A thousand years ago, two powerful races—the dragons and humanity—were locked in a fierce conflict.
The exact cause remains unknown, but rumors suggest that the death of the Supreme Ruler of the Dragon Race sparked the war.
It was said that the ruler's death was at the hands of one of humanity's most powerful mages in history—Morgan Greyrat.
Of course, these were only rumors, unconfirmed but widely believed. Over time, they became a tradition, passed down through generations.
…
"Is there anyone here who wants to ask a question?"
At the front of the room, a middle-aged female teacher turned to the students in the auditorium and asked in a calm tone.
No one responded. The students sat in silence, showing no intention of raising their hands.
Some pretended to read books, while others appeared focused on writing—even though they were just sketching stick men.
Seeing that no one was asking questions, the teacher narrowed her eyes and adjusted her glasses.
"Since no one wants to ask, I'll ask," she said coldly, pointing to a chubby student in the corner. "You. Answer my question: how many mage levels are recognized by the Holy See? Name them."
The chubby student immediately paled, realizing she was pointing at him.
He glanced to his right and then down, silently hoping a friend would come to his aid. But everyone acted as though they hadn't noticed him, deepening his frustration.
'Damn! I've always been nice to you guys, buying you food every time we go to the cafeteria. And this is the gratitude I get?' The chubby student muttered bitterly.
He was now regretting ever being so kind to them. After all, what kind of friends are they if they won't help when you're in trouble?
Once this was over, he promised himself he'd cut ties with all of them!
"Student? Why are you silent? Hurry up and answer my question. Our time is limited. And stand up instead of sitting there," the female teacher's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
He stared into her sharp gaze, feeling cold sweat soak the back of his uniform.
Under the intense scrutiny of both the teacher and the rest of the class, he shakily rose to his feet and stammered, "T-Teacher, the mage levels recognized by the Holy See are... six levels."
Plak!
A piece of chalk flew through the air and struck him on the head. The chubby student yelped, "Ouch!" before collapsing back into his seat.
"Six? Student, you clearly weren't paying attention in my class," the female teacher said, her gaze narrowing slightly. "As punishment, leave my class now and wait at the door until the lesson is over. And bring your parents tomorrow—I need to have a private word with them."
The female teacher's words struck the chubby student like a bolt of lightning. He desperately wanted to cry over his misfortune but dared not utter a word. With a pale face, he could only nod stiffly, like a robot.
"A-Alright, Teacher. I'll do it. Tomorrow, I'll bring my parents," he said with a sad tone.
Heavy-footed, he shuffled out of his seat, but before leaving, he cast a brief glance at his friends who had ignored his plea for help.
However, they all continued to pretend not to see him, deliberately avoiding his gaze.
Once the chubby student left, the classroom fell into silence again. A wave of fear washed over many of the students.
'God, please don't let that teacher point at me! Pick someone else, please!' They all silently prayed, hoping to escape her attention.
From the podium, the female teacher scanned each student with a sharp, calculating gaze, like a predator sizing up its prey.
Suddenly, her eyes landed on a young girl sitting in the center of the auditorium.
The girl was stunningly beautiful, with a flawless, cold expression.
Her deep blue eyes shimmered like the vast ocean, and her long blue hair, tied back in a ponytail, only added to her grace.
In her white mage uniform, her developing figure was both graceful and captivating, a subtle allure that drew attention.
Despite her perfection, not a single student dared to sit beside her, as if they were intimidated by the cold, indifferent aura she exuded.
The female teacher's sharp, calculating gaze softened slightly, and a small smile played at the corners of her lips.
"Student Sherlin, could you answer my question from earlier?" she asked.
Sherlin gave a small nod before standing up gracefully and calmly.
"There are seven mage levels recognized by the Holy See, Teacher. First, there's the Apprentice Mage, followed by the Junior Mage, Intermediate Mage, Senior Mage, Great Mage, Archmage, and finally the Sage, also known as the Divine Mage."
Her soft, soothing voice, though indifferent, captivated the students, drawing their admiration without them even realizing it.
'As expected of the top student in the entire batch. Her knowledge is extraordinary,' one boy thought, filled with admiration.
It wasn't just him; all the students admired and envied Sherlin's brilliance. They all recognized her greatness.
The smile on the female teacher's lips grew wider at Sherlin's answer. She gave a small nod and praised, "Well done, Sherlin. Your answers are all correct. But…"
She paused briefly before continuing in a calm tone, "You're slightly mistaken on one point. The mage levels you mentioned were accurate a year ago, but now there have been changes, and you should be aware of that, correct?"
Sherlin nodded slightly and replied, "I know, Teacher. The eighth level, which is only mentioned of in legends, is the Sovereign Lord. No one in history has ever reached that level, which is why it's considered a mere fairy tale."
She paused, offering a faint smile before continuing, "But everything changed when the most talented young man in human history, Arthur Crown, reached that level, becoming the only mage to ever touch it."
Clap!
The female teacher applauded, her gaze filled with appreciation as she looked at Sherlin.
"You are indeed a very talented student, Sherlin. Your intelligence rivals that of your brother, Arthur Crown. I have no doubt that you'll follow in his footsteps and one day become the Sovereign Lord Mage yourself," she said warmly.
While Sherlin remained composed, a subtle smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
"Thank you, teacher."
The female teacher gave a light nod before turning her gaze to all the students in the auditorium.
"I have high hopes for each of you. You are the next generation of humanity, and the responsibility to defend us from the dragon race's attacks rests on your shoulders."
Her words ignited a fire in the eyes of every student. They were suddenly acutely aware of the danger they faced.
Though humanity had made great strides over the past five hundred years, it did nothing to ease their fear.
A silent vow rose within their hearts—to grow stronger and protect their people at all costs.
"Ahem!"
At that moment, a loud cough echoed from the speakers above the classroom, catching everyone off guard.
Before anyone could react, a lively woman's voice blared from the speakers, "To all the students and teachers at the Academy of Magic, I bring exciting news! Our hero, Arthur Crown, has returned from the battlefield—and even more astonishing, he has slain one of the five leaders of the dragon race, the Black Dragon Empress!"
The room fell silent for a moment, then erupted in shock as they all exclaimed in unison, "What!?"