Chapter 5: Arcadia Academy

Back in his tiny apartment, Amon sat cross-legged on his creaky mattress, holding the shimmering golden ticket between his fingers like it was the Holy Grail itself.

“Wow… I don’t believe it. I can actually go to Arcadia Academy.”

The edges of his mouth curled upward into a rare, genuine smile. It felt surreal. The most prestigious academy in all of the world, and now he, Amon the Broke, was holding a free pass to get in.

His eyes sparkled for a moment, then dulled as reality slapped him.

“Fuck… my talent for magic is trash. Weapons? Even worse.”

But instead of getting discouraged, he smirked.

“It doesn’t matter! As long as I can graduate, even if I’m dead last and the weakest guy in school, I can still get a government job. Civil services, baby!”

He leaned back on the mattress, staring at the cracked ceiling, chuckling to himself.

“Hehehe~ maybe my good times are finally coming. Sure, I might get bullied for being a commoner, but that’s nothing new. I was bullied in my past life too, and guess what? I beat them back then. I can beat them here too!”

Then a horrifying thought crept in.

“Wait… what if they’re nobles? And way stronger than me? Shit, that might be a problem. Well, I’ll think about that after I get into the academy.”

His gaze drifted back to the golden pass.

He needed to tell Mr. Ellias, Leon, and Matia. After all, he wouldn’t be working at the tavern anymore.

“Hah, I’ve been working there for so many years.”

His voice softened, the excitement giving way to melancholy.

He still remembered arriving in Valerion at the age of twelve. The city had been nothing but cruel to him. With no family, no money, and no support, Amon had done everything he could to survive.

He had delivered illegal packages, worked as a lookout for street gangs, and even picked a few pockets.

He shuddered as memories of the gangs Quickhand and Flicker Hands came to mind.

They had used him like a punching bag, venting their frustration on the scrawny orphan kid.

Everything changed the night he tried to pickpocket Mr. Ellias.

Instead of turning him over to the city knights or beating the hell out of him like any normal adult might, Ellias had just looked at him, sighed, and said,

“If you’re that desperate, kid, how about you work for me?”

It had been the first time someone showed him kindness after his parents died.

With Mr. Ellias’ help—and some connections that included powerful individuals and unsavory but influential gangs—Amon had finally been left alone.

The beatings stopped. The harassment faded.

Ellias had given him food, shelter, and purpose.

“I owe that man a lot,” Amon whispered.

And tomorrow, he would finally be able to tell him goodbye.

—

Arcadia Academy.

Even saying the name felt unreal. It was the most prestigious academy across the entire continent of Elyndros and also other continens.

Located in the neutral and good developed city of Elarith, the academy welcomed students from all over the world—humans, elves, beastkin, and more.

The city Elarith belongs to kingdom of Valmoria.The kingdom Amon lives in.

There are other two kingdoms beside Valmoria which are also rule by humans on this continent name Elyndros.A human dominated continent.

The other kingdoms are Dravencourt and Caelvane.

Well back to academy,

Demons, vampires, and werewolves were banned for… obvious historical reasons.They are afterall enemy of mostly all other races.

Most of the student population came from powerful noble families—dukes, marquises, high-ranking nobles from the Kingdoms of Valmoria, Dravencourt, and Caelvane.Especially from Valmoria.

Yes, commoners could enter the academy. But only after passing a brutally difficult entrance exam, and even to take that, they needed a recommendation letter from a noble, or someone like a guildmaster.

Nobles had it easier. They could take the exam without any prerequisites. If they passed, they were in.

But for people like Amon?

It was nearly impossible.

“I swear, if I had to take the entrance exam, I’d fail miserably,” he muttered with a nervous chuckle.

The golden ticket—the golden ticket—was one of only twenty given out each year. These were issued by the academy to select royal families, guild leaders, and legendary individuals. The recipient could either use the ticket themselves or give it to someone they deemed worthy.

Which meant… whoever gave it to him must be someone extremely powerful.

He recalled the mysterious, drunken, hooded woman with dangerous curves and a bottle of basilisk venom liquor in her hand.

“Who the hell was she?”

He didn’t know.

But what he did know was this: she had just changed his entire life.

He stood up and began packing. His entire wardrobe fit into a single, battered suitcase—a couple of faded shirts, two pairs of pants, a threadbare jacket, and some undergarments.

He tossed in a toothbrush, some half-used soap, and a few books he’d picked up over the years.

After about ten minutes, he zipped it shut and looked around the room.

“All done. Tomorrow morning, I’ll go to the tavern, tell everyone the news, and say goodbye.”

He sighed.

There was sadness, of course. But also excitement.Mabye he can change his life in this new world after this.He can’t wait for and surely he will also try to become strong.

He’d miss Mr. Ellias, Leon, and Matia. The tavern had been like a second home—a chaotic, loud, grease-smelling home. But it was his.

Still, this was his chance to rise above. His chance to get out of poverty. Maybe even make a name for himself.

He lay down on his mattress, staring at the flickering ceiling light. Outside, Valerion’s chaotic nightlife buzzed on.

“I’ll get to meet beastmen and elves too,” he whispered with a smirk. “Especiallg elves,they’re supposed to be really beautiful. Hehehe.”

His eyes slowly closed.

“Good night, me. Don’t mess this up.”

And with that, he drifted off into a peaceful sleep, clutching the golden ticket like it was the key to his future.

Because it was.

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