# Chapter 1: The Imperial Academy Gates
The courtyard of the ヴァレリウス帝国魔法学園 was filled with thousands of hopeful nobles and commoner prodigies.
Arthur stood in line, gazing up at the pristine white walls of the outer gate. In his previous life, this gate had fallen to the second wave of abyssal beasts. Now, it stood unblemished under the morning sun.
"Hey, commoner with the purple eyes! Keep moving!" shouted an examiner with the crest of House Vermilion on his breastplate.
Arthur did not react with anger. After commanding legions across three centuries, the petty arrogance of young nobles felt like the buzzing of harmless insects.
He stepped forward onto the evaluation circle.
"Place your hand upon the 共鳴球," the proctor commanded.
As Arthur’s fingers brushed the crystalline glass, the dormant void equations in his soul stirred.