"Alright. You may all return to your seats."
The students turned and walked back.
Stella folded her arms.
"I noticed sothing earlier," she said. "There are swordn in this class who can already release their aura. You should have raised your hands when I asked."
She looked around the room.
"Don’t hide your strength."
"If you have it, show it."
"Because in this academy, hiding talent only delays your growth."
The class fell silent.
Rowan sat down quietly.
But Stella’s eyes followed him.
Sword saint...
With no openings.
So this is my first ti eting a sword master.
Rowan leaned back slightly in his seat.
I could tell she was watching .
Not casually.
Not out of curiosity.
But carefully.
She was observing him.
asuring him.
Judging him.
She wanted to know what he was capable of.
That much was obvious.
But she doesn’t know my real strength.
She only saw my defense.
She only saw how well I protect myself.
That was all she could read from him.
And that was fine.
Let her believe that.
For now, it didn’t matter.
What mattered was sothing else.
School life...
This is my first ti actually experiencing it.
Friends.
Classes.
Training.
Competition.
Normal days.
Normal problems.
A normal life.
Let experience it for once.
Rowan placed his elbow on the desk and rested his chin on his palm.
His eyes drifted toward the window.
A calm breath left his lips.
Let’s see what this academy has to offer.
Then, about twenty-five students, ten of them swordn, stepped forward. Each of them had the ability to release their aura. They walked in formation and stood in a line.
"Now, all of you, release your aura at the sa ti," Stella instructed.
Vroom!
As one, their auras erupted, glowing with white energy. The classroom was instantly filled with a brilliant, pulsating light.
Vroom... boom... vroom...
Rowan watched quietly, noting the control and power each student displayed.
"Ah... ti’s up for today," Stella said, glancing at the clock. "Class will continue next session."
It looked like school was over for now.
Rowan stood, stretching slightly, and walked out. Stella, anwhile, collected her books and calmly exited the classroom, closing the door behind her.
Everyone stood up, packing their bags. The students who had co today didn’t bring bags with them. They were the only ones without.
"Finally, let’s go see what our dorm looks like," Neville said.
Rowan nodded as walked toward the door with Neville. Before stepping out, Rowan glanced back. Hm... the princess is already gone. He thought. Looks like she won’t follow .
He stepped out of the classroom with Neville. Velqira was waiting by the door.
Damn, what is she doing here? Rowan muttered, looking away as he began walking.
Velqira then ca forward, walking beside him. Neville noticed imdiately. Damn... that’s the princess. And she’s friends with everyone? he thought, feeling slightly confused.
"Hey! I think before we go to the dorm, I want to check sothing," Neville said.
"You brat, co here," Rowan called, grabbing him lightly.
"There’s no need to move away," Rowan added calmly.
Neville whispered, almost shyly, "Hey... my heart is actually pounding. Just being here... are you guys dating or sothing?"
Rowan turned to face him directly. "You brat, we’re just ten years old. How can a ten-year-old date? That only happens when soone is, like... eighteen," he said.
"Oh... what are you guys talking about?" Velqira asked, curious.
"Nothing," Rowan replied lightly.
Everything felt silent, almost awkward.
"Well... I guess I’ll head out now," Neville said, taking a few steps back. "Bye, Rowan. See you at the dorm. Maybe later we can check out each other’s rooms."
He waved at Rowan and jogged away.
Rowan watched him leave, then sighed.
"Are you avoiding ?" Velqira asked softly as she walked closer.
Rowan frowned. "Well... maybe. I don’t understand why you keep following around."
Velqira tilted her head. "Shouldn’t I? Or are you the one trying to avoid ?"
Rowan glanced around. "Can’t you see everyone staring at us? Every other guy is jealous."
Velqira blinked. "Really?"
"That just makes it worse," Rowan said. "Everyone keeps glaring at more and more because you’re walking beside ."
She crossed her arms and looked at him.
"You should be proud that soone as beautiful as is walking beside you," Velqira said. "Every guy is staring. They’re jealous."
Rowan shook his head. "No, they’re not jealous. They’re pouring hatred on . And I don’t want that. I just want a peaceful life."
Velqira stopped walking and turned to face him.
"Well, if you keep denying it, then I’ll keep following you everywhere," she said firmly. "Because you are the boy I t four years ago."
Rowan froze.
"And not only that," she continued, her eyes burning with determination, "I want to say it clearly now. That day at the banquet, during your na ceremony, everyone was praising you. Even my father, the king, praised you. So I challenged you."
Her fists clenched.
"And I lost."
Rowan’s eyes narrowed slightly.
"I wanted to know how far I could go. I wanted to see how strong you truly were. I trained every day after that."
She stepped closer.
"And now I find out you have the blessing of a sword saint. The blue aura I saw today when Teacher Stella made you release your aura... it was the sa as four years ago. Exactly the sa."
She stared straight into his eyes.
"There is no way you can deny it."
Rowan remained silent.
So she noticed it...
His gaze darkened slightly.
I forgot. I released my aura today.
Should I erase her mory? I would need my sword for that.
She’s becoming a problem. She knows too much now.
And that’s annoying.
Rowan thought as he stared at Velqira.
"Are you not going to say sothing? Huh? Huh?" Velqira asked.
Rowan didn’t want to look at her. "Please... let’s just go our separate ways for now. You’re following to my dorm. Your dorm is that way. You’ll get into trouble, and we don’t want that."
Velqira smirked. "Well, I won’t. I already took permission to enter the dorm, but I won’t go into anyone else’s room. I just wanted to talk to soone."
Rowan exhaled. "Fine... just don’t cause trouble."
Before he could continue, soone suddenly grabbed Rowan by the arm and pushed him aside. Velqira stepped back as well.
Rowan paused and looked at Elian. "Master... is this your girlfriend?"
Elian shook her head. "No, I’m only ten. Why does everyone get these ideas?"
Rowan raised an eyebrow.
Elian waved her hands nervously. "Ah... I almost panicked."
Velqira, curious, tilted her head. "Hey... what’s with the sudden panic? And who are you?"
Elian bowed quickly. "Forgive . I misjudged you. I thought you were soone else. I’m really sorry."
"And I am... Master, bodyguard, but the guy I maid" Elian said.
"Oh, really?" Velqira interrupted. "I just thought... on the very first day the master cos, you’re already in a relationship with him. That’s why I panicked."
Velqira quickly raised both hands. "No, no, no, no, no! It’s not what you think!"
Velqira shook her head.
She trailed off, then turned and walked away.
"I was already done with class, and I ca as fast as I could," Elian said, slightly out of breath, holding out a neatly wrapped lunchbox. "Take this—lunch."
Rowan reached out and took it, turning the box in his hands before opening the lid just enough to peek inside. A small smile tugged at his lips.
"Wow... thanks, Elian," he said softly. "I guess I should head back to my dorm now."
"Can I... co with you?" She asked, a hint of hope in her voice.
Rowan shook his head firmly, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of disappointnt. "No. Students and teachers aren’t allowed in the sa rooms. It’s... the rules."
Elian tilted her head, frowning as she considered her words. "Well... technically, I’m not a student," he said carefully. "I’m not a swordsman teacher either. I... I teach mages. Teachers are allowed to visit students, but students can’t enter teachers’ rooms. So... I think it should be fine."
Rowan hesitated, studying him for a mont. The corners of his mouth twitched into a small smile. "Alright... thanks," he murmured, handing over a soft nod of trust.
As they kept walking toward the dorms, Rowan marveled at the size of the place. It was massive, a huge rampart stretching in every direction. Vakira walked beside him, holding her lamp.
So of the boys peered through the windows and whispered to each other. "Wow... that girl... she’s so beautiful. Who is she?"
"She’s wearing a uniform... she’s a lady. Damn, she’s truly stunning. And look at that guy—wait, who’s he?" soone murmured.
Rowan frowned. "Hey, Elian, I think there’s no need for you to follow . You’re attracting unnecessary attention."
"I don’t care what anyone thinks, master," Elian replied firmly. "I want to follow you to your dorm."
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