"Finally… I never thought that I, Lucas Costa, a young man from the village of Talheim in the Avalencia region, would ever set foot in Zenithia Academy to study," I murmured, gazing at the magnificent grand gate before me.
My steps felt light, as if I were walking on clouds. Before me lay the breathtaking sight of the academy—towering spires with glass reflecting the sunlight, neatly manicured gardens filled with exotic flowers, and students bustling about in elegant black uniforms accented with green, blue, purple, and even red.
"Seeing how magnificent Zenithia Academy is makes me want to cry," I thought, holding back tears of joy. "I am truly grateful to the Aldebaran family for granting me this scholarship. Without them, this dream would have remained just that—a dream."
Since there was still time before the entrance exam announcement for first-year students in the main hall, I decided to take a stroll. Curiosity overpowered my nervousness. My eyes wandered over the diverse students from various backgrounds. Some walked gracefully like nobles, while others seemed engrossed in conversation, carrying thick books.
"Maybe… someone here will become my friend," I whispered with a small smile.
However, that smile suddenly froze when a loud voice called out from behind.
"HEY, YOU! YES, YOU! THE ONE SMILING LIKE A CREEP!"
I stopped in my tracks. Slightly confused, I turned around. Standing there was a student with neatly styled blond hair, surrounded by a group of girls who seemed utterly captivated by him.
"Are you talking to me?" I asked, pointing at myself.
"Who else? There's no one else here who looks as much like a country bumpkin as you, HA?!" he retorted arrogantly.
I frowned. "Hmm… He is handsome, with striking blond hair and blue eyes. But his words… completely contradict his appearance," I thought.
I walked closer, trying to remain calm. "What's your problem with me that you have to shout like a woman?" I asked casually.
His face turned red. "WHAT DID YOU SAY?! Watch your mouth, you country bumpkin! You're standing before Luis Leonhard, the honorable descendant of the Leonhard family, one of the Octagram families!" he declared proudly.
"KYAAH! Young Master Luis is so cool!" one of the girls behind him squealed.
I smirked slightly. "Octagram? Hmm… What does it matter if your family is from the Octagram? Isn't Zenithia Academy a place where all students are treated equally? Only those with unique talents are fully supported by the academy," I replied casually, deliberately provoking him.
I stepped even closer, until we were just a few steps apart. "So, my question is… are you truly talented, or are you just relying on your family name to get in here?" I asked, staring directly at him.
His face turned even redder, like a tomato. "Goodness, he's about to explode," I thought, holding back a laugh.
Suddenly, he burst into loud laughter. "HAHAHA! This is the first time someone has dared to speak to me like this!"
I simply shrugged. "Thank you," I replied casually, though inwardly, I was starting to feel nervous. I could sense the surge of mana around him.
His hand reached out toward me, drawing in the surrounding mana, which swirled and flowed into his palm. As it did, the energy began to convert into heat, creating a faint shimmering wave of air around him. Soon, small sparks of fire appeared, growing larger as the heat intensified.
"Goodness, he's really crazy to use magic on academy grounds," I muttered, preparing to retaliate if necessary.
But before I could do anything, a warm hand touched my shoulder. "Calm down," someone whispered behind me.
I turned and saw a tall, well-built student with dark hair and a hint of anger in his eyes standing beside me. He stepped forward calmly, facing Luis with a composed expression.
In a deep, authoritative voice, he said, "Freeze."
In an instant, Luis's body froze up to his neck. The girls surrounding him screamed in panic, while I could only stare in shock.
"Luis Leonhard… You're too noisy," the student said, his cold gaze fixed on Luis.
Luis struggled to move, but it was futile. "FOERZA ALDEBARAN! WHY ARE YOU INTERFERING?!" he shouted furiously.
I was stunned upon hearing the name. "Foerza Aldebaran? Wait, he's from the Aldebaran family who gave me the scholarship?! Wow… I never thought I'd meet a descendant of such a respected family in person," I thought excitedly.
In a heavy tone, Foerza said, "Luis Leonhard, you shout as if you're a core descendant of the Leonhard family, when in fact, you're just a branch family member."
Luis opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to argue, but before he could utter a word, Foerza released an overwhelming killing intent that seemed to freeze the air itself.
"What else do you want to say, Luis?" Foerza asked coldly, his blood-red eyes glaring sharply.
Luis looked terrified. His legs trembled within the ice, his face pale, and the words he wanted to say evaporated instantly.
Foerza continued in a cold tone, "Since I don't want this to drag on…" He moved his hand, and the ice encasing Luis melted. "Reflect on your actions, and don't let me see even a single strand of your hair again," he threatened, his voice full of pressure.
I could only gape at how intimidating and cool Foerza was. His slow footsteps walking away snapped me out of my daze. I hurriedly followed him.
When I finally stood in front of him, I mustered the courage to extend my hand. "It's truly an honor to meet the heir of the Aldebaran family," I greeted enthusiastically.
However, instead of responding, Foerza simply stared at me with a blank expression. His eyes were cold, as if trying to pierce through my thoughts. I felt nervous but continued, "I want to express my gratitude. The Aldebaran family has given me the opportunity to study at Zenithia Academy."
"So? What does that have to do with me?" he replied coldly. "The one who gave you that opportunity is my family, not me. So, don't bother me."
He walked past me without looking back.
But I didn't give up. Deep down, I believed he wasn't as cold as he seemed. Perhaps he was just building walls to keep others at a distance. After all, I also wanted to be his friend. So, I decided to keep following him to the main hall.
Before we entered the hall, Foerza suddenly stopped. He turned and glared at me sharply. "What exactly are you trying to achieve?" he asked coldly.
Without hesitation, I replied, "Foerza Aldebaran. I'm Lucas Costa. Please, be my friend!" My voice was a bit too loud, causing all the students heading to the hall to turn and stare at us.
I could hear some students whispering mockingly, but what caught my attention was Foerza's expression. For the first time, he seemed slightly flustered by my declaration.
"This is so embarrassing…" he muttered softly, then, without answering, walked away.
Still, I continued to follow him into the center of the hall.
"Hey, can you leave me alone now?" Foerza asked, still in his cold tone.
I stared at him intently. "I'll keep following you until you agree to be my friend."
Foerza let out a soft sigh, clearly annoyed. "Are you sure? Being my friend means your life will become much harder."
With a confident smile, I replied, "I'm a thousand percent sure I want to be your friend."