3526 N.C
Sylvania Magic Academy is the world's most prestigious academy for students. Eighteen years ago, when the Great War was still ongoing, it naturally served as a place to train young war heroes.
It was inevitable—as the world's best academy, it produced excellent graduates, and those graduates were drafted into the war.
It's not that Sylvania Magic Academy or the Eldora Kingdom of Elves, where the academy is located, sided with the Pan-Human Alliance.
They officially remained neutral until the end—or so they claim—even if Eldora's Knight Commander was seen fighting against one of the Yodh-rank demons during the war.
It did sour their relationship with the demons, but it didn't escalate too far. Eldora still remains one of the few places where demons are not discriminated against.
In fact, the prideful elves show equal disdain for all races, not just demons.
In the last war, the almighty Demon King (fourth), Lucien Daeva Asmodeus—who had struck fear into anyone who merely heard his name for the past four thousand years—was defeated by the Hero's party.
But even after that, many of the Twelve Demon Lords remained. And each of them was a force to be reckoned with. So, the Hero had no other choice but to try to reach a stalemate.
The war was stopped, and both sides agreed to a non-aggression treaty.
The treaty still remains intact to this day, as something like a cold war continues between both sides.
After the war, the Hero went missing or, at the very least, stayed out of the public eye and politics, as many of her comrades had died. People remain unsure whether she is even alive.
Even her own husband, the previous Saint, had perished in that war, and many others were cursed with irreversible injuries that couldn't be healed, even with the best healing-type or holy magic.
After the war, Sylvania has somewhat lost its previous prestige, as even unworthy students who normally shouldn't have been admitted are now studying here due to dirty politics.
Some nobles, with too much time and influence on their hands, pressured the academy into admitting their children.
While the academy could handle ordinary nobles, offending multiple high nobles was a risk they couldn't take. As a result, many rotten sprouts have taken root within the academy.
Even so, the overall value and prestige of Sylvania haven't dwindled. It still boasts being one of the best and one of the hardest places to graduate from in the world.
Every year, students aged 18 to 19 can be admitted. They study and live on the man-made artificial island of El Salvatore, where the academy stands, for five whole years.
Yet, only about 20% of students ever manage to graduate. The rest either die or give up due to the grueling curriculum.
Most of the noble children are the first to drop out—just to avoid dying, at least.
But even then, simply being admitted into the academy is a significant advantage that can prove invaluable later in life.
El Salvatore has become increasingly populated with races from around the world, evolving into a place where all races can coexist without conflict.
Though some still harbour malice and prejudice against demons or half-demons, as the last war happened not long ago. But that's not the official stance of Eldora.
El Salvatore has grown into a bustling island city, with all kinds of infrastructure and businesses centered around the academy.
New research facilities, other academies, buildings, hotels, shopping malls, residential areas, and more have transformed the island into a new city housing over half a million people.
Though El Salvatore is technically part of Eldora, it lies on the outskirts of the kingdom in Hennsylvania County.
The reclusive elves dislike other races entering their lands or harming Mother Nature, so the noble family of Count Hennsylvania is tasked with ensuring no unauthorized individuals enter the kingdom from the island.
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Before the opening ceremony for the new first-years joining Sylvania, a meeting was held to go over everything one last time before admitting the students, to ensure everything would happen smoothly.
It should have ended normally, but a heated debate was taking place between two professors—for some reason, all over a single student.
"I cannot accept this! Why should he be allowed to study here?!" bellowed Gordon del Dimitri, a stout, red-faced human nobleman and senior professor, slamming his hand against the table.
"Now, now, Dimitri sensei (teacher/professor)," said a druid professor with a calm tone, raising a hand in peace.
"I understand your concern, but perhaps we should hear Wuerv sensei out first?"
"As I said before, the Headmistress has already approved his admission," replied Abel van Wuerv, an elven professor with sharp features and a composed demeanor. He adjusted his spectacles. "So I fail to see the issue."
"Why? That's exactly what I'm asking!" snapped Professor Dimitri, face turning redder. "He's just a Level One! Are we truly so desperate? Do you want to make Sylvania a laughingstock? How far have we fallen to admit someone who hasn't even leveled once since the Awakening Ceremony?!"
The Awakening Ceremony is a special event held when one reaches the age of sixteen. They go to their respective church, where priests serve as intermediaries to help them awaken, enabling them to level up, grow stronger, and gain more power.
Even before then, they can awaken skills, develop resistances, and build their profile status to prepare for leveling up at sixteen.
How much one can level up—or how hard it is—depends directly on their talents.
Most people on the Eurelia Supercontinent are followers of the Church of Holy Light, who revere the Goddess of Light, Verdia.
Most demons from the Demonic Continent follow the Church of Darkness, which worships the Goddess of Darkness, Klysha.
Many other smaller churches and religions also exist, each dedicated to different gods and goddesses.
All of them have churches in the major cities, and it is an unspoken rule not to interfere with another church's Awakening Ceremony, for fear of divine punishment. Even during the Great War, this rule was strictly upheld.
Most students entering Sylvania go through many tests and are usually between levels 15 to 25 by the age of 18 or 19.
So, for someone to still be level 1 even years after their Awakening Ceremony is unheard of, speaking volumes about their lack of talent.
"Dimitri sensei," said Wuerv evenly, "you're forgetting that we don't accept only the strongest. Students with potential in research, alchemy, or other non-combat faculties like production have a place here too."
"Right. And this student here is especially blessed in magic, don't you think? After all, you were the one who conducted his interview, Dimitri sensei.
I even heard that instead of questioning him, you failed to answer his questions—after he had finished answering all of yours. Wouldn't someone like that be a good fit for Sylvania?" says the druid professor as he clasps his hands together, eyes squinted with a hidden smile on his face, making the situation worse as Professor Dimitri grows redder and angrier.
"What nonsense are you spouting?! I just didn't feel the need to entertain that brat. That rude bastard doesn't even know how to respect his betters... Professors, I mean," says Professor Dimitri quickly, noticing all the eyes on him. Sylvania was a place where everyone was equal, noble or not.
"Nonetheless, his knowledge of magic is on par with the professors. I conducted another written test too, and he passed with perfect scores. He even solved all five of the supposedly unsolvable questions from the previous exam. He was born for magic. So I don't see why you would object to his admission," says Professor Wuerv.
"Born for magic? He can't even use mana—and you call him a genius?" retorts Professor Dimitri.
"Well, that's rather unfortunate. But what else can we do? He would do well in the Magic Research Faculty. I will take responsibility for him," says Professor Wuerv.
After that, the debate continued for a while longer until Professor Dimitri had no choice but to accept it. The meeting then moved on to other topics before finally concluding.
Meanwhile, a similar but distinct conversation was taking place in the Student Council room.
"Kaichou (President), did you find anyone interesting?" asked a tall, golden-haired, dark brown-eyed young man, wearing the standard uniform of Sylvania students, a badge on his left arm marking his position in the Student Council. He was the Vice President of the Student Council of Sylvania Magic Academy.
"Maybe," mysteriously replied the Student Council President, Isabella Elise von Strauss. She was a striking black-haired, buxom-bodied, emerald-eyed beauty. She paused while going through the list of new students and set aside a particular profile with a few others she had already marked.
"We should keep an eye on these students," said the President. The golden-haired boy smiled as he peeked at the list and remarked, "We've got some interesting ones this year."
One of the files contained details on the very student the professors had been debating about.
Name: Hayato Nakamura
Age: 18 years old (almost)
Potential: S (Magic)
Level: One
Special Remarks: This student suffers from a rare illness called Mana Blockage Disorder, an incurable condition that allows one to store mana inside the body but prevents them from using it at all.
This assessment was based on the professors' evaluation after numerous tests. The student had topped both the written exam and the interview but had barely passed the practical combat exam.
The file contained much more detailed information regarding his abilities and condition.
Infomania:
1. Elne is the name of the currency of this world.
i. 100 Copper Elne = 1 Bronze Elne = 1 Dollar
ii. 100 Bronze Elne = 1 Silver Elne
iii. 100 Silver Elne = 1 Gold Elne
iv. 100 Gold Elne = 1 Platinum Elne
2. There are two types of skills. Inherent and Intrinsic skills.
Inherent Skill ratings: common, uncommon, rare, unique, legendary.
Skill levels: 1-10
3. Intrinsic Skills: These refer to abilities or skills that are exclusive to a particular species or are genetically inherent. In other words, intrinsic skills are characteristics that organisms possess inherently due to their genetic makeup or species-specific traits.
These skills are often fundamental to the nature of the organism and can include unique abilities such as specialized hunting techniques, camouflage, or innate defenses.
4. Inherent Skills: In contrast, inherent skills encompass all other types of skills or abilities that an individual possesses aside from intrinsic skills.
5. Created or learned martial arts techniques (with or without the use of magic) are called Noble Arts, while only self-learned, not acquired, magics are referred to as Magic Arts.
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