Leo was astonished by the different races the weapon, the looks.
Seeing such things for the first time, left him tingling, the hairs on his body stood.
He couldn't stop his eyes from darting around. students, and creatures of all shapes mingled, each carrying weapons or tools that seemed foreign and exciting.
Leo felt a thrill he hadn't felt in years,the kind that comes when exploring the unknown.
He noticed students Talking to one another, some casting quick sparks of magic as they practiced gestures or tested minor spells.
A few glanced at him curiously, their expressions ranging from awe to suspicion.
'...This is the real start of this life!' Leo's excited thoughts were interrupted by Violet's voice
"Alright leo we are splitting up here, We'll go get ready first." She pointed at a building a distance from them.
The building was tall, with wide stone steps and carved symbols of sunbursts along the archway.
Carved stone lions flanked the entrance, their eyes glinting faintly as if alive. Leo wondered if the enchantments were real or merely decorative,
Sunlight bounced off the windows, scattering patterns onto the path. Leo noticed the faint hum of magic in the air, it was subtle, but it made his skin tingle.
"You need to go to the administration building and register, someone will guide you." Violet and luacs left.
Walking through the elegant Academy grounds, The air smelled faintly of grass, The early morning sky Was a deep blue without a single cloud marring its beauty.
Passing Through Emerald grass, and blooming flowers, Students passed by in groups, their robes trailing lightly across the grass.
Some practiced duels on small training mats, while others conjured Magical orbs that hovered around them. Leo felt both awe and a spark of rivalry.
A marble fountain was in the heart of the campus, spilling graceful arcs of water into a round basin, giving a calm meditative noise.
Walking past it, Leo reached the administration building. A woman in a dark green robe waited, Her eyes were sharp and assessing, as if she could see through his every thought.
Leo straightened instinctively, feeling both nervous and exhilarated. He shifted slightly, feeling the weight of the moment.
He took a deep breath, letting the sunlight streaming through the tall windows fill him with calm.
Even surrounded by hundreds of new students, a strange focus settled over him. Something he practiced under the constant combat of mercenary life.
Every student around him seemed small compared to the building, the attendants, and the aura of authority radiating from the hall. He realized this was more than a registration, It was the first test.
"You must be Leo von Rosenhart, come with me" The woman said calmly not letting Leo say a word
Leo was led to a long desk where another attendant recorded his information,name, age, previous training, and, most importantly, the rumored talents he had inherited from his lineage.
He received a student emblem pinned to his Red tunic and a small parchment.
The parchment crackled in his hands. It outlined the schedule for the day, but the real excitement lay in the final line, the placement exam.
Leo's pulse quickened, He traced the letters on the parchment with his finger, imagining what the Exam might be like.
After registration, all the new students were guided into the Grand Hall, a vaulted chamber with towering windows that let sunlight spill across polished stone floors.
The hall was quiet, the hushed whispers of new students fading as the massive doors creaked shut behind them.
At the far end of the hall stood the headmaster, an old man he had wrinkled skin and a long gray beard, the looks of an old sage,
with a figure both commanding and serene, draped in a black robe that shimmered faintly with threads of gold,
His eyes scanned the students, lingering briefly on each A faint shiver ran through the crowd as the headmaster's gaze paused over certain students, His gaze lasting a moment longer, when he Reached leo a fire lit in his eyes.
Leo felt a strange thrill,he was being measured already, even before the exam began.
He clenched his fists lightly, anticipation Lighting fire in his chest. When he spoke, the room seemed to hush entirely.
"Welcome!, to the Solarium Academy an institution built to raise The students of the world. I am Alpheus Wolfgang the Headmaster. Here you shall learn and raise anew, with the help of the professors behind me." Leo spotted Lucas and Violet behind Alpheus,
Both standing in opposite sides which seemed to be The physical and magical sides respectively
"You will undergo an exam, Where we will test your survival instinct, intelligence, and strength, rather than focusing on talent." Alpheus explained
"Based on your scores You can be assigned From class 1 to 4 The lower the number the worse the benefits Class competitios are held occasionally to insure those who Are diligent will rise.
"the exams will be held in the WolfBane forest Behind the academy, You will go through Natural, and... Man made trials." His words shocked no one, This was a Known thing about the Academy.
The forest loomed beyond the academy walls, dark and dense even in the daylight. Trees twisted at odd angles, and patches of mist clung to the ground. Leo could faintly hear the Growls from monstrous beasts
A chill ran down his spine, but excitement surged higher.
He had faced danger before, but nothing like this, controlled chaos, where a single misstep could cost him dearly.
"Scores will be based on observation, Combat skill, and adaptability" Leo was thrilled, he doesn't know about combat skill, but adaptability and observation were nothing, they were second nature thanks to his mercenary past
"The test will be held now, this is your last chance to leave otherwise it isn't possible"
He inhaled deeply, feeling the cool morning air fill his lungs. Ahead, the path led straight into the forest, a maze of Death, Shadows, and hidden trials.
Leo's hand brushed the emblem on his tunic, and a grin spread across his face. Whatever lay in the road ahead, He was ready