There was no light. There was no sound. There was only the void, a cold, velvety void that wrapped around him like a shroud. Dio was floating in a sea of nothingness, alone. Then, he felt it in his hand. Familiar, cold, heavy. The sword.

  Cut.

  The command came from a place deeper than memory, older than thought. So he obeyed. He cut the darkness before him, tearing the curtain of nothingness. For a moment, a world emerged. A barren land stretching to infinity under a strange sky. A black, pitch-dark sky, with no sun, no moon, and not a single star. It was a terrifying mirror of the void from which he had come. He felt a sharp, aching disappointment. This was not what he wanted. So he returned to his comfortable darkness.

  Cut. Cut. Cut.

  He was cutting endlessly, aimlessly, tearing the fabric of nothingness, searching for something he did not know. All he knew was the act itself, the act of cutting, for it was the only proof of his existence.

  Cut!

  He awoke with the scream tearing from his throat. His eyes were wide open, staring at an unfamiliar white ceiling. The sharp smell of antiseptics invaded his nose, and he felt the roughness of the sheets under his trembling fingers. His heart was hammering against his ribs like a caged bird.

  A bad dream?

  The voice was quiet, cold, and amused. Dio slowly turned his head. She was sitting in a chair beside his bed, ridiculously short, but her presence filled the room like a black hole swallowing the light. Her short black hair was precisely cut, and her violet eyes, like two pieces of polished amethyst, were studying him with the curiosity of an entomologist studying a rare specimen. It was Lily Knoxville.

  Dio looked around. It was a clean medical room. On two adjacent beds, he saw two still bodies. Isabella Revimont, her fiery hair pale against the white pillow, and Matthew Eisengard, his aristocratic face grim even in his sleep.

  he asked, his voice hoarse ,What happened?

  Lily leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her clasped hands. You tell me. What happened?

  She wasn't asking. She was analyzing. Dio looked at his hands. They were no longer trembling. He remembered his mother's face, the emptiness in her eyes, the blood on the marble. Then he remembered Cairo, on his knees, the pain on his face. The same feeling of helplessness, the same world-burning rage.

  Dio said coldly ,I did what had to be done, looking at Isabella and Matthew . They hurt my partner.

  Lily nodded slowly. So, you stood up to protect him. A noble act. But you didn't stop. You nearly split Miss Revimont in two. Then you attacked a professor. That is not noble; that is savage.

  Dio said, ignoring her accusation ,So, did I pass the test?

  A faint, dry laugh, like the rustle of autumn leaves, escaped her lips. Yes, child. You passed. Even if they had died, it wouldn't have been a problem. When you enter an arena, you must be prepared to kill and to die. But you are clever. You understood the essence of the matter immediately.

  I was raised in a difficult family.

  Her violet eyes drifted to his waist, where his leather belt was empty. You use a sword. It wasn't a question.

  I didn't expect anyone here to know what a sword is.

  Lily said, her tone becoming sharper ,I know more than that, . She leaned closer, her gaze piercing his defenses. Do you know what a Magical Swordsman is?

  The air froze in Dio's lungs. For a fleeting moment, his composure wavered. He tried hard to keep his face a mask of ice, but he knew she had seen it. The woman before him was a thousand times better at this game than he was. She had seen the small crack in his armor.

  Suddenly, she moved. It wasn't fast; it was instantaneous. One moment she was in her chair, and the next her cold hand was gripping his neck. She wasn't squeezing, but the coldness alone was enough to paralyze his movement. It wasn't a physical coldness, but a spiritual one, as if a shadow from the underworld had touched his soul.

  she whispered, her eyes glowing with a faint violet light ,Don't lie to me, child . In my house, lying to me is the fastest way to become just a bad memory. Do you know or not?

  Dio said, the word coming out as a tired exhale ,Yes. I know.

  She let him go. Dio scrambled back, panting, rubbing his neck which didn't hurt, but felt violated.

  Come with me.

  Before he could answer, her shadow stretched beneath her, transforming from a simple inkblot into a lake of living darkness. The black serpents wrapped around Dio, and he felt a sensation of falling. The smell of antiseptics changed to the faint scent of sugar and old dust. The sterile white of the room changed to an explosion of pink.

  He found himself standing in her office. And it was ridiculous. The walls were pink, and the shelves were filled with stuffed bears of all sizes. There was a huge sofa in the shape of a giant pink bear, and her elegant wooden desk had a lamp in the shape of a rabbit. It was a stark contrast to the woman who stood in the middle of the room, who looked like a piece of a winter's night in a candy store.

  she said, gesturing to the bear sofa ,Sit.

  Dio looked at the ridiculous sofa, then at her. Are you serious?

  Her eyes narrowed. Sit.

  Dio sat on the pink bear. Its fur was disgustingly soft. She sat on her desk, swinging her legs like a child.

  How do you know that word? And I want the whole truth this time.

  Dio sighed. What does 'Magical Swordsman' mean?

  She looked at him for a moment, as if assessing whether he was worthy of the knowledge. You want to know if it's a dangerous word? Yes, it is. At least in the Knoxville family. This family... this house... was built because of that word. That is all I will tell you for now. Your turn.

  Dio surrendered. He wasn't getting out of this annoying pink room until he told her. I think... I am a Magical Swordsman.

  And he told her everything. About the old book, about the dream, about the words that taught him how to steal" from reality instead of persuading it, about his feeling that he wasn't using magic, but imposing his will on the world.

  When he finished, silence filled the room. Lily was staring at a distant point, her eyes lost in a sea of time.

  she began quietly, her voice suddenly sounding ancient ,The legend says that before the stars die, a being called the Magical Swordsman will be born. He will be the first, but he will not be the last. It is said that he will come to save the world from the darkness that is consuming it. And the Knoxville family... we are the shadows of this Swordsman. We were created to serve him, to guide him, to pave his way.

  Dio froze. A world without stars. The infinite darkness. His dream. It wasn't just a nightmare. It was an echo of a legend thousands of years old.

  Then, he did the only thing he was good at when he felt fear. He mocked.

  he said with a short laugh ,What is this silly story? Are you going to become my follower now? Should I call you 'my loyal servant'?

  Lily burst out laughing. A real laugh this time, loud and ringing, that made the bears on the shelves tremble. Me? Your follower? Child, you are confusing a foolish legend that a stupid grandfather believed in with reality. And what is your proof that you are the one? Maybe you're just a strange mutation. Maybe the real Swordsman hasn't been born yet. But I know one thing.

  She approached him and stopped directly in front of him. She was very short, but he felt as if he were the one looking up at her. She leaned in, until her violet eyes were level with his golden ones.

  You are talented," she whispered, a faint scent of ozone emanating from her. And you will be a student in my home. Nothing more, nothing less. As for the matter of the Magical Swordsman, do not tell anyone. Especially not another person from the Knoxville family. If they find out... she smiled, and it was a predatory smile,...you will become food. In their eyes, you are not a savior, but a harbinger of the world's destruction.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  She suddenly straightened up, boredom returning to her face. Now, get out of my sight.

  Dio stood up. My god, you're so moody. And you shouldn't have told me all that to maintain some mystery. And what's with this stupid office?

  He turned and ran out, closing the door behind him before she could turn him to dust. He leaned against the door, his heart beating fast. Damn. That child is scary.

  Dio found himself in a corridor he had never seen before. He was lost. He began to walk aimlessly, and little by little, he started to notice it. When he got down to the ground floor, where some students were gathered, a strange silence fell over the place. Whispers followed him like shadows.

  It's him...

  ...the Demon's Servant...

  I saw the fight. He was a monster...

  He almost killed Isabella-sama...

  My god, it seems he's made a scene. Dio smiled to himself. Well, what's better than a scene? He decided to ask one of the students for directions to the dormitory. He approached a boy with blond hair, and as soon as he opened his mouth, the boy screamed and ran away as if he had seen a ghost. He tried with another girl, but she froze in place, her face pale, before turning and scurrying away. Every professor who passed him gave him a cold look, a mixture of contempt and caution.

  After an hour of humiliating wandering, he saw him. Cairo was leaning against a pillar, browsing something on a magical tablet. He looked like an angel in the midst of this hell of hostile stares. Dio ran towards him.

  Cairo! Where's the dorm? I'm begging you, tell me.

  Cairo looked at him, a sly smile forming on his face. I feel like I've seen this situation before. Oh, yes. The same desperation I saw when you were eating from the trash. Come on, you fool. They put us in the same dorm.

  They started walking. Dio asked ,What happened after I passed out?

  Cairo said, putting the tablet back in his bag ,A lot. First, everyone started calling you the 'Demon's Servant'. Second, the professors hate you intensely, except for Gabriel, who seems fascinated by you. Third, I think Matthew and Isabella want to kill you in your sleep when they wake up. And fourth, and most importantly... you're ranked first in the entrance exams.

  Dio laughed. Very good. The best reputation I could ask for.

  Dio... how is Eva? Is... is she eating well? Is she okay?

  Eva is fine, yes. What's wrong?

  Cairo said quickly, and resumed walking ,Nothing. This is it. The 'Olympus' dormitory, for the best students of Elysian Academy. And naturally, the first-ranked has the best room.

  The building was stunning. A modern glass facade overlooked a huge inner garden, where one or two students were reading quietly under the shade of the trees. Cairo entered and pressed the elevator call button.

  You're on the top floor, the penthouse. I'm on the floor below you. He pressed two buttons. See you tomorrow in class. It starts at eight in the morning. Don't be late.

  The elevator reached Dio's floor. The doors opened directly into a luxurious apartment. It was larger than his entire old house. Glass walls revealed a panoramic view of the city, stylish furniture, a huge flat-screen TV, and even a small private training hall.

  Not bad, Dio thought. But it's not like my mansion. It's not my home.

  He took a long bath, feeling the hot water wash away the day's fatigue. Then, he threw himself onto the large bed and fell asleep instantly.

  Dio woke up at seven. In his closet, he found an elegant academy uniform, black with gold stripes, and on the chest was a silver badge engraved with the number '1'. He looked at his reflection in the mirror and fluffed his hair with pride.

  Wait for me, girls, the number one is coming for you.

  He went out to find Cairo waiting for him in front of the elevator. He looked nervous, rubbing his hands together.

  Dio asked directly ,What do you want?

  I need... I need Eva's phone number.

  Dio looked at him with surprise, then he understood. This man was hopelessly in love. A sarcastic smile began to creep onto his face.

  If you ask for something, you have to give something in return. And Leonardo, as you know, may seem like a fool, but when it comes to his sister, he becomes scary.

  Cairo said desperately ,I'll design a sword for you! .The best sword your eyes have ever seen! I'll use the rarest metals, the best enchantments. Please, I just need to hear her voice. I can't take it anymore.

  Dio laughed. Fine. It's a deal.

  The lecture hall for the top six ranked students was incredibly refined. Comfortable leather seats and advanced magical writing boards. Dio saw familiar faces. Isabella, who was glaring at him with a murderous look. Matthew , who looked as if he were imagining a thousand ways to torture him. Alessandro Philanter, who looked at him as a true rival. And someone else.

  In the back corner, a person sat wearing a black cloak over their uniform, their head completely covered. This person strangely drew him in. He had noticed them in the tests, but hadn't thought much of it. Why are they wearing a cloak?

  Mathis Eisengard entered and cast a disdainful look at everyone. Welcome to the Theoretical Magic lecture. I will get straight to the point.

  He began to write on the advanced board, and complex diagrams and ancient runes appeared. Dio was shocked. He hadn't expected the studies to begin with such seriousness from the first day. He saw Cairo take out a tablet and start writing quickly. Even Alessandro was taking notes with concentration. Dio decided to sit like a statue and listen. He was smart; he would memorize everything in his head.

  Mathis noticed that Dio wasn't writing anything. He felt insulted. How dare this boy? Does he see my lecture as beneath him? I was going to start with a simple level today, but fine, Van der Wood, I'll show you.

  Mathis began to raise the level of the lecture insanely. He moved from the basics of Stone energy flow to theories of multidimensional spacetime and its effect on ritual magic. Even Cairo began to struggle. Alessandro looked completely lost. Isabella was fighting back, but the frown on her face showed her struggle. As for the person in the cloak, they seemed to be drowning in a sea of confusion.

  And Dio? He was sitting like a statue, listening, and thinking, what in the hell is this man talking about? Isn't this the first lecture? He understood most of what he was saying; after all, no one in the world could match his knowledge of magical theory. But he knew these concepts were far too advanced for these students.

  When the lecture was about to end, Mathis said with an arrogant smile, Are there any questions?

  Every hand in the room went up, except for Dio

  Cairo sighed after the question period, which was longer than the lecture itself, ended. "What a lecture. By the way, Dio, why weren't you writing?"

  Dio said simply ,I forgot to bring anything . I thought it would just be an introduction and jokes. It doesn't matter; I've already studied all these things.

  Matthew heard him and grumbled in anger. In that moment, Isabella stood up and walked directly to Dio's table.

  I want a rematch. One on one.

  Dio looked at her, a sly smile forming on his face. Of course. And what will you give me in return if I win?

  Confusion appeared on her face. "What?

  I don't think a kiss will be enough. Maybe we should go straight to bed?

  Isabella was shocked. Her face turned bright red. Pervert! she whispered, and quickly returned to her seat, avoiding his gaze.

  Cairo looked at Dio with wide eyes full of respect. My master.

  Dio laughed. That won't work for you. you'll look like a pervert and get imprisoned. It works for me because I'm the most beautiful man in the world.

  Cairo muttered ,You're so vain, .

  The second lecture was with Gabriel Philanter. As soon as he entered, he shouted, Outside!

  They followed him to an outdoor training ground. Gabriel began to speak in his booming voice. Magic in combat is about making the right decision at the right moment. Do you use fire against a water sorcerer? Do you get close to a close-range specialist like Alessandro here, or... Dio? He looked directly at him. The fight between Matthew and Dio was an example of a clash of styles. If one of them hadn't lost their cool, the outcome would have been different. Now, each one of you will fight me. And I will tell you your flaws.

  The students began to attack him one by one. Gabriel defeated them with ease, pointing out their mistakes with precision. It was the turn of the person in the cloak. Their fighting style was strange, defensive, and the cloak never moved from its place. Dio noticed that their school uniform under the cloak was the girls' uniform. Strange.

  Then it was Dio's turn. He drew his sword and attacked.

  Gabriel said ,A strange weapon, easily parrying his blows. Your physical strength is close to my son's, which is surprising. Your fighting style is strange... you don't use any magic. Suddenly, Gabriel exploited an opening and knocked Dio to the ground.

  He helped him up. You're still powerless, aren't you? I thought your power had just awakened late and you had some trick that made your magic circles not show up to me. Strange, but you use energy manipulation magic instinctively. You are a manipulative sorcerer who fights at close range. That is very rare. Dio remained silent. Well, it doesn't matter. I think I know a solution to your problem. I'll have some students from the lower ranks take you to a specialist.

  The last lecture was the strangest. Handling Magical Tools with Sophie van der Wood. She entered, yawning, looking eternally tired.

  Dio van der Wood, come down here.

  Dio came down, a look of confusion on his face. Give me your sword.

  She took his sword and examined it. "A non-magical tool. Fine. As you know, sorcerers cannot infuse their energy into tools made by anyone. Many have tried and failed. But artisans like me can. We make weapons, armor, and machines that carry our power. Today, I will teach you how to defeat someone who uses a tool like this.

  She began to explain all the weaknesses of Dio's fighting style. How his movements could be predicted, how to exploit his range, and how to tire him out.

  That damned aunt, Dio thought angrily. She's teaching them how to defeat me! He saw Isabella concentrating with frightening intensity, writing down every word. There was no other solution.

  Dio said in a loud, clear voice ,My beautiful aunt! .

  Sophie stopped talking and looked at him in shock. Whose aunt? You brat, I'm still in my mid-twenties!

  But you are still my aunt! And you are so beautiful! This is the beauty of the Van der Wood family! Dio said with a charming smile. You are like a princess. No one would believe you are in your mid-twenties. You are the jewel of our family.

  Sophie began to fidget, a light blush appearing on her cheeks. Really? Well... you've embarrassed me. Go and sit down.

  How easy, Dio thought as he returned to his seat. On his way, he looked at Isabella, stuck out his tongue, and made a provocative gesture with his hands. Isabella burned with rage.

  Cairo whispered with admiration ,You are the role model among role models.

  Dio said with pride ,Learn from me.

  But his joy was short-lived, as Sophie continued her explanation of the weaknesses of his sword and style. Damn it. Isabella turned and did the exact same provocative gesture as Dio. He looked at her with surprise. Isn't she embarrassed?

  Isabella thought to herself with annoyance ,Why is it that when I do it, I look foolish, and he looks natural? .

  Finally, the school day ended. Dio was walking towards the door, talking to Cairo. At the same moment, the girl in the cloak was opening another door in the opposite corridor and began to run quickly in his direction, looking behind her.

  Dio opened the door.

  She was at his door at the same moment.

  The collision happened. The sound of two bodies colliding, and they fell to the ground together in a tangled heap.

  Painful... Dio muttered, and opened his eyes.

  The cloak had fallen off.

  And he saw the most beautiful face he had ever seen in his life. Silky black hair framed delicate, symmetrical features. Skin as white as snow. And lips the color of cherries. But her eyes... it was her eyes that captivated him. Black eyes, as deep as a starless summer night.

  In that moment, the world stopped. The noise of the academy ceased. His heart stopped beating. He didn't know who she was, or where she came from. All he knew, in that eternal second, was that he was looking at his destiny. He had fallen in love at first sight.