Aetherium Academy

5 June 2070

Today is orientation and the first day at Aetherium Academy for first-year students.

The academy sits on an island as large as a major city, and that city has everything a normal city should have, since it is part of the academy itself.

This island is located at the center of the continent, making it the hardest place to attack. But that is not the only reason—this island also has the highest concentration of mana on the entire continent. So it is the best place to train magic and improve cultivation.

Aetherium is not the only institute for learning magic, but it is certainly the best. It is also the only academy where you cannot gain admission based on status alone. To enter, you must pass the entrance exam.

Only 700 students are admitted each year.

This year's exam was held two weeks ago, and the results are already out.

Of course, the island doesn't have only students and professors living on it.

Normal people also live here and run shops and businesses, but the academy verifies them all and keeps clean records.

Many professors' families also live here, most of them commoners.

It would not be wrong to say that this academy is the safest place on the entire continent, because the headmaster, Eldric, is one of the few human living Saint-rank cultivators.

He is also the only Saint of common birth.

He became a Saint 150 years ago, and only then were commoners allowed to be admitted to Aetherium Academy.

Before that, any commoner who reached Grandmaster rank had to join either the Church or a noble family.

If they refused, they would be found missing the next day.

Now you might wonder—how did Eldric survive?

He was a once-in-a-generation genius who reached Grandmaster rank at 34, despite being a commoner with limited resources.

But he was also ambitious and refused to submit to anyone.

So he did something insane.

He fled to the central zone of the Grimwood Continent, which is home to numerous Immortal and Saint-rank beasts.

Everyone believed he died there, because survival in that place is nearly impossible. Beasts do not tolerate humans or any other race.

Of course, he wasn't the first to try. Many had attempted it before—but none ever returned.

So everyone assumed he had died.

But after 100 years, he returned—

As the first Saint of common origin.

And not just any Saint, but one of the strongest to ever exist.

The question everyone had was—how did he survive in the central zone of Grimwood for a hundred years?

There is no way he could have hidden or escaped from those beasts, whose senses are the best of all, as their will is connected to nature.

When asked, Eldric claimed he made a deal with a Saint-rank beast not to disturb their ecosystem.

Obviously, that is not the full truth.

Everyone knows it.

But no one can challenge him without risking consequences.

As for whether the deal posed a danger to humankind—

No one was worried.

Those beasts possess overwhelming strength. They do not need schemes.

If they truly wanted to destroy humanity, it would be nearly impossible to stop them.

Humans already learned that lesson 500 years ago when they attempted to conquer the Grimwood Continent.

The result was a devastating defeat.

And it wasn't just humans—demons also suffered heavy losses when they tried to invade from another direction at the same time.

Although human forces have grown stronger since then—

No one dares to take that risk again.

Some reckless adventurers still venture into Grimwood, but they never go beyond the outer regions.

As for Eldric—

The Church and the nobles could not simply eliminate him, as doing so would cost both sides more than they were willing to bear.

Both factions were wary of each other.

So they reached an agreement.

Because of that agreement, Aetherium Academy became the only truly impartial academy.

Those who do not wish to serve either the Church or the nobles can become professors here.

Though not many choose that path, since the benefits offered by the Church and nobles are often more tempting.

As a result, many professors at the academy are commoners.

Within the academy, everyone is treated equally, and the rules apply to all.

No external force is allowed to interfere.

I guess

That's enough about the academy.

In two hours, orientation will begin, and almost everyone has already arrived—either by teleportation or by flight.

As for me—

I'm still at home.

Why rush? It's not like anything important happens during orientation other than speeches.

And honestly, who wants to listen to those?

Still, I have to attend.

Otherwise, my father will threaten me again—just like he did during the entrance exam, when he forced me to rank within the top 30 to enter the S-Class.

His "threat," by the way—

Was cutting my pocket money.

Which is actually very serious.

It's the most important thing for me.

So I quickly prepared and left for the academy, carrying everything I needed in my subspace.

As for transportation—

Of course, I teleported.

It's expensive, but who cares?

The Astrean family is one of the richest, thanks to our production and sale of spatial artifacts.

We used a teleportation formation.

Because spatial barriers protect the academy, no one can teleport inside freely from the outside.

The only way to enter is through the designated teleportation formation within the academy.

And that area is always guarded.

By at least one Immortal-rank expert and several Grandmasters.

To ensure absolute security.