Chapter 1

The Gathering Hall

5th Day of Spring Year 415 A.A -Hundred years after the Daemonium's defeat.

The sky over Darmenia was harsh blue and clear, and the sun beats down relentlessly, yet the fresh spring air remained cool under the heat. In the city of Acheron, one the few major cities in Darmenia, the afternoon streets were busy and bustling with both people and vehicles as the citizens carried out their daily activities.

In the lush green garden of Acheron's Magister Academy of Gathaspa, a Young Magister named Anastasia; a sixteen year old girl with an athletic built, was resting under one of the dozen of trees in the garden. Waking up from her nap, she let out a slight yawn, her hand covering her mouth as she did so. Leaning her back against the tree once more, she surveyed the garden. She had noticed that she was the only one left, the garden was completely deserted. There was not a single student except for her were nearby, which left her wondering where had everyone gone off to.

"There you are!" cried a sharp feminine voice.

A face of another girl appeared beside her as she looked to the left, causing the young Anastasia to startle.

"Whoa! What the? Sakura!" she exclaimed at the girl.

Anastasia's roommate, best friend and homework-helper, Sakura had slender and robust body, and a light brown hair with two bunched pigtails. Like her, Sakura wore the purple female student's long-sleeved jacket over her bluish white blouse, with a black mini-skirt and a pair of black stockings covering her legs.

"We've been looking all over for you, Tasia." Sakura said with a frown of a child.

"Huh? We?"

Tasia then heard footsteps approaching Sakura from behind. A lean young boy with a golden side-combed hair was walking towards them. He wore a brown sleeveless shirt underneath his red male student's jacket, and a pair of black trousers. Sakura's frown immediately changed into a gentle smile as he went beside her.

"So you've finally found the lazy bum I see." He said as he shifted his gaze to Tasia.

Sakura giggled. "As always, hiding under her nest." She said, referring to this tree they stood under, as this was the usual place where Tasia took her 'free time' nap.

Still sleepy-eyed, Tasia looked at Sakura and then the boy, and rose an eyebrow. "You didn't tell me that you and Kyro were going on a date today." She said in amusement.

Kyro, a 1st Class Young Magister of Gathaspa Academy, was a well-known and respected student, especially by the Young Magisters from the Marksmanship Course. He was considered as the top Marksman student in the Academy for his skills and uncanny accuracy in shooting. Tasia and Sakura first knew him exactly a year ago during their first year at the Academy. As Tasia had chosen to join the Martial Arts Course, Sakura had joined the Marksmanship Course. The first person in class to greet her and befriended her was none other than Kyro, who at that time was still a 2nd Class Young Magister. On the following day, Sakura had brought him to be introduced to Tasia, and then the three of them started to become good friends.

Since that day, the three of them spent a lot of time together. Kyro had helped Sakura in many ways with her studies, from writing assignments to field exams. Kyro turned out to be a good study partner and guide for her. But there was one thing that Sakura had never told. There is something that she had developed during their long weeks of friendship.

Sakura was in love with Kyro.

One night before the summer holiday, Sakura had explained to Tasia regarding the affection she had for the boy, and asked Tasia for advices regarding the matter. Tasia, who never had any relationships in her live, found the question awkward and difficult to answer.

"Just be honest then. Tell him the truth." Those were the only advices that she could dig out of her head that night.

Even after hearing out Tasia's advice, Sakura still could not tell Kyro about her feelings. The friendship between the two of them had begun to change during the long days of summer. Both Sakura and Kyro were starting to spend more of their time with each other's company. They had gone out for a dinner at the city during the summer holidays, although it was illegal to do so. After the holidays, they had spent more time in the Marksman training hall and even went for a stroll around the garden when there was a chance. Once during the winter, Sakura had dragged Kyro into the female Quarters for a sleepover at her and Tasia's room, which truly made Tasia uncomfortable that evening. Kyro almost got himself caught for trespassing into the girl's dormitories that morning if he hadn't used the window to escape.

Perhaps Sakura's feeling for Kyro was mutual. Or perhaps he only thought of Sakura as a friend.

Tasia smiled when she remembered the incident going on between her two friends. Sakura's face went flushing red, a little loss of words because of Tasia's earlier statement. Tasia looked at Kyro , and noticed that the boy was blushing as well.

Maybe their feelings are really mutual. Tasia shrugged.

"Don't be ridiculous" Kyro mumbled, his cheeks were still red. "You know what day is today, right?"

Tasia gave them a look of confusion. "And what day is today exactly?" she asked.

Sakura's jaw dropped in disbelief. "You totally forgot. Seriously, you forgot about it? Today is the big day." Sakura said in a joyous tone. "Today is the yearly students' Entrance Ceremony."

For the Magister's Gathaspa Academy, today was one of the most important days for the school; The Entrance Ceremony of the new Young Magisters intake. Tasia had totally forgotten about the Entrance Ceremony today. In fact, she had never bothered to remember the date. Since she already had her Entrance Ceremony last year, there was no reason for her to remember the date of the next one.

"Oh really. I didn't even know the school have an Entrance Ceremony." Tasia said sarcastically.

"Come on, Tasia. You know that it is compulsory that all the students and teachers are to be present in the Gathering Hall." Sakura reminded her.

"Actually, I don't. I'm not going, okay?" Tasia leaned back against the tree trunk. "So, go ahead without me, so I can continue my afternoon rest."

Before Tasia could shut her eyes and sleep, Sakura let out a loud, ear-splitting shout.

"YOU'RE GOING AND THAT'S FINAL!"

"Alright, alright. Jeez. Don't shout at me." growled Tasia drowsily. As she hoisted herself up from the soft grassy ground, a 'thud' sound came from under her feet. She looked down, and saw a small, old leather-bound book lying among the grass. On the cover the title was written in a fine handwriting;

History of Darmenia's Rebirth

It was the book Tasia had found in the library yesterday while searching some books for Sakura. From its dusty and nearly torn pages, there was no doubt that the book was decades old. Tasia never liked to read, but she had somehow found the title of the old book interesting, so she decided to borrow it. She was reading this book before falling asleep under the tree.

Picking up the small book from the ground, Tasia carefully stowed it in the pocket under her jacket. She then went to walk beside Sakura and Kyro.

"You haven't finished reading it yet?" asked Sakura.

"I didn't even manage to finish the first part. I'm not much into reading as you do." Tasia replied while complimenting her friend's obsession in reading.

"No wonder you are dull." Kyro added.

"Shut up!" Tasia quickly retorted.

Tasia, Sakura and Kyro stepped into one of the five main entrances of the Gathering Hall. Inside, was a huge circular room, reaching two to three stories high. The hall was filled with wooden chairs arranged in tiers; the rows of chairs were divided into two sides by a single carpeted walkway. The left side were seated by the male students, while the female occupied the right side. Hundreds of Zauberei light crystals hung on the ceiling, giving the majestic chamber a radiant glow.

All the chairs were arranged facing the majestic podium at the end of the hall. An armchair, reminiscent of a throne was placed on the topmost level of the structure; the Archmagister's seat. On the lower level housed the Grand Magister and the High Magisters, complete with eight, less-decorative armchairs for them to sit on, which were given access to by a pair of staircases placed at the podium's sides.

By the time Tasia, Sakura and Kyro arrived at the Gathering Hall, most of the seats were already been occupied by the hundreds of Young Magisters of Gathaspa Academy. Tasia noticed that all of the seats in the first three front rows were completely filled. And all the students sitting in the front rows were unfamiliar to her. She could guess that they were the new intakes; she and Sakura were also seated in the front during their Entrance Ceremony.

Tasia then looked at the podium. Four of the six High Magisters were already present and had already seated themselves on their respective armchairs. On the first seat to the right was High Magister Dante, a heavily build, imposing man with a flat top of brown hair. Being the Sword Arts Specialist, Dante wore a golden breastplate beneath his white long coat.

Seating next to him was the Medic Specialist, High Magister Dezza, a stooped old man with wispy grey of hair and beard on him. Next to him was a woman in her late thirties. She had a curvaceous feature, and a long orange hair, with six small braids reaching to her breasts. She was High Magister Llyr, the Elemental Specialist and the only woman among the High Magisters in Gathaspa Academy.

At the end to the left, was Tasia's very own tutor of Martial Arts. High Magister Grana, was a broad and muscular forty-two year old man, with black, spiky windswept hair. He wore a black, light, loose-fitting martial arts gi, which revealed most of his hairy chest. Although muscular, he was smaller comparing the behemoth size of High Magister Dante.

"I'll see you later." Kyro nodded briefly, before making his way to the to the boys' seats.

"Come on, hurry. I don't want us ending up on the back of the seats." Sakura said, as she dragged Tasia to the two empty chairs on the edge of the sixth row of the girls' side. The two of them sat, and waited quietly for the Entrance Ceremony to begin.

After a few minutes, all the seats were completely occupied by the hundreds of Young Magisters. All six of the High Magisters were now present. Then there was a total silent among the crowd, as two men entered the Gathering Hall from the rear entrance.

The first one was none other than Archmagister Gadiell, a tall and broad fifty-six year old man with a slight grey in his brown, braided hair. He had a very long, yet well-kept beard, which was also dyed brown and grey. He wore a simple white robe, which had the Magister's honorary insignia; the five-sided star surrounded by a circle. Although unlike the normal Magister's insignia, the Archmagister's insignia was decorated by two crossed-swords behind it.

Accompanying the old man was Grand Magister Sting, a man in his early thirties. He had a sparkling silver hair that matched perfectly with his charming face. His body was covered in a stark white longcoat decorated with golden linings. There was no emblem on his cloak, just a green gemstone pinned right above where his heart at. He appeared more as a young prince than a Magister, which was why most female students tend to adore him.

The hall remained silent and still as the two highest ranking Magisters walked up the podium. Archmagister Gadiell moved on to his seat on the upper level, as Grand Magister Sting went to sit between the six High Magisters.

Seven of the armchairs on the lower level had been filled, only one remained empty. The one on Grand Magister Sting's right. Tasia wondered why was the occupant of the eight seat wasn't here yet, as he was the third most important person in the Academy.

Suddenly, the middle doors of the main entrances behind the Young Magisters were thrown open. The doors closed again before any of the students could glance backwards.

Then loud clunks of metallic footsteps echoed throughout the hall. All of the Young Magisters shifted their gaze towards the walkway that separated the boys' and girls' seats, but Tasia had already expected what she would be seeing.

To her surprise, the shadowy figure was already beside her when she was about to look around. She felt her blood frozen in ice as she saw the figure in black strode past her.

Dragon Sage Shinkirou, Tasia noted the young man in her mind.