The sky was dark. Clouds veiled the twin moons, the waters whispered along the banks, and the wind carried the crisp breath of night.
All was quiet.
Earlier, Kain had set up a tent for himself, knowing Caelus would, as always, volunteer for the night watch. Rosalina had pouted, and as expected, Kain caved in seconds, grumbling as he set up a tent for her as well.
Caelus had chuckled at the scene, and now, sitting by the river's edge, he found himself thinking. If there was one thing both humans and demons shared, it was emotion. Love, anger, envy... all the same in the end. And if he didn't know better, he'd wager Kain was starting to grow attached.
However, he decided not to entertain the thought further. It would be unfair to both of them, especially Rosalina.
"Caelus?"
There she was, crawling from her tent, drowsy with tousled hair. The moonlight caught in his glasses as he met her gaze.
"Did I wake you?" he asked.
"What? No, not at all. I just... couldn't sleep tonight."
"And why is that?"
She hesitated. Caelus turned his head, sensing something heavier than something as trivial as restlessness.
"Rosalina? Is something wrong?"
"That's... what I wanted to ask you," she said, looking away. "I realize I overstepped earlier when I asked about House Luvelaine. I wanted to apologize."
He froze. Of all the things he expected — smugness, avoidance, even indifference — guilt wasn't one of them. The fact that she came here, not to taunt or pity him, but to apologize, made him exhale an amused breath.
"There's nothing to apologize for. It's not like I hold a grudge."
"But still—"
"Hey."
He turned with a soft smile.
"Did you say it with malice?"
"W-what?"
"I'm asking if you said those things for the purpose of mocking me."
"No! O-of course not."
"Then don't worry about it. Curiosity's not a crime. You spoke without knowing the line until you crossed it. Happens to everyone. No harm done."
After letting out a deep breath, he turned back to the river. Rosalina lingered behind him, processing his words in silence.
Then softly, she said, "Hey, Caelus."
"Hmm?"
"I... I know this is selfish of me, but I have to ask. Five years ago, when House Luvelaine was sent to the frontline. What exactly—"
Before she could finish, a deafening explosion echoed across the night sky, followed by a sudden flash of blinding light.
Kain bolted out, already drawing his sword.
"What the hell?! Is this an attack?!"
Above them, a radiant sphere of light hovered in the air like a second moon. And then — a voice. Gentle, melodious, almost divine.
"Hello, my wonderful students. I'm sure a lot of you were looking forward to hearing my voice soon."
Rosalina's breath hitched.
"The Headmistress...?"
Kain grinned, some of the tension leaving his posture.
"Finally! Maybe now we'll get some damn answers."
But Caelus remained where he was, his eyes locked onto the hovering light. His expression darkened, suspicion and malice flickering behind his steady gaze.
"To those of you still present in this place... congratulations. You have survived a full week in Erinel Forest."
"...Eh?" Kain blinked, glancing around. "D-did she just say Erinel Forest?"
"By now, you've seen what you were up against. No, not boars, wolves, or lions. While such creatures exist within these woods, they are mere products of nature. Humanity's true enemies... are demons. Specifically, the Incarnations of Strife."
"So she knew," Rosalina muttered. "But why?"
"An excellent question, Rosalina of House Sigurdia."
The three of them stiffened. Rosalina's eyes darted to Kain, who shrugged, then to Caelus, who remained still.
"Revel in this moment, dear. For you — along with those two beside you, and a precious handful more — comprise the top three percent of the first-year students who've endured up until this point."
A cold weight settled in Kain's chest, but he stepped forward, voice sharp.
"That aside, please answer Rosalina's first question, Headmistress. There had to be a better way to conduct a test than throwing us into Erinel Forest. Why do this?"
A beat of silence, then the Headmistress' voice came soft, knowing.
"Before I answer, allow me to ask a question of my own, Kain of House Diadalin. Why did you choose to attend Rhodeia College?"
"W-what? That's because—"
"Because, as a scion of the famed demon slayer bloodline, you seek to protect the empire from the scourge of demons."
His throat closed, the words dying before they could rise.
"A noble reason. As noble as any others I've heard. Now tell me, child. Do you believe it is an easy task? That demons are mere beasts to be dispatched by sword and spell alone? Of course you don't. If you did, it would be a delusion."
"...If that's the case... If demons are the true enemies, then why did you turn us against each other? Why did you create a free-for-all amongst students who would never dare to harm their own?"
"As much as we want to pretend otherwise, humans have always been violent by nature. If it wasn't for the threat of demons, we'd have turned on each other long ago — same as our ancestors did. Evil resides within humans as well. Always have. And whether it's for amusement, ambition, or something darker... they're just as dangerous as any demon. Perhaps worse. We can't afford to look away. That, young Diadalin, is precisely why I crafted this trial as you've experienced it. So you might understand — even in some small, incomplete way — what it means to confront the real world."
The light above seemed to pulse faintly with her words.
"Now then, allow me to once again congratulate the top three percent of this year's roster. Many of you showed promise... and some— heh... have made me quite excited for the coming year."
Caelus couldn't explain it. He couldn't see her, couldn't feel her presence in the physical sense, yet it felt like those words were meant for him alone. A gaze, sharp and suffocating, pressed against him from somewhere unseen.
"Alas, this orientation has come to an end. Well done, my children."
A sudden wall of light burst up around them, consuming the trio in a brilliant flash.
"W-Wait, what's—?!" Kain barely managed to yelp before they were gone.
In the next breath, Caelus opened his eyes, and there they were.
The Orientation Hall.
A crowd of students encircled them, murmuring in confusion. In the center stood a dozen others, their faces marked by exhaustion, dirt, and battle-worn relief. They, too, had been brought back.
"So... that's it?" Kain asked, glancing about as though still expecting another ambush.
"It would seem so," Rosalina murmured.
Yet for Caelus, none of it sat right. No sane instructor — much less the Headmistress of a revered college — would drop their students into a demon-infested forest. It made less sense than the Archdemon himself declaring peace.
Something about it reeked. And no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't piece it together.
The hum of conversation rose around them, but a sudden shift in the air snagged Caelus's attention. A faint, deliberate clack of high heels echoed from the far end of the hall.
He turned as the room fell silent.
A woman stepped gracefully onto the stage. Every step seemed measured, every sway of her white dress intentional. Golden hair cascaded in soft, wavy locks down her back, gathered in a ponytail that brushed against her hips. Silver eyes, gentle yet impossibly deep, swept across the hall.
A smile graced her lips, warm and welcoming.
"Hello, everyone," she spoke, her voice rich and velvety. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you."
Kain's elbow nudged Caelus.
"That voice... It's her."
"As some of you may have suspected, I am Seren Valeblume, the Headmistress you've been dying to see," she announced. "I would like to extend my sincerest apologies for placing you in such a... harrowing situation. But it was a necessary measure to separate the good from the great."
Her hand gestured toward the gathered survivors in the center of the room.
"These students you see before you endured a week in Erinel Forest, within the borderlands of Wyrheim. Please, a round of applause."
The hall erupted in cheers and clapping.
"Aw, shucks," Kain grinned, scratching his head.
"Don't act like Caelus didn't carry you through half of it," Rosalina deadpanned.
"Huh?! No, he didn't! Tell her, Caelus! I did my part, didn't I? Caelus? Buddy?"
But Caelus wasn't listening. His gaze remained locked on Seren, and unlike the others, whose eyes shimmered with admiration, his gleamed with malice.
"And so concludes your first day at Rhodeia College," Seren continued with a smile. "I look forward to watching you all grow into formidable swordsmen and mages. Perhaps, in time, you will surpass even me."
There was no question. Even without the title, it was obvious she held sway above all others in the room. Awe rippled through the crowd, and admiration painted across every face.
Every face... except one.
Beneath the rim of his glasses, Caelus's glare seethed with such silent, concentrated hatred that even the most savage demons would have recoiled.
"...Seren," he muttered to himself. "What the fuck are you doing here?"