The air inside the Grand Church had shifted. The light filtering through the stained glass windows now seemed sharper, more purposeful, as if the building itself anticipated what came next. The students, once buzzing with curiosity and tension, now stood in small clusters, their status plates still glowing faintly in their hands.
Seraphina's voice rang out again, calm and resolute. "Now that you've all received your blessings and status plates, the next phase of your journey begins. Training."
Some of the students straightened up, their bodies tensing with excitement—or nerves.
She stepped forward gracefully, her white robes gliding behind her as she stopped near the base of the goddess statue. "Those of you who have been granted elemental affinities will begin practical training immediately. A maid will guide you to the castle's outdoor training grounds."
At her words, a young woman dressed in a neat black-and-white uniform emerged from behind the line of nuns. Her attire was crisp, her posture impeccable, and her face calm but unreadable. She gave a soft bow.
Seraphina gestured toward her. "Please follow Miss Elira. She will take you to the training field where instructors are waiting."
Excitement flickered in the group. A few whispered to each other, glancing down at their plates one last time before they began moving. Renji was the first to take a step.
"Tch, finally. I've been waiting to see what I can really do," he muttered, already walking past Seraphina with a swagger in his step. Daigo and Shunpei quickly followed, clearly energized by the attention.
Aiko trailed after them with graceful steps. Riku gave Noa a friendly pat on the shoulder before joining the others. "Catch up later, alright?"
Miyu hesitated.
Seraphina looked directly at her. "Miss Tachibana, you have powerful affinities. You belong with them."
Miyu turned to Noa, her brows drawing together. Her fingers tightened slightly around her plate. Noa offered her a weak smile and nodded.
"Go on," he said. "I'll be fine."
She lingered for a breath longer before stepping away to join the others.
Once those with affinities had gone, the remaining group—much smaller now—stood in awkward silence.
Seraphina's expression softened, her voice remaining gentle. "For those of you who did not awaken an elemental affinity, please come with me. The High Mage, Vaelor Nimhart, will examine your potential. With his help, there's a chance your affinity can still be awakened."
She turned toward the ornate double doors at the rear of the church, her footsteps echoing softly. As she walked, her face shifted—just briefly. The serene mask slipped, replaced by a flicker of disdain. "Hopefully," she muttered under her breath, so low no one could hear.
Including Noa, there were four students who had not awakened any affinity: Hajime Okabe—the quiet, bespectacled boy known for always having his nose in a book; Emiko Kisaragi, reserved and sharp-eyed; and Tomoaki Nishijima, who had barely spoken since their arrival.
They followed Seraphina through a narrow corridor until they arrived at a modest room tucked away behind the grand halls. The space was lined wall-to-wall with towering bookshelves, their contents old and worn, filled with the scent of parchment and dust. Candles flickered in sconces, casting a warm glow over the otherwise dim room.
At the far end sat an old man hunched over a desk, scribbling something with a quill. His long grey hair flowed down his back like wisps of smoke, and the deep lines across his face spoke of both wisdom and time.
Seraphina stepped forward and gestured gracefully. "This is Archmage Vaelor Nimhart. He will be the one to assist you."
She turned slightly to address the man. "Sir Nimhart, these are the students who did not awaken any elemental affinities."
The old mage didn't look up at first, continuing to write, but the air around him pulsed with quiet authority.
After a few quiet moments, the old man finally lifted his gaze, his eyes sharp despite his age. "Ah, young ones. So you are this era's summoned heroes," he said with a kind, slightly rasping voice. "Do not let fear or disappointment weigh you down. I will assist you in awakening your affinities."
This era's heroes? There've been others before us? Noa wondered
With deliberate care, The old mage reached beneath the desk and retrieved a chest that looked both ancient and finely crafted—its dark wood inlaid with silver filigree, the hinges gleaming faintly in the candlelight. He opened it to reveal five small vials, each filled with a glowing, amber liquid.
"Drink this," he instructed, handing one vial to each student. "It will stimulate the magic in your body, giving you a better chance to awaken an affinity. After that, the path forward is yours alone."
His tone grew firmer as he closed the chest. "These vials are rare—crafted from materials more valuable than gold. Do not waste them."
There was a gravity in his voice now, a weight that settled over the room. The students nodded, more solemn than before, clutching the vials in their hands.
Without hesitation, the four of them raised their vials and drank. The liquid was warm, slightly bitter, and left a strange tingling sensation in their throats. They exchanged uncertain glances, but none spoke a word.
Seraphina gave a small nod of approval before turning on her heel. "Follow me."
She led them down another corridor, the echo of their footsteps mingling with distant sounds of training. Eventually, they emerged into the open air—onto the very same training grounds where the rest of the class had gathered earlier. The others were already deep in practice, weapons flashing and elemental magic lighting up the field in bursts of color and heat.
When Noa saw the others already immersed in their training—spells lighting the air and blades slicing through it—he felt a pang of jealousy. But more than that, it ignited something else: determination. He clenched his fists slightly, reminding himself that he wasn't going to be left behind. He would find his strength. Somehow.
He and the other three made their way across the field toward a towering man who stood like a fortress among mortals. His muscles bulged beneath his armor, and his face was set in a stern, disciplined expression. Seraphina stepped beside him.
"This is Commander Drogas Ironhide," she announced. "He's in charge of your physical training."
The man gave a small grunt of acknowledgment, his eyes scanning the students like a commander assessing raw recruits.
Seraphina continued, her tone softening slightly, "While the Commander handles your physical development, I will be instructing you in the knowledge of this world—its customs, its history, and, of course, how to use magic."
Drogas turned to the four students and gave a curt nod. "Join the others for now. I'll speak with you shortly."
The students obeyed, making their way across the field to where the rest of the class trained, though their eyes lingered on the imposing figure of the general.
Behind them, Drogas leaned toward Seraphina and began speaking in low tones. Whatever they discussed was too quiet to be heard from where Noa and the others stood, but the intensity in their expressions hinted that it was no ordinary small talk.
Noa scanned the field, his eyes quickly finding Miyu among the crowd. Relief flooded him when he saw her, safe and vibrant. He walked toward her, his pace quickening slightly.
The moment Miyu spotted him, her face lit up. "Noa!" she called, breaking into a run.
She dashed over with a wide grin, holding out her hand. A small orb of water floated above her palm, shimmering in the light like a sapphire.
"Look, Noa!" she said, her voice brimming with excitement. "I can control water now! Isn't it amazing?"
Noa smiled, the tension in his chest easing. "That's incredible, Miyu," he said softly, genuinely awed—not just by her magic, but by the joy in her eyes.
General Ironhide stepped forward, his towering frame casting a long shadow over the students. His voice was deep and commanding, each word carrying weight.
"Alright, listen up! I'm in charge of your physical and combat training from here on out. It's going to be rough—brutal, even—but you'll get used to it."
He paused, his eyes scanning the group, lingering especially on those who looked uncertain.
"Don't let that 'hero' title go to your heads. Right now, you're all soft. Weak. You've got potential, but that's all it is—potential. My job is to turn that into something real. Something that might actually survive out there."
A few students straightened at his words. Others swallowed hard.
Noa felt his shoulders tense, but his jaw set with resolve. He wasn't here to fail.
.....
A week later, everyone had started to settle into their new routines. Noa remained without an affinity, but the other three students who had taken the vials managed to awaken theirs—one by one. The tension that had once gripped the group began to ease, replaced by a slow-growing sense of familiarity with this strange new world.
The days were long, packed with exhausting training sessions, and the demands from General Ironhide only grew harsher. One afternoon, the pressure boiled over. Renji, frustrated and reckless, snapped back at the general's relentless barking. It led to a sparring match that ended with Renji soundly—and painfully—defeated. He didn't speak much after that for a while.
Life in the castle brought its own oddities. The ever-attentive maids, beautiful and surprisingly forward, made life... complicated. Though no one said it outright, there were rumors. Whispers passed in the halls, and knowing glances were exchanged. It didn't take a genius to guess that more than a few boundaries had been crossed.
Yet, despite all the chaos and awkward adjustments, the students were undeniably growing stronger. Their bodies hardened from training, their reflexes sharpened, and their grasp of magic deepened. Little by little, they were no longer just ordinary high schoolers.
At dinner, Noa sat quietly at the end of the long banquet table, Miyu beside him. The glow of golden chandeliers cast soft light over silver dishes and warm bread, but it did little to soften the mood at their end of the table.
Without warning, a splash of cold liquid drenched Noa's head. He gasped, blinking as red wine dripped down his face and soaked into his shirt. Across from him, Renji stood grinning with a glass in hand, Daigo and Shunpei snickering beside him.
"Hey, loser," Renji sneered. "Heard you passed out again during training. Weak as ever."
"Leave him alone," Miyu snapped, her voice sharp with anger.
Renji turned his attention to her, his grin widening. "Come on, doll face. You know it too. Why don't you stop wasting time with him and come to my room tonight?"
Noa's heart pounded. His mouth opened slightly, but no words came. He clenched his fists under the table, every muscle in his body taut with helpless rage. He wanted to speak up, to shut Renji down, but the truth held him silent—he was weak, and everyone here knew it.
Miyu dropped her gaze, her jaw tightening.
A voice cut through the tension. "Enough, you three!" Ms. Fujimoto's tone left no room for argument. The teacher strode down the row with a stern expression. "Leave Noa alone. He's your classmate, not your punching bag. And where did you even get that wine? You know drinking is forbidden."
Renji gave a mock salute. "Yeah, yeah," he muttered, and with an exaggerated shrug, turned away, his lackeys trailing behind.
Noa sat still, wine dripping from his hair, his teeth clenched in frustration. "Damn it," he whispered, the words barely audible.
A warm hand gently found his beneath the table. Miyu gave it a soft squeeze.
"Don't listen to them," she said quietly.
Noa gave her a small, grateful smile, the corners of his lips twitching upward despite everything. Then, leaning in slowly, he placed a soft kiss on her forehead—a silent promise that no matter how difficult things got, he wasn't giving up. Not on himself. Not on her.