The story picks up during an academy tournament where young spirit masters are engaged in fierce battles. The spotlight falls on Leia Valhart, a student with silver braided hair and a white uniform, who rides atop her magnificent red dragon, Salamander. Salamander, a top-tier dragon spirit, unleashes a devastating fire breath attack, demonstrating power far beyond a student's level. However, the attack is completely nullified by a boy named Roak Areus, who uses water and wind spirits to create a protective barrier. Leia, frustrated by her full-power attack being rendered ineffective and Roak's pristine uniform, is further angered when Roak suggests a draw. Roak then summons a dull-colored sword, infused with spirits, and swiftly defeats Leia, marking her first defeat.
After the match, Leia confronts Roak, demanding an explanation for his unconventional fighting style, specifically why he didn't summon his contracted spirit. Roak claims he had no reason to, which further enrages Leia, who summons Salamander again for a rematch. Their confrontation is interrupted by Misha Romus, the princess and top student of the academy, who intervenes to uphold the rules. Misha, accompanied by a beautiful angel spirit, asserts her authority, and Leia, though defiant, eventually backs down and apologizes. Roak, meanwhile, is left with a chilling threat from Leia and a cryptic remark from Misha about his fighting style.
Roak reflects on the constant questioning he receives about why he doesn't use his contracted spirit. The truth is, he has no contracted spirit, a fact he has hidden since his first year. Despite his efforts to compensate by mastering simple contracts with minor spirits and honing his physical combat skills, he is now labeled a genius who is holding back his true power. This misunderstanding leads to him being highly praised, much to his dismay.
During a welcome event, Roak is reluctantly dragged into a recreational gathering and later a banquet. At a roundtable discussion, he is seated with Leia, who still glares at him. The atmosphere is tense until Roak is again pressed about his fighting style. While trying to deflect, Roak is publicly exposed by his classmate, Augun Godwin, who reveals Roak has no contracted spirit. This revelation shocks everyone, and despite Augun's aggressive accusations, Roak remains silent. Gareth, Roak's friend and a skilled spirit master, intervenes to stop Augun, but the situation escalates when Augun attacks Roak. Roak, using a summoned sword spirit and a fire enchantment, easily defeats Augun's attack. He then proceeds to incapacitate several guardian spirits that appear, showcasing his formidable combat prowess despite his lack of a contracted spirit.
The group, including Leia, Gareth, and Lily, a quiet but talented student, embarks on an expedition to the "Luna Ruins," an ancient and mysterious structure. Upon entering, they trigger a trap, summoning numerous guardian spirits. While the others plan to escape, Roak and Gareth decide to hold off the guardians. Roak uses a powerful fire-enchanted sword, while Gareth unleashes his ice wolf spirit, Beowulf. They fight valiantly, but the guardians prove resilient. Roak, using his immense spiritual power and quick thinking, manages to defeat several guardians, while Gareth and Beowulf also hold their own. They eventually create an ice tunnel to escape, with Roak using earth magic to seal the entrance behind them. Roak's actions, particularly his ability to wield powerful spirits and his combat skills, leave Leia in awe and further solidify his enigmatic reputation.
