The next morning, Lily was the first to wake in her dorm room. She got ready in a hurry, brushing her hair neatly before heading over to Eirene's bed.
"Wake up! Come on, Eirene, we need to get ready fast," Lily urged, shaking her friend's shoulder. "If we don't hurry to the main hall, we'll be stuck in a long queue to check the syllabus!"
Eirene, a devoted lover of sleep, groaned and pulled the blanket over her head. But the instant she heard the word syllabus, her eyes shot open. She bolted upright and jumped out of bed as though her life depended on it, dashing into the washroom.
Lily laughed softly, shaking her head. "Works every time."
Not long after, the two girls left their dorm together. Eirene wore a crisp white shirt with a blue skirt and white sports shoes, while Lily chose a green shirt paired with blue denim jeans. Both looked fresh and charming, their lively chatter making them stand out as they walked side by side.
When they reached the main hall, they hurried to the notice board—only to find it completely empty.
"What?!" Eirene's face fell. "I sacrificed my beauty sleep for this?" she groaned, dramatically placing a hand on her forehead.
Before either of them could ponder why the syllabus list wasn't there, someone tapped Lily lightly on the head. She turned around, and her eyes lit up.
"Marcus!" she exclaimed, hugging her brother tightly. Her smile widened with relief. "Good morning! I'm so glad to see you. But… I'm upset you're not in our house."
Marcus chuckled, gently patting her head. "You silly girl. Why are you upset over that? Even if we're not in the same house, we'll still be in the same class. We can see each other, talk all day long. The only time we'll be apart is at night—and you should use that time to make new friends."
Lily's eyes softened. "You're right, Marcus. Speaking of friends—" She turned to Eirene. "This is Eirene, my new roommate."
Eirene smiled politely. "Nice to meet you."
Marcus returned the greeting warmly. "So, you're also our classmate. That's great. But tell me, what are you two doing here so early?"
"We came to check the syllabus," Lily explained with a small sigh. "But the board is empty."
Marcus laughed and tapped her head again. "Too early for that, silly. Go have breakfast first, then come back to check the list."
"Oh no, by then the line will be massive!" Lily pouted.
"Then don't worry," Marcus reassured her. "Go eat. I'll copy the syllabus and give it to you later. No need for you to stand in queues."
Lily beamed at him. "Thanks, Marcus! You're the best."
Eirene stretched her arms and sighed. "So I really wasted my precious beauty sleep for nothing."
The three of them laughed together, the tension breaking.
But not everyone was laughing.
A short distance away, Kalen stood silently, his sharp eyes fixed on Marcus and Eirene's friendly exchange. A strange sting of jealousy welled inside him. He clenched his fists but quickly masked his emotions, turning instead to his quiet new companion, Robin Maverick, who had also stopped nearby.
Soon after, everyone returned to their respective house tables for breakfast. Steaming plates of boiled eggs, sandwiches, fresh fruit, orange juice, and milk were served. The hall filled with the comforting sound of clinking cutlery and low conversation.
Kalen ate quietly, his mind elsewhere. When he finished, he rose with Robin and headed toward the bulletin board.
Meanwhile, Lily and Eirene lingered at their table with a few others, waiting for Marcus to return with the copied syllabus. To pass the time, they picked up newspapers. Lily began reading, while Eirene flipped straight to the puzzle section, completely absorbed.
Moments later, a neatly written page appeared in front of her. Curious, she glanced up and saw Kalen handing it to her. It was the syllabus for first-year students.
Assuming it was Marcus, Eirene smiled gratefully. "Thanks, Marcus." But her smile faltered when she realized it was actually Kalen.
Before she could say another word, Marcus returned, holding his own copy of the syllabus. He noticed the sheet in Eirene's hands but said nothing, simply handing his to Lily instead.
Marcus then turned to the newcomer. "Hi, I'm Marcus Black. Nice to meet you."
Kalen's lips curved into a polite smile. "I'm Aeron."
Their words were courteous, but the atmosphere shifted—charged with an unspoken rivalry. The air grew heavy, though Lily remained blissfully unaware.
To break the silence, she suddenly asked, "Brother, have you read today's newspaper?"
"No, I haven't. What's in it?"
"You'll see for yourself." She handed him the paper. Marcus leaned in, as did the others.
The main headline blared: King Theron's Hearing in the Ministry – Acrane Gazette
"What's so special about this news?" Marcus asked. "Obviously, the crime he committed. He's supposed to be punished."
At those words, Kalen stiffened. His eyes darkened, and a storm raged quietly within him.
Punished.
He wanted that punishment to come from him, not the Ministry. His heart whispered a silent, furious prayer: Not today. Don't punish him today. Not because he's my father… but because I want to take revenge myself—for my mother's murder.
The thought burned inside him until Lily's cheerful voice snapped him back to reality.
"Not this one, brother. Look at the second headline. Father is going to be the new King of Caelestra.