Morning at the Royal Magic Academy felt completely different from the ceremony day.
No applause.
No speeches.
No nobles pretending to be polite.
Today—
Reality began.
—
The academy grounds were vast, far larger than Lucy had imagined. Towering buildings stood like silent guardians, each dedicated to a different field of magic. Training arenas echoed with the clash of steel and spells, while the air itself carried faint traces of mana.
Lucy stood at the entrance of the academic wing, observing everything calmly.
Beside her, Shilfa stretched lazily.
"I thought academy life would be elegant and peaceful…"
Lucy glanced at her.
"And now?"
Shilfa pointed toward a distant training field where an explosion suddenly occurred.
"I think I might die before graduation."
Lucy let out a small laugh.
"You'll survive."
"Confidence or blind hope?"
"…Both."
—
"Hey."
A voice interrupted them.
Lucy turned.
A boy stood there—tall, composed, with sharp eyes and slightly messy dark hair.
Cain.
He crossed his arms.
"You two are in S-Class, right?"
Shilfa raised an eyebrow.
"Wait… YOU are also S-Class?"
Cain smirked slightly.
"Yeah. Try not to slow me down."
Shilfa immediately stepped forward.
"Excuse me?! I'll outrun you before you even cast a spell!"
Lucy sighed softly.
This is going to be troublesome…
—
A loud bell rang across the academy.
Students began moving toward their assigned classes.
—
S-Class.
Also known as—
Elite Class.
—
Unlike normal classes filled with dozens of students, S-Class had only a handful.
The best of the best.
Those with either overwhelming talent…
Or terrifying potential.
—
As Lucy, Shilfa, and Cain entered the classroom—
They immediately noticed the difference.
Silence.
Not the awkward kind.
But the heavy kind.
Every student there…
Was strong.
—
A girl with crimson eyes sat near the window, casually flipping a dagger in her hand.
A boy with glasses was reading a thick magic tome, ignoring everything around him.
Another student radiated pure mana pressure without even trying.
—
Shilfa whispered—
"Yeah… I don't like this."
Lucy calmly took a seat.
"This is where we belong."
Cain smirked.
"Exactly."
—
Moments later—
The door opened.
—
A tall woman walked in.
Sharp eyes.
Cold aura.
Long black coat flowing behind her.
—
"I am Instructor Seraphine."
Her voice was calm… yet carried authority.
"I will be responsible for S-Class."
—
No one spoke.
No one dared to.
—
She looked around the room.
Her gaze stopping briefly on Lucy.
Then Cain.
Then Shilfa.
—
"Let's begin."
—
She turned toward the board and wrote—
MAGIC HIERARCHY
—
"Before you think about becoming powerful…"
She spoke without turning.
"You must understand what power is."
—
She drew a structure.
—
1. Mana Sensitivity
2. Mana Control
3. Spell Formation
4. Spell Execution
5. Magic Intent
—
"Most mages fail at the first two," she said.
Shilfa raised her hand.
"Wait, people actually fail at sensing mana?"
Seraphine turned slowly.
"Yes."
Shilfa blinked.
"…Oh."
Cain chuckled quietly.
—
Lucy watched carefully.
Absorbing every word.
—
Seraphine continued—
"Mana is everywhere. But sensing it is not enough."
She tapped the board.
"Control defines your limit."
—
She raised her hand.
A small flame appeared.
Then—
It split into ten smaller flames.
Each perfectly stable.
—
"Anyone can create fire."
Her voice remained calm.
"But not everyone can control it."
—
Shilfa leaned toward Lucy.
"I can barely control one…"
Lucy whispered back—
"Same."
Cain heard them and smirked.
"Amateurs."
—
Seraphine suddenly flicked her finger.
One flame shot toward Cain—
—
He reacted instantly.
A barrier formed.
Blocking it.
—
"…Not bad," Seraphine said.
Cain smirked proudly.
—
Then—
The barrier cracked.
—
And the flame lightly tapped his forehead.
—
"OW—"
The class went silent for a second.
Then—
Shilfa burst out laughing.
"HAHAHA— S-Class genius!!"
Cain glared.
"That was intentional."
Lucy covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
—
Seraphine turned back.
"Overconfidence leads to failure."
—
Lesson one—
Learned.
—
After theory—
Came practical training.
—
The students were led to a massive training ground.
Divided into sections.
Magic casting zones.
Swordsmanship arenas.
Combat fields.
—
Shilfa looked around with sparkling eyes.
"Okay… now THIS is academy life!"
—
Seraphine spoke—
"You will now demonstrate your current level."
"Magic first."
—
Students stepped forward one by one.
—
A boy created a wind vortex.
Another froze a target instantly.
The crimson-eyed girl—
Summoned blades from shadows.
—
Shilfa whispered—
"Why does everyone look like final bosses…?"
Lucy smiled slightly.
"Because this is S-Class."
—
"Lucy Augustus."
—
Her name echoed.
—
She stepped forward.
Calm.
—
She raised her hand.
Closed her eyes.
—
Mana gathered.
Smoothly.
Naturally.
—
Then—
A formation appeared.
Complex.
Precise.
—
A sphere of light formed—
Then expanded into multiple layers.
Each rotating differently.
—
The instructors watching from afar—
Narrowed their eyes.
—
"…Perfect control."
—
Lucy opened her eyes.
The spell vanished instantly.
—
Silence.
—
Then—
Seraphine nodded slightly.
"Excellent."
—
Shilfa jumped.
"MY TURN!!"
—
She rushed forward.
Raised her hand dramatically.
"Watch this!"
—
Mana gathered—
Unstable.
—
A fireball formed.
—
Then—
It wobbled.
—
Then—
It exploded.
—
BOOM.
—
Smoke everywhere.
—
Shilfa stood there.
Covered in soot.
Hair slightly burnt.
—
"…I meant to do that."
—
Cain turned away.
"I don't know her."
Lucy sighed.
"Idiot…"
—
Even Seraphine paused for a moment.
"…Control."
—
Shilfa coughed.
"Working on it…"
—
"Cain."
—
He stepped forward confidently.
—
Wind gathered around him.
Sharp.
Precise.
—
He slashed his hand—
—
A blade of wind shot forward.
Cleanly cutting the target.
—
"Good," Seraphine said.
—
Cain smirked.
Looking at Lucy.
"Try to keep up."
—
Lucy simply smiled.
—
Competition… begins.
—
After magic—
Came swordsmanship.
—
Most mages ignored it.
But in the Royal Magic Academy—
It was mandatory.
—
Seraphine picked up a wooden sword.
"Magic alone is not enough."
She pointed at them.
"If your mana runs out… what will you do?"
—
Silence.
—
"Exactly."
—
She threw wooden swords toward them.
"Fight."
—
Shilfa caught hers awkwardly.
"…I regret everything."
—
Lucy held hers properly.
Balanced.
—
Cain spun his once.
"Finally something fun."
—
Pairs were formed.
—
Lucy vs Cain.
Shilfa vs… the crimson-eyed girl.
—
"Wait— WHAT?!"
—
"Begin."
—
Cain attacked first.
Fast.
Direct.
—
Lucy blocked.
Clean.
—
Clack.
—
Their swords clashed.
—
Cain smirked.
"Not bad."
—
Lucy stepped back.
Then forward—
—
Her strike—
Precise.
—
Cain barely blocked.
—
"…Oh?"
—
Lucy's movements were calm.
Calculated.
—
No wasted motion.
—
On the other side—
—
Shilfa screamed—
"WHY ARE YOU SO FAST—"
—
The crimson-eyed girl moved like a shadow.
Effortless.
—
Shilfa tripped.
Fell.
Got up.
Ran again.
—
"I'M A MAGE NOT A WARRIOR—"
—
Lucy almost lost focus hearing that.
—
Cain attacked again.
Faster this time.
—
Lucy dodged.
Countered.
—
Their fight intensified.
—
Even Seraphine watched closely now.
—
"…Interesting."
—
Finally—
They stopped.
Both breathing slightly heavier.
—
Cain grinned.
"You're strong."
—
Lucy nodded.
"So are you."
—
Mutual respect.
—
Meanwhile—
—
Shilfa lay on the ground.
"Tell my family… I tried…"
—
The crimson-eyed girl stood silently.
"…You're weak."
—
Shilfa pointed at her.
"I'll remember this."
—
Training ended.
—
Students rested.
Some exhausted.
Some excited.
—
Shilfa sat beside Lucy.
"I hate S-Class."
Lucy smiled.
"You'll get stronger."
Cain joined them.
"You better."
—
Shilfa threw a stick at him.
"Shut up."
—
Lucy looked at both of them.
—
A small smile appeared.
—
For the first time since entering the academy—
—
She felt it.
—
Not pressure.
Not isolation.
—
But something else.
—
Companionship.
—
Far away…
Deep underground…
—
Something shifted again.
—
The labyrinth…
—
Was still waiting.
—
But for now—
—
Lucy Augustus—
Was exactly where she needed to be.
—
At the beginning of her true journey.