A morning breeze greeted Shouta and Lydia's long journey. Under the cloudless blue sky, the carriage drawn by two black horses glided slowly on the cobblestone road. Enjoying the view of the vast grassland that stretched on both sides of the road.

"So, are you ready for this, Shouta?" Lydia asked, breaking the silence.

Shouta smiled a little, looking away from the road to her. "I don't know, Lydia. I know it's a big step, but there's a lot that still feels foreign to me."

"I understand," Lydia replied with a smile, her tone softer than usual. "But you've grown a lot. You're stronger, more confident, and most importantly-you're no longer the confused newbie you once were."

Hearing that, Shouta chuckled. "Thank you for your support. I wouldn't have gotten this far without you and Master Orlin."

Lydia nodded, satisfied to see the positive change in Shouta.

However, the quiet moment ended when a low growling sound came from the bushes ahead. Two giant wolves with pitch-black fur and fiery red eyes came out of the bushes, showing their long fangs. Its roar echoed, warning of danger.

"Shouta, watch out!" Lydia warned.

Shouta was already preparing with her magic, both hands raised. When one of the wolves jumped towards her, she moved her hands quickly. Magical energy sparkled in the surrounding air. "Lydia, I'll take care of this."

"Don't be so arrogant," Lydia replied, though she stepped back to give him space.

Shouta clasped his hands, and blue flames ignited in his palms. With one swift motion, he created a giant fire spear that floated in the air.

"Fire Spear." said Shouta softly.

The spear shot out with incredible speed, piercing through the giant wolf's body until it burst into flames. In an instant, the monster collapsed, unable to fight back. sending small shards of fire into the air. Meanwhile, Lydia leapt towards the second wolf, her sword slashing quickly, making blood splatter on the ground.

"Anything else?" asked Shouta, keeping watch.

"Looks like that's it. Come on, we're on our way," replied Lydia, cleaning her sword.

As the sun began to lean to the west. they saw something in the distance. A luxurious horse-drawn carriage with the imperial crest on the side of its doors, surrounded by six armed bandits. Two bodyguards lay motionless on the ground, while the sound of screams could be heard from inside the carriage.

"That carriage... Look at the emblem. It's from the Qinlin Empire!" exclaimed Lydia.

"We have to help!" replied Shouta.

Seeing the bandits surrounding the chariot, Shouta and Lydia sprang into action. Lydia went first with her sword, facing three bandits at once.

Shouta stood behind, surveying the terrain. "Wind, listen to my orders," he said softly. Green energy surrounded her, forming a magical circle in the air.

He raised both hands, and suddenly a strong wind blew, creating sharp blades that struck several bandits in the vicinity. Their screams could be heard as their weapons bounced off and their bodies were blown away.

One of the larger bandits attempted to attack Shouta from behind, but Shouta simply moved his fingers. A large fireball shot out, burning the bandit to the ground.

"How can someone like her be just a slave?" one of the bandits cried out in fear, before Lydia dispatched him with a swift slash.

Meanwhile, Shouta created a wall of ice to protect the carriage from the arrows shot by the other bandits. "Lydia, the left side is clear!"

"Okay!" Lydia finished off the last enemy with one swing of her sword, looking at Shouta with satisfaction.

After the battle was over, the carriage door slowly opened, and two young girls stepped out. The first girl had long golden hair that was neatly styled, adorned with a small crown on top of her head. Her dress was red with gold embroidery, signifying high status. She stood tall, though her face showed obvious relief.

"I am Althea von Zephyrion, second daughter of King Zephyrion of the Qinlin Empire," she said in a soft and graceful voice.

Shouta and Lydia immediately bowed, realizing who was before them.

The second girl had dark brown hair that was simply tied up. Her face was friendly, with bright blue eyes that radiated curiosity. Her clothes were not as fancy as Althea's, but still showed that she was of noble origin.

"And I am Helena De Varent, daughter of Duke Varent of the southern region, I saw your fight earlier, at first I doubted you could win against the bandits, but you were very good, your fight was truly mesmerizing. He added with admiration.

Shouta was still silent, feeling nervous and embarrassed in front of them. But Lydia, with her stern demeanor, immediately replied. "We just did what was necessary. Thank goodness you weren't hurt."

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Althea bowed her head slightly in thanks. "We are truly grateful. If it wasn't for you, we might have died at the hands of those bandits."

Helena added, "We were on our way to the Great Magic Academy of Astoria. But seeing this incident, we don't feel safe to continue our journey alone."

Lydia looked at Shouta, then back at the two girls. "We're heading there as well. If you don't mind, you're welcome to join us."

Althea smiled slightly, feeling relieved. "That would be very helpful. Thank you again."

During the journey, they talked about many things. Talking to each other to strengthen the relationship.

Shouta and Lydia stood in front of Helena and Althea, exchanging glances briefly before Shouta began to speak.

"Sorry, we didn't get a chance to introduce you," Shouta said, smiling lightly. "My name is Shouta. I just started as an adventurer in the guild a few months ago."

Lydia chimed in, "I am Lydia, daughter to Lord Viscaunt Malorne. I am trained in the sword arts as well as magic. It is an honor to meet the princess."

Helena and Althea looked at each other before Helena asked, "Shouta, Lydia... If I may know, who taught you magic and swordplay? I think you two's skills are really amazing."

Shouta frowned for an instant before answering, "We were trained by Master Orlin. He is a very experienced teacher in magic and swordplay. I learned swordplay from Lydia.

However, as soon as Master Orlin's name was mentioned, Helena and Althea's reactions were very surprising. Their faces turned slightly shocked, as if hearing an unexpected name.

Helena finally spoke up, "Master Orlin? Wait... Master Orlin, the leader of the Magic Tower in the Qinlin Empire? He taught you two?"

Lydia and Shouta exchanged glances, their faces also full of excitement. "Yes, that's right," Shouta said, still surprised. "We didn't expect Master Orlin to be so famous. We knew he was great, but we didn't realize he was the leader of the Magic Tower."

Althea looked even more shocked. "The leader of the Magic Tower? Master Orlin...? From the rumors I heard, he is one of the greatest magicians in this world. I never thought he would accompany a noble family like Lord Viscaunt."

Lydia nodded slowly. "We were also surprised. Apparently, Lord Viscaunt hired Master Orlin to train us. We never knew their relationship was that close."

Shouta remained silent for a moment, thinking about what she had just heard. "Apparently, we were very lucky. Wouldn't have thought there was any other reason why Lord Viscaunt put so much emphasis on our training."

Helena smiled gently, clearly impressed by their confession. "That's wonderful. Then you were truly trained by one of the most respected men in the world. No wonder you two are already so strong."

Althea smiled too. "I think we are all very lucky to meet here. To meet Master Orlin's disciple in person."

Shouta and Lydia looked at each other, feeling more and more confident about their trip to the Astoria Academy of Great Magic, which now felt more and more full of possibilities.

After a long journey, the night passed quickly. The next morning, they arrived at the gates of the Astoria Academy of Great Magic. A magnificent building with a crystal tower that reflected the sunlight stood in front of them. The magnificent academy building was architecturally graceful and detailed, with statues of legendary wizards carved into every corner.

Shouta looked on in amazement, mesmerized by the size and beauty of the place. Even Lydia, who was more accustomed to similar environments, smiled slightly at Shouta's expression of awe.

Students from all walks of life walked proudly, most of them wearing luxurious clothes, signaling their high status.

Shouta stared at the scene in amazement. "So grand... like another world," she murmured.

Lydia gave a small smile. "This is just the beginning. You should be prepared for more than just beautiful scenery."

Althea and Helena seemed calmer, though the stares of those who realized who they were were starting to catch on.

They quickly made their way to the registration desk, where the academy staff recorded their names and handed over the entrance exam schedule.

"All new students are required to undergo a four-stage exam to determine your eligibility, as well as placement in classes based on ability," the staff said. "You are welcome to the main hall to begin your exams."

Stage 1: Attribute Test

In the great hall, a giant blue-lit crystal emitted a magical aura. Each student was asked to place a hand on the crystal to measure their magical attributes.

When Shouta's turn came, he stepped forward. Whispers began to be heard from the other students, especially a group of noble children wearing fancy clothes.

"He looks like a lowly adventurer. Does he really deserve to be here?" one of them said in a mocking tone.

Shouta ignored the comment, placing his hand on the crystal. Blue light instantly flashed brightly, followed by alternating green, red, and white sparkles. The intensity increased, leaving everyone in the hall speechless.

"All the basic attributes... with incredible intensity!" one of the professors exclaimed.

The noble child who mocked earlier snorted. "There must be a fault in that crystal. There's no way an ordinary person like him could have that much power."

Shouta stared at them sharply, but chose not to respond. Inwardly, he thought, I don't need to prove anything to them.

When Lydia's turn came, her attributes were also impressive. Red and green light dominated, signaling extraordinary talent in the elements of fire and wind. The professors nodded in satisfaction.

Althea and Helena's turns were no less interesting. Althea's attributes were dominated by the light element, while Helena had balanced strength in the earth and water elements.

The group of noble children began to feel threatened by their presence.

"Looks like we'll have to make sure they know their place," muttered one of the nobles sarcastically.

Stage 2: Magic Usage Exam

The next stage was the magic exam, where students were asked to demonstrate their abilities in front of the professor.

When Shouta's turn came, he stepped forward, taking his position. The students looked at him curiously.

Shouta raised his hand and pretended to cast a spell, even though he knew he didn't need to. Master Orlin once said, 'If you demonstrate your abilities without a spell, it could disrupt the magic system and attract unwanted attention.'

By reciting a simple spell, Shouta created a large blue fireball that floated in the air. The fireball then turned into small fragments that danced in the air before disappearing.

Professor looked on in awe. "Your magic control is amazing. Your magic power is also very great."

"Flawless magic with perfect control... he can't be just an ordinary adventurer. This kid is special," muttered one of the professors, while jotting down something in his journal.

However, one of the noble children was not having it. He came forward, cutting off his turn.

"I am Orven of House Trisalle. A noble son of a Caunt. A lowly person like you doesn't belong here." The boy said firmly.

"You give too much credit to someone like him. I will show you what real magic is," he said.

He tried to create fire magic, but the flames he produced were too large and uncontrollable. The Professor immediately intervened to stop him.

"Fool! You almost harmed everyone!"

Shouta just shook his head, feeling the action was unnecessary.

The noble child showed an angry expression to Shouta. "You... This lowly child..." He muttered.

After the magic test was over, Shouta felt that the eyes of the students and professors were getting sharper, as if his every move was being closely watched. Although he was just an ordinary adventurer, his outstanding abilities in the world of magic and swordplay made him impossible to ignore.

However, behind all the attention, there was one thing that helped Shouta to be in this place-the recommendation of Viscaunt.

"Viscaunt, who saw tremendous potential in Shouta from the start, did not hesitate to give him a direct recommendation. That recommendation opened the door for Shouta to receive intensive training from Masters Orlin and Lydia, who are highly reputable. Not only that, Viscaunt also suggested that Shouta be accepted into the best magic academy in the Qinlin Empire, a place where she could further hone her skills. All of Viscaunt's help and care made Shouta more than just an ordinary adventurer-he was given the opportunity to grow beyond what most people his age could achieve."

Stage 3: Sword Use Test

In the sword test, each student was asked to fight a magical wooden puppet. Shouta demonstrated a smooth and efficient technique, cutting through the puppet in a single slash.

The other students, especially the noble children, could only be stunned.

Lydia was no less impressive, defeating the puppet with a combination of sword techniques and minor magic. Althea and Helena, though not as skilled as Lydia, showed resilience in the face of challenges.

The group of nobles began to lose confidence. One of them tried to bully Lydia, but she confronted them firmly.

"You'd better stop looking for trouble, or I'll make sure you're punished," she said sharply.

After all the exams were over, the results were announced in the main hall.

"A total of 200 students have been admitted to the Astoria Academy of Great Magic. You will be divided into four classes based on ability: Class S, A, B, and C. Here is the list of class students," a professor said while pointing to a large board.

When Shouta's name was seen first on the Class S list, the hall suddenly went silent. All eyes were on her. Whispers soon followed.

"Where is Shouta from?" a student whispered to his friend.

"I don't know. But looking at her clothes and face, she's definitely not from a noble family," another replied.

Shouta sighed, trying not to care, but Lydia stepped up beside her and tapped her on the shoulder. "Come on, you deserve to be here."

"I'll be in Class S? With the other nobles and geniuses?" Shouta said doubtfully. Shouta remained calm, though he thought to himself, "This is just the beginning. I still have a lot to prove. I'm looking forward to my life at this grand academy.”

To be continued…