The registration building of Huin Academy stood solidly not far from where the academy's ship was docked. The clock had just struck six in the morning, yet rows of prospective students already filled the area outside the building.
Four hundred people. That was the maximum number of applicants each year. A number that sounded large, but only two hundred would pass—one hundred males and one hundred females.
They all shared the same dream: to pass the Huin Academy selection. An academy that had produced countless powerful figures in this world. Its reputation spread so widely that it was no wonder so many wanted to enroll.
After the clock showed seven in the morning, registration finally opened. Males lined up on the left side, females on the right. Inside the building, two hundred males and two hundred females now filled the large room with its high ceiling. The air felt cooler indoors.
On the left side was a long registration desk for male candidates. On the right side, a similar desk for female candidates. Behind each desk stood a large door leading to the separate practical examination rooms. Females would fight females in their test. Males would fight males.
The line moved quite slowly. The registration officers asked for names and ages. "Age limit is seventeen to twenty years old," the officer said. After the candidates stated their identities, they were given a white sheet of paper with a number clearly printed on it.
"That's your queue number," the officer explained. "After receiving this paper, please wait inside the examination room until your number is called."
The prospective students walked toward the large door at the back of the registration building.
Upon entering, they immediately saw the fighting arena. Two young men were currently battling with wooden swords in their hands.
In this test, they were not allowed to use real weapons. All participants had to use the weapons provided inside the room.
The arena was surrounded by tiered stands—seating for the participants waiting their turn. Those who won advanced. Those who lost failed and had to wait another year.
Participants who had finished their test were not allowed to leave the room. They had to wait in their original place. The failed ones went straight home. The successful ones had to wait until everyone else finished.
Hours passed. One match after another took place. The sky above the open room, which had been bright blue, now turned into a deep purple slowly swallowed by night. The lights inside the room were turned on one by one, illuminating the arena with bright white light.
Finally, after many hours, the supervisor called the last numbers. The final match took place—two young men who would be the last to have a chance to pass this year.
When the final announcement echoed throughout the room, the successful participants exited and followed the officers' instructions. Two hundred people—one hundred males and one hundred females—were led out of the examination room. They walked along a small path that cut through a small forest behind the building, heading toward where the Huin Academy ship was docked.
There, the officers were already waiting to guide the new students onto the magnificent ship floating on the water.
A female officer gave instructions: males via the left staircase, females via the right staircase. They boarded in an orderly manner—two streams of people flowing left and right, each heading to their own entrance. The left staircase was wider for males, while the right one was for females.
The interior of the ship felt warm and comfortable. A wide corridor with lights attached to the ceiling. The room was truly large, filled with rows of long sofas large enough for a man to lie down if desired. The walls were dark brown. In front of each sofa was a small dining table for two people.
The left side of the ship was for males, the right side for females. A simple yet clear separation.
A large-built officer stood at the front of the room. His voice was loud enough to reach every corner without shouting.
"Under your seats there is a red button," he said. "If pressed, the sofa will turn into a bed. The size is enough for one person to lie down comfortably. The bathrooms are at the back, not far from the kitchen area. The doors will be shown later. Dinner will be served shortly."
The new students immediately looked for their assigned seats. Numbers were clearly marked on each sofa to avoid any confusion.
Not long after, food was brought by the officers. The menu served was quite simple: rice, soup, and several side dishes. The new students began eating, and the atmosphere in the room became more relaxed.
Small conversations started to be heard here and there—prospective students getting to know each other. As the night grew later, their energy began to fade. Eyes grew heavy, voices softened into quieter and quieter whispers.
When the officer announced that rest time had arrived, the participants immediately stood up and pressed the red button under their respective seats.
With a soft click, the sofas transformed into flat, long beds. Not too big, but comfortable enough for resting. The participants began to lie down. Some fell asleep within minutes, while others took a little longer to calm their minds.
The lights in the room were gradually dimmed, creating a dark but not completely pitch-black atmosphere.
Thirty minutes passed. A young man suddenly woke from his sleep. He didn't know what had awakened him. He opened his eyes and looked around in the darkness.
"Hmm? They're all asleep already? Looks like they're sleeping soundly here. Something's coming… Should I take action? Ah, let's just see."
The young man was Haise, an eighteen-year-old who had passed along with the others.
He took the black hoodie near his bed and put it on. Now he was dressed entirely in black, with a black cloth covering both eyes. No one knew why he wore it, as if he didn't want anyone to see his eyes.
Haise stood up and walked out. As he pushed the large door open with both hands, his eyes immediately met someone.
A very beautiful girl was standing alone on the ship's deck, gazing at the beautiful night sky.
The girl turned her head when she heard the door open.
Now their eyes met.
When their gazes crossed, both Haise and the girl were equally surprised.
Haise was surprised by the girl's beauty. Her hair was long and black, and her eyes were blue like a clear sky. But the girl's surprise had a different reason.
Something that had never happened before had just occurred.
*I… I can't read it. It looks completely empty.*
*Like there's an invisible wall rejecting anyone from entering. Why… This is the first time this has happened.*
The girl's name was Anna, also eighteen years old. Since birth, Anna had possessed eyes that could read people's minds and hear their thoughts even before the words were spoken.
That ability was a curse to her.
Since the age of five, Anna had heard all kinds of bad thoughts from people who looked at her beauty with indecent intentions. She had felt hatred, jealousy, and improper desire from thousands of people throughout her life.
The ability could never be turned off. She didn't know how—if there even was a way. She didn't know. It was like a part of her.
But now, in front of this black-clad young man, there was nothing. Total silence. As if Haise was an impenetrable wall.
"Hoo~ There's still someone awake. I thought everyone was already asleep," Haise said casually.
"What are you doing out here? Isn't it dangerous to be alone like this? By the way, where are the guards? Are they resting downstairs?"
Haise walked closer. Anna's face remained expressionless as she replied.
"I'm here because I suddenly woke up a little while ago. What made you come out here? Did you also wake up suddenly?"
"Hmm… Isn't the way you speak a bit too formal? I think we're the same age. No need to talk so politely, right?"
"I was taught to speak politely. Is that a problem for you?"
Their distance wasn't too close, yet not too far either.
Haise seemed to realize that the girl in front of him didn't like men getting too close to her—at least not men she didn't know.
Haise then looked up at the sky.
"By the way, the night sky looks beautiful, doesn't it? The stars are shining so prettily… but something coming from below isn't as beautiful."
"What do you mean?" Anna asked.
But before Haise could answer, Anna herself realized it.
An attack from the sea. Killing intent. Anna sensed something approaching their ship. A fairly thick aura was coming. Suddenly, two giant monsters emerged from beneath the water.
Anna quickly tried to draw her sword.
But before her sword could leave its sheath, the two monsters were already sliced in mid-air and fell back into the sea.
*What was that? I couldn't see clearly, only a little, really just a little. It was like thin threads that were almost invisible, moving extremely fast and cutting both of them.*
A few moments earlier, when he saw the water beginning to stir, Haise had raised one hand.
In his mind he said: Lightning Technique: Twin Lightning Nets.
From two of his fingers came something extremely thin and fast, like nearly invisible threads. Then he pulled both fingers back, as if pulling strings.
That was when the monsters' bodies were sliced apart.
When the monsters' blood began to fall from the air, Haise was suddenly already standing right in front of Anna.
*When did he move here?* Anna thought, startled.
Haise raised his hand toward the sky.
"It wouldn't look good if a beautiful girl got splashed with dirty blood."
A sudden gust of wind blew. The blood that was about to fall toward them was pushed away and fell back into the sea.
"Done. Hmm… By the way, do we have any close relationship?"
Haise's and Anna's faces were now very close. Anna immediately drew her sword and swung it. Haise caught the blade with three fingers of his right hand.
"I know you're not the type of girl who likes being close to men," Haise said calmly.
"But attacking someone just because you don't like them being near you—that's not right."
He continued calmly.
"But if that person has bad intentions, that's another story. Besides, you didn't swing that sword with full strength either."
Haise looked into Anna's eyes.
*The sword is very cold, like ice. Her eyes are very cold too. Truly a cold girl.*
"Ah!"
The sword slipped from her grip. Haise hadn't been holding it with full strength from the beginning—just as Anna hadn't attacked with full power.
"I think you don't have the right to say something like that to someone you've just met," Anna said.
"Then what did you mean by that earlier question? About a close relationship?"
They returned to keeping their distance. Haise gave a small smile.
"Even though I just saved you, you're looking at me like I'm a criminal. Really a cold girl. How should I put it, huh?"
"Hmm~ My body… my body feels like it knows you somehow. I don't know how to explain it, but that's what I'm feeling right now. That's why I asked—do we have any close relationship?"
"I don't understand what you mean at all. I don't feel like we've ever met. I hardly have any male friends. I'm sure this is the first time we've met."
"I see. So this really is the first time we've met? What a shame. I thought I had met someone I knew. What a shame. My master said that if I meet someone I know, and if I stay close to them, my memories will slowly return."
"Memories?"
"Forget what I said. It's not important to someone who has nothing to do with my life. I think you should go back to sleep. It's late now."
*What did he mean by memories? Has he lost his memory? But he doesn't look like someone who has amnesia at all. If only I could read his mind, this would be solved quickly.*
"Alright," Anna said. "I'll go back to sleep now. Thank you once again for helping me—even though honestly I could have killed both of them with my sword. So, what about you? Are you staying here?"
"Are you worried about me?"
"Not at all. I'm sure if any monsters appear, they'll die immediately."
"Haha, I'm glad you think that way. You go ahead and sleep. Anyway, I can go without sleep for 7 days."
"That's impossible for a human—unless they take some kind of pill."
"Haha~ I'm a human who fights against what's impossible. If it's impossible, I'll fight it. My master said I have to fight against what's impossible."
*Is this guy insane? Can humans really fight against the impossible? Whatever, it's up to him.*
"Fine," Anna said. "I'll go back to sleep. Thank you again very much for helping."
"Good night." With her face still expressionless, she walked back inside the ship.
"Yep." After watching Anna go inside, Haise's eyes turned to the sky above him. He now sat at the very tip of the ship.
"Hmm, it seems it will take a long time to recover my lost memories. Honestly, this is troublesome. Just like Master said, it seems the current me is truly different."
He gave a small smile.
"The night sky really is beautiful."
A few minutes later, the guards finally returned to the deck. It seemed they had just finished resting in their quarters. Haise had already returned to his bed.