The following morning, Claire began her journey to the Academy. She never questioned Leon about the details of the attack; in her mind, it was simply impossible for her "weak" brother to have defeated an S-Rank mage.
Leon stood at the iron gates, watching the carriage disappear into the distance. If he wanted to follow her—if he wanted to protect her properly—he needed to master himself. He turned back to the manor with a new resolve: he would spend the next five years living a double life.
By day, he was the diligent student, training with his four elemental tutors to show "adequate" progress. By night, he trained with Yudris. She taught him the delicate art of suppression: how to dampen his vast aura, how to manipulate the internal sensors of the evaluation machines, and how to project a "dominant skill" convincing enough to fool even the most advanced scholars.
The years blurred into a cycle of growth and letters. Claire kept her promise, sending frequent updates about her life at the Academy—stories of her friends, the complex school rules, and the competitive atmosphere. During her holiday visits, the two would often spar in the manor gardens. Leon never won a single match. He carefully calculated every move, taking falls and "struggling" to ensure his sister never suspected the god-like power growing behind his eyes.
Now, five years have passed. The small, tearful boy has grown into a young man ready to face the world.
The day of Leon's entrance exam finally arrived. He stood before the massive, ornate gates of the Academy Administration building, the same place where his sister's journey had begun years ago.
Inside, the evaluation awaited. His performance here would determine his rank, his reputation, and his future. To the administrators, he was just another noble son of the von Vinci line. To Yudris, standing silently in his shadow, he was a sleeping giant about to walk among ants.
He reached for the door, his mind focused on one goal: Passing the test without revealing the Truth.
As Leon walked toward the testing chamber, he ran the data through his head. I need to be precise. Historically, a C-Rank entry for a student falls between 100 and 990. I just need to be strong enough to pass without looking like a threat. I'll aim for something right in the middle. Average is safe.
He stood before the assessment machine, a crystal-hewn device humming with ancient mana. He placed his palm on the cold surface and concentrated, using the techniques Yudris had taught him to feed the sensors a tiny, filtered drop of his power.
The display flickered to life:
Skill: Theft
Stats: 498 (C-Rank)
Perfect, Leon thought, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. Just a regular, middle-of-the-road student score. No drama.
The Historical Record
The room went deathly silent. Leon's smile faltered as he looked at the faculty. Instead of "average" looks, he saw faces of pure, unadulterated shock.
"That's impossible," the Chairman whispered, his hands trembling as he stared at the screen. "In the entire history of this Academy, only the five legendary prodigies have ever achieved a score like this at the age of enrollment."
"He even surpassed his sister's entry score," the secretary added, her voice breathless. "Lady Claire had a 450, and we hailed her as the greatest talent in a century. This... this 498 is the highest entry score ever recorded in our archives!"
"Yes! That's my boy!" Lord Dris roared, sweeping Leon off his feet and lifting him into the air with a boisterous laugh. "I knew that training would pay off! A genius born of the von Vinci line!"
Leon's heart sank. Highest in the archives? He realized too late that he had vastly underestimated the gap between his "suppressed" power and the capabilities of a normal student. He had accidentally turned himself into a historical anomaly.
The Royal Standard
The celebration was interrupted as an administrator burst into the room. "Make way! Prince Lloyd has arrived for his assessment!"
The mood in the room shifted instantly from awe to rigid formality. Prince Lloyd was a legend from birth, a royal child born with a natural mana pool that eclipsed entire families. He walked in with a regal stride, flanked by six elite guards.
"Prince Lloyd, please," the Chairman said, bowing low. "Place your hands on the machine so we may record your score for the Royal Record."
The Prince complied, his expression bored. The machine whirred, processing the royal mana. The screen flashed:
Skill: Time Manipulation
Stats: 500
"Incredible, my Lord!" the Chairman exclaimed. "A score of 500! This is now the highest score in the Academy's history!"
Leon watched from the side, realizing he had just landed only two points behind the Crown Prince. Prince Lloyd didn't even look at the staff. "Send the score and the acceptance letter to the palace," he commanded, his voice cold and arrogant.
As the Prince turned to leave, his sapphire eyes brushed past Leon's. He paused for a fraction of a second, his instincts sensing a strange, hidden depth in the boy who had almost matched his royal bloodline.
"The Prince is proud," Lord Dris mused quietly after the royal procession had vanished. "Being a prodigy of that scale... it would be dangerous for the kingdom if he were to turn toward evil in the future."
The Chairman offered a weary smile. "They are all proud, Lord Dris. Every prodigy grows arrogant the moment they see their results on that first test. We can only hope that age and experience will guide him." He paused, looking at Leon. "Though, I must say, your children are the exception. They remain remarkably humble despite their immense potential."
"That reminds me," Dris said, his curiosity piqued. "What became of the other prodigies? Are there six of them now?"
"Including the Prince, there have been seven," the Chairman explained. "Excluding your son, as he was not identified as a prodigy at birth. The first two have long since passed; it has been over a century since the first was recorded. As for the others... three have already ascended to Legendary Rank. Your daughter, Claire, is currently a B-Rank and climbing fast."
"Prodigies ascend to the Legendary Rank much faster than average, don't they?" Dris asked.
"Typically, yes," the Chairman replied, his gaze lingering on Leon. "Though history shows that raw talent isn't the only path. While the fourth prodigy was gifted, it was the Shadow God who attained Legendary Rank first—not through birthright, but through terrifyingly intense training."
The Chairman leaned in slightly. "Your son... he reminds me of him."
With the evaluation complete and the records set, the noble family returned home to prepare for the term. Leon was soon escorted back to the Academy to move into the student hostels.
The room was modest but comfortable—a far cry from the luxury of the von Vinci manor. He had just finished setting down his belongings when a sharp, rhythmic knock echoed through the small space.
Leon froze. He wasn't expecting any visitors on his first night.
A familiar, hushed voice whispered from the other side of the wood. "Hey, Leon..."
"Claire!" Leon's face lit up as he rushed to the door. "Hey, big sis!"
He pulled the door open and threw his arms around her. She hadn't been able to return home during the last holiday, and the ache of her absence vanished the moment he saw her. Claire returned the hug, then walked into the small room and made herself at home on the edge of his bed.
"The whole school is buzzing, Leon," she said, her eyes searching his. "Everyone heard about your score—including the Prince. They've been talking about nothing else since the results were posted. I guess your training really did pay off."
"The whole school?!" Leon exclaimed. A wave of dread washed over him. I can't have the entire student body watching me, he thought frantically. This is going to ruin everything.
"Anyway, that's not why I'm here," Claire said, cutting through his rising panic. "I came to see you... and to ask a question."
Leon felt his stomach twist. Another question? he thought, though he managed a quiet, "Okay."
The warmth left Claire's face, replaced by a painful mixture of anger and sadness. She leaned forward, her voice trembling slightly.
"Why did you lie to me, Leon? I know you could see your stats and your skill long before today. So why did you make me believe you had Elemental skills? Why didn't you tell me when you became a C-Rank?"
The silence in the room became heavy. She felt betrayed by his secrecy, and for the first time, his "perfect" cover story was falling apart under the gaze of his own sister.