That morning, the air around the academy was crisp and fresh, dew still clinging to the leaves. The tall stone buildings glistened as the early sunlight reflected off their windows. Students in black robes bustled through the courtyards, heading toward their respective classrooms. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement, curiosity, and nervous energy.
Zareen walked beside Gino, his steps sluggish, while Gino—true to form—strode confidently, a wide grin on his face and a thick notebook in hand.
“Zareen,” Gino said, glancing at him. “This is a crucial day. We start the basics today—this is where your path as a magician truly begins.”
Zareen yawned. “Why does it feel like I just finished a math exam yesterday, and now I’m being forced to take another test?”
“Because this is another world,” Gino replied sharply, “and this isn’t a game. If you fail to learn magic, you won’t last long here.”
Those words hit Zareen like a splash of cold water. He could tell Gino wasn’t joking.
---
The Introduction Hall
In the academy’s grand hall, hundreds of new students had already gathered. Long benches were filled with faces that ranged from eager and curious to pale and anxious—some even wearing smug expressions. At the front of the room stood a man in his forties with a long grey robe. His wooden staff was plain, but his presence radiated quiet strength.
“Welcome to Hadin Magic Academy,” his deep voice resonated through the hall, commanding attention. “I am Ardian, your instructor for the basic courses.”
The students fell silent, their chatter dying instantly.
“Here, you will not only study theory,” Ardian continued. “You will be forged. This world shows no mercy to the weak. Magic is not just knowledge—it is a weapon, and a responsibility.”
Zareen swallowed hard. Those words carried a weight that pressed against his chest. He was still struggling to understand why he had even been brought to this world.
“Today,” Ardian said, “we will assess your innate ability. Each of you will come forward and demonstrate the most basic spell you can perform.”
A ripple of whispers spread among the students. Some faces lit up with anticipation, others turned pale.
---
The Magic Demonstrations
The first student stepped forward, chanting a short incantation. A small fireball appeared in his palm, and cheers erupted from the audience.
The next conjured a spiraling jet of water. Another produced a small gust of wind, and a girl managed to form a thin sheet of ice in her hand.
“Good, very good,” Ardian said, jotting notes on his clipboard.
Zareen’s nerves tightened. His hands were cold and slick with sweat.
Then came the call: “Gino!”
With unwavering confidence, Gino strode to the front. He raised his staff and spoke his spell with crisp clarity. A bright burst of red flame shot into the air, larger and more controlled than any of the previous students’ attempts.
The hall erupted with cheers and applause.
Ardian’s lips curved in a small smile. “Excellent. Very stable control.”
Gino walked back to his seat, puffing out his chest. As he passed Zareen, he gave him a firm pat on the shoulder. “Your turn. Don’t embarrass yourself.”
“Thanks for the added pressure,” Zareen muttered under his breath.
---
Zareen’s Turn
His name was called. The hall fell silent once more, all eyes fixed on him.
Zareen’s legs felt like lead as he walked forward, clutching the borrowed staff. He took a deep breath, trying to recall everything Gifa had told him the previous night.
Magic is intention, focus, and conviction, he reminded himself.
But as soon as he raised the staff, his mind went blank.
“Uh… light, appear!” he shouted desperately.
The staff trembled, then produced a faint lavender glow—no brighter than a nightlight.
The hall was completely silent. Then, from somewhere in the back, came stifled laughter.
“That’s it?”
“Ha! Looks like a baby lamp.”
Heat rose to Zareen’s face. He wished he could sink through the floor.
But before he could retreat, Ardian raised his hand. “That is enough.”
Zareen braced himself for criticism—but the teacher’s voice was calm.
“Even the smallest light is a beginning. Never underestimate the basics. Many great magicians started with a spark no brighter than this.”
Zareen looked up, stunned. The words felt like a balm on his shaken heart.
He returned to his seat, still embarrassed but strangely comforted. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Gino smiling faintly—not a mocking grin, but a look that seemed to say:
Good. A real rival should start from the very bottom.
---
After Class
The lesson ended, and students spilled out of the hall, chattering loudly. Some bragged about their spells, others complained about their results, a few immediately began practicing outside.
Zareen walked quietly, head down, but Gino slapped him hard on the shoulder.
“Don’t give up,” Gino said bluntly. “If you’re my rival, you’d better keep moving forward. If you stop here, I’ll get bored.”
Zareen glanced sideways. “Do you ever stop talking?”
Gino chuckled. “Not when I mean it.”
Zareen sighed. As irritating as Gino could be, his presence somehow kept Zareen from feeling completely alone.
---
Night at the Dormitory
That night, the room was bathed in the soft blue glow of a crystal embedded in the ceiling. Zareen lay on his bed, staring at the Black Card resting on the small table beside him.
He picked it up and held it tightly.
Why me? I don’t even know how to cast a proper spell. But… if this is my destiny, maybe I should at least try.
Across the room, Gino sat on his bed, scribbling furiously in his notebook, filling pages with formulas and diagrams. Occasionally he glanced at Zareen, his expression unreadable.
The Black Card isn’t a joke, Gino thought.
This guy must have potential. It’s only a matter of time before he shows it.
The room grew quiet again. Two young men—different in personality, different in skill—now found themselves bound by the same thread of fate.
Somewhere beyond the dorm walls, the vast magical world waited for them both.
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