Maria opened her puffy eyelids with a heavy feeling. She didn't know when she had fallen asleep last night, but the exhaustion was still deep in her bones.

  The faint light of dawn shone through the thick curtains. The sun had not yet fully risen.

  Maria half-rose and sat on the edge of the bed. Her gaze drifted to the opposite bed.

  Sarah was in a deep sleep. She had kicked off her pink blanket and was hugging a large stuffed bear tightly. Her curly hair had fallen across her face.

  Maria remembered her behavior from last night. She remembered the moment Sarah looked at her with tear-filled eyes.

  Maria's expression tightened. A dull ache twisted in her chest.

  I did the right thing. I have to keep my distance.

  But even to her, the words felt hollow.

  She got up. She took off her uniform, which she had slept in last night and was now wrinkled, and carefully put on a clean, pressed uniform. She tied her boot laces tight, as if putting on armor for battle.

  She entered the room's private bathroom. A small but luxurious room with marble tiles and brass faucets.

  She turned on the tap. She splashed cold water on her face to reduce the puffiness of her eyes and chase away the sleep.

  She looked in the mirror.

  Her eyes... were the same cold, soulless eyes of her previous life. The eyes of a woman who had gotten used to killing her emotions to survive.

  Today is the first real day. There is no room for mistakes anymore.

  She tied her hair in a ponytail, hid her daggers in their usual place, and quietly left the room so as not to wake Sarah.

  ***

  She hadn't eaten anything since leaving the palace yesterday morning. The weakness from hunger mixed with the cramps from stress.

  She opened the doors of the dining hall.

  The hall was still quiet. The smell of fresh bread, coffee, and fried bacon filled the air; a smell that made Maria's stomach growl.

  A small number of students, mostly upperclassmen with different uniforms (with silver or gold lines on the sleeves), were having breakfast in small groups.

  The clatter of cutlery was the only music in the hall.

  Maria's entrance, though silent, drew attention.

  A few people raised their heads. Whispers started, but stopped quickly. Upperclassmen, unlike first-years, were more indifferent or perhaps had learned to hide their emotions.

  Maria went to the buffet table.

  A long table laid out like a feast for kings: various cheeses, fruits Maria didn't even know the names of, and breads still steaming.

  She picked up a plate. She tried not to be greedy, but the hunger made the decision for her. She took some bread, eggs, and a bunch of grapes.

  Just as she wanted to turn back and find a table in a corner, her ears picked up footsteps that were out of the normal rhythm of the room.

  Someone was coming directly toward her. Purposeful and calm.

  Maria tensed but didn't turn around. She waited.

  "Hello. You must be Maria, right?"

  A warm, resonant, and confident voice.

  Maria turned slowly.

  A tall boy with wavy auburn hair and honey-colored eyes stood before her. His uniform was flawless, but he had tied his tie a bit loosely, giving him a charming and approachable look.

  Maria recognized him. Yesterday, outside the training field, when everyone was mocking Maria, this boy was the only one not laughing, watching intently.

  Maria answered cautiously:

  "Yes, I am Maria."

  The boy smiled, revealing a dimple on his cheek. He raised his hands to show he meant no harm.

  "I'm Julian Vane, third-year."

  Maria waited. What does an upperclassman want from me?

  Julian lowered his voice slightly:

  "My father and Commander Edward have been old friends since the border wars. In his letter, Edward asked me to... how should I put it... keep an eye on you from afar so you don't get into trouble. Although, with the show you put on yesterday... I think you have a talent for attracting trouble yourself."

  Hearing Edward's name, Maria's defensive walls came down a bit. Edward wouldn't introduce someone without reason.

  "Thank you... Sir Vane."

  Julian laughed and lowered his hand.

  "Forget 'Sir'. I hate formalities. Just Julian. Let's sit; you don't want your food to get cold."

  They sat at a table by the window. Maria started eating cautiously, but all her attention stayed on Julian.

  Julian sipped his coffee, an apple resting on his plate as he studied Maria.

  "You know, yesterday at the mana test, everyone was laughing at the weak light of the orb. But I was looking at your feet."

  Maria paused her fork.

  "My feet?"

  "Yeah. Your stance. Someone whose guard is that solid can't be weak. It's interesting to me... Edward sent a mana-less little girl into the pit of nobles. He's not a gambling man. So you must have an ace up your sleeve."

  Maria swallowed her bite. This boy was smart. Very smart.

  "Maybe my ace is just my stubbornness."

  "Stubbornness is good, but it's not enough at Alverin Academy. This is a jungle full of smiling snakes."

  Julian pointed toward Damian Von Taurus's table, who had just entered the hall.

  "That boy, Damian... he's dangerous. Not just because of his magic. He attracts people. Half the first-years are already on his side. If you want to clash with him, you'll be crushed alone."

  Maria looked away.

  "I don't need a team. I can handle him myself."

  Julian picked up the apple, took a big bite, and said coolly:

  "That's exactly what corpses say before they die."

  Maria frowned.

  Julian took back his smile and became serious.

  "Look, Maria, I won't interfere. I promised to 'watch your back,' not 'be a babysitter.' But a piece of advice from an upperclassman: politics here isn't solved with a sword. If you want to survive, you must learn when to draw your sword and when to smile."

  He stood up and picked up his tray.

  "By the way, you have combat training with Master Allen today, right?"

  Maria nodded.

  "Be careful. Allen is one of those types who takes out his frustrations on weaker students. Don't give him an excuse."

  Julian winked and walked away.

  Maria watched him go.

  Julian Vane... Ally? Spy? Or just a curious spectator?

  She ate the last piece of her bread. Her energy had returned.

  She stood up. It was time to face Master Allen.

  ***

  The gentle morning sun shone on the sands of the training field, creating long, trembling shadows.

  The entire first-year class had gathered around the field. The smell of training armor leather and dust kicked up from the ground filled the air.

  Master Allen, a thin man with sunken eyes and a sly look, rumored to be on the payroll of House Von Taurus, stood in the center of the field. With a resonant voice rippling with sadistic pleasure, he said:

  "Today, there is no magic or aura. I want to see how long you can survive when your mana runs out. Today, I will assess 'Pure Technique' to decide how to proceed with your pathetic training."

  Allen glanced at the list in his hand and sneered, revealing his yellow teeth.

  "Maria... with Brook."

  Brook was a burly boy with broad shoulders whose uniform was bursting at the seams. Contrary to his appearance, he had an alert and sharp look. He picked up his heavy training sword and stepped forward with earth-shaking strides.

  Master Allen's goal was clear: placing the tiniest student (Maria) against the heaviest (Brook) to humiliate Maria with a disgraceful defeat and discredit Edward, who had recommended her to the Academy.

  The kids whispered:

  "Poor girl... she'll be crushed."

  "Look, Brook is twice her size!"

  Brook stood in front of Maria. His shadow completely fell over Maria, plunging her into darkness.

  "Don't worry, little one. If you surrender quickly, I promise not to break your bones. You'll just get a little bruised."

  In silence, Maria held her wooden sword low. She spread her feet shoulder-width apart and shifted her weight onto the balls of her feet.

  Opponent analysis: Heavyweight, long weapon reach. If I block, my wrist will break. The only way is close-quarters combat.

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  "Begin!"

  Brook attacked immediately. Not a clumsy strike, but a fast and powerful horizontal swing aimed at Maria's ribs.

  Whoosh!

  The sound of the air splitting was terrifying.

  Maria reacted, but her body lagged behind her mind.

  At the very last moment, she knelt and ducked her head. The wooden sword passed millimeters from her hair, and the wind from the strike slapped her face.

  Maria hadn't expected such a fast strike from that large frame. A cold sweat beaded on her temple, and her heart skipped a beat.

  Close! Too close... This body is still slow. If I had been a second late, my ribs would have turned to powder.

  Before she could catch her breath, Brook continued his attack.

  Brook wasn't surprised. He had expected the dodge. He immediately used the centrifugal force of his body's rotation to bring down a second strike from above, like a sledgehammer.

  "Thought you could dodge forever?!"

  Maria saw the shadow of the sword coming down. She had no chance to retreat backward; the sword was longer than her small steps.

  Death (or a crushing defeat) was one step away.

  So she did the craziest thing possible.

  Instead of going back, she dove forward. Right into Brook's arms.

  Boom!

  Brook's heavy strike hit the ground where Maria had been a fraction of a second ago, kicking up dust into the air.

  Now Maria was pressed against Brook's chest. Where the boy’s long sword was useless.

  Brook was startled. He wanted to push Maria away with his free hand, but Maria was faster.

  She lowered her center of gravity. She pressed her back against Brook's chest, grabbed the boy's right arm holding the sword, and locked it over her own small shoulder.

  Judo Technique: Ippon Seoi Nage (Shoulder Throw).

  Of course, with Maria's little strength, a full throw wasn't possible, but Brook had also lost his balance due to the heavy previous strike.

  Maria used her legs as a lever and pulled Brook with all the power in her hips and lower back.

  "Get down!"

  Brook stumbled. His own heavy weight worked against him. His ankle twisted, and with a tremendous sound, like a felled tree, he slammed headfirst into the ground.

  Thud!

  The ground shook, and more dust rose.

  Before Brook could move, Maria jumped onto his stomach. She drove her knee into Brook's chest, knocking the wind out of him and placed the edge of the wooden sword against his throat.

  Maria's breathing was rapid, but her hand remained steady.

  "If this sword were real, your jugular would be cut."

  Brook, with a dusty face and widened eyes, was frozen. He didn't even understand how he had been taken down by a little girl.

  Absolute silence engulfed the field.

  In the corner of the field, Prince Arthur, who had clenched his fist in worry until that moment, let out his held breath, and a smile of pride and satisfaction settled on his lips.

  A few noble girls who were waiting for Maria's humiliation covered their mouths with their hands.

  Sarah's eyes sparkled, as if she had found her life's hero.

  And Damian... he watched with narrowed, precise eyes, devoid of any emotion. As if he were solving a math equation. He whispered under his breath: "Interesting..."

  Maria stood up, lowered her sword, and gave a short bow.

  "Thank you for the match."

  Master Allen had gone pale. He ground his teeth together so hard the sound was audible. He looked at Maria with disbelief and hatred; his plan was ruined.

  Taking down Brook was a victory, but Maria's young body had to pay the price. Her breathing was fast and ragged, the skin of her face flushed from the fever of adrenaline, and tiny dots of light danced like insects before her eyes. Signs Maria knew meant her victory had come at a high cost.

  Ignoring Master Allen's flushed face, Maria returned to the line and tried to hide the trembling of her knees.

  Other fights continued. Damian defeated his opponent in three seconds with sheer brutality, and Arthur won with the elegance of a classic swordsman. But Maria's mind was still preoccupied with the weakness of her own body.

  ***

  After the practical class ended, it was almost noon. Maria entered the dining hall. This time, the atmosphere was different from the morning.

  No heavy silence reigned upon her entry, but the vibe had shifted. Reactions were no longer uniform; the small society of the Academy had fractured.

  On one side sat Damian's supporters and bigoted nobles. They looked at Maria with anger and hatred, as if she had insulted something sacred to them. Their whispers could be heard:

  "Classless savage..."

  "Did you hear how she cheated? She must have used Aura."

  "Poor Brook, got caught off guard."

  But on the other side, students of lower social standing or those tired of Damian's group's bullying looked at Maria furtively and with excitement. They tried not to draw attention; their whispers were different:

  "Did you see how she took him down?"

  "Good for her... finally someone found to cut them down to size."

  "I'm going to ask her to be my teammate in the next class."

  Some also watched Maria with a look that was a mix of fear, curiosity, and caution, as if they simply preferred to keep their distance from her.

  Maria picked up her food tray. She tried to be indifferent, but she felt the weight of this division.

  Now I'm not just a 'commoner' anymore. To half the school, I'm a 'hero,' and to the other half, a ' sworn enemy'.

  She sat in a corner. Her muscles still ached from her fight with Brook.

  Suddenly, a shadow fell over her table.

  It was Julian Vane. With that same crooked, charming smile, he tossed a shiny red apple up and caught it in the air.

  "Heard you started an interesting circus, First-Year."

  Maria didn't lift her head. She busied herself stirring her soup.

  "It wasn't a circus. It was self-defense."

  Julian pulled out the chair opposite her and sat down without permission. He leaned back in the chair as if he owned the whole hall.

  "That move you pulled on Brook... was a strange technique. None of the Alverin swordsmanship schools have a move like that. Savage, but... beautiful."

  He took a big bite of the apple and continued with his mouth full:

  "You know, this Academy is like a stagnant swamp. Everything is predictable. Nobles show off, the weak get crushed, and Damian... well, Damian rules. It's boring. Very boring."

  His honey-colored eyes sparkled mischievously.

  "But you... you were like a big rock thrown into the middle of this swamp. The wave you made smelled of 'change'. Or maybe the smell of 'blood'. Both are entertaining to me."

  Maria left her spoon in the bowl and looked at Julian.

  "So Your Excellency is looking for entertainment? I'm not a clown."

  Julian laughed. His voice was resonant, and a few people turned and looked.

  "Oh, don't be so hasty. Edward asked me in his letter to 'watch your back'."

  Julian leaned forward and put his elbows on the table. His voice dropped, but his tone became more serious:

  "But honestly? I don't care. I just came to see how long 'Edward's Choice' lasts."

  Julian paused slightly.

  "I bet on you."

  "A bet?"

  "Not with money. I’m betting my interest on you. I bet that you can stir up this swamp. So please... don't die soon. It's a pity for the show to end so early."

  Julian stood up. He placed his half-eaten apple on Maria's tray, as if it were a prize.

  "Your next class is Magic Theory, right?"

  He gave a wink that was both friendly and ominous.

  "Good luck. You can't slam your opponent headfirst into the ground there. I want to see what trick you pull out of your sleeve when 'physics' doesn't help anymore."

  Julian put his hand in his pocket and walked away whistling, as if heading to the front row of a theater.

  Maria looked at the bitten apple.

  Julian Vane... neither friend nor enemy. He's a spectator who likes to set the stage on fire to get warm.

  She squeezed her spoon tightly.

  Fine, Mr. Spectator. If you want a show... I'll show you.

  ***

  Classes D, E, and F were held in the old brick building of the east wing, which smelled of musty old paper and rotting wood; a place of exile for weaker students.

  Maria sat at the back of the class to stay away from the heavy atmosphere and staring eyes. But the whispers about her morning masterpiece were unending.

  Brook sat a few rows ahead. His face was still bruised and swollen. He didn't turn around to look, but his tensed shoulders showed how uncomfortable Maria's presence made him. Every now and then, he whispered with his henchmen and loudly "Tch'd" to patch up his wounded pride.

  The door opened with the creak of hinges, and Master Albert entered.

  Unlike the starched Master Allen, Albert had messy hair, crooked glasses, and a simple robe stained with ink. He was a man who loved "Magic," not "Politics."

  "Good day. I am Albert. Today we review the first lesson of 'Magic Fundamentals'."

  He picked up the chalk and wrote on the board: "Visualization".

  Then he faced the class and asked:

  "Who can tell me the stages of creating magic?"

  A smart girl in the front row raised her hand.

  "Yes, Elena?"

  The girl answered in a bookish tone:

  "Three stages, Master. First: Gathering mana from the core. Second: Shaping and mental visualization. Third: Guiding and projecting using mana control."

  "Well done. Exactly right."

  Albert started pacing and explained with passion:

  "Mana is like shapeless water. It is your 'mind' that orders it to become fire or ice. Words and incantations are just cues for your mind."

  He stood in front of the class.

  "For example, for the Fire element, we must imagine scorching heat, light, and anger. Pay attention to the words I say."

  He brought his hand forward, closed his eyes, and chanted in a resonant tone:

  "O ember sleeping in existence... hear my call... gather in my hands and burn the darkness... Fireball!"

  Whoosh!

  Suddenly, the air in the class grew hot. A fireball the size of a soccer ball, bright and swirling, appeared on the Master's palm with a faint roar. The dancing orange light illuminated the students' faces.

  Then he raised his other hand and pointed his palm toward the classroom ceiling.

  "With much practice, once you get used to casting a spell, you can easily do the visualization in your mind without saying these words. Like this..."

  A moment later, without a word, purple lightning shot from his palm and spread across the classroom ceiling like glowing veins.

  The students watched with open mouths, amazed. Even Maria was impressed. Pure power... without effort.

  Albert paused slightly and looked at the eager faces with a smile.

  "Any volunteers to come to the board and try?"

  A few talented kids wanted to raise their hands, but suddenly Brook's rough voice broke the silence:

  "Master! Maria wants to try!"

  Brook turned and stared at Maria with a malicious smirk, and Albert looked to the back of the class too.

  Brook continued:

  "She claimed a lot in the fight, but because she's shy, she won't raise her hand. Let her come show that it's not just brute strength!"

  All eyes turned to Maria. Snickers started. Everyone remembered the result of the Crystal Orb test: the weak light of a firefly.

  Master Albert, unaware of the hostility between them, said kindly:

  "Really? Great, Maria. Come to the board. Don't be afraid, it's just an exercise."

  Maria grit her teeth.

  She had fallen into a trap. If she didn't go, she would be called a "coward." If she went and failed, she would be "incompetent."

  She left her bag and stood up.

  She had learned the theory of magic creation from Simon; she had memorized the words. But the problem was that due to her low mana capacity, she had spent all those 6 months on "Mana Edge" (Aura) and mana control, not "Mana Projection" (Magic).

  Maria went to the board. Her gaze locked with Brook's waiting look.

  Want to break me? Fine. I'll show you that even with an empty tank, I can play with fire.

  She brought her right hand forward. She opened her palm.

  She closed her eyes.

  Mana... gather.

  She opened the valve of her small mana tank all the way. To make a real fireball, she had to pump everything she had at once.

  She whispered under her breath:

  "O sleeping ember... gather in my hands..."

  She felt the heat. The veins in her hand grew hot, as if her blood was boiling.

  An orange light shone in the class.

  The whispers cut off. Brook's smile froze on his face. His eyes widened. She... is she doing it?

  "Fireball!"

  Whoosh!

  A real fireball, not a lighter flame, but a sphere the size of a large, burning apple, appeared on Maria's hand. The fire licked the air, and its heat was real.

  Maria shouted in her heart: Hurray! See? I can do it too!

  But this joy lasted only a second.

  Suddenly, the world spun around her head. A continuous ringing sound echoed in her ear, like the whistle after an explosion. Her vision turned fuzzy. As if everything was distancing itself from her.

  Creating this small sphere was like squeezing the last drop of water from a dry sponge. All the mana in her body had been drained in an instant.

  The phenomenon of "Mana Depletion Shock."

  The fireball trembled and... Poof! It went out.

  Maria's knees went weak. The color drained from her face, and her body turned ice cold.

  "Ugh..."

  She couldn't keep her balance. Her eyes went black, and she fell like a dry leaf onto the stone floor of the classroom.

  Thump.

  The sound of her body hitting the floor echoed in the absolute silence of the class.

  After a few moments of pause, Brook half-rose. For a moment, the bully mask fell from his face, and his smirk vanished. His eyes rounded, and he unconsciously reached out his hand, as if wanting to help. He went pale.

  Did she die? I just wanted to mock her, not kill her...

  But immediately, he saw the expectant looks of his henchmen and the cold sneers of the students in the back rows.

  He remembered who he was; "Powerful Brook" who had been humiliated in the morning. If he showed pity now, he would become the laughingstock himself.

  He hurriedly pulled his hand back. He swallowed hard and tried to hide his fear behind a loud laugh.

  His laughter rang out, but it was hollow and had a nervous tremor:

  "Ha! See? She fainted with a half-assed spell!"

  The rest of the class found the courage to laugh too, unaware that their leader was trembling with fear.

  "How weak! Her brain just shut down!"

  Sarah, sitting in the front row, let out a short scream and ran frantically toward Maria.

  "Maria!"

  Master Albert frowned and came forward quickly. He checked Maria's pulse.

  "Quiet! No one has the right to laugh! She's suffering from mana shock."

  Albert lifted Maria, whose body had gone completely limp and was breathing with difficulty, into his arms.

  "Class dismissed."

  Maria still had a shred of consciousness. As she was being carried to the infirmary in Albert's arms, the images before her eyes became blurry and stretched. The sound of Sarah's worry and Brook's distant laughter were heard like sounds from underwater, gradually fading into the absolute darkness of her mind.