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The morning air was cool as Dabi stood in front of the gates of Astral Heaven Academy.
He could feel the weight of the mont as he prepared to walk through them.
The academy lood above him, its towering spires stretching toward the sky.
It was once the number one academy in the nation, known for producing legendary figures, including his parents.
Now, it was a shadow of its forr self, but Dabi could sense that beneath the surface, it still held power, secrets, and promise.
Dabi glanced back at Eli and Mira. "You two rember everything I told you?"
Mira nodded. "Yes. Don't worry about us, Dabi. We'll be fine. We'll train and stay safe."
Eli gave a determined smile. "We'll be strong like you soday."
Dabi knelt down and patted his little brother's head. "You're already strong. Just take care of each other."
He straightened up, his gaze hardening as he faced the academy. "I'll find out what happened to our parents. I promise."
With a final wave, Dabi turned and walked toward the entrance.
As he approached, he noticed other students arriving, so in groups, so alone, but all of them carrying the sa air of determination.
These were the ones who, like him, had chosen Astral Heaven over the more prestigious academies.
So were from fallen noble families, while others were the overlooked talents who had been rejected from the top academies for one reason or another.
The academy grounds were vast, with training areas, libraries, and dormitories spread across a sprawling landscape.
It felt ancient, almost as if it had been built long before the dinsional gates began to appear in the world.
"Dabi!" a voice called from behind him.
He turned to see Raghnall Ferrin, the representative who had approached him after the entrance exam.
He was a tall man with dark hair streaked with gray and a sharp gaze that seed to pierce through everything it touched.
His presence commanded respect, yet there was a subtle kindness in his eyes when he spoke to Dabi.
"You're here early," Raghnall said, coming to a stop beside Dabi. "Good.
That's the first lesson punctuality is crucial if you want to succeed here."
Dabi nodded. "I wanted to be ready for whatever cos next."
Raghnall smiled faintly. "You'll need that attitude. The academy might not be what it once was, but don't let that fool you.
The challenges here are real, and many students who co through these gates fail to rise to the occasion."
"I won't fail," Dabi said firmly.
Raghnall's smile widened, but there was a hint of sothing else perhaps sadness or a warning in his eyes.
"I know you won't. Your parents were two of the best students Astral Heaven has ever seen. You've inherited more than just their blood."
Dabi's chest tightened at the ntion of his parents. He had so many questions but knew this wasn't the ti. "What happened to them?"
Raghnall's face beca serious. "That's a question I've asked myself for a long ti.
They were involved in an expedition into one of the most dangerous gates connected to the academy a gate that no one has been able to clear for over fifty years.
"He paused, looking toward the massive stone building in the distance. "I was their instructor at the ti.
They were among the few who were skilled enough to attempt it."
"They disappeared," Dabi said softly, his hands clenching into fists. "Everyone said they were dead."
Raghnall placed a hand on Dabi's shoulder. "We don't know that for sure. That's why I approached you.
There's more to their story, and I believe you have what it takes to uncover the truth."
Dabi took a deep breath, steadying himself. "I'll do whatever it takes. I need to know."
"Good," Raghnall said. "Then let's get started."
They walked together toward the central courtyard, where the orientation for new students was set to take place.
As they passed other students, Dabi noticed the wide range of emotions in their faces so were excited, others nervous, and a few looked as though they were already doubting their decision to co here.
But Dabi's mind was focused on only one thing: the dinsional gate connected to the academy.
The gate had been left untouched for decades, and only the most daring or reckless would even consider entering it.
Yet now, it was tied to his path, the key to his parents' fate, and to his own future.
The orientation began with an introduction by the headmaster of the academy, an older man with a stern deanor and an aura of power that suggested he had seen his fair share of battles.
His speech was brief and to the point, emphasizing the importance of discipline and perseverance.
After the formalities, Dabi was assigned to his dormitory. It was a modest room, with a bed, a desk, and a window overlooking the training grounds.
He sat on the bed, staring at the academy grounds below, where students were already beginning to spar and train.
As night fell, Dabi opened his system interface, checking his stats after the long journey and the intense training he had put himself through in preparation for the academy.
Current Stats:
Strength: 48
Agility: 41 ( 10 from the ring)
Endurance: 49
Intelligence: 53
Mana: 135
mory: 48
His strength, endurance, and agility had increased significantly, and with each level he felt himself growing closer to uncovering the truth. But he still had a long way to go.
Lying back in bed, Dabi closed his eyes. Tomorrow, the real work would begin.
The academy held many secrets, and sowhere within it was the key to the gate his parents had entered.
If he could clear it, he would finally learn what had happened to them.
For now, all he could do was wait, rest, and prepare.
The journey ahead would be long and perilous, but Dabi was determined.
He would succeed, no matter the cost.
As he drifted off to sleep, one thought echoed in his mind.
"I'll clear that gate, and I'll find them."
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