Morning arrived with a sky washed in gold and crimson, sunlight piercing through the mist that clung to the Elysian Academy's towering spires. Students poured into the grand courtyards, voices bubbling with excitement over the opening ceremony. Jin, however, walked in silence among them, his hood pulled low, hiding the storm behind his calm eyes.
He had spent the night wandering the academy's labyrinthine halls, reacquainting himself with the world that had grown without him. The banners of the three great disciples now hung across the campus—Lucas, Aira, and Ryo—his former students, now revered as the founders of the Elysian Academy, the last line of defense against the chaos that gates had brought into the world.
Jin stood beneath the statue of the three, feeling the weight of history twist into irony. Their carved visages towered proudly: Lucas with his twin blades, Aira with her staff of heavenly light, and Ryo with his crimson gauntlets. Jin's heart clenched. The world remembered them—but not him.
His power remained, carefully veiled behind a facade of mediocrity. He passed unnoticed, just another new student among the many. This anonymity was his shield, and he needed time—time to gather knowledge, to understand how the world had changed, and what role he must now play.
The orientation took place in the central amphitheater. Headmaster Vael stood upon a stone platform, his voice rich with charisma as he addressed the assembled students.
"Elysian is not merely an academy. It is the cradle of human resilience," Vael proclaimed. "You are here not only to learn but to shape the future. The gates—portals to other realms—grow more frequent. With them, beasts and unknown powers cross into our world. You, the new generation, will stand at the front lines."
A round of applause thundered. Jin clapped lightly, his mind elsewhere.
He began to piece things together. The gates had existed even in his time, but they were rare anomalies. Now, they appeared frequently, bringing danger and opportunity. Dungeon raids, artifacts, evolution stones, corrupted beasts—all of them part of a brutal new order. Clans and families had risen, hoarding power, wealth, and magical bloodlines.
Jin's thoughts were broken by a nudge. Beside him, a boy with messy brown hair and a mischievous grin whispered, "You're new too, huh? I'm Kael. And you are?"
"Jin," he replied curtly.
Kael leaned back, unfazed. "Everyone's tense. The entrance exam's tomorrow. They say they're throwing us straight into a simulated gate. Think it's to weed out the weak."
"Good," Jin said, and turned away.
---
That evening, Jin visited the combat grounds. Alone, he slipped into a routine long buried by time—his blade danced in arcs that shimmered with mana, clean and deliberate. Each movement echoed the training of a thousand days in a world forged by war. But the power behind it was restrained. He could not afford attention.
"Your form's refined. Old-school, but… elegant."
Jin stopped, eyes narrowing. A girl stepped from the shadows. Her silver-white hair was tied into a loose ponytail, and she wore the academy uniform with noble precision.
"I'm Iris," she said. "Daughter of Aira."
He masked the jolt that surged through him. So soon?
"You don't talk much, do you?" Iris tilted her head. "I've been watching you. You don't fight like someone our age."
"I train," Jin said flatly.
"You fight like someone who's survived."
He offered no answer. Iris shrugged and walked away. "See you at the exam. Try not to get eliminated."
---
The next morning, the students stood before the entrance to a simulated gate: a crackling portal encased in a magic barrier. A small team of professors, including Headmaster Vael, monitored the setup.
"This is a Class-E simulated gate. You are to clear the area, subdue the summoned beasts, and secure the core crystal within." Vael's voice carried weight.
The students were split into teams. To Jin's silent displeasure, Kael and Iris were both assigned to his.
Inside, the atmosphere twisted instantly—humidity choked the air, and the forest landscape teemed with monstrous presences. The gate shimmered behind them, closing off retreat.
Kael drew dual daggers. "I got recon."
"I'll shield the rear," Iris said, summoning light-based barriers.
Jin led the way, blade drawn. They moved silently until a screech pierced the trees—a mantis-like creature, easily two meters tall, burst from the brush.
Kael lunged, but his strike barely scratched the carapace. The beast retaliated, claws slicing air.
"Watch it!" Iris shouted, erecting a light wall just in time.
Jin exhaled. "Step back."
With a blur of movement, he surged forward. His blade spun low, then high, tracing a perfect arc that cleaved the creature from jaw to crown. Its body fell twitching.
Silence followed.
Kael's mouth hung open. "What… the hell kind of strike was that?"
"Efficient," Jin replied, and moved on.
Iris's gaze lingered. She said nothing, but her thoughts raced.
They reached the core chamber an hour later. More beasts awaited—a swarm this time. Iris took position, barriers flaring. Kael danced among them, drawing attacks. Jin flowed like water, every strike a death sentence.
By the time the core crystal was retrieved, half the teams had been eliminated.
Vael watched from afar, scribbling notes. "That one…" he murmured. "He hides too well. But not from me."
Jin stepped into the light of the returning gate, his blade slick with ichor. Around him, his teammates staggered with fatigue. He stood tall.
The academy's test had only just begun.
But so had his.
---
Would you like to continue to Chapter 4, or adjust or add anything to Chapter 3 before we move forward?