The morning passed peacefully.
Sunlight poured through the towering stained-glass windows of Aurelius Academy, bathing the marble corridors in shifting colors of gold, blue, and crimson. Students moved from lecture halls to training rooms while instructors walked among them with varying degrees of patience and authority.
Inside Room 402, Lina slowly opened her eyes and for a mont, she simply stared at the ceiling.
Her body felt lighter than before, not because she wasn’t tired, but because her body was slowly adapting to the monstrous paraters Qhuin had forced upon her.
Then she noticed sothing, the heavy pink duvet covered her shoulders.
Her brows knitted together.
She distinctly rembered falling asleep during training while sitting on top of the blanket, Lina sat upright and looked around the room.
Her training sword rested against the bedside table and beside her pillow sat a tiny white rabbit.
Qhuin lazily grood one of his long ears as if he had absolutely no concerns in the world.
Lina smiled.
"Snowy..."
Qhuin didn’t respond.
"Did you put the blanket over ?"
One of his ears twitched, then his deep monarch’s voice echoed inside her mind.
"Do not flatter yourself, commoner. The blanket was sliding off the bed and disturbing my resting area. I simply corrected its position."
Lina giggled.
"Sure you did."
Qhuin ignored her and refused to entertain such absurd accusations.
Several minutes later, Lina finished bathing and put on her fresh academy uniform.
She adjusted her Class A blazer before placing Qhuin inside his carry-bag.
Soon, they headed toward their morning classes.
...\....\
By noon, the first half of the day’s training finally ended.
Students flooded into the enormous Class A cafeteria, the room itself was breathtaking.
Towering crystal chandeliers floated overhead while dozens of enchanted windows displayed artificial skies. Long marble tables stretched from one side of the hall to the other as students gathered into their respective social circles.
Nobles occupied the center and commoners naturally gravitated toward the edges.
So things never changed.
Lina sat with Chloe and i near one of the quieter corners.
Her lunch sat untouched for several monts as she absentmindedly listened to the noble students nearby.
"The tournant will be easy."
"My family hired a private instructor."
"I heard the Emperor himself is attending."
"Class B doesn’t stand a chance."
Boasts echoed everywhere, everyone wanted to beco important and noticed.
Lina quietly focused on eating instead.
Across from her, Chloe hugged her Frost-Whiskered Otter while i complained about training.
"My arms are still sore," i groaned.
Lina laughed softly.
"Mine too."
Inside the carry-bag, Qhuin listened without interest, his senses remained active and observing.
Then...
BOOM!
The cafeteria doors slamd open, and the entire room went silent. Marcus stumbled inside, his appearance startled everyone, his hair was disheveled, and dark circles hung beneath his eyes his uniform was wrinkled and half-buttoned.
His face looked pale enough to rival a corpse, the mont he entered the cafeteria his eyes began searching, then his eyes locked onto Lina, and instantly his breathing beca ragged.
"There!", and all the students turned toward Lina. Marcus sprinted across the cafeteria, knocking chairs aside.
"YOU!"
Lina froze as Marcus pointed at her with trembling fingers.
"Ever since you arrived, nothing has been normal!"
His voice cracked. "Everything keeps disappearing!", and breathing accelerated.
"My eagle vanished!, and now my cousin changed, because of you everyone thinks I’m crazy!"
His face twisted with paranoia.
"It’s your fault!"
"It’s all your fault!"
Then he suddenly drew a dagger, and gasps erupted throughout the cafeteria.
Lina’s body stiffened, her mind imdiately reverted to her old habits, and she had forgotten everything, her strength, and her training.
anwhile, Marcus lunged, and the dagger flashed, but before he could reach her another figure moved, as a tall young man stepped from behind Marcus.
Marcus’s older cousin, his expression remained calm as he raised a gauntleted fist.
THUD.
His punch landed perfectly against the back of Marcus’s neck, knocking him out as his eyes rolled backward and his body collapsed face-first onto the marble floor.
The entire cafeteria fell silent, then his cousin adjusted his gloves before grabbing Marcus by the collar.
"My apologies."
His voice was smooth. "My cousin has been suffering from severe mana hallucinations since the ravine lockdown."
He bowed politely. "I’ll return him to the dical wing."
Without another word, he dragged Marcus away, and the students parted instinctively.
Nobody stopped him nor questioned him.
Within monts, both figures disappeared through the doors.
The room slowly regained its noise, but the atmosphere remained uneasy.
Lina exhaled shakily, her fingers tightened around her fork.
tal groaned softly.
Then bent and she imdiately let go.
Chloe and i rushed toward her.
"Are you okay?"
Lina nodded.
"I... I think so."
l huffed. "That lunatic has completely lost his mind."
She crossed her arms. "Ever since the lockdown, he’s been acting strange."
Chloe remained unusually quiet and her Frost-Whiskered Otter pressed itself against her chest.
She stared at the doors Marcus had disappeared through.
Then she lowered her head. "If only I had real power..."
Her voice was soft, almost inaudible. "If only I weren’t just a useless commoner supporter... nobody would look down on us."
Nobody heard it, nobody except Qhuin, inside the carry-bag, his ears shifted slightly.
His ruby eyes quietly observed her.
He remained silent, heroes were troubleso and they attracted attention, and what he preferred were ordinary people.
People are overlooked, people burdened by insecurities, they were the easiest to guide and easiest to shape, the easiest to understand.
A soul that genuinely desired strength was infinitely more valuable than one that simply desired glory.
Qhuin quietly closed his eyes, he knew there was no need to rush, the strongest foundations were built patiently.
So pieces willingly moved themselves into position. All one had to do was wait.
Far above the academy, dark clouds slowly gathered over the distant mountains.
The countdown toward the Grand Tournant continued.
Twenty-eight days remained.
And Aurelius Academy was slowly becoming a battlefield long before the first match had even begun.
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