The courtyard was supposed to be quiet in the mornings—at least that's what I hoped when I dragged myself out of bed at dawn to train.
It wasn't quiet.
Steel clashed, someone shouted, someone else screamed, "I YIELD—PLEASE STOP—"
Yeah. Class 1-S apparently didn't believe in something as basic as a warmup.
I rubbed my eyes, half-asleep, sword dangling in my hand. "Why is everyone fighting like they're trying to kill each other before breakfast…?"
Seraphyne was flipping Theon into the dirt for the twentieth time, Varein was spinning his spear so fast it sounded like a tornado about to file a noise complaint, Kazen was casually firing arrows at pebbles midair, and the five prodigies were arguing loudly over who was "obviously" the strongest among them.
And me? I was the only one without aura, standing there like some random extra that wandered onto the wrong set.
Great.
I stretched my arms over my head and muttered, "Perfect place for me. Totally not stressful at all."
Theon spotted me immediately—because of course he did—dropped the guy he was lifting overhead, and sprinted toward me like an overexcited dog.
"RAIN!!"
He skidded to a stop right in front of me, grinning like a madman. "Train with me."
"…Can I stretch first?"
"No."
He grabbed my wrist.
"…I guess we're doing this."
We sparred for a bit—me trying not to die, him trying, and failing to hide how excited he was. Eventually, we gathered with the others in the courtyard, because Instructor Aldred had called us for an announcement.
He stood there with his arms crossed, looking like a man who enjoyed watching children suffer for fun.
"Class 1-S," he began, voice echoing, "and Class 1-A will participate in a joint battle exam in two weeks."
We all exchanged looks.
"…Joint?" Varein whispered. "That means fighting with 1-A."
The five prodigies groaned like someone had told them they had to share a room.
I blinked. "Wait. What's the exam?"
Aldred's face remained cold, unreadable.
"You will fight a real knight of Lionhearth."
Silence.
Seraphyne dropped her daggers.
Theon: "HAH?!"
Even I felt my stomach drop.
A knight?
A real knight?
We were knight apprentices. Children with weapons. This was practically suicide.
Aldred continued mercilessly.
"The goal is simple. One clean hit. If even one member of your joint team lands a clean hit on the knight, you pass."
One hit.
Against someone who could fold us like cheap laundry.
Wonderful.
Aldred scanned us one by one, his eyes sharp.
"Take this seriously. I expect you to prepare for the worse."
He walked away.
Theon leaned toward me. "Rain… I think he likes us."
"That's not liking us. That's wanting to watch us cry."
Life became a cycle:
Train. Study. Train. Eat. Train. Collapse. Wake up. Repeat.
Seraphyne trained silently, eyes burning like pink flames.
Varein trained until he puked.
Kazen trained until his bow literally snapped.
Theon trained until he fell asleep standing.
And the prodigies trained because they refused to let "some boy with no aura" stay on top of the rankings.
And me?
…Just trying not to fail.
Just trying to survive.
Every day I thought:
I'm number one. But I don't feel like number one.
I have no aura. No special ability.
What happens when trying isn't enough?
But then I'd shake my head, pick up my sword, and go again.
Because I had to.
Because I wanted to stand among the best.
By the time the afternoon sun dipped low, the academy was buzzing like a beehive.
First years gathered in massive crowds, filling the seats of the viewing stands. The arena grounds trembled under the noise.
Whispers, shouts, rumors—everyone wanted to see the top-ranked first years fight a knight.
…Or maybe they just wanted to see me fail.
"Rain! Over here!" Theon waved as I approached the staging area.
The rest of Class 1-S was assembled, and—unfortunately—so was Class 1-A.
My group looked like a nightmare lineup:
Me
Varein
And the two Class 1-A students who already looked like they wanted to stab me
And the knight we were fighting?
That's when Varein leaned close and whispered,
"Rain… brace yourself. The knight exam proctor is Sir Rodomous."
My heart stopped.
I knew that name.
He was infamous.
A knight who hated commoners.
A knight who believed strength was predetermined by birth.
Perfect.
Just perfect.
And now I was fighting him—while my own teammates who looked like they were trying to sabotage me, us.
I didn't even get to be surprised—because the Class 1-A students "accidentally" kicked my heel and nearly made me fall.
"Oops," one said with fake innocence.
I slowly turned my head toward them.
"Ooops," I echoed. "Sure."
Varein grimaced. "They… don't want you to stay in Class S."
"No kidding."
Sir Aldred saw the obvious sabotage, and said. "This is an unexpected trial but you must overcome it if you are to be #1."
Sir Aldred then raised his arm.
"The use of Aura is Allowed, Now Begin."
Sir Rodomous moved instantly—like a flash of crimson lightning—and Varein barely managed to block the first strike.
The Class 1-A students?
They didn't help.
They just watched.
Then one of them kicked a stone at Varein's foot, tripping him mid-lunge.
I froze.
Did they seriously—
Before I knew it, I turned and faced them, sword in hand.
"What are you doing?" one sneered. "Fight the knight."
"You're sabotaging us," I said flatly. "I'm not blind."
They drew their weapons.
"And what are you going to do about it, 'Number One'?"
Okay.
Fine.
If they weren't going to help Varein…
Then I'd take them out.
For him.
For our class.
For myself.
I charged them, playing dirty—throwing a handful of dirt, grabbing rocks, attacking with the flat of my sword. They were strong, but without aura they weren't strong enough.
Two seconds later they were unconscious.
Barely alive, but out of the way.
The crowd roared—half shocked, half thrilled.
I spun back toward the fight—
Just in time to see Sir Rodomous already in front of me.
His blade swung toward my chest.
Too fast.
I raised my sword in desperation—
Steel sliced across my chest, shallow but burning.
I hissed through clenched teeth. "Are you trying to kill me?!"
From the corner of my eye I saw Varein, laying there barely conscious.
Rodomous smiled cruelly.
"A knight does not hold back."
I rushed Sir Rodomous, unleashing a flurry of attacks. Minutes felt like Hours.
He blocked all with ease. Mocking Me.
Sir Rodomous taunted, "How did you make it past the exam? Let alone be the #1 out of all the first years? Even that boy did better."
He was referring to Varein. I knew he was doing better, it was infuriating to hear that from him though.
I stepped back, breathing strangely calm despite the pain.
My mind raced.
How do I beat him?
What can I do?
How do I win something unwinnable?
I put in so much time, so much blood, sweat, and tears. Yet I didn't hold a candle to Sir Rodomous. I felt like a pebble compared to him, a great fortress wall.
The world blurred.
Varein tried to stand but collapsed, aura fading around him.
Aldred sighed heavily.
"This is already over…"
I wasn't aware of anything anymore—just the chaos inside me.
What can I do? I stood there thinking, thinking so much the world around me went silent. Into my own world once again. The once chaotic lively world vanished, the sounds of swords clashing dispersed and I was alone.
The frustration.
The helplessness.
The humiliation.
It all boiled.
Varein was laying there watching the scene unfold, thinking to himself.
"What the hell is this kid doing.. Snap out of it, YOU'RE first for a reason, aren't you?!?"
Everyone was somewhat disappointed, but they all felt shame. Shame that their #1 was this pitiful.
They cheered for Varein to get up, but he couldn't.
I thought harder.
Why am I number one?
Why can't I reach them?
Why can't I—
My sword vibrated. An echo vibrated throughout the entire stadium.
It shook violently.
I clenched my sword's handle. The sword that has been with me since the beginning. The one I got from the slums, the one that brought me all the way here. It was violently shaking.
Rodomous was walking towards me, humming to humiliate me more but paused, he was puzzled. "What…?"
Aldred's eyes widened in sudden horror.
Sir Aldred hopped down into the stadium, sprinting towards Sir Rodomous.
"WATCH OUT!"
But not at me.
At Rodomous.
Because I moved.
No—
I appeared in front of Sir Rodomous, sword crashing down with force I didn't know I had.
He blocked barely—boots sliding back in the dirt.
The instructor was shocked. Where was the little boy that he humiliated not too long ago? Then he saw it, the sword shaking, vibrating at high speeds.
Both instructors' eyes widened at my sword.
Rain's sword was merging together with his overwhelming will to win. The sword kept shaking tremendously.
"This is… an awakening, his sword is blooming." Aldred whispered to Sir Rodomous.
My sword shook, humming like a living thing—responding to every piece of will burning inside me.
Sir Rodomous was shocked by a commoner making what was impossible, possible. He just wanted to show him the true face of the world, but instead Rain had gained the respect of Sir Rodomous.
Rodomous stepped forward shoving Sir Aldred aside, aura flaring bright, voice booming.
"BOY—WHAT IS YOUR NAME?!" He finally took a serious stance.
Sir Aldred asked Rodomous, "What are you doin-" then a flash. Sir Rodomous's aura spread everywhere, it was a sight to behold.
Sir Rodomous continued, "MY NAME IS KENNETH RODOMOUS, WHO ARE YOU, BOY WITH THE DESIRE!!" HE PAUSED BEFORE CONTINUING, "BOY OF PROMISE, SHOW ME YOUR DESIRE TO WIN."
The words didn't leave my mouth, until I snapped back into reality. This voice, this stance. He was taking me seriously, this was recognition.
My voice tore from my throat.
"I AM RAIN…!! FROM THE SLUMS OF IGNIS!"
A loud burst. A crack snapped through the sky—like thunder ripping the atmosphere. It crackled throughout the kingdom.
The captains felt it, including the general and commander, chills went down their spine. They all rose, running out of their offices and looking up into the sky.
Light erupted around me.
A brilliant, wild aura—
A light blue glow streaked with white crackles, bursting outward like a storm.
It roared across the arena, overwhelming, untamed, terrifying.
There it was my aura. It kept spewing and overflowing the entire arena.
I didn't notice it yet. but from all my experiences and battles my core was locked, and today it was finally freed. Weeks, and Months of hard work. Dedication have finally paid off, because today my aura finally manifested.
The crowd gasped.
The prodigies went pale.
The top 4 froze in disbelief.
Even Aldred stumbled back.
Rodomous stared, stunned.
"This… this pressure…!"
My aura overwhelmed his.
Overwhelmed everything and consumed all.
I rushed him, instinct guiding my body, sword glowing like lightning. Rodomous tried to dodge—but I shifted the direction of my swing mid-strike.
He had to block.
Aldred jumped in to support him.
Both knights gritted their teeth as my strike crashed into them like a tidal wave of force.
They slid back.
Feet dragging trenches in the arena.
And then—
My aura imploded.
Darkness swallowed me.
I collapsed.
But before I lost consciousness completely…
I saw the world staring at me.
Terrified.
Awestruck.
Silent.
Like they had just witnessed the birth of something impossible.
The Birth of a Legendary Knight.
The Birth of Me.
The Boy of Promise.