The day had finally arrived.
Escanor stood at the edge of the grand Colosseum of the Clover Kingdom, his golden eyes scanning the massive gathering of hopefuls who had come from across the land to take part in the Magic Knights Entrance Exam. The air buzzed with anticipation, filled with the murmurs of excited contestants and the occasional bursts of magical energy as some of the more confident candidates showcased their abilities.
This was his moment. The first true step toward proving that the sun within him still burned bright.
Escanor took a deep breath, gripping his grimoire tightly. Behind him, a familiar gruff voice chuckled.
"Nervous, kid?"
Escanor turned to see Reinhardt, his grizzled mentor, standing with his arms crossed, a knowing smirk on his face. He had accompanied Escanor to the capital, though he had refused to step inside the exam grounds, claiming that "watching brats throw magic around wasn't his idea of fun."
Escanor gave him a small smile. "No. I am prepared."
Reinhardt let out a low chuckle. "Good. Then go out there and show those Magic Knights what real power looks like."
With a final nod, Escanor turned and walked toward the entrance of the Colosseum, ready to carve his path forward.
Inside the Colosseum, Escanor was met with an awe-inspiring sight. Towering stone walls stretched high into the sky, forming an arena large enough to hold thousands. A grand balcony loomed above, where the Captains of the Magic Knight Squads sat in judgment, their piercing gazes scanning the group of examinees below.
Among them, Escanor could spot some of the most powerful mages in the kingdom.
At the center sat Fuegoleon Vermillion, the proud and noble Captain of the Crimson Lion Kings. His presence alone radiated a fiery intensity that even Escanor found familiar.
Beside him, Nozel Silva, the icy and dignified Captain of the Silver Eagles, observed the candidates with an air of superiority.
Further down, Jack the Ripper, the unpredictable and bloodthirsty Captain of the Green Mantis, licked his lips in excitement, clearly eager to see some action.
And then—Yami Sukehiro, the rough and intimidating Captain of the Black Bulls, slouched lazily in his seat, smoking a cigarette. His dark eyes, however, held a sharpness that suggested he was already evaluating the potential recruits.
The announcer—a middle-aged mage with a booming voice—stepped forward.
"Welcome, all candidates, to the Magic Knights Entrance Exam!" he declared, his voice echoing through the Colosseum. "You have gathered here to prove your worth! Today, you will be tested on your magical abilities, your combat skills, and most importantly—your resolve!"
Murmurs spread through the crowd. Some were excited, others nervous.
Escanor simply smiled.
The first phase of the exam was a test of raw magic control.
Candidates were required to perform precision-based magic—manipulating objects, demonstrating elemental finesse, and showcasing their ability to shape their mana with accuracy.
Many of the participants quickly jumped in, eager to display their talents.
A girl with wind magic effortlessly lifted dozens of feathers into the air, arranging them in an intricate pattern.
A boy with water magic shaped his spell into a perfect sphere, keeping it suspended in the air with absolute precision.
Escanor, however, had a different approach.
He stepped forward, opening his grimoire.
"Solar Flare."
A sphere of golden light materialized in his palm, its radiance bathing the area in warmth. Unlike others, however, Escanor did not simply control his magic—he compressed it.
Slowly, the sphere shrank, becoming denser and brighter, until it was no larger than a marble. The sheer concentration of mana within it caused the air around it to shimmer.
The exam proctor, who had been grading the participants, stopped and stared.
Even some of the Captains raised their eyebrows in intrigue.
Then, with a simple flick of his wrist, Escanor released the sphere—and it expanded instantly, dispersing harmless golden embers throughout the field.
Silence followed.
Then—
"Impressive control," Fuegoleon murmured from above, stroking his chin.
Nozel Silva, however, remained indifferent. "Flashy. But let's see how he fares in real combat."
Escanor smirked. He welcomed the challenge.
The next phase of the exam was a dueling test.
Candidates were paired off to face each other in one-on-one matches, where they would have to showcase their ability to fight using their magic.
Escanor watched as several duels took place before his turn. Some were intense, with fire clashing against wind, and water countering earth. Others ended swiftly, with mages overpowering their opponents in a matter of seconds.
Then, finally—
"Escanor versus Raiden Storme!"
Escanor stepped forward. Opposite him stood a tall, dark-haired boy clad in noble garments, his blue eyes gleaming with arrogance.
Raiden smirked. "Hmph. A peasant, huh? Don't take this personally."
Escanor raised an eyebrow. "I will take nothing personally, save for your defeat."
The proctor raised his hand. "Begin!"
WHOOSH!
Raiden struck first, summoning bolts of lightning that crackled through the air, racing toward Escanor with terrifying speed.
Escanor stood still.
Then—just as the lightning reached him—
BOOM!
A golden aura flared to life around him, absorbing the impact. The crowd gasped.
Raiden's smirk faltered. "What?!"
Escanor took a step forward, his golden magic igniting. "I must commend you," he said calmly. "That was a rather bright display."
His grimoire flipped open, and golden light swelled around his body.
"Solar Strike."
He thrust his hand forward—and an explosion of sunfire erupted from his palm, blasting through Raiden's defenses. The noble boy barely had time to react before he was sent flying across the arena, crashing into the ground.
Silence.
Then—
"Winner: Escanor!"
The audience erupted into whispers.
"Who is this guy?!"
"He barely even moved!"
Fuegoleon leaned forward, intrigued. "That was… powerful."
Jack the Ripper grinned. "I like this kid. He's got Grit!"
Yami exhaled smoke. "Heh. Not bad."
Escanor simply dusted off his clothes and walked off the battlefield.
This was only the beginning.
The Final Selection
After all the tests were complete, the candidates were gathered once more.
The Magic Knight Captains took turns selecting recruits, raising their hands to signal their interest in specific participants.
When it was Escanor's turn—
Four Captains raised their hands.
Fuegoleon Vermillion.
Jack the Ripper.
Dorothy Unsworth.
And—Yami Sukehiro.
Escanor's eyes widened slightly. He had expected one or two, but four?
Yami grinned from his seat. "Oi, kid. You got guts. Wanna join the Black Bulls?"
Fuegoleon spoke firmly. "Your power is immense. Join the Crimson Lions, and I shall hone your flames into an unstoppable force."
Jack laughed. "Heh. Or you could come with me and have some real fun!"
Dorothy merely giggled, resting her head on her hands. "You're interesting~."
Escanor smiled.
This was his choice. His future.
And the dawn of his legend.