Certainly — here is the English translation rewritten in a **novel-style narrative**:
***
It had been more than five years since Alen was adopted by Andreas.
In that time, he had endured countless exercises, battles, and trials that shaped both his body and mind into something far different from what he once had been. The weak and uncertain child of the past was gone. In his place stood a young man who had been hardened by discipline, sharpened by experience, and tempered by a life that never allowed him the luxury of hesitation.
Now, after all those years, he stood before the gates of the greatest magic academy in the kingdom: Asnia Academy.
The most prestigious academy in the land, a place where gifted students and noble heirs alike gathered under one roof.
Alen muttered quietly while staring at the towering gate before him, his expression unreadable.
"Academy, huh?"
The word left his lips as though he were trying to taste it, to understand whether it suited him or not.
## Asnia Academy
Asnia Academy rose upon elevated grounds, surrounded by a vast wall of white stone laid with the precision of a fortress built for the gods. Its main gate was forged from black iron and engraved with intricate patterns of magical circles and wings of birds, a proud emblem of the institution's prestige. Beyond the gate, the main building stood in magnificent splendor, its high towers piercing the sky, stained-glass windows reflecting the morning light, and long corridors connecting the classrooms, library, training arenas, and the students' dormitories.
To the people of the kingdom, Asnia was not merely a school. It was a symbol of the future, a place where family names were forged into history, where noble reputations were preserved, and where the strongest youths were trained to become knights, mages, or leaders of tomorrow.
Many noble families sent their children here not only for knowledge, but also for influence, connections, and honor.
At the same time, the academy accepted talented students from common backgrounds as well, a fact often praised as proof of its openness. Yet in practice, the difference in status could still be felt in the way students looked at one another. Noble children walked with their chins raised, often accompanied by personal attendants, while those of humble birth had to prove themselves again and again just to avoid being dismissed.
Asnia, for all its grandeur, was still a stage where ambition, talent, and pride clashed without mercy.
Alen looked over everything with calm eyes, but within him there was a strange sense of distance he could not quite hide. This world had long since become his home, yet before the academy gates, he still felt like someone stepping into a new chapter of life.
## First Steps
As he passed through the gate, the faint sound of shoes and boots echoed across the wide stone courtyard. The scent of freshly cut grass mixed with the cool air of the morning. New students stood in small clusters, some looking nervous, some boasting about their backgrounds, and others pretending to remain calm despite the obvious tension in their shoulders.
Alen swept his gaze across the scene. The academy uniforms worn by the students were refined and expensive, tailored with delicate detail that spoke clearly of high quality. The emblem of Asnia rested over the left chest, and each class seemed marked by different colored ribbons. Everything felt orderly, disciplined, and far removed from any sense of wildness or simplicity.
Then his thoughts drifted back to the past.
In Cyrus's era, the magic school he had once known was far simpler. Its buildings were not grand, there were no lofty towers or stained-glass windows, and even the training halls were often little more than stone fields with crude wooden pillars. There was no air of aristocratic luxury, no overwhelming sense of noble pride. What it had instead were strict teachers, ambitious students, and a system that demanded results rather than appearances.
"Completely different," Alen thought.
"In my time, a magic school was only a place to train. Here, they've turned it into a palace."
Even so, he did not look down on it. On the contrary, its grandeur made the academy seem like a place full of rules, secrets, and rivalry. If there was anything he wanted to uncover about this world, Asnia might be the best place to begin.
## Opening Ceremony
Not long after the students had gathered, a great bell rang from the main tower. Its voice rolled across the academy grounds, signaling the beginning of the new student reception ceremony. The students were guided toward the central courtyard, where a high stage had already been prepared. Banners bearing the academy crest fluttered beside it, while the teachers stood in a solemn row with serious expressions.
At the center of the stage, a woman stepped forward.
She wore a white-and-gold headmaster's robe, decorated with silver lines that gave her an air of elegance and authority. Her hair was neatly arranged, her eyes sharp yet warm, and she moved with such composure that it felt as though the entire courtyard had been waiting for her arrival.
Her name was Alinda, the headmaster of Asnia Academy.
When she began to speak, the entire courtyard fell silent.
"Welcome to Asnia Academy," she said, her voice clear and firm, carrying easily to the back rows. "Here, you will learn, fight, fail, rise again, and grow. Some of you come as nobles, some as commoners, and some as those called gifted. But here, every title means only one thing: a starting point."
The students listened intently.
"At Asnia, we do not merely teach you how to use magic. We teach you how to understand it, how to bear the responsibility it brings, and how to endure when the world refuses to treat you fairly. This academy has given rise to heroes, royal mages, army commanders, and guardians of the realm. But remember this: glory is never given freely. It must be earned."
Alen watched Alinda quietly. There was something in the way she spoke that reminded him of strong leaders from his past: not loud, not overly dramatic, but every word carried weight.
Alinda continued, "While you remain here, become students worthy of being remembered. Do not bring only your family name. Bring your ability. Bring your honor. And above all, bring the will to keep moving forward."
The ceremony ended with applause that was far from uniform. The nobles clapped politely, the commoner students did so with enthusiasm, and a few simply stood in silence, absorbing the atmosphere. To Alen, the speech was enough to confirm one thing: Asnia Academy was not merely a place to study, but a field where the next generation would be shaped.
## Meeting Zerius
After the ceremony ended, the students began to disperse toward the dormitories and classroom buildings. The atmosphere in the courtyard quickly grew more lively. Small groups formed as introductions were exchanged, awkward laughter spread, and a few noble students immediately started showing off their superiority.
Alen was walking through the corridor toward the dormitory when a young man stepped into his path.
He was slightly taller than average, with a straight posture and a handsome face that carried an elegance impossible to ignore. His academy uniform was worn with perfect neatness, as though even the folds of the fabric had been carefully calculated. But what stood out most was not his appearance alone, but the calm confidence in his gaze.
"I'm Zerius Veletano," he said, extending his hand. "Of House Veletano. You may have heard of it."
Alen stared at the offered hand for a few seconds before taking it.
The name Veletano was not unfamiliar. The family was known as one of the noble houses most beloved by magic itself. Not only because of their inherited talent, but because they seemed to possess a natural closeness to the flow of magical energy. In the conversations of teachers and nobles alike, the name Veletano often came with admiration, and at times with a hint of envy.
"Alen," he replied briefly. "Alen d'Andreas."
Zerius's eyes widened slightly at the name, then he gave a small nod.
"So you're Andreas's son. That explains why