Serian packed his belongings with efficiency. A few sets of clothes, a notebook, a pen, and the required documents—nothing excessive. He had never truly needed belongings before, but now that he was human, it was apparently necessary. As he secured his bag, he glanced at Adrian, who stood by the car with his arms crossed, watching him.
"Don't make a fool of yourself," Adrian said. His voice was firm, but there was something else beneath it. Concern, perhaps?
Serian tilted his head slightly. "Would I?"
Adrian sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I don't know what goes on in that head of yours." He paused, then added, "Just don't draw too much attention."
Serian nodded, though he didn't entirely understand the request. Attention is subjective. If people stared at him, that wasn't his fault. He wasn't trying to stand out; he was merely existing.
The car ride to the Hero Academy Examination Grounds was uneventful. Serian watched the buildings pass by, each district blending into the next. This world, with its structured cities, flashing lights, and towering walls, felt so contained. Unlike the boundless knowledge of Ygdrassil, this place had limits. Rules. Expectations.
When they arrived, Adrian leaned against the car, studying him for a moment longer before speaking again.
"If you fail, don't come crying to me."
Serian blinked at him. "What does failing mean?"
Adrian stared at him for a long second before shaking his head and getting back into the car. "I don't know why I bother." With that, he drove away.
Serian watched the car disappear before turning toward the academy entrance.
The academy itself loomed ahead, its grand design meant to inspire—or intimidate. Tall gates, rigid walls, and security personnel lined the perimeter. The entire structure was designed to keep people in and others out. This feels like a prison.
Inside, students gathered in groups, some standing with their families, while others stood alone. Conversations filled the air, nervous whispers, excited chatter. Some tried to mask their anxiety, while others observed their surroundings with the sharp eyes of hunters.
Serian simply walked through the crowd, uninterested in the politics of human interaction. He noticed how some students glanced at him, but he didn't react.
It wasn't long before everyone was ushered into a large auditorium, where rows of seats faced a high stage. The air buzzed with anticipation.
Then, a boy and girl confidently walked onto the stage, their presence demanding attention.
"Welcome, everyone!" the boy announced, his voice loud and practiced. "I am Reynard Faldren, heir to the Faldren Family! The strongest family in the third district!"
Beside him, the girl smirked. "And I am Celeste Vandross! Daughter of the Vandross Merchant Guild! We own half the businesses in this city, and soon, I will be the top student in this academy!"
Serian blinked.
Why are they saying their names like it matters?
Reynard continued, puffing out his chest. "I know many of you are nervous, but don't worry. For those of you with true talent, this exam will be nothing!"
Celeste tossed her hair back. "And for those of you without talent—well, it's better if you just go home now."
A moment of silence followed. Then, from the back, someone called out, "No one asked!"
Laughter rippled through the crowd. Reynard's face turned red, and Celeste's confident smile twitched.
Serian watched the exchange with mild curiosity. So humans mock each other too. He considered standing up and introducing himself—"I am Serian. I like books."—but decided against it.
His thoughts were interrupted when, without warning, the doors slammed shut behind them. A loud BANG echoed through the auditorium.
The murmurs died instantly.
Beyond the thick, glass-covered observation area, the examiners had taken their seats. A voice crackled through the speakers, calm and authoritative.
"Welcome to the entrance exam. Your first trial begins now."
The ground beneath them shifted. Metal panels slid open, revealing dark pits beneath the floor. From those depths, monsters emerged.
A vine-covered beast slithered forward, its tendrils curling like searching hands. On the opposite side, shadowy wolves prowled, their glowing eyes locked onto the students.
Screams rang out as some students stumbled back. Others immediately sprang into action, drawing weapons, preparing spells.
Serian… just watched.
The monsters were unremarkable. Compared to the things he had seen across countless worlds, these were nothing more than minor threats. There was no overwhelming aura, no sense of dread—just creatures following their nature.
Reynard smirked, stepping forward confidently. "Ha! This is perfect! A chance to show my strength!"
Celeste smirked. "Try not to embarrass yourself, Reynard."
With that, the two charged forward, unleashing their abilities in a dramatic display.
Serian remained still, arms crossed, his gaze calm. Interesting.
Beside him, a boy noticed his lack of reaction. "Hey, aren't you gonna fight?"
Serian blinked at him. "Why?"
The boy gawked. "Uh, because that's the test?"
Serian nodded slowly. "I see."
And then… he continued watching.
The boy opened his mouth as if to say something else, but then a wolf lunged at him, and he shrieked, scrambling away.
Serian sighed. Humans are strange.
Serian watched as the vine-covered beast lashed out toward him, its tendrils writhing through the air. The attack was sluggish, predictable. He simply stepped aside, watching the plant-like creature continue its assault—until, abruptly, it stopped.
The tendrils trembled.
Then, as if repelled by an unseen force, they twisted away from him. The creature hesitated, its movements suddenly erratic. It turned its attention elsewhere, its vines recoiling as though afraid to touch him.
Serian tilted his head, watching. Strange.
Around him, the other monsters continued their attacks on the students, yet none came near him. Even the shadowy wolves prowled past him, their glowing eyes flickering with something like hesitation before moving on to chase other targets.
He sighed.
Humans, why are they running?
Screams filled the air as students dodged and counterattacked, some barely managing to hold their ground while others displayed impressive skill. Spells crackled, blades flashed, and bursts of energy filled the auditorium.
But Serian?
Serian stood untouched.
Unknown to him, the world itself recognized his existence.
To nature—to the creatures born of this land—he was untouchable. The cherished one of Ygdrassil.
Plants, animals, and the very essence of the world itself could not harm him. Would not harm him.
But humans?
Humans did not belong to the world in the same way.
They did not listen to its whispers.
They did not understand its will.
Which meant they could touch him.
Serian simply remained where he was, watching the chaos unfold, unaffected and unbothered.
Serian stepped away from the battlefield, his silver hair swaying as he made his way toward a nearby chair. The examiners had left a few around the edges of the massive auditorium, likely for observation purposes. No one else dared to sit down, too preoccupied with survival.
He, however, simply lowered himself onto the seat, resting his chin on his hand, his violet eyes calmly watching the scene unfold before him.
The other students were struggling.
The air was thick with the scent of sweat, fear, and desperation. Screams and the crackling sound of spells echoed through the hall as monsters lunged at the students, who fought back with everything they had.
A boy in the front swung his sword wildly at a vine-covered beast, his strikes clumsy and unfocused. The blade barely cut through the thick, writhing mass, and when he overextended his swing, the monster retaliated, sending him crashing to the floor.
He barely rolled out of the way in time as the vines came slamming down, cracking the tiles where he had been just a second ago.
Serian observed, his expression unreadable.
Is this human weakness?
The monsters were not particularly strong. Their movements were predictable, their patterns repetitive. And yet, the students were panting, trembling, and—most notably—screaming.
He tilted his head slightly.
Human bodies were strange. Fragile. Inefficient.
And yet, they fought.
Even when they were afraid, even when their bodies were weaker than their enemies, they still fought. Why?
"Take this—!" A loud voice rang out.
A girl with fiery red hair lunged forward, her fists igniting with blazing flames. She struck a wolf-like creature, the explosion of heat searing its fur. It let out a sharp cry before collapsing, dead.
Serian's gaze lingered on her for a moment.
She was stronger than the others.
The way she moved was different—precise. Each strike landed with intention. Efficient.
But even she was limited.
After only three more attacks, she staggered back, her breathing ragged, a thin sheen of sweat glistening on her forehead. Her flames flickered, weakening.
"Damn it," she muttered, shaking her hands as if trying to summon more power.
Serian leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly against the armrest.
They burn bright but fade quickly.
Like sparks in the wind.
"Hey! Look at that guy!" A voice suddenly called out.
Serian blinked, glancing in the direction of the voice.
A group of students had taken cover behind a pile of debris, their weapons raised defensively as they stared at him.
"Why isn't he fighting?" A boy with short black hair frowned, pointing at Serian. "Is he seriously just sitting there?"
"Maybe he's too scared to move?" Another girl guessed, biting her lip.
"No, he doesn't look scared," a third student murmured, eyes narrowing.
Serian met their gazes, his expression unreadable.
Their words were irrelevant to him.
Whether they were confused, angry, or mocking him—it didn't matter.
The battle raged on.
More monsters appeared, pouring in through the gates, and yet not a single one approached Serian.
He remained untouched.
Untouched, and observing.
Then—
A heavy thud echoed through the hall as a massive wolf-like creature landed in front of Serian.
Its black fur bristled, fangs bared, eyes gleaming with predatory hunger.
The students screamed.
"That's an Alpha!" someone shouted in horror.
The wolf let out a deep, guttural snarl.
Its body tensed.
Then—
It turned around and walked away.
Silence fell.
The students froze, their eyes wide, their breath caught in their throats.
Serian watched, expression unchanged.
The wolf had looked at him.
And then it had left.
As if it had seen something beyond comprehension.
Something it did not dare to touch.
"…What the hell?" the red-haired girl from before whispered, her fists still glowing faintly.
The students exchanged uneasy glances.
Serian remained seated, unmoved by the scene before him.
How peculiar.
His fingers lightly tapped against his knee.
Humans fought desperately to survive, but they never questioned why their enemies fought in the first place.
Were they driven by hunger? By instinct? By something more?
Serian wondered.
He watched the students continue their battle, injuries piling up, exhaustion creeping into their limbs. And yet, even when they were pushed to their limits, they did not stop.
Even when faced with pain, fear, and death—
They kept fighting.
Why?