Orith Magical Academy.

Anyone in the Westside Kingdom, and even people outside of it, had naturally heard of this name. It was one of the most famous and prestigious magical academies in the Central Continent, founded by the Archmage Salter one hundred years ago. Even though it was not as ancient as other learning institutions, the quality of education it had provided over the past decade was top-notch, producing powerful figures with the title of Archmage every ten years.

Naturally, it was hard to enter this academy, which kept producing elites one after another. A lowly and average mage with mediocre talent couldn't possibly hope to enter such a grandiose paradise. Only those who had proven themselves talented enough to master magic were granted permission to enroll.

If Valiance had tried entering this academy without the recommendation letter, it would have been extremely tough for him to enroll. Maybe if he somehow managed to enter, it would have taken four or five tries. However, there was a strict rule at Orith that anyone could only attempt the entrance test twice before being permanently forbidden from trying again.

Valiance looked at the massive gates of Orith, with a huge steel arch above them bearing the words: "Welcome to Orith Magical Academy!"

He gulped, clearly nervous, clutching the recommendation letter in the pocket of his white robe. Looking at the sheer number of young men and women going in and out of the academy, one could easily imagine the reputation Orith held among the people of the Westside Kingdom.

"Alright, Valiance, don't be a nervous wreck," he muttered to himself, trying to calm down. "You can do this. You're Kalli's son, after all. He'd laugh at you if he saw you like this."

The thought of Kalli's reaction made him smile slightly, but it quickly faded into sorrow. Shaking his head, Valiance forced himself to banish the negative emotions gathering in his mind. He had no time for this.

"Let's see…"

Valiance pulled out a small scroll depicting Orith’s outer area. He studied it briefly before rolling it back up and moving forward. As he entered the academy, a wave of people came and went, and he accidentally bumped into someone.

"Sorry," he chuckled nervously before continuing toward his destination.

After a few minutes of walking, he finally arrived at his goal: Orith's registration office. However, there was a massive problem—an enormous line of people waiting to get in. At the end of the line, a teacher was processing enrollment forms. It seemed there was more to the process than just filling out some paperwork.

If Kalli were here, that old man would probably lose interest upon seeing this. Valiance chuckled to himself, recalling how he'd first met him. That guy didn’t even bother following the usual process.

The heat of the sun was merciless, blazing down on the people in line. Although Valiance was used to harsh weather from his adventures a couple of years ago in the Mihara Desert—one of the world’s most famous deserts, filled with sand monsters—he still felt uncomfortable, especially with the stench of sweat from the crowd.

He pinched his nose slightly and began breathing through his mouth. While he wasn’t accustomed to this, it was better than enduring the unpleasant odor.

Hours passed, and the sun began to set. Valiance was now near the counter, second in line. As soon as the person ahead of him got their application approved, Valiance eagerly stepped forward.

"Form," the teacher in charge said coldly, not even bothering to look at him as she adjusted her hair in a hand mirror.

It seemed even at Orith, there were people like this—those who infiltrated every corner of society.

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Valiance silently snickered and pulled out his recommendation letter, handing it over.

The teacher took it without glancing at him, but then her fingers brushed against the texture of the paper. Could it be?

She looked at the letter, her eyes suddenly lighting up. A beaming smile replaced her fatigue as though all the exhaustion from working in the heat had dissolved in an instant. It was a recommendation letter written by the Dean himself! What was even more surprising was that the letter had originated from the headmaster.

Just who is this guy?

The teacher scanned Valiance with great interest, but her smile slowly faded. He felt…ordinary. He looked young and fresh, yes, but he didn’t have the appearance of a noble or the demeanor of a prodigy. He was completely unremarkable.

The teacher frowned, glancing at the letter again. "Is this letter yours?"

"Yes," Valiance nodded. "Is there a problem?"

"No," the teacher shook her head furiously, though doubt crept into her mind. "What’s your name?"

"Valiance Esteban," he replied immediately.

"Valiance…" the teacher muttered, the name striking her as unusual. "Your name is…interesting."

"Many people tell me that."

"Are you sure this letter is authentic?"

Valiance began to feel uneasy. The teacher didn’t seem interested in processing his registration. It felt more like an interrogation.

"I’m sorry, but why would anyone forge a recommendation letter?" he countered. "That’s a serious crime."

The teacher’s expression darkened, tempted to lash out at him, but she restrained herself. This boy likely had connections to the headmaster.

Maybe he’s pretending to be ordinary to test me?

The more she thought about it, the more she believed her guess was right. As Valiance had said, no one would dare forge a recommendation letter. If that was true, then this Valiance might be a prodigy from a noble family.

"Alright, I understand," the teacher said, signing the letter before standing up. Turning to the line behind Valiance, she announced, "Come back tomorrow! The application process for today is officially closed!"

"Aww, man!"

The crowd groaned as they dispersed toward the gate. The teacher smiled warmly at Valiance. "Welcome to Orith Magical Academy! I’m Professor Ayanna Blackrose, a mentor in magical theory."

"Nice to meet you, Professor," Valiance said softly, bowing respectfully.

"It’s getting late. We’ll finalize the process tomorrow," Ayanna continued. "For now, I’ll grant you access to the dormitories."

"Thank you for your kindness."

"It’s nothing," Ayanna chuckled, shaking her head. Please give me a good evaluation, Mr. Esteban.

---

"This will be your room, Mr. Esteban," Ayanna stated as she handed him the key. "Just call me if you need anything. There's a teacher-summoning button on the wall inside—just don't use it as a prank."

"Thank you," Valiance replied respectfully.

After the teacher left, Valiance inserted the key into the keyhole and twisted it, producing a satisfying click from the other side. Pushing the door open, he stepped inside, his eyes widening in fascination.

The interior of the room was simple but cozy. The walls were painted white, and in the corner sat a medium-sized bed that looked incredibly soft, large enough to fit two people comfortably. On the opposite side, there was a faucet and a small refrigerator. Seeing the modern amenities reminded Valiance of something old man Kalli used to say whenever he encountered such inventions: "These are cheap imitations of the real things from Earth!"

"Excuse me, but who are you?"

Valiance shivered slightly at the sudden voice coming from behind him. He wasn't a fan of surprises, being easily startled. Turning around, he saw a girl standing in the doorway, just half an inch shorter than him. She had short black hair and striking blue eyes. Dressed in Orith Magical Academy's official student robe, with its signature black and blue design, she exuded a sharp and cold aura. In her arms, she held a small mountain of books.

"I...was told this is my room," Valiance said nervously.

"Really?"

"Really," he nodded fervently, trying to avoid any misunderstanding that might lead to him being called a pervert on his first unofficial day—or night.

"Was it that old hag Ayanna?" the girl asked, her tone cold.

"Yeah, I think so… Oh, yes, that's her name."

"Whatever," she muttered, walking into the room and placing her books on the wooden table.

"You're not going to chase me out?" Valiance asked, surprised by her lack of protest.

"No," she replied simply. "Just remember your boundaries. I'm not going to set rules since I assume you have common sense."

"Y-yeah…" Valiance nodded absentmindedly before a thought popped into his mind. "Wait, wait! How is this even possible? A boy and a girl in a single room!?"

"Nothing new," the girl replied nonchalantly. "Orith changed its dormitory rules three decades ago. Mixed rooms are allowed now—students of any gender can share the same space. You're not well-informed, are you?"

"No," Valiance admitted, his face blank with the weight of his ignorance rather than embarrassed.

I have vast knowledge of magic thanks to the old man teaching me everything he knew. I even know a lot about the world. But mundane things, like Orith's rules? Totally out of my depth.

"Anyway," Valiance said hesitantly, "I'll just sleep on the floor if you don't mind."

"I don't mind," the girl replied without hesitation, "although the rules say no one should sleep on the floor."

"There's a rule for that?"

Valiance's expression became peculiar at the absurdity of the rule. Even something as simple as sleeping on the floor was prohibited! Didn't they know it helped realign the spine and improve posture?

Before he could ponder further, his thoughts were interrupted by a book flying straight at him. He caught it effortlessly, despite being unprepared. "What's this?"

"The rulebook. Read and memorize it."

"Oh, okay," Valiance chuckled awkwardly, flipping through the thick volume.

The girl narrowed her eyes. "Go to sleep. Classes start at 5."

"So early?"

Valiance glanced at the wall clock and noted it was already 7 in the evening. He sighed with relief. At least he still had a bit of time.

"Do it," the girl said firmly. "I don’t feel comfortable sleeping while there’s a boy awake."

"Figures."

Sighing helplessly, Valiance lay down on the bed, sinking into its unbelievable softness. It felt like some kind of magic was woven into the mattress. As soon as he settled in, a wave of sleepiness washed over him.

Just before he succumbed to darkness, he caught a glimpse of the girl staring at him coldly. Then, nothing.