The walk back to the dormitories sector was framed by the deep indigo hues of dusk. Streetlamps powered by faint mana crystals flickered to life along the paths, casting long, swaying shadows across the grass.
Ansel walked with an easy, relaxed stride, hands casually tucked into his trousers. He kept looking over at Iver, clearly enjoying the quiet atmosphere after the frantic chaos of the dungeon trial.
"Honestly, I couldn’t have asked for a better team today," Ansel said, a warm, genuine smile on his face. "Fighting alongside you, Sitri, and Aria felt... effortless. Usually, people try too hard to impress me or stay out of my way, but you guys just executed your roles without batting an eye. I had a great time out there, ares."
Iver kept his eyes fixed on the path ahead, his expression unreadable. "We cleared the objective. That’s all that matters your highness."
Ansel let out a soft chuckle, unfazed by the cold response. "Still as direct as ever, aren’t you? Well, call me Ansel when it’s just us. We shared a battle line today. ’Your Highness’ gets exhausting after a while."
Iver offered no reply, simply continuing his steady pace in silence.
They soon reached the temporary students dormitories, a massive, multi story stone complex designed to house the entire first year intake during the evaluation week. Once the final scores were released and students were officially sorted into Class S and Class A, Class B, Class C and finally Class D those in the top ranks would be relocated to high grade private estates on the upper floating terraces.
As a royal prince, Ansel had been offered his own private mansion on day one, but he had quietly declined, preferring to stay in the standard cadet dorms alongside everyone else.
"Home sweet home for a few more days," Ansel said as they pushed through the double wooden doors into the central lobby.
The main lounge was a chaotic wall of noise. Dozens of exhausted, sweaty, and bruised cadets were shouting over one another, some arguing over dungeon tactics, others bragging about monster kills, and a few groaning in pain as minor healing spells were applied to their cuts.
"Let’s take a hot bath before we go sleep," Ansel suggested over the noise, flashing a grin.
Iver gave a subtle nod, heading toward the bathing quarters without a word.
The communal bathhouse in the eastern wing was steaming and packed, but the sheer heat and running water helped wash away the grime, dried monster blood, and lingering tension of the trial. After a long, quiet soak, the two changed into clean, simple linen tunics and returned to their shared quarters.
By the time Iver lay down on his narrow wooden frame bed, the roaring noise from the hallways had gradually died down. The heavy silence of the night settled over the dormitory.
Lying in the dark, staring up at the plain wooden ceiling beams, Iver let his eyes focus on the dark ceiling. ’What a hectic day, i revealed a tiny fraction of my power and successfully integrated with the others, once were done with written tests tomorrow, we will officially join the academy’.
Closing his eyes, Iver let his breathing slow, slipping instantly into a deep, disciplined sleep.
...
BZZZZZT!
A loud brass bell chimed overhead, accompanied by the muffled stomping of boots in the corridor outside.
Iver opened his eyes instantly, completely alert. He sat up, pulled on his dark cadet uniform, and adjusted his coat.
"Morning Ares," Ansel greeted from across the room, already fully dressed and tying his hair back into his usual neat ponytail. "Sleep well?"
"Well enough," Iver replied briefly, stepping out into the hall beside the Prince. Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
As they walked down the wide corridor toward the exit, a tall, immensely gloomy student with dark blue hair and deep dark circles under his eyes shuffled past them. His head was bowed, clutching a thick stack of notes, muttering line formulas under his breath.
"Morning," the gloomy cadet mumbled lifelessly as he passed, barely lifting his eyes.
"Good morning!" Ansel called out brightly.
Iver merely gave a brief, polite nod as the boy dragged his feet away down the hallway.
’He looks like a walking corpse’, Iver thought to himself, watching the boy’s slouched posture. ’Is he even going to survive here’?
Ansel glanced sideways at Ares, a knowing smirk playing on his lips as if he had read his exact thoughts. "That’s Orin. Son of Duke Vane."
Iver blinked once, keeping his face neutral.
"He looks like he’s about to collapse, but he’s usually like that," Ansel added with a light chuckle. "Completely absorbed in tactical theory and mana matrices. He’s not a bad guy at all, just horribly awkward around people. Anyway, shall we get going? We don’t want to be late for the exams."
The testing amphitheater was vast, built with tier upon tier of curved stone desks overlooking a central podium. By the time Iver and Ansel arrived, a large portion of the first year class was already gathered.
Iver spotted Sitri and Aria near the middle rows, exchanging short greetings with them as he took an empty seat near the aisle. Nearby, Lyra Aethelgard and her team gave polite bows, while Princess Mina offered a gentle nod from a few seats down.
A heavy wooden door slammed shut at the front of the hall. A tall, stern looking proctor with sharp spectacles stepped onto the central podium, sweeping his cold gaze across the quieted room.
"Find your seats immediately!" the teacher’s voice echoed sharply across the stone walls. "No talking, You have two hours to complete all three modules. Begin!"
Two hours later...
The heavy doors opened, releasing a flood of exhausted students out into the sunlit central courtyard. The contrast between the silent tension of the exam room and the open air immediately brought out a flurry of loud chatter.
"Man, that second section was pure evil!" a noble boy groaned, clutching his head. "Who actually memorizes thst kind of stuff?!"
"It wasn’t that bad," a girl beside him shrugged. "The history portion was basically free points if you read the orientation manual."
"Easy for you to say! My brain is fried!"
Iver slipped away from the main crowd surrounding Prince Ansel and Sitri. Scanning the courtyard, he spotted a figure standing near the edge of a white marble fountain, Adela Zephra. Spotting him, she lifted a hand and gave a sharp, impatient wave, signaling him over.
Iver walked over, stopping a comfortable distance away. "Lady Adela."
"I haven’t seen you since yesterday evening," Adela said, crossing her arms and looking him up and down. "We haven’t really had a chance to talk much since the trial ended. You did well in the rift." Find the original chapter at NovelPing.
"Thank you," Iver replied with his usual calm demeanor. "You and your team performed exceptionally as well."
"Since we have time before the afternoon standings are posted... do you want to tour the eastern academy grounds?" Iver suggested, gesturing toward the wide thoroughfare. "There are a few specialized training facilities we haven’t checked out yet."
"I... suppose I can spare some time," Adela agreed, attempting to maintain her usual dignified air.
’Wait, did he just ask me to walk around with him out of nowhere’?! Adela’s mind instantly spiraled into a quiet panic behind her calm facade. ’Why is my heart beating so fast? We’re just walking! I am a Zephra, I should be leading the conversation, not panicking like a foolish girl! Oh gods, keep it together, Adela’...
"Good. Lead the way," she added aloud, stepping forward with a proud stride.
As the two walked side by side down the wide stone avenue, the surrounding cadets couldn’t help but stare. Whispers broke out among the lower-tier nobles and commoners sitting on the stone benches.
"Wait, isn’t that Adela from House Zephra?" "Who’s the guy beside her? Is he her personal guard?" "No way, I saw them talking yesterday too... I told you they were dating!" "A Zephra with a cadet? Seriously?!" "That guy was with the prince team yesterday".
Adela stiffened slightly, hearing the quiet murmurs, but kept her head held high, ignoring them. Iver didn’t care in the slightest, his eyes calmly scanning the courtyard landscape, until a loud, violent commotion shattered the atmosphere near the entrance of the martial grounds.
"Don’t touch her you filthy scum?!" a harsh, arrogant voice roared through the air.
A violent thud echoed out, followed by a sharp scream of pain.
A young cadet was lying sprawled on the stone pavement, clutching his bleeding face. Standing over him was a high born noble boy with dark hair and vicious, sharp eyes, Iver’s biological step brother, Gideon of House Vorne.
"Brother, stop! Please!" a girl’s voice cried out. Standing nearby was his younger sister, her face pale as she tried to pull Gideon’s arm back. "He was just asking about yesterday’s team synergy! He didn’t mean anything by it!"
"Shut up!" Gideon spat, shoving his sister’s hand away as dark, viscous black mana began to swirl violently around his fists. "Just because this trash was placed in a temporary group with us yesterday doesn’t give him the right to speak to a lady of House Vorne as an equal! Know your place, commoner worm!"
The scene immediately drew a massive ring of onlookers.
Adela stopped in her tracks, her brow furrowing deeply as she recognized the black mana. She turned to Iver, her voice dropping into a tense, urgent whisper. "Let’s go see what’s happening... but Ares, listen to me closely. Do not interfere under any circumstances. House Vorne is a high ranking ducal house, their standing is far higher than my family’s, and they will crush anyone who steps in."
The crowd parted as Adela and Iver approached the perimeter of the circle. Other major figures were arriving as well, Lyra and Sitri watched from the side, while Prince Ansel himself stepped into the center of the ring, his golden aura flaring dangerously.
"That’s enough, Gideon!" Ansel commanded, his royal voice echoing across the courtyard, cutting through the heavy tension. "Stand down immediately. You are disrupting the peace of the academy!"
Gideon paused, his eyes gleaming with dark arrogance as he looked at the Prince, dark mana still crackling around his boots while the commoner lay trembling at his feet.
...
am tired, i will continue the rest tomorrow, have a good day or night