The anchor's voice echoed across the auditorium as the ceremony officially began.
"Starting with ranked tenth, led by Wilfred Refry from Second year Magic Faculty class 2-2, and his team members…."
One after another, each team stepped onto the stage, accepting their rewards and posing beside the ever-popular Principal for the traditional commemorative photo.
Most of the faces were unfamiliar to Alex. But that changed when a particular group was announced.
Claus—Claude's elder brother, and someone Alex had a very recent run-in with—strode confidently onto the stage with his team. They had secured fourth place. Claus looked as arrogant as ever, chin tilted high, wearing the expression of someone convinced the entire auditorium existed solely to admire him.
Third place followed shortly after. Well two teams ranked third with similar scores. Arista's team stepped up, earning loud cheers from the crowd. Then came another group—an all-girls team led by Vivianne Scarlet, better known across the academy as the "Crimson Rose."
To Alex, they were all essentially strangers. Fortunately, the student seated next to him seemed to be the chatty type—and a walking archive of academy gossip.
He eagerly whispered explanations for each person and team as if conducting a personal tour of the school's rumor mill, filling in every detail Alex never asked for.
Vivianne drew the most attention—both from the auditorium and from Aurora. Even she, someone who normally couldn't be bothered to remember the faces of "ordinary students," paused at the mention of the Crimson Rose.
Alex's neighbor leaned closer, eyes practically sparkling as he whispered with reverence, "Lady Vivianne could've easily taken second—or even first place—if she wanted! But she's such a noble person. Instead of teaming up with elite-class students, she chose ordinary students! Ordinary! Can you believe that?"
Alex wasn't sure whether to nod politely or slide a few inches away.
Aurora slipped into his thoughts, sounding far too entertained. "Her talent in fire magic is only one step below the Principal. But there is something about her that I find peculiar, and can't put my finger on to."
Her gaze drifted toward the ever-cheerful Aria standing beside Vivianne. Aurora pointed lightly. "She has a rare Sound affinity. These guys may appear simple or act just as support but they sure can be deadly." Then she motioned subtly toward Arista. "She is that one's younger sister, the Sylfen sisters."
Before Alex could digest that, the announcement for second place boomed across the hall. Applause exploded instantly—most of it roaring from the Knight Faculty side.
It was well deserved. The team was composed entirely of Knight students, and despite lacking a mage, they had claimed second place, proving that Knights were far from inferior.
Alex's neighbor nearly burst his eardrum with enthusiastic clapping. "Senior Gareth! That's Senior Gareth!" he hissed, as if Alex should have posters of the guy on his wall. "He's a role model for us Knight students. He can even beat those arrogant mages into the ground!"
Alex's interest sharpened at that. A swordsman—just like him.
'He looks strong… I kind of want to fight him.'
Aurora sighed, unsurprised.
Finally, the anchor called the top-ranked team. "First place: Led by Draim Zephyr, Third year Magic Faculty, class 3-1."
A team of four marched confidently onto the stage as a tall, strikingly handsome boy with golden hair and blue eyes stepped forward first.
The hall erupted. Draim's reputation needed no introduction. The strongest mage currently enrolled. With all fourth- and fifth-year students away, there was no one left who could overshadow him.
As his team accepted their rewards and posed for the photo, Aurora's voice drifted into Alex's thoughts, unusually serious:
"He has a lightning affinity." she said. "So not only is his speed frighteningly fast, but even his strength is top notch. Well… this guy is very strong. Very few people can call themselves his opponents."
Alex watched him on stage, eyes narrowing slightly, his expression calm but his thoughts hidden deep behind it.
Alex had assumed the ceremony would end once the first-ranked team stepped down. But the anchor's next words made him blink in confusion.
"Next, we will now announce the individual rankings for this year's Wilderness Training Course."
He'd thought the assessment was purely team-based, but apparently not. The academy tallied individual contributions—damage, kills, solo achievements—then weighted them into a separate ranking.
'Well… whatever', he thought. He was certain he wouldn't be called. With so many elites and veterans participating, the idea felt almost laughable.
Whispers rippled through the audience, anticipation climbing.
The first name was predictable. "Ranked third: Vivianne Scarlet!"
Thunderous applause erupted. No one was surprised—a prodigy with that level of destructive force was almost guaranteed a top-three placement.
Then came the second-place announcement.
And the hall erupted for real.
"Ranked second: Draim Zephyr!"
A wave of confusion swept through the auditorium. Students muttered loudly, some even half-standing as if the anchor might correct himself.
"What? Him second, not first?"
"How is Draim second? Then who—?"
"Ahh! I had bet Draim to be First place. My savings…"
"Who is it? Did Gareth take first this time?"
Even the teachers seemed thrown off.
Alex blinked, even more bewildered than the crowd. From across the hall, he could practically feel Draim's surprise as the golden-haired prodigy paused briefly before stepping forward to collect his award.
Everyone's attention then shifted to the stage as the Principal—Elena herself—stepped up to announce the final name. She raised a hand, smiling patiently as the noise refused to die down.
A soft, amused chuckle left her lips.
"Well, the first place is indeed from the Knight Faculty…" she said, pausing dramatically, "…but it is not who everyone thinks it is."
The hall fell into instant silence.
"The student who secured first place in individual ranking is—"
She glanced over the crowd, eyes glinting with barely hidden amusement.
"Alex Blanc, a first-year student."
Gasps. Murmurs. Shocked disbelief.
"WHAT?!"
Countless students yelled at once, the outcry crashing through the hall like a shockwave. The students near Alex snapped their heads toward Alex with wide, disbelieving eyes—staring as if trying to confirm whether the announcement was real or some absurd error.
Alex froze.
'…Me?'
Every head in the auditorium turned toward him in perfect unison.
And all he could do was sit there, utterly stunned, as the world seemed to stop around him.
"It really is him…" someone whispered in a dazed, almost fearful voice.
Another student sputtered, "Unbelievable… I know him! His team only had two people! How does that even—? Is it because of that? No, that still doesn't make any sense!"
The auditorium dissolved into chaos the moment Alex's identity was confirmed. Even those who'd already been shocked by his 13th-place team ranking—despite having only two members—couldn't process this. A first-year supposed nobody. Scoring higher than the strongest mage in the academy?
The disbelief was overwhelming.
But then—
"Quiet down!"
Elena's voice cracked through the hall like a thunderclap.
The air itself trembled.
A crushing, authoritative pressure swept across the students, strangling the uproar in an instant. Even the teachers straightened unconsciously. The Principal rarely raised her voice—when she did, silence was not a request but an absolute command.
Her gaze swept across the hall before settling on a single point.
"Alex," she said, her tone calm once more. "Come to the stage."
Alex jolted.
Still half-dazed, he pushed himself up from his seat. The entire auditorium tracked his movements—every whisper strangled by the lingering threat of the Principal's authority.
As Alex walked toward the stage, his expression looked dazed to anyone watching—but internally, he was sharper than ever.
His voice echoed through his mind as he spoke telepathically with Aurora. "How is it? Are you on it?"
Aurora responded instantly, her tone steady and confident. "Of course. The moment your name was announced, I started. But stay cautious—just in case."
Her reassurance steadied him.
Climbing the final few stairs onto the platform, he was greeted by a lineup that would intimidate anyone: Vivianne Scarlet standing with serene composure… Draim Zephyr watching him with cool, evaluating curiosity… Principal Elena observing him with unreadable eyes… and several other teachers whose gazes seemed to dissect his very soul.
But Alex straightened his back and stepped forward with calm confidence, wearing a polite, composed smile—completely unfazed by the scrutiny.
Elena stepped closer to greet him.
Up close, she was even more striking—elegant, dignified, radiating an authority so immense it felt like gravity itself bent around her. Yet her smile was warm, almost gentle, like someone welcoming an acquaintance's beloved child.
"Alex Blanc." she said softly, her gaze studying him with keen interest.
Then her next words struck him like a bolt of lightning.
"So, you are her disciple."
Alex's eyes widened.