*Cairo, home to the Luciel Academy of Light and the Holy Cathedral*
The flying car, a sleek black model, landed smoothly in the central square, its mana-powered engines humming beneath my feet. I pushed open the door and stepped out, my boots clicking against the polished cobblestones. The landscape stretched before me, and I paused, mouth agape. "It's way more impressive than it looked on screen," I said, unable to tear my eyes away.
*Cairo, an artificial city at the crossroads of continents.*
Towers of glass and steel soared into the sky, their facades etched with runes. Suspended bridges, supported by mana-infused cables, connected the districts, where flying carriages and propulsion-driven cars crisscrossed the air. In the distance, the Luciel Academy of Light dominated the skyline—a complex of golden domes and white towers, surrounded by gardens with shimmering fountains. Farther still, the Holy Cathedral rose like a monolith, its golden stained-glass windows visible for miles. Statues of saintly virtues lined its forecourt, their lances pointing skyward.
I wore the academy uniform: a black jacket trimmed with gold, a white shirt, a red tie, and tailored trousers. On my jacket pocket, two embroidered stars marked me as a second-year student. Students spent three years here, after which they could become adventurers, royal knights, serve one of the four grand dukes, or, for the most talented, teach magic—like Luxia von Arcadia, a legend of the academy.
The Academy was divided into sections. Mages manipulated mana; aura users and martial artists trained alongside druids, blacksmiths, and aspiring paladins who studied theology and combat, swearing loyalty to the Cathedral. Scrutators, archaeologists of this world, analyzed ancient artifacts in libraries, deciphering runes. All gained advanced knowledge in history, alchemy, and strategy.
I decided to enter the academy. The main courtyard, lined with statues of heroes, bustled with an estimated thousand students. First-years, recognizable by their lack of uniforms, huddled in nervous groups. Second and third-years, more confident, headed to their dormitories or classrooms.
I walked through the inner courtyard, a grand space paved with white marble, surrounded by colonnades and fountains. Floating panels indicated directions, but none mentioned the auditorium, where the welcome ceremony would take place. I wandered, hoping to spot a professor for guidance.
As I crossed an art-lined corridor, I noticed a commotion. An Alfuman, of the Neko race, was cornered against a wall by three human students.
She was seventeen, with shoulder-length black hair, twitching cat ears, and teary golden eyes. Her figure was curvaceous, her pleated uniform skirt revealing a fluffy tail. Her appearance alone marked her as a commoner. The three bullies, burly humans, sneered, one of them tugging at her tail.
"Look at this cat—she thinks she can study here!" the tallest one jeered, eliciting a pained mewl.
"Let me go!" she cried, her voice trembling. She tried to scratch, but another shoved her, making her stumble.
"Your kind used to be our ancestors' favorite sex slaves. But it seems you've gotten too big for your britches lately!"
I stopped a few meters away, watching. Did I want to get involved? Not really. Alfumans, especially Nekos, were often harassed by idiotic humans, but it wasn't my problem.
I was about to look away when her golden eyes met mine, filled with tears. "Damn it, why me?" I muttered, annoyed.
Her gaze didn't soften me. It just reminded me how complicated my life was. Logically, Eden and his buddy should show up any minute to play the heroes. I could leave, avoid the trouble. But this girl, Tess, wasn't just anyone. She was the future wielder of Nekomata, Hathor's dagger, and would become the leader of the largest assassin organization. If I wanted to avoid a blade to the throat in three years, better make a good impression now.
I stepped forward, hands in my pockets. "What's going on here?" I asked, my voice calm but sharp.
The leader, a guy with a smug expression, turned. "Mind your own business!"
I raised an eyebrow, glancing at their clothes. First-years, no surprise, and petty noble brats. "You know who I am?" I tapped my jacket pocket, where my name was embroidered: Daemon Leen Indivar.
Their faces paled. "Indivar?" one stammered, backing away. The House of Indivar, one of the four great families, inspired fear, even at the academy. Even if I was personally a fraud.
"Yeah. So, you leave, or I'll have you expelled by the end of the day—or deal with you myself." I didn't raise my voice, but my gaze was icy.
They exchanged panicked looks, then fled, tripping over themselves in their haste. Tess, still trembling, straightened up, wiping her tears. "Thank you…" she whispered, her tail twitching.
I raised a hand. "No need. Want to thank the guy who'll show up in a few minutes? And if you could blush, that'd be perfect." I gave a thumbs-up and walked away without looking back.
Under her confused gaze.
My greatest asset, like Eden's, is that I know fragments of the future. If the encounter with Tess changes too much, Eden might grow suspicious, and I want to avoid that. Tess is supposed to meet him here, fall for his protagonist charm. I'm not going to ruin this scene.
I resumed my walk, following floating arrows in the corridors. After ten minutes, I found a sign pointing to the auditorium. I pushed open the massive doors, entering a vast hall with arc-shaped tiers of seats, where students were settling in for the ceremony.
The auditorium was immense, imposing, entirely circular. Tiered seats encircled an elevated stage where a crystal podium bore the academy's seal. Soft beams of light illuminated the space, leaving the dome's heights in shadow. Holographic screens displayed real-time images of the podium, while runic patterns pulsed along the walls in a calm, hypnotic rhythm.
Barely inside, Daemon headed to a discreet seat in the back corner, near the exit. He sat down silently, arms crossed, legs stretched out before him.
It was the moment for the academy's crown jewel to speak: Liam Dawnflare.