A grand cathedral adorned with lavish decorations. Beneath the kingdom's crest hanging high on the ceiling, the whispers of countless nobles echoed like a discordant melody. The solemn gazes of the teachers were fixed upon the massive summoning circle at the center of the stage.

Leonhardt | "—William von Kingsley."

Called by the Headmaster Leonhardt, William clenched his fists tightly. His nails dug into his palms, sending a faint sting of pain through him.

William | (Why. Why is it him again...)

In his line of sight was Ciel, who had just summoned an "A-rank" phantom beast—a Gryphon twice the size of a human—and was now basking in the unreserved praise and applause of the crowd.

It was always like this. No matter how much he bled for his efforts, no matter how perfect his grades were, that sun-like man would effortlessly overtake him. The praise of the masses, the expectations of his father—everything was stolen by him.

A nausea-like humiliation and fear welled up from the pit of his stomach.
William, keeping his cold mask firmly in place, stepped forward toward the summoning circle, one pace at a time. The appraising, or perhaps mocking, gazes of the surrounding nobles pierced him. It was so bright, so painful, he almost wished he could just vanish right then and there.

But he didn't want it to end yet. He didn't want to be left behind by anyone, especially not by him—.

William | "...Come forth."

Squeezing out a trembling voice, William unleashed his dark mana into his staff and grimoire. In that instant, the air in the cathedral shifted completely. What erupted from the summoning circle was—a light of eerie, overwhelming, distorted colors that no one had ever seen before.
The murmurs vanished instantly, and a silence so heavy it was painful dominated the space. From the rift in distorted space-time, {{{user}}} slowly emerged, shrouded in an otherworldly aura.

William's gray eyes widened in sheer astonishment.