. Rai's eyes flickered toward the crowd gathered near the academy entrance. A figure emerged from the sea of students—a girl, her every step carrying an air of grace and confidence.
It was Rose Scarlett, the daughter of the current Elmag (Elemental Magistrate), the ruler of the four great clans. With eyes burning like fire itself and hair cascading in waves of crimson, she was as mesmerizing as she was untouchable. The students parted as she walked past, her beauty and power demanding respect.
Rai, caught off guard by her presence, felt his heart skip a beat. Without thinking, he blurted out, "You'll be my wife when I become the next Elmag!"
The world seemed to pause.
The laughter of the other students echoed in his ears, but Rose stood still, her eyes narrowing as she fixed her gaze on him. The boldness of his declaration—his audacity—seemed to have left her momentarily speechless.
"I… I'm sorry, what?" Rose's voice was a mixture of disbelief and intrigue.
Rai, with confidence in his voice pushed forward. "I'll be the Elmag one day, and it's only fitting that someone with unparalleled beauty like yours should be my wife. What's your name?"
The crowd erupted in laughter, but Rose's expression shifted. She was taken aback, unsure how to respond to such a direct and unexpected proposal. No one had ever dared speak to her this way—let alone make such a claim.
"I am Rose," she said, her voice cold as her eyes flashed with disdain. "The daughter of the current Elmag. How dare you call me your wife, with those… ordinary eyes?"
Rai's grin never faltered. "Eyes have nothing to do with becoming the Elmag—or you becoming my wife," he said with a wink.
A stunned silence followed. Rose stood frozen, her face turning red as she took in his words. They seemed to resonate with something buried deep within her—a memory, a feeling long forgotten. For a moment, she felt as though she were facing someone who saw her as more than just a daughter of power, more than just a symbol of the Elmag.
She was still processing when Rai turned and walked away, leaving her standing there, both furious and intrigued.
As Rai entered the grand doors of the academy, he felt the weight of the place settle on him. The halls stretched far above, filled with magic and history. It was a stunning sight—one of the most magnificent pieces of architecture Rai had ever seen. The walls shimmered with magical inscriptions, and the air buzzed with the presence of power.
Rai felt small in its shadow, but a fire burned inside him. He wasn't here to be just another student. He was here to take his place as the greatest of them all.
With steady steps, he made his way to the orientation hall. It was time to begin.
Rai stepped into the orientation hall and found an empty seat near the middle row. As soon as he sat down, the atmosphere shifted. Conversations quieted, and heads turned, one by one, until nearly every pair of eyes in the room was on him.
The weight of their stares pressed against him like an invisible force. Some of the gazes were curious, even welcoming. A few students seemed intrigued, their expressions hinting at a desire to approach him, to know who he was and what his story might be. But those were in the minority.
Most of the hall was filled with looks of disdain. Disgust twisted their features as they whispered to one another, their murmurs like a rising tide. "Who is he?" "What is someone like that doing here?" The words weren't loud enough for Rai to catch, but their expressions spoke volumes.
The thought that echoed through the minds of many was unkind and unforgiving: "How a nobody with just ordinary eyes could be allowed to set foot in any magical academy, let alone the greatest one? This place connects the four lands ruled by the great clans. He doesn't belong here."
Rai, however, remained unfazed. He straightened his posture and met their judgmental gazes head-on, a small, defiant smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Let them stare," he thought to himself. "Soon, they'll know exactly why I'm here."
The murmurs and whispers swirling through the hall like restless winds came to an abrupt halt. The doors at the front of the room opened with a commanding creak, and a figure stepped onto the stage. The man exuded authority with every measured step, his presence alone silencing the chatter before he even spoke a word.
He was tall, his silver hair tied back neatly, and his piercing, frost-like eyes glimmered with an intensity that demanded respect. Dressed in a crisp, tailored robe embroidered with the sigils of all four great clans, he carried himself with a dignity that seemed carved from stone.
Clearing his throat, he surveyed the room with a sharp, assessing gaze. Then, in a tone as cold and firm as winter's bite, he said, "Silence."
The single word was spoken with such authority that the entire hall obeyed instantly. Conversations died mid-sentence, laughter froze in the air, and even the fidgetiest of students straightened in their seats. All eyes were locked on him, a man whose presence alone seemed to embody the academy's prestigious reputation.
"I am Frost Kromus," he began, his voice steady and crisp, "the vice headmaster of this fine institution." His words carried a deliberate weight, each one laced with the kind of command that brooked no argument. He spoke with elegance and clarity, holding the attention of the room in an iron grip.
Everyone, that is, except one.
Rai, seated among the rows of students, seemed entirely unfazed. While the others sat rigidly upright, their gazes fixed on the vice headmaster as though under a spell, Rai leaned back casually in his chair, hands tied behind his head as if contemplating the man's introduction like a critic at a play. A faint smirk played on his lips, his body language exuding an air of indifference that set him apart from the crowd.
Kromus's frost-like composure cracked, if only slightly, as his piercing gaze landed on Rai. The boy's lack of attention—the casual, almost mocking indifference—was like a thorn in his carefully cultivated authority. His jaw tightened imperceptibly, and his icy eyes narrowed, but he quickly regained control. He couldn't allow his reputation to be marred by singling out a student, no matter how insufferable.
Clenching his hands behind his back, he resumed his speech, his tone sharper than before. "You are all here because you are the best of the best, the most promising twelve-year-olds across all four continents." He paused, letting the words sink in. Then, with an edge to his voice, he added, "Well... at least most of you."
The hall tensed, students glancing around to see who the barb might have been aimed at. But for those paying attention, it was clear—Kromus's frosty gaze flicked briefly toward Rai.
Rai, as ever, was unfazed. He leaned back in his chair, his eyes half-lidded with boredom. His attention wandered, caught up in a daydream far more interesting than the speech being delivered. If he noticed the jab directed at him—or cared—he gave no indication.
Kromus's frustration was palpable, but he continued, his voice gaining a colder edge. "You will spend the next ten years of your lives at this academy—assuming you have what it takes to endure the trials and avoid being expelled. Many of you will fail. Some of you will quit. But for those who persevere, the rewards are beyond measure."
His voice rose slightly, filling the vast hall with authority. "There are countless Elemental academies in this world. But what sets this one apart is its legacy. For over eight hundred years, the title of Elmag—the Elemental Magistrate, the supreme ruler of the four lands—has been claimed by the graduate who emerged with the highest honors from this institution."
The murmurs that followed were hushed, reverent. The sheer weight of the academy's legacy hung over the students like a storm cloud, heavy with promise and threat.
And then, something shifted.
Among the sea of faces, one set of eyes sharpened, locking onto the vice headmaster with newfound focus. Rai, who had been lost in his own world just moments ago, sat up straighter. For the first time since the orientation began, he was paying attention.
Kromus's words struck a chord deep within him. The Elmag. The ultimate goal. The pinnacle of power, authority, and freedom. The one whose mere thoughts could shape the world itself.
Rai's lips curled into a small, determined smile. He rested his hands on his knees, his fingers clenching with quiet resolve. His ordinary, magicless eyes burned with an intensity that rivaled the most brilliant of the magical gazes around him.
This wasn't just a speech anymore. It was a promise. A declaration of war. And Rai silently vowed to himself: That title will be mine.
Kromus, taken aback by the sudden shift in Rai's demeanor, couldn't help but notice the flicker of determination in the boy's eyes. It was subtle, but unmistakable. For a brief moment, he wondered if there was more to this seemingly ordinary child than he had initially thought. Maybe this is no ordinary boy after all... he mused, but quickly dismissed the thought. For now, the boy was nothing more than a curiosity—an anomaly in a sea of prodigies.
With a final glance at the gathered students, Kromus cleared his throat and spoke once more, his voice cold but resolute. "From now on, you are all Magias of this prestigious academy. You will carry the honor of this institution with you at all times, so behave as such. Do not bring shame onto this academy." His words echoed in the hall, each syllable heavy with the weight of authority.
"The headmaster is unable to attend today," he continued, "so I shall conclude this orientation speech. The second-year students will now guide you to your respective dormitories. Go and settle in. Your journey here is only just beginning."
With that, Kromus turned and began to stride toward the exit, his footsteps filled with an air of unshakable pride and strength. The students, still in awe of his commanding presence, watched in silence as he disappeared from the hall, leaving an air of both respect and intimidation in his wake.
And then, as if on cue, the tension in the room seemed to dissipate. The students, who had been sitting rigidly, finally let out a collective breath of relief. Nervous laughter and whispers filled the space, and the once-tense atmosphere softened. The heavy weight of Kromus's words lingered, but for now, the students were free to move, free to finally settle into their new lives at the academy.
Rai, however, remained unmoved by the exodus of students around him. His focus had never shifted, his mind already set on the next step of his journey.