“You’re probably wondering why I told you a story from days long past?” Ama’Lein asked, watching me closely.
I gave a silent nod.
Even now, I still did not understand what my talent could possibly have to do with the chosen or the gods.
“Your talent is the mark of one chosen by the goddess of chaos, Ges,” the dean said calmly, his sharp gaze never leaving me.
“If you accept it, you may gain not only the abilities of a swordsman, but also the talent of a mage.” I tried not to look away, though his words forced me into deep thought.
If everything Ama’Lein said was true, did that mean the other gods could once again choose followers as well?
And if so, what would come next?
Another war?
Or something far more dangerous?
All the dreams that had been haunting me all this time…
so it had been her.
The goddess of chaos, Ges.
But why now?
And more importantly, why me?
I could ask all those questions to the goddess herself, but I had no idea how to return to that dream again.
After hesitating for a moment, I finally asked, “And how do I accept her mark?
Is it enough for me to simply say that I agree to become her chosen, or does it work differently?” Hearing my question, Ama’Lein unexpectedly laughed and leaned back in his chair.
“No.
Words alone will not be enough,” he answered calmly.
“To accept the mark, you will have to undergo a ritual.
Only if the goddess accepts you as her chosen will a connection be established between the two of you.
Along with it, you will receive a portion of her power.” The dean fell silent for a moment before his voice became noticeably more serious.
“But I am obligated to warn you, Trey.
If you decide to undergo the ritual, you must be prepared to conceal your abilities until you become strong enough to resist anyone who might wish to use you.” His gaze sharpened like drawn blades.
“Otherwise, the fate of a slave awaits you.” I swallowed nervously.
He was not exaggerating.
If anyone learned about me too early, my life would quickly turn into a hunt.
After a brief pause, I gave my answer.
“I am willing to undergo the ritual.
But how am I supposed to do that if I know nothing about it?” Ama’Lein gave a slight nod.
“I will help you perform the ritual.” After a short pause, he continued, “But in exchange, you must ask the goddess Ges where the other gods are and whether they intend to return to this world.
That will be my price for helping you.” I silently accepted his terms.
I would have to ask the goddess why she had decided to return, where the other gods were, and why all of this had begun now, of all times.
But I had a question of my own as well.
Why me?
My intuition told me there was something far greater hidden behind all of this than mere coincidence.
However, a new problem arose almost immediately.
Until I spoke with the goddess Ges and completed the ritual, my talent would remain undefined.
I did not know what type of swordsman I belonged to, which meant I could not properly begin training.
As far as I had managed to understand, stufons were assigned according to their talent type.
The main structure of education revolved around developing one’s own abilities, supplemented by theory classes.
Fortunately, the academic year had only just begun, which meant I should not have missed too much.
The flood of thoughts made my head begin to pulse unpleasantly.
Lifting my gaze, I spoke.
“Yes.
I will ask the goddess Ges everything I can and report back to you.
But another problem has appeared.” I shifted my gaze from the professor to the dean.
“If I understand correctly, without completing the ritual and finalizing my talent classification, I won’t be able to receive a uniform with a specialization designation.
That means I won’t be able to attend either practical classes or specialized theory.” After my words, the dean and professor exchanged glances.
For some time, both of them silently looked at me.
Then Ama’Lein took several papers from his ring, quickly skimmed through them, and put them away again.
“Don’t worry,” he answered calmly.
“This week consists only of introductory lectures.
Not all stufons have arrived at the Academy yet, so full classes have not begun.” He paused briefly before continuing.
“However, unlike other swordsmen, you will also have to attend magical classes.
And that is where complications may truly arise.
Very few swordsmen are capable of using magic.” I listened attentively.
“We will conduct the ritual tonight, here.” His gaze became slightly more intent.
“Until then, your official specialization will be listed as Mage Hunter.” I froze.
“Mage Hunter?” I repeated in surprise.
“The professor didn’t mention such a type.
What is its role in battle?” Ama’Lein answered calmly, “The primary task of a Mage Hunter is the neutralization of mages through the suppression of their skills and spells.” He folded his hands on the desk.
“In many kingdoms and empires, representatives of this discipline are hired to eliminate dangerous mages who violate the law.” After a short pause, he added, “A Hunter is capable of nullifying spells or redirecting them back at the caster.
They usually specialize in medium armor, a longsword, and a round shield.” That sounded far more interesting than I had expected.
“And now, Stufon Trey, you should go to the supply depot to receive your uniform and your room key.” “Since you have not yet participated in any ranking battles, you will be assigned a beginner’s room.
The higher your ranking, the better your living conditions and the more currency you will receive.” After those words, his voice became serious once again.
“Tonight, exactly at midnight, return here.
We will perform the ritual.” I silently nodded.
Bowing to both the professor and the dean, I headed for the exit.
Once outside, I unfolded the map and studied it carefully.
After finding the forge’s marker, I made a mental note to visit it later without fail.
I was curious whether dwarves worked there, or whether, after the Exodus, their place had been taken by representatives of other races.
Following the map, I eventually reached the supply depot.
The line had advanced significantly by the time I emerged from my thoughts, and I was next.
The girl standing in front of me had just entered the supply depot.
A few minutes later, the door opened again, and she stepped back outside.
Noticing me, the girl clicked her tongue irritably and silently walked farther down the corridor.
I merely shrugged and stepped inside.
I was immediately met by the faint scent of fabric and new clothes.
Various uniforms hung along the walls, ranging from mage uniforms to swordsman equipment.
At the far end of the room stood a massive desk, behind which sat a man dressed in simple clothes.
Walking closer, I studied him more carefully.
Judging by his appearance, he was a hired worker responsible for distributing uniforms and keys.
He gave me a quick once-over as well before letting out a tired sigh.
“Mage or swordsman?” the man asked in a hoarse voice.
“Swordsman.
Mage Hunter,” I answered calmly.
For a brief moment, one of his brows twitched almost imperceptibly, though he quickly concealed his surprise.
Without another word, he stepped out from behind the desk, walked to one of the sections, pushed aside several uniform sets, and pulled out the one he needed.
Returning, he placed the uniform in front of me, then handed me a knife.
“The uniform needs to be sealed so no one except its owner can use it.
The protective barrier will activate at the same time.” He nodded toward the set.
“If you lose or damage it, a new one will cost forty currency.
Sign here.” I lightly pricked my finger, allowing a drop of blood to fall onto the crest.
The uniform glowed softly.
Returning the knife, I signed the document.
The man nodded and placed a key on top of the folded clothes.
“You’re free to go.
Don’t lose the key.
The fine for losing it is fifty currency.
Replacing the lock costs another hundred.” I made a mental note of that.
It seemed both the uniform and the key should be treated like personal treasures.
I still had no understanding of how difficult it was to earn currency in the Academy.
Leaving the depot, I looked at the map once more.
Now I needed to find the dormitory.
To reach it, I had to pass through the park.
Walking downstairs and stepping outside, I found myself in front of a spacious courtyard.
Stufons sat beneath the trees; some were resting, while others chatted with friends or discussed classes.
The sun shone brightly overhead.
A light breeze ruffled my hair, making me try, with mild annoyance, to smooth it back into place.
Without success.
Sighing, I continued onward.
Ten minutes later, two dormitory buildings appeared ahead.
Choosing the correct one, I stepped inside.
The lobby was spacious, with a staircase on the left and sofas and tables arranged in the center.
Looking at the key, I checked the room number and floor.
Second floor.
Climbing the stairs, I found myself in a long corridor illuminated by magical lamps.
After checking the number, I found the correct door and opened it.
Inside was a small room.
A single bed stood against the right wall, with a writing desk opposite it.
For someone raised in luxury, the room felt almost tiny.
Not much larger than my bed and wardrobe back at the castle.
But now this place had become my home.
And I would have to grow accustomed to it if I wanted to survive.
I placed the uniform and map on the bed before locking the door from the inside.
Even if no one could enter without the owner’s permission, caution was never unnecessary.
Returning to the bed, I examined the uniform more closely.
It was black, with red inserts along the sides.
The crest depicted a sword cleaving through a spell.
After pressing the crest twice, I saw the time.
Six in the evening.
There were still six hours left until the ritual.
After changing clothes, I noted with surprise that the uniform fit comfortably.
The only thing that irritated me was the red cloak.
It constantly shifted out of place and felt awkward.
Fortunately, it could be shortened or detached entirely.
After sorting through my few belongings, I finally lay down on the bed, still dressed in my uniform, and closed my eyes.
Today had been far too eventful.
And worst of all, it still was not over.
Lost in those thoughts, I drifted into sleep without noticing.
The story continues on Webnovel, where new chapters are released and I actively interact with readers.