The brittle orange leaves fell from the trees as a cruising car clad in a copper finish passed through the empty road leading up towards the academy building in the distance. The steam-powered car had a rather long front bumper with headlights protruding over the engine hood.

Despite the falling leaves littering the grass beneath it, the road and the sidewalk beside it were unusually clean. Whenever the leaves fell, they were somehow being blown away from the road and towards the grass.

“Kon,” Adrian called out to his personal butler, who was currently driving the vehicle. He was a man in his mid-fifties, formally dressed in a black suit and gloves.

“Yes, Young Master?” He responded, taking a quick glance at the rear mirror to see the noble he was serving, Adrian. Adrian had slightly unkempt darker hair and was neatly dressed in his dark-blue blazer with a white shirt underneath it. His heterochromatic eyes were sharp, and a firm expression that seemed to display poise and nobility. His left eye was green, and his right eye was blue.

The difference wasn’t something that anyone could notice at a first or casual glance as both of the eyes were a very dark-hued that made it difficult to tell apart on a passing look.

In his left chest pocket Adrian kept a glossy metallic badge, shaped like a triangle. The badge itself has a bird with its head down and its wings spread wide open. An olive branch surrounded the inside of the badge A crest. Most noticeably were the hues of dominantly green and blue in the backdrop of the badge, with an accent of sparkling gold plate outlining it.

“How are they able to keep the sidewalks clean like that?” Adrian asked the older man.

“There are self-sustaining artificial essence cores embedded on the sidewalk. Whenever any foreign object approaches the road, the essence cores create a weak wind draft to displace anything that approaches it,” Kon responded. He seemed to be knowledgeable enough to know about essence cores.

Adrian tapped his the crest, and a holographic screen appeared from thin air in front of him. It showed his current status:

//ESSENCECORE//

//NAME: Adrian Valdanes, Total Skills: 9, Power Leve - 243//

//Summoning Skills: Cavern Lion, Aizazul, Octofrogmin, Hawking//

//Active Skills: Air Slice, High Leap, Stealth Increase//

// Passive Skills: Jump STR. (X), Featherfall (X), Farsight (Y) //

//Note On Essence Cores - They are the heart of every magic process in this world. Countless researchers from every generation have failed to explain how these cores work, but it is commonly understood that “it acts according to the will of its owner. //

Kon interrupted. “Young master, the explanation for their origin is unknown, but essence cores are a part of every human being. For reasons yet uncovered, essence cores in humans only awaken after turning 15 years of age. Though there are some cases where these cores awaken at a much younger age, and some where the core never awakens at all.”

Adrian considered the words and looked back out the window at the sidewalk. He himself had just awakened his core a few months prior during the entrance exam for his school.

“I see,” Adrian commented idly changing the subject as he walked the leaves be pushed away from the sidewalk. “Isn’t an enchantment like that difficult to maintain?”

Kon smiled from his seat. “For some? Not a difficult at all. The caliber of resources deployed within a military Arcanium is unparalleled, even when compared to the best magic schools in the Imperium that some of your other peers are bound for.”

Adrian sat back against his chair. The young man had been, for the most part, able to keep his composure, he couldn’t help the feeling of excitement that started building up within him.

While Adrian has been able to keep his composure, for the most part, the excitement started building up within him when he started seeing other students walking on the sidewalk towards the Arcanium. The sidewalk was bordered by a fence that seemed to be part of the school. As for how he identified they were students, they were wearing the same uniform that Adrian was wearing, though some had different crests showing.

Adrian and Kon had been driving on the school grounds for more than five minutes already and had yet to see a single building, which only showed the size and scale of the Arcanium.

Adrian looked back at the walking students. “Kon, stop here.”

“We haven’t arrived at the school yet, sir.” The butler slowed the car to a complete stop.

“It’s no problem, I’d like to walk to walk the rest of the way. You don’t need to accompany me from this point on, I need to make my own impressions.” Adrian explained.

“Understood, Young Master. But are you forgetting? What about the dorms—”

“I can make the arrangements. Tell my father I’m a Valdanes after all. I can tend to my own concerns.”

A gentle knowing smile formed on the butler’s face, “Understood, Young Master. If you need anything, I shall arrive at your aid as soon as possible.”

“Mm, thank you, Kon,” Adrian followed with a chuckle.

The car stopped and Kon got out to open Adrian’s door. “Young Master, I wish you the truly best.”

Adrian exited the car and then grabbed his leather school bag. Kon drove off.

He joined up with another stream of students who were walking in the direction of the school. Along the way, short posts of gold and black metal with artificial essence cores on the top of each post worked by continuously emitting magic, ensuring that there is always a constant light breeze on the sidewalk that cleaned it from any dirt while keeping those inside the area of enchantment cool and refreshed.

This was only one of the many luxuries that students at the Arcanium were granted.

A few minutes later, Adrian could finally see much more of the school. There was also a build-up of cars stopping by the sidewalk, which he could only assume to be butlers of children of nobles like him. More and more students start to appear as well, with some even having a friend to talk to as they walked, if not a personal assistant.

The Imperial Arcanium—the most prestigious military school in Da’argard Imperium. The Arcanium covered a total area of almost five square kilometers including the grounds. The sheer size was bigger than most towns within the Imperium, even if most of the area was filled with ornate gardens and forested areas with a few facilities separate from the building catering to the students and teachers. As for those extra facilities, no details were shared until after acceptance into whatever program fed into them.

At least that’s what the entrance exam advisor had told all of those in attendance during testing. Adrian wasn’t convinced it was accurate but had no way yet to confirm.

Adrian took a moment to take in the details of the Arcanium’s entrance. The academy courtyard could easily be mistaken for a nobleman’s estate, just from the sheer size and similarities in ornate luxuries, the fountain at the center, and gazebos scattered around the wide garden, carpeted in the grass. Hedges lined the sidewalk as well, leading to the school as he walked towards it along with multiple other students. It was a good day and a slight smile crept over his face, but there was an edge too, an unease.

Every student walking through those front doors recognized the same thing. Only 9% of them would reach the end. Only 9% would pass. The lowest rate among any school in the kingdom. Just 9%, not to graduate from the Arcanium, but to pass the primary requirements for admission. The practical exam would come next, and with it the basic rank of “Summoner” or “Mage” depending on school of specialty.

Adrian knew the end result would be worth it. Those who endured. Those who finished up their years at the Arcanium could be granted the title of Magister, or were dismissed, as Magisters, those who could use an ability belonging to each school of elemental magic: earth, wind, fire, and water, and could also summon monsters as well. It was the beginnings of acknowledge real power.

Approximately 30% of those who in their third-year graduated.

It was a school of elites for a reason.

“Friends, hm...” Adrian muttered as two students walked by him chatting, but he quickly threw the thought away. Not that he cared in the first place. anyway. They only stand in the way of bringing prosperity to his family.

His full name is Adrian Valdanes, the first son of the noble family of Valdanes. His father, Miram Valdanes, was the State Lord of Ranqui, one of the rural states of Da’argard Imperium. It used to be a thriving state until twelve years ago when Miram stopped receiving support from the king after a particularly harsh dungeon break.

The result? The family of Valdanes was now considered a “Pauper’s Nobility” due to their lack of access to Imperial resources and difficulties finding resources to manage the State after the dungeon break. Adrian’s father had depended primarily on the saved wealth of their family, rather than increasing taxing on the commoners.

With his father falling out of favor, the future of the family fell squarely on Adrian, to save his family from falling out of their noble status and regaining the trust of their people.

“Tch, that damn old man of mine…” Adrian cursed under his breath. He had a nasty look on his face as he said it, making those near him distance themselves from him as they walked inside the gates of the school.

One person thought differently, however.

“Did you say something?” A girl spoke from behind him.

Adrian was startled, his shoulders jumping from surprise. He wasn’t expecting anyone to talk to him so soon.

“I heard that.” The girl said. He turned his head to the side, looking at the girl who unexpectedly approached him.

The girl had long pink hair that smoothly waved as she walked beside him. She leaned her head forward in an attempt to take a peek at his face. He could see that she was wearing the same-colored outfit as Adrian with the same crest shining from her pocket as well. Her eyes were a golden color.

She seems familiar for some reason, Adrian thought, but he still wasn’t interested in speaking with anyone unless necessary.

“It’s none of your business, and why did you even ask what I said if you heard it clearly for the first time?” He said in an unfriendly tone.

“Hmm...” The pink-haired girl paused for a second to think until she pouted and complained, “I was measuring what kind of person you are...”

“You have no idea what kind of person I am,” Adrian responded and tried to walk away. The girl didn’t let him and walked beside him.

With an exasperated sigh Adrian asked, “Why are you still following me...”

The pink-haired person replied as she awkwardly fidgeted, “I-I don’t have anyone to walk with... It’s first impressions, you know!” She exclaimed. “If you’re not seen with anyone even after the moving-in period, they’ll think you’re a loner!”

Adrian just nodded his head. “Fine, if you can keep up, I guess we can walk together.” The moving-in period ended after the first three weeks and finished up with a social event with other first year students at the Arcanium. It was supposed to be a welcome reprieve from the general tempo of training and expectations and a way to build social standing.

“I’ve got my own goals, I don’t want to get distracted” He projected his thoughts to the pink-haired girl.

“Really?” She looked at him with a curious expression. “I’d like to hear about it some time.”