Yuki was now 15 years old. He had trained hard with his father and learned many spells in secret. Yet every time he measured his magic, the gauge still read only Level 1. This confused him, but he never lost hope.
Today was his first day at the Magic Academy. The academy was huge—full of grand halls, bright washrooms, and neat dorm rooms. Yuki's father even gave him his first salary to pay for the academy fees. With a mix of excitement and nervousness, Yuki stepped into this new world.
In the courtyard, Yuki saw many children. He recognized some of them from before—especially the group of boys who had bullied him, including Ryo, the one who had thrown a fireball at him. When they saw Yuki, they whispered and made faces, calling him a commoner. Yuki felt a surge of anger, but he remembered his father's words:
"Don't get mixed up with those nobles. True friends will come in time."
So, he kept quiet and walked to his class.
Inside the classroom, Yuki found his seat. Soon, a noble girl with kind eyes came and sat next to him. "Hi, what's your name?" she asked softly.
"My name is Yuki," he replied.
He added, "I am just a commoner. I am nothing special."
The girl smiled gently and said, "I don't care about titles or status. I believe in true friendship." Her words warmed his heart, and he felt less alone.
After the class, the teacher announced a practical exercise—a dungeon raid. The students were divided into groups of four. Yuki's group had the noble girl, whose name he learned was Serena, a noble boy named Kaito, and a commoner boy named Sora.
As they gathered, Kaito said, "Hey Yuki, do you want to be my friend?"
Yuki was surprised. He thought, Not all nobles are bad. A small smile broke on his face.
Soon, the teacher activated a magical portal that would lead each group to their own dungeon. Yuki's team stepped through the portal. At first, everything was calm. But then, without warning, the portal closed behind them. Outside, the teachers shouted in alarm, but inside, the group pressed on, thinking it was just a test.
They walked through dark, winding corridors until they reached a large chamber. In the center of the chamber stood a massive black rock, surrounded by a dark, pulsing aura. The children stared in silence, wondering what it was. Suddenly, the rock began to change. It cracked open, and out came a hundred tiny soldiers. They marched in eerie silence, and fear filled the air.
While the other students backed away, Yuki's eyes shone with excitement. He smiled and said, "Now, this will be fun."
His brave words cut through the tension, and despite the danger, he felt ready to face the challenge.
And so, Yuki's journey at the academy began—a path full of wonder, hardship, and the promise of hidden power waiting to be discovered.