Mano blinked, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he stood at the edge of the academy's training grounds. The courtyard was already buzzing with activity — students warming up, instructors barking orders, and somewhere a blacksmith hammering out the sharpest blades in the kingdom.
He glanced down at the strange glowing emblem that had appeared on his left palm after the Trial of Blade — a faint blue sigil pulsing rhythmically. It was subtle, but unmistakable: his system marker.
Great, Mano thought dryly. Just when I thought this place might be normal.
Around him, the academy's towering spires stretched toward the sky like fingers clutching at the clouds. Lunaris wasn't just an academy; it was a kingdom in itself, with rules, politics, and power plays that rivaled any noble court.
As he started jogging toward the main hall, he pulled up the mental menu that had appeared alongside the sigil. It looked like some kind of interface — a system window, probably linked to his Heavenly Blade talent. The screen flashed:
Status: Novice Swordsman
Talent: Heavenly Blade (SSS Rank)
Affinity: Unknown / Unique
Store Points: 0
Mano smirked. Not bad for a newbie.
But then a warning popped up, bright red:
"Warning: Affinity Unknown. Potential anomaly detected. Monitor closely."
That explained why the instructors were staring at him like he was a walking disaster waiting to happen.
---
Nearby, a group of students caught sight of him. Whispers traveled fast in places like this.
"Isn't that the guy from the Trial? The one with the weird sword talent?"
"Yeah, I heard he's an outsider. Probably won't last a week."
Mano rolled his eyes. Outsider? Good. Less noise.
He slowed his pace and studied his surroundings. The academy's magic system was unlike anything he'd seen before.
---
The air here was thick with Essence, the invisible energy that flowed through every living thing. Students learned to harness their Essence through their Affinity — elemental or spiritual alignments that shaped their magic and combat style.
Fire Affinity meant aggressive, explosive spells. Water was fluid and defensive. Earth was about endurance and strength. Wind was speed and evasion. Light and Shadow? Those were rare, often associated with powerful, mysterious abilities.
Mano had felt nothing elemental about his Heavenly Blade — it was pure technique, pure spirit. That made him an oddity, and in a place like Lunaris, being different was a double-edged sword.
---
His first class was starting — Combat Theory and Essence Manipulation. The instructor, a stern woman named Master Elara, had a reputation for being merciless.
"Today," she began, "you will learn to sense and shape your Essence. Understanding your Affinity is the key to unlocking your potential."
Mano glanced at the other students. Most were already glowing faintly with their elemental colors — flickers of red, blue, green, or gold.
He closed his eyes, reaching inward to feel for his Essence. But all he could sense was… a steady pulse, like the heartbeat of his blade.
Not elemental. Not magic. Just pure, sharp focus.
---
After class, Mano caught up with Kaela and Juno near the practice fields.
Kaela shook her head, exasperated. "I don't get how you're so calm. Everyone's freaking out about your 'unknown affinity.'"
Juno grinned. "Yeah, it's like Mano's a wildcard. Could be a huge threat… or a total bust."
Mano chuckled. "Let them think what they want. I'm here to get stronger. Affinity or not, a blade speaks for itself."
---
As they sparred, Mano's mind drifted to the bigger picture.
This academy isn't just about fighting, he mused. It's a microcosm of the entire world — with politics, rivalries, alliances, and secrets hiding behind every smile.
He had entered the arena of power. Now, it was time to learn the rules… and how to bend them to his favor.