→ Four years later [ Reign of the Sun ]

  It’s almost seven in the morning, Elio oblivious of the fact still sleeps soundly. A ray of sunlight falls on Elio’s face, making him displeased.

  “Haaahhh”, Elio woke up with a terrified look on his face. “Those nightmares again, damn how long am I going to see the same thing every night.” – Elio said, gazing at the sunlight through the open window.

  “How long am I going to see the death of my family and Lord Altan” – Elio sighed as he finally got up from his bead.

  Just then something struck Elio’s mind –“Shit, the sun, it’s way up in the sky. I am going to get late again.”

  Elio hurried as if the world was ending, he went straight to the washroom. He washed his face and looked at himself in the mirror.

  Elio after four years growed a lot. He now had a hint of facial hair on his chin and below his lips. He had a thin but dense moustache, and thick eyebrows. His dark black eyes showed no emotions, and had an apathetic look on his face.

  Long obsidian–black hair covered his head, with strands dropped covering his forehead and some part of his eyes. He also grew taller, only parts below his small–round nose were visible in the mirror.

  His physique changed drastically. He now had an adequate amount of muscle mass. His collar bones were clearly visible, muscles around his shoulders gave his upper body a stunning look.

  He quickly changed, chewed some crackers as he tied his shoes. He sprinted down the road towards his Academy.

  Sunlight fell on his skin, as he dashed across bridges and districts. Sol City looked beautiful as ever.

  The Academy for New Generation, a school where young children are tutored to be the next protector of Ravi. It is a long journey, everyone is treated the same there. The children who have some potential of magic in them are educated there.

  The excellent bunch of instructors educate the students in every aspect. They are taught how to live their life– from knowledge of the books to the mastery in strength to show on the battlefield.

  Elio never had any potential of magic or greatness within his soul. His capability to require an energy level was very volatile. This was the reason Joshua wanted to kill him on the boat four years ago.

  Nulifer, who was the former squad captain of Altan’s house, managed to get Elio in the Academy. As a boy who can’t learn magic, is just an ordinary person. Ordinary people in this world were never able to fulfil their ends meet.

  Elio was now directly under the care of Nulifer. He was suspended multiple times because of his weak energy, and because of all the trouble he caused others. This also impacted Nulifer’s reputation. Elio never liked the fact that Nulifer was required to get involved, and was lectured by the instructors.

  With all of these thoughts running in Elio’s mind he reached the Academy building. The building was built on a giant campus. It had tall buildings for classes and different venues which gave students the experience of battlefields. Being a student of this Academy was a dream of every child in the Land of Hope.

  Elio rushed through the main gates as it was closing, and sighed in relief.

  The campus was filled with children from the Land of Hope, and other places on earth. Children who looked more sophisticated and tidy than Elio. They looked rich and seemed to have a lavish lifestyle.

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  Their uniform was well maintained, while Elio wore an untucked shirt and a dirty trouser. His tie was just hanging from his neck – his hair uncombed and his eyes drowsy.

  Elio used to feel jealous of those kids, but now as he grew he overcame those feelings. Nulifer always tried her best to give Elio a good life, a life like the children at the Academy. But, she was also demoted to private guard for the royalties from her post as a punishment for not being able to save Altan.

  After that Joshua was declared the captain of the squad. The general position after Altan still remained vacant.

  Elio blamed himself for Nulifer’s condition as well as the death of Altan. People around him never shied away from making him remember his mistakes. He was mistreated in the Academy by the students, instructors who were followers of Altan never wanted to teach anything to Elio. They also supported any complaints against him.

  Elio walked towards his class, ignoring all of the scowl he got because of his presentation and history. Elio finally reached his class, everyone was already present. He continued walking towards his usual seat at the back.

  “Wow! The filth is back” – a boy said out loud. All other students started laughing in sync. This was not new for Elio, he was used to getting bullied. Immature drawings of genitals and words like — “ Die!”, “you killed him”, “die like your sl*t mother”, “Indu child” was engraved all over his desk.

  Elio quietly sat down on his chair, as a middle–aged man walked in. Students stood up showing their respect towards him, not Elio. He stayed put as if he had something against him.

  The teacher spotted Elio sitting, minding his own business. The teacher was not able to handle this disrespect as he scowled looking at Elio.

  “You, insolent boy. I don’t know why you are present here. You occupied the vacancy of a deserving child. You have zero magical energy inside you – you don’t even show respect to people who give you knowledge.” – the teacher commented angrily, pointing towards Elio.

  Elio was nonchalant, he looked the other way– his hand on his cheek released a sigh.

  “Get out! Go and stand under sunlight, only he can put some sense into you.” – the teacher commanded Elio with rage.

  Elio stood up, without any hesitation went out. He was punished to stand under the sunlight five hours straight – until today’s class will remain in session.

  The class dismissed, students dispersed and enjoyed the scene as Elio stood there with two buckets filled with sand. He stood there still, the weight did not affect him at all.

  Students left and Elio finally completed his punishment. He kept the buckets at their place and started moving straight back home. On his way, few students obstructed his path.

  “Where do you think you are going, brat?” – A boy with green hair and deep brown eyes asked Elio. He put his hands around Elio’s shoulder asserting his dominance, while the others smirked with a proud face.

  “Move Asher, I don’t have time for this.” – Elio said, dropping his shoulder, he started walking again. The boy, Asher, lost his balance and fell straight on his face.

  “You will pay for this you Indu brat.” – Asher exclaimed as he leaped towards Elio, a green magical sledge-hammer appeared in his hands. The hammer was so big that it could have given Elio some serious damage.

  Elio swiftly dodged the hammer, as the hammer struck the ground. A small depression on the path can be seen very clearly. Two of Asher’s friends tried to grab Elio from behind, he ducked under one who fell flat on his chest while he striked other with his left elbow.

  The elbow strike was so hard, that the boy flew a couple of metres before he landed on his back. Others started to fall back, as Elio’s dark eyes scared them a bit.

  Asher scowled at Elio, he also knew that even though Elio’s magical energy is zero. Elio’s physical abilities were outstanding. In the Academy Elio’s hand to hand combat was among the top students. He only lacked magic, a major disadvantage for him in a world full of magical energy.

  Elio took a fighting stance, with his hands guarding his face and ribs. Just then, a teacher was passing, Asher understood the situation and told his friends to back off.

  “Consider yourself lucky, but no one’s going to save you from me during the exams for the house.” – Asher said, as he and his friends went their way.

  “Exams for the house? What is this shit now?” –Elio thought, then he suddenly remembered “No, is it already here.” This exam was an assessment for students. It is used to select the students for one of the seven houses of Ravi.

  It happens every year for the students of his grade. “Shit this came in quick!” I need to do well and get selected. “If I get selected in one of the houses, then Nulifer can finally take a rest.”

  Thoughts to make Nulifer proud, and be independent crowded Elio’s mind as he walked slowly to his home.

  The assessment would be on many levels. Students are allowed to use weapons of their choice. At last the house generals selected students who were appropriate for their style of fighting. It was a very tough competition. It would be even harder for Elio as he needs to fight without any magic.

  “Whatever, I can take them all. Need to train harder starting tomorrow.” – with this Elio started his usual training routine. He trained his body continuously for the past four years.

  He grew a lot stronger than before. He also tried and tested many means to regenerate magical energy in his body. He bought books and medicines, but nothing helped him.

  Most of the time he got scammed; he still kept on trying in hope.

  “I will train hard and join one of the houses of Ravi” – Elio promised himself as he kept on doing his routine kicks and punches

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