The Academy of Heart gleamed in the midday sun, a dazzling spectacle of otherworldly beauty. Built entirely from mana crystals, the academy shimmered with hues of blues, purples, and greens, reflecting the sky like a living aurora. Even the roads were paved with mana crystal tiles that pulsed faintly beneath our feet, as if alive.
Floating high above the world on the mythical city of Heart, the academy was a fortress of magic, a sanctuary of learning, and a testament to what was possible when power and ambition came together.
As we walked through the academy gates, I couldn't help but gape. "Is this even real?" I muttered under my breath, my voice barely audible over the hum of magic that seemed to permeate everything around us.
Serra, always sharp, nudged me. "Close your mouth, Venzel. You're embarrassing us."
"Us?" I smirked, trying to shake off my awe. "You mean yourself, right?"
Lena chuckled, a sound like bells. "He has a point, Serra. You're the one with the reputation to uphold."
I ignored their banter as my gaze lingered on the academy's massive spires. They were carved with intricate runes that radiated light, as if the mana crystals themselves were alive, channeling magic into the very air. It was... eerily familiar.
A nagging itch clawed at the back of my mind, a sense of déjà vu that refused to let go. This world, this academy—it felt like something I'd read about in my previous life. The problem was, I'd devoured so many light novels that the plots had blurred together into a chaotic soup of tropes.
"Okay," I muttered to myself, "this could be any number of stories. Floating city? Check. Mana crystal academy? Check. Legendary hero somewhere? Probably. Am I overthinking this?"
"Venzel," Lena snapped, pulling me out of my thoughts. "Stop mumbling like a lunatic."
"Yeah, yeah," I muttered, brushing off her scolding.
Before I could spiral further into my musings, a melodic, commanding voice broke through the chatter of new students.
"Welcome, students, to the Academy of Heart."
All heads turned toward the grand staircase at the center of the courtyard. Standing there, radiant and poised, was Lucia, the academy's headmistress.
A beauty whose age was measured not in years but millennia, she looked no older than twenty-five. Her long red hair shimmered like moonlight, and her emerald eyes sparkled with a sharpness that could cut through steel.
There was even rumours that she's a literal phoenix and that's how she's currently looking young despite her age.
Her voice, calm yet powerful, echoed across the courtyard. "You stand here not as mere students, but as the future of our world. Each of you has been chosen, sponsored, and entrusted with the legacy of magic. Do not squander it."
Ryn, ever impulsive, leaned over to me and whispered, "Think she notices me yet?"
"Yeah," I deadpanned, "she's definitely thinking about you and not the fact that this entire academy runs on enough mana to level a continent."
Before Ryn could retort, Lena shot him a glare. "Go find someone else to bother. Thad, follow him."
Thad, the quietest of our group, nodded solemnly and tailed Ryn as he dashed off to show off his magic.
Left with just Lena and Serra, I sighed and made my way to a nearby bench—crafted, of course, from mana crystals. It was surprisingly comfortable, despite its otherworldly sheen. I leaned back and let my mind wander, piecing together fragments of past memories.
And then it hit me.
In the novel—from one of the hundreds I'd read—there was a character named Venzel. He was a bully, jealous of Serra's prodigious talent, even the fact that he was always compared to her since they were from the same place added salt to his pride..
He constantly tormented her and Lena. The climax of his arc came when he severely injured their brothers, Ryn and Thad, in a fit of rage.
I laughed out loud, startling Serra and Lena.
"What's so funny?" Serra asked, tilting her head.
"Oh, nothing," I said, grinning. "Just remembering how different things could've been."
In that novel, Venzel was an irredeemable villain. But here? I was best friends with my so-called "bully targets." Life really had a sense of humor.
"Well, whatever it is," Lena said, folding her arms, "try not to embarrass us any further."
I smirked. "Wouldn't dream of it."
As I sat there, staring at the shimmering academy around me, one thing was clear:
If this world thought it could fit me into some tired old trope, it had another thing coming. With my friends at my side and Pyro's teachings in my heart, I was going to rewrite every rule.
Starting with explosions. Lots of them.
---
Like any other stories with a similar setting, our year was to begins with an examination—one that pits newcomers against each other to determine who's the strongest. And, like any self-respecting protagonist, I'm tempted to win it all.
Well , I'm technically a villain but hey , no-one can stop someone from dreaming!
Not for the glory, mind you, but for the legendary first prize: an artificial dragon heart. Supposedly, eating it guarantees a grade 4 chance. A shortcut to power, and in a world like this, who wouldn't want that?
"Serra, Lena," I said, addressing the sisters while tapping my pen against the table, "you two should take the Spirit class."
They blinked at me. No questions. No protests. They just... nodded.
I paused, waiting for something. Pushback, suspicion, anything. But they just stood there, looking calm and composed.
"Wait," I muttered, narrowing my eyes. "Why aren't you questioning me for choosing your subject? Do you want me to be the boss of your lives?"
Serra tilted her head. "Why would we? You seem confident."
"I—" I started, but Lena interrupted.
"It's not like we've thought about it much," she said with a shrug. "You've got a knack for overthinking, so we're letting you handle it."
Oh. Right. That... made sense? Kind of? Except for the tiny detail that I have no idea what I'm doing. I'm not even sure if I'm on the same page as the novel anymore, I only remember you were my bully targets!. My brilliant plan? Barely half-formed, hanging by a thread.
"Uh, okay then," I said, pretending to jot something down to avoid looking like an idiot. "Spirit class it is."
Thankfully, in this world, spirits were a thing, so no one found the suggestion strange. But their blind trust in me? Definitely strange.
Before I could dwell on it, Ryn and Thad burst into the room. Well, Thad walked in like a normal person. Ryn stumbled in, his sleeve torn and a bruise forming on his cheek.
"What happened to you?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
Ryn waved me off, looking sheepish. "It's nothing. Just... fell."
Thad smirked, leaning against the doorway. "He was trying to impress a girl."
"Again?" I groaned, pinching the bridge of my nose. "I thought you were supposed to be a gentleman. You know, suave, composed, romantic—not a disaster."
Ryn scratched the back of his head, grinning. "I was composed. Until I tripped over my own feet."
I stared at him, then turned to Lena, whose expression remained stoic. The Lena from the novel had managed to turn this walking catastrophe into a true gentleman.
I glanced back at Ryn, who was now reenacting his fall with dramatic flair for Serra's amusement.
"Damn," I muttered silently under my breath. "Lena, you're powerful. How did she even manage to fix that in the novel?"