Episode: 1
Eighteen years ago, the black dragon Malkorth assaults the capital with a monster horde. Roland Valerian suffers injuries in battle. In a ruined hall, Roland and Selena Levin hand newborn Kane to Ella, then use a forbidden seal to lock Malkorth inside the child before turning to stone. Years later at the academy, Derek Raymond, Leah Seren, Jasper, and Lucas pin Kane down, mock his F-rank status, and Leah shears off his hair.
Malkorth commands an army of monsters against the Aetherlan Empire's capital. Roland Valerian steps forward to fight the ancient black dragon alone. The beast strikes him down during the clash, leaving the imperial hero heavily wounded on the battlefield.
Inside a ruined hall, Roland and Selena Levin place infant Kane into Ella's arms. The parents cast a forbidden bloodline seal with their remaining magic, locking Malkorth within their child. Their bodies instantly turn to stone statues upon completing the spell.
At the magic academy in the present day, Jasper, Lucas, Derek Raymond, and Leah Seren tackle Kane Valerian to the dirt. Surrounding classmates laugh and taunt Kane, labeling him an F-rank failure while his bullies hold him firmly down.
Darren Lester sprints away across the academy grounds to alert Professor Gareth. Meanwhile, Leah Seren summons magical scissors and violently hacks off Kane's hair. The gathered crowd cheers and ridicules Kane while he remains trapped on the ground.
“Kane... live bravely... and protect Aetherlan.”
“You're pathetic, just like your master.”
“Kane, you don't deserve to call yourself the son of heroes. An F-rank loser has no place studying magic with us.”
“Look at you, you deserve every bit of this humiliation.”
Kane stays pinned to the earth in tears, clutching his fists tight as clumps of his sheared hair scatter across the ground. Derek and Leah stand over him, laughing at his disgrace while other students join in the mockery. Will Darren return with Professor Gareth in time to halt the abuse?