The gold-tipped gates of Imperial Sigil Academy loomed ahead like the mouth of a sleeping god—beautiful, ancient, and undeniably dangerous.
Surrounded by forests that shimmered with spellwoven trees and built atop a massive leyline, the academy wasn't just prestigious—it was a battlefield of legacy, ambition, and monstrous talent. Only nobles, prodigies, or empire-backed elites were granted entry.
And today, two arrived with none of the pomp expected of a noble heir.
One simple black carriage. No escort. No banner. No trumpets.
Exactly how Eron Valemere wanted it.
"Only one carriage?" Neha raised an eyebrow as she packed the supplies.
"Yes," Eron replied. "Less attention, less noise. And more time."
"More time for what?"
He looked up from the map he was marking. "To level."
Outside, a pack of Class D mana-wolves howled from the hills. They'd been tailing them for over half a day now.
Eron smiled faintly.
"Let them follow. I need the fuel."
That Night – Camped by Firelight
The wolves attacked. And died.
Neha fought with fire-coated daggers and grace. Eron moved like a phantom, casting rapid combinations from horseback and finishing with a Mana Echo Slash that split three wolves at once.
[Chain Kill Bonus Activated]EXP Gained: 230
Eron Level Up ➤ Lv. 2Eron Level Up ➤ Lv. 3
New Feature Activated: Stat Allocation Tier IChoose one:
All Stats +2
One Stat +4
Eron paused under the moonlight, reading the glowing sigil in his vision.
His eyes narrowed.
[Current Stat Overview:]
STR: 11
AGI: 13
VIT: 10
INT: 21
WIS: 18
CHA: 15
MANA CAPACITY: 52
MANA REGEN: 3/sec
He sighed.
Despite having mastered nearly every spell in his arsenal, his mana pool remained pitifully small—barely enough for three high-level casts in succession. His regeneration was slow, his sustainability lacking.
"Power is wasted without fuel."
Mana was his bottleneck.
After a moment of thought, he selected:
Choice: One Stat +4 → INT increased from 21 ➤ 25
Result: +8 Max Mana | +1 Spell Efficiency Tier ThresholdBonus: Minor reduction in casting cost
Still not enough to match his absurd skill ceiling, but every drop counted.
The gates creaked open as the carriage passed through the enchanted threshold. Arcane glyphs scanned the air, recognizing identities.
[Student Recognized: Eron Valemere – First-Year Transfer]Class: Unknown (Pending Evaluation)
Party Bond Detected: Neha ValesRole: Arcane Conduit (Provisional Student)**
They entered onto a path of floating white stone tiles above shimmering grass and spell-forged courtyards.
Even Neha, always stoic, blinked in quiet awe.
"Welcome to the beating heart of the empire's arrogance," Eron murmured.
As they entered the grand hall, dozens of students in lavish robes and glowing gear glanced up. Most were older—14 to 18—nobleborn, battle-tested, and fiercely competitive.
"Who is that?"
"He came alone?"
"Where's his crest? His retinue?"
"That girl with him… is she his servant or his mage?"
Their whispers were curious—but would soon turn hostile.
Eron ignored them all.
A white-robed woman stepped forward—tall, poised, and surrounded by senior students.
"I am Professor Vayra, Combat Director of House Sigil," she said. "You must be the mid-term transfer. You'll be evaluated in a personal trial tomorrow. Until then, rest."
"I'll pass it. Easily."
She tilted her head. "Cocky."
"No," he said calmly. "Prepared."
[New Quest Issued: "Prove the Prodigy"]Objective: Pass the Personal Trial with Class-A rating or higher.Reward: +1 Level | +1 Skill Evolution Token
Eron sat on the edge of his bed, eyes closed in meditation.
His hands trembled slightly.
Despite the clean victory against the wolves…Despite his skill mastery…His mana deficiency was real.
He could cast high-tier spells, yes—but only in short bursts. In a long fight against equally skilled mages… he would be outlasted. His power was glass hidden under gold.
But he wasn't afraid.
Every two levels, a choice would come.Every challenge was an opportunity to sharpen his edge.
And tomorrow, he would show this academy that skill, power, and resolve didn't need a house banner to shine.
They only needed a throne to take.