Owen turned his head, taking in the towering walls and massive gates of Melidyia Kingdom. As the cart approached, knights halted them for inspection.
"Your badge?" one knight asked, turning to Owen.
Owen froze in confusion. Before he could answer, Isabell stepped in, showing her badge and whispering something to the knights. They nodded and allowed the cart inside.
After stepping off, Owen watched as Isabell handed two silver coins to the old man. She then turned to him, extending a hand.
"Thank you," she said.
"For what?" Owen asked.
"For saving me back there," she replied with a warm smile.
Owen hesitated, then shook her hand.
"You can call me Isabell," she added.
"Okay," Owen replied.
"This is where we part ways," Isabell said, giving a small wave before walking off.
Owen, now alone, wandered through the bustling marketplace. Stalls overflowed with exotic fruits, strange animals, and shimmering fabrics. He pushed through the crowd, asking for directions to the academy.
Upon arriving, two armored guards stood at the academy gates. Instead of approaching them, Owen watched a group of students enter—and quietly slipped in behind them.
Inside, students around his age were practicing magic, taming creatures, and sparring in combat. The sheer grandeur of the academy overwhelmed him.
Taking a deep breath, he pushed open the doors.
The hall buzzed with activity—students chatting, running to classes. But as Owen walked forward, he collided with a blonde-haired boy with sharp black eyes.
"How dare you bump into me, you filthy commoner?" the blonde sneered.
"How did you even get into the campus?" one of his lackeys asked.
"Yeah, you look like a beggar," another scoffed.
"Didn't your parents teach you how to behave before nobles?" the blonde smirked.
Owen's fists clenched.
The blonde leaned in and whispered into Owen's ear, "If I ever see you here again, I'll kill you… and your family."
Something inside Owen snapped.
His fist collided with the blonde's face, sending him crashing into a nearby display armor, shattering it.
Gasps filled the room.
The blonde's two lackeys reacted instantly, one conjuring a fireball, the other a sphere of water.
"Fireball!"
"Water Blast!"
They launched their attacks simultaneously.
Owen instinctively waved his hand, deflecting both spells effortlessly before rushing forward and knocking them down with a single punch each.
Teachers stormed into the hall, a curly-haired professor leading the charge.
"How dare you attack my students!" the professor roared, his hand glowing with magical energy.
Before he could strike, a deep voice cut through the tension.
"Stop."
A towering, broad-shouldered old man with a white beard stepped forward. The teachers immediately bowed.
With an intense gaze, he looked at Owen.
"Who are you, boy?" he asked. "And how did you enter?"
Owen swallowed hard.
"I came to see a man named Edwin Freeman," he answered.
"Him?" he muttered.
Placing two fingers on his throat, he shouted Edwin's name, his voice booming across the entire academy.
Moments later, a man descended from the sky, floating down gracefully.
"You're being loud again, old man," Edwin sighed.
A professor frowned. "Is that any way to speak to the Headmaster?"
The Headmaster ignored the remark and asked Edwin, "Did you summon this boy here?"
Edwin's eyes narrowed as he studied Owen.
"Who is he?" he asked.
The curly-haired professor smirked. "See? He doesn't even know the brat!"
Owen stepped forward. "My name is Owen Greyson."
At that moment, Edwin's expression changed completely.
He rushed forward, gripping Owen's shoulders tightly.
"So… it really is you," Edwin muttered.
He seemed to have a thousand questions, but noticing the growing crowd, he held back.
"I called him," Edwin finally said.
The Headmaster studied Owen with newfound interest and smiled.
"Alright, everyone—back to class," he ordered.
The curly-haired professor protested, "But sir! He attacked my students! We can't just let this slide..."
The Headmaster raised an eyebrow. "If it was such a big deal, why didn't you bring it up immediately to me?"
The professor stammered. "I—"
Edwin smirked. "Professor Ruther, did you 'forget' to mention it like you 'forgot' your date with Miss Evelyn and left her waiting at the restaurant?"
The crowd burst into laughter.
Ruther's face turned bright red. Without another word, he stormed off.
The Headmaster chuckled and walked away.
Edwin turned back to Owen. "Come with me."
They left the academy and walked outside.
Owen, still confused, asked, "What is this all about?"
Edwin didn't answer. Instead, he said, "Before I explain anything, I want you to do something."
"What?"
"Punch me. As hard as you can."
Owen hesitated.
"Don't hold back," Edwin added. "Go all out."
Owen narrowed his eyes, took a deep breath, and focused all his strength into his fist.
Edwin noticed something.
"Magic energy... forming around his hand?but how!?"
At the last moment, Edwin reinforced his body with a protective shield.
Owen's punch collided against him—and Edwin staggered backward, the shield around him shattering.
Owen's eyes widened. "What was that?"
But Edwin was just as shocked.
"So… you don't even realize it yet?" Edwin mused. "Tell me, how did you learn magic?"
"Magic?" Owen frowned. "I… don't know magic."
Edwin smirked. "Then explain what just happened."
Owen's mind flashed back to the strange event earlier. He recounted everything to Edwin.
Hearing this, Edwin thought to himself:
"This boy… he's far beyond what I expected."
He smiled. "Alright, enough questions for now. You look exhausted. Let me take you to your dorm."
Owen followed him.
"Rest for now," Edwin said.