— Morning – Training Ground
Last day.
I stood on familiar ground—scars of battle still etched into the dirt, faint mana lingering in the air. Eight years of training, and it all led to this.
The wind was colder than usual. Quiet. Like even the mountains were waiting.
Across from me stood Lunareth.
White hair. Crimson eyes. An aura that could make warlords kneel. Her dress? Still clean. As always.
"Don't hold back," she said. "Treat me as your final enemy."
I nodded. "Yes, Master."
No hesitation. I dashed forward.
Steel cut the air. Mana surged.
She didn't flinch—just tilted slightly and dodged. Then countered. A sharp burst of cold mana exploded at my feet. I blocked just in time, slid back, then went in again.
Feint. Low slash. Parried.
Her response was clean—textbook-perfect. And the next second, pressure hit me like a wave. I was thrown back.
"You can move faster than that, Ren."
Yeah. I knew that.
Got up. Adjusted my stance. Tried again.
My breathing got heavier. Cuts burned. Grip started to slip. But I didn't stop.
Eight years. I wasn't about to give up now.
I launched my final attack—all-in, no holding back.
She caught it. One hand.
A gentle push of mana knocked me to my knees.
Game over.
She walked over. Calm. Silent. Then spoke.
"You're strong enough now. Even if you didn't beat me… the world will know your name."
She held out her hand.
I looked up. She was smiling.
Not the cold kind. A real one.
I lowered my head. "Thank you, Master."
The exam wasn't hard.
Magic theory, combat tactics, spell formations. Everything I'd crammed into my head for years showed up.
I finished the written part in half the allocated time. Some evaluators glanced at me—probably wondering how a commoner without a crest could solve formulae most nobles failed.
Let them wonder.
Next was the combat test. Duel format.
My opponent? A noble with an expensive sword and zero real experience. He charged with flashy footwork. I parried, shifted my weight, and ended it with a clean strike to his side.
He collapsed.
Silence.
I stepped back, bowed, and walked off without waiting for the announcement.
— Afternoon – Present Time
Exams done. Results pending.
I walked aimlessly through the academy courtyard, hands in my pockets. The sun was setting. The kind of orange glow that made the stone pathways look almost peaceful.
I wasn't in a hurry.
Then I saw her.
Long blonde hair. White robe. Sitting under a tree like she didn't belong in this world.
She stood up the moment our eyes met.
I stopped.
Her gaze lingered—too long to be casual. Her expression shifted. Recognition? Confusion? Both?
She walked toward me, unsure but steady.
"You…" she said, voice quiet. "...the boy from that night."
— Three Years Ago – Flashback
The monster escaped the city perimeter.
I chased it without thinking—off the road, into the woods. No backup. Just me, a rusty blade, and adrenaline.
Bad decision.
I lost it near the crossroads—then ran straight into a passing carriage.
Hard metal. Pain. A blur of dust and horse hooves.
I hit the ground and didn't move for a few seconds. My shoulder was a mess.
"Perimeter, secure it. Stay alert."
A voice. Calm, commanding.
She appeared soon after.
Blonde hair. White robe. Clean, even out here.
She knelt beside me. No words. Just checked the wound, placed her hand on it, and cast the spell.
A warm glow. The pain dulled instantly.
I blinked. Tried to speak.
Then I heard the monster again. Snapped back to reality.
I got up and ran—leaving her behind.
— Back to Present
I raised an eyebrow. "Wow. You actually remembered?"
She didn't answer. Just nodded.
"That day… you healed me.thank you"
"I don't forget the eyes of someone I've healed"
The evening breeze rustled gently through the leaves above us. For a moment, neither of us spoke. We just… watched each other.
"My name is Elysian," she said at last. "Saint of the Central Temple."
Abviously, Anyone could tell just by your aura
"I'm Ren," I replied with a small grin. "Nobody important. Just a guy who enjoys hunting."
Her face remained unreadable, but I caught a slight shift in her gaze. A subtle twitch near the corner of her eye. Maybe she almost smiled—or maybe I was imagining it.
"And what brings you to the academy today?" she asked.
"Boredom," I said honestly. "Enrollment's done. Nothing better to do than wander around."
She nodded slightly. "You live in the capital?"
"Yeah. Near the northern market. Small place, but it's home."
Elysian studied me for a second, then turned her eyes to the sky, now tinged with shades of orange. "I thought… you weren't from here."
I shrugged. "I feel that way sometimes too. Life inside the city feels like a different world compared to the outside."
She nodded again, quietly.
I took a deep breath and leaned against the tree trunk. "What about you? A Saint—usually surrounded by guards—and now you're here, alone. Why?"
She glanced at the academy, then back at me. "I just wanted to see this place. Tomorrow, many things will begin."
I nodded slowly. "You're not taking the exam?"
"No. I'm… observing. On behalf of the temple."
Of course. A Saint has nothing to prove.
We fell into silence again. But strangely, it wasn't awkward.
I smiled faintly. "Hey… do you like basilisk skewers?"
She tilted her head. "What… is that?"
I chuckled. "Only the best street food in the entire capital. A bit gamey, tough to chew, sometimes gives you stomach cramps—but addictive."
For the first time, her expression changed. She looked at me like I was some strange creature.
"You've… eaten it?"
"Once," I said proudly. "And I survived."
She shook her head slowly—and for some reason, her lips curved ever so slightly. Barely there, but enough to make me pause.
"In that case… perhaps I should try it sometime."
I laughed. "Then it's on me. My treat."
— Walking Through the Capital
We strolled through the cobblestone streets toward a shop rumored to sell everything an academy student might need. The streets were growing lively with examinees and townsfolk out enjoying the evening.
A group of children ran past us, laughing as they clutched cotton candy.
"Look! That sister looks just like Saint Elysian!" one of them shouted, pointing at her with wide eyes.
"Hey, don't say it too loud," I whispered conspiratorially, leaning toward them with a grin. "She might faint from embarrassment."
The kids laughed and scurried off, still glancing back at her.
I turned to her. "So? You get that a lot? Maybe there's an illegal market selling your face."
She lowered her head slightly, a faint blush creeping across her cheeks. "I don't really like being the center of attention…"
"That's a shame. With a face like that, you could sell cereal. Or soap."
Elysian glanced at me briefly, then turned away again—but I caught the small smile tugging at her lips.
We walked side by side through the narrowing path, the golden hue of the setting sun casting long shadows on the stone road. The area around the academy was mostly empty at this hour, save for a few stubborn street vendors still peddling their wares.
I pointed toward a narrow alley near the corner.
"There. Tiny shop, but their basilisk skewers? Unmatched."
Elysian looked hesitant.
"A place like that…?"
I grinned. "Well, if you don't mind sitting on a half-broken rocking chair surrounded by the smell of charcoal, you'll be fine."
She didn't refuse.
A few minutes later, we arrived at a small food stall with a torn canvas roof. The smell of grilled meat hit us immediately—sharp, burnt, but oddly mouthwatering. The owner, an old man with sharp eyes and a sauce-stained apron, greeted us with a nod.
"Two specials, please!" I called as I took a seat on the wooden bench.
Elysian sat across from me, careful. Even in her simpler robes—not the ceremonial kind—she looked entirely out of place at that rickety table.
"I've never eaten in a place like this," she murmured.
"Then it's a valuable first experience," I said, offering her a tin cup filled with water.
Soon, the food arrived. Skewers of glistening, smoky meat. The aroma hit hard—my stomach growled.
"If you're scared, I can do the first bite test," I teased.
She gave me a sharp look, then, surprisingly, picked one up and bit the edge.
Her eyes widened a little.
"…You weren't lying."
I chuckled. "I may be weird, but I'm not a liar."
We ate in silence after that. The good kind of silence—the one where you don't feel the need to fill the space. I watched as she ate, slow and thoughtful, like she was analyzing a rare potion.
"So," I said eventually, "do you ever think about that boy you met that night?"
She looked up. Calm eyes, but something… deep behind them.
"Not often. But I remember him."
I smiled faintly. "And now we're eating grilled meat together. Funny, isn't it?"
She nodded. "Funny."
By the time we finished, the sun had disappeared. Lanterns lit the streets, and a quiet peace settled in. A strange warmth lingered between us—unspoken, fragile.
"Thanks, Ren," she said softly.
"Anytime. If you ever crave this again, just look for me."
The next morning, I received the letter.
Dark blue seal. My name etched on the envelope. The academy's name printed at the bottom like some divine decree.
A few minutes later, a courier dropped off the uniform.
My parents screamed from the other room. Joy. Shock. Chaos.
I just sat there, staring at the fabric in my hands.
So I got in.
It still didn't feel real.
Now, I stood at the entrance of the main hall.
My steps were steady, but my chest felt off. Not nervous, exactly. More like… misplaced.
Like I belonged here, but something was still wrong.
The hall was massive. Tall ceilings. Marble floors. Magic crystals embedded into the walls, glowing faintly. A crowd had gathered near the large announcement board, probably checking test results and rankings.
I had just entered Class when I saw her.
A girl. Alone in the far corner of the room. She wasn't talking. Wasn't even moving. Just sitting—rigid, still—like someone who had lost everything and was waiting for the world to catch up.
I couldn't stop looking at her.
Strange.
Familiar?
I took a step. Then another.
Then a voice tore through the noise.
"Y-You?!"
The room fell silent. Every head turned toward me.
Including hers.
She stood up.
And ran straight toward me.
Before I could process anything, she threw her arms around me.
Tight. Shaking.
She was crying.
"You're alive… You're really alive…"
I stood there, stunned.
…I don't know this girl.
My arms stayed awkwardly at my sides.
"…Sorry," I said. "Do we… know each other?"
She pulled back just enough to look at me. Her fingers touched my cheek gently, trembling. Like I was something fragile.
"You don't remember me?" she whispered. "It's me… Iris."
…Iris?
The name hit like a distant echo. Like a bell in a fog—faint and unclear. I didn't feel recognition. Just… something trying to surface and failing.
I said nothing.
"Isn't that the guy ranked fifth?"
"The one who beat his match without magic?"
Whispers filled the room.
I looked at her again.
"Iris?" I said, unsure. "Sorry… I think this is the first time we've met."
She froze.
Then the tears came again—harder this time.
"Huuuuaaaa!!! You really don't remember me!!"
I panicked.
"E-Eh, wait—my shirt's getting soaked—"
The whole room was staring now.
Iris realized it too. Her face turned bright red. Without another word, she turned and bolted from the hall.
I just stood there.
Watching her disappear.
And yet… deep inside, something stirred. A strange resonance. As if—maybe—I really was supposed to know her.