Physical Examination.

The next room looked more like a medical facility than a school. Machines lined the walls.

Magical crystals were embedded into metal frames. Several examination tables stood beneath bright lights. An elderly doctor stood beside one of them.

"Name?"

"Shinji Sugimoto."

"Age?" "Eighteen."

"Any serious illnesses?"

"No."

"Previous magical training?" Shinji hesitated.

"No."

The doctor looked up.

"None?"

"None."

"Interesting."

He made a note. "Remove your coat and shirt." Shinji did.

The natural tattoo became visible.

The doctor stopped writing.

His eyes moved across the markings.

"What is that?"

"My tattoo." "I can see that."

The doctor stepped closer.

"Natural-born?" Shinji nodded.

The doctor looked toward another examiner.

"Natural-born."

The other examiner approached.

Both studied Shinji's tattoo. "Rare."

Shinji looked confused.

"Is it?"

The doctor looked at him.

"Very."

He didn't elaborate.

Instead, he began the examination.

Shinji stood on a platform.

Magical crystals activated around him.

One measured his heart.

Another measured his lungs.

Another monitored his muscles.

Then came reflex testing.

A mechanical device released small padded objects at unpredictable angles. Shinji caught several. Missed one. Caught another.

The examiner wrote something down.

"Good reaction speed." Next came strength.

Then flexibility.

Then balance. Finally— magical compatibility.

Shinji stepped onto a circular magic platform. Several crystals surrounded him.

The examiner stood behind a glass panel.

"Relax."

Shinji did.

The crystals activated.

Light spread beneath his feet.

It travelled upward.

His legs.

His chest.

His arms.

His neck. Then—

his tattoo began to glow. Shinji looked down.

The light wasn't restricted to his hands.

The markings illuminated beneath his skin, travelling upward through his body. A faint aura formed around him. The examiner's expression changed. "This is fascinating" Shinji sighed.

"How long is this supposed to take." The examiner smiled.

"We are almost done here."

The aura intensified.

For a moment, Shinji felt something deep inside himself.

Something enormous.

Something sleeping. Something that felt almost—

alive.

He instinctively reached toward it.

The moment he did, the aura vanished.

The crystals went dark.

Shinji stumbled.

The examiner immediately stepped forward.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes."

"What did you feel?"

Shinji thought about it.

"I don't know." The examiner stared at him.

Then looked at the results.

"Your body is compatible with magical circulation." Shinji relaxed.

"So I passed?"

"You've passed the physical examination."

The Tattoo Examination

The final examination took place in a smaller chamber.

At its centre was a circular platform surrounded by dozens of crystals. An instructor stood beside it.

He looked at Shinji's tattoo. Then at the results. "Naturalborn Half-Born." Shinji nodded.

The instructor walked around him.

"Your tattoo begins at the palm as normal."

"Yes."

"It continues along your arms?"

"Yes."

"And reaches your neck?" Shinji nodded.

The instructor studied the markings. "Every natural-born has a unique pattern." Shinji looked at him. "What does mine mean?" The instructor smiled.

"That's something you'll learn here but as you can see yours has flame cracks." Shinji looked at him with doubt.

"Can't you tell me?"

"I can tell you what the examination tells me."

He pointed toward the platform.

"Stand there." Shinji stepped onto it.

The crystals activated.

A pale light surrounded his body. His tattoo glowed dimly.

"Make a sign like this with your hands"

Shinji put held both of his wrists with his hands.

He suddenly felt warm from the inside and a flash of pink flames emitted from his body that appeared for a moment and disappeared.

Shinji turned.

"What was that?"

The instructor stared at the empty space. "That was you waking up your mana" Shinji looked at him.

"Mana?"

"You'll learn more about it later."

The instructor examined the readings.

"Your body appears to have a latent manifestation."

"What does that mean?"

"You have a personal magical weapon." Shinji's eyes widened. "A weapon?"

"Probably."

"Can I use it?"

"Not yet."

"Why?"

"Because you haven't learned how." Shinji looked down at his hands.

Seven years.

Seven years of waiting.

And something inside him had finally responded. The instructor deactivated the examination platform.

"That's what this academy is for."

He handed Shinji a small metal identification plate. His name was engraved across it.

SHINJI SUGIMOTO

FIRST YEAR

CLEANER CANDIDATE

Shinji closed his hand around it.

The instructor smiled.

"Congratulations."

"You've been accepted."

Outside the examination room, Shinji stood alone in the corridor. Students moved around him.

Some looked nervous.

Some looked excited.

Others were already discussing their results.

Shinji looked at the metal plate in his hand.

Cleaner Candidate.

It felt strange seeing the words.

For years, he'd imagined what this day would be like. Now it was here.

A member of staff approached.

"Sugimoto."

Shinji looked up.

"Yes?"

"Your dormitory assignment."

She handed him a small envelope.

"Building C. Room 214." Shinji opened it.

Inside was a key.

And beneath it was his first-year timetable. He unfolded it.

Monday — Martial Arts

Tuesday — Magic Fundamentals

Wednesday — History

Thursday — Nightmare Studies

Friday — Basic Literacy

Additional classes were listed beneath them.

Shinji stared at the timetable.

There it was.

The beginning of everything.

He would finally learn swordsmanship. He would finally learn magic. And eventually— he would learn what Nightmares truly were.

Shinji closed the timetable.

He looked toward the corridor leading deeper into the academy.

Tomorrow, he would enter his first class. But for today— he had to find his room.

Chapter Eight — Room 214

The corridor leading toward the dormitories was considerably quieter than the examination halls.

Shinji followed the signs until he reached a large set of double doors.

Above them was a metal plaque.

FIRST-YEAR RESIDENTIAL WING — BUILDING C

He pushed the door open.

Warm air greeted him.

The dormitory was nothing like Ryo's house.

The ceiling was high, supported by dark wooden beams reinforced with steel.

Magical lamps hung from the walls, their crystals glowing softly. A long corridor stretched into the distance.

Doors lined both sides.

Each had a number engraved into a small brass plate.

Shinji checked his key.

214.

He walked upstairs.

As he climbed, he began hearing voices.

Laughter.

Arguments.

Someone shouting from inside a room.

"GET OFF MY BED!"

"I SAID I'M SORRY!" A loud crash followed.

Shinji stopped.

He wasn't sure whether he should continue.

Then someone opened the door at the end of the corridor. A short Demi-Human boy stepped out.

He had pointed ears and a pair of small horns curling backward from his forehead. He looked at Shinji.

Then at the key in his hand.

"New?"

Shinji nodded.

"Yeah."

"What room?"

"214."

The boy pointed.

"Down there."

Shinji glanced toward the corridor.

"Thanks."

"No problem."

The boy disappeared back into his room.

Shinji continued.

He stopped outside Room 214. He inserted the key.

Click.

The door opened.

The room was surprisingly simple.

Two beds.

Two desks.

Two wardrobes.

A large window overlooking the academy grounds. A small magical heating crystal sat beside each bed. Shinji walked inside.

He looked at the second bed.

Empty.

His roommate hadn't arrived yet.

He placed his bag beside his bed.

Then sat down.

The mattress sank beneath him.

Shinji stared at the ceiling.

For the first time in seven years, he wasn't living with Ryo. The thought felt strange.

He had known this was coming.

But knowing something and experiencing it were different. He reached into his pocket.

His fingers touched the metal identification plate.

SHINJI SUGIMOTO.

He turned it over.

On the back was the academy crest.

A sword surrounded by a circular magical symbol.

He wondered how many people had worn one of these before him.

How many had graduated? How many had become Cleaners? And how many hadn't made it that far? He pushed the thought away.

A knock came at the door.

Shinji stood.

Ryo?

He opened it.

A woman wearing an academy uniform stood outside.

"Shinji Sugimoto?"

"Yes."

"I'm your residential supervisor." She handed him a small booklet. "Your academy handbook." Shinji took it.

"Thank you."

"Your roommate hasn't arrived yet."

"Okay."

"Some students arrive later because of transport delays." She pointed down the corridor.

"Bathrooms are at the end. Dining hall is on the ground floor. Laundry is in the basement."

She paused.

And then handed him another bundle

"You'll need these." Shinji looked down.

A neatly folded academy uniform rested in his arms.

The first layer was a white high-collared shirt, made from a thick but lightweight material.

Over it was a fitted dark charcoal jacket, reinforced around the shoulders and chest. The academy crest was embroidered over the left side of the chest—a sword surrounded by a circular magical symbol.

Beneath the crest was a small metal clasp.

The supervisor pointed toward it.

"That's your identification marker. Keep it attached to your uniform while you're on academy grounds."

Shinji nodded.

She handed him another smaller bundle. Shinji starts to feel annoyed.

"Training clothes." Shinji opened it.

A Karate gi for martial art training.

"The training uniform is worn during martial arts and physical examinations." "Thank you"

"And don't activate magic inside the dormitory." Shinji blinked.

"I don't know how."

"Good."

She smiled.

"Keep it that way." Then she walked away. Shinji closed the door.

He opened the handbook.

The first page contained the academy rules. No fighting outside designated training areas. No unauthorised magical experimentation.

No weapons outside approved areas.

Curfew: 22:00.

Students must attend all mandatory classes.

Shinji turned the page.

A map of the academy appeared. He

studied it.

There were more buildings than he had realised.

The main academic hall.

Medical wing.

Library.

Magic laboratories.

Martial training grounds.

Nightmare Studies building.

Dining hall.

Dormitories.

And beyond the main campus—a massive, reinforced structure.

Combat Simulation Facility.

Shinji stared at it.

He wondered what happened inside.

He continued reading.

A distant bell rang.

DONG.

The entire dormitory seemed to respond.

Doors opened.

Students began moving through the corridors. Shinji stepped outside.

A large group of students were heading downstairs. He followed them.

The dining hall was enormous.

Long tables filled the room.

Hundreds of students sat together.

Humans beside Demi-Humans.

Beastfolk beside Half-Borns.

There were rabbit-like people.

Wolf-like people.

Cat-like people.

One student had scales running along his cheeks.

Another had small wings folded against her back.

Shinji had seen Demi-Humans before in District 7.

But never this many together. The academy felt like its own little world. He found an empty seat.

A tray was placed in front of him.

Bread.

Soup.

Vegetables.

Meat.

And a small cup of tea.

Shinji looked at it.

It wasn't Rukki's. He drank anyway. It was terrible.

He made a face.

Someone sitting across from him laughed. "First day?"

Shinji looked up.

A tall girl with fox-like ears was smiling. "Is it that obvious?"

"You're staring at your food like it offended you." Shinji looked down.

"It tastes strange." She laughed. "You'll get used to it." Shinji nodded.

Then returned to eating.

After dinner, Shinji returned to his room.

The second bed was still empty.

He changed into his sleeping clothes.

Then sat beside the window.

The academy grounds were illuminated by magical lamps.

Students were still training.

He could see figures moving across the martial arts field.

Wooden weapons striking against one another.

THACK.

THACK.

THACK.

Shinji watched.

Tomorrow.

That would be him.

He placed his hand against the window.

His tattoo remained hidden beneath his sleeve. He remembered the strange silhouette from the examination. A weapon.

His weapon.

Something existed inside him.

Something he hadn't even begun to understand. Shinji closed his eyes.

He remembered his mother.

Her green healing aura.

Ren.

His younger siblings.

The fire.

The Nightmares.

The train.

Ryo.

Seven years.

He had spent seven years trying to build a life after that night.

Now he was finally taking the first step toward becoming someone capable of protecting others.

His hand slowly curled into a fist. His eyes narrowed.

"I'll become strong." The words were barely audible.

Outside, the academy bell rang.

DONG.

Ten o'clock.

The lights throughout the dormitory dimmed.

Shinji climbed into bed.

Tomorrow he would meet the people who would change his life. And for the first time since he had been eleven years old—Shinji Sugimoto fell asleep surrounded by people his own age.