Chapter 1: The Jet-Black Transfer Student

Daily Column: The Holy Knight’s Prayer

Sir Sain was spotted a number of days ago in the Forth family’s yard offering prayers to a flock of sheep. As our readers likely know, Sir Sain is the eldest son of the Forth family and, in all his greatness, is the one and only person in the world chosen to assume the role of the holy knight. The radiance he bears is the grace of the gods. The cross he shoulders is the symbol of justice. He, the holy knight, is the sole entity permitted to take the blessing of Her Holiness into his person. At the young age of twelve, Sir Sain has already demonstrated his incredible capabilities at last month’s tournament—the Laura Grand Prix—during which he bested all of the competition and was crowned the strongest warrior in the kingdom. For many of our readers, his victory is likely still a fresh memory.

Sir Sain’s prayers are well known for their soothing nature, but it appears these effects are not limited only to people. The sheep listening to Sir Sain’s prayers lay themselves at his feet and, bathing in the rays of the sun, drifted off into peaceful slumber. (Picture 1: Sir Sain in prayer and sheep sleeping quietly.)

According to his personal attendant, who agreed to be interviewed, Sir Sain has lately been focused on looking after a number of plants and animals he’d taken under his care. Indeed, the loving grace of Sir Sain knows no bounds, touching not only man but all life across the land. He truly embodies what it means to be a knight—to be one chosen by the gods.

We citizens of the Holy Kingdom of Lightridge have always placed our faith in Her Holiness, Vicitaelia. To us, Sir Sain is no less than a national treasure. So long as he remains with us, the peace of our kingdom is all but guaranteed.

Our observation drew to a close when Sir Sain, having likely become aware of our presence, used magic to disappear. Seven years after taking up the mantle, Sir Sain has shown tremendous growth as a holy knight, but it seems his shy personality yet remains. (Picture 2: Sheep shocked by Sir Sain’s disappearance.)

I clasp my hands together and pray. I pray that the holy knight, graced by divine favor, shall lead our kingdom to a better future.

+ + +

“Gyeeeeeeeeh!”

With an emphatic and very conspicuous screech, the young boy ripped the newspaper he held in two, paying no mind to the bewildered gazes of all the passengers around him. Few others on this ship sailing out from the Holy Kingdom of Lightridge looked anything like him. His black hair reached down past his eyebrows, slightly obscuring his blue eyes. Despite the sun beating mercilessly down on the deck of the ship, the young man was dressed in a set of very elaborate and very black clothes. On his fingers and around his neck were countless accessories, all of which had just a tad too many sharp points to be deemed reasonable attire.

Beside him stood a short girl whose appearance, while less inflammatory to the senses, was certainly unique in its own right. She shared the boy’s black hair—a rarity in the region—but not his temperament; her expression was cool and aloof. Her clothes were intricate and frilly with white layered on navy. They complemented the silkiness of her shoulder-length hair, which shone with the luster of diligent care. To knowing eyes, her attire simply screamed “maid uniform.”

“I was sacrificing those sheep, damn it!”

“Yes, of course you were, Master Sain.” Her words were drawn out and her tone quite blatantly disinterested—the same apathetic drawl she always spoke with.

“Auuuuuugh! Oh my god the goosebumps! Make them stop!” wailed the young boy, Sain, as he threw aside the newspaper and flailed his arms—pointy silver trinkets and all—wildly through the air.

The young girl beside him who served as his attendant, Melia, responded with cool indifference:

“Not to mention it ended up being a total failure.”

“Hnnnngh. It wasn’t a total failure. I almost got it. I was this close to having a great demon appear before me.”

“‘This close’? Really?” she asked in her distinctive drawl. “You know, the spell was supposed to turn sheep into demons, and yet you somehow managed to make it turn you into a sheep. How did you even do that?”

“Don’t ask me! You think I don’t want to know? I did everything perfectly!”

“You know how long it took me to find you? Actually, this second picture here...” said Melia as she picked up a fragment of the discarded newspaper. “Isn’t this you, Master Sain? Except, like, sheepified?”

“Waaaaaaah! Gimme that!” shrieked Sain as he grabbed the fragment and tore it to shreds, punctuating each of his ripping motions with an emphatic damn you! “Ugh, and just when I’m starting a new chapter of my life too... This had better not be some sort of terrible foreshadowing!”

At this point, Sain noticed something. Rather, he noticed a lack of something. The surrounding passengers had all disappeared. More precisely, they had excused themselves from his presence the way one does when the rolling waves exert their influence on a nearby passenger’s stomach. Now, they stood far away, casting reproachful glances in his direction. In an effort to switch up the awkward atmosphere, he coughed a forceful ahem and, looking out into the waters, said, “Whatever. This is the last I’ll see of these days. Goodbye and good riddance.”

A flat horizon lay between the sky and sea. Somewhere beyond that line was the continent they were headed for. Sain walked across the deck, his eyes fixed firmly on that invisible land in the distance. Slowly, his nerves calmed and he felt his breathing settle.

“Thinking back on it, it’s been a long, hard road... But finally! I’ve succeeded in persuading Father!”

“Incoming flashback,” announced Melia.

He had no idea what Melia was talking about, but in any case, he revisited his memories of last week.

Sain Forth came from a relatively conservative family. The Forths had apparently once been a part of the upper class, but presently stood humbly—and rather undoubtedly—in the middle class.

It was said the first head of the Forth family had been on good terms with the king at the time. Though there were no records of the first Forth having contributed in any way to state affairs, vestiges of the political and social ties formed then remained to this day. Even after their decline, the family still had plenty of connections.

The first Forth eschewed the burdens of title and office, choosing to live as far from power as possible, but having good rapport with the king naturally brought many others of the upper class to their door. As a result, they remained nobility for many generations after. They had now finally managed to settle into a quieter life, but every so often, they would receive requests hoping to make use of their connections of old. In some circles, they were affectionately known as the “landless nobles.”

As the eldest and only child of the Forths, Sain was their next heir. Succeeding the family involved a number of steps that would allow the heir to inherit the political and social ties of the current head. After turning twelve, Sain would normally not be allowed to stay in another kingdom for an extended period of time.

Sain, however, had a dream, and it was a dream that could not be realized in his homeland. So, he went to talk with his father. Standing before his study, Sain knocked on the door and steeled himself. He would do anything to fulfill his wish. He had made up his mind.

“Oh, good heavens, Sain! What a dauntless and intrepid spirit you are!” his father exclaimed as he entered. “You’ve received the power of the holy knight—a power that every living soul in this world yearns for—and yet you do not rest on your laurels. No, far from it. Instead, you seek to challenge yourself further! What aspiration! What ambition! Oh, you make me proud, boy!”

His father beamed at him from ear to ear.

“Father,” Sain interjected in an attempt to end his speech. It didn’t work, though. His father kept going.

“Thinking back on it, you were always a modest boy, Sain. No matter how much praise you received, how many victories you claimed, you never stopped training. Even after becoming the holy knight, your burning desire to grow never dwindled. And now, I see that the next step in your journey of self-improvement shall take you to foreign lands!”

“Father, I haven’t said anything yet.”

“And you shan’t, for there is no need! I fully understand! You’re planning an extended stay in another land because you wish to broaden your horizons! To learn that which you cannot in our kingdom! Am I wrong? Of course not! The sheer heights to which you aspire, oh it humbles even your dear father! Go on! Worry not about the Forth family! I shall hold the fort here!”

“Father, I think the heights to which I aspire might be a little different from what you’re imagining.”

It was, in fact, rather well known that Sain and his father had a serious communication issue.

“And your destination is... Why, if it isn’t the Kingdom of Loribania! You’re heading to the capital city of Raskas to attend the Jenifa Royal Magic Academy! I heard they run on the merit system there, and a great deal of students drop out before graduating! Oh, but that didn’t discourage you! In fact, that’s why you’re headed there! Truly, ambition incarnate! Still, I can’t help but feel just the slightest tinge of worry. Allow me to send some short words to the headmaster there! What’s that? Oh, don’t fret, boy! The old man and I are acquaintances of old! He’ll surely do you a favor! Rejoice, Sain, and set your mind at ease! Your graduation has been guaranteed!”

“Father, please stop,” urged Sain. “If you do that, my school life will be over before it’s even begun.” He didn’t even want to imagine how his schoolmates would see him under that kind of special treatment. “Wait, first of all, how do you know where I’m going? That’s what I came here to tell you.”

“Melia told me.”

“...She needs to mind her own business.”

On his father’s desk was the ticket to Loribania Sain had ordered, as well as documents about the academy. As always, her preparations were impeccable. But still, this was definitely not her business. Had he not visited his father today, the headmaster would likely be reading some very ill-advised words in the coming days.

And so, Sain departed his homeland, the Holy Kingdom of Lightridge. His journey would take him over land and sea.

And that was about it. Not much happened. In all honesty, it was a painfully eventless journey. The sheer dullness of the final sequence caused Sain to grimace as his trip down memory lane drew to a close.

“Flashback complete,” Melia announced, again to no one in particular.

“What in the world are you going on about?” asked a bewildered Sain.

In truth, Sain was hoping for something more dramatic—something in the vein of a furious and impassioned confrontation of words, at the end of which he would finally wring victory from the begrudging lips of his father. Reality, however, delivered almost the polar opposite. As a result, he was left somewhat wanting as he set off on his journey.

“In any case, a new path has been paved before me.” He laughed with the exaggerated articulation of a stage actor. “Out there lies a new world. Tremble with fear, unwitting denizens of lands yet unknown, for the day my ambition is realized draws near!”

He turned with dramatic flair, allowing his black coat to billow in the wind.

“I, Sain Forth...” Pausing for effect, he extended his left hand outward and brought his right across his face. “...shall become a dark knight!”

His statement, theatrics notwithstanding, was not so much an announcement as a reminder of his commitment. The dark knight, much like the holy knight, was unique in being an individual granted divine favor.

They were binary; a pair equal but also counter to each other. While the holy knight received their blessing from the goddess, the dark knight’s came from her male god counterpart. The holy knight commanded the power of light, and the dark knight the power of darkness. Sain admired the dark knight to no end, so much so that he longed to become one. As he gazed out across the endless sea, he took a moment to bask in the trailing silence of his masterfully delivered proclamation. At his side, Melia rolled her eyes.

“That’s definitely not the kind of thing I should be hearing from someone whose favorite hobby is gardening.”

“What’s wrong with gardening?!”

For the record, he was particularly into fruits at the moment.

+ + +

Having arrived at the Kingdom of Loribania’s port city, Sain immediately began preparations for their journey to the capital city of Raskas. The passage was a relatively short one, and this close proximity had enabled the bustling port city to blossom into one of the largest traffic hubs in the known world.

Carts were the standard method of transportation but, in addition to the usual horse-drawn carriages, the city employed an assortment of monsters as beasts of burden, some even going as far as to use dragons. From here, people would select their preferred vehicle and depart for their destination.

“It’s still pretty early... What’s our schedule for the day looking like?”

“The only event that must be attended would be the academy’s proficiency assessment in the afternoon. Aside from that, I would recommend dealing with the headmaster’s request at some point in the day.”

“Hm. Well, it’s a little early, but I suppose we’ll go pick up the monster cart we reserved.”

The academy’s entrance ceremony was tomorrow. Today, it was conducting something called a proficiency assessment. Based on their results, students would be divided into classes. The assessment would proceed through a test of magical skill, a test of physical skill, and then an interview.

Sain and Melia made their way to the cart rental store and approached the counter where the owner sat.

“Excuse me, we have a reservation for a monster cart.”

The owner, a slim-looking man, widened his eyes at Sain’s bizarre appearance, but soon recomposed himself and reached behind the counter to take out what looked like a reservation list.

“All right. What’s your name?”

“I’m Sain, and this is Meli— Ahem.” He caught himself before saying his attendant’s name.

“I’m Melia,” she said, finishing his sentence without missing a beat.

As the owner flipped through his list to confirm, Melia turned to Sain with eyes that faintly glistened with tears. She leaned onto the balls of her feet to whisper in his ear.

“Master Sain, that was a rather close call.”

“R-Right. My apologies, my maid.”

The excitement of taking this first step toward his dream seemed to have made him let his guard down a little.

“All right, could you go wait at the entrance? I’ll bring your cart around right away. By the way... That’s one heck of a get-up, huh? Got a real, you know, deviant vibe going on there. Thought I’d have to call the authorities when I first saw you.”

“D-D-Deviant?! B-B-But—” Sain fumbled over his words as he tried to compose an appropriate response, eventually deciding on: “Hmph, I see you do not understand the appeal of the ominous aura that exudes from this outfit. Hapless mortal, you fill my heart with pity.” He then laughed ominously. For good measure.

“Self-pity, right? Especially considering you were up all night making that coat.”

“Maid! You did not need to say that!” protested Sain, trying very hard to ignore the sensation welling up in his throat that felt suspiciously like an urge to cry.

After thanking the owner, they didn’t need to wait long before a monster cart appeared at the store’s entrance. Pulling the cart was a massive wolf-like creature. With legs far stronger than those of horses, it could traverse even bad roads with relative ease. Not needing to select cart-friendly paths also allowed it to reach its destination in less time.

“Master Sain, just to confirm... Have you finished your preparations for the proficiency assessment?”

Melia’s voice rang out over the thumping of the monster’s steps and the squeaking of the cart.

“Preparations? Ah, you mean the magic seals?”

“Yes, I do.”

“They’re right here.” He turned to her with his arms wide open, showing off the entirety of his outfit. “I’m wearing them right now. Might have went a little overboard, I’ve got to admit.”

“...Oh, please no.” Melia stared at him, momentarily at a loss for words. “Seriously? Those rings and necklaces, all that jangling nonsense... Are you seriously telling me they’re all magic seals?”

“I sure am! What do you think? Aren’t they cool?”

“U-Um, okay... Let’s assume they’re cool—which is a very big assumption, mind you. Even then, is it really a good idea to be wearing them so openly?”

“No need to worry. These were all specially made based on my own original designs. I doubt anyone would realize they’re seals just by looking at them. Plus, they’re made to last.”

Though Melia’s brows remained furrowed at his reasoning, the childlike pride with which her master flaunted his accessories eventually convinced her to let the matter pass.

“Now that I think about it, Master Sain... Under the current circumstances, aren’t you... Hm, what’s the word? Completely useless?”

“...You know, that’s a pretty hurtful question.”

“Jenifa Royal Magic Academy is famous for its competitive merit-based system, after all. At a place like that, you’ll run into trouble sooner or later. Are you sure you’ll be able to handle a dangerous situation with all those magic seals dangling off of you?”

“Hm, you raise a valid point.”

Since time immemorial, humans had relied on the power of magic to construct and maintain their civilizations. It was a useful skill that not only improved the quality of people’s lives, but could also be employed as a weapon to fight against monsters. It went without saying, then, that such power could prove very dangerous if misused.

This was even more of a concern for the academy, as it would be teaching its students magic. There was no shortage of incidents involving overeager children recklessly flaunting their newfound power and causing all sorts of trouble. As society’s mastery over magic improved, crimes involving magic also increased. In turn, magic became a necessity in apprehending those criminals. Neutralizing threats posed by monsters and maintaining public security all but required the use magic, and for students who wished to take up jobs in those fields, duels involving magic were fairly commonplace.

“However, prepare to be stunned... because I have already accounted for that problem! I have, at long last, learned a dark magic spell!”

“No way. Not believing it until I see it.”

“Muahaha! I thought you’d say that. In that case, see for yourself and witness the truth of my words,” Sain declared in a supremely confident tone. “Watch and be amazed! Darku!”

Black particles began to gather in his palm. The mass slowly grew in size, beginning to pulse with dark energy. Its form elongated, and then suddenly launched from his hand as a bolt of pure darkness.

Or, it would have, had it not immediately scattered into a fine mist.

“What?!”

“Wow, I sure am amazed. You made that thing vanish. It was, like, magic,” sneered Melia, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “Also, isn’t ‘Darku’ beginner-level magic?”

“Th-That didn’t count! I just wasn’t warmed up! Trust me on this! Even I can at least cast beginner-level magic.”

“Hmm. How often can you pull it off?”

“...M-Maybe six times out of ten?”

“...You know you’re going to be the butt of every joke at the academy like this, right? Oh, the bullying is going to be epic.”

“Auuuugh! Don’t say that! I’m already a little nervous about it...”

“Need I remind you you’re enrolling in the academy’s intermediate division? Just so you know, failing to use beginner magic puts you at sub-junior division level.”

“Gyeeeeeeeeh!” Sain let out an embarrassing screech as he covered his ears. “I’m not listening! I can’t hear you!”

Startled by the noise, their driver turned around to look at them. Sain ignored him, pretending nothing had happened. The sting of Melia’s words, however, had left its mark.

“Hey, uh, I’m not going to be bullied, right? Tell me I’m not going to be bullied.”

“Oh what wonderful weather it is today.”

“Damn it, maid!”

+ + +

Sain and Melia paid the driver and watched as he rode off in his monster cart. Then, they turned around to regard the enormous building in front of them.

“This is at least twice as big as our mansion back home.”

“Ours is better kept, though. Their cleaning people missed a window over there.”

Same building, two different viewpoints. One was decidedly more scrutinizing than the other.

As the largest learning facility in the kingdom, the Jenifa Royal Magic Academy was situated in the center of the capital city. The chalk-white walls of the school building were reminiscent of a castle, and its grounds exuded the air of a noble’s private garden.

But the grounds exuded more than just an aura of regality.

Elsewhere, dilapidated dormitories stood surrounded by barren land, further punctuated by shady-looking storehouses no reasonable student would want to enter. The clear budget gap between the buildings was likely due to the differing treatment of their students; weaker students were apparently pushed to the fringes.

“This is certainly the first time I’ve seen such a large institute of learning.”

“The one in Lightridge was more like a church than a school, after all. Not to mention most of its lessons were about missionary work, so you were just on the road all day going from place to place. On top of that, you were a member of the Knight’s Order... This might be the first time you settle down in one place for a while.”

“Indeed. But don’t forget, my maid. The reason I’ve come to this institute of learning is definitely not for rest or relaxation... I’ve finally done it. I’ve escaped that kingdom. And now, my soul, oh, how it hungers! It must feed on darkness... The darkness that I shall claim with my own two hands...”

“Yes, yes, of course you will.”

As the two traded idle banter, they passed through the main gate and onto the school grounds, which were already bustling with students. Some were holding paper bags packed with textbooks and looked to be already on their way back home.

“It looks like the proficiency assessment is already underway.”

“The assessment can wait. We’ve got all day to do it, after all. Let’s go deal with the headmaster’s request first.”

“Understood.”

“That headmaster, though...” There was a less than subtle trace of annoyance in his voice. “Classes haven’t even started and he already has a job lined up for us.”

“He is pulling a lot of strings for us in return, so let’s keep the whining to a minimum and make sure we do a good job.”

The headmaster knew who he really was, and Sain’s true identity was far too prominent to be concealed with something like a simple gag order. That was why Sain needed his cooperation. The headmaster would try his best to keep his “holy knight” identity a secret and, in exchange, Sain would do his best to fulfill any requests the headmaster asked of him.

He had no qualms about this arrangement, but with the proficiency assessment happening today and the entrance ceremonies tomorrow, there were plenty of students roaming the premises. He would have to be extra careful while he worked.

“Is this it?”

“It certainly seems so. The place looks exactly as described.”

Passing through a rather stately-looking door, the two came to a large spherical room. It was hard to tell what the room was used for based on appearance alone, but its unique aesthetic suggested it definitely had some purpose.

The ceiling glowed with a mysterious light, much like sunbeams streaming through a canopy. The ground was covered with soft soil, from which grew a short layer of grass. In the center of the room were flowers of all shapes and colors, and beside them were a number of small rocks and a pond. Were it not for the surrounding white walls, it would be easy to forget this place was indoors. That, and the obvious lack of wind.

Having taken in the surroundings, Sain made his way toward the grand pillar erected in the center of the room, which stretched all the way to the ceiling. It was, he thought, shaped very similarly to a staff—the kind used by mages.

“Hm, looks like the barrier’s main effect is to ward off intruders and defend against physical and magical threats. I heard it took the combined efforts of ten renowned mages of light to create this, and it shows. The quality is excellent. Granted, I am seeing some cracks here and there. I guess we’ll do a bit of a restoration job, too.”

“Compared to our barrier, it’s quite tiny.”

“This one’s made by people, after all. The one around the Forth residence was made with the power of a god. Which, I suppose, will also apply to this barrier pretty soon.”

Upon placing a hand on the white column, Sain immediately reconsidered his prior opinion. It wasn’t shaped like a staff. Rather, it was a staff. Staves were instruments of magic that served a variety of purposes, including being used as catalysts to amplify or sustain a spell’s effect. The one here allowed for the barrier around the academy to be sustained almost indefinitely.

“Begin the preparations, my maid.”

“Okay.”

At his command, Melia began placing small gems in a ring around the pillar. These were intended to restore and further strengthen the barrier.

Its purpose was to isolate the academy from the outside world and, to that end, it had to be large enough to cover the entire academy and strong enough to prevent any intruders from entering. But the term “strength” was actually rather vague and difficult to evaluate, as many aspects of a barrier could be said to contribute to its strength. Its physical durability was, of course, a factor, but so was its size and complexity. The one around the academy was fairly sophisticated, permitting entry only when presented with a student ID card along with the actual student it was registered to.

For the time being, Sain had only been asked to improve its physical durability. While there was a seemingly divine quality to the way barriers selected those permitted to enter, they were ultimately still man-made constructs, and could thus be destroyed by man, too. For this reason, it wasn’t uncommon for a villain to occasionally appear and attempt to brute force their way through.

The simplest defense against physical destruction was to just make the barrier sturdier.

Sain focused his senses, allowing him to take in more information from his surroundings. Like most barriers, the academy’s was made with light magic. It was the source of the holy aura that permeated the academy, making this particular room a ground zero of sorts. For Sain, the powerful waves of light magic saturating the space around him was agonizing.

“Ugh... I didn’t cross the sea to be back in a place like this...” he muttered under his breath, his usual cheerful enthusiasm now replaced with the utmost displeasure.

“Now, now. This was literally your life until just a few days ago. Besides, there’ll be less and less of this kind of work in the future, so think of this as your last hurrah.” Melia gave him an oblique look as she steadily circled the pillar. “Of course, if a certain someone would just go full power, I wouldn’t have to break my back putting all these gems on the ground, right, Master Sain?”

“R-Right... Um, sorry.”

“Just kidding. I know how much trouble going full power causes. Especially for your hair.”

Sain wore a small grin of appreciation. He pinched a lock between his fingers, making sure it was still the jet-black color he’d dyed it.

“I’m done,” Melia chimed, returning to his side.

Sain let out a quick, sharp breath, then released his power into the towering staff before him. A warm glow gradually enveloped the pillar as it was imbued with the blessing of the gods. Small particles of holy light scattered through the room like petals dancing in the wind.

“Careful... Careful now. Yeah, I need just the right amount of force— Wait, goddess, that’s too much! Ease off a little! Don’t distort the original shape. I need just the tiniest bit of— Eeeuugh!”

He seemed less like someone carefully discharging power than someone desperately struggling to hold it back. For a second, his entire being flashed gold—black coat included. His clothing quickly darkened again, but the gleam from his skin lingered as he attempted to contain the luminescence within him once more.

By the time he was finished, his face was beet red.

“...Phew. Done.”

After confirming the light had fully faded into the atmosphere, he moved his hand from the pillar.

“Nice job. I noticed you were struggling a little, though. Did something happen with Her Holiness?”

“Yeah, that woman... When she realized I was studying here, she tried to give the barrier her most powerful blessing. That’s how we got into a ton of trouble last time. Seems she hasn’t learned...”

Melia whistled provocatively.

“She loves you so much.”

“She’s overprotective. And it’s a problem. I can scrape my arm and she’ll freak out over it. When is she going to stop treating me like a kid...?”

Sain continued to grumble under his breath, but the slight upward curve of his lips betrayed his true feelings. The implication was not lost on Melia, who glared at him.

“...Liar.”

“What?”

“Nothing.” She turned away, a sour look spread across her face, before returning to her usual drawl. “I said nothing.”

Before Sain could even voice his confusion, she spoke again.

“So, Master Sain, how exactly did you strengthen the barrier?”

“Well, I first applied an intermediate blessing. It might be a bit too strong but, whatever. It’s probably fine. Then, just in case, I put a holy beast on standby.”

“You sure didn’t hold back.”

“I just don’t want them calling me back over and over again. This should hold for a while.”

He figured it would last until they graduated at the very least.

“All right, we’re done here! Let’s get out of this place already!” Sain announced, already making for the exit. He didn’t want to stay in this offensively bright room any longer than he had to.

“Okay.” Melia was already walking by his side, when—

“Don’t move, you intruder!”

They turned to see a young girl. Her uniform suggested she was, like them, an intermediate division first-year. She had long blond hair that reached down to her waist, her striking facial features accentuated by her red, ruby-like eyes—eyes that were currently narrowed and wary, staring them down. Standing just a little taller than Melia, she had the kind of slender, flowing figure that tended to turn heads.

“...Intruder? Who are you talking about?”

“Who else?! You, Mister Man-in-Black!”

Sain froze for a moment, dumbstruck. Then, his eyes widened as he was hit by a sudden realization: So long as they were on the academy’s premises, students were obligated to wear their uniforms. There had even been notices sent out to each student ahead of time to ensure the rule was followed.

And there he was, clad in a long black coat—the furthest thing from an academy uniform. Not to mention the countless accessories strewn across his torso, most of which were safety hazards even without their magical properties.

And then there was Melia, dressed in her usual attendant garb.

It was entirely understandable why they would be seen as intruders.

They were, of course, not intruders. This was a simple misunderstanding. Under any other circumstances, the reasonable course of action would have been to correct the girl and explain their situation...

However, she had made the fatal mistake of calling him “Mister Man-in-Black.” The name struck a chord with Sain, and the next thing he knew, he was putting on his best evil mastermind impression.

“Mm-hm-hm, you’ve found me, little girl. But whether you can stop me remains to be—”

“Eat fire, you freak! Flagus!”

“Wait, I didn’t—”

A bolt of fire shot toward him, forcibly ending his speech. An intense heat licked his shoulder as he just barely managed to dodge.

“I’m sorry! I was only joking! You’re making a mistake!”

“Shut up and burn already!”

“Stop! Stop! This is a really bad time for this!”

As the girl threw more and more attacks in his direction, Sain began to panic.

“Seriously! Stop! Please! I just summoned a holy beast and it’s still—”

“Whatever! No one has time for your nonsense! Orb of fire, purge with raging flames—Flare!”

A miniature sun roared through the air, closing in on the two.

...And then tore into pieces, before vanishing completely into smoke.

“—Huh?”

“I warned you, damn it!”

The girl stood speechless, unable to process what had just happened. Before she could so much as gasp, the space between them immediately distorted. Sain recognized the very faint contour of an enormous lion.

It raised a paw above her, claws extended. Her unwitting gaze passed straight through the beast now towering over her, and yet her paling complexion suggested she could feel its cold, murderous intent.

“Stop! She’s not an enemy!” yelled Sain in a panic.

Seemingly indifferent to the scene unfolding before her, Melia leaned in close and whispered in her usual, apathetic tone:

“This way is faster. Hmph!”

“Ooomph!”

Sain caught a brief, pleasant fragrance before Melia drove her fist deep into his stomach with the force of ten raging bulls. The expression may have even been an understatement, as the entire room shook from the resounding impact.

He was thrown upward about three times his height before gravity could regain its hold, dragging him back toward the earth.

The sudden bout of violence had caught the attention of both the girl and the translucent lion.

“Excuse me, holy beast? You can leave now. I’ll handle the rest.” Melia scanned the room as she spoke, her lackadaisical voice easily projected across the room.

The translucent lion seemed to obey. It gradually vanished, the cleared distortion revealing a groaning Sain who had since impacted with the ground.

“G-Good work, my maid... You saved us... But was there no other way?”

“There certainly wasn’t. For the record, I did consider other options. I just decided this was the only one that would work.”

“I... I see. I’ll trust your judgment for now, then...”

Sain slowly rose to his feet, his arm across Melia’s shoulders for support.

“Don’t move.”

He looked up to see the girl, now even warier than before. Her eyes flitted between the two.

“We’re not done here. Who are you people?”

Before Sain could determine how to defuse the situation, Melia had pulled his student card from his pocket and thrown it to her. She waited for the girl to catch it and take a look before speaking.

“As you can see, we’re students of this academy. That means we’re not intruders.”

“...Is this real?”

“Feel free to examine it. In fact, do whatever you want. Feel it, lick it, you can even snap it in two if that’ll make you feel better.”

“Damn it, maid! Just because it’s not your card... No snapping, okay? And preferably no licking, either.”

The scary thing about Melia was that he could never be quite sure if she was joking or not.

Fortunately, the girl didn’t take her literally. She merely placed the card in her palm and inspected it for a while. Eventually, her look grew more relaxed and she walked over to hand them back Sain’s card.

“It looks like you really aren’t intruders... I’m sorry for suspecting you. But it’s your fault too, you know? I mean, what’s with...” She gestured toward his clothes. “This? You know the rule, don’t you? Students have to be in uniform while on school grounds. Wear your uniform next time.”

“Ah, but I am.”

“...Excuse me?”

“This is my uniform. With some personal touch-ups, of course!” Sain’s exclamation dripped with pride as he flaunted his black coat.

At first, her expression was one of pure disbelief. But as she looked closer at his attire, realizing it did indeed retain certain elements of the uniform’s original design, it twisted into one of pure exasperation.

“Some personal touch-ups?! What do you mean, some?! There’s barely any uniform left! How is anybody supposed to tell you’re a student here?!”

“These hands of mine... Everything they touch is reborn in the likeness of doom and despair. I am the bestower of darkness. They call me... The Dark Resonator!”

“He’s the only one who calls himself that.”

His bizarre masquerade was promptly exposed by the short maid.

“Also, just so you know, we’ve received permission from the headmaster to wear the things that we’re wearing. In my case, I happen to be attendant to this—ahem—highly eccentric individual, so your understanding and sympathy would be greatly appreciated.”

“...Your outfit I can maybe understand, but are you really sure he got permission?”

“I’m... pretty sure he did.”

“...Okay, fine.” Some doubt lingered on her face, but the girl seemed willing to accept their explanation—for now, at least. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen the two of you around here, so you can’t be junior division graduates. New students, then?”

“Yes. I’ll be a first-year in the intermediate division. My name is Sain.”

“Likewise. I’m his personal attendant, Melia.”

“I’m Alicia, and I’ll also be an intermediate division first-year. Let’s... pretend none of this happened and start off fresh. Nice to meet you.”

“It’s absolutely our pleasure, Miss Alicia.”

Unlike Melia, who had taken to the name immediately, Sain wore a look of open dissatisfaction.

“...Might I also ask for your last name? I’d prefer to use that.”

Alicia hesitated for a second. “Well, I’d prefer to be called by my first name.”

There was presumably good reason behind her insistence. While Sain had no intention of prying into the personal life of a girl he’d just met, complying with her request also posed certain difficulties. He took a few seconds to consider his options before settling on his usual theatrics.

“Mua-ha-ha! Inspiration strikes!” A deliberate smirk plastered across his face. “I have decided on your name!”

“What?”

“From this day forward, your name shall be Golden Princess!”

“G-Golden... Princess?”

“Correct!”

“O-Okay then. Do you mind telling me where you got that name from?”

“Because of your golden hair!”

“Such an uninspired answer... Oh well. I guess ‘princess’ doesn’t sound too bad. Isn’t the whole thing sort of long, though? It might be easier to say if you shorten it.”

“Miss Gold, then.”

“Huh?! Where’d the ‘princess’ go?!”

“And you may call me Mister Black,” he continued, completely ignoring Alicia’s complaint. “In fact, you might as well call me Mister Darkness... The jet-black gentleman, Mister Darkness... Ohh, I’m getting chills just saying it.”

Sain continued on his self-indulgent ramble for quite some time, grinning creepily from time to time. Melia remained at his side, observing his peculiar actions.

“...More like Mister Pretentiousness.”

“Hm? Did you say something, my maid?”

“Nothing at all.”

Sain raised an eyebrow at his assistant, who gazed back at him with wide, innocent eyes.

“By the way, why are the two of you here?” Alicia interjected. “This isn’t really the kind of place new students frequent.”

Sain and Melia exchanged glances.

“Well, uh, you see...”

“We still had some time before the proficiency assessment, so we went for a walk. Then, we just happened to find this room. It gave off a mysterious air, so we decided to take a look inside.”

While her master fumbled for words, Melia went ahead and put together an entire backstory on the spot. Unlike Sain, who was terrible at lying, the mask of indifference Melia usually wore made her particularly suited to lying with a straight face. Ethicality aside, she was doubtlessly a true master of the art.

“Oh, okay. Yeah, I know what you mean. I really like this place, too.” Alicia appeared to have taken Melia at her word. “You see that big column? Did you know it’s actually a staff? The whole barrier around the academy is sustained by that thing.”

“Is it now? Interesting.” Sain nodded along for the sake of propriety.

“Ah, look at the time. We’d better start heading to the proficiency assessment.” Alicia spoke very matter-of-factly as she checked her wristwatch.

Sain followed suit, digging around in his coat and producing an excessively ornamented silver pocket watch.

“Seems to me that we still have plenty of time.”

“Assessments for intermediate division first-years end at three in the afternoon. There’s only an hour left.”

“Huh. Is that so?”

“So much for showing up early to the assessment. I’m short on time now; I ran into intruders, and then they turned out to be students... What a terrible day it’s been.”

“...Shouldn’t you trust the academy’s security measures a little more, Miss Gold? The barrier’s sole purpose is warding off intruders, after all. On top of that, the staff itself is also protected by a powerful barrier. It seems rather unlikely the kind of scenario you were imagining would actually happen.”

“I’ve got some bad news for you, then. This barrier has been breached a couple of times in the past. If you’re going to be staying at this academy, you’ll learn eventually that there exist people in this world who are just on another level. And you can’t always tell by looks, either. Sometimes, they might look like a wimp, but then turn out to be really skilled. That’s why when I saw you, I figured I’d keep my guard up. Just in case.”

“I see... I’ll keep that in mind. ...Hm? Wait a minute. Based on what you said... doesn’t that mean you took me for a wimp?”

“Let’s get moving. You don’t want to be late as new students, do you? Come on, come on.”

“Hey, wait! Answer my question, damn it!”

Alicia dashed toward the exit with Sain at her heels, shouting after her.

“Curses. Why must I suffer this indignity...?”

“Aw, it’s okay. Look on the bright side,” Melia consoled as she kept pace at his side. “At least people here won’t be worshiping you like before.”

“...True.”

Melia’s remark brought a small smile to his lips. As they passed through the exit, Alicia stopped, taking a few steps back.

“Huh, that’s weird. I only just noticed, but... for some reason, the barrier feels stronger than before.”

Neither Sain nor Melia chose to comment on the matter.

The proficiency assessment was divided into three parts: A magical assessment, a physical assessment, and an interview. The first two could be done in either order. However, as its name suggested, the physical assessment was physically demanding, so most students opted to complete the magical assessment first.

As such, Sain, Melia, and Alicia all headed to the auditorium where the magical assessment was being conducted.

“Look at that crowd,” said Melia, marveling at the number of students gathered in the large hall. To make the gathering of almost a hundred students more manageable, they had been divided into several lines.

Back in the Holy Kingdom of Lightridge, blond was by far the most common hair color, followed by brown, and then white. Here, however, both hair and skin ran the whole gamut of the color spectrum.

“You know... That get-up of yours really does stick out like a sore thumb,” Alicia noted.

“That may be so, but alas, such is the fate of those who have fallen for the allure of darkness...”

His impassioned delivery earned him little more than a facepalm and a sigh.

“Hm? Miss Gold, do you know what that’s used for?” Sain pointed to the long desk the students were lined up behind. On its surface sat a crystal ball the size of a human skull, which students took turns nervously placing their palms over.

“You mean the examination crystal? It changes color in response to magical energy. When you put your hand over it, it shows you your magical genus and level of proficiency. Our academy uses a ranking system for the latter, with F being the lowest and A the highest. The average for those of us in the intermediate division is probably around rank D.”

Magical energy could be broken down into elements, with fire, water, earth, wind, lightning, light, and dark being the most commonly recognized. Magic was the process of using such energy to perform extraordinary feats, but each type of magic required its respective form of energy. In order to use fire magic, for example, one would need to channel the magical energy of fire.

Humans possessed varying aptitudes for these magical energies and were separated into one of three categories based on their expertise: Fivekind, lightkind, and darkkind. Those recognized as fivekind had a particular capacity for fire, water, earth, wind, and lightning energy. Similarly, those who were lightkind were better able to harness the magical energy of light, and those who were darkkind were more capable of using dark energy.

Having an aptitude for a particular energy made it easier to control. Basically, it was a knack of sorts; some people were just better in some areas than others.

“As for proficiency level, that’s determined by how brightly the crystal glows. Look, just like that.”

As one student placed his palm over the crystal, it radiated a deep blue. Another, more professional-looking individual, most likely a teacher, then examined the color and scribbled something down in a binder of paper. This was apparently how the process went.

“Am I correct in assuming your proficiency level refers to the maximum amount of magical energy you can handle at once?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Regardless of the element, no magical energy was actually generated or stored within a human’s body. Rather, energy was equally dispersed throughout the atmosphere. Humans could then use their will to transform these shapeless magical energies into concrete forms of magic.

Proficiency referred to the maximum amount of energy that could be converted at once, and a person’s genus described the magical elements for which this proficiency could be most easily improved.

“Wait, let me try again! Please! Just one more time!”

The desperate pleas of a student echoed through the auditorium as Sain and the two girls stepped in line. His assessment results had apparently been less than ideal.

The scene caused Sain to let out a haughty scoff.

“Such shameful behavior. If you want results, you have to put in the required effort. This is what happens when you slack off.”

Melia simply responded with a glare.

“Next, please!”

“My turn, then.”

Melia gave a short bow and toddled off, leaving Sain and Alicia to watch from the sidelines. Within seconds, a group had formed around the small maid. Judging from the fact that the vast majority of them were boys, it wasn’t hard to determine that her natural beauty and exquisite appearance were the cause.

Peeking through the occasional gaps between the crowd, the two watched as Melia held her hand over the examination crystal. Immediately, a dazzling rainbow of colors spilled from its surface.

“No way... I can’t believe it.”

The eyes of every onlooker—from Alicia to the gawking boys—widened in surprise. Sain, having seen this coming from a mile away, was the only one to remain unmoved.

“She’s a fivekind... and every single element is showing such high proficiency levels... Hey, how come you never mentioned this? Is Melia actually really exceptional?”

“Indeed. She’s my exceptional attendant.”

Fivekind were free to specialize in any of the five elements under their category. While that afforded them a wealth of choice, it also risked them becoming a jack-of-all-trades but master of none.

Melia, however, refused to fall into this trap. She’d considered the options laid out before her and decided: Why not master all of them?

As a result, Melia had become a mage of nigh omnipotence. She was the exact opposite of the old phrase: a master of all trades. After all, she was the personal attendant to Sain, icon of the Holy Kingdom of Lightridge. Mediocrity would not have sufficed.

“I’m back.”

She toddled back with her usual nonchalance.

“How was it, my maid?”

“My genus is fivekind. Fire and water are rank B, and earth, wind, and lightning are rank C.”

“Most impressive. You’ve made me one proud master.”

“You’re most welcome.”

Sain boastfully puffed out his chest. Melia wasn’t exactly a mask of indifference, either; she played with her hair, and her eyes began to wander.

“Looks like a good number of boys already have their eyes glued on you, too. Man, talk about a nostalgia trip... No matter where you go, my maid, you’re always the object of everyone’s affection...”

He thought back to their two acquaintances who, upon catching wind of their departure to Loribania, had made grand advances on Melia. Considering the scene that had just unfolded before him, Sain came to the conclusion that beauty had no borders.

“So, Master Sain... Any thoughts on this matter?”

“Thoughts?”

“Let’s say that one of these boys... you know... tried to hit on me...”

Sain furrowed his brow. He had no idea what she meant. Every once in a while, Melia would ask these bizarre questions, and they puzzled him to no end. Gazing down on his short-statured attendant, he pushed his confusion aside and gave her his most honest answer:

“Don’t worry, you won’t hear a word from me. If you find someone you like, feel free to let me know. I won’t hold you back.”

“...Hah.” She responded with a curt laugh and shook her head. Then, looking him straight in the eyes, she muttered at a deliberately audible volume: “I hope you die a painful death.”

“Why?! That was a good thing I just said, wasn’t it?!”

He simply could not understand this girl.

“Next, please!”

Sain looked up to see the examiner addressing Alicia, who was directly ahead of him in line.

“What’s the matter, Miss Gold? You’re next.”

“...I suppose I am.” Her prior assertiveness was nowhere to be seen, having been replaced with a weak murmur. “I’d appreciate if you didn’t watch.”

With that, she walked up to the examination crystal.

Having just barely managed to hear what she’d said, Sain and Melia exchanged quick glances. When they had been in the room containing the barrier’s core, they’d witnessed Alicia’s fire magic. It was the kind of power that required great magical affinity to wield, suggesting she was likely a fivekind as well. While not quite Melia’s equal, her proficiency level was undoubtedly above average. Sain couldn’t begin to fathom why she’d want to hide that fact.

“Hm, it’s almost my turn. Maid, come and help me with the preparations.”

“Seriously? Do you really have to do this?”

“Absolutely. One must always look the part. It’s how I operate.”

Melia let out a deep sigh as she opened her bag. The two stepped away from the line and headed to a secluded area of the room to begin their preparations.

“Next, please!”

Sain quickly returned to his spot, raising a hand to catch the examiner’s attention.

Having completed her assessment, Alicia made her way back, her eyes weary as she scanned the room. Her brow pulled into a frown; she couldn’t see them anywhere.

And then a figure emerging from the crowd caught her attention. Her jaw dropped, and, for a few seconds, utter disbelief rooted her to the ground.

Sain paraded past her, the black coat of his custom-made uniform billowing ominously behind him. He wore an offensively great number of accessories on his fingers and around his neck, even donning a black helmet that obscured his face. Everything about him screamed “call the authorities.”

“Yo, who the hell is that? An intruder?”

“Can’t be a student...”

“I’m getting bad vibes.”

“This guy’s serious business...”

As the hushed comments of onlookers reached his ears, Sain couldn’t help but grin under his helmet. As a seasoned gardener, he’d had more than enough dexterity to give his uniform a sinister makeover.

“Black coat, black sword... No way. Is that the dark knight?” one student whispered as Sain dramatically threw back his coat. Rumor quickly spread through the room, causing him to attract even more attention than Melia had.

Just when it seemed as though the whole room’s eyes were focused on him, a black band appeared on his right arm, and he spoke in a low growl.

“No, the storm within me rages... Calm yourself, tendrils of darkness!”

The glowing band began to pulsate with the power of darkness, causing several people in the crowd to gasp. Sain gripped his right arm and groaned in agony, as though struggling to contain the malicious powers inside him from rushing out.

Melia’s attention, however, was focused on something else: The sound of heavy panting coming from beneath the helmet.

“...Is it just me, or is someone seriously running out of breath?”

Immediately, the noise stopped.

“Holding your breath now? Probably not a good idea, considering you already sound like you’re about to pass out.”

He couldn’t fool Melia.

“Wow. You’re really struggling to force out your energy, aren’t you?”

“N-No, I’m not! Th-This is totally involuntary! I swear, it’s just coming out on its— Hack! Augh!”

Sain’s desperate explanation was cut short by a violent fit of coughing brought on by oxygen deprivation in the midst of extreme fatigue. The dark pulses around his arm also vanished, his reveal now punctuated by no more than his own labored breathing as he stumbled over to the crystal ball.

“Teacher of unknown name... I have come to pit myself against your trial.” His theatrical line was muffled by his helmet.

“...Go ahead.”

The female teacher gave him a weird look, but ultimately nodded toward the crystal in a weary show of acknowledgment. She made no remark about his modified uniform; presumably, she’d already received word from the headmaster.

Sain placed a hand over the crystal, taking a deep breath to calm his nerves.

“O great darkness within me... Heed my call and unleash your energy!”

As he exerted his strength, a small black spark no longer than his fingertip shot through the crystal with a pop. No one in the audience uttered a word; everyone seemed utterly dumbfounded. Sain remained silent as well, nervously awaiting the result of his assessment.

The teacher carefully scrutinized the crystal before speaking.

“Darkkind. Rank F.”

“...What?”

“I said, ‘rank F,’” the teacher repeated in a flat voice.

Sain froze, and a wave of commotion immediately spread through the onlookers.

As the exchanges became louder still, Sain began to laugh, shaking his whole body in the process.

“Mm-hm-hm... It seems I have suppressed too much of my power. Allow me to release some more. Just a little more and my true power shall—”

“Next, please!”

“Wait, hold on! Please! I’m begging you!”

“All right, come on now.”

Melia ambled over to Sain, who was doing the very thing he had declared shameful just moments ago. She bowed politely to the teacher, before grabbing his arm and dragging him from the auditorium.

+ + +

“...What?!”

Sain opened his eyes to see the academy’s sports field. A cloud of dust was carried by the wind, blowing through a number of students jogging on the track and causing them to squint.

“Ah... So it was all a dream.”

“It certainly wasn’t.” Melia was sitting beside him.

“No, it was a dream, damn it! It had to have been a dream! Just let me have this...!”

Sain held his head in his hands and groaned. After the three of them had been assigned their magic ranks, they moved on to the physical assessment.

Even Sain didn’t go as far as to modify his gym clothes, so he was currently wearing the same white t-shirt and navy blue shorts as the other students.

“Are you still moping about that?” Alicia asked, having just finished her run. She dabbed the sweat from her forehead and looked down at him. “Come on. You’re up next.”

Sain slowly picked himself up and, without acknowledging Alicia in any particular way, shambled past her and toward the track. Melia followed closely by his side.

“Master Sain, shall I run with you?”

“...No. You may run at your own pace, my maid.”

“All right, I’ll head to the front then. See you soon.”

Melia scurried off to join the front of the group. To Sain, it felt as though their relative positions on the track carried some kind of philosophical connotation. She was—and always had been—ahead of him, even before the race had started. When the examiner gave the signal, the students launched forward in unison. In no more than ten seconds, Sain had fallen behind the pack.

“See you soon.” Melia repeated as she lapped him.

She seemed to be running further ahead of everyone else.

“See you soon.”

She lapped him again. Sain looked on bitterly as her back moved further and further away, her strides quick and easy.

“See you soon.”

“Do you have— a grudge against— me or something?!”

In the end, Melia had lapped him a total of four times before he finished. Further assessments followed, including tests of muscle endurance, explosive strength, jump height, and flexibility. They covered all aspects of physical ability and took over an hour to complete.

“Wow... You’re seriously good at everything, aren’t you?” The awe in Alicia’s voice was unmistakable. Her comment was apt, too, as Melia’s results were exceptional in almost every category.

“Now, now. Don’t be so modest, Miss Alicia. You were pretty fast, too.”

“I guess so. I mean, I do train on a daily basis. What was your rank?”

“D. I am, as you may have noticed, not exactly bulging with muscle.”

“Ah, same here. It’s a little frustrating that, in terms of pure strength, the boys will always have an advantage over us.”

They continued to chat for a while, sharing their individual assessment results and discussing their general thoughts. It was, Sain thought, very student-like. It suited them well.

Then, Alicia turned to him.

“And you are... seriously bad at everything, aren’t you?”

“...Leave me alone.”

“What was your rank?”

“Prepare to be amazed... E.”

“...Please explain how I’m supposed to be amazed by that.”

“It’s not an F.”

“How does it not sadden you to say that?”

“...It does.”

Alicia’s expression was one of absolute pity. He slowly stood up and headed to the changing room. Once there, he took a quick shower and changed into his uniform before making his way to the final event of the day: The interview.

+ + +

“That’s one heck of a line,” said Alicia.

By the time they arrived, there was already a long line of students trailing from the entrance of the interview room.

The interview was conducted by the headmaster and deputy headmaster, along with the intermediate division’s student council president and vice president. Each student would take their turn sitting down with these four interviewers, with each interview lasting about five minutes. So, despite the long lineup outside, the turnover was surprisingly fast.

“Rank F? You’re joking, right? That’s, like, junior division level.”

News of Sain’s humiliating evaluation had spread like wildfire, and students were already whispering their own accounts of the incident into each other’s ears. As he stood at the center of their hushed commentaries, Sain desperately tried to keep a calm exterior. Meanwhile, Melia and Alicia acted as if they didn’t know him.

After some time, Melia was called for the interview. Sain pressed an ear against the door, but he couldn’t hear anything inside.

Eventually, she reappeared with the same nonchalance as when she had entered.

“So, my maid, what did they ask you in there?”

“Hm... It was mostly about my assessment. They wanted to know more about the results. Also, we had a short chat about my clothing. Apparently, there are a couple other personal attendants in this academy, and they all wear their work clothes everyday, too.”

Thinking back on it, Sain realized that, while he had attracted plenty of bewildered glances so far, Melia had received far fewer than he’d expected. It was an interesting topic to come up in an interview, but there was something far more pressing on his mind: They had asked about assessment results. He could already tell this was going to go badly.

“...All right. Here I go.”

He stepped through the doorway, trying his best to ignore the gnawing feeling in his stomach.

A single chair was positioned at the center of the room. This was in direct view of the four interviewers, who sat with their backs to the windows. From left to right sat the headmaster, the deputy headmaster, the student council president, and the student council vice president.

“Please be seated.”

The deputy headmaster spoke first. She was a brown-haired woman whose scrutinizing glare filled him with immediate despair. The corners of her eyes were touched by the very faint marks of aging.

Sain complied, sitting down without a word.

He traded a quick glance with the headmaster. His hair and beard were both a light gray, and he wore a white and navy coat. Officially, this was supposed to be their first time meeting; he made a mental note not to blow their cover and hoped the headmaster would do the same.

“Your name, please.”

“Sain Fostess.”

He gave a fake name. His family name was, of course, Forth.

Under normal circumstances, identity fraud was grounds for immediate expulsion. Sain, however, had received direct permission from the headmaster.

The deputy headmaster gave the paper in her hand a cursory glance.

“Magical assessment: Rank F. Physical assessment: Rank E. No intermediate division first-year has ever managed to achieve a rank of E or lower on both assessments, so congratulations, you’ve made history. Were you hoping for a prize? Or is this all some sort of elaborate joke?”

Seeing his deputy begin with the verbal equivalent of going for the jugular, the headmaster rushed to placate her.

“Now, now. There’s no need to be so, erm, direct.”

But the deputy headmaster showed no sign of letting up and continued to interrogate Sain.

“Honestly, what have you been doing up until now?”

Sain had no reply. The answer to her question was, of course, the very thing that he wished to keep hidden the most. He enrolled in this academy for a fresh start, and, in doing so, he’d chosen to erase his past.

But this also meant he had nothing to show. His past self didn’t—couldn’t—do anything for his future self. And so he kept his silence.

Eventually, the deputy headmaster sighed.

“I have nothing to say to a student like you. Headmaster, do you have any comments?”

“E-Erm, well, let’s see... You’ll, erm, probably face plenty of challenges across your three years here, but I’m sure a student such as yourself will manage somehow. I look forward to seeing your accomplishments.”

“You seem to have quite a lot of faith in him.”

“Haah?! Faith? N-No, of course not. I have no such thing in the boy!”

She fixed the headmaster with a stare that seemed to question his very sanity. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat before hastily changing the topic.

“S-Say, what about you, Kain? Do you have any thoughts?”

The headmaster looked to the student council president, Kain, whose hair and eyes were both a golden yellow. He studied Sain carefully, a piercing quality to his gaze unlike that of any of the others in the room. It was cold. Unmoving. Almost predatory. Neither Sain’s eccentric clothing nor the headmaster’s exchange incited a reaction from him. He simply watched, as if such antics were all too familiar to him.

Then, he finally spoke.

“Jenifa Royal Magic Academy is unlike any other learning institute. As you know, this academy is committed to ensuring an open door policy; no student who arrives shall be turned away, and no student who leaves shall be questioned further. Our doors are open for anyone, so long as their tuition is paid.”

Kain took a brief pause before continuing his thoughts.

“However... As a consequence, this academy is wholly focused on results. That’s why we have both the highest number of new students and the highest number of pre-graduation student deaths in the kingdom. Are you sure you have the necessary resolve to graduate from this academy? If you are here simply to test your mettle or prove some point, I urge you to leave. Such people are often the first to die.”

As the student council president had said, the academy did indeed observe an open door policy. With the exception of very special circumstances, it never refused entry to a student. It was, after all, even willing to comply with Sain’s request to conceal his identity, a request that would have been out of the question at any other school.

In other words, it wasn’t that Sain had chosen Jenifa Royal Magic Academy above the other academies in the kingdom; it was literally his only option.

Kain’s direct question almost gave the impression he’d seen through Sain’s façade.

“No problem.” Sain could feel the pressure from the student president weighing down on him, but looked him in the eye as he answered nonetheless. “I have a dream, and this academy is merely one stop on my journey to fulfill it. You ask whether I have the resolve to graduate? I think you’re missing the point. Let me put it this way: Once I’ve learned everything I can here, I’ll be gone before you know it.”

Sain meant it. Having no other choice didn’t mean he was unaware of Jenifa’s reputation for harsh competition. That was why he actually held out some hope for the academy.

However, should it fail to meet his needs and its learning environment turn out to be a waste of time, he would not hesitate to drop out. His goal was his dream. Graduation was beside the point.

“Now aren’t you a fascinating one...” Kain allowed the slightest hint of a smile. “Let me put your fears to rest, then. This academy is home to a multitude of challenges left to us by our predecessors. I don’t know what your dream is, but you were right to come here. ...I expect great things from you. I hope you won’t disappoint me.”

His words sent a wave of emotion through the other three interviewers, in particular the student council vice president, who now sat with her mouth agape. Kain, for his part, was completely unmoved by the commotion.

“Emilia, any words from you?”

“No, nothing.”

The vice president, Emilia, immediately composed herself, punctuating her response with a subtle shake of her head. Her long blue hair complemented her finely formed features, and she exuded a presence that showed she was in every way her president’s equal.

They had each climbed to the top of this intensely competitive academy, occupying the first and second spots. While they were still students, they were definitely not to be underestimated.

And so Sain’s interview came to a close, and he was ushered out of the room. As the door closed behind him, he let out a deep breath.

“Hey, you’re done.”

“Welcome back.”

He was greeted by his two companions.

“So, how did it go?”

“I’m not sure. I thought I was answering their questions seriously, but... their response was pretty harsh.”

“Huh... Geez, now you’re making me scared, too.”

It seemed there were indeed things that could scare the otherwise brazen Alicia.

“The headmasters are one thing, but the other two... As students, we’re technically all equals, so they don’t need to mince words. They’re both really strict, too... What did they say to you?”

“Oh, the president had a question for me. Though, at the end, he did say he expected great things from me...”

“No way! You can’t be serious. The president? That president? Said he was expecting great things from you?”

Alicia didn’t even attempt to mask her surprise.

“Y-Yeah. He did. I mean, I don’t know whether he meant it, but...”

“The president always means what he says. But, still, I can’t believe this... That president... And you...”

“...Is it really that surprising?”

Alicia pursed her lips in a way that suggested the answer was complicated.

“That president... He’s not human. Well, I mean, he is, but, like... He’s so good at everything that he doesn’t seem human. People call him a living legend. Be it in strength or smarts, he’s miles ahead of everyone else. He could probably take on every single student in this academy at once and still walk away without a scratch.”

“He’s that strong?”

“He is. We’ve both been at this academy since our junior division years, and I’ve never seen him lose. At anything. Ever. He’s smart, and his accomplishments as student council president are so highly regarded. The thing is, he’s just so much better than all the other students that he’s, like, hard to approach. And he doesn’t try to approach anyone, either. Not unless it’s for work. So he has this reputation for being cold and detached, like he’s just not interested in anyone else... And now, you’re telling me he told you he’s expecting great things from you? Honestly, I’m still not sure I believe you. You could tell anyone else here who was with him in the junior division, and they’d be just as skeptical.”

“I see. So, what you’re saying is... Our president is a true connoisseur of talent.” Sain broke out into a pompous grin, as though he were a dignitary who’d just been reminded of his importance. “He must have sensed my true power... Mm-hm-hm. Not bad. The man knows genius when he sees it.”

“...All right, ‘fess up. Are you exaggerating or just making this up entirely?”

“Hah! This is neither fiction nor exaggeration.”

Alicia continued to eye him with the utmost suspicion. But, eventually, her gaze drifted to her feet, and she whispered in a feeble voice:

“Must be nice to have people believe in you.”

And at that very moment, she was called for her interview.

“Here I go then.”

She approached the door with a heavy expression. Sain opened his mouth, but before he could find the right words, it had swung shut behind her.

“...Are you feeling a little down, Master Sain?” Melia spoke in a whisper that only he could hear.

“I can’t hide anything from you, can I?”

“Well, I have been with you for a long time. Was it something they said during the interview?”

At Melia’s earnest urging, Sain began to confide to her a meandering stream of thoughts.

“They asked me what I’ve been doing up until now. And I had no answer. And... they’re right. What have I been doing all this time? I just kept relying on the blessing of the goddess. I never trained. I never improved... I mean, of course I’d flunk both assessments. What was I even expecting?”

“...You’ve been trying your best, though, right? You always have.”

“No, I haven’t. None of my skills were gained through hard work. I didn’t earn a single one of them.”

A tremendous amount of power had been bestowed upon him at a young age. As he continued to use it, however, its significance began to fade. It started to feel natural—normal—to have the power, and before he knew it, it no longer felt exceptional. Having taken this power for granted for so long, parting with it left him with an especially stark awareness of his own inadequacies.

As Sain sank deeper and deeper into self-loathing, Melia’s expression clouded with an emotion rarely seen from her—concern.

“Master Sain, I know you have this all planned out, but... are you really sure you want to go through with this? To live as a darkkind?”

“Yeah. It’s the best way to become a dark knight, so that’s what I’m going to do.”

Seeing her master’s stubborn insistence to follow the path he had chosen, Melia reluctantly yielded.

“...As you wish, then.”

During the magical assessment, Sain had falsified his magical genus. The test was meant to be conducted with the examinees in their natural state; if someone were to consciously focus on a certain element during the process, it would distort the test and the result would show whatever element the person was thinking of.

Normally, nobody would do this, because faking their aptitude would only serve to cripple them. Sain, for example, would proceed through his curriculum as a darkkind. His classmates would receive an education befitting their aptitudes, while Sain would have to struggle with an element for which he had no natural gift. Motivated though he was, it wouldn’t change the fact that he would learn at a far slower pace.

“On a different note, how did the conversation with the student council president actually go?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, it would be a pretty big problem if he really was enough of a ‘connoisseur’ to sense your real power.”

“That’s probably giving him too much credit. I don’t know what that guy was thinking, but, as you can see, I’m currently covered in magical seals. There’s simply no way he could have sensed the goddess’s power...”

Sain inspected the ornaments he was wearing, starting from his neck and working his way down toward his fingers. When he reached the silver chain hanging from his belt, his eyes widened.

“...It’s broken.”

One of the links had been damaged. A deep crease formed across his brow.

“Do you have any idea how it happened?”

“Not the slightest... This isn’t good. I don’t have any spares on me; I wasn’t expecting one to break so fast.”

“Do I recall a certain someone claiming they’re ‘made to last’?”

“Yeah, you do. And he meant it. ...What? Don’t look at me like that. I checked them when we did the durability test, and they held up fine. This thing is solid... Well, it was, anyway.”

Its supposed durability aside, now that it was broken, he needed a replacement. Fortunately, it was the only one of his seals that was damaged. He figured he must have exerted himself a bit too much during the magical assessment, so, as long as he was careful, he shouldn’t need to worry about it happening again.

While he was mulling over the situation, the door to the interview room opened and the headmaster stepped out. Alicia’s interview didn’t seem to be over, and yet the headmaster immediately approached Sain.

“Sain, do you have a moment?”

“Sure... Good timing. I’d like to ask you for a favor as well.”

“Oh? Very well. Then let us take this someplace else.”

Sain followed the headmaster as he moved away from the other students.

“Isn’t Alicia’s interview still going on?”

“Ah, it’ll be fine. They don’t need me there. What I want to ask about, though... is the academy’s barrier. Did you manage to finish up your work?”

“I did. As requested, I strengthened it for you.”

“Ah, wonderful. You never fail to impress, Sir Knight.”

“...Please, don’t call me that. Right now, I’m just a student. Nothing more.”

“You ask the impossible... Normally, you would be of a far higher standing than me. It’s not easy approaching your superior as a peer, you know? ...I thank you for strengthening the barrier. As promised, I shall hide your identity to the best of my ability. However, know that there are limits to concealment. Please keep your behavior within reasonable bounds.”

“Understood.”

“Now, I believe you wished to ask for a favor?”

“Yeah. One of my magical seals broke, and I’d like a replacement...”

“Hm. That’s definitely an urgent matter... Consider it done. Would something similar to the others you’re wearing suffice? One that blocks light energy?”

“Mmhm. That’ll do.”

“All right. I’ll send for it right away.”

Sain let out a sigh of relief. His magical seal issue seemed to be resolved.

“I must say, though... That outfit... While I did give you free reign over your clothing to facilitate your use of magical seals... don’t you think this is a bit much? You’re one heck of an attention magnet.”

“Really? I figured this was on the modest side...”

The headmaster rubbed his temples.

“...I’m the one who has to justify this to the teachers, you know?”

Then, he leaned in and whispered:

“In any case, I’ll have the seal sent to your dormitory by the end of the day. Just hold out until then.”

With that, he returned to the interview room.

+ + +

The next morning, Sain awoke on his hard bed and stared at the ceiling; the number of stains was a strangely pleasant reminder he had set foot in a new world. To shake off any lingering sleepiness, he leapt to his feet.

“...A no-show today, huh?” he murmured to himself, the tingle of dryness in his throat. He hadn’t had his usual dream, and, without it, the morning felt just a little bland.

He threw open the curtains to a sky just beginning to brighten. It was still early, but it was critical for Sain to get through his morning agenda.

First, he had to do his hair. It took some tinkering to get it to fall over one eye in a way that looked natural.

Then came the accessories. He followed a meticulous routine, going through each step carefully to ensure he hadn’t forgotten one. Rings and necklaces—absolute essentials. Ear piercings—slightly asymmetric designs to add flavor. Belt—custom-made with top and bottom straps that crossed over one another. Chains—draped around the hip for good measure. By the time he was done, he was jangling like a bag of coins.

Finally, he looked at his jet-black uniform hanging on the wall.

“Hm. I get chills every time. A true masterpiece.”

He walked over to the mirror and—bam! Bam! Bam!—struck a couple of quick poses to make sure his posing game was still on point. He then picked up a watering can by the sink and headed out to the balcony where a potted plant awaited him, flowers abloom.

He watered it.

“You adorable thing, you.”

Sain then finally exited his room, but not before he’d taken an unusually long moment to admire Jessica. Jessica was, of course, the name he’d given his potted plant. In his mind, it was a name that meant “the blue fruit of bliss.”

“Good morning, Master Sain.”

Outside his room, Melia was waiting in full maid garb.

“Mm, good morning.”

Not only were the dormitories in Jenifa Royal Magic Academy mixed, they were massive, holding two thousand junior division students and three thousand more intermediate and senior division students. Though there were a number of dormitory buildings students could be housed in, Sain and Melia had specifically requested to be assigned neighbouring rooms.

The morning sun gradually seeped in through the windows, painting the hallway a warm orange. Sain squinted as he peered outside, taking in the scenery.

“Hm, a good attempt, morning. However, as one who calls the darkness his home, we are like oil and water. Try as you might, we shall never mix.”

“Ugh... It is way too early for this... I cannot deal...” Melia’s expression twisted with displeasure. “Did you have your usual talk with Her Holiness in your dreams?”

“No, actually. She didn’t show up this morning. It’s the first day of school, after all. Even she must have shown some restraint.”

“Aw, would you look at that. Her Holiness is learning to act more mature. She’s growing up.”

“Uhh, yeah... Except I’m not sure what to think about a goddess who makes humans feel like her parents...”

“That lady just loves you too much, Master Sain. There was so much love flowing through her that it spilled into her head and did something terrible to it.”

As the two made their way down the hall, the image of that woman occupied their thoughts.

Sain changed the topic.

“By the way, my maid, I’d just like to point out that you didn’t have to take the room next to mine.”

“You know what they say, better safe than sorry. You know, I actually asked them to assign me the same room as you, but...”

“Oh, come on. Now you’re just being mean. I can handle living in my own room, thank you very much.”

“...That’s not why I asked for the same room.”

“Huh. Then why? Because it’s cheaper than— Augh! W-What was that for?!”

“You deserved it. Every time you mention Her Holiness, you get that dumb look on your face...”

Sain still found himself puzzled by Melia’s outbursts, but chalked it up to the stresses of a new life in an unfamiliar world.

In terms of rooming arrangements, the academy did allow for two students to share a room, but only if they were the same gender. Melia’s request was, therefore, denied.

After a simple breakfast at the cafeteria, they made their way to the academy. The dormitories were located off of school grounds, so their path took them through the nearby town. As they walked up a gentle slope of paved stone, they found themselves in the company of many other students also heading to their first day at Jenifa Royal Magic Academy.

The entrance ceremony took place in the same auditorium where the magical assessment was conducted. Rows of simple folding chairs were laid out across the large hall. Seats didn’t seem to be preassigned, so Sain and Melia headed toward the center where they’d have a good view of the stage. There, they ran into a familiar face.

“Oh, hey, you two.” Alicia waved at them from among the sea of chairs.

After exchanging greetings, they walked over to her.

“...I see someone’s wearing the same get-up today.”

“Of course. This is my uniform.”

For the record, his non-uniform apparel was more or less the same.

The auditorium was alive with the buzz of conversation as the headmaster and his deputy stepped onto the stage. In a matter of seconds, a hush had swept over the room.

“We would now like to commence the entrance ceremony for our new intermediate division students.”

Following this terse introduction by the deputy, the headmaster took the podium.

“I’d like to thank you all for your participation in yesterday’s proficiency assessment. I have already met each and every one of you during the interviews, but please allow me to officially introduce myself. My name is Mort Dartens. I serve as the headmaster here.

“As you may already know, bar a few rare exceptions, our academy welcomes any and all students who knock on its doors. To use an example, I draw your attention to two religions that coexist in this academy: Vicitaelism from the western continent, and Shartegallism from the east. While many learning institutes only accept students of one of these two religions, here at Jenifa Royal Magic Academy we embrace both. Of course, those who are not religious are just as welcome. Take a look around you. As you can see, your peers are of a multitude of races and backgrounds. It is my earnest hope that, by sharing your experiences with each other, you may enrich your minds and expand your horizons.

“But we at Jenifa Royal Magic Academy do not pride ourselves on our student count alone. To do so would be to peddle empty fame. No, at our academy, we provide a learning environment worthy of our name. A learning environment that is the very best in the kingdom—nay, the continent. To see the truth of my words, one need look no further than our labyrinth. For those of you who may be unaware, labyrinths are structures that hide vast amounts of resources, and their ownership is often a point of contention among kingdoms. Brimming with monsters and treasure, they are the very embodiment of risk and return. It is, therefore, almost unheard of for an academy to possess a labyrinth under its own name—‘almost’ because, of course, we are the exception. Our labyrinth is freely traversable by our students, and I encourage you all to take up the challenge.

“In addition, our academy has a partnership with the Adventurers’ Guild in the capital, who have agreed to forward some of the requests they receive on to us. In other words, students will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the field, and, for this reason, our graduates are often in very high demand. In fact, I do remember one of our graduates last year was accepted into the Loribanian Royal Guard. It was undoubtedly one of my proudest moments.”

Even though the headmaster, Mort, focused his speech on the glories of the academy, nobody in the audience was under any illusion about the trials and tribulations that went unmentioned. It was true that the academy offered a peerless environment for learning, but it was also this environment that earned Jenifa Royal Magic Academy the moniker “Hell on Earth.” It wasn’t as though the labyrinth and the guild requests existed as isolated challenges for the capable and brave, either; these brutal, unforgiving “opportunities” were in fact a part of the curriculum. No matter how unwilling they might be, all students would be forced to endure their ordeals.

Once the headmaster had finished, his deputy ran through the schedule for the events to follow, speaking as tersely as she had during her introduction.

And with that, the ceremony concluded.

One by one, the students rose from their seats, many dramatically throwing their limbs out as they stretched their stiffened muscles.

“Shall we go, then?”

Lectures would be starting soon, but before then, they had to check their class assignments.

In front of the school building, a crowd had gathered around a wooden bulletin board on which each student’s assigned class was posted. Performance in the proficiency assessment was taken into account when dividing up the students, but it was apparently not the only consideration.

“With all that talk about a competitive, merit-based system, I thought they’d just split the classes based on the assessment rankings.”

“That happens from the second year. There are some students who might seem weak now, but then turn out to be quick learners. Consider this year a grace period for those people to shine.”

“I see. Another way to look at it is that, if you’re still a straggler by the end of this year, then that’s when you’ll have truly failed.” Sain accompanied his words with a nod of comprehension.

“Now, let’s see which class each of us are...”

Sain read through the names on the bulletin board until he found his own, which was listed under “class four.” Melia turned out to be in the same class, which might have been the school doing them a favor. Looking further down the list, he also noticed Alicia’s name.

“Ugh... Same class...” she muttered with disgust.

“What’s the matter, Miss Gold? Is there a problem with you being in the same class as us?”

“W-Well, no. Not, like, a problem, but...”

“I believe what she means to say is, ‘Oh god, am I seriously going to be in the same classroom as this weirdo? Geez, this is going to be one terrible year.’”

“R-Really? Is that true?”

“No! No, that’s not it! It’s because I...” Despite her quick denial of Melia’s interpretation, Alicia trailed off without an explanation. Her expression darkened and, eventually, she responded with a quiet, “You’ll see what I mean.”

Sain met her with a puzzled look, but received no further response.

And so the three headed to their shared classroom.

+ + +

The interior of the school was every bit as lavish as its exterior. Open, spacious, and impeccably clean; it was the kind of atmosphere that fostered a desire to learn.

Feeling particularly energized, Sain stepped through the doorway to his classroom. A number of students were already inside, all of whom stared in his direction. Their gazes moved from Alicia, to Sain, then to Melia, lingering on the “dark knight” and his maid in particular.

Sain’s demonic uniform was no doubt the main cause of all the attention, but that didn’t seem to bother him. His previous life had made him extremely used to being the center of attention, and so he walked up to a nearby chair, unfazed, and slumped into it.

“Welcome to class, everyone. I’m your homeroom teacher, Elina Rastania,” said the lady at the front of the room. By the time she had taken her place at the lectern, almost every seat had been filled.

“As this is our first class together, I’d like you all to introduce yourselves.” She turned to the blackboard and, using a piece of white chalk, listed three things: “Your name,” “something about you,” and “a spell you’re good at.”

“This year, we’re going to have each of you show us a magic spell you’re good at, though let me remind you that this isn’t a competition. Now, let’s start by the window and work our way round.”

The practice of showing off a spell as a demonstration of one’s ability was not limited to students. It was fairly widespread, and even most adults kept a flashy spell or two in their back pocket in case they needed to flex their skills.

None of the students raised any issue with Elina’s proposal, and the self-introductions moved along smoothly. One of the students generated fireworks on the spot using balls of fire. Another froze running water into an elegant ice sculpture. A myriad of dazzling performances were on display, each of such high quality that even Sain, who was rather dense about the goings-on of people his age, could tell this was a class of exceptional individuals. No one else here leeched from talents that had been bestowed upon them; each and every one of them had earned their skills through hard work.

Sain tightened a fist. He wanted to become like them, and fast.

He became lost in his thoughts, and, before he knew it, it was Melia’s turn to speak.

“Off I go, then.” She pattered up to the front of the class and stood behind the lectern, where she began her introductions with the same apathetic expression she always wore. “My name is Melia. I’m the personal attendant to that creepy person over there. I’m a fivekind, and my strong elements are fire and water. Here’s my spell.”

She held out her right hand, palm facing up. Then, her petite lips began to move, reciting a series of incantations.

“Water in bloom, scatter into petals of crystal—Worta Nerro!”

Streams of water rose up all around her, falling back down in a shower of translucent petals, each glowing with a mysterious light. They materialized out of nowhere and lasted for only a few seconds before vanishing into the ground with a small splash. But they kept appearing, rising and falling in a mesmerizing show of sound and light. It was a complex spell that demanded immaculate control from its user.

The whole class found themselves entranced by the impressive spectacle.

“Marvelous. The spell we just saw requires a very high level of control over magical energy. Mastery over a spell like this suggests that Miss Melia here is capable of an array of other spells, too. I look forward to your future accomplishments.”

“Thank you very much.” Melia received Elina’s praise with a quick bow.

Meanwhile, Sain was starting to sweat. An impressive performance had the effect of drastically increasing the pressure for the next performer. That was stressful enough, but Melia was also Sain’s attendant. He could feel the expectant gazes around him wondering what marvels her master would have in store.

This was his school debut—a moment for the history books. Failure was not an option.

Once he had traded spots with Melia at the lectern, he steeled his nerves and spoke.

“The name is Sain Fostess. As is evident, I am he who inherits the power of fallen angels.”

Someone in the class gave a dry laugh.

“A powerful darkness sleeps within me. However, due to its sheer power, I do not yet have full control over it. The reason I came to this school was to gain mastery over this dark power of mine. I suppose that will do for introductions... Now, allow me to show you my magic.”

After setting the stage in a way that offered a plausible excuse for his current incompetence, he opened his palm toward the audience and activated his spell.

“Darku!”

A small black ball the size of a fist appeared in his palm with a sharp pop. “Darku” was beginner darkness magic that involved the solidification and ejection of dark energy. It was an extremely simple spell, requiring little in the way of both fuel and fine control. In fact, as its classification suggested, it could be easily picked up even by beginners in the junior division.

After displaying the magical equivalent of a cheap party trick, Sain’s expression lit up with pride.

“I... I did it! Yes! I really did it! Did you— Ah!”

Only after noticing the cold reception of his audience did he realize his mistake and freeze, hands still raised in celebration. A moment later, he quickly recomposed himself.

“L-Let that be a lesson to you all. A ferocious beast lies within me. T-Tread carefully in my presence...”

His classmates watched mockingly as he stammered through his closing statement.

“Hmph. Go ahead. Laugh if you want,” he said to Alicia in a self-deprecating tone as he plunked himself down on his chair.

To his surprise, however, Alicia made no attempt to laugh. Her expression remained dark as she stood up.

“I wish I could...” she whispered in a heavy voice.

Taking her position at the lectern, she introduced herself in the same despondent manner.

“My name is Alicia Remia. This is my spell.”

Sain had only met Alicia the day before, but they had interacted enough for him to have a rough understanding of her character—a character that was at odds with the cheerless introduction she had just given.

“Orb of fire, purge with raging flames—Flare.”

A large ball of fire grew from her palm. The process was similar to Sain’s “Darku” spell. The scale, however, was incomparable. A dense mass of flame the size of a human head floated steadily in the shape of a perfect sphere.

But, despite this impressive feat, there was a hint of shame in the way Alicia regarded her own spell.

“What, not gonna cast a light spell?” a student hollered at her from one of the back rows. “What’re you playing with fire magic for, you fraud? Clan of Light, my ass!”

“Hey! Quiet back there!”

The teacher reprimanded the heckling student, but it was already too late; their words couldn’t be unheard. They had reached everyone in the room, Sain and Melia included.

“...I’m done.”

Alicia made no attempt to rebuke the vile comments. Instead, she bit her lip and returned to her seat, her face twisted into an unmissable scowl of pain and frustration.

Once the self-introductions had concluded, it was time for lunch break. In an attempt to cheer Alicia up, Sain and Melia convinced her to show them to the cafeteria.

“Sorry for keeping it a secret,” Alicia apologized in a weak voice. She hadn’t touched anything on her plate. “Here. This is the result of my magical assessment.”

She pushed a small piece of paper across the table toward Sain and Melia. It read, “Genus: Lightkind. Rank C.”

“The Remias... My family belongs to the Clan of Light.”

Her explanation was terse, but it was all Sain and Melia needed to hear to understand her circumstances.

A clan referred to the practice of ensuring a family’s descendants all belonged to the same magical genus, and a person’s genus was dependent on their bloodline. In other words, by allowing only select blood into the lineage, a family could increase the chance of its descendants being born into a certain genus.

The Clan of Light, as its name suggested, was a lineage focused on producing lightkind, so it was likely that Alicia’s parents and grandparents were all lightkind as well.

“For the Clan of Light, it’s terribly shameful to have a descendant who’s not lightkind. Fortunately, I am, but... whenever I try to use light magic, no matter what I do, it always becomes fire magic.”

“What?! No way!”

Pure shock caused Sain to slap the table and leap to his feet.

“Crossing categories is like leaping a canyon. The fire magic you showed us during your self-introduction... That was truly impressive. I mean it. Unless you’re fivekind, it shouldn’t be possible to reach that level of mastery in fire!”

Sain was still reeling. The acquisition of magic beyond one’s aptitude... That was literally his wish—the very thing he’d been pursuing all this time. It took someone like Sain to fully appreciate the anomalous nature of Alicia’s statement—to understand its true significance—because he’d been there. He’d tried his hardest, but the wall he’d come up against was of an insurmountable height.

“I didn’t master it. It’s... probably faster to show you. Flagus!”

Alicia cast the beginner-level fire spell, “Flagus.” A small ball of flames appeared in her palm.

“Here. Try touching it.”

“...Huh?”

“It’s fine. Come on. Give me your hand.”

She grabbed his left hand and pulled his fingers into the flame.

“W-Wait! Stop! No! Auuugggh— Huh? It’s... not hot?”

Sain had expected the sickening stench of roasting flesh, but it never came. He didn’t even feel hot. Instead, there was a pleasant warmness in his fingers.

“My fire magic is all for show. It doesn’t burn anything. I couldn’t even warm up this soup.” She tapped the bowl on the table with one finger. “The most I can do with it is... maybe scare someone. Remember yesterday? I saw my life flash before my eyes when I ran into you. I was so relieved when I found out you weren’t an intruder. If you really were, that would have been it for me. I would have been helpless.” Alicia’s misery deepened as she spoke, and she seemed to be on the verge of tears. “I pretty much lied to you, didn’t I? I’m sorry. I should have told you earlier...”

Sensing her frustration, Sain responded in a calm voice:

“...No one will blame you for keeping it a secret. It’s not an easy thing to talk about, after all.”

“Exactly. If anything, Master Sain is the weird one here. I’ve seen dragons with thinner skin than him. If anyone with normal sensibilities got an F on their magical assessment, they’d spend the rest of their life hiding in their room in shame.”

“Damn it, maid. Would it make you happier if I did go hide in my room in shame?”

In spite of the heavy atmosphere, Sain and Melia traded their usual jab and retort. The routine elicited a giggle from Alicia.

“You two never change, do you?”

Seeing her expression brighten, Sain and Melia exchanged a quick smile as well.

“Miss Gold, what are your own thoughts on this matter? Are you happy using just fire magic? ...Or do you still wish you could use light magic?”

The question caused Alicia to look down at her feet. Her lips trembled ever so slightly.

“...All the teachers at school tell me to learn fire magic. Compared to my light magic, which hasn’t ever shown even the slightest sign of materializing, my fire magic is at least usable, even if only on the surface. Over and over again, they say that I’m just doing it wrong, and that, if I keep practicing, I’ll be able to use proper fire magic one day.” She paused. Then, she turned her face up to meet Sain’s gaze. “But I want to use light magic.”

Her eyes wavered, but the spark of determination in them did not. She continued.

“There are a few people who support me. Even someone like me... They’re mostly family. My mom and dad, too. They never push me. They said that, even if the clan’s lineage ends with them, they’re fine with it as long as I’m happy. But... I don’t want that. I want to live up to their expectations. For my ancestors, and my family, I want to be strong... I want the power of my clan. The power of light. That... is my goal.”

“I see...”

Alicia spoke in fragments, but the emotion behind her words was clear. Sain could feel her frustration toward a reality determined to thwart her, and the unyielding hope that kept her plowing forward.

He looked her in the eyes, his expression serious.

“Miss Gold, this struggle of yours... When did it start to trouble you?”

“Huh? Um, I think when I was ten? Before then, I still believed in the possibility that—”

“Ah. It seems that I just edged you out,” he said with a flick of his finger. “I was first.”

The two girls listened as Sain launched into his own backstory.

“We’re two of a kind, you and I. There’s something I’ve been seeking for many years now. But, I still don’t have it. I’ve grasped at it time and time again, but no matter how close I seem to get, it’s always out of reach. My endeavors so far have earned me nothing but burdens. This is why I’ve come to this academy. I’ve become a student here so I can gain that which I desire. I know that during my self-introduction I said I came here to master the power of darkness that sleeps within me. ...That was a lie.” Sain looked down with a pained expression. “I apologize for tricking you.”

“Uh, you didn’t really trick me. It’s not like I believed anything you said.”

“Wait, what?”

“...What?”

“...U-Um, okay. That’s fine.”

It wasn’t fine. In fact, it hurt quite a bit. But he chose to push her words to the back of his mind for now.

“In any case! As a veteran in such matters, I have some advice for you. Listen well, young one! For as long as you strive to attain light magic, you must steel yourself against all other temptations. Anything else that may lead you astray should be ignored, else it will surely lead you to compromise.”

“Uh... So...”

“We as humans respond strongly to hostility, and we can reject its advances. However, partial friendliness proves to be far more troublesome. There will be moments when its whispers reach us, and we forget our true desire, allowing it to lead us astray. My point is, be on guard for things like those. That, in my opinion, is how you maintain the will to see your pursuits to their end.” Sain folded his arms across his chest in silent affirmation of his own resolve. As someone who shared his struggle, he trusted that Alicia would listen to his words.

“Um, just so I know for sure...” Alicia looked at him with wide, earnest eyes. “You’re saying you support me, right?”

“That’s right.”

“You’re not going to, you know... make fun of me?”

“Of course not. Like I said, we’re two of a kind.”

“...Right.”

Alicia stopped stirring her soup. She slumped back in her chair and threw her head back, staring idly at the ceiling for a while before speaking again.

“You know, I was thinking about this in the classroom, but... You really have another side to you. I mean, you look like one of those people who tend to stand out in the most annoying ways, but you’re actually... nice? And you can be pretty persuasive. Almost like...”

Her eyes wandered upward as she trailed off, as though she was looking for the right word to describe him. Having listened to her concerns and consoled her, Sain felt a slight sense of excitement at her impending words of praise.

“I’ve got it! You’re just like a priest!”

“Gyeeeeeeeeh?!”

“What?! What’s the problem?!”

“Not a priest! Anything but a priest!”

Sain dropped his head into his hands and groaned. Alicia’s remark had dealt a mortal blow. There were so many other choices. She could have said a counsellor, or a teacher—anything else, really. But no. Of all things, she had to pick the one he couldn’t stand to be likened to.

“By the way, you never mentioned what that thing you desired actually was. Why did you come to this academy?”

“Hm? Oh, uh, well...”

“Hey, I just spilled my guts for you. Let’s see some reciprocity.”

Sain considered his situation. It was something he had to keep secret back in his homeland, but now that he was in a new environment, it shouldn’t really matter if everyone found out.

“I want to become the dark knight,” he announced with the utmost confidence.

“‘Dark knight’? You mean... the dark knight?”

“Indeed.”

“That’s... a tough one to cheer for.”

“Why?!”

“Well... I know the two knights are equally famous, but, like... Look, the holy knight is one thing, but there really aren’t a whole lot of people aspiring to become the dark knight.”

“Because the holy knight is the one who saves the good, and the dark knight is the one who punishes the evil? Is that what you mean?”

“Yeah, basically.”

There existed two deities in this world: the goddess Vicitaelia, referred to by the people as “Her Holiness,” and the god Shartegallia, who was similarly known as “His Holiness.” They each had their own “chosen one”—the holy knight and dark knight, respectively—who were selected to receive their blessings.

However, these two gods were fundamentally dissimilar. While Vicitaelia existed to save the good, Shartegallia existed to punish the evil, and their chosen knights would also reflect these natures. The holy knight was granted the power to save and protect those in need, and his feats were rightly hailed as noble and heroic. The dark knight, however, specialized in slaying the villains and monsters who threatened the world. His deeds, therefore, were drenched in blood and savagery.

The two stood as equals, both chosen warriors of the gods. But the people’s admiration was vastly skewed toward the holy knight.

“Hmph. You simply don’t understand! That ominous aura... and the endless depths of dark magic that swallows all in its path... No one knows just how much darkness resides in his form. Perhaps he even made a pact with a great demon... But alas, you poor girl; how tragic it is for you to not understand the beauty of the dark knight. You have my pity.”

“I’m not poor and I don’t need your pity. With that said, though... It all makes sense now. No wonder. So that’s why you’re so weird. It’s all because of that. ...Melia, it must have been so hard for you.”

“It really has been. All this time... All the sweat and blood...”

Sain watched with curious incomprehension as the two girls shared a moment of deep empathy.

“Look, I don’t want to rain on your parade, but how do you actually intend on becoming the dark knight? You have to be chosen by one of the gods to become either one, right? Other than that... you can also have the power handed down to you from the current knight, I think?”

“Correct. You seem to know a lot about this.”

“No, I’m pretty sure this is just common knowledge.”

“...Did you know the blessing of the gods strengthens the magic of the knights?”

“Yeah, that’s pretty well known, too. The holy knight uses light magic, and his counterpart dark magic, so they’re known as the apex of their respective categories. The highest lightkind, and the highest darkkind.”

“Correct again. To put it simply, the dark knight is the most powerful dark mage in the world. However, consider this: What happens if someone appears who’s an even more powerful dark mage than the dark knight? In all likelihood... the dark knight would bequeath his blessing to the newcomer, because he would make better use of such powers.”

“H-Hold on a minute. What? So, you want to get better than the dark knight? You’re trying to become stronger than someone who has literal godly power when you’re only human?”

“That’s right. It’s probably the only way.”

“...Have you considered, like... I don’t know... getting cozy with the current dark knight, maybe?”

“A knight chosen by the gods won’t give his power to me just because we’re friends. Throughout history, the knight’s mantle has always been passed down to the most suitable candidate. If I can become someone who deserves that mantle, the dark knight might even come and seek me out.”

Sain spoke with such conviction that Alicia had no words. She merely stared at him, her mouth agape.

“You must think I’m a lunatic. It’s a fair opinion. Even I understand the steepness of my path.”

“...I don’t think you’re a lunatic. I’m just surprised. You normally act like such an idiot... and, honestly, this plan of yours is pretty idiotic as well, but... it actually makes sense.”

“Of course. I refuse to compromise on my dream. I’m serious about becoming the dark knight, so I always think about it seriously. It doesn’t matter how hard it might be. It’s my dream, so I decide when to quit. And I never will, so, therefore, I am invincible!”

“Okay, you’ve definitely stopped making sense.”

Sain puffed his chest out confidently nonetheless. He had meant every word. It sounded absurd to Alicia, but she couldn’t help but let out a laugh.

“I take back what I said. You are just an idiot.” She focused her gaze on him, eyes squinted as though she were dazzled by a brilliant glow. “But you helped me to feel better. Even someone like you has a big dream you’re chasing after... I can’t afford to lose now, can I?”

She smiled. It was a radiant smile; pure, and unmarred by worry or concern.