It's been a month.
It's been 30 days since the assassination attempt and the meeting of the elders that almost cut me off from the thread of life.
In that month, I didn't waste a moment.
Every morning started with Kyle, the outcast warrior and now my martial arts master.
His training was brutal. No mercy, no compassion.
"The opponent won't give you a second to think, so don't give him your body as a gift," he would repeat as I fell to the ground.
In the evenings... I read.
When it comes to the political system, social structures, gates and elements, my family, and my enemies...
As for Tia...
She was my trusty stainless steel sword.
Whenever the opportunity arose, she helped me discern who could be trusted and who was hiding a smile behind a blade, and she had regained her status as a knight in and became my personal knight.
Elena was keeping an eye on me from a distance, not getting involved but still present.
It was like she was waiting for something from me. Or maybe they're just testing me.
This month, there was no clear trace of who was behind the attempt on my life.
The assassins are dead, but it looks like the investigation is just beginning.
I know for a fact that there are three types of elements.
The basic elements are fire, water, wind, earth, light, and dark. They are the most common.
There are six main elements, as well as branch elements like the elements of shadows and my own blood. Lightning, iron, sound, poison, and other types also exist. The third type is called the special elements, such as space and time. They are considered one of the rarest types and are even known to be difficult to use. There is not much information about them.
In this world, there are many sword arts. Each art has its own distinctive features. However, each art has specific requirements for mastery. For example, the Nocturne sword art is one of them.
The Dark Breaker sword art is the family's exclusive technique.
This style is not taught to the public; it was designed specifically to counter the demons that come through the gates.
It relies on the combination of the sword and internal energy, or aura, where movements are refined to a level that enables the user to tear down magical barriers... and even stop spells in mid-activation.
I'm not saying I can't use it; I can totally master it. It's just that I have a higher elemental talent, so I'd rather master a sword art with a higher elemental talent.
The dark element won't be an option. I'm not very skilled in it, which is too bad, considering my family's special skills in the dark. I'm at the top with space, but it's a rare element. I haven't found any sword art related to it. When I asked Elena about sword arts related to space, she looked at me strangely, wondering why I was asking about one of the rarest elements. She said that even if she had it, she wouldn't give it to me because it's one of the most difficult and dangerous elements. A mistake in an attack could cause my death. I'm not sure if I can come back to life like last time, and I'm not really interested in finding out. The fire elemental was a good start, but it's the one I'm second least talented in, so I tend to put it on the back burner. That leaves me with two options: blood and shadow. They told me the blood element is one of the most powerful, but it has a fatal flaw: it drains the user's blood, so the fight has to be over as soon as possible. I'm the best at the shadow element, and my family's got a lot of experience with shadow arts. The one I picked is...
"Black Shadows Style" is the family's sword art.
It's an old technique, and they say it was invented by the family's founder when demons invaded the continent.
It's a style that isn't taught in public or written about in books, but it's passed down through word of mouth and practical training.
It's all about controlling the mana, keeping it low-key and quiet so your moves go unnoticed and your footsteps are undetectable.
They say its masters vanish into the shadows, showing up only when their opponent stops talking.
Kyle was one of the few who really put in the work, and he agreed to teach me the basics after seeing how determined I was:
"Shadows aren't about power, they're about feeling. It's about being part of the darkness, not an opponent."
Every morning, I'd practice until my muscles were totally worn out.
Every night, I'd write down the movements and think about the quiet of the night.
One day, Elena asked me to come in.
When I went to her room, she was sitting at the desk working. It looked like she was doing all the work of the head of the family.
"Oh, you're here, Dan," she said, looking up from her papers and smiling at me.
"Kyle says you've been working hard at practice. I'm glad to hear that. Do you know why I wanted you to come?"
"Maybe you missed your adorable little brother," I replied with a smile.
When she heard that, she laughed a little and replied, "It's only a week until the start of the school year at Renaria Academy, and you've decided to enroll this year."
I wasn't surprised that she had already told me about the academy.
"Can I take Tia and Kyle with me?"
"No, the academy forbids it, if every noble takes their knights with them, it's not gonna be an educational institution anymore."
I was a little bummed, but it was to be expected.
"Well, I guess I should get ready."
"Yeah, you should get ready for the academy. It's where the best and brightest minds in the industry converge."
Then she added in a low tone, "And don't forget... I'm a graduate of this academy, so I know its value."
She chuckled lightly:
"I'm going to follow in my sister's footsteps. Is that an honor or a curse?"
"If you see it as a curse, no one's forcing you, but you know very well that you need training, knowledge, and most importantly... relationships.
Renaria Academy is the heart of the continent's political and military balance.
She paused for a second, then added in a softer tone:
"It'll be tough at first, I know. But the Academy... it could be your chance to understand the world, and maybe even yourself.
The day of departure
I was standing in the center of the room, looking at the stuff in the leather bag on the bed.
Uniforms, training uniforms, some books Elena had recommended, my training sword, and a bunch of papers and maps.
I didn't feel excited, just a bit of tension between my ribs.
Tia came into the room without making a sound. She was still wearing her knight's uniform, which felt a bit weird to her even a month later.
"Do you need anything else before you head out?" She asked quietly.
I looked at her.
"I'm doing well, but it's too bad Kyle's busy and can't say goodbye to me."
I put the last piece in the bag and closed it up.
I looked at my sister, who was crossing her arms and staring at me with a look like the one a mom gives her kid on the first day of school.
"Listen up, Dan. The academy isn't a place to rest. Everything there is a test... your strength, your mind, even your loyalty to your family."
I smiled, but I was also a little sarcastic.
"Are those words of encouragement or a gentle threat?"
She said, without any emotion,
"It depends on your choices, as always."
I nodded and then got in the car.
The teleportation station is an hour away.
Inside the station, a bunch of students were standing around, some from high-class families and others in plain clothes.
There was a certain magic in the air, especially at the active gates.
I went up to a staff member and showed him the admission document.
"Dan Noctine, first year, Renaria Academy?"
"Yes."
"Your gate is all set. Prepare to cross."
I stood in front of the magic gate. A circle of light with ancient markings slowly spun on the ground, as if it was coming to life.
I took a deep breath...
I stepped into the light...
The world disappeared behind me