Grandia Academy loomed before Ren, its ivory towers and golden domes gleaming in the morning sunlight. The sprawling campus occupied nearly a quarter of the city's central district, a testament to the importance Grandia placed on magical education—or at least, on the education of those deemed worthy of it.
Ren stood at the ornate main gates, a single worn travel bag slung over his shoulder containing everything he owned. Around him, other new students arrived in carriages and palanquins, attended by servants who carried trunks of fine clothing and magical implements. The contrast couldn't have been more stark: the orphan from the Public School in his simple, though clean, attire, and the sons and daughters of nobility and wealthy merchants in their silks and enchanted accessories.
Despite the intimidating surroundings and the obvious wealth gap, Ren felt a surge of pride and determination. He had earned his place here through perseverance and hard work. His E-class 'Absorb' might be modest compared to the Abilities of his peers, but it was his—proof that he belonged in this world of magic and power, however precariously.
"Name?" asked the attendant at the registration desk, not bothering to look up from his ledger.
"Ren," he replied, then added, "Just Ren." No family name, no lineage to claim.
The attendant's eyebrows rose slightly, his gaze finally lifting to assess the boy before him. "Ah, yes. The... scholarship case." His tone made it clear what he thought of such an arrangement. "E-class, correct?"
"Yes, sir. Absorb."
"Hmm." The attendant made a notation in his ledger, then handed Ren a small bronze key and a folded map of the campus. "East Dormitory, Room 312. Classes begin tomorrow at the eighth bell. Don't be late."
No welcome, no orientation instructions, no words of encouragement. Just the bare minimum of information, delivered with barely concealed disdain. Ren accepted the key and map with a polite nod, refusing to let the man's attitude dampen his spirits. This was just the first of many hurdles he would face here; he had expected as much.
Following the map, Ren made his way across the expansive grounds. The Academy was like a small city unto itself, with separate buildings for different magical disciplines, training grounds, libraries, dormitories, and administrative offices. Students and faculty moved about with purpose, many wearing the distinctive blue and silver robes that marked them as full members of the Academy community.
The East Dormitory, Ren quickly realized, was the furthest from the main academic buildings and the least impressive of the student residences. While the West and North Dormitories boasted elegant architecture and well-maintained gardens, the East was utilitarian, almost austere by comparison. It wasn't difficult to guess which students were assigned here.
Room 312 was small but functional: a narrow bed, a simple desk and chair, a wardrobe, and a small window overlooking an inner courtyard. Ren unpacked his few belongings, arranging his books and the notebook Mistress Elara had given him on the desk, his clothes in the wardrobe, and the focus stone from Tomas on the windowsill where it would catch the light.
He had just finished settling in when a sharp knock came at his door. Opening it, he found himself face to face with a tall, thin boy with spectacles and an imperious expression.
"You're the E-class, I presume?" the boy asked without preamble.
"My name is Ren," he replied evenly.
The boy sniffed. "I'm Valerian Northcrest, C-class Talented with 'Enhanced Calculation' and 'Spatial Perception.' I'm the East Dormitory prefect." He looked Ren up and down with obvious skepticism. "I'm required to inform all new students of the dormitory rules and Academy protocols."
What followed was a rapid-fire list of regulations, schedules, and expectations, delivered in a tone that suggested Valerian doubted Ren's ability to comprehend, let alone comply with, such sophisticated guidelines. Ren listened attentively, committing the information to memory. When Valerian finally paused for breath, Ren thanked him politely.
"Don't thank me," Valerian said with a dismissive wave. "I'm simply fulfilling my duties. Though I must say, I'm surprised they admitted an E-class at all. It's been years since anyone below D-class was accepted to the Academy."
"I understand it's unusual," Ren acknowledged.
"Unusual? It's practically unheard of. The Academy is meant for those with genuine potential." Valerian adjusted his spectacles, studying Ren with renewed interest. "You must have some powerful patron to have secured admission."
"No patron," Ren said. "Just determination."
Valerian laughed, a short, sharp sound devoid of humor. "Determination doesn't count for much here, E-class. Power does. Remember that." With that parting wisdom, he turned and strode away, leaving Ren standing in his doorway.
Ren closed the door slowly, processing the encounter. It was hardly unexpected—he had prepared himself for skepticism and condescension—but experiencing it firsthand was still jarring. Still, he reminded himself, he hadn't come to Grandia Academy to be liked or accepted. He had come to learn, to grow stronger, to move one step closer to his dream of becoming someone who could protect others.
With that thought firmly in mind, he settled at his desk and began reviewing the Academy curriculum materials he had received along with his acceptance letter. Tomorrow would be his first day of classes, and he was determined to be prepared.
The eighth bell rang across the Academy grounds, signaling the start of the academic day. Ren had been awake since dawn, practicing his mana circulation exercises and reviewing his notes one final time. He had memorized his schedule and the campus map, determined not to appear lost or confused on his first day.
His first class was Basic Magical Theory, held in the central academic building. As he entered the lecture hall, he was immediately struck by the opulence of the space—tiered seating with comfortable chairs, a polished stone demonstration platform, and magical lighting that adjusted automatically to provide optimal illumination. It was a far cry from the simple classrooms of the Public School.
Most of the seats were already filled, students clustered in groups, chatting animatedly about their summer activities or comparing notes on their Abilities. Ren found an empty seat near the back and sat down, trying not to draw attention to himself.
It was a futile hope. Almost immediately, the students nearest to him shifted subtly away, creating a small but noticeable bubble of empty space around him. A few whispered behind their hands, casting glances in his direction that ranged from curious to contemptuous.
"Is it true?" A bold voice broke the pattern of whispers. A girl with elaborately braided auburn hair leaned across the empty seat beside him. "Are you really an E-class?"
Before Ren could respond, the professor entered, and the hall fell silent. Professor Thorne was a tall, austere woman with silver-streaked black hair pulled into a severe bun. Her gaze swept the room, pausing briefly on Ren before moving on.
"Welcome to Basic Magical Theory," she began, her voice crisp and authoritative. "This course will provide the foundation for all your magical studies at Grandia Academy. Those of you who have been properly prepared"—here her gaze flickered toward Ren again—"will find the material familiar. Those who have not will need to work considerably harder to keep up."
The lecture that followed was indeed familiar to Ren, covering principles of mana flow and basic spell construction that Mistress Elara had taught him years ago. He took careful notes nonetheless, aware that the Academy's approach might differ in subtle but important ways from what he had learned at the Public School.
As the lecture progressed, Professor Thorne began calling on students to answer questions or demonstrate simple concepts. She seemed to have an uncanny ability to identify those who were most confident in their knowledge, focusing her attention on students who sat up straight and made eye contact. Ren, despite knowing the answers to many of her questions, found himself consistently overlooked.
Until, that is, she posed a particularly complex question about mana resonance patterns that was met with silence from the usually eager respondents. Her gaze swept the room and landed on Ren, a slight smile playing at the corners of her mouth.
"Perhaps our E-class student would like to enlighten us?" she suggested, her tone making it clear she expected failure.
All eyes turned to Ren. He took a deep breath, centering himself as Mistress Elara had taught him. "Mana resonance patterns are the unique vibrational signatures that different types of mana produce when interacting with magical constructs," he began, his voice steady despite the scrutiny. "They can be harmonious, creating amplification effects, or dissonant, causing interference or even spell failure. The key to successful complex spellcasting is understanding how to align these patterns to achieve the desired outcome."
Professor Thorne's eyebrows rose slightly, the only indication of her surprise. "Correct," she acknowledged curtly before moving on, not bothering to ask how an E-class from a Public School had acquired such knowledge.
The whispers around Ren intensified after that, but they had a different quality now—surprise mingled with the previous disdain, and perhaps a hint of reluctant respect from a few quarters. The girl with the auburn braids was looking at him with renewed interest.
As the class ended and students began gathering their materials, she approached him directly. "I'm Lyra Embersong," she introduced herself. "B-class, 'Flame Shaping.' That was impressive, what you did there. Most first-years wouldn't know about resonance patterns in such detail."
"Thank you," Ren replied, somewhat taken aback by the friendly overture. "I had a good teacher at my previous school."
"Must have been," Lyra agreed. "What's your next class?"
"Practical Mana Manipulation," Ren consulted his schedule.
Lyra winced slightly. "With Master Keldrin? Good luck with that. He's... particular about his students."
"Particular how?" Ren asked, but Lyra was already being called away by a group of her friends, who were eyeing Ren with varying degrees of curiosity and suspicion.
"See you around, E-class," she said with a small wave, leaving Ren to wonder whether her brief friendliness had been genuine or merely a momentary curiosity about the Academy's oddity.
He would soon understand Lyra's warning about Master Keldrin. The Practical Mana Manipulation instructor was a corpulent man with small, shrewd eyes and a perpetual frown. He began the class by having each student demonstrate their Ability, starting with those of the highest rank.
"Darius Blackthorn," he called first, "A-class, 'Force Manipulation.' Show us."
A tall, handsome youth with perfectly coiffed dark hair stepped forward, a confident smirk on his face. With a casual gesture, he created a swirling vortex of visible mana in the center of the room, then compressed it into a tight sphere before allowing it to dissipate in a controlled burst that sent a gentle breeze through the classroom.
"Excellent control, as expected from the Blackthorn family," Master Keldrin praised. "Next, Lyra Embersong, B-class, 'Flame Shaping.'"
Lyra stepped forward and, with a graceful movement of her hands, conjured a small flame that she molded into increasingly complex shapes—a bird that flapped its wings, a flower that bloomed, a miniature dragon that circled the room before dissolving into sparks.
"Good, good," Master Keldrin nodded approvingly. "Creative application."
The demonstrations continued down the ranks, each student showing varying degrees of skill and control with their Abilities. Some were combat-oriented, like Darius's 'Force Manipulation' or another student's 'Steel Reinforcement.' Others were more specialized, like 'Enhanced Healing' or 'Sound Manipulation.' As Lyra had mentioned to him, there was indeed a wide variety of Abilities, though the combat-oriented ones seemed to receive the most enthusiastic responses from both the instructor and the other students.
Finally, after the last D-class student had demonstrated, Master Keldrin's gaze fell on Ren. His expression soured visibly. "Ah, yes. Our... special admission. Ren, E-class, 'Absorb.' Let's see this remarkable Ability that earned you a place among your betters."
The room fell silent, all eyes on Ren as he stepped forward. He was acutely aware of the impossibility of his position—'Absorb' was subtle, its effects barely perceptible even to him. There was nothing flashy to demonstrate, no visible manifestation to impress his classmates or the instructor.
"'Absorb' allows me to draw in small amounts of ambient mana from my surroundings," he explained, trying to keep his voice steady. "It's a passive Ability, constantly active rather than something I activate for specific effects."
Master Keldrin's frown deepened. "So you have nothing to show us? No demonstration of this... remarkable talent?"
"The effects are internal, sir," Ren replied. "The mana I absorb adds to my own reserves, but the process itself isn't visible."
A few snickers rippled through the classroom. Master Keldrin made no effort to silence them. "How convenient," he said dryly. "An Ability that cannot be observed or verified. One might almost think it doesn't exist at all."
Ren felt heat rising to his cheeks but kept his expression neutral. "It was verified by the Awakening Bureau, sir."
"Yes, yes, I'm aware of the bureaucratic formalities," Master Keldrin waved a dismissive hand. "Return to your place, E-class. We'll have to take your word for it, won't we?"
The rest of the class was devoted to exercises in mana control and manipulation—creating simple constructs, maintaining stable mana flows, and basic energy transfers. These were skills that all Talented could perform to some degree, regardless of their specific Abilities, though the ease and power varied dramatically with their rank.
Ren found himself struggling almost immediately. While he had good theoretical knowledge and had practiced basic mana manipulation at the Public School, the exercises Master Keldrin assigned were far more complex. Moreover, his E-class status meant his mana capacity and control, while enhanced compared to non-Talented individuals, were significantly inferior to those of his classmates.
"Pathetic," Master Keldrin commented as he passed Ren's workstation, where a simple mana construct kept destabilizing despite Ren's concentrated efforts. "This is elementary work, E-class. Even the most basic Talented should be able to maintain a stable construct for at least thirty seconds."
"I'm trying, sir," Ren said, refocusing his efforts.
"Trying isn't succeeding," the instructor replied coldly. "Perhaps you should consider whether you belong here at all."
By the end of the class, Ren was mentally exhausted, his mana reserves depleted from the constant effort of trying to keep up with exercises designed for students with far greater capacity and control. His 'Absorb' Ability had helped somewhat, providing a slow but steady trickle of additional mana, but it wasn't enough to bridge the substantial gap between him and his peers.
As he gathered his materials to leave, Darius Blackthorn approached, flanked by two other students who had demonstrated high-ranking Abilities. "Having trouble, E-class?" he asked, his tone falsely sympathetic. "Don't worry, I'm sure there are plenty of jobs for failed Talented. Street sweeping, perhaps? Or maybe you could work in the kitchens, using your amazing 'Absorb' to... what, exactly? Soak up spills?"
His companions laughed, and several nearby students joined in. Ren met Darius's gaze steadily, refusing to show how deeply the mockery cut. "I'll manage," he said simply.
"Will you?" Darius raised an eyebrow. "The Academy isn't a charity, E-class. It's for those with real potential. You're taking up space that could go to someone worthy."
"The admissions committee thought I was worthy," Ren pointed out quietly.
Darius's expression hardened. "A mistake they'll soon recognize. Enjoy your time here while it lasts, E-class. It won't be long."
With that parting shot, he and his entourage swept from the room, leaving Ren alone with the weight of their contempt and his own doubts. For a brief moment, he allowed himself to wonder if they were right—if his admission had been a mistake, if he was fooling himself thinking he could succeed in this environment.
But then he remembered Mistress Elara's faith in him, Master Hiro's gruff encouragement, Tomas and Eli cheering him on as he left the Public School. He thought of the years of work, the countless hours of study and practice, the three Awakening attempts it had taken to get here. He hadn't come this far to give up at the first sign of difficulty.
Drawing a deep breath, Ren straightened his shoulders and left the classroom, heading for his next challenge.
The pattern established in those first two classes continued throughout the day, and indeed, throughout Ren's first weeks at Grandia Academy. The academic environment was rigorous and unforgiving, designed to push students to their limits and beyond. For someone starting with Ren's disadvantages—an E-class Ability, a Public School education, no family connections or resources—it was doubly challenging.
In theoretical classes, Ren often excelled, his years of diligent study under Mistress Elara's guidance giving him a solid foundation that sometimes surpassed even his wealthier peers who had relied on private tutors to spoon-feed them knowledge. But in practical applications, the limitations of his E-class status became painfully apparent.
Magic class was particularly difficult. While basic spells were manageable, anything beyond the most elementary level required mana reserves and control that Ren simply didn't possess. His classmates could cast intermediate spells with ease, their higher-ranked Abilities providing them with abundant mana and enhanced control. Ren, meanwhile, struggled to maintain even basic constructs for extended periods, his limited reserves quickly depleted despite the supplementary trickle from 'Absorb.'
The instructors' attitudes varied. Some, like Professor Thorne, seemed to regard him as an interesting anomaly, occasionally calling on him to test his knowledge but otherwise treating him with the same cool professionalism they showed all students. Others, like Master Keldrin, made no secret of their disdain, openly questioning his presence at the Academy and predicting his inevitable failure.
His fellow students were equally divided. Most ignored him or joined in the mockery led by Darius and his circle. A few, like Lyra, showed occasional kindness or interest, though always at a distance, careful not to associate too closely with the E-class oddity. And then there were those who seemed to resent his very existence, viewing his admission as an insult to the Academy's standards and traditions.
"It's not just that you're E-class," explained Valerian one evening, when Ren had returned to the dormitory after a particularly difficult day. The prefect had developed a strange sort of relationship with Ren—not friendship, exactly, but a kind of bemused interest in his persistence. "It's that you're from a Public School, with no family name, no connections. You represent everything they're taught to look down upon."
"I'm aware," Ren replied, too tired to take offense at the blunt assessment.
"Then you must also be aware that they're waiting for you to fail," Valerian continued, adjusting his spectacles. "To prove that their worldview is correct—that power and privilege are the natural order of things."
Ren looked up at that, meeting Valerian's gaze directly. "Then they'll be waiting a long time."
Valerian studied him for a moment, then nodded slightly, as if confirming something to himself. "Perhaps they will."
Despite the challenges, Ren refused to give up. He developed strategies to compensate for his limitations, focusing on efficiency rather than raw power. He practiced relentlessly, pushing his control to its limits, finding ways to accomplish with precision what others did with brute force. He spent hours in the library, researching alternative approaches to magical problems, seeking knowledge that might give him an edge where natural talent could not.
And he kept his promise to Master Hiro, seeking him out at the Academy's combat training grounds. The blacksmith-turned-swordsmanship-instructor was a different person here—still gruff and demanding, but with an authority and respect that surprised Ren.
"So you decided to take up the sword after all," Master Hiro said when Ren approached him after classes one day. "Good. Your Ability may not be suited for direct combat, but a blade doesn't care about magical rank."
Under Master Hiro's guidance, Ren began learning the basics of swordsmanship. It was grueling work, especially after long days of magical studies, but Ren found a certain satisfaction in it. Here, at least, the playing field was somewhat more level. While higher-ranked Talented still had advantages in strength and speed, skill and discipline counted for more than innate magical power.
"You have good instincts," Master Hiro commented after a particularly intense training session, watching as Ren practiced forms against a wooden dummy. "And you don't give up. That's rare, especially among those who've had everything handed to them."
"I've never had anything handed to me," Ren replied, wiping sweat from his brow.
Master Hiro nodded, a glint of approval in his eyes. "That's why you might actually amount to something, despite what the others think."
Such moments of encouragement were rare but precious, sustaining Ren through the daily grind of academic pressure and social isolation. He clung to his dream, to the belief that perseverance would eventually yield results, just as it had with his Awakening.
And there were small victories. In a theoretical magic exam, he scored among the top five in his year, earning a reluctant nod of acknowledgment from Professor Thorne. During a practical exercise in Master Keldrin's class, he managed to maintain a complex mana construct for nearly a minute—still far behind the best performers but a significant improvement from his early attempts.
Even some of his peers began to show a grudging respect for his persistence, if not his abilities. Lyra occasionally sat with him in the library, sharing notes and discussing magical theory. A few others followed her lead, not befriending him exactly, but at least acknowledging his right to be there.
Darius and his circle remained hostile, of course, their mockery evolving into more targeted harassment as they realized Ren wasn't going to conveniently disappear. They "accidentally" disrupted his magical exercises, spread rumors about how he must have bribed his way into the Academy, and once even attempted to sabotage a practical exam by interfering with his mana flow—an incident that earned them a rare rebuke from Professor Thorne, who had witnessed the attempt.
"Your persistence is admirable, E-class," she told Ren afterward, her tone neutral but not unkind. "But it won't be enough. Not here. Not with what lies ahead."
"What do you mean, Professor?" Ren asked, sensing something specific behind her warning.
She regarded him thoughtfully for a moment. "The Academy curriculum is designed for those with significant magical potential. As the terms progress, the gap between theory and practical application widens. There will come a point where no amount of theoretical knowledge or determination can compensate for the limitations of an E-class Ability."
"I understand that," Ren acknowledged. "But I have to try."
"Why?" she asked, genuine curiosity in her voice. "Why push against such overwhelming odds? There are other paths, other ways to contribute that might better suit your... capabilities."
Ren considered the question seriously. It was one he had asked himself many times, especially on his darkest days when doubt threatened to overwhelm his determination. "Because I made a promise," he said finally. "To myself, and to those who believed in me when no one else would. I promised I would become someone who could protect others, someone who could make a difference. And this is the path to that goal."
Professor Thorne studied him for a long moment, her expression unreadable. "A noble aspiration," she said at last. "But the world is not always kind to noble aspirations, especially when they conflict with reality." She turned to leave, then paused. "Consider alternative paths, Ren. Before the decision is made for you."
Her words stayed with Ren in the days that followed, adding to the weight of doubt he carried. Was he being stubborn rather than determined? Foolish rather than brave? Was he clinging to a dream that was fundamentally incompatible with the reality of his E-class status?
These questions haunted him as he struggled through increasingly difficult practical exercises, as he watched his classmates progress at a pace he couldn't match, as he faced the daily reminders of his limitations. But each time doubt threatened to overwhelm him, he remembered the journey that had brought him here—the years of work, the failures overcome, the small victories hard-won.
And he remembered his purpose. Not fame or power or status, but the simple, unwavering desire to help others, to protect those who couldn't protect themselves. If that meant pushing against overwhelming odds, facing ridicule and skepticism, enduring failure after failure in pursuit of even the smallest progress, then so be it.
Grandia Academy might be a gilded cage, designed to elevate the already privileged and powerful while excluding those deemed unworthy. Its gleaming towers and hallowed halls might represent everything Ren had been told was beyond his reach. But he was here now, against all odds and expectations. And he would not be easily dislodged.
One evening, as the first term neared its midpoint, Ren sat alone in the Academy library, surrounded by books on advanced magical theory and alternative mana manipulation techniques. He had been there for hours, searching for anything that might help him bridge the gap between his theoretical knowledge and his practical limitations.
"Still at it, E-class?" came a familiar voice. Lyra slid into the chair across from him, her auburn braids now adorned with small flame-shaped ornaments that glowed softly in the library's dim light.
"Always," Ren replied with a tired smile.
She glanced at the titles of the books spread before him. "Alternative Approaches to Mana Enhancement," she read aloud. "Efficiency in Magical Practice. Theoretical Foundations of Ability Augmentation." Her eyebrows rose. "Ambitious reading."
"Necessary reading," Ren corrected. "I need every advantage I can find."
Lyra was quiet for a moment, studying him with an expression he couldn't quite interpret. "You know," she said finally, "when you first arrived, everyone thought you'd be gone within a week. The betting pool had you leaving in tears after the first round of practical assessments."
"Sorry to disappoint the gamblers," Ren said dryly.
"That's just it—you didn't." Lyra leaned forward, lowering her voice. "The pool's still active, but the timeline keeps extending. Now some are betting you'll make it to the end of the term. A few are even putting money on the full year."
Ren wasn't sure how to respond to this information. Was it supposed to be encouraging that his peers now thought he might last a few months instead of a few weeks?
"My point," Lyra continued, seeming to sense his confusion, "is that you're changing minds, E-class. Not everyone's, and not quickly, but it's happening. People are watching you. They see how hard you work, how you refuse to give up despite everything."
"And yet I'm still falling behind in every practical class," Ren pointed out.
"Yes," Lyra acknowledged bluntly. "And you probably always will be, with an E-class Ability. That's just reality." She held up a hand to forestall his response. "But that doesn't mean you can't succeed in your own way. Maybe not by the Academy's narrow definition of success, but by finding your own path."
Her words echoed Professor Thorne's advice about alternative paths, but with a different emphasis—not as an admission of defeat, but as a strategic adaptation. "What do you mean?" Ren asked, genuinely curious.
"I mean that not everyone here is an A-class combat specialist like Darius, and not everyone needs to be. There are other roles, other ways to contribute." She gestured to the books before him. "You're already looking for alternative approaches. Maybe instead of trying to match the others at their game, you need to define your own."
It was a perspective Ren hadn't fully considered. He had been so focused on keeping up, on proving he belonged at the Academy despite his E-class status, that he hadn't stopped to question whether the standard path was the only one worth pursuing.
"Think about it," Lyra said, rising from her seat. "And don't stay too late—there's a practical assessment in Master Keldrin's class tomorrow, and you'll need all your strength for that."
With that parting reminder, she left him to his thoughts and his books. Ren sat for a long time, considering her words, turning them over in his mind alongside Professor Thorne's warning and his own experiences these past weeks.
The gilded cage of Grandia Academy was designed to shape its students into specific molds—powerful mages, skilled swordmasters, elite specialists ready to take their place in Lumeria's magical hierarchy. But perhaps, Ren thought, there was room for something different. Something unexpected. Something that even an E-class Talented with nothing but determination and a dream might achieve.
With renewed purpose, he turned back to his books, searching not just for ways to keep up, but for his own unique path forward. The journey ahead would be no less challenging, the obstacles no less daunting. But for the first time since arriving at the Academy, Ren felt a sense of possibility that went beyond mere survival.
He would continue to push against the limitations imposed by his E-class status, to face the skepticism of instructors and the mockery of peers. But he would also begin to chart his own course, to seek out opportunities and approaches that others might overlook in their pursuit of conventional power.
The gilded cage might be designed to contain and constrain, to reinforce the existing order of privilege and power. But Ren had never accepted the limitations others tried to impose on him. And he wasn't about to start now.