The morning sun filtered gently through the dorm window, but Froy's eyes had been open long before its rays arrived.
Something felt different.
He sat up in bed and flexed his fingers slowly—testing, sensing. There was no pain. No new strength. No immediate signs of transformation. And yet… he knew.
Something had shifted.
Instinctively, he activated his magical wristband and opened his status window.
But what he saw wasn't what he expected.
The text shimmered—no longer displaying Sixth Sense Manipulation, but something far more precise.
[The Messiah of the End (Five Sense Manipulation)]
He stared at it in silence.
Had it always been this?
Was it a change?
Or had he been deceived… by his own power?
If his ability manipulated the senses—his own included—then perhaps everything up until now had been a carefully crafted illusion. A false truth shown to himself. A mask over his potential.
Even the flaw he thought he had…
Was that real?
He didn't know anymore.
But he didn't have time to figure it out just yet. Today was the beginning of something else—the start of formal education at Arcanthia.
Froy rose from his bed, took a quick shower, and changed into his black and silver-trimmed Arcanthia uniform. Then, using 45 Dp, he teleported to the cafeteria via his bracelet and enjoyed a simple breakfast.
Warm bread. Steamed eggs. Herbal tea.
It wasn't luxury, but it was satisfying.
After finishing, he made another transfer request—this time to his classroom.
Ordinary Class.
The warp circle flared beneath his feet, and the next moment, he appeared at the grand archway labeled for Ordinary students. The structure was wide, designed with sandstone pillars and magical vines that pulsed faintly with light.
Not bad, he thought.
Still… he couldn't help but imagine what the Special and Elite Class buildings looked like.
Arcanthia wasn't a short-term academy.Students were expected to remain enrolled for eighteen full years, progressing through increasingly advanced cycles of magic, combat, politics, and survival.It was not just a school—it was a lifetime path. One that turned children into monsters, heroes… or something in between.
He made his way through the open hall and scanned for a place to sit.
That's when he saw her.
The brown-haired girl from the orientation.
The one with the strange, glowing eyes.
The one who had panicked the moment their eyes met.
She looked quieter now—nervous maybe. But still… here.
"Hey, Lynda," Froy said casually, sliding into the seat beside her. "Mind if I sit here?"
She looked up—hesitated—then nodded lightly.
She didn't say a word.
But Froy could tell.
She remembered him.
And she was scared.
Good, he thought.
But not too scared.
Froy rested his elbow casually on the table, his sapphire-blue eyes watching the girl beside him with curiosity—and just a touch of amusement.
"Why do you look so nervous?" he asked, his voice light, almost teasing. "Did I do something awful to you that I don't remember?"
"N-No!" Lynda stammered, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve. "You didn't do anything bad. It's just…"
She glanced at him, then lowered her voice.
"I saw a black window."
Froy raised an eyebrow. "Black window?"
Lynda nodded quickly. "I… I can see other people's abilities and weaknesses. And more than that—I can see their alignment too."
She bit her lip before continuing.
"Red means dangerous. Green means neutral. Blue is someone who can be trusted completely, like a real friend. But black…" She hesitated. "I've never seen black before. Not until you."
She gave him an apologetic look behind her glasses, her brown eyes full of sincerity. "That's why I ran away that day during orientation. I didn't know what it meant. I'm really sorry if I scared you or made you feel bad."
Froy let out a soft chuckle.
"Don't worry about it," he said. "I wasn't hurt. Just… a bit confused. That's all."
His smile returned, warm and boyish. "And honestly, your power sounds really useful. So, how about it? Mind checking me again?"
Lynda blinked. "W-Well, I guess… but don't you already know your own status from the bracelet?"
"Sure," Froy said, "but I want a second opinion."
Lynda adjusted her glasses and focused on him, her eyes subtly glowing with faint magical light as she activated her ability.
"Hmmm…" she murmured, narrowing her eyes. "Alright… I see your abilities. You've got Miracle—usable three times per day—and something called Sixth Sense Manipulation... but your status window is still black."
She tilted her head. "Your alignment says 'Neutral.' But your weakness…" She squinted. "It's unreadable. It's written in some strange language."
Froy's lips curled ever so slightly.
Interesting.
It wasn't just that his power had hidden itself.
It had rewritten itself.
"Thanks, Lynda," he said sincerely. "That helps a lot."
He held out his hand. "Let's be friends. I'm Froy. Even if you've already seen my file… it's still good to meet properly."
Lynda gave a small smile and reached out to shake his hand.
"I'm Lynda. I hope we get along too."
Just then, the classroom began to fill as more students trickled in. The hum of voices grew louder—until it abruptly quieted.
A figure materialized at the front of the room in a flash of golden runes.
The professor had arrived.
"Welcome, students," the older man said, his voice steady, deep, and full of gravitas. "Today, we begin with your first official lesson: Geography and Political Foundations of the Five Great Continents."
He raised his hand, and a massive illusionary map unfurled across the room, glowing with layered magic and detailed enchantments.
"Arcanthia sits at the center of the known world, but the world itself… is far vaster than most imagine."
The map split into five glowing landmasses:
Solmira – The heart of humanity. Fertile, ordered, and full of ancient temples and kingdoms. Located in the central continent.
Thalverra – A haven for non-human races: elves, dwarves, beastkin, and others. Forests, mountains, and sacred groves dominate the western lands.
Kael'torr – The eastern wildlands. Lawless, chaotic, and ruled by strength. A haven for warlords, outcasts, and ancient ruins.
Myrrvalen – The northern frontier. Cold, mysterious, and home to magical beasts, dragons, and forgotten ruins.
Umbryss – The forbidden south. A cursed, dying continent. Scarred by war and heresy. Home to the nameless and the damned.
"Each of these regions holds its own secrets, cultures, and dangers," the professor continued. "Understanding them is crucial to survival—not just in Arcanthia, but in the world beyond."
Froy sat silently, eyes fixed on the map—but his mind elsewhere.
Umbryss…
He felt a faint chill crawl up his spine.
That name didn't just stir fear.
It stirred memories—ones he hadn't dared to recall in years.
The screaming wind.
The nameless church.
The family.
The beginning of everything.
He said nothing.