It's morning.
Today's the entrance exam.
Hmm… in exactly three seconds, that maid Marin will step in and wake me. I can already hear her annoyed breathing outside the door. She always pauses, sighs like the world owes her something, then opens it like she's being forced to perform divine labor.
Let's count.
One… two… three.
Click.
The door swung open.
"Young master Jack, time to wake up," Marin said flatly.
( I can't believe I have to call this nobody 'young master'... ahhh, I hate life. )
I heard that.
I yawned lazily, stretching my arms behind my head. "Wassup."
Her head jerked slightly, but she recovered fast. "Breakfast will be served in twenty minutes, and your bath has been prepared." She bowed not because she respected me, but because it was her job then left the room in silence.
I snapped my fingers once, and in an instant, I felt refreshed. Bath done. Mind clear. Body perfect. Still, I walked to the bathroom — just for show. Gotta keep up appearances, right?
Five minutes later, I stepped out, drying my hair with a towel that wasn't even wet. My uniform was already laid out neatly on the table.
"Huh," I muttered. "How did they know my size?"
Of course, I didn't realize it was a size fix uniform enchanted to match the wearer's body. I only found that out much later. At the time, I thought someone was just good at guessing.
Two minutes later, I was fully dressed and heading down the hall to the dining room.
The Jones family mansion was ridiculously big long crystal hallways, chandeliers that floated, portraits that followed your gaze. You'd think that would impress me, but after sleeping for a million years, it's hard to be impressed by anything.
I reached the dining table.
"Good morning, Dad. Good morning, Mom," I said, pulling out a chair.
Lady Seraphina Jones and Lord Auren Jones were already eating. Seraphina, elegant as always, barely looked up from her teacup. Auren, on the other hand, gave me that sharp noble stare the kind that says 'Don't embarrass the family.'
"Good morning," Seraphina replied softly.
"Today is the exam," Auren said, voice firm. "Don't disappoint us. We adopted you for a reason."
I smirked faintly. "Okay, Dad."
Then I glanced around. "Ahmmm, where's Lyra?"
Seraphina dabbed her lips with a napkin. "She already left a few hours ago."
"Oh," I said simply, then continued eating.
They didn't talk much after that typical noble breakfast silence. Forks clinking, clock ticking, air thick with expectations. I just wanted to sleep again.
A few minutes later, I was done.
When I reached the front door, Marin was already waiting, arms crossed. "Won't you wait for the carriage, young master?"
I shook my head. "Nah, I'll walk. Still got two hours before school starts, and it's not even that far."
( Fuck, fuck, fuck… lucky bastard. You're so lucky, I hate it. )
I smiled without looking back and waved my hand lazily as I stepped through the mansion gate.
The morning air was calm birds gliding like lazy clouds across the sky. The roads shimmered faintly, lined with magic symbols that kept the city's barrier stable.
The city of Elyndor was breathtaking tall crystal towers, floating sigils, streets that glowed under the sun. A place built on mana and arrogance.
I walked slowly, hands in my pockets, eyes wandering over everything.
Everything looked peaceful. But the books I'd read told a different story.
This world had been at war for two thousand years and still counting.
Humans, elves, demons, beastkin… every race born from mana was still fighting for one thing.
Control.
The warlines shifted countless times, empires fell and rose, gods vanished and new ones were born, but the conflict never stopped. The current age called it "The Era of Shattered Crowns."
I sighed. "I want to go back to sleep."
A carriage passed by, wheels humming softly over the glowing road. Inside, a few students in the same school uniform as mine were staring at me. Whispering. Judging.
I ignored them.
The path curved toward a massive glowing gate in the distance the entrance to Aeloria Academy, the city's most prestigious school for gifted youths. The academy where the future rulers of this world were trained.
As I got closer, my eyes flickered faintly just instinct. I could feel the mana around, sense every aura in range.
"So this is where it begins," I muttered.
Hundreds of students filled the academy's entrance plaza. Some were laughing, others showing off spells or enchanted items. Sparks of mana danced in the air, turning the morning sky into a rainbow storm.
I found a quiet corner near a lamppost and leaned against it, watching.
That's when it happened.
A sudden wave of unstable mana surged through the crowd.
Someone lost control.
Blue flames burst from a girl's hand wild, hungry, chaotic. The air itself caught fire, bending like glass about to shatter. Students screamed, stumbling backward as the explosion expanded.
"Get back!" one of the instructors yelled, forming a barrier spell.
Crack.
The barrier shattered instantly.
More students panicked. The fire spread like it was alive, climbing the academy gate, devouring mana in every direction.
I sighed. "So early in the morning…"
I lifted my hand lazily and snapped my fingers.
Silence.
The flames vanished. Just like that. No smoke. No trace. No heat.
Only calm air and the faint hum of balanced mana.
The crowd froze.
The teachers blinked, confused. "Who neutralized the surge?" one asked.
No one answered.
I slipped my hand back into my pocket and started walking toward the gate, yawning.
A few students stared as I passed.
"Who… who was that?" one whispered.
Jack smirked faintly. "Just another morning," I muttered.
The academy courtyard was massive marble floors, floating banners, and a giant mana crystal at the center pulsing like a heart. The air buzzed with excitement.
That's when I noticed her.
A girl with long silver hair and crimson eyes glowing faintly like molten rubies. She was standing alone, hands folded, expression calm but cold. Even from a distance, I could tell her mana wasn't ordinary.
She noticed me too. Our eyes met for a second.
Then she turned away.
"Interesting," I murmured. "Her aura… feels ancient."
Before I could think more, a loud voice called out, "All applicants, proceed to the registration gate!"
The crowd started moving. I followed.
As I handed my ID crystal to the registrar, they glanced up, surprised. "Jack Jones, sponsored by House Jones… oh, one of those," they muttered under their breath.
I smiled faintly. "Something wrong?"
"N..No, sir. All good."
They stamped my card and waved me through.
Inside the testing arena, hundreds of students filled the seats. Mana sensors lined the walls, instructors hovering midair on levitation spells.
I found an empty seat at the back.
The silver haired girl was a few rows ahead.
The announcer's voice echoed through the hall. "Welcome to Aeloria Academy's annual entrance examination. Today, your power, intelligence, and control over mana will determine your eligibility."
Typical.
The tests began one by one bursts of light, waves of magic, some impressive, most not. The crowd cheered for every explosion.
I leaned back, half asleep.
Until they called my name.
"Next Jack Jones."
The hall quieted a little. Probably because of the "Jones" name. Nobles always attract attention.
I stepped forward. The examiner smiled politely. "You may begin with a basic mana output test."
I placed my hand on the crystal orb.
The sphere glowed then shattered.
The examiner's smile froze.
The readings went blank. The machines flickered, overloaded.
Gasps filled the hall.
I sighed. "Sorry. Guess I used too much."
The instructor just stared. "You… you didn't try to destroy it, did you?"
"Nope."
From the corner of my eye, I saw the silver haired girl watching me again. Her crimson eyes glowed brighter not fear, not anger. Just curiosity.
Maybe she sensed it that my mana didn't belong to this world.
The instructor cleared his throat. "Proceed to the control test."
I nodded, bored already.
This was going to be a long day.
To be continued...