Elvlin Academy

  {Prologue}“The Pitch-Black Sky”

  ***

  Like a millennium's civilization that vanished like a dream

  Like a seeker's dream yearning for eternity

  Like dust indifferently gathered through the ages

  Like a nameless book in an ancient study

  ***

  The ancient kingdom of Ajurat, which had nurtured a brilliant civilization, vanished from history without a trace one day, a thousand years ago. While scholars debate the cause, they agree on one point: the entire kingdom fought against something at the time.

  -From 'Northern Mixed Continent Travelogue' by Aquinad Ruhan-

  ***

  The pitch-black sky.

  The pure white snowstorm.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  A woman, cradling a bassinet, walked precariously through the frozen forest.

  "My child, just hold on a little longer."

  Black hair flowed from beneath her pulled-down hood. The baby in the bassinet also had black hair, black eyes, and skin as white as snow.

  "We're here."

  The woman stopped walking and looked up at the door she had finally reached.

  On the massive door, nearly three stories tall, the following words were written in Ascalian script:

  [Elvlin Academy]

  Through the iron-barred gate, a portion of the campus grounds was visible.

  "I found it. This is the place."

  Her hands trembled as she set down the baby.

  "They will take care of you here."

  Despite the fierce snowstorm, the baby remained asleep.

  The woman wrapped her cloak around the bassinet. Then her slender body shivered in the winter night air.

  "This will be the last time I see you."

  Tears fell onto the white snow, leaving marks.

  "I wanted to watch you grow... Please grow up to be as fair as you are now."

  She struggled to stand up.

  "Goodbye, my child."

  Just as she was about to head back through the increasingly fierce snowstorm—

  "Wouldn't it be proper to state a name?"

  How long had he been there? A tall elderly man stood right behind her without making a sound. She forced herself to calm her startled heart before answering.

  "I... I don't have a name."

  The elderly man pointed at the bassinet.

  "Not you, that one."

  "......"

  "Does the baby not have a name either?"

  "You are..."

  "Was today the deadline he gave you? Well, no matter. We can always give a name."

  The elderly man lifted the wrapped baby from the bassinet and held it in his arms. Then he waved his hand in the air. The gate, which hadn't budged in the fierce snowstorm, began to open as if by magic. The woman watched with complex emotions.

  "Rin! Her name is Rin!"

  The elderly man's steps paused beyond the closing gate.

  "Rin... Very well."

  *CLANG!*

  The woman clutched the gate's bars intensely.

  "Thank you, elder! Thank you!"

  The elderly man walked away quickly without responding.

  -To be continued-