The arena went silent as my name was called. Every student, instructor, even the nobles present, turned their heads simultaneously.
> "Gren Solstice…"
Whispers immediately broke out.
> "That… that's the Grand Duke Solstice's child, right?"
"Rumor says he's already a Regnum User!"
"Impossible. He's only fifteen."
I stepped casually into the center of the arena, hands in my pockets, face calm as always. The sound of my steps echoed loudly, as if the whole stadium existed only for me.
I stopped in the rune circle that marked the center of the trial. The rune would measure each student's Ars, affinity, and core strength to determine their class placement.
The supervising instructor, an elderly man with gray hair and a blue robe, stared at me sharply.
> "Gren Solstice. The rules remain the same. Display your power and let the system judge. Do not—"
> "—destroy the arena?" I interrupted quickly, a faint smirk appearing. "Hm. Alright. I'll try… to hold back a bit."
Some students chuckled, annoyed, while the supervisor snorted.
I raised my right hand, taking a deep breath. The air instantly changed—light, yet tense, as if something far greater than this arena itself was trying to descend.
The afternoon sunlight pierced the arena barrier. The light seemed to bend toward me, gathering in my palms. From the shadows, the silver glint of the moon crept in, even though it wasn't night yet.
The floor runes trembled violently.
> "Solar Authority… Lunar Authority…" I murmured softly.
Golden and silver stigmas appeared above my head—the sun and moon crossing, rotating slowly as if locking the entire arena.
> "Celestial Balance."
A burst of light filled the arena, but not the kind of heat that burns, nor illusions that dazzle—it was pure balance. The immense pressure pressed down on every student, causing many to collapse immediately, some even fainting.
From the stands came panicked cries.
> "What the hell is this!?"
"The spiritual pressure… too much!"
"He's not human…!"
The supervising instructor staggered, his knees nearly hitting the ground, but forced himself upright.
> "I-it's… impossible…"
I opened my eyes slowly, golden and silver light glittering from my irises.
> "Hm. So? Can this little rune contain me, Gren Solstice?" I asked, my tone brimming with arrogance.
The floor runes suddenly exploded, unable to contain my output. Light scattered, creating massive cracks across the arena.
Silence. Complete silence.
I lowered my hand, the stigma above my head fading slowly. Then I turned toward the stands, seeing pale faces, open mouths, some still trembling.
I smirked faintly.
> "Just say I passed. No need for formalities."
The instructor froze, sweat dripping from his temples. Then he raised his trembling hand.
> "T-the assessment… Gren Solstice… has been placed in—"
He paused for a moment before finally announcing loudly:
> "—Luminaries Class. The highest rank."
Cheers erupted instantly. Some shouted, some were stunned, and some stared at me with a mixture of envy and fear.
I walked out of the arena with light steps, hands still in my pockets, as if I had merely finished a casual warm-up.
> "Heh. I told you… ants."
The test was over. I was placed in Luminaries class, as expected—of course. While other students clustered together following the instructors to the dormitories, I chose to step aside.
> "Hm. Dormitory? Let them be. No place can hold me if I don't want it to."
I carried my luggage carelessly with one hand. The wheels clattered on the academy's cobblestone paths. Tall trees lined the road, rare purple flowers bloomed along the way, and a distant fountain reflected the evening light.
The lively cheers from the arena had vanished, replaced by the serene quiet of the garden. I exhaled deeply.
> "Hah… it's quiet without Allesa being noisy…"
A sound of footsteps approached. Light, elegant, and confident. Not a new student—the aura was too trained.
I turned.
A girl appeared under the evening sun. Her long ash-blonde hair shimmered in the sunlight, her sea-blue eyes gazed straight ahead with a calmness that was unmistakably hers. The academy uniform with a dark blue Constellation Council cape draped over her shoulders, making her appear even more graceful.
Lunia Draken.
Whispers of admiration immediately spread among the other students.
> "That's Lunia Draken…"
"Second-year… member of the Constellation Council…"
"She's so beautiful…"
I paused briefly, lips curling into a faint smirk.
> "Hm. So we meet again."
Lunia stopped a few steps away. Her expression remained calm, but a faint smile lingered—a smile I remembered clearly from our brief encounter five years ago in the capital.
> "Gren Solstice," she said succinctly.
That was it. But hearing my name spoken by her after so long… it felt strange. As if the time that had passed hadn't erased anything.
I raised an eyebrow, maintaining my signature arrogance.
> "I thought you would have forgotten. It would be embarrassing if the girl I once met on the streets of the capital didn't even remember me."
Lunia covered her mouth briefly, laughing softly.
> "Hahaha… you haven't changed. Still talkative and boastful. Back then…"—she looked at me meaningfully—"I clearly remember, you were busier annoying me than showing your skills."
I snorted lightly, grinning.
> "Tch. That doesn't mean I lost. It just means I was having fun."
Her eyes narrowed slightly, but her smile remained gentle.
> "Hm… then I'm curious. Five years have passed… are you still the same? Or have you truly grown?"
I turned casually, continuing to walk while dragging my luggage.
> "If you're curious, don't expect me to prove it to you. You have to catch up to me, Lunia."
She paused for a moment, then walked alongside me. Our shadows fell side by side on the garden path illuminated by the evening sun.
Some new students turned, unbelieving—the academy's brightest star casually walking with a brash new student who had just destroyed the testing arena.
Lunia glanced at me briefly, her smile softening further.
> "Still the same… but for some reason, I feel relieved. The person standing here is really the Gren Solstice I remember."
I held back a smile, staring straight ahead.
> "Hmph. Of course. No one can replace me."
We walked further, leaving Damian behind. The atmosphere grew calm again, but I knew eyes were still watching our backs.
Lunia's voice became more serious.
> "Gren… you shouldn't provoke Damian too much. He's not an ordinary student. Many respect him, even within the Council."
I snorted lightly.
> "Respect? Hah. If everyone must bow just out of fear, then they're fit to be ants. I don't care who he is."
Lunia exhaled, her tone sharper this time.
> "You haven't changed. Always acting on your own, as if the world revolves around Gren Solstice. But this isn't your home, and your father isn't here to protect you. If you keep challenging everyone—"
> "—they'll fear me, envy me, then try to bring me down? Fine," I interrupted, smirking faintly. "I didn't come to make friends. I came to show who's on top."
Lunia stopped walking, staring at me sharply.
> "And you think that makes you strong? No, Gren. It only leaves you alone."
I stopped as well, turning to face her with a blank expression.
> "Alone? I'm used to it. What they're not used to are those who need prestige, recognition, and crowds to feel worth. I don't need that."
There was a brief silence. The evening wind swept her ash-blonde hair, making her appear even more resolute.
Finally, Lunia smiled faintly, though tension lingered beneath it.
> "Hm. Still… if you keep this up… even I may find it hard to stand by your side."
I restrained my expression, only moving my lips slightly.
> "Then… don't force yourself."
The atmosphere between us turned cold. We continued walking, but this time a slight distance remained between our shadows on the path.
Our pace quickened, as if whoever spoke first would be deemed weak.
Finally, Lunia spoke first.
> "Gren… I'm saying this not because I'm defending Damian. I just don't want you to make everyone your enemy. You're too valuable to drown alone at the top."
I glanced briefly, a faint smirk lifting my lips—not warm in the slightest.
> "Lunia, you're one of the few brave enough to speak to me like this. But listen carefully…"
I stopped, placing my luggage on the ground. The evening light hit my face, making the golden glow in my eyes even more vivid.
> "I don't care if I'm alone. I will always be ready to fight anyone, anything, anytime. Even you."
Those words cut the air, cold and sharp like a freshly forged blade.
Lunia froze. Her eyes widened for a moment, then she quickly masked it with a cold glare. But I could see her fingers gripping the hilt of her sword tightly, even though she had no intention of drawing it.
> "You really are… stupid, Gren," she said softly, almost trembling. "Always thinking the world is just about winning or losing. But… there are things more important than that."
I smirked faintly, but my eyes remained sharp.
> "Then that's your business. Not mine."
She stared at me for a long time, then without another word, she turned away. Her ash-blonde hair swayed lightly as she walked firmly, leaving me and my luggage behind.
I picked up my luggage again, dragging it casually, though my chest felt strangely heavy.
> "Hmph. If you want to judge me… go ahead. But don't forget, Lunia… I'm not the small boy you met in the capital. I'm Gren Solstice. And I will always stand alone above everything."
I pulled my luggage along again, letting Lunia's shadow disappear around the corner. The evening that had been peaceful now felt… empty.
> "Tch… why did I even have to say that…" I muttered quietly, ruffling my own hair roughly.
I remembered her face from earlier—the sea-blue eyes had trembled slightly, something I rarely saw from her. Instead of feeling satisfied at making her silent, somehow it felt like… punching myself.
I snorted, trying to hide the strange feeling in my chest.
> "Hmph. Her fault too. Why did she have to bring up Damian…"
Yet despite my harsh words, my heart knew I had been too emotional. I never wanted to be cold toward Lunia. Not to her.
I tilted my head back to the evening sky, then laughed wryly at myself.
> "Gren Solstice, brilliant in the arena… but a complete fool in front of a girl."
My luggage clattered along the cobblestone path again. A small bird suddenly landed on the fountain statue, staring at me as if mocking me.
I pointed at it seriously.
> "Are you laughing at me too, huh? Impudent little bird."
The bird immediately flew away. I exhaled deeply, then smirked.
> "Hah… fine. Tomorrow I'll apologize. In my own way, of course. Can't let Lunia think I really want to fight her…"
I continued walking toward the Luminaries dormitory. The sunset closed the day, leaving traces of conflict, regret… and a faint hope that tomorrow would not be as difficult as today.