As Alex and the other students followed Teacher Emilia into the Elental Excellence Academy’s grand hall, the clamoring chatter about credits ca to an abrupt halt. Silence washed over the group as they stepped inside—stunned, motionless.
Above them, the high vaulted ceiling opened into what looked like a living sky.
Real clouds drifted lazily overhead, parting to reveal majestic fire dragons soaring through the air, their wings outstretched as they breathed flas in wide arcs. Fire phoenixes glided gracefully, trailing blazing patterns of gold and crimson. A radiant white phoenix danced around a cloud, while an ice phoenix followed behind, scattering snowflakes in her wake. A lion with shimring feathers stood on a drifting cloud, roaring soundlessly, its presence regal and imnse. Slithering through the sky, a feathered serpent with blood-red plus weaved between the clouds, its eyes gleaming with ancient power.
But Alex’s eyes were drawn elsewhere.
In a far corner of the sky, half-hidden in shadow, a colossal black dragon lay coiled. Its deep purple eyes shimred with intelligence, calmly watching the students below.
Then—for the briefest mont—its gaze t Alex’s.
Sothing stirred. A flash of recognition.
And just as quickly, it was gone. The dragon’s expression returned to stillness, as though nothing had passed between them at all.
Alex fell into confusion, scratching his head. Was it just an illusion?
A nearby boy explained to his companion, "Do you know these were made by the Great Four Sages? These are called Guardians of the EE Academy."
Emilia waited on the side to give students ti to see the grand hall. After a little bit, she clapped her hands.
"Now let’s go get your bracelet and lead you to your dorms."
Alex received his bracelet—black colored beads—directly linked with his elental power. His rank appeared on a blue screen projected in front of him:
RANK: 233CREDIT: 4 (BONUS CREDIT)ELENT: DARK AND WOOD ELENTCLASS ATTENDED: 0 (NEWCOR)MISSION: NOT ALLOWEDROOM ALLOTTED: NIL
Alex looked confusedly at others’ screens. Everyone had been allotted a room—but not him.
Emilia noticed Alex watching other students’ screens and ca near him, saying in a warm voice, "What’s the problem, Alex?"
Alex replied, "Teacher, here it’s written that I’m not allotted any room."
Emilia took Alex’s arm in her hands. "Let check."
When she saw the screen, her crimson eyes filled with fury. Controlling her anger, she said, "Wait a minute."
She produced a silver sleek card and started speaking into it.
In an angry tone, trying hard to control her voice, Emilia said, "Vice Principal! What is the aning of this? Why is one of my students not assigned any room to live?"
A voice ca out of the card with a heavy and somber tone, "Emilia, much to our dismay, the Veylor Club—along with 80 percent of the seniors from noble families—demanded that no room be allotted to a commoner. If he earns the credit, he can get allotted as per university policy."
Emilia said, gnashing her teeth, "You guys are saying it was decided by students and you didn’t do anything about it?"
The Vice Principal’s resigned voice ca, "Nobles are angry. Lots of students from noble families died, and only one commoner who entered the test survived without much skill. So... you should understand more than how nobles treat us commoners, right? You’re a noble yourself. You were part of treating soone like him the sa way, right?"
Emilia’s fist clenched. A shadow of sadness ca on her face. A mory—of a young boy in a torn uniform begging for help—flashed through her mind, one she had consciously hidden away. She ca toward Alex, and before she could say a word—
Alex smiled and said, "So, this is EE Academy... not much different from the outside world. I thought here I’d be able to feel what equality really feels like."
Alex looked at the illusory sky with a sad smile.
"Why am I trying to find fairness in an unfair world?"
He looked toward Hati and smiled warmly, caressing Hati’s soft fur.
"Let’s go, Hati. We have to find sowhere to hide from this coldness."
Alex ca back to the gate.
"Hey Hati, should we go to the forest they ntioned, outside the tower?"
Woof! Hati barked and shook his head.
"Yes, you’re right. I’ll miss classes. Let’s just camp sowhere far away from those people."
Alex went along the mountain which ford the walls of the academy. He found a cave-like structure where two people could lie and sit comfortably. Its ceiling wasn’t high, but it was enough for sitting.
It was hidden from sight by a little hill in front of it. You wouldn’t find it if you didn’t know its location.
Alex quietly settled down inside the cave and lay on his back, with Hati huddled up near him.
"Hey Hati—"
Hati moved his head up and started staring at Alex.
"I really miss ho. I miss Father and Anna. I haven’t told this to anyone, but I really, really miss my ho."
Tears started sliding down sideways. Hati ca above Alex’s chest and sat down like a hug. Alex wrapped his arms around him, tears flowing until he fell asleep.
A black dragon’s shadow appeared above the hill and looked at Alex with warm eyes.
It spoke in a fierce whisper:
"They are trying to break my child. They even stole from him... but they don’t know—"
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