The sky was covered in dark clouds, and rain poured heavily over the land.
Water splashed under Leon's boots as he walked up the long path toward the giant iron gates of Ravenhart Academy—the most powerful magic school in the entire kingdom.
He stopped just a few steps away from the gate, soaked from head to toe.
His cloak was old and full of holes.
His bag was small and looked like it had been stitched many times.
His hands were rough, used to hard labor. He didn't look like he belonged here.
But Leon didn't care.
He wasn't here to look good. He was here to change his life.
A tall guard, dressed in silver armor, looked down at him.
"Name?" the guard asked, clearly unimpressed.
"Leon Ashfall," he said quietly but clearly.
The guard raised an eyebrow and took a look at the scroll Leon handed him.
It was his admission letter, stamped with the royal seal. The scholarship seal.
"You're the one commoner who got in this year, huh?" the guard scoffed.
"Well, don't expect any welcome party. Most nobles here won't even look at you."
Leon gave no reply. He was used to being ignored, mocked, and looked down upon.
He had grown up in a small village where people had to work all day just to eat.
He knew pain, hunger, and hard work. But he had also learned one thing—he never gives up.
The gates creaked open slowly, and Leon stepped inside.
The school was massive. Towers touched the clouds.
Floating crystals lit up the halls. Magical beasts flew across the sky. Everything felt like a dream.
But Leon knew it wasn't a dream. It was a test.
He walked across the courtyard, heading to the dormitory where the new students were gathering. As he passed by, students dressed in clean, shiny uniforms turned their heads to stare at him.
Their eyes were full of judgment and disgust.
"Who let that peasant in?""Look at his clothes. So dirty.""He won't last a week."
Leon heard them all. But he didn't slow down.
He didn't speak. He just walked, staring straight ahead.
He reached the dorm, signed his name, and went to his small room.
It was much nicer than anything he had back home, but compared to the nobles' rooms, it was plain.
Leon sat on the bed, looked at his bruised hands, and whispered,
"I'm not here to be liked. I'm here to survive.
To grow stronger. To change everything."
Outside, thunder rolled through the sky
. The real storm was just beginning.