The moonlight illuminated the darkness of the night at the Grand Academy of Eldoria. Aryasana Noera sat cross-legged on the balcony of his room. His eyes were closed as he tried to understand the foundational section of the Heavenly Scripture.

  Verse I - The First Root

  Human—born weak, merely dust that breathed, trembling before the unknown. We cried. Our hands shook. Our hearts broke, pitiful and fragile.

  Human—born to look down upon the world, yet our roots grew deep through wisdom. To be bound by fate is not a curse, but a form of order.

  Human—born with intellect. To seek power is not forbidden. To seek knowledge is to understand.

  Being. Earth. Universe.

  "To rise, I must not abandon my humanity, but grow from it, drawing strength from my fragility, wisdom from fate, and clarity from the pursuit of understanding," he mumbled to himself.

  His mind suddenly became clearer. He had just comprehended Verse I - The First Root from the foundational part of the Heavenly Scripture.

  "What is this feeling? I feel refreshed. My mind feels clearer, broader than before."

  He stood up and walked into his room to prepare some tea.

  Aryasana Noera sat on the stone chair placed on his balcony, enjoying his tea alone. A routine he performed every night before going to sleep.

  Morning.

  He dressed himself in the academy’s uniform. The robe emitted an aura that could protect its wearer when willed. His shoulder-length hair was left untied.

  "Senior sister, where are the other students?" he asked.

  Arina Emberlain turned her head slightly, "Hmm? I’m his only student before you enrolled."

  Aryasana Noera was puzzled. "But I saw a teacher teaching thousands of students."

  "I... don’t know. Just call me 'sister' from now on," Arina Emberlain said.

  Aryasana Noera simply nodded.

  An elderly man, appearing quite ordinary, suddenly appeared before Aryasana. He stroked his beard and spoke.

  "Aryasana Noera?"

  Aryasana immediately replied, "Yes, teacher."

  "I am Draja Langsura. I will start teaching you techniques after you form your Divine Core. Understood?"

  "Understood, teacher..."

  The old man vanished from Aryasana Noera’s view.

  Aryasana turned to Arina Emberlain and said, "I’ll return to my room to continue studying the Heavenly Scripture."

  "Oh... Find me here when you're free. I'll give you a tour around the academy," Arina Emberlain offered.

  Aryasana Noera stood silently, gazing far off from his balcony, until he was interrupted by a knock on his door.

  "

  Yes?" Aryasana asked.

  Standing at his door was a young man surrounded by four girls.

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  "Didn't know you could build a harem here," Aryasana Noera joked.

  "We are nobles! The vanguard of humanity! Of course, we can do anything we please!" the young man replied arrogantly.

  "Oh..." Aryasana was speechless.

  The young man continued, "You're not a noble, right? You're sponsored by the Silverstein Sword Family."

  "Yeah. So?" Aryasana answered.

  The man went on, "Oh! What a shame, Aurelia Silverstein didn't enroll here. I heard she's a beauty who transcends the heavens! What do you think?"

  The girls around him frowned.

  Aryasana, still confused by the situation, simply shrugged, "I don't know. I guess she’s pretty."

  "I’m Raven Drakar, your neighbor. Nice to meet you."

  "Aryasana Noera, nice to meet you," Aryasana replied as they shook hands.

  Suddenly, Raven Drakar asked, "Do you want girls?"

  "No."

  "Seriously?"

  "Yes," Aryasana answered calmly but firmly.

  Raven Drakar conceded, "Alright~ Alright~ Don’t regret it later."

  Aryasana Noera changed into more suitable clothes for training. He grabbed his sword and walked down the stairs toward the training hall.

  He moved with precision, swinging his sword while correcting his footwork. He repeated the motion countless times until he collapsed from exhaustion.

  "Haa... not fast enough," Aryasana mumbled to himself.

  A voice called out from behind him. "Not fast enough? You're stronger than the elite soldiers of my family!"

  "Raven Drakar?"

  "Aryasana Noera! Please, teach me swordsmanship! My eyes have been opened; I want to become strong!" Raven Drakar knelt before him.

  "Haa?!!!" Aryasana was stunned.

  "Pleaseee~"

  Aryasana Noera furrowed his brows.

  "Stop acting cute. I’m not going to teach you swordsmanship."

  "Why?" Raven Drakar asked.

  Aryasana didn’t answer. He simply left the training hall.

  With his eyes closed, Aryasana leaned back, letting the warm water wash away his fatigue.

  He exhaled softly, and thoughts of the Heavenly Scripture crossed his mind again.

  Verse II - The Foundation Stone

  The Heavenly Path—walked by many, revered by all. A path carved not to imprison, but to teach.

  Question it, and you shall glimpse its truth.

  Walk it, and you shall build upon it.

  For it is not the destination, but the foundation.

  "Heavenly Path... is there another path? I should question the Heavenly Path and find the answer. What is my answer? I don’t know. It’s the same again—to understand. But understand what exactly?"

  Aryasana Noera remained deep in thought for hours before speaking softly to himself.

  "The Heavenly Path is merely a path, walked toward the end. Every living soul will meet their end eventually. Walk it while forging my own strength."

  "Why do I even pursue strength? I have no purpose. Some people seek strength for revenge, protection, ambition, or eternal life. Eternal life... eternal life! Defying fate’s arrangements... Wisdom from fate..."

  Aryasana Noera understood his second realization. His heart pounded furiously; sweat soaked his robes.

  "Divine Practitioner... what is it really?" Aryasana Noera exhaled deeply, gazing at the blue sky.

  At the same time.

  On the balcony next to Aryasana’s room, two girls were chatting.

  "What’s up with the new guy?"

  "Why?"

  "He was talking to himself for hours."

  "Probably trying to understand the Heavenly Scripture."

  "I’m stuck at the first realization. You think that guy’s already at the second realization?"

  "Impossible! He just entered the academy less than a week ago."

  "Yeah, you’re right."

  Aryasana Noera sent a letter through the academy, asking Uncle Varek—Varek Ashvale—to explain how to break through to the Swordmaster stage.

  "Wisdom..." Aryasana mumbled to himself.

  After a while.

  "Sister! Are you free?" Aryasana called out.

  Arina Emberlain replied, "Hehe, you finally came. Come on, let’s go tour the academy."

  Suddenly, a mark on both of their foreheads began to glow. Aryasana Noera had no idea what was happening.

  A voice echoed throughout the entire Grand Academy of Eldoria.

  "All students who have formed their Divine Core and above, immediately head north of the Eldoria continent to eliminate all outer beings, then return to the academy."

  It was a new experience for Aryasana Noera.

  Millions of Divine Practitioners soared out of the academy toward the northern part of Eldoria.

  Arina Emberlain said, "I have to go too. I’m sorry, let’s postpone our plan."

  "It’s alright, sister," Aryasana Noera shook his head.

  "Divine Core..." he murmured.