"Are you done?"
The question was quiet, almost casual, but it caught the entire classroom off guard.
For several seconds, nobody said anything. The students who had been laughing at Adrian exchanged confused glances, while Julian’s amused expression faltered. Even Princess Isolde, who had shown little interest in the exchange until now, raised an eyebrow.
Darius stared at Adrian as though he had suddenly started speaking a foreign language, "What did you say?"
Adrian scoffed, "Did you burn your ears along with your temper."
A few students sucked in their breaths. Nobody in the classroom was expected Adrian speak to Darius that way, especially not in front of Princess Isolde.
Darius’s expression darkened. "Are you talking to me?"
Adrian gave him a brief, unimpressed look, "What an idiot."
Before Darius could respond, Adrian turned away from him and looked directly at Princess Isolde.
"Your Highness, is there any restriction against students who haven’t awakened participating in the final examination?"
That question caught Isolde by surprise. She studied Adrian for a moment before answering.
"There is no such restriction. Every final-year student is eligible to participate, regardless of whether they have awakened their talent," She paused, then continued in a measured tone.
"However, if you choose not to participate, I will ensure that you face no punishment for that decision. You have my word."
The classroom grew quieter. Princess Isolde’s assurance was not a small matter. Her status meant that few people would dare challenge a decision she personally supported.
Adrian simply nodded, "Understood. Thank you, Your Highness."
With that, he closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair, he was done with the conversation.
Darius’s face twisted with anger. Adrian had not only ignored his insults but had openly questioned him, called him an idiot, and then turned to Princess Isolde as though Darius were nothing more than an irritating interruption.
"Adrian!" Darius snapped.
Adrian didn’t open his eyes.
"Don’t you dare ignore me!" Darius clenched his fists, "You really think making a snide remark makes you smart? You are still the same useless blemish on the Ravencrest family name!"
Adrian remained motionless, his head resting against the back of his chair.
"Look at you!" Darius continued, his voice growing louder. "You haven’t even awakened, and you still have the nerve to act superior? You are a disgrace! A useless piece of trash who can’t accomplish anything on his own!"
Lyra glanced between the two brothers, her expression was of disbelief.
"Are you even listening to me?" Darius shouted, but Adrian didn’t respond, and the silence only made Darius angrier.
"You worthless blemish! You dare ignore me because we’re in front of the princess? Without the Ravencrest name, you would be nothing! You should be grateful that our family even allows you to remain here!"
Darius’s temper, meanwhile, was rapidly approaching its breaking point.
"Get up!" he roared, "Look at me when I am talking to you!"
A faint crackling sound suddenly filled the classroom. Flames flickered to life around Darius’s palms. The temperature near him rose.
"Darius is actually going to attack him?"
"He’s lost his mind!"
"That idiot Adrian is going to get himself killed!"
Darius barely heard them. His eyes were fixed on Adrian, "Since you seem to have forgotten your place, I will remind you myself!"
He took a step forward, the flames in his hands growing brighter. His body leaned toward Adrian as he prepared to rush him.
"Enough."
The moment Princess Isolde spoke, a sudden gust swept through the classroom. A thin veil of mist swirled around Darius, followed by a sharp current of air that swept across his hands. The flames flickered violently before being snuffed out completely.
The classroom fell silent.
Darius froze, his anger momentarily giving way to surprise. He hadn’t even seen Princess Isolde move her hand, yet the fire he had summoned had vanished as though it had never existed.
Even the students who had been whispering stopped talking. Nobody needed to be told who had intervened.
Princess Isolde stood beside her desk, her expression cold as she looked at Darius.
"Stand down. Now!"
Darius clenched his jaw, his extinguished flames turned to smoke.
"Your Highness, he was the one who provoked me! He just insulted me..."
"Are you questioning my judgment, Darius?" Princess Isolde’s cold voice cut straight through his explanation.
Darius stopped mid-sentence, "But, Your Highness, I..."
"Enough. I will not repeat myself."
Darius’s fists tightened at his sides. His face burned with humiliation, and his gaze briefly flickered toward Adrian, who was still sitting in his chair as though none of this had anything to do with him.
He swallowed his anger, took an unwilling step backward.
"Good," Princess Isolde said coolly, "Now behave yourself." This story is hosted at g.com.
She then turned towards the class.
"The examination will begin in ten days," Princess Isolde announced, her gaze sweeping across the classroom. "Your academy will distribute the remaining instructions, including the reporting arrangements and the requirements for recording your results. Make your preparations accordingly."
She paused briefly before continuing.
"Every final-year student is eligible to participate, regardless of whether they have awakened their talent."
"Your performance will determine your results. Family connections, titles, and personal influence will not earn you a higher ranking. The examination will be judged on what you accomplish in the Graveveil Forest."
Her gaze passed over the noble children seated before her.
"Make sure you understand that before you enter."
Her words carried particular weight in a classroom filled with nobles and their children. Whatever privileges their family names afforded them outside the examination, those names would not automatically secure them a place in the Royal Guard.
With that, Princess Isolde turned toward the doors.
The royal guards immediately fell into formation around her. As she withdrew her magical influence, the frost that had crept across several desks began to melt, leaving tiny droplets of water on the polished wood.
Darius remained where he stood for a moment, his jaw clenched. His eyes drifted toward Adrian, who was still leaning back in his chair with his eyes closed, apparently unconcerned by the confrontation that had just taken place.
The sight only made Darius angrier.
The contempt in his eyes had not diminished. If anything, the interruption had given him another reason to despise his younger brother. He still believed the upcoming examination would expose Adrian’s worthlessness in front of the entire academy.
He gave Adrian one last furious look before turning toward the doors.
The doors closed behind Princess Isolde, Darius, and their guards. Their footsteps gradually faded down the corridor, leaving the classroom in silence for a few seconds.
Then the room erupted into conversation.
"Did you see Darius’s face when Adrian called him an idiot?"
"He actually dared to speak to Darius like that!"
"Forget that. Did you see Princess Isolde extinguish his flames without even touching him?"
"Of course. She’s a princess of the royal family. Did you expect anything less?"
"Still, Adrian’s either become unusually brave or completely lost his mind. He can’t possibly believe he stands a chance in the Graveveil Forest."
Julian and Lyra were soon surrounded by students eager to hear their opinions. Their laughter returned, although Julian occasionally glanced toward Adrian, seemingly disappointed that his earlier attempts to provoke him had produced so little entertainment.
Adrian paid them no attention.
Ten days.
That was how much time he had to prepare.