A world where magic, swordsmanship, and individual power determine the fate of nations. To counter endless threats, the Kingdom of Arden established Arden Academy, centered on the absolute principle of meritocracy. Grades are everything. Rank determines the future. Effort and lineage mean nothing if they do not produce results. Iona Elfelt, a mage of commoner birth, was a hardworking student who fought with vast knowledge and ingenuity instead of raw magical power. But at the academy, there is a girl who reigns at the top through sheer talent for the sword— The genius swordsman, Alicia Valhardt.

True to those words, Alicia always stood at the pinnacle of the academy, while Iona continued to lose no matter how many times she challenged her. Meanwhile, Mona Fiore, a girl specializing in healing and support, remained stuck in the middle ranks, her power to save others unvalued by the exams. And then there was Non Crow, a mysterious girl who manipulated shadow magic and curses. She was one who knew of the academy's dark side—the existence of "shadow missions" that left no record in grades or history.