The sun hung high over the skies of Ludwillen, glowing like molten amber. Between the marble towers of the capital city Eredin, the light shimmered on countless banners fluttering in the warm wind. The military was preparing for the arrival of new recruits. Today, the gates of the magic academy would open once more. And somewhere among the fresh young faces moved a stranger with a calm gaze and a faint smile on his lips: Leonard Hajimeru Kamu.
His appearance was quiet, almost humble. Dark, tousled hair fell loosely over his forehead. His clothes were simple – a plain coat, worn but clean. No jewelry, no weapons, no crest – nothing that suggested nobility, wealth, or power. Only his eyes, an unfathomable shade of blue, held a depth that didn't seem to fit his youthful appearance.
The crowd of recruits was large. Boys and girls from all across Ludwillen, nervous, tense, excited. In this realm, magic was not a privilege but an obligation. Those who failed would still serve in the army – as mere foot soldiers. But Leonard wasn't here to succeed or to fail. He was here to observe.
For millennia, he had not set foot in the mortal world. The realm of the dragons, Dragonheart, had become his home. But now, after so long, a single question had drawn him back: How had humanity changed?
The entrance test began on the great training field. First came the magic analysis: each child stood before a large crystal that would glow in response to magical resonance. Most crystals glowed faintly, some flared brightly. A few burned with brilliance – elite potential. When Leonard's turn came, he stepped before a crystal, smiled quietly – and nothing happened.
A murmur rippled through the crowd. "No mana?" "Is he a fraud?" "Why is he even here?"
The instructor – an old mage with a long staff and a grim face – stepped forward. "Name?"
"Leonard Hajimeru Kamu."
The mage twitched. The name sounded strangely familiar, ancient. But he dismissed it. "You possess no magical resonance. You will be assigned to the non-mage training unit."
Leonard merely nodded. He knew what would happen. He had no magic. Never had. Never needed it. He was no warrior, no hero. And yet he was the creator of dragons.
---
Later, in the dorms, Leonard sat alone on one of the beds. The other boys whispered, laughed, practiced little spells. One – a broad-shouldered recruit – approached him.
"No mana, huh? What are you doing here then?"
Leon looked at him calmly. "I came to learn."
"You'll only learn how to die."
The punch came quickly. It would have floored any normal boy. But Leonard didn't move. The fist stopped mid-air. A faint hum, barely audible. The air around Leon had thickened. The attacker pulled back his hand with a scream. Something had burned his fingers.
Leonard still watched him calmly. "I said I came to learn. Not to fight."
---
Deep within Dragonheart, something stirred. Kamiju, the First Dragon, opened his eyes slowly. His aura rippled through dimensions.
"He has done it... He has returned to the world."
Around him gathered dragons of every kind: fire dragons, wind serpents, world crawlers, light weavers. Each one bowed their heads to the ground.
"What do we command, Lord Kamiju?"
"Nothing. Not unless he commands it. We watch. We wait. We follow."
---
Back in Ludwillen. The first lesson had begun. The instructor was a strict woman with a scar and short hair. "Today you learn the difference between mages, skill-users, and cannon fodder."
She gestured to the arena. Two recruits stepped forward. One cast a wind spell with practiced words. The other, a skill-user, attacked with a perfectly-executed sword swing. They clashed. Dust rose.
Then she turned to Leonard. "You. No magic. No skills. What can you do?"
Leonard stepped forward quietly. He took no stance. No twitch, no weapon. He merely looked at her.
"I can... create."
A tremor passed through the air. A gentle breeze took form. No spell, no skill. Just... will. In Leonard's hand, a small point of light appeared. A miniature, barely visible. Yet it held the potential of life. The light shifted, shaped itself. Into a creature. A scaled being with golden eyes. It looked up at Leonard. And bowed.
The arena fell silent.
The instructor stepped back. "What... was that?"
Leonard smiled gently. "A dragon."
---
In the days that followed, Leonard became a legend. No one understood what he did. No one could copy it. Some called him a fraud, others a prophet. But he remained the same: calm, observant, kind. He helped others, showed compassion, healed wounds by touch, even though he knew no healing magic.
And deep within him, something began to stir. The world he had once created was watching him again. And he knew: this wasn't just a visit. This was the beginning of a story that would shake the heavens.