Prologue: Entering the Academy Entrance
It was early in the morning as the lustrous golden sun slowly rose from the outlines of the boundless horizon. With the emergence of the gleaming sunlight followed the revelation of the ocean-like blue skies shrouded by white silver fluffy clouds passing through the heavens with the help of the wind.
The breeze of wind passed through the broad heavens and the immense earth, helping the echelons and flocks fly through the azure-blue skies while rustling the evergreen nature residing on the land.
It was the beginning of a new day, the start of a story.
In a particular empire known as the Atlas Imperium, a city dwelled within its western regions known as Alteria. It was a walled coastal city considered one of the capital states within the west part of the Imperium. It was nothing more but an economic powerhouse that held some power in the western trade.
Within the spoken walled coastal city, Alteria. There lies the best saint academy in the west titled Saint Zero. It was an institution of learning that spanned an entire island just beside the coast of the city. They have taught and trained many of the best saints within the Imperium, making them an excellent institution wanted by everyone, poor or wealthy.
At the Saint Zero Academy, a new school year was about to start. Its enormous and luxurious gates were opened as summer had already gone by. The academy was open to every student with the capability to enter, and there were quite a lot of them. A couple thousand, perhaps.
In any case, the acceptance rate of the Saint Zero Academy was less than 2% of the total candidates. Therefore, no money could be used to enter it, but recommendations could be received and given to the recommended students for an early test.
Unfortunately, though she was neither rich nor influential, Pandora Grimsworth was an ordinary young girl aspiring to be a saint.
Some might be curious, what was the saint?
Well, they existed long before the current age, individuals granted supernatural powers by the heavens. As a result, they have been able to defy the natural law and order of reality. And as they were humans with terrifying capabilities, they were separated into two distinct factions.
The saints and the heretics.
The saints used their supernatural power in favor of humanity, making them the protectors of the world, nations, and humankind. They were the reason why humans hadn't fallen into slavery under the powered individuals. Most saints were considered celebrities and would always aid during a heretic emergence or a disaster.
When one awakens as a saint, one could say that the one who had awakened was set for life.
On the other hand, the heretics used their supernatural abilities against humanity, making them the arch enemies of the saints. Their powers were uncontrollable or something that was closely and dangerously tied to emotion. At any rate, their goal was to enslave humanity as they saw themselves as superior to the ants before them.
After the two great wars seven decades ago, the heretics went into hiding and would rarely be seen. But just because they had become rare to regular humans doesn't mean that the world had become safer. It just means that the fight had dwelled outside of human perception.
A heretic was typically considered a powered individual with some psychic problems. Therefore, some might think that they need help. But the heretics were too uncontrollable. They were practically dangerous, and how would a psychiatrist treat someone that could kill them with a flick of a finger?
Of course, this was nothing more but general knowledge and the public or societal view towards heretics. Maybe reality itself was different than the portrayal of black and white. It may be a grayish world, which makes anyone or anything sick on their stomach. Nothing more but one moral line that seems intangible and everchanging.
Thinking about philosophy was an excellent way to fall mad, and if one was logical. They would want to avoid becoming crazy in understanding the chaotic world.
"So this is the Saint Zero Academy... The best academy in the west." Pandora muttered to herself as she gazed upon the luxurious and enormous gates of the academy with shock and amazement. It was her first time seeing such a magnificent sight.
Numerous candidate students were passing through the gate and entering the academy. They were supposedly instructed to gather on the main grounds of the island academy. The candidates had to be divided so that the test could be started, and anyone late wouldn't be given a chance.
Realizing this within her mind, Pandora shook her head and immediately got out of her trance of amazement and walked past the luxurious gate. While walking through the vast walkway, Pandora surveyed the surroundings with an aloof expression as she had thousands of competitors aiming for the seats.
Ten minutes later, Pandora arrived at the main grounds of the island academy, and it was even broader than the stadium within the city of Alteria. The Saint Zero Academy was in a league on its own. Pandora couldn't help but get nervous as her heart began beating wildly.
'Calm yourself, Pandora.' Pandora calmed herself as the pressure of standing on the primary academic ground crept into her heart. Before she could continue thinking about her nervousness, a voice sounded throughout the central area. And it was somewhat a soothing one.
*Attention! All candidates for the first-year student seats within the Saint Zero Academy. Please line up face forward to the leading platform where the instructor will start the division of the participants.*
With such a voice echoing, the candidates or Pandora's rivals began lining up, pointing themselves towards the stage. Nervousness wracked everyone's mind and heart. And every student on the primary ground was left unnerve as this test was something that would change their lives.
Silence then enveloped after a short while as one of the instructors walked onto the center of the platform with a serious expression as he loudly declared towards the students below.
"We shall start the division!"