My F-Rank Sagea is Secretly an EX-Rank Calamity

Chapter 3: Ravenhurst Academy I

The grand entrance of Ravenhurst Academy was a breathtaking sight. Thousands of newly arriving students clad in various colored uniforms streamed through the massive iron gates.

​Flanking the entrance stood two towering golden statues.

On the left was a legendary male master, depicted standing proudly alongside a magnificent dragon carved in exquisite, lifelike detail, its wings spread wide as if ready to take flight.

On the right stood a wise, introspective female master, a powerful salamander coiled intricately around her staff, radiating a sculpted sense of eternal energy.

​"Well, we’re finally here..." Rowan murmured, his voice tight with nerves.

​Most of the passing freshmen wore bright, eager smiles, though an underlying current of anxiety rippled through the crowd.

​As Rowan and Asher crossed the threshold, they were welcomed by a warm, enchanted golden luminescence illuminating hundreds of arched wooden doors carved with complex mystical seals.

A massive automated disc hovered directly above the foyer, projecting a bright crimson arrow toward a sprawling corridor.

​"Attention all incoming students," a smooth, enchanted voice chimed from the disc.

"Please report directly to the Grand Assembly Hall on your right immediately. Thank you."

​The Grand Assembly Hall was a majestic, high-ceilinged chamber that practically breathed ancient tradition.

Towering, narrow stained-glass windows lined the stone walls, casting kaleidoscopic patterns of vibrant light across the polished wooden floors.

​The seating arrangement strictly reflected the school’s rigid hierarchy.

The elite Auric Circle and Argentum Tier students occupied the plush front rows closest to the stage, while the middle-tier Aerius Group, Terra Circle, and the powerless Umbrax freshmen were relegated to the distant upper tiers.

​Rowan took his designated seat in the front row. Because of Erebus, he belonged to the coveted Auric Circle.

His premium uniform featured a striking turquoise cloak pinned with a shimmering golden crystal crest.

​"Welcome, chosen fragments of humanity, to Ravenhurst Academy," a voice boomed.

​Headmaster Maverick stood at the podium. He was a stern, heavily scarred older man known as a ruthless disciplinarian who regularly pushed his students to their psychological limits.

Rumor had it he was the only living master to successfully bond with two Sageas simultaneously: a deadly, two-headed python and a fierce white panther.

​Maverick swept his arms outward, creating a massive shimmering white portal above the assembly.

With a flick of his wrist, thousands of enchanted documents materialized, floating down to land perfectly in front of each student.

​"Those are your individual academy guidelines," Maverick announced coldly.

"You are expected to memorize them by sunrise tomorrow. Despite this being your first day, you are now officially adults within these walls. Act like it."

​He paused, his piercing gaze sweeping across the vast ocean of students as if scanning for someone specific.

​"By now, you have undoubtedly noticed the segregation," Maverick continued, his voice cutting through the silence.

"Your uniforms, your seating arrangements, your classes, and your eventual field assignments are all dictated entirely by your tier."

​"Every year, all factions—Auric, Argentum, Aerius, Terra, and Umbrax—will participate in a mandatory combat examination. You will battle one another to refine your tactical skills and force your Sageas to evolve."

​"And yes, the Umbrax faction, who have not yet reached the age of bonding, will absolutely be participating in this exam."

​Hearing this, Asher let out a quiet sigh of relief. If the Umbrax class consisted entirely of late-blooming, unbonded students, he could easily blend in by pretending Kaito didn’t exist.

​"However, because the Umbrax group lacks spiritual partners, you will spend your nights learning raw offensive and defensive spellcraft," he stated.

"There will be no rest periods for the unbonded." Maverick added with a cruel smile.

​The upper tiers immediately erupted into frustrated murmurs.

​"This is completely unfair," a girl sitting next to Asher complained quietly.

"Why throw us into a combat exam against literal monsters when we don’t even have our Sageas yet? We’re just going to be target practice for the higher tiers."

​Asher turned to look at her, nodding in silent agreement.

​The girl had striking pale skin, a sharp jawline, and thick, shoulder-length wavy black hair.

Her round, expressive eyes focused on Asher, taking in his slim but athletic frame, curly ginger hair, and the silver piercing in his left ear.

​"You agree with me, ginger head?" she asked, a playful smirk breaking through her frustration.

​Asher felt his face instantly burn bright red at the nickname. "Uh, yeah. I’m Asher, by the way."

​"Remi Faye. Just call me Remi."

​On stage, Headmaster Maverick raised his hand, silencing the room once more.

"Your designated instructors will now escort your respective factions to your quarters and introductory courses. Dismissed."

​With a flash of light, Maverick vanished from the podium.

​"So... Asher, right?" Remi chuckled as they stood up.

"Your name reminds me of that hilarious rumor from the public ceremony yesterday. Did you hear about that total clown who bonded with a literal squirrel?"

​Asher froze, his blood running entirely cold. For a second, he thought his secret was out, but looking at Remi’s amused expression, he realized she had no idea he was that specific boy.

​Forcing a strained laugh, Asher rubbed the back of his neck. "Haha... yeah! Man, what a loser. Talk about awful luck."

​Remi stopped walking, turning to look at him with a surprisingly serious expression.

"Honestly, I wouldn’t call him a loser. Sure, a squirrel is hilarious, but the kid is only fifteen. To force a bonding ritual two years early is insane. People should be focusing on his potential, not his partner."

​Asher stood speechless, a strange, unfamiliar warmth blooming in his chest. Maybe his situation wasn’t completely hopeless.

​As they filed out of the hall, Asher watched Rowan walking surrounded by eager admirers from the Auric tier.

He was already fitting in perfectly. Asher, meanwhile, kept his head low, sticking close to Remi as the Umbrax students were guided toward the training grounds.

​"Looks like we’re sticking together, ginger head," Remi said, nudging his side playfully.

​Their instructor led them into the center of the Umbrax training field—a sprawling, colossal arena that was easily twice the size of the academy’s main building.

​"Just how massive is this place?" a student whispered in awe.

​"This arena is where you will learn to manifest raw mana spells," the instructor explained without stopping.

​Right at that moment, the elite Auric group was crossing the upper observation deck in the opposite direction. Spotting his brother below, Rowan instinctively smiled and waved down at him.

​Panicking, Asher immediately looked away, pretending he hadn’t seen a thing.

​"Who’s that kid you’re waving at?" a sharp voice asked Rowan.

​Rowan frowned, turning to face a tall, lean student named Fang. "He’s not a kid, and yes, I know him."

​Fang chuckled, his sharp canine teeth catching the light.

He had earned the moniker "Fang" due to his terrifying bond with Cora— a forty-foot-long crimson cobra whose lethal fangs were as thick as a human’s forearm.

Following his bonding ritual, Fang had actually grown matching predatory canines within hours, a rare physical manifestation of a near-perfect spiritual connection.

​"Relax, dude. I was just asking if the pretty boy was a friend of yours," Fang smirked, completely unfazed by Rowan’s icy demeanor.

​Rowan ignored him entirely, picking up his pace, but Fang simply trailed along behind him like an overenthusiastic shadow.