Lumeria City.

This large city in the continent's center is known not only for its geographical significance but also as the symbolic center of the world.

One of the warp gates located in Lumeria City suddenly began to emit light.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have arrived in Lumeria city. Please check that you have not forgotten any belongings, and disembark at the gate."

With the announcement broadcast, Leo got off at the gate. 

The place where the warp gate was installed was the outer end of Lumeria City.

The moment he stepped out of the gate, the magnificent view of Lumeria City appeared in front of him.

Whooooo!

Leo stared as his white hair fluttered.

This was the scenery of a developed, huge capital.

And in the distance, there was a vast lake that was the size of a sea.

Usually, the lake would be surrounded by a thick fog, but it was very clear today.

Because of that, a giant castle of Lumeria Academy could be seen barely visible at the end of the lake.

"It looks like I’ll be going there in two days.”

It has already been a month since he took the entrance exam.

As always, the entrance exam created a lot of buzz.

Among them, the place that stood out the most was the western region exam that Leo took.

It was noisy for a while thanks to the record of only 40 successful applicants passing this year.

'It's none of my business.'

Leo was busy preparing for admission.

And today, after a month of preparations, he finally arrived in Lumeria.

No one from the Flove family came together with him.

The Lumeln’s enrollment ceremony was not open to outsiders, even parents.

'Go and learn many things, Leo.'

'Papi, don't be sad just because you can’t see your mommy?'

Leo smiled as he recalled Dade and Reina who came to see him off.

Though his parents were nobles, they don't have a love for luxuries.

'Rather than spending money on a warp gate meaninglessly, they are people who would rather use that money for the welfare of their territory.'

Of course, Leo agreed with his parents' opinions.

Upon exiting the warp gate, Leo found himself on Kuraz Street, a bustling thoroughfare in the city of Lumeria.

"Didn’t they say they would be waiting here?"

"Leo! Here, here."

Celia, who tied her waist-length black hair into a ponytail and was wearing fancy and active outdoor clothing, approached him as she waved her hand.

She came in front of Leo and smiled brightly, drawing the attention of those around her.

"How have you been?"

“I am fine. By the way, congratulations on coming first.”

"I don't particularly enjoy sharing the first place with that butter boy, but still, first is first."

Saying that, she elegantly flipped her hair to the side.

"So, from now on be more respectful."

"It becomes challenging to hold you in high regard after witnessing such narcissistic behavior."

"Hey!"

Celia shouted with a blushing face.

“Ugh! Really! Not a single word of praise!”

Celia glared at Leo and sighed.

“What about uncle Jess?”

“He said he would come tonight. Until then, we shall do some shopping on the streets of Kuraz.”

Kuraz Street is a one-stop shop for all your needs at Lumeln academy. It offers a wide range of items, including school uniforms, textbooks, and specialized equipment for each department, such as weapons, staff, and summoning catalysts.

“You haven’t bought your uniform and textbook yet, have you?”

"Yes."

“You can buy it today. Follow me, I will take you there.”

⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ 

Celia first took Leo to a large clothing store on the main street.

The store had a large display window made of glass, where Lumeln's uniforms were on display. 

The store had a sign that read [Blastriker].

“It looks expensive.”

"Of course, it's a store that has been making Lumeln uniforms for 1000 years."

There were three types of clothing that were necessary for Lumeln Academy.

Uniform worn during an event.

Uniform worn in class.

Uniform worn during practice.

And all clothes have a minimum specification.

To meet that specification, it was necessary to have a cloth embedded with mana, which costs a lot of money. 

According to Celia, the quality of the uniform varies depending on the quality of the mana used.

“And [Blastriker] is famous for its luxury goods. I got one right here too.”

After the detailed explanation, Celia entered the store.

Ding-

“Welcome to Blastriker League.”

The employee who was waiting at the door smiled kindly and opened the door.

Upon entering, they noticed several other customers.

Among them, there were some children who looked like new students of Lumeln.

As they were browsing through the shelves, a middle-aged woman appeared from inside.

“Hello, Miss Celia. We are honored by your visit to our store.”

After bowing gracefully, she cautiously opened her mouth.

“By the way…? Didn’t you like the custom-made school uniform?”

“Yes, today I came to buy a uniform for this guy.”

Celia smiled and pointed at Leo.

“Because he will be entering the academy with me this year.”

"Oh, I see. I thought you were the only one enrolling this year from Gerdinger. It seems that there is also another young master.”

The tailor covered her mouth in exclamation and greeted Leo politely.

“My name is Nera. I am a tailor at the Blastriker League.”

Leo could tell that she was a Wizard.

'Well, to be able to handle the cloth with mana, you must be a wizard. Still, a wizard just being a tailor... … The world has gotten a lot better.'

“Young Master, I will take your measurements.”

Nera took a measurement tape from her pocket and measured Leo.

"Young Master, you're planning to enroll in the Knight Department, right?"

"Yes."

“Then, What is the attribute of your aura?”

The attribute of Aura was determined by the characteristics of the Aura method one uses. 

And the usage of mana cloth also varies depending on the attribute of the Aura.

For example, increasing defense against the opposing attribute or adding power to the same attribute.

Of course, it was impossible to have a drastic effect with a mana cloth, but even a small effect can be helpful in the infinite competitive Lumeln academy

“Please make a non-attribute Mana Cloth.”

"Excuse me?"

Nera had a slightly puzzled expression while Celia, who was watching from the side, narrowed her brows.

Leo smiled and repeated himself.

“Please make it non-attribute.”

Non-attribute Mana Cloth.

It was literally a plain state of cloth that does not possess any attribute.

And of course, there were no customers who wanted something like that.

"I understand."

But if the customer wants it, they will do it.

Nera took the measurements and went into the workshop after receiving the information.

“Suddenly, why non-attribute? You’re going to learn our family's aura method. Wouldn't it be better to make school uniforms with flame-attribute Mana Cloth?”

“I just have a few thoughts.”

'The word non-attribute means that it can be anything.'

Of course, he would be learning Gerdinger's aura method.

But still, he had no intention of making it his main focus.

“By the way, I have no money.”

“Are you going to tell me to look at you in a petty way? My father heard your story and decided that all the necessary expenses for your school life will be supported by the Gerdinger family.”

Leo remembered what Reina had said.

'It's okay. Even if they are not your real family, they still have my money. And if you act stingy, you won't be able to stay there.'

When his father, Dade, was worried about Leo's enrollment fee and the cost of clothing and textbooks, she made this statement.

According to his mother, she left behind all of her personal assets back to the Gerdinger family.

Even if she left the family, she could still claim the ownership because it was a property that she accumulated separately from the family.

'With my mother's personality, she'll go to Gerdinger and sweep everything.'

The family head must have decided to support me because he was well aware of the fact.

After a while, Nera, living up to the name of a top-class tailor, quickly made a customized school uniform.

She made a simple size adjustment after trying on the clothes.

About an hour later, Nera, who completed Leo’s school uniform, bowed her head.

“We will deliver the school uniform to your accommodation, Young Master.”

After paying the bill under the guidance of the staff, they left the Blastriker League.

“Now, shall we go and buy the textbooks next?”

Celia led Leo to the huge bookstore.

Leo bought all the necessary textbooks, including those for the general curriculum as well as specialized ones for the Knight, Magic, and Summoning majors.

"Are you already preparing for the duel with other departments, how thorough of you?"

Leo murmured to himself as he watched Celia nod in admiration.

'Yes, I'm preparing to learn thoroughly.'

Of course, he didn't say it out loud.

Because it would just make him look crazy.

Finally, he bought all the textbooks he needed.

After that, he went sightseeing in Lumeria.

Lumeria was a big city with so many things to see.

It was fun to sightseeing, and it was fun to buy street food.

Looking at Celia, who was licking the ice cream while making a happy face, Leo smiled.

‘You become a kid when you see something like that.’

Celia has always been self-conscious in front of others as a daughter of the Gerdinger family, but after meeting Leo, who was the same age as her, she began to show more of her girlish side.

It wasn't until it was time for dinner did Leo and Celia return to their lodgings.

“Welcome, Leo.”

"Uncle!"

They were welcomed by Jess who was waiting at the inn.

“How have you been?”

Jess asked Celia while messing up her hair, then he approached Leo with a worried face, asked.

"Leo, have you been well for the past month?"

"Yes, I'm fine."

“The results of the family meeting have come out.”

After the entrance exam, Jiss proposed to the family that Leo should be granted permission to learn [Phoenix Breath].

It was a sensitive issue to ask whether an outsider like Leo could learn the family's Aura method, which could only be learned by acknowledged family members.

This meeting lasted for a month and the result came out today.

"You have been granted permission to learn [Phoenix Breath]."

At those words, Celia smiled broadly and said to Leo,

“Congratulations, Leo!”

Celia, who trained and took the entrance exam with Leo, thought that Leo is compatible with the Gerdinger family.

However, the thoughts of the high-ranking members of the family could have been different.

As a result, she has always been nervous, and only when permission was granted, she felt relieved.

"Despite not being part of the family, it is a fact that you are my sister's son, and......"

Jess grinned.

"The fact that you passed the Western examination was highly regarded by the elders."

The Western examination, where only 40 people passed, had already become infamous worldwide.

Jess pulled out a red key and gave it to Leo.

It was a key to the space between dimensions.

“Use it.”

As Leo inserted the key into the space and turned it, the space opened from which a book flew out.

The book was opened, but no writing was found.

'There is a seal.'

It was not very difficult to understand the sealing structure.

"Put your blood on it."

Leo pricked his finger and smeared his blood on the page.

As he did, the words appeared.

“From now on, that book is a book that only you can see.”

"I understand."

"The classes start only the day after tomorrow, so how about trying it out before that?”

“Is that okay?”

"Of course. There is nothing better than awakening your Aura before taking your class at the Academy."

Jess laughed meaningfully and added.

"And of course, it won't be easy."

⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ 

After receiving the [Phoenix Breath], Leo entered his room.

“Why are you here?”

"You’re going to start training your Aura now. If you have any trouble, I'll help you."

“Really?”

"Of course, all you have to say is 'Please help me, Sister Celia'."

"Did you already forget that you once called me Young Master?"

"Hey!"

Celia threw a cushion at her cousin, who mentioned her dark past.

Of course, Leo dodged it easily.

Leo sat on the bed and opened the book, Celia made a worried face while looking at him.

‘Hmph! I am not gonna help until he asks politely!’

Leo laughed heartily while looking at Celia, who turned her head away, and began to read the contents of the book.

'indeed.'

The aura method of a Heroic family was complex.

It was a very complex yet powerful aura method.

Seeing Leo fully concentrating on reading the [Phoenix Breath] Aura method, Celia snorted.

'It won’t be easy.'

With Leo's current skills, she thought he probably could have been able to easily master the normal Aura method.

‘Aunt said that Leo had already reached the mana resonance stage.’

If one can reach the mana resonance stage, which is considered the greatest challenge before manifesting Aura, it signifies that you've already mastered more than half of the Aura method.

However, Phoenix Breath was different.

In addition to mana resonance, mana operation also had to be added.

It can be said that you have crossed the first barrier only when you create a 'flame' through that mana operation.

Even Celia, who was called a genius, took a week to ignite just a spark.

‘Soon, he'll get stuck during the mana operation and feel helpless.’

Celia smirked.

‘I'll pay back the debt of calling me a maid. And making me call you Young master for a couple of days~’

She thought about paying back the humiliation from the last time.

However, at that moment

PACH- PACHIK PABOOOOM

Suddenly, flames burst out of Leo's body, which eventually covered his entire body.

The flames took the shape of wings on Leo's back, and soon dispersed.

‘As expected, it's not easy.’

The first step in [Phoenix Breath] was to manifest the Aura and control it to create wings of flames.

It took two weeks for Celia to reach this stage.

'This guy... … This monster... … .'

"Sister Celia, is there an easy way to get past this step?"

Celia glared at Leo, who was pointing to a passage in the book with an unkind tone and asked.

"Hey, you insane basta*d! What’s wrong with you!? Why do you always do things that are out of common sense? There isn't a crazy guy in the world who can do it with just a glance!"

…… She had no choice but to yell out loud.