"All students!" Principal Aldric’s voice rang out again. "This concludes the recognition ceremony. You will now return to your designated grounds. First-years to Ground Zero. Second-years will remain here. Third-years to Ground Two. Dismissed."
The crowd began to disperse.
Kael moved along with the wave of first-years heading toward Ground Zero. He kept glancing back over his shoulder, watching the others split off. He noticed Edwin being sward by students. Elysia, however, quickly disappeared with Professor Sylvia, while Jin was already laughing with so of the friends nearby.
The thought refused to leave him.
When they arrived at Ground Zero, students began murmuring about the upcoming exams. Cecelia stood beside him quietly, but Kael noticed her eyes flicker toward the distance—toward Ground One.
(Was she thinking the sa thing?)
(Or she is thinking about sothing else?)
Before he could ask, a sharp whistle blew across the field.
Professor Sylvia stood at the center of the grounds.
"All students, quiet!"
The field fell silent almost instantly.
"We have just survived an attack that reminded us of the danger outside these walls. But now, I must remind you of the responsibilities inside it."
She paced across the grass with authority.
"In three days, your midterm examinations will begin."
A collective groan rippled through the crowd.
Sylvia smirked. "I don’t expect you to be happy though. But I do expect you to be prepared."
Kael stiffened.
(Midterms?)
Professor Sylvia’s voice rang through the field leaving no room for argunt.
"These upcoming exams are not just about scoring high marks or passing a class," she said, walking slowly as her sharp eyes moved from student to student.
"They will determine your progression path, who will ntor you in the coming months, and which team you’ll be assigned to for the Field Evaluation in the next sester."
"This is your first real step toward becoming Arcadia’s future defenders... or being left behind as failures."
Her gaze swept across the crowd, but it stopped briefly on a few students. One of them was Kael.
"You have three days to prepare," she added, her voice clear. "Use them wisely."
She paused.
"There will be no training session until your exam"
"As for the rules of the exam, I’ll explain them the day after tomorrow. That’s all for now."
And just like that, she walked away.
Almost instantly, students around Kael began talking again, their voices filled with nervous energy and urgency.
So were discussing forming study groups. Others spoke about repairing weapons, revisiting techniques, or asking professors for extra help. The atmosphere had shifted completely—this was no longer just class; it was war preparation.
But Kael didn’t move.
He stood there, still as a stone, as the weight of the announcent settled in his mind.
(Three days...) he muttered under his breath.
(That wasn’t enough though)
His body was still sore from the aftermath of everything that happened. He had barely recovered.
His mana control? Worse than most commoners among the first year.
Compared to others in the academy, Kael knew he was behind. Desperately behind.
And yet...
His eyes drifted to Cecelia.
She stood in the crowd, speaking with a few others, unaware that he was watching her.
(Why... Why did the story change?)
He still didn’t understand it. This wasn’t how things were supposed to happen. According to the novel he had read, none of this—especially Cecelia’s role—was part of the original events.
She should’ve had no reason to help him. No reason to be by his side while he was unconscious for five days.
But she did.
She stayed.
Kael clenched his fists.
He didn’t know what caused the change. Maybe it was his presence.
But one thing was certain.
He would find out the truth.
(I will use every piece of knowledge I had from the original story, every detail burned into my mory, to repay Cecelia’s kindness.)
(Even if I had to crawl my way to the top.
Even if I had to change fate itself.)
As the students around the courtyard continued chatting and planning for the upcoming exams, Kael sat quietly at the corner of the field.
Just then, a group of first-year students approached him. At the front of the group was Edwin and Jin along with other peers.
"Hey, are you alright now?" Edwin asked, his voice casual but loud enough for others nearby to hear.
"At least you were useful enough to take down one of the weak assassins. Good job, I guess."
Kael looked up at him, blinking slowly.
(Do you really have to say it like that? Are you praising or mocking ?) he thought to himself, biting back a sigh.
He gave a faint nod. "Yeah... I’m doing better now. Thanks."
Behind Edwin, a few other students murmured sothing about the assassin attack—so praising Kael in passing, others sounding uncertain if he had really done much at all.
anwhile, a few paces away stood Elysia.
Her arms were folded, and she was leaning against a fence at the edge of the ground, eyes narrowed as if watching the group from afar. When Kael’s gaze t hers, she looked away imdiately, her face turning slightly to the side.
Kael’s heart sank a little.
(Huh, was she looking at right now?... Is it because I’m weak?)
(I didn’t do anything wrong. I just... wasn’t strong enough.)
"Anyway, don’t push yourself," Edwin added with a shrug. "You still look half-dead."
As the group dispersed, Kael remained seated for a mont before slowly rising to his feet.
He spotted Cecelia not far away, sitting alone near the rose bushes.
Kael approached her with slow steps. "Cecelia."
She looked up, smiling softly.
"Oh hi, Kael"
"I... I just wanted to say thank you again," Kael said, scratching the back of his head. "For staying by my side while I was out. I must’ve worried you."
"You did," she replied, closing her book gently. "But I’m glad you’re alright."
He lowered his head slightly. "And... I’m sorry. I should’ve been stronger."
"You don’t have to apologize for that," she said, her voice warm. "You fought when you didn’t have to. That was enough."
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