He had no resources, but saw through the question faster than anyone else.
Bright lights poured down in the center of the mall.
The space was loud with footsteps and voices.
On the transparent stage, a logic challenge had just begun.
The host's voice boomed across the upper floors:
"Today's open logic challenge welcomes all young minds—no limits, no background required!
If you've got the nerve, you've got a chance!"
Children stood in line below the stage, holding colorful toolkits—pattern cards, spatial boards, simulators, basic modules.
Some rehearsed with their parents.
Others took instructions from coaches in hushed, sharp whispers.
At the back of the crowd stood Elric.
He held nothing.
No tablet. No guide.
No one had explained the rules.
But he wasn't panicking.
He was watching.
And after a moment, he looked up at Mr. Zane beside him.
"Can I try?" he asked.
Mr. Zane blinked, slightly caught off guard—then nodded.
**
The questions came quickly.
• "Build a projection of a four-dimensional model—in five minutes."
• "Find the one logical exception among nine symbols—and explain why."
• "Create a self-standing multi-axis structure—in sixty seconds."
Children scrambled to their stations.
Paper unfolded. Templates laid flat. Arguments broke out in corners.
Elric didn't move until he had seen everything.
Then—he lowered his eyes and began.
No hesitation.
No wasted motion.
He didn't build twice.
He thought once, and finished once.
Each movement landed like a pre-drawn answer. Each result held.
On the side of the judges' booth, a few heads turned.
Then more.
Behind the glass wall, one man removed his glasses, and stared.
**
He was a guest professor. James, from Syntra International Academy—
an experimental boarding school with international reach.
He had come just to give a short interview.
Nothing serious. Nothing formal.
He hadn't expected to find a boy whose mental clarity didn't just catch his attention—
it triggered the instinct to analyze, not just observe.
He knew what he was looking at.
Talent—the kind that shows itself by building order inside chaos.
**
When the results came in, the host still wore a stunned look:
"Contestant Number 27 has demonstrated analysis speed and structural clarity far above average—"
The judging panel broke into applause.
Professor James moved fast.
He stepped away from the glass, bypassed the press line, and headed backstage.
He found them—Mr. Zane and Elric—waiting quietly off to the side.
He introduced himself calmly:
"I'm Professor James.
We're looking for students around the world for Syntra Academy's accelerated program.
It's full scholarship. Research-based. Highly selective."
He turned to Elric, offered a small smile.
"Your structure logic, your response time—
it's rare.
I'd like you to consider joining us."
Elric didn't answer right away.
But something in his eyes—finally—lit up.
**
In that moment, he understood something:
There wasn't just one world.
Not just one way.
He had no connections.
No resources.
But he had one thing that couldn't be borrowed, stolen, or bought:
He could understand faster.
—
[Chapter Prologue]
Not all beginnings happen in sunlight.
Some begin the moment you see how the system works—
and draw your own map.