KAIRO'S POV...
The Academy's garden looked like something out of a storybook. Sunlight filtered through the branches of tall, flowering trees, casting soft patterns over the stone paths. Colorful blossoms bloomed in neat rows, enchanted butterflies flitted through the air, and a fountain shaped like a phoenix poured crystal-clear water into a marble basin.
And in the middle of all that peaceful beauty… was a small round table covered in fine white cloth, with teapots, cups, and more pastries than I'd ever seen in my life.
I slumped into the chair opposite Eryndor, staring at the spread with wide eyes. "Are you… sure I can eat this?"
Eryndor, sitting straight and proper, lifted his teacup with effortless grace. "Of course. Eat as much as you like. You're my guest."
That was all the permission I needed.
I grabbed a cupcake topped with a swirl of cream and took a massive bite. "Mmph—oh wow… this is good."
He chuckled softly, stirring his tea. "I'm glad you like it."
"Like it? I could live here," I said, already reaching for another pastry. A glazed tart, this time. "Are you sure no one's going to yell at me for stealing royal pastries or something?"
"No one would dare," he replied calmly, taking a small sip.
I snorted. "Right. Because Your Highness said so."
He gave me a pointed look, though his eyes were amused. "Still not over that?"
"Hey, you dropped that bomb like it was nothing. One second you're some lost guy in a forest, next second—bam! Prince." I took another bite. "You could've at least warned me before I hid behind royalty."
"I didn't think it mattered," he said simply. "You treated me like a normal person. It was… refreshing."
I paused mid-bite. The way he said that—it wasn't boastful. It was honest. Genuine. Like he actually meant it.
"…Well," I said, clearing my throat, "normal's kinda my specialty."
He laughed softly, setting his cup down. For a moment, the garden was filled only with the sound of birds and the soft trickle of the fountain. It was peaceful in a way I wasn't used to.
Me, sitting in a royal garden with pastries, next to a prince? If someone told me this would happen yesterday, I would've set their hat on fire for lying.
"You know," I said, leaning back in the chair, "you're not as uptight as I thought royals were."
"And you're not as reckless as people say," he replied.
I raised a brow. "People talk about me?"
He smiled mysteriously. "Perhaps."
I groaned dramatically and reached for another cupcake. "Great. My reputation's already haunting me."
Eryndor just shook his head, smiling in that calm, almost amused way he always did.
Eryndor had just finished his second cup of tea when a hurried voice cut through the peaceful garden.
"President!"
Both of us turned. A young woman in a crisp white and gold uniform rushed toward the table, clutching a stack of parchment like it might explode if she let go. She stopped in front of Eryndor and bowed quickly.
"Your Highness—ah, I mean, President, the Council is in disarray. They're… arguing again. We need you immediately."
President?
I blinked at Eryndor. "President? Of what?"
He sighed softly, setting his cup down with practiced grace. "The Student Council," he said like it was the most normal thing in the world. "I'll need to handle this."
He stood, adjusting his blue cloak over his shoulders. The secretary straightened, ready to lead him away.
"Wait, wait, wait," I said, hopping up from my chair. "You're a prince and the student council president? What don't you do?"
He glanced at me over his shoulder, a small amused smile playing on his lips. "Sleep, mostly."
I snorted. "Yeah, sounds about right."
As he started walking, I hesitated for a second. Part of me wanted to just chill in the garden and devour the remaining pastries, but another part… was curious. This was the first time I'd get a peek inside the Academy's inner workings.
"Hey," I called. "Mind if I tag along?"
The secretary looked horrified. "H–He's not a student—"
But Eryndor raised a hand gently, stopping her. "It's fine. Let him come."
She blinked. "But—"
"It's fine," he repeated, his tone calm but firm.
I grinned and jogged up to his side. "Guess I'm your shadow now, Mr. President."
He shook his head slightly, though I saw the hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Try not to cause trouble."
"No promises," I replied.
We left the quiet garden behind and entered the heart of the Academy building. The air inside felt heavier, more formal. The corridors here were lined with intricate stained-glass windows and carved stone pillars. At the end of the hallway stood a pair of towering doors—engraved with the emblem of the Elyndrian Empire and glowing faintly with enchantments.
From behind those doors, I could already hear voices raised in heated debate.
"Sounds like fun," I muttered.
Eryndor exhaled softly. "Fun isn't the word I'd use."
And with that, the secretary pushed the doors open, and we stepped inside.
The moment the massive double doors opened, a wave of heated voices crashed out into the hallway.
"They have no right to change the schedule—"
"It was agreed upon by the Fire Division—"
"Your Division has always—"
The noise stopped abruptly as soon as we stepped in.
The Council Chamber was nothing like the classrooms or gardens. It was a vast, circular room with a domed ceiling etched with constellations, glowing faintly like stars. A long oval table sat in the center, surrounded by high-backed chairs. Each chair bore the color and emblem of the Divisions: crimson for Fire, green for Nature, gold for Light, blue for Water & Ice, and others I couldn't even name.
And sitting in those chairs were people who looked way too serious for my taste—upper-year students, probably, all dressed in immaculate uniforms.
The soldiers outside were intimidating. These students? They looked like they ran the place.
I hovered awkwardly near the doorway, still taking it all in. Council? President? What kind of world did I walk into…
Meanwhile, Eryndor walked in like he owned the room—which, judging by everyone's reaction, he practically did. The secretary closed the doors behind us, and the atmosphere shifted.
All the students turned their eyes toward him. The room went completely silent. Not a whisper. Not a breath.
He didn't flinch. Didn't even blink. He moved gracefully to the head of the table, pulled out the chair, and sat down with the kind of calm that made everyone else straighten their backs.
I stayed behind him, my hands shoved into my pockets, trying to look casual even though my brain was screaming, What is happening right now?
Eryndor folded his hands on the table, his blue uniform crisp and perfect. "You may continue," he said, his voice even.
No one dared to.
The same people who were practically yelling a second ago were now sitting in dead silence, avoiding his gaze like he was some divine judge.
I leaned slightly to the side, whispering just loud enough for him to hear, "They were just shouting a minute ago. Did you cast a silence spell or something?"
He didn't look at me, but I caught the slight twitch at the corner of his mouth—like he was holding back a laugh.
"No," he murmured. "They just… respect authority."
Respect? More like fear, if you asked me.
I glanced around the table. Fire Division. Nature Division. Light Division. A few others in uniforms I couldn't recognize. Each of them seemed powerful, older, and way more experienced than me. And here I was—a 17-year-old outlaw, standing behind the Prince slash Student Council President, surrounded by the Academy's elite.
I swallowed hard. What have I gotten myself into?
The silence in the chamber stretched on a bit too long. It was so quiet I could hear the faint hum of the enchantments carved into the ceiling. Everyone sat like statues, waiting for someone else to speak first.
Finally, a girl in a crimson uniform, sitting two seats down, slammed her hands on the table.
"This is ridiculous," she snapped. "The Fire Division has every right to lead the defense drills. It's tradition. We don't need permission every year to do what we've always done."
Across from her, a tall boy in a gold uniform leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. His voice was smooth, too calm for how sharp his words were.
"Tradition doesn't justify recklessness. Your Division nearly burned half the courtyard last year."
"It was controlled fire!" she shot back.
"Controlled? The Light healers had to work for hours to heal the injuries your 'controlled fire' caused."
Their voices rose, tension filling the air like crackling embers.
A green-uniformed girl from the Nature Division stood up next. "Both of you are missing the point. It doesn't matter who leads the drills if the western barrier is failing. My Division's scouts saw cracks forming near the outer forest. We need cooperation, not bickering."
"Cracks?" I whispered under my breath.
Eryndor remained seated at the head of the table, posture calm, gaze steady. He didn't need to raise his voice; his presence alone kept everyone anchored. I stood a few steps behind him, eyes darting from one Division leader to another like I was watching some magical version of a political play.
Fire girl glared. "This is exactly why we should lead. If the barrier's cracking, we need offensive mages ready."
Gold boy scoffed. "And set the whole forest ablaze again? Brilliant strategy."
Green girl slammed her palm on the table. "Enough!"
I actually flinched. Wow, these people were intense.
Eryndor finally raised a hand. Instantly, the noise stopped. It was like someone flipped a switch.
His voice was calm, but it carried weight. "Arguing over titles won't fix the barrier. What matters is preventing a breach." He turned his gaze toward the Nature Division leader. "When did your scouts notice the cracks?"
"Yesterday evening, Your Highness," she said, bowing her head slightly. "The outer seal is weakening. We believe something from the Dark Veil Forest is pressing against it."
A murmur spread around the table.
Dark Veil Forest. Even I'd heard of that place. Dangerous beasts, twisted mana, stories that kept kids awake at night.
Eryndor's expression hardened. "If the barrier fails, the Academy and the town will both be at risk. We'll form a joint task force. Fire, Light, Nature, and Water Divisions will cooperate. No exceptions."
The Fire girl opened her mouth to protest, but one look from him shut her up immediately.
"And," he continued, "I will personally oversee the mission."
The room went still. A few exchanged surprised glances. Even I raised a brow. Prince, President, and now field leader? This guy never stopped.
The secretary scribbled everything down in a flurry of quills. "Understood, President Eryndor. I'll arrange the rosters."
As the meeting continued, I leaned closer to Eryndor and whispered, "So… cracks in magical walls, dangerous forests, and dramatic arguments. Is this a regular Tuesday for you?"
He didn't look at me, but I caught the small, knowing smile. "More or less."
I let out a low whistle. "And here I thought stealing apples was exciting."
The meeting was finally wrapping up. The Division heads gathered their scrolls and papers, chairs scraped against the marble floor, and everyone looked like they were ready to rush off and prepare for the big barrier-mission-whatever.
Meanwhile, I was still stuck thinking about something dumb.
Well… maybe not entirely dumb.
I scratched the back of my head. "Uh… hey," I said a little too loudly.
Every head turned toward me.
Great. Attention. Exactly what I didn't want.
"I mean, it's cool that you're all forming a task force and stuff, but…" I raised my hand slowly, grinning. "Why don't we just bait the thing that's breaking the barrier? You know, like… hang a giant glowing chicken outside the wall or something. Monsters love weird glowing stuff, right?"
The room fell silent for two seconds.
Then—
PFFT!
The Fire Division girl burst out laughing, slamming the table with her fist. "A giant glowing chicken?! Are you serious?"
Gold boy actually chuckled. "This outsider's got jokes."
A few more laughed, some rolled their eyes. I just grinned wider and gave a theatrical bow. "I aim to entertain."
But then—
"...Actually," a quiet voice from the back spoke up. It was the Nature Division leader. She stood, thoughtful. "He might have a point. Beasts from the Dark Veil are attracted to condensed mana sources. If we create a magical lure, something bright and rich in energy, it could draw the creature out before the barrier fully collapses."
The room quieted again, this time for real.
Eryndor leaned back in his chair, tapping a finger on the armrest. His piercing blue eyes fixed on me for a second, then shifted to the others.
"I agree," he said.
The words were calm… but the reaction was anything but.
Several Division leaders' jaws dropped. Someone literally whispered, "He agreed?"
Another muttered, "Has that ever happened?"
Apparently, Mr. Prince-President never agreed with anyone's suggestions before.
I blinked, pointing at myself. "Wait. You're agreeing with me?"
Eryndor nodded once. "It's a sound strategy. If we lure the creature into a controlled space, the task force can confront it on our terms. It's more efficient than defending a weakened barrier blindly."
For a moment, everyone stared at me like I'd just invented fire.
I shrugged. "Well, you know… sometimes dumb ideas are just smart ideas in disguise."
The Fire girl crossed her arms, smirking. "Guess we've got ourselves a genius comedian."
Eryndor stood, signaling the meeting's end. "Prepare the teams. We'll begin the mission at dawn."
As everyone dispersed, still whispering about what just happened, I couldn't help but chuckle.
I came here to eat free pastries, not become part of some royal monster-hunting squad. But hey… life's weird like that.
Just as everyone was about to leave the chamber, a girl in a green-trimmed uniform raised her hand. "Wait, Your Highness—uh, President!"
Eryndor paused, turning slightly toward her. "Yes?"
She glanced nervously between him and the rest of the council. "We still have… a problem. The Arcane Exploration Club doesn't have enough members. If we don't recruit one more person before sunset tomorrow, the club will be officially shut down."
A low murmur rippled across the room.
I tilted my head. "Arcane what now?"
The girl pushed up her glasses. "The Arcane Exploration Club. We research ancient ruins, explore mana anomalies, hunt for magical artifacts… basically, we do the exciting stuff that the normal divisions can't handle."
I raised a brow. Okay… that actually sounds kinda cool.
Eryndor crossed his arms, thoughtful. "And how many members do you currently have?"
"Four," she said meekly. "The minimum is five. We tried recruiting new first years but most joined the Combat or Alchemy Divisions."
Eryndor's gaze shifted. Slowly. Directly. At me.
My stomach dropped. "...No. Absolutely not. Don't you dare."
He didn't even say a word, just raised a single elegant eyebrow.
"Look," I said, taking a step back, hands waving. "I'm not even enrolled here. I don't have some fancy colored uniform or noble family name. And I definitely don't have enough gold to afford whatever this place charges."
"Tuition," someone muttered.
"Yeah, that," I snapped. "So thanks, but no thanks, Your High—uh, President, Sir Prince Tea-Drinker."
Eryndor's lips twitched at my nickname for him, but his voice stayed calm. "Then I'll pay for you."
The room fell dead silent.
For a heartbeat, I thought I'd misheard him. But no—every single person in that chamber froze. Eyes wide. Mouths slightly open.
One guy from the Fire Division actually sputtered, "P-President Eryndor… you'll what?"
Eryndor didn't waver. "I'll personally cover his enrollment fees and sponsor his place in the Academy. The Arcane Exploration Club will have its fifth member."
I stared at him like he'd grown another head. "You're kidding, right? You don't even know if I can do… whatever magic you all do here!"
His gaze softened slightly—barely noticeable, but enough to make my chest tighten for reasons I didn't understand. "I've seen you handle yourself. You'll manage."
The rest of the council exchanged shocked whispers. Apparently, this kind of thing never happens.
I scratched the back of my neck, feeling everyone's eyes on me. "You're seriously serious, huh…"
Eryndor nodded. "Welcome to the Academy, Kairo."
I sighed dramatically, throwing my hands up. "Fine. But if I get eaten by a magical chicken, it's your fault."
The Fire girl burst out laughing again. "Looks like the prince found his jester."
I couldn't help but grin. Great… I came here to steal an apple. Now I'm enrolled in a magic academy with royal sponsorship. How does that even happen?
Eryndor rose gracefully from his chair, his blue cape swaying behind him like something out of a royal painting. He didn't even hesitate.
"Secretary," he said, his voice calm and authoritative. "Prepare the Arcane Exploration Club uniform for Kairo."
The secretary blinked at me, then at him, like she needed a second to process what just happened. "At once, Your Highness."
My eyes widened. "Wait, wait, wait! You're just… giving me a uniform? Like that? Don't you people usually do, I don't know—tests, paperwork, a dramatic initiation ceremony where you throw fireballs at me or something?"
Eryndor glanced back at me with that faint, knowing smile. "You'll handle the rest later. For now, you need to look like a student."
I crossed my arms, narrowing my eyes playfully. "Fine, but don't blame me if I set the uniform on fire accidentally. Or on purpose."
Some of the council members snorted; others looked like they were still recovering from the fact that their prince just sponsored a stranger.
But then another thought hit me, and my confident grin faltered. "Uh… there's just one tiny, little, maybe slightly huge problem."
Eryndor raised a brow. "And that is?"
"I don't have a house. Or, like… a place to stay. I usually just, y'know…" I waved my hand vaguely. "Crash wherever there's a roof and no angry merchants."
A flicker of amusement crossed his face, and for a split second, I thought he was about to say something like 'You'll stay at the royal palace' or 'You'll have your own mansion'.
Instead, he smiled. "There's a dormitory on the academy grounds. You'll stay there."
…
My smile dropped. "...A dorm?"
"Yes," he said simply, as if it were the most reasonable thing in the world.
I stood there, devastated. The room even went awkwardly quiet for a moment as everyone watched me process my fate.
I imagined cramped rooms, strict curfews, no late-night forest escapes, and the possibility of sharing space with some snoring stranger who liked collecting magical frogs.
"This is it," I muttered dramatically, clutching my chest. "My freedom… gone. Replaced by a pillow, rules, and morning bells."
The Fire girl laughed so hard she nearly fell off her chair. "You'd think he sentenced you to prison!"
Eryndor was trying not to smile too widely, but his eyes were practically glowing with amusement. "You'll survive, Kairo."
I pointed at him accusingly. "You enjoy this, don't you?"
He didn't deny it.
The dormitory door creaked open, and I stepped inside, expecting… I don't know… something plain. Maybe a dusty room with old wooden furniture and a weird draft.
Instead, I was met with pink curtains, floral patterns, and a faint smell of lavender. The walls were cream-colored, decorated with ribbons and small magical lights shaped like butterflies. A dainty tea table sat by the window, and there was even a frilly rug on the floor.
My face must've said everything because Eryndor chuckled softly behind me.
"This… is a joke, right?" I muttered.
He shook his head. "The previous owner was part of the girls' dormitory wing. This room was recently vacated. It's the only available one for now."
I turned slowly to glare at him. "You mean to tell me… I'm living in a fairy princess suite."
He tilted his head slightly, amused. "You can redecorate if you want."
I puffed my cheeks like a child, crossing my arms and pouting. "This is not what I signed up for."
Eryndor actually laughed—a quiet, rare sound. Then, before I could react, he reached out and pinched my cheek gently.
"H-Hey!" I yelped, swatting his hand away, my face heating.
His secretary, who'd been standing politely by the door this whole time, stiffened in shock, her eyes widening. She looked like she'd just witnessed a dragon do a backflip.
"P-President Eryndor… you touched someone?" she blurted before catching herself.
He gave her a sidelong look that made her straighten up instantly. "Is that so surprising?"
"Yes— I mean, no— I mean… it's just… you've never—"
"Enough," he said calmly, and she bowed, flustered.
I rubbed my cheek, still pouting. "Do you do that to all new students or am I just special?"
His smile was faint but undeniably real. "You're just easy to tease."
Before I could come up with a comeback, he turned to his secretary. "Introduce yourself to him properly and help him arrange the room. I have a meeting to attend."
She snapped to attention. "Y-Yes, Your Highness!"
He started to walk away, pausing briefly at the door to glance back at me. "Settle in, Kairo."
Then he was gone, leaving me standing in the middle of a pink-themed dorm room with his surprisingly expressive secretary.
She cleared her throat and stepped forward. "I'm Liora, His Highness's secretary. It's… nice to meet you."
I gave a crooked grin. "Kairo. Professional troublemaker. And apparently, the new fairy princess of this room."
Her lips twitched, like she was trying not to laugh. "Let's… get started on rearranging."
As we began moving furniture around and pulling down frilly curtains, I couldn't help but think—
This is the weirdest twist my life has ever taken… and somehow, I don't hate it.
By the time we finished rearranging the dorm, the room looked a little less like a fairy princess lived here and more like… well, a fairy princess who invited a delinquent to crash on the couch.
We'd folded the curtains, moved the frilly rug to a corner, and swapped out the butterfly lights with some mana lanterns. I was just flopping onto the bed, hands behind my head, admiring my work when Liora suddenly crossed her arms and stood in front of me.
Her eyes were sharp, like she'd been holding something in for a while.
"Kairo," she said firmly.
I blinked up at her. "Yeah?"
Her brows furrowed. "What exactly… did you do to His Highness?"
I sat up, confused. "...What?"
"You heard me." She stepped closer, her voice calm but probing. "You've been here barely a day, and yet—he smiles around you. He agreed with your suggestion in the council. He even touched you." Her tone sharpened on that last part, like it was a crime. "Eryndor has never shown that kind of openness to anyone."
I tilted my head. "So… what? You think I slipped him a love potion or something?"
Liora didn't laugh. She didn't even crack a smile. Her serious expression didn't waver. "I'm saying it's suspicious. His Highness doesn't let anyone get close to him. Not nobles. Not council members. Not even the other royals."
I raised a brow. "He seems pretty normal to me. Maybe he just likes my jokes. I'm very charming, you know."
"Exactly." Her eyes narrowed. "That's what worries me. Are you using some kind of charm magic? Or are you hiding your real intentions?"
For a second, I just stared at her. Then, I grinned and threw my arms wide dramatically. "Ah, you caught me. I'm actually a master sorcerer who specializes in making princes laugh. It's my dark, terrible power. Beware."
She didn't laugh. Not even a twitch.
I scratched the back of my neck. "Wow. Tough crowd."
Liora sighed, lowering her arms but not her suspicion. "I'm serious, Kairo. His Highness is… different. He's calm, composed, unreadable. He's never smiled, never let his guard down—not once. People revere him, but no one really knows him. And then you appear out of nowhere, and suddenly…"
She gestured vaguely, frustrated. "…everything changes."
I looked down at my hands for a moment, her words unexpectedly heavy. Then I shrugged with my usual grin. "Guess I just have that kind of face."
Liora didn't look convinced, but she turned away with a small huff. "Just don't cause trouble for him. He has enough on his shoulders."
I watched her leave, the door closing softly behind her.
Alone in the room, I leaned back against the wall.
Never smiled, huh?
I remembered the way Eryndor had pinched my cheek, the rare glint of amusement in his eyes.
It wasn't charm magic. I didn't even know how to cast that.
It was just… us.
After Liora left, I decided I'd had enough of being cooped up in a pink-floral dorm. I tossed on my new uniform — which, by the way, looked way too clean on me — and headed out to explore the Academy on my own.
The corridors were wide and lined with floating lanterns that adjusted their brightness as I walked past. Students moved in groups, laughing, talking, or carrying stacks of spellbooks bigger than their heads. I got a few curious glances here and there — probably because no one recognized me, and yet I wore the official uniform.
I shoved my hands in my pockets and kept walking, whistling casually. That's when I felt it.
A chill. Not the weather kind — the someone's-glaring-at-me kind.
I turned a corner and came face-to-face with a group of three guys. The one in the middle was tall, smug-looking, with slick black hair and a silver-trimmed uniform. He had that classic "I own this hallway" aura. His two lackeys flanked him like badly written background characters.
"Well, well," the leader drawled, stepping closer. "If it isn't the new recruit."
I raised an eyebrow. "New recruit? You make it sound like I joined a gang."
He smirked. "Word spreads fast. Some nobody gets sponsored personally by His Highness? Sounds fishy to me. So tell me, commoner, what kind of trick did you use to win the Prince's favor?"
Ah. There it is. The "I'm cool" act.
I could've been annoyed. But honestly? This was too tempting.
I gasped dramatically, clutching my chest. "How did you know?! I cast the ancient and forbidden 'Make Prince Laugh' spell. It only works on royal bloodlines!"
His smirk faltered. "...Are you mocking me?"
"Mocking? No, no, no." I took a step closer, lowering my voice as if sharing a secret. "I'm honoring your detective skills. You're clearly a genius. You saw through my perfect act in seconds."
His lackeys glanced at each other, confused.
The leader frowned. "You're not taking this seriously."
I tilted my head, grinning. "Why should I? You're the one giving the big bad speech in the hallway like some wannabe villain in a cheap novel."
The two lackeys tried to stifle their laughs, but failed.
The leader's face twitched. "You—!"
"Go on," I interrupted, holding up my hand like I was presenting him on stage. "Say your catchphrase. 'This is my school, no outsiders allowed!' Or maybe 'Kneel before me, peasant!' I need to know your style before I rate your performance."
His face turned bright red — from anger, not embarrassment — as his lackeys burst into full laughter.
"You're insufferable," he hissed.
I gave him a mock salute. "Thanks. I try my best."
He turned sharply, cape swishing dramatically as he stormed off down the corridor, his two sidekicks scrambling to follow.
I leaned against the wall, chuckling. He came to bully me, and left feeling like the clown. Not bad, Kairo. Not bad at all.
I thought the hallway drama was over.
Apparently, I was wrong.
The three idiots from earlier weren't laughing anymore. They'd followed me to a quieter corridor—one with no students around—and from the look on their faces, playtime was over.
The leader cracked his knuckles. "You think you're funny, huh?"
I sighed, hands raised. "I mean, objectively? Yes. But clearly, you're a tough audience."
One of them lunged at me with surprising speed, but I twisted to the side, letting his fist hit the wall instead. Another came from behind; I ducked low, tripping him with a quick sweep.
Okay, Kairo, I thought. Not bad. Just stay fast and—
A hard fist connected with my side. I stumbled back, gritting my teeth. Three against one wasn't exactly fair, and as fast as I was, they weren't complete amateurs. One grabbed my arm, another kicked me behind the knees, and before I knew it, they had me pinned.
The leader stepped forward with a smug grin. "Not so cocky now, are you?"
I glared. "Still pretty cocky, actually."
His punch landed square on my cheek. Pain exploded across my face, sending me to the floor. My vision blurred for a moment, but instinct told me to roll away as another guy raised his foot to kick me.
That's when I heard it.
A faint crackle.
I blinked. There was a thin layer of ice creeping along the floor — fast. Before the guy's foot could connect, it froze midair, ice locking around his ankle. His eyes widened in shock as frost spread up his legs.
The one holding me froze—literally—as shards of ice snaked up his arms. In seconds, both were trapped like statues.
I scrambled back, breathing hard, and turned toward the source.
At the end of the corridor stood Eryndor. His normally calm expression was twisted in anger, and the air around him was frigid enough to make the walls shimmer with frost. His blue uniform caught the light like shards of ice.
"Do not cause trouble," he said, his voice cold and sharp.
The leader swallowed hard, all bravado gone.
Eryndor stepped forward, and with just a flick of his fingers, the remaining ice cracked like thunder, sending the three guys sprawling to the ground, shivering.
For a moment, no one spoke. Then Eryndor glanced at me — his gaze softening just slightly — before turning away.
I touched my cheek, wincing. "...You've got great timing."
He gave me a look. "You attract trouble too easily."
I grinned despite the pain. "Yeah, but at least it keeps life interesting."
He sighed — but I swore I saw the corner of his mouth twitch. Just a little.
Eryndor's icy glare lingered on the retreating troublemakers until they disappeared around the corner, shivering and pale. Then his eyes shifted to me.
I froze. Not because of magic this time — but because his stare was sharp, like he was peeling away my excuses before I could even make them.
"What?" I asked, rubbing the sore spot on my cheek. "You're staring at me like I kicked a royal puppy."
Instead of answering right away, he folded his arms. "Have you ever undergone formal training?"
I blinked. "Uh… does stealing apples count?"
His eyebrow twitched. "No."
"Then... no," I admitted, scratching my head. "I mean, I can fight a bit. Run, dodge, throw fire sometimes. But training? Never had that luxury."
Eryndor let out a quiet sigh — the kind that made me feel like I'd just failed some invisible test. "If you're going to stay here, you need discipline. Strength alone isn't enough."
"Hey, I'm strong enough," I said, puffing my chest out a little.
His eyes narrowed slightly. "Really? You were nearly defeated by three untrained students."
I deflated. "…Okay, fair point."
Without another word, he turned on his heel. "Follow me."
We walked through the corridors until we reached a wide, open area surrounded by stone walls and glowing magic runes. Inside, several students were sparring under the watchful eyes of a tall, muscular man with a scar across his jaw. The air buzzed with raw energy — fire, wind, and lightning clashing in the training arena.
"This," Eryndor said, standing beside me like some strict noble, "is the academy's training ground. You'll begin this afternoon."
My eyes widened. "Wait—today? As in today today?"
"Yes," he replied flatly. "If you're going to survive here, there's no time to waste."
I looked at the students inside, some throwing blasts of magic like it was second nature. My stomach twisted between excitement and panic.
"Great…" I muttered. "Guess I'll be roasted alive before dinner."
Eryndor gave me a sideways glance, almost amused. "We'll see. Don't be late."
And with that, he left me staring at the arena, my heart racing. This was going to be… interesting.
The sun had barely dipped past its highest point when I found myself standing at the entrance of the training arena again.
My feet, however, weren't moving.
I stared at the students inside — some were already sweating, shouting, and launching spells like seasoned warriors. The crackle of lightning, the roar of fire, the crash of magic against magic echoed across the grounds like a battlefield.
And then there was me.
The hesitant outsider.
I could just… turn around, I thought, glancing behind me. Pretend I got lost. Or fell into a well. Or got kidnapped by squirrels.
"Hey! You!"
I flinched.
A tall, broad-shouldered man with a jagged scar along his jaw spotted me immediately. His arms were crossed, and his presence screamed "trainer" even without the whistle around his neck.
I pointed to myself innocently. "Me?"
He marched over like a storm. "You're the new one. Kairo, right?"
"Uh… possibly," I said, inching back. "Depends who's asking."
He raised a brow, clearly not in the mood. "Eryndor told me about you. Said you'd start this afternoon. You're late."
I glanced at the sky. "Technically, I'm right on time… give or take a few hesitant steps."
He sighed heavily. "Look, kid. I don't want to deal with this either. But if I don't train you properly, he'll get mad at me."
"…Eryndor?" I asked.
He nodded grimly. "Exactly. And I like my job. So, whether you want to or not, we're doing this."
Before I could think of another excuse, he stepped back and gave a curt nod. "Name's Garron. Head combat instructor. You listen to me, you survive. You don't… well, let's just say the infirmary has soft beds."
I gulped. "That's… comforting."
Garron's lips twitched like he was trying not to laugh. "Alright, troublemaker. Let's see what you've got. Warm up. Then we'll find out just how much work I've got ahead of me."
I stepped forward slowly, my heart pounding. This was it — no turning back now.
If I had known "training" meant getting repeatedly slammed into the ground, I might've "accidentally" overslept.
The moment Garron barked, "Begin," I was thrown into a whirlwind of dodges, punches, and spells that I could barely keep up with. He moved like a beast—fast, precise, and absolutely merciless.
"Too slow!" he yelled as my foot slipped during a sidestep.
"Maybe you're just too fast!" I shot back, stumbling backward.
Before I could blink, Garron appeared in front of me and tapped my shoulder with the blunt end of his wooden staff. Normally, that shouldn't hurt. But when he did it, I was on the ground a second later, wind knocked out of me.
"Combat isn't about talking," he said calmly. "Get up."
I groaned, staring at the sky. "Can't we have a nice, civilized tea party instead?"
"One second break," Garron replied without a hint of mercy.
"What?!" I sat up in shock.
He held up a single finger. "One."
I barely had time to breathe before he lunged again. His attacks were sharp but measured — like he was testing my instincts. Unfortunately, my instincts mostly involved flailing and dodging poorly.
Within minutes, I was face-first in the dirt again.
"Get up," Garron repeated.
"I'm trying to die dramatically here," I muttered, pushing myself up with shaking arms.
When he called for another round, something in my head clicked. Nope. I'm done.
I spotted a gap between the training dummies and the fence. Perfect.
As soon as he turned to grab another staff, I bolted.
"Where do you think you're going, troublemaker?" Garron's voice boomed behind me.
"Lunch break!" I shouted, leaping over a barrel.
For a moment, I actually thought I'd make it. Then a hand grabbed the back of my collar with inhuman precision.
"You're not escaping on my watch," Garron said, effortlessly dragging me backward like a naughty puppy.
My legs flailed helplessly. "This is unconstitutional!"
He ignored me completely, tossing me back into the center of the training grounds. "Again."
I lay flat on the ground, staring at the sky. "I regret everything."
Garron smirked faintly for the first time. "Good. That means we're making progress."