The sun hung low over the academy courtyard, painting the buildings in amber light. The usual chatter of students was replaced with an expectant hush. Today, Rougen Leo would teach them something few had ever seen: the strongest ability a sorcerer could wield.
The students formed a circle around him, their expressions a mixture of awe, fear, and curiosity. Hiko Shinoegami sat near the back, silent, observing everything with careful attention.
Rougen's black coat fluttered slightly in the breeze as he raised a hand. "Today, you will learn about the most powerful skill a sorcerer can ever attain: Realms of Uridoth."
A few students whispered to each other. The name alone sounded legendary.
Rougen's gaze swept over the group. "Realms were invented by a man named Uridoth centuries ago. He was a prodigy who mastered sorcery in ways no one else could, bending reality, mana, and strategy into a form of personal magic so absolute it could dominate a battlefield."
One student whispered nervously, "Uridoth… was he real?"
"Yes," Rougen replied, voice sharp. "And only the rarest sorcerers ever awaken a Realm of their own. It is not a spell. It is a dimension—a magical space that amplifies the user's power while weakening enemies within it. But," he said, pausing, "every sorcerer may only have one type of Realm. No one can possess all types. Your Realm is a reflection of your essence, your will, your soul. Only one can awaken in you."
Gasps ran through the students. Hiko leaned forward.
"Less than twenty-five percent of sorcerers ever awaken a Realm," Rougen continued. "The rest… never will. And those who do… they become forces that can change wars alone."
A few students swallowed nervously.
"Now," Rougen said, "there are three primary types of Realms. First, the Defensive Zogratis Realm. It strengthens and protects your allies, enhancing their abilities and guarding them, but it does not affect enemies directly. It is the Realm of guardianship."
He gestured, and a faint shimmer formed around a small group of students. Their mana stabilized, hearts steady, energy renewed. Gasps followed.
"Second," Rougen said, "is the Chain Lock Realm. Aggressive, strategic, and devastating. This Realm manipulates the battlefield, bringing attacks or obstacles directly at your enemies. Spikes, crushing walls, mana blades, illusions—they are all tools of the Chain Lock Realm."
He demonstrated with a small orb. Thin black spikes shot up from the ground, stopping just short of the students' feet. They jumped back, eyes wide.
"And finally," Rougen said, "the Spatial Realm. This Realm benefits only the user. Infinite mana, enhanced abilities, unique powers while inside. It is the most solitary, but also the most dangerous and strongest of all. Spatial Realm users often become legends."
Hiko tilted his head. Infinite mana…? That would be insane.
Rougen let the silence linger for emphasis. Then he raised a hand. "Activating a Realm is not easy. It requires immense mana and precise synchronization with your own essence. Even slight errors can cause your Realm to collapse—or worse, backfire."
A few students shivered.
"And remember," Rougen said, voice grave, "each sorcerer will awaken only one type. Your essence will determine it, not your skill, not your desires. You cannot choose multiple Realms, and the type you awaken may define how you fight forever."
Some students exchanged nervous glances.
Hiko clenched his fists, feeling the familiar pull of the Devil's Mark beneath his collar. If I could awaken a Realm… it would have to be my own.
Rougen's gaze swept over the class one last time. "Realms are reflections of the user's soul. They are powerful, unpredictable, and dangerous. Use them wisely. The lessons you take today may save or destroy lives."
A few students whispered questions, voices trembling.
"Who here will awaken one first?"
Rougen shook his head. "That will be revealed with time. For now, observe. Study. Learn the mechanics and the risks. Your Realm will test more than your power—it will test your mind, your will, and your heart."
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle.
Then, finally, Rougen smiled faintly. "As for me," he said, voice calm, almost proud, "I have a Spatial Realm. It amplifies my abilities, grants me freedom within its bounds, and allows me to manipulate my mana as I see fit."
The students' eyes widened.
"My Realm is called the Cosmic Room," Rougen said. "It is mine alone, and it allows me to bend reality within it. Nothing here will ever escape its reach."
Hiko's breath caught. So that's a Spatial Realm… a personal battlefield inside your own being… a place where the user alone grows stronger while everything else diminishes.
Rougen's eyes fell on Hiko. "Some of you may never see a Realm. Some may awaken one that changes your life forever. But remember this: it is not a gift. It is a responsibility. And it will test you in ways you cannot imagine."
Hiko exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of the lesson. Inside his mind, the devil stirred faintly, whispering. Finally… the real game begins.
Hiko clenched his fists. I won't fail. Not this time.
The sun dipped behind the academy towers, casting long shadows across the courtyard. The students left slowly, whispering among themselves, the lesson settling into their minds like a storm barely held in check.
And Hiko… Hiko felt a spark ignite deep inside, a seed of potential waiting for the right moment to awaken.