Throughout the entire month, Renji practically lived inside the library.
From sunrise to sunset, he buried himself in thick volumes about the Humanlords—their history, their wars, their bloodlines, their magic. When he wasn't studying, he trained. Mana control. Physical conditioning. Spell practice. Over and over, until his muscles ached and his head throbbed.
The entrance exam was only days away.
Failure wasn't an option.
So he kept pushing himself.
Even if it meant sacrificing sleep.
"Renji, wake up. It's morning already!"
Mizuki's voice pierced through the quiet room like an alarm bell.
Renji groaned and rolled over, burying his face deeper into the pillow.
"Mom… just five more minutes…"
"I'M NOT YOUR MOM!!"
The blanket vanished.
Before he could react, Mizuki grabbed his arm and yanked him upright with surprising strength. The cold morning air hit his face, sending a shiver down his spine.
"I'm still sleepy…" he mumbled, eyes barely open.
Mizuki sighed in annoyance and snapped her fingers.
A thin stream of cool water swirled through the air like a tiny ribbon and rushed into his mouth. It brushed against his teeth and tongue with unnatural precision.
In seconds, his mouth felt completely clean.
Renji blinked.
"…What kind of magic was that?"
"Basic water magic," she replied casually. "You'd know if you paid attention during practice."
Before he could argue, she shoved a piece of bread straight into his mouth.
"Mmph—!"
He barely had time to chew before she tilted a glass and poured water after it.
Renji swallowed in panic, coughing slightly.
"Hey! I'm not some kind of eating machine!"
"Hurry up," Mizuki snapped. "Rika is waiting."
"We still have four days left…" he protested.
But Mizuki had already crossed her arms, glaring at him like a strict guardian.
The sunlight slipped through the window, painting the wooden floor gold. Outside, the town was slowly waking—the distant chatter of vendors, the clatter of carts rolling over stone roads, the smell of fresh bread drifting through the air.
Another day had already begun.
And apparently, resting wasn't part of his schedule.
Mizuki didn't give him another chance to complain.
She tossed his clothes straight at his face.
"Get dressed. Now."
Renji caught the shirt lazily and rubbed his eyes.
"You're way too strict this early in the morning…"
"If I wasn't, you'd sleep until noon."
"…That's not wrong."
"Exactly."
He sighed and changed while Mizuki stood near the window, arms crossed like a supervisor watching an incompetent worker.
Sunlight streamed past her translucent figure, making her faintly glow. The soft pink of her hair shimmered under the light like cherry blossoms at dawn.
For a spirit, she looked strangely… domestic.
Like a wife making sure her useless husband didn't ruin his own life.
The image popped into his head so suddenly that he chuckled.
Mizuki narrowed her eyes.
"Why are you smiling like an idiot?"
"Nothing."
"…Suspicious."
A few minutes later, they stepped outside.
The morning air was cool and fresh, still carrying the quiet calm of dawn.
Dew clung to the grass along the roadside, sparkling like tiny crystals. Shopkeepers were lifting their shutters one by one, wood creaking as stalls opened for business. Somewhere nearby, oil crackled in a pan.
The smell of fried eggs and freshly baked bread drifted through the street.
Renji's stomach growled.
"Didn't you just eat?" Mizuki muttered.
"I was force-fed. That doesn't count."
Stone-paved roads still held the softness of early morning. Only a few adventurers passed by, their armor clinking softly as they returned from early quests, faces tired but satisfied.
The town felt peaceful.
Slow.
Alive.
Renji stretched his arms over his head as they walked.
"…Feels nice."
"Hmm?" Mizuki glanced at him.
"Nothing. Just… nice."
When they reached Rika's house, they spotted her already waiting by the roadside.
She leaned against the fence casually, staff resting on her shoulder while she polished it with a cloth. Her long hair swayed gently in the breeze.
She looked way too energetic for this hour.
Renji cracked his neck.
"So… what do you ladies want me to do this early in the morning?"
Mizuki answered first.
"Rika used to be an apprentice under one of the academy's instructors. She knows almost everything about the entrance exam."
Rika nodded proudly.
"Yeah. And Mizuki asked me to give you a mock test today."
Renji's shoulders slumped.
"But there are still four days left…"
"Only four?" Rika shot back immediately. "Then we're already late!"
She tapped her staff against the ground with excitement.
"We start now."
---
Morning came again.
But unlike usual days, Renji was already awake.
He stood quietly by the window, staring outside as pale sunlight spilled across the town. The air was cool and fresh, brushing against his face like a gentle wake-up call. A soft breeze slipped through the curtains, carrying the faint scent of dew and distant bread ovens.
For once, he didn't feel sleepy.
He didn't feel lazy.
He just… felt awake.
"You're up early," Mizuki said.
Her voice echoed softly inside him.
"Mm," he replied.
She studied him for a moment.
"You're acting more mature today."
Renji didn't answer.
There wasn't anything to say.
He simply moved to the kitchen, grabbed a quick breakfast, and ate in silence. No complaints. No teasing. No dragging his feet.
Even Mizuki noticed the difference but didn't comment again.
After finishing, he walked toward the main door and reached for the handle—
—but stopped.
His eyes fell to his wrist.
The silver bracelet.
A thin band engraved with tiny magic inscriptions. Rika had forced it onto him three days ago.
Her voice echoed clearly in his memory.
"Whatever you do during the exam, don't take this off. Your mana is on a different level. If you lose control… even a simple Fireball could destroy the entire exam area."
He stared at it for a second longer.
The metal felt slightly cold against his skin.
A reminder.
A limiter.
A warning.
"…Yeah," he muttered to himself.
Then he tightened the strap and opened the door.
As they reached the exam area, Mizuki slowly faded away.
Her figure dissolved into faint particles of light before disappearing completely.
Another memory echoed inside Renji's mind.
"And remember, using a spirit inside the academy is strictly forbidden. Don't reveal Mizuki to anyone."
—Rika's voice.
Renji exhaled quietly.
"Got it…" he muttered.
Now he was alone.
For the first time in a while, the silence around him felt heavier.
He stepped forward and entered the field.
He had registered fifteen days ago. His registration serial number was 125.
More than five hundred sixty participants had gathered for the entrance exam.
Out of all of them—
only one hundred fifty would be admitted.
Not even one in three.
The pressure in the air was obvious.
Candidates stood everywhere across the wide field—some stretching, some reviewing notes, some chanting spells under their breath. Nervous whispers floated around like buzzing insects.
No one looked relaxed.
At the front, several instructors began distributing papers.
"List every spell you are capable of using," one of them announced calmly.
Renji accepted the sheet and stared at it for a moment.
Then he started writing.
Fire.
Water.
Wind.
He stopped.
Although he could use every elemental attribute, he didn't write them down.
Using multiple elements was rare.
Using three was already considered exceptional.
If he revealed everything now, things would only get troublesome.
People would stare.
Rumors would spread.
Attention would gather.
And attention was dangerous.
Rika's warning surfaced in his mind again.
"Don't ever use all your elements in front of people. Underworld organizations would try to kidnap you and exploit you."
Renji tightened his grip on the pen.
Yeah.
Standing out too much wasn't strength.
It was risk.
Quietly, he folded the paper and handed it back.
Three elements were more than enough.
For now.
The instructor took it… then suddenly paused.
His eyes widened.
Renji tilted his head.
"Is there something wrong?"
The instructor frowned.
"You only wrote the elements. Where are the spells?"
"Oh… my bad."
Renji casually took the paper back and added them.
Flameflinger.
Fireball.
Waterball.
Water Jet.
Wind Blast.
Ice Wall.
Ice Spikes.
He handed it back like it was nothing.
The instructor stared at the list a little longer than necessary.
"…Seven beginner spells already?"
Renji blinked.
"…Is that a lot?"
"Not bad, I see," the instructor muttered as he walked away.
"The exam has four stages. Two will be held today," the chief instructor announced, his voice echoing through the hall. "First, all candidates, gather at the shooting range. Now."
Every participant lined up, tension visible on their faces. Some focused carefully, letting their mana flow gently into their spells, and their projectiles grazed the target's center. Others struggled, missing entirely, mana flaring erratically.
When Renji's turn came, he stepped forward calmly. He raised his hand, summoned a thin shard of concentrated ice, and unleashed his Ice Spike spell. The crystal flew through the air, spinning gracefully, and pierced the target dead center, shattering it perfectly.
A hush fell over the crowd. Eyes widened, whispers rippled. Some were astonished. Some were clearly envious.
Among them, Fukashi Amanoshi, the second prince of the Jepee Kingdom, clenched his fists. A flash of irritation crossed his face. It was clear: Renji's skill had drawn both admiration and jealousy in equal measure.