"REN, WAKE THE FUCK UP!"
I shot awake, nearly headbutting Sammy in the process. He was standing over me like some angry landlord ready to evict me, swearing at the top of his lungs.
"Wha… what happened?" I croaked, still half in dreamland.
Sammy's face was already red, like a tomato about to explode. "What happened? It's morning, dumbass. First day of the academy, and you're still drooling on your pillow!"
I darted my eyes to the window. Yep, sunlight. Yep, morning. Yep, I was screwed. "What time is it?"
Sammy's lips twisted like he was chewing on nails. "We've got plenty of time."
"How much?"
"…Five minutes."
---
I nearly died on the spot. "WAKE THE FUCK UP SAMMY! WHY DIDN'T YOU WAKE ME UP EARLIER, YOU FUCKING IDIOT?!"
Sammy threw his hands up like I was pointing a sword at him. "I tried, you idiot! You sleep like a rock. I even threw a pillow at you, and you just hugged it!"
I ignored him and went into panic mode: uniform half on, books stuffed into my bag like garbage, and half a loaf of bread shoved into my mouth. Meanwhile, Sammy leaned against the wall, calmly munching an apple like he was watching a comedy show.
I glared at him, cheeks puffed with bread. "You're enjoying this way too much."
Sammy grinned. "Best entertainment I've had all week."
---
We sprinted out, already ten minutes late.
"Run, Rudra! The gates are closing!" Sammy screamed, his voice cracking like a scared chicken.
"I know! I'm trying!" I wheezed, clutching my stomach. The bread was staging a rebellion inside me. "Why the fuck did I eat so much…?"
Sammy, still faster, yelled back, "Gods, you're slower than my grandma!"
I scowled mid-run. "I'm not slow! I just… ate too much. Normally I'm faster!"
---
We reached the academy gates just as they slammed shut. And of course, standing there like the final boss was Amanda, our dorm neighbor.
"You two again?" she said, voice colder than ice. "Don't tell me Rudra overslept again."
Sammy blinked. "Wait… how did you know?"
Amanda rolled her eyes. "Because it's always Rudra."
I scratched my head, forcing a sheepish smile. "Y-yeah… thanks for letting us in."
Amanda sighed. "Just don't make this a habit."
---
Inside, we sprinted toward class, only to be stopped at the door by a professor who looked like she ate troublemakers for breakfast.
"Where do you think you're going? You're fifteen minutes late."
I didn't even hesitate. I pointed at Sammy. "It was him, Professor! Sammy slept like a log, and because of him, I got late too!"
Sammy froze, apple halfway to his mouth. "WHAT?! You liar! You're the one who slept in!"
The professor narrowed her eyes. "Enough. Both of you—this is your first and last warning. Be late again, and you'll miss the entire semester's lectures."
"Yes, ma'am," we chorused, trudging to the back row. Sammy shot me a death glare, while I pretended to be fascinated by the ceiling.
---
The professor introduced herself.
"Hello everyone. I am Madam Augusta, your instructor for the first year."
I looked at Sammy. Sammy looked at me. Both of us had the same dumbfounded thought: Of all people… it had to be her.
Roll call began.
"Rank 2 – Rudra."
"Present," I muttered. Immediately, whispers spread across the room. Some chuckled, others sneered. I lowered my head, cursing myself.
Sammy leaned over, whispering fiercely, "Ignore them. They're just scared of you. That's why they talk."
I sighed. Maybe he was right.
---
She turned to face the class, his voice calm but carrying a quiet authority.
"Mana," he began, "is the energy that flows through all living things. Think of it as the invisible current that powers both nature and ourselves. In this modern world, we don't see it as glowing sparks or fantasy magic—it's more like the underlying software of reality."
A few students leaned forward, intrigued.
"There are four primary elements of mana," augusta continued, sketching a square on the board and labeling each corner: Fire, Water, Air, Earth.
- "Fire is transformation—heat, passion, destruction, but also renewal."
- "Water is adaptability—flow, healing, memory, and persistence."
- "Air is freedom—movement, thought, communication, and change."
- "Earth is stability—strength, growth, endurance, and foundation."
She paused, letting the words settle. Then he drew smaller branches extending from each corner.
"Every other element you've heard of—lightning, ice, metal, even wood—are sub-elements. They are born from combinations or specializations of the four primaries. For example, ice is water shaped by air. Lava is earth infused with fire. Metal is earth refined by fire."
A student raised her hand. "So… it's like chemistry, but with energy?"
Professor Rao smiled. "Exactly. Just as hydrogen and oxygen combine to make water, mana elements combine to create new forms. The difference is that mana responds not only to physical laws but also to willpower, emotion, and intent. That's why some people can wield it consciously, while others only feel it subtly—like intuition or inspiration."
She tapped the chalk against the board.
"Remember this: the four primaries are the roots. The sub-elements are the branches. If you understand the roots, you can predict the branches. That's the foundation of all mana studies."
---
I sat still, mind racing. So mana is already inside me… not just a gift, but part of who I am.
Sammy scribbled furiously, eyes shining. "This is incredible! We should start practicing right away—breathing, mantras, everything. If the asuras are coming, we'll need this."
I nodded, more serious than Sammy's excitement.
Madam Augusta's voice cut through the whispers.
"Remember: mana is sacred. It is not for pride or selfish gain. It is the light that will protect us in the dark days ahead."
The bell rang. Students packed up. Sammy was still buzzing with ideas, while I stared at the word MANA, knowing this was only the beginning.