The carriage road gradually widened as it approached the towering gates of Aurelius Academy.

  Stone walls stretched high into the sky, engraved with ancient runes that faintly glowed beneath the afternoon sun. Tall towers rose behind them like silent sentinels, their white marble surfaces reflecting light so brightly it almost hurt to look at.

  Students, servants, and noble carriages filled the entrance plaza. The air buzzed with excitement, anxiety, and pride.

  For many, this place was the beginning of their future.

  For others, it was where their ambitions would be tested.

  Jackson Alistair Vale stood quietly beside Victoria, his black eyes calmly observing everything.

  The architecture.

  The guards.

  The uniforms worn by the academy staff.

  Even the subtle difference in how nobles and commoners were being treated in the queue.

  'Separate lines. Nobles are being processed faster.'

  'Figures.'

  Victoria, meanwhile, looked exactly as someone of her status should.

  Her posture was straight.

  Her chin slightly raised.

  Her long blonde hair fell perfectly behind her shoulders, as if the long journey had never happened.

  Despite traveling for days through forests and dirt roads, she somehow still carried herself like she had just stepped out of a royal ballroom.

  Jackson glanced at her briefly.

  'How does she even do that?'

  They approached a registration desk placed beneath a large pavilion. Several academy staff members were seated there, speaking to newly arrived applicants.

  One of them, a middle-aged man with silver-rimmed glasses and neatly combed hair, gestured for them to step forward.

  "Welcome to Aurelius Academy," he said politely. "Are you both here for the entrance examination?"

  Victoria answered immediately.

  "Lady Victoria Celestine Valencrest."

  The man’s eyebrows lifted slightly.

  Recognition flashed in his eyes.

  "Ah. The Valencrest family."

  He straightened his posture a little.

  "A pleasure to welcome you, Lady Valencrest."

  Victoria nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

  Jackson remained silent beside her.

  The man then turned to him.

  "And you, young man?"

  "Jackson Alistair Vale."

  The staff member wrote the name down without reaction.

  "Very well."

  He flipped through a few pages before continuing.

  "The entrance examinations will begin in two weeks. Until then, all examinees are required to remain within the academy grounds."

  He gestured toward the large campus behind them.

  "Temporary dormitories have been prepared for those awaiting the exam. Meals will be provided at the central hall, and orientation sessions will be held every few days."

  Jackson nodded slightly.

  'Two weeks, huh.'

  'That gives me time to observe how this place works.'

  The staff member slid two small tokens across the desk.

  "Present these to the dormitory supervisor. They will assign your temporary rooms."

  Victoria accepted hers with a graceful motion.

  Jackson picked up the other.

  The staff member smiled politely.

  "Welcome to Aurelius Academy."

  The temporary dormitories were located near the outer part of the academy grounds.

  Unlike the elegant towers near the center of campus, these buildings were simple but sturdy stone structures meant to house the large number of applicants.

  Students filled the pathways between them.

  Some looked excited.

  Others nervous.

  A few nobles walked through the area as if they would rather be anywhere else.

  Jackson quietly took it all in.

  'This place is basically a pressure cooker.'

  'Everyone here wants something.'

  Victoria stopped walking.

  Jackson noticed immediately.

  He turned toward her.

  She was staring at the central academy towers in the distance.

  For once, her usual sharp expression had softened slightly.

  Then she turned to him.

  Her blue eyes returned to their usual confident calm.

  "Well."

  Jackson raised an eyebrow.

  "Well?"

  Victoria reached into the small travel pouch she carried and pulled out a leather purse.

  She tossed it toward him.

  Jackson caught it instinctively.

  The faint clink of coins echoed from inside.

  "Your compensation," she said.

  Jackson opened the purse slightly.

  Gold.

  More than he had expected.

  'That's... generous.'

  Victoria crossed her arms.

  "This is where our arrangement ends."

  Her tone was casual.

  Matter-of-fact.

  "As promised, you escorted me safely to Aurelius Academy."

  She tilted her head slightly.

  "Our deal was simply to reach the academy."

  Jackson closed the purse and slipped it into his pocket.

  "Fair enough."

  Victoria studied him for a moment.

  Almost as if she expected some kind of reaction.

  Regret.

  Gratitude.

  Attachment.

  But Jackson simply stood there calmly.

  'Well, that was quick.'

  She clicked her tongue softly.

  "You are surprisingly unbothered."

  Jackson shrugged.

  "A deal’s a deal."

  Victoria scoffed.

  "Hmph. How practical."

  For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.

  Students passed by in the background, carrying luggage and chatting excitedly.

  Finally, Victoria turned away.

  Her long blonde hair swayed behind her as she began walking toward the inner academy grounds.

  She didn't look back.

  "This is where we part ways, Jackson Alistair Vale."

  Her voice drifted back to him.

  "I suggest you do your best in the entrance examination."

  Jackson watched her walk away through the crowd.

  'And there goes the villainess.'

  Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

  He let out a small breath.

  Strangely enough, the silence felt… different now.

  For the past several days, they had traveled together constantly.

  Arguments.

  Sarcasm.

  Occasional moments of unexpected cooperation.

  Now it was just him.

  Jackson glanced up at the towering academy structures again.

  Aurelius Academy.

  The place where this world's elites were trained.

  'Well.'

  He slipped his hands into his pockets.

  'Guess I'm a student candidate now.'

  With a calm expression, Jackson turned and walked toward the temporary dormitories.

  The temporary dormitory building assigned to examinees stood a short distance away from the central campus.

  Compared to the grand towers and marble halls of Aurelius Academy, the structure was simple—three floors of gray stone, sturdy and practical rather than impressive.

  Students moved in and out of the entrance carrying bags, trunks, and equipment.

  Some talked excitedly.

  Others walked quietly, clearly lost in their thoughts.

  Jackson Alistair Vale stepped inside.

  The interior hallway was long and narrow, lit by evenly spaced lanterns hanging along the walls. Wooden doors lined both sides, each marked with small brass number plates.

  At the end of the hall sat a desk where a tired-looking woman flipped through a ledger.

  Jackson approached and placed the token he received earlier on the table.

  "Temporary room assignment."

  The woman glanced up briefly before taking the token.

  She checked the ledger, ran her finger across a few lines, and nodded.

  "Second floor. Room 214."

  She slid a small iron key toward him.

  "Shared dorms are upstairs. Bathrooms are at the end of each hall."

  Jackson took the key.

  "Thanks."

  The woman had already moved on to the next page before he finished speaking.

  He headed upstairs.

  The wooden staircase creaked softly beneath his steps as he climbed to the second floor.

  The hallway here looked almost identical to the one below.

  Rows of doors.

  Muted conversations from inside some rooms.

  The faint sound of someone unpacking.

  Jackson walked until he found the number etched into a small brass plate.

  He inserted the key.

  Click.

  The door opened easily.

  Jackson stepped inside.

  The room was modest but functional.

  Two beds stood on opposite sides of the room, each with a small wooden desk beside them. A single window overlooked the courtyard outside, letting in soft afternoon light.

  A wardrobe stood against the wall.

  There was also a small bookshelf—mostly empty.

  Jackson closed the door behind him.

  For a moment, he simply stood there quietly.

  Then he walked around the room slowly.

  He checked the desks.

  Opened the wardrobe.

  Looked out the window.

  From here he could see the temporary dorm courtyard where students were arriving one after another.

  Some were practicing basic spells.

  Others were simply sitting together and talking.

  Jackson placed his small bag on the bed closest to the window.

  It wasn't much luggage.

  Most of what he owned now could fit into that single bag.

  He sat down on the bed.

  The mattress creaked slightly but felt comfortable enough.

  Jackson leaned back and stared at the ceiling.

  The quiet of the room settled in around him.

  For the first time since the journey began, there was no one beside him arguing, complaining, or making dramatic remarks.

  No sharp voice calling him incompetent.

  No proud noble walking beside him like the world belonged to her.

  Just silence.

  Jackson closed his eyes briefly.

  'So that's it.'

  He had delivered Victoria safely to Aurelius Academy.

  The deal was finished.

  They had gone their separate ways.

  His expression remained calm.

  'I’m not worried.'

  If anything, Jackson seemed oddly certain.

  Opportunities would come.

  Victoria was not just some random noble.

  She was someone deeply tied to the academy's politics and future events.

  And if his assumptions about this world were correct…

  'Our paths will cross again.'

  There were plenty of chances in the future to help her.

  Or interfere.

  Or simply observe.

  But right now—

  None of that mattered.

  Jackson sat up again.

  His black eyes sharpened slightly.

  'First things first.'

  The entrance exam.

  This academy trained the elite of the world.

  Nobles.

  Prodigies.

  Talented commoners who managed to earn their place.

  If he wanted to survive here—

  If he wanted the freedom to move around this world—

  Then there was only one priority.

  'Get strong enough to enter.'

  Jackson stood up and walked toward the window again.

  The massive central towers of Aurelius Academy stood proudly in the distance.

  Students would one day study there.

  Train there.

  Compete there.

  Jackson watched them silently.

  Two weeks.

  That was how much time he had before the entrance exam.

  He slipped his hands into his pockets.

  A small smile barely touched the corner of his mouth.

  'Plenty of time to prepare.'

  The first few days passed quietly.

  Jackson Alistair Vale kept mostly to himself.

  The temporary dormitory was constantly filled with noise—students talking about the upcoming exam, comparing family backgrounds, or loudly bragging about abilities they may or may not actually possess.

  Jackson rarely joined those conversations.

  Instead, he observed.

  He spent time walking around the outer sections of the academy grounds, memorizing the layout of paths, buildings, and training areas available to examinees. Occasionally he would sit beneath a tree or near a practice field, simply watching how others used magic.

  Different elements.

  Different casting methods.

  Different levels of control.

  'Everyone approaches magic differently.'

  Some relied on chanting.

  Others used hand gestures.

  A few seemed able to cast with almost no visible preparation at all.

  Jackson studied everything.

  He didn't interfere.

  He didn't practice in public.

  He simply watched.

  On the fourth night, he finally decided it was time.

  Jackson sat cross-legged on the wooden floor of his dorm room. The moonlight from the window illuminated the quiet space.

  His roommate still hadn't arrived.

  Which suited him perfectly.

  Jackson rested his hands on his knees and closed his eyes.

  'Magic circuits.'

  From everything he had gathered over the past few days, magic in this world functioned through something similar to internal channels—pathways inside the body that allowed mana to flow and be shaped into spells.

  Most people used them unconsciously.

  But if he wanted precise control, he needed to understand them directly.

  Jackson took a slow breath.

  Then he focused inward.

  At first, there was nothing.

  Just darkness.

  Silence.

  Then—

  A faint warmth.

  'There.'

  Deep inside his body, he could feel them.

  Thin pathways.

  Like veins, but different.

  Dormant.

  Barely active.

  Most people allowed their circuits to open gradually through training.

  Jackson did the opposite.

  He pushed.

  Mana began flowing through the pathways all at once.

  The sensation was immediate.

  Heat spread through his chest and arms.

  His breathing became heavier.

  His fingers twitched slightly.

  Pain followed soon after.

  Not sharp pain.

  More like pressure.

  As if something inside him was stretching open for the first time.

  Jackson clenched his teeth slightly but didn't stop.

  'Keep going.'

  The warmth intensified.

  The circuits widened.

  Mana flowed more freely.

  After several minutes, the pressure finally stabilized.

  Jackson slowly opened his eyes.

  A thin layer of sweat covered his forehead.

  But the feeling inside his body had changed.

  The pathways were clearer now.

  Stronger.

  Mana flowed through them far more smoothly.

  Jackson flexed his fingers.

  'So this is what it feels like.'

  He stood up and grabbed the simple iron practice sword he had bought from a merchant near the dormitory.

  Nothing fancy.

  Just a basic weapon.

  Perfect for testing.

  Jackson held the sword in front of him.

  Then he focused again.

  This time, instead of opening the circuits, he directed the mana flowing through them.

  Toward the blade.

  He had spent the past few days observing how others shaped spells.

  Most beginner magic required chanting to stabilize the mana.

  But simple effects could sometimes be done through pure control.

  Jackson concentrated.

  The mana flowed from his arm.

  Into the sword.

  For a moment—

  Nothing happened.

  Then the edge of the blade shimmered faintly.

  A thin layer of mana formed along the sword’s edge.

  Not visible to the naked eye.

  But Jackson could feel it.

  Sharper.

  Denser.

  He swung the blade once.

  Whoosh.

  The air parted slightly easier than before.

  Jackson examined the edge carefully.

  The mana layer flickered but remained stable.

  'So that's the basic concept.'

  A reinforcement spell.

  More specifically—

  An edge enhancement.

  Instead of creating a magical weapon from scratch, the spell simply sharpened whatever blade he was holding using mana.

  Simple.

  Efficient.

  And practical.

  Jackson canceled the mana flow.

  The enhancement disappeared instantly.

  He tried again.

  This time the mana formed along the blade faster.

  Still unstable.

  But improving.

  Jackson practiced the process over and over.

  Channel mana.

  Shape the edge.

  Maintain the flow.

  Cancel.

  Repeat.

  Hours passed.

  By the time the moon had shifted across the sky, the spell had become significantly smoother.

  The edge reinforcement formed almost instantly now.

  Jackson lowered the sword and let out a slow breath.

  His body felt tired.

  But his mind felt clear.

  'Good enough for a start.'

  It wasn't a flashy spell.

  It wouldn't impress anyone.

  But that wasn't the point.

  It was reliable.

  It enhanced a weapon he already knew how to use.

  And most importantly—

  It didn't require long chants or complicated gestures.

  Jackson placed the practice sword beside his bed.

  Then he stretched slightly.

  'Two weeks.'

  Four days had already passed.

  Ten more remained before the entrance examination.

  Jackson lay down on the bed and stared at the ceiling.

  His black eyes reflected the faint moonlight.

  The dormitory room was quiet.

  The faint glow of moonlight slipped through the window, casting pale silver across the wooden floor.

  Jackson Alistair Vale lowered the iron practice sword in his hand.

  A thin layer of mana faded from the blade’s edge as he stopped channeling it.

  The reinforcement spell dispersed like mist.

  He exhaled slowly.

  Sweat clung lightly to his neck and arms from hours of repeated practice.

  Channel mana.

  Shape the edge.

  Maintain the flow.

  Cancel.

  Repeat.

  Over and over again.

  The process had become smoother, but his body was beginning to feel the strain.

  'Pushing further now would just make mistakes.'

  Jackson rested the sword against the wall and stretched his shoulders.

  The tension in his muscles loosened slightly.

  For a moment he simply stood there in silence.

  Then he glanced toward the window.

  The night outside was calm.

  A soft breeze rustled the trees in the courtyard, and the distant academy towers glowed faintly beneath the moon.

  Jackson picked up his jacket.

  'A short break won't hurt.'

  The academy grounds at night felt completely different from the daytime chaos.

  The noisy groups of applicants were gone.

  Most dormitory lights had already gone dark.

  Only the occasional lantern illuminated the stone paths.

  Jackson walked slowly along the quiet walkway.

  His hands rested casually in his pockets, but his eyes still moved calmly across the surroundings.

  Observing.

  Habit.

  The gardens near the outer courtyard were particularly peaceful at night.

  Tall hedges and flowering trees lined the paths.

  Moonlight filtered through the branches, painting soft shadows across the ground.

  Jackson followed one of the paths deeper into the garden.

  Then he noticed someone.

  A girl stood near a small stone fountain.

  She was facing away from him, her attention focused on the water flowing gently from the carved statue at its center.

  Her long hair shimmered under the moonlight.

  Silvery-white.

  It reached nearly to her waist, moving softly with the night breeze.

  Jackson slowed his steps slightly.

  'That's…'

  The girl turned slightly.

  Just enough for the moonlight to reveal her face.

  Soft features.

  Gentle expression.

  And unmistakable lavender eyes.

  Jackson stopped walking.

  Recognition hit immediately.

  'No way.'

  There was no mistaking it.

  Navier Lysandra Whitmore.

  The heroine of the academy romance game Royal Hearts.

  Jackson had seen that character design countless times before.

  Cutscenes.

  Dialogue portraits.

  Event illustrations.

  'So she really exists here.'

  Navier didn't seem to notice him yet.

  She looked down at the fountain water quietly, her hands lightly clasped together in front of her.

  She seemed lost in thought.

  Jackson watched silently for a moment.

  His mind began connecting pieces automatically.

  'Fourth day after arrival.'

  'Which means in the game timeline…'

  Navier should have already enrolled early through her scholarship.

  She would be preparing for the academy's formal opening ceremony.

  Which meant—

  This was likely one of those small character moments the game never actually showed.

  The quiet days before everything began.

  Jackson took a few more steps forward.

  The gravel path crunched softly beneath his shoe.

  Navier looked up immediately.

  Her eyes widened slightly when she noticed him.

  "Oh—!"

  She seemed surprised but not frightened.

  More… embarrassed at being caught alone.

  "I-I'm sorry," she said softly. "I didn't realize someone else was here."

  Her voice matched exactly how Jackson remembered it from the game.

  Gentle.

  Almost soothing.

  Jackson shrugged lightly.

  "I just came out for some air."

  Navier relaxed a little.

  The tension in her shoulders eased.

  "Me too."

  For a moment, both of them stood there in the quiet garden.

  The fountain continued its gentle trickle between them.

  Navier glanced at him curiously.

  "You… look like one of the applicants."

  Jackson nodded.

  "Entrance exam."

  "I see."

  She gave a small smile.

  "I hope it goes well for you."

  Jackson studied her for a moment.

  She looked exactly like the heroine described in the game.

  Kind expression.

  Soft presence.

  Someone who naturally made others feel comfortable.

  But standing here now…

  It felt different from simply seeing a character on a screen.

  'So this is Navier Whitmore.'

  The girl who would eventually gather half the academy's most influential figures around her.

  The center of multiple story routes.

  The catalyst of nearly every major relationship in Royal Hearts.

  Navier tilted her head slightly.

  "Is something wrong?"

  Jackson blinked once.

  He realized he had been staring a little longer than normal.

  "Nothing."

  He looked away toward the fountain.

  "Just thinking."

  Navier didn't seem offended.

  She simply looked back down at the water again.

  "I like it here at night," she said quietly. "It's peaceful."

  Jackson nodded slightly.

  "Yeah."

  Neither of them spoke for a moment.

  The moonlight reflected across the fountain’s surface, creating small ripples of light.

  Jackson glanced at her again.

  'The heroine of the game…'

  Standing here in the quiet academy garden.

  Right in front of him.

  A small thought crossed his mind.

  'This story is going to get complicated.'