The Knight Academia loomed at the end of a stone-paved road just past the city gates a massive, fortified structure built into the side of a hill, with tall towers that pierced the sky and banners fluttering in the wind. The gate was wide open, guarded by armored figures with crests on their chests and sharp, watchful eyes.
As Rei and Kajala approached, the atmosphere shifted. The buzz of the city faded behind them, replaced by a colder, more disciplined energy. Students sparred in the open courtyard. Magic clashed in brilliant flashes between training dummies. The air was thick with power.
Kajala held up his pass, and the guards waved them through.
"You'll like this part," Kajala said with a sly grin. "Welcome to Knight School, Rei."
Rei didn't answer. His eyes were drawn to the motion sword strikes, magic bolts, synchronized formations. It was like a battlefield disguised as a school.
Before he could take it all in, a shout echoed through the courtyard.
"Hey! Fox boy!"
Kajala turned and immediately groaned. "Oh no."
A tall second-year student stomped toward them. Broad shoulders, twin gauntlets crackling with lightning, and a smug grin. His hair was short and dyed a sharp blue, and his teeth were bared like he wanted to bite someone.
"You're late, Kajala," the boy said, cracking his knuckles. "Again."
"I'm escorting a newbie," Kajala replied, stepping slightly in front of Rei. "Not everything's about you, Brann."
Brann ignored that. His eyes shifted to Rei. "This the no-magic one?"
Rei's posture stiffened.
"You pick strays now?" Brann sneered. "Hope he brought armor. Or a grave."
Kajala's smile dropped. "Back off."
"Or what?"
A flicker of movement.
The next thing Rei knew, Brann had shoved Kajala aside and lunged forward right at him.
Reflex took over.
Rei sidestepped and caught Brann's arm with one hand, yanking it forward just enough to unbalance him, then twisted his body and kicked Brann's leg out from under him. Brann stumbled back with a surprised grunt, barely keeping on his feet.
The courtyard stilled. Heads turned. Students whispered.
Kajala let out a low whistle. "Damn. Remind me not to sneak up on you."
Brann's face flushed with rage. Lightning sparked across his gauntlets as he raised both fists. "You little—!"
"Enough!"
A sharp voice cut through the tension.
A tall woman in sleek silver armor approached, her black hair tied into a tight braid, and a long silver whip coiled at her side. Her badge marked her as a senior instructor.
"Brann, third warning," she snapped. "You want a duel, follow the rules. If you want to lose your enrollment, keep swinging at first-years without cause."
Brann hesitated, then growled and stormed off, sparks still dancing behind him.
The instructor turned to Rei. Her gaze lingered.
"You've had training."
"A bit," Rei said simply.
She nodded. "You'll need it. This school doesn't go easy on anyone especially not magic-less recruits."
Rei didn't reply.
She turned away, calling out to a nearby aide. "Get his uniform and assignment papers. Kajala, take him to Dorm C."
"Yes, ma'am," Kajala said, saluting with only two fingers.
As they walked away, Kajala leaned in and whispered, "You made a fun first impression. Half the school probably thinks you're a secret assassin."
Rei stared straight ahead. "Not far off."
Kajala blinked, laughed, and bumped his shoulder. "I like you, newbie. You're gonna fit right in."
Rei didn't answer, but somewhere beneath the surface of his calm expression, something flickered pride? Anticipation? Maybe both.
He had no magic.
No blessing.
But he was here now.
And the battlefield… was home.
Dorm C was on the east wing of the academy a tall, old stone building draped in ivy and echoing with the shouts and laughter of students. Kajala pushed the door open and led Rei up a narrow staircase, still talking nonstop.
"You'll like this room. Cozy, two beds, one window. I call the one by the window, by the way. Gotta wake up with the sun, y'know?"
Rei didn't protest. He just dropped his bag near the second bed, sat down, and glanced around.
Stone walls. Wooden floor. A single desk. Sparse, but clean.
It would do.
Kajala flopped onto his bed and stretched like a cat. "Classes start tomorrow, but today we've got something better — orientation. Come on, let's get you introduced."
The orientation was held in the Great Hall, a vast chamber lined with tall stained-glass windows depicting legendary knights of old — mages, warriors, hybrids, and more. Hundreds of students filled the room, divided into new recruits and returning students.
At the front, a long table seated the instructors. At its center, a massive knight clad in enchanted steel stood to address the room.
"You are here," his voice boomed, "because you chose the path of strength. The path of unity. The path of war, in defense of peace."
Rei listened in silence.
He scanned the room not for enemies, but for potential allies.
And that's when he noticed them.
The girl with silver hair braided to one side, standing rigid and proper, robes marked with magic runes: Elrya, the elf. Her eyes were sharp, calculating a support mage, if he had to guess.
Then there was the silver-haired knight in full armor, grinning wide and swinging his axe like it was weightless even as students gave him a wide berth: Regulus. He was mouthing words under his breath — possibly a dramatic speech to no one in particular.
And finally, crouched near the back, inspecting the lock on one of the side doors with a strange glint in her eye, was a half-cat girl with yellow eyes and black hair: Rika. She licked her lips and whispered, "Hinges are too tight… interesting…"
Kajala leaned in. "Looks like the gang's all here."
Rei glanced at him. "We're already a group?"
Kajala smirked. "You'll see."
After orientation, they were directed outside into the training grounds. Students were encouraged to mingle and test their skills in casual duels and spell demonstrations.
Rei kept to the edge, watching.
Elrya demonstrated a water barrier spell elegant and controlled.
Regulus was already challenging three upper-years to a sparring match at once and winning through sheer chaos and speed.
Rika had started a lock-picking contest using the academy's training chests, having cracked seven in under a minute before an instructor gently told her to stop "hacking school property."
Then Kajala dragged Rei into the center of it all.
"Guys, meet Rei! No magic. Full mystery. Punches like thunder."
Elrya gave a polite nod. "A no-magic knight? That's rare."
Regulus clapped Rei on the back hard enough to rattle his bones. "Excellent! You shall be the iron core of our glorious ensemble!"
Rika sniffed him, once, without warning. "Hmm. Smells like sweat and secrets. I like him."
Rei blinked. "…Thanks?"
Kajala slung his arm over Rei's shoulder. "We're forming a guild, by the way. All five of us. That's the academy minimum."
Rei looked around at the odd mix of misfits.
A hyperactive whip-user.
A dramatic axe knight.
A rogue obsessed with locks.
A graceful support mage.
And him a magicless fighter with a buried power he still didn't know existed.
He should've said no.
But for some reason… he didn't.
"Fine," Rei said. "I'm in."