# A Paladin Shows His Might
The first rays of dawn crept across Tristain Academy, casting long shadows that seemed to whisper of impending change. Louise Valliere stood trembling, her usual mix of determination and anxiety heightened by the presence of the battle-scarred warrior before her. Ragnos Highvalor was no mere instructor, no simple mentor—he was a living legend who had walked through the fires of impossible conflicts.
His arrival had been nothing short of miraculous. Where other mages saw a failure, Ragnos saw potential burning just beneath the surface, waiting to be kindled into an inferno.
The courtyard buzzed with anticipation. Students and faculty alike had gathered, their whispers a constant background noise of speculation and doubt. Headmaster Osmund stood nearby, his weathered hands clasped behind his back, a mixture of curiosity and concern etched into his features.
"Today," Ragnos announced, his voice carrying the weight of centuries, "we will demonstrate the true nature of magic."
The instructors exchanged nervous glances. Their most powerful spellcasters would be testing the limits of this mysterious warrior—a man who seemed to exist between the realms of martial prowess and magical might.
Professor Colbert adjusted his glasses, leaning forward with academic intensity. "Prepare yourselves," he muttered to his colleagues.
The battle began without warning.
A senior instructor launched a complex fire spell, the magical flames twisting into a serpentine shape designed to overwhelm and consume. Ragnos didn't flinch. The flames surged forward, a roaring inferno that seemed unstoppable. Yet as they neared him, they halted mid-air, spiraling harmlessly around him before dissipating into motes of light. His eyes—deep and ancient—never wavered, his calm presence unnerving the gathered crowd.
Another mage stepped forward, conjuring a storm of wind and stone. Razor-sharp projectiles whistled through the air, their speed and precision intended to overwhelm any defenses. Ragnos raised a single hand, and a translucent barrier of radiant energy materialized before him. The projectiles struck the barrier, but instead of shattering it, they dissolved into shimmering particles that drifted to the ground like gentle snow. The crowd gasped as the light caught on the glittering motes, creating an almost serene contrast to the intended destruction.
Two instructors moved simultaneously, combining their powers to summon an elemental giant composed of roaring flames and searing magma. The colossal figure towered over Ragnos, its fiery hands reaching down to crush him. Ragnos stood firm, his hand resting on the hilt of his holy sword. With a single, decisive motion, he drew the blade. The radiant weapon ignited in holy light, its brilliance blinding. With one upward slash, the elemental was cleaved in two, its molten form dispersing harmlessly into the air.
Louise watched, her heart racing. Each movement of her potential mentor was a lesson—not just in combat, but in the fundamental understanding of magic itself.
A trio of instructors stepped forward, their combined powers radiating raw magical energy. They chanted in unison, weaving a devastating spell that drew upon fire, lightning, and ice. The elements swirled together, forming a massive orb of destructive potential. The orb launched toward Ragnos, its sheer power causing the ground to quake and the air to crackle with energy. He smiled. Ragnos thrust his sword forward, its holy light expanding into a radiant shield that absorbed the incoming spell. The orb halted in mid-air, its energy trembling as if struggling against an unseen force. With a flick of his wrist, Ragnos redirected the orb skyward, where it detonated harmlessly in a spectacular display of light and color. The instructors staggered back, exhausted and bewildered. Ragnos stood untouched, a beacon of calm in the midst of magical chaos.
"Magic," he explained, turning to Louise and the gathered students, "is not about power. It is about understanding. About connection."
With a gesture that seemed almost casual, he raised his hand. The ground trembled. From the earth rose a tower—gleaming white and gold, its architecture defying conventional understanding. Magical runes danced along its surface, telling stories of ancient protections and forgotten knowledge.
A thunderous roar interrupted the silence. All heads turned skyward as a massive dragon descended from the clouds. Cerrirai was a colossal platinum dragon, his scales shimmering with streaks of blue, red, green, and gold that interwove in intricate patterns. His wings spanned wide, each beat sending ripples through the air. The ground quaked as Cerrirai landed beside Ragnos, his gleaming form a living testament to ancient majesty. The dragon lowered his head, nuzzling Ragnos with surprising gentleness for a creature of his size. "Ah, Cerrirai," Ragnos murmured, patting the dragon's snout. "Always timing your entrance dramatically."
Cerrirai rumbled what could only be described as a laugh, a deep vibration that resonated through the courtyard and sent awe rippling through the onlookers.
Later, in the tower's expansive library, Ragnos gathered the most curious students and faculty. Thousands of books lined shelves that seemed to stretch into infinity, with a central index that could summon any text with a mere touch.
"Knowledge," he told Louise, who stood breathless with anticipation, "is the true magic. Power is nothing without understanding."
He approached her, a heavy tome floating down from the shelves. "You have been told you are a failure. I see something different. A spark. A potential that has been suffocated by low expectations."
Louise's eyes welled with tears—part hope, part determination.
"Would you learn?" Ragnos asked. "Not just the magic of this world, but the deeper mysteries that exist beyond?"
Her response was immediate. "Yes."
As the sun set, casting golden light through the library's enchanted windows, a new journey began. Louise Valliere would no longer be the "Zero." Under Ragnos Highvalor's mentorship, she would become something far greater.
The tower seemed to pulse with anticipation. Magic, true magic, was about to be unleashed.