Dex stared once more at the letter he held tightly.
An old parchment scroll, adorned with a black seal that was now broken. Inside, written in silvery ink: *Congratulations, you have been accepted into Asa Academy.*
No map. No instructions. No date or meeting point. Just a single line, as if the world would automatically understand where to go.
"Hmm... how do I get there?"
No answer. Not from the letter, not from himself.
Dex sighed and slowly folded the letter, tucking it back into his slightly worn robe. His black hair shifted in the capital's wind, carrying the scent of the market, dust, and stories.
The capital—a place said to be full of magic, politics, and people too busy to care about someone like Dex.
"Excuse me."
A baritone voice halted his steps. Someone touched his shoulder. Reflexively, Dex turned and looked straight into the crimson eyes of a stranger.
The man carried a longsword on his back. His eyes were full of curiosity, but his body seemed alert, like a wild beast freshly freed from a cage.
"Yeah?" Dex replied calmly.
"I saw you holding an Asa Academy admission letter. I have one too. But I don't know how to get there."
Dex paused for a moment before finally raising an eyebrow. "Well, fate sure has a sense of humor."
"Haha... I guess so. So... do you know how to get there?"
Dex shook his head, his face expressionless. "Coincidentally... I don't know either."
The red-eyed man fell silent, then let out a long sigh like someone who just realized they were lost in a vast ocean without a map or stars.
"I was given this letter by someone," Dex said. "And you?"
"Me too."
Their conversation paused for a moment. Names hadn't been exchanged, but both already knew: they needed each other.
"I'm Van," the man finally said, extending a hand.
"Dex."
Two commoners shook hands. Two people who weren't so common after all.
Van seemed a little nervous. He seemed like someone setting foot in the real world for the first time. And indeed, he was.
Since childhood, Van had been raised in a secluded monastery, knowing the world only through scrolls and his master's teachings. He even thought bread was sold in round shapes everywhere.
Dex was worse. He knew the world only from stories told by passing merchants... and from books with torn pages.
He had only used the internet a few times.
"Van, did you try looking it up online?"
"I did. But I couldn't even find its name."
＞ Asa Academy. A name that sounded more like a myth. Even online rumors about it vanished within seconds—literally. Only word of mouth could get you closer.
"So that's how it is."
But while exploring the city, Dex heard whispers.
"Some say... to get there, you just need to tear the letter," Dex said.
Van looked at him with disbelief. "Who told you that?"
"A drunk."
"…"
"Supposedly, it goes *'zup'*... teleports you." Dex mimicked the motion.
Van frowned. "You believe that?"
"Of course not. That's why... you try it first."
"Why me?"
"Because we're friends now, aren't we?"
After a rather heated argument and several pairs of eyes starting to watch them like street performers, they finally agreed to do it together.
"On the count of three," Dex said. "One… two… three."
They tore their letters simultaneously. For a moment, nothing happened.
Then, golden light burst from the torn papers. A magic circle appeared beneath their feet—ancient, intricate symbols spinning, glowing with a deep purple hue.
"Whoa..." Van whispered, before all the light swallowed them.
***
When the light faded, Dex found himself standing in the middle of a vast field, surrounded by thousands of people.
Van was on his knees and... vomiting. "Huekkkk..."
Dex just sighed. *First-time teleportation sucks.*
A heavy, stern voice slammed through the air.
"DO YOU NOT KNOW YOU'RE THE LAST PARTICIPANTS?!"
A large man with a greatsword on his back and scars all over his face approached. He didn't look like a teacher. He looked like an executioner.
"Are we late?" Dex asked casually.
"NO. But if you were five minutes later, you would have been EXPELLED."
Dex wasn't intimidated; he even stared back at the man. His eyes were sharp, showing no respect. The man narrowed his eyes for a moment, then left without another word.
Van stared at him as if he were insane.
"You... do you know who that is?"
"A talented student?"
"THAT'S AN INSTRUCTOR."
Dex raised an eyebrow. "Oh."
Pretending not to be worried, but internally, he was panicking intensely.
—Crap. My peaceful academic life just went up in smoke.
***
The entire field suddenly fell silent.
All eyes were fixed on one figure walking gracefully toward the podium—a woman with white hair, wearing a shimmering black robe. Her blue eyes were as sharp as crystals under the moonlight. She didn't say a word. But the aura emanating from her felt like a shockwave.
One by one, students began to collapse.
—Aura? No. This was more than just magical pressure. This was pure, refined killing intent.
Dex remained standing. This wasn't new to him. In the Tower, he had felt pressure from beings that didn't even have physical forms.
Van stood beside him, trembling. But he was still holding on.
Dex, not wanting to stand out, tried to hold on. Just enough to meet the admission requirements.
He only wanted a peaceful life, to enjoy himself while doing what he wanted.
So, he pretended to faint.
One second before his body hit the ground, he made sure Van collapsed beside him too.
After ten minutes of brutal pressure, only ten people remained standing. In their hands appeared golden letters—a symbol of 'special selection.'
Dex, of course, didn't want to be chosen.
When the aura faded, he slowly stood up, pretending to be exhausted.
The woman glanced at him. A look full of suspicion. But she said nothing.
—
A giant screen slowly appeared with over 1000 names on it.
1. Juliana Rasphold
2. Ethan Erson
3. Lilia Anna Ferdium
...
699. Dex
700. Van
My name and Van's were on it.
While some students were shocked by the announcement, I helped the severely affected students by channeling a bit of my energy.
"Those of you who did not succeed may leave this hall."
Many students left with looks of disappointment, sadness, anger, and other emotions.
But most of them were still stunned by the suddenness of the admission process.
"Is the admission really just like that?"
"Dammit, if I knew, I wouldn't have fallen so easily."
"Was there only one chance? I should've tried harder."
Many left feeling disappointed. They had put in so much effort to get that letter, only to fail just like that. It was understandable. They thought the admission process would be complicated, but it ended in less than 30 minutes.
Once only 1000 successful students remained, the woman spoke again in a rather soft voice.
"Let me introduce myself. I am the headmaster of this academy. Some of you may already know me. I am Liliana Lopes."
*Such an arrogant tone.*
Dex thought, annoyed.
Dex thought.
"You may proceed to the provided dormitories."
After a few brief words, the woman left. She really did seem like someone who didn't waste time on nonsense.
Afterward, all the students slowly left the hall.
"Phew, glad we made it."
Van, who had just regained consciousness, smiled proudly.
"Ha! We're only one rank apart. Not bad, right?"
Dex wanted to laugh. But he was too tired to respond. Besides... this academy's system was too brutal to take lightly.
A burly man stepped up to the podium, announcing the dormitory locations and various rules. No unnecessary talk. Everyone was directly guided to the dormitories.
Dex stepped forward first.
"Enough of your nonsense. Let's go to the dorm. I'm exhausted."
Van followed, chattering away.
"Well, this is the beginning of our new life at the academy…"
Dex could only sigh.
"The beginning, huh? More accurately... this is..."