The banquet hall buzzed with noise and excitement.

The newly admitted students who had proven their abilities numbered twenty-three. Out of a little more than thirty, more than half had passed.

Long tables stretched in five rows, with a large stage at the front—likely prepared for the academy’s headmaster to deliver his welcoming speech.

From left to right, the tables were divided into Beginner, Elementary, Intermediate, Advanced, and Master classes. Each had its own distinct atmosphere.

Lucas had been assigned to Elementary. With nothing more than a small light flickering at his fingertip, he had been placed in that group.

Yet the fact that a boy so young, who had never learned an incantation or formula, could summon such a spark was enough to shock the examiners.

Sensing his hidden potential, the professors were already biding their time, waiting for a chance to claim Lucas as their protégé.

“Everyone, please take your seats.”

Though no one was standing, at the sound of that voice, the hall grew quiet and all eyes turned to the stage.

“Welcome, new students of the 7th class of the Arant Magic Academy.”

An old man with hair as white as snow. The master of the Mage Tower, and the head of the academy.

Alberto Nimrod.

Renowned across the continent as a genius magician, it was said he had reached the astounding level of 5th Circle at just sixteen.

No one knew his current level with certainty, but rumor had it he was at least 7th or even 8th Circle.

Lucas stared idly at the stage, and before he realized it, the speech had ended; applause erupted across the room.

He glanced at the banquet feast laid out for the occasion, his expression dry.

‘A human banquet… it has been a while.’

As if recalling some distant memory, a small smile tugged at his lips.

—Thump!

A strange hand suddenly gripped his small shoulder, and Lucas’s smile vanished, his gaze turning sharp.

“Oh my! How frightening!”

The man before him looked too rough to be called a mage—more like a mercenary fresh from battle. He was forcing the softest expression he could manage, exaggerating a smile.

“Do you want to die?”

He meant it. Lucas was ready to summon magic at that very moment.

“Haha! How terrifying. You’re the youngest of this year’s students, aren’t you? Quite an impressive little brat.”

But the man dismissed Lucas’s glare as nothing more than the tantrum of a noble’s child.

“Get lost.”

Even with such a response, the man’s mouth twitched into a strained grin. Lucas whipped his head away, staring forward.

‘Arrogant human scum… where do you think you’re putting your hand?’

Had he been in his true draconic form, he might have entertained the exchange with curiosity. But in this frail human body, every little action grated on him.

“Oh? Did I offend you, little lord?”

The man’s lips twisted with a mocking smirk.

“But what can you do? This academy doesn’t care about status or age. Even if you wanted to punish me, you wouldn’t be able to.”

Lucas let out a soft, scornful laugh.

“Is that so? Then I suppose it’s just as free for me to kill you here.”

He had no real intention of killing him, of course. Having resolved to live this life properly, it was best to avoid unnecessary conflict.

“Ha! What a cheeky little brat!”

The man leapt to his feet, glaring daggers at Lucas. Lucas rose as well, his small frame only reaching the man’s waist—but his presence did not falter.

‘I’ll make this wretch shit blood!’

Lucas gathered mana in his hand—

“Hey! That’s enough! What are you doing picking on a child?!”

A voice rang out across the hall. The man’s lips twitched as if to retort, but he gave up, casting one last glare at Lucas before stomping away.

‘A child?! Just wait until I get the chance. I’ll twist your neck and hang it between your legs!’

His teeth ground together, but he forced himself to let it go. He couldn’t afford to ruin things now.

The constant stares and attention throughout the banquet had worn him out. When Lucas finally returned to his assigned dormitory, his body sagged with exhaustion.

In the ten years he had lived as a human, he had never once left the Rodrigo estate.

Sitata, the remote village where the estate lay, was barren—too poor for farming, its people surviving on a small mine nearby.

There had been nothing to see, nowhere to go.

Raised like a flower in a greenhouse, this was the farthest he had ever traveled. No wonder his body was weary.

“This frail human body…”

Collapsing on the bed without even changing clothes, young Lucas muttered grimly in his sleep. It was fortunate no one heard him; otherwise, the fallen Rodrigo family would surely be accused of raising a lunatic.

“Ah… the academy.”

He awoke, staring at the unfamiliar ceiling, and once again realized where he was.

His small palms were damp with sweat, as though he had been plagued by vile dreams all night.

“Humans surrounding me and laughing… what a filthy dream.”

The memory of the previous day—bearing the wary stares of humans in his little body—had followed him into his nightmares.

Seeking to shake off the foul mood, Lucas headed to the bath.

Standing under cold water spilling from the showerhead, he felt a bit lighter.

But when he stepped back into his room, another foul presence was waiting.

“Lucas! Did you enjoy the entrance ceremony?”

Another irritation to follow his foul dreams—Aman, the blue lizard.

Lucas’s brows furrowed.

And speaking in casual speech, no less? He nearly spat a string of curses, but swallowed them down, shaking water from his hair as he walked into the room.

“What business do you have with me?”

“There’s someone who wants to meet you, Lucas. The one who gave the congratulatory speech at yesterday’s banquet. Do you remember?”

“…The Tower Master?”

“That’s right! You know very well, don’t you?”

Aman’s patronizing tone grated on him, but Lucas had already made up his mind.

“Why is he looking for me?”

“Well, wouldn’t it be better if you heard it from Lord Alberto himself?”

Aman bent down to meet his eyes, smiling brightly.

‘…Endure. I must endure. A hundred years. A hundred years will be enough!’

“That boy, right? The one they say entered as the youngest genius in magic?”

“Genius? Come on, they say he only made a little spark.”

“And that’s not genius?”

“Still, isn’t he the Rodrigo heir?”

Following Aman down the corridor, Lucas could hear the whispers all around.

“But doesn’t that house have no magicians?”

“If they had one, would they be in such ruins?”

Whispering, sneering, jealousy—it was all the same. Not worth a reaction.

But his brow furrowed despite himself.

“Don’t mind them too much. Here, none of that matters.”

Aman, hearing the same, tried to comfort him with gentle words.

“Hmph. I don’t mind.”

“Haha, very brave indeed!”

Aman’s boisterous laugh was followed by a hand ruffling his hair. Lucas shot him a murderous glare, and Aman quickly raised his hands in apology, chuckling awkwardly.

“Go on in.”

At the dean’s office door, the attendant announced their arrival.

As expected of the continent’s greatest magic academy, the very door gleamed with gold and silver inlays, its surface carved with intricate designs.

Inside, behind a desk, sat a long-haired elder with snow-white hair—Alberto Nimrod, the genius mage of the continent.

Seeing Lucas enter, Alberto rose and approached with a warm smile.

“Welcome to our academy, Lucas Rodrigo.”

Unlike other humans, Alberto addressed him with polite respect, even though he was only a child. That softened Lucas’s mood just a little.

“Thank you for your hospitality.”

Too poised and courteous for a ten-year-old, his manner made Alberto laugh heartily.

“Hahaha, talents like Lucas are always welcome here. Please, have a seat.”

He gestured to the chair across from him.

“So, Lucas, what kind of magician do you wish to become?”

The question, asked so suddenly, made Lucas curse inwardly.

‘What nonsense is this old man spouting?’

When he stayed silent, face like stone, Alberto smiled again.

“Perhaps that was a little too difficult. Then, tell me—what kind of magic do you want to learn?”

“……”

“Don’t worry, any answer will do. Or perhaps—what would you like to achieve? Becoming wealthy, for example…”

Frustration boiled in his chest. To ask him—a dragon who had lived five millennia—what sort of magician he wanted to be? What he wanted to learn? The absurdity left him speechless.

At times like this, the best move was the “I don’t know” act.

“Um… I don’t know. I just came because they said they’d teach me magic.”

The greatest advantage of a ten-year-old human body was precisely this. He used it to full effect.

“Hmm… well, that’s fine. You’re right, this is an academy to teach magic, after all. Then, Lucas, could you show me once again the magic you displayed at the entrance test?”

Before Alberto had finished, Lucas raised his hand and summoned a small ball of light.

“Ohh…”

The spell, cast without a single incantation, drew a murmur of admiration from Alberto.

The light flickered out, and Lucas’s face twisted with annoyance, while Alberto’s eyes gleamed with joy and curiosity.

“Thank you. One more thing…”

He chanted softly, and with a click, the bottom drawer of his desk slid open.

From it, he carefully lifted something and placed it before Lucas.

A mana stone.

Plain to anyone else’s eyes, but Lucas knew immediately what it was.

‘A mana measuring stone.’

He hesitated. Placing his hand upon it would reveal, at least roughly, the depth of his magic. Which would mean endless trouble before he was ready.

‘What should I do…’

Staring at the stone, he heard Alberto’s chuckle.

“Don’t worry. It’s not dangerous. This just tells us what kind of magician you might become.”

‘Of course I know that, old man.’ He nearly said it aloud.

“You only need to place your hand upon it for a moment.”

Searching for some excuse not to, Lucas finally sighed and slowly extended his hand.

The mana stone glowed faintly as his palm touched it.

“Hm…”

A long, unreadable sigh escaped Alberto’s lips.

“That’s enough. You may remove your hand now. And you can open your eyes as well, Lucas.”

Seeing the boy with eyes closed and palm resting on the stone, Alberto chuckled softly, then walked him personally to the door.

As Lucas stepped out, he exhaled a long breath.

‘Hoo… that should do.’

(End of Chapter)