The death of my father took a toll on my mother and me. He was a yellow mana core knight on a mission to protect the carriage. However, he was attacked by the Demon King and was killed brutally that there was no part of him remained—just the empty carriage.
Mother:
"Your father saved money for your academy. and we have the land. So i will send you to the academy to get stronger. and become like your father" she said while packing her son's clothes.
Arthur:
"will you be okay with being alone mother. I can work here the academy isn't important for me."
Mother:
"Don't be silly. I'm still strong." she said with a smile, raising her arm and flexing her biceps.
Arthur:
"Okay, okay. You don't have to prove it," he chuckled, though his eyes betrayed a sadness at the sight of his mother's frail arms.
The sound of a carriage could be heard from afar
Mother:
"looks like the carriage is arriving," She said, with a single tear falling from her eyes
After getting into the carriage, I took one last look at my mother before she faded from my sight.
My journey to become a knight had begun—so that one day, I could take revenge on the Demon King.
My mother once told me that the world had been very different two thousand years ago. Back then, humans had no mana.
One day, a portal opened, and demons began to attack our world. They were weaker at first, as their own world was dry and barren, unable to sustain farming.
In the beginning, humanity was able to fend them off. But as stronger demons emerged, we could no longer stop them. In desperation, the world's leaders chose to use a weapon called nukes.
The demons were pushed back, but the cost was devastating. Vast lands were destroyed, and poisonous weather spread across the world. Even then, the portal remained open, and mana from the demon world began to flow into ours.
That war came to be known as Humanity's Great War.
About eleven hundred years later, the demons once again succumbed to hunger and began a second invasion. This conflict was later called Humanity's Great War II, but it was very different from the first.
By then, humanity had abandoned its old weapons and begun mastering mana. The war was fierce, and although humanity emerged victorious, the cost was unimaginable. Eighty percent of all knights were lost, and the remaining twenty percent were mostly low-rank knights. The demons were completely annihilated—or so we believed.
Twenty years after the second war, a lone demon appeared. He had survived the extinction of his kind and crowned himself the Demon King. Believing himself strong enough to take revenge, he began attacking human cities. However, he was forced to retreat after failing to withstand the knights.
Even now, he continues to sabotage transportation routes, striking from the shadows. It has been nine hundred years since the end of the Second Great War.
The portal eventually closed, but the world had already begun to manifest mana on its own.
I live in the country of Naskar, in a city called Karsal. It is a calm and peaceful city, home to the fifth-best academy, known as Amal Magic Academy.
The academy was founded by Amal Sarphen, the tenth human to ever wield mana. There is no entrance test for mana since everyone has one they only check the size of the core and money is required.
Two days later i arrived at the academy
Arthur:
"Wow… so this is what it looks like. Its size is said to be about 10 square kilometers."
A man suddenly appeared in front of Arthur.
Unknown:
"Yes, it is indeed. Are you Arthur, son of Marcus?"
The tall, handsome man looked to be in his twenties. He had a soft voice, no beard, and black hair cut in a mod style.
Arthur gasped and took a few steps back, but quickly regained his composure.
Arthur:
"Yes, I am. May I know your name, senior?"
Franklin:
"I am Franklin, son of Saulden, a fifth-year intermediate student. I will take you to test your core size. Follow me."
Arthur:
"Okay."
After a 10-minute walk, we reached a large building.
Arthur:
"What is this building?"
Franklin:
"This is the Forge and Alchemy Hall. Here, we check core sizes and create pills for healing or mana enhancement. We also craft weapons," he said as we walked inside.
Franklin:
"We'll go to Professor Claude Fann. He will gauge your mana core size."
Arthur:
"Are the weapons made here forged by weapon smiths, or by mana?"
Franklin:
"If you have enough money, you can buy materials refined by alchemists. They're stronger than ordinary metal. You then give them to a weapon smith, who can craft any weapon you want."
He stopped in front of a door. "We've arrived at the professor's office."
He knocked.
Professor Claude:
"Come in."
Franklin:
"Good morning, Professor. I have brought the new student."
Arthur:
"Hello. I am Arthur, son of Marcus. It is my pleasure to meet you."
Professor Claude:
"Hm." He examined Arthur closely. "The pleasure is mine. Come here—let me examine your core size."
He motioned with his hand.
Arthur:
"Okay," he said, stepping forward.
The professor placed a finger just above Arthur's bellybutton and released a small amount of mana to inspect his core.
Professor Claude:
"There are three types of mana cores: small, medium, and large. You possess a small core, which is most suited for knights. Medium cores belong to hybrids—those who can fight as knights and cast limited spells. Large cores are meant for wizards, who rely heavily on spellcasting."
He continued, raising an eyebrow.
"There are also six core colors. Purple is the base color that all humans possess, and it is what you currently have. The others are orange, yellow, blue, red, and gray. It is easier for small cores to reach orange than large ones, as advancement requires overflowing and breaking the core. Do you understand?"
Arthur:
"Yes, thank you, Professor."
Professor Claude:
"Good. Now, what type of weapon do you wish to master? We offer swords, bows, and spears."
Arthur:
"I want a sword. I like it more," he said with a smile.
Professor Claude:
"Hm. A sword suits your body well."
He turned to Franklin.
"Guide him back to his dorm, the training grounds, and his classes. His classrooms are I1, E1, and A1. You may go."
Franklin:
"Thank you, Professor," he said as we left the office.
After a 35-minute walk, we arrived. at the dormitories
Franklin:
"This will be your room. Its number is 100. You have a roommate—his name is Solaire Adrian. Lights should be turned off at 11 PM. After you settle in, we'll head to the training grounds."
After 25 minutes, we reached the training grounds.
Franklin:
"These are the training grounds. There are nine in total: three for beginners, each 300 m²; three for intermediates, each 500 m²; and three for advanced students, each 750 m². You can train anytime until 11 PM—rest is just as important as training. Now, I'll show you your professors."
After 10 more minutes, we arrived at the academy hall.
Franklin:
"On your right is Professor Laura Naphel's classroom, A1. She teaches basic swordsmanship; you'll go to her class at 5 PM."
He walked past her classroom, and after two minutes:
"This is Professor Martin Claude's classroom, E1. He teaches how to use your mana for movement and senses; you'll attend his class at 1 PM."
After another two-minute walk:
"This is Professor Sarah Carl's classroom, I1. She teaches how to gather mana and wield it. You'll attend her class now, even though it started 1 hour ago. Tomorrow, you'll go at 10 AM."
He knocked on the door.
Professor Sarah:
"Come in."