"Hey—Robert!" I called, quickening my pace to catch up with him. "You went to see Silius yesterday, right?"
"I did."
"And?"
"You'll find out at the assembly," he said with a quick grin, then picked up his pace.
"Hey—what does that mean? Robert!" I called after him.
He just waved without turning around and disappeared into a classroom.
"Seriously…" I muttered under my breath, heading toward my own lecture.
"Alan. Don't you have anything to tell me?" Matthew asked, sliding into the seat beside me.
I blinked, only then properly registering the room.
Elites.
Mixed class.
"What are they doing here?" I asked.
"You really haven't been showing up, have you?" Matthew said. "Between your… condition. And your new status."
"It's always been a shared course."
He gave me a look.
"You do check your schedule at least sometimes, right?"
"…Not really," I admitted.
I hadn't even opened it lately.
"This is Hidden World Law," he went on. "Last mandatory lecture. After this, it's optional."
He paused.
"Not that you'll need it."
"Why?"
"Because your next ten years are already decided."
His tone tightened.
"This course is about laws. Administrative structure."
"And you?"
"If it helps me get a better position, I'm not skipping it."
I went quiet.
For Matthew, this mattered.
More than anything.
He wasn't doing this for himself.
He was doing it for his sister.
And if he couldn't find a noble willing to take both of them, then his only option would be to claw his way into the system.
And survive.
"Good afternoon."
The voice cut through the room.
Sharp. Cold.
I looked up.
"I'm delighted," the instructor continued, her tone edged with thinly veiled contempt, "to see that certain Specials—who, for reasons beyond my understanding, have managed to climb so quickly—have finally condescended to attend a course that is mandatory for every student."
Her gaze locked onto me.
Gray. Flat. Cutting.
Tall. Too thin.
Every movement precise. Controlled.
I knew immediately I would never choose to take this course again.
That only became clearer as the lecture went on.
Every chance she got, she went after me.
Questions.
One after another.
And if I so much as hesitated, even for a second—
A sharp exhale.
A quiet scoff.
And then, just loud enough for everyone to hear, remarks about my intelligence scraping the bottom of the floor.
I understood.
She didn't approve.
Of Silius.
Of his decision.
Of me.
That wasn't surprising.
Didn't make it any easier.
Was this what waited outside the academy too?
I shoved my notes into my folder harder than necessary.
"You surprised me," Matthew said, trying to ease the tension. "We haven't even covered half of that, and you still answered."
"Didn't matter."
I let out a short breath.
"She'd already decided what I am."
"She's nitpicking," he said. "A first-year becoming a personal bodyguard—people weren't going to like that."
"And the fact that it's you…"
He trailed off.
"So where did you learn all that?"
"Library," I said. "Too much time there."
"You've outdone me again," Matthew muttered.
There was a flicker of something on his face, gone just as fast.
"I wonder if today's assembly will actually be interesting," he added, giving me a pointed look.
I exhaled quietly.
For once, I just wanted nothing to happen.
We lined up.
Same formation as always.
I glanced back.
Robert stood third now.
Behind Matthew.
He looked… off.
Focused. Quiet.
He didn't look at me.
So I turned forward.
To the elites.
Clyde stood at the front of the fourth-years.
As if he felt it, he turned.
Looked straight at me.
Nothing in his expression.
How did that meeting go?
What did you do?
What am I about to find out?
Something tightened in my chest.
"All present!"
I snapped back, forcing my voice steady as roll call ended.
Badges.
Routine.
Nothing unusual.
Then came the announcements.
Fourth-year elites.
Christina stepped forward.
Something in me tightened instantly.
"I would like to name Robert Torent as my personal bodyguard," she said clearly, "and present him with a distinction badge."
Everything went still.
I turned sharply.
Robert.
He gave a humorless smirk.
And stepped forward.
I waited.
For him to stop.
To refuse.
To laugh it off.
To say something.
Anything.
But he didn't.
He took the badge.
Spoke the oath.
Came back.
Just like that.
"What the hell…" I mouthed.
He brushed it off like it meant nothing.
Now everyone was watching him.
"Excellent," Director Gordinstreet continued. "Now we proceed to the most important event of the year—the exhibition fights."
"Deputy Rigor."
Pavel stepped forward, unfolding a list.
"I will now read the names of those selected for the exhibition matches, which will take place in one month."
"When your name is called, step forward."
"Form a line in the center."
"We begin with senior students."
Names.
One after another.
Students stepped forward.
Heads high.
Fewer than I expected.
Nick.
A flicker of relief.
He deserved it.
By the time they reached first-years, only twelve had been chosen.
"First year—Alan Holivan."
Of course.
I stepped forward.
My eyes moved on their own.
Andrew.
His expression was tight. Unhappy.
I took my place in line.
"Robert Torent."
He stepped forward.
A brief glance.
A faint, unreadable smile.
Then nothing.
"And finally—Matthew Vauzer."
"That concludes the selection."
"All those named, follow me."
"The rest are dismissed."
We moved.
Together.
Toward the exit.
I noticed the instructors.
Mine.
Robert's.
Matthew's.
All of them.
Of course.
They were responsible for us.
And then two more figures.
White uniforms.
Clyde.
Christina.
They joined us.
And as we kept walking, I understood.
The direction.
The destination.
The arena.
The place where duels were fought.