The remainder of Physical Conditioning passed in a blur.
After the incident with the training dummy, Instructor Helena made everyone carry weighted sandbags across the training field. Oliver looked as though his soul had left his body.
"I…" He shifted the sandbag on his shoulders. "…became a mage specifically to avoid this."
"You still have two more laps," Rowan reminded him.
"…Please stop counting."
Ethan laughed despite the ache in his own muscles.
His arms felt like lead. His legs weren't much better. "I definitely need to build my stamina…"
The Hero in the novel fought for hours without slowing down.
Meanwhile… Ethan was wondering if climbing the dormitory stairs later would count as another workout.
The final whistle blew. "That's enough."
Instructor Helena looked over the exhausted first-years.
"For your first day…You did adequately."
No one had enough energy to celebrate the compliment.
"Dismissed."
A chorus of relieved sighs spread across the field. As students collected their bags, Oliver collapsed onto the grass.
"I'm never moving again."
Rowan looked down at him. "Dinner is in thirty minutes."
"…I'll crawl."
Ethan offered Oliver a hand. "Come on."
Oliver accepted it dramatically. "If I can't walk tomorrow…"
"You'll survive."
"I appreciate your confidence." Oliver struggles to get up.
"I didn't say you'd enjoy it." Ethan chuckles.
Oliver groaned.
The three left the Magic training grounds together.
The evening breeze felt cool against Ethan's face. The campus had become quieter than it had been earlier.
Some students returned to their dorms. Others remained outside, reviewing notes or practicing simple spells beneath the trees.
The first day of classes was finally ending. As they approached the central courtyard. Voices drifted over from the Swordsmanship Building.
A group of first-years had gathered outside. Among them were Caleb and Adrian.
Caleb laughed loudly at something another student had said. Adrian stood nearby, leaning his practice sword against one shoulder.
Unlike Caleb…
He wasn't talking much. But he wasn't standing apart, either.
Ethan slowed his pace slightly.
Caleb noticed him first.
"Oh. The guy from earlier."
Adrian followed Caleb's gaze.
His gray eyes met Ethan's.
For a moment… Neither moved.
Then Caleb smiled and lifted a hand in greeting. "Hey!"
Ethan blinked before awkwardly returning the wave. "…Hi."
Oliver looked between them.
"You know them?"
"Not really."
"You keep saying that."
"…Because it's true."
Instead of leaving immediately, Caleb nudged Adrian lightly with his elbow.
"Aren't you going to thank him properly?"
Adrian looked mildly exasperated.
"I already did."
"You said one word."
"I said two."
Adrian sighed.
Caleb grinned triumphantly.
"See?"
Ethan couldn't help smiling.
"These two are complete opposites."
After a brief hesitation, Adrian stepped forward.
Only a few steps.
Just enough to close the distance.
"I…"
He paused, as though carefully choosing his words.
"…I realized I never asked your name."
Ethan's heart skipped.
This was natural.
Just a conversation.
"My name's Lucien." He offered a small smile.
"Lucien Veris."
Adrian gave a slight nod.
"Adrian Ashbourne."
"I know."
The words escaped before Ethan could stop them.
"…"
Adrian tilted his head slightly.
"You know my name?"
Ethan's brain immediately began scrambling for an explanation.
"Think!"
"Oh…I heard people talking after the entrance ceremony. They mentioned the top scorer in Swordsmanship."
It wasn't entirely a lie.
Adrian seemed to accept the answer.
"I see."
A brief silence followed.
Not uncomfortable.
Just…quiet.
Caleb stepped in before it could become awkward.
"I'm Caleb Mercer."
He extended a hand toward Ethan.
"We didn't get to introduce ourselves earlier."
Ethan shook it.
"Nice to meet you."
"You too."
Caleb glanced toward Oliver and Rowan.
"And your friends?"
Oliver immediately stepped forward.
"Oliver Hawthorne."
"Magic Department."
Rowan nodded politely.
"Rowan Ellis."
For a few moments, the five of them simply stood there exchanging introductions.
Nothing dramatic.
Nothing life-changing.
Just five first-years meeting outside class.
A blue notification appeared in Ethan's vision.
[Relationship Updated
Adrian Ashbourne
Recognition: Familiar Face
Trust: 5%
Affection: 0%
Current Impression:
A noble who helped during an accident.]
Ethan mentally sighed in relief.
"Progress."
Slow progress.
But real progress.
Caleb slung his practice sword over one shoulder.
"We're heading to dinner. You guys coming?"
Oliver answered before anyone else could.
"We were just about to."
"Great."
The five of them began walking toward the dining hall.
The conversation was light.
Mostly Caleb and Oliver talking.
Rowan occasionally joined in.
Adrian listened quietly.
Every now and then, he'd answer a question with a short sentence.
Ethan noticed something.
Adrian wasn't cold.
He simply preferred listening over speaking.
As the dining hall came into view, Caleb looked toward Adrian.
"You know…"
"You should talk more."
"I'm talking now."
"Barely."
"I'm conserving energy."
"For what?"
"Dinner."
Caleb laughed.
Oliver nearly doubled over.
Even Rowan smiled.
To Ethan's surprise…
Adrian's lips curved upward ever so slightly.
A small, genuine smile.
It disappeared almost immediately.
But Ethan caught it. And somehow…
That tiny smile felt like a victory.
Not because Adrian smiled at him.
But because, for one ordinary evening…
The Hero wasn't carrying the story's future tragedies on his shoulders.
He was simply another student, walking to dinner with new acquaintances.
Ethan quietly hoped there would be many more days like this.