Chapter 3 — The Black ScaleThe carriage wheels rolled through the rain-covered roads of the capital.
Zeal sat silently beside the window, watching the Greyhound estate disappear behind the fog.
He felt nothing.
Not sadness.
Not anger.
Just exhaustion.
The black scale rested in his pocket like a living thing.
Every few minutes—
it pulsed.
The strange heartbeat echoed faintly through his body.
The coachman avoided speaking to him during the entire trip.
Zeal understood why.
By now, the entire noble district probably believed he carried a curse.
Outside the carriage, massive stone walls surrounded the capital city of Eryndor.
Towering silver gates stood open while countless nobles, merchants, and soldiers moved through the crowded streets beneath the rain.
Even from inside the carriage, Zeal could feel it.
Mana.
Everywhere.
The capital overflowed with authority users.
Some weak.
Some terrifying.
The deeper they entered the city, the heavier the pressure became.
Then the carriage finally stopped.
The coachman spoke nervously.
"Y-Young Master… we've arrived."
Zeal stepped outside slowly.
And for the first time—
he saw it.
Eryndor Royal Academy.
A massive fortress-like structure stood atop a mountain overlooking the capital.
Ancient towers pierced the clouds.
Silver banners danced in the wind.
Huge statues of legendary heroes lined the entrance.
The academy didn't look like a school.
It looked like a kingdom prepared for war.
Thousands of students walked through the entrance gates wearing noble uniforms marked by family crests.
Some controlled fire casually while talking.
Others summoned wind beneath their feet.
The stronger students released enough mana pressure to make weaker nobles instinctively move aside.
This place gathered the future rulers of the continent.
And somehow—
Zeal now belonged here.
A voice beside him suddenly spoke.
"So the rumors were true."
Zeal turned calmly.
Three noble students stood nearby beneath the academy gates.
The one in front wore white gloves and a silver-lined coat.
His family crest displayed a bolt of lightning.
Lockwood.
Lucius Lockwood.
Even standing still, faint arcs of electricity danced around him.
Several nearby students whispered immediately.
"That's him…"
"The Lockwood heir…"
"They say he reached Silver Rank already."
Lucius ignored everyone except Zeal.
Golden eyes studied him carefully.
"You're the Greyhound failure."
Straight to the point.
Zeal almost respected that.
"Depends who's asking."
A faint smile appeared on Lucius' face.
"Lucius Lockwood."
The pressure around him intensified slightly.
Strong.
Much stronger than most nobles their age.
Zeal instantly understood why everyone feared him.
Lucius looked at him like someone examining a disappointing weapon.
"I expected more."
Zeal shrugged.
"You're free to leave disappointed."
Some nearby students laughed nervously.
No one usually spoke to Lucius that casually.
Electricity crackled sharply around Lucius' arm.
For a brief moment—
the atmosphere became dangerous.
Then another voice interrupted.
"Well this already looks annoying."
Smoke drifted through the rain.
Several students stepped aside immediately.
Chloe Ashfield walked toward them calmly beneath a black umbrella.
Her silver eyes briefly met Zeal's.
Then shifted toward Lucius.
"You're blocking the entrance," she said flatly.
Lucius scoffed slightly.
"The Ashfield princess."
"Still talking too much, I see."
The tension between the two noble heirs became obvious instantly.
Both were monsters among students.
Both came from powerful bloodlines.
And neither liked the other.
Zeal immediately realized something important.
The academy wasn't just a school.
It was a battlefield disguised as one.
Suddenly—
a loud bell echoed across the mountain.
BOOOOOOM.
The mana inside the air vibrated violently.
Every student immediately turned toward the academy entrance.
An enormous man wearing black armor stood atop the staircase.
Scars covered his face.
One eye was missing.
And the pressure surrounding him completely silenced the crowd.
"Welcome to Eryndor Royal Academy."
His voice thundered across the courtyard.
"I am Instructor Vael."
No one moved.
Even Lucius became serious.
Vael's remaining eye scanned the students coldly.
"From this point onward, your family names mean nothing to me."
A few nobles frowned immediately.
Vael continued.
"You are here for one purpose."
His scarred face darkened slightly.
"To survive long enough to fight demons."
Silence filled the academy grounds.
Then—
Vael pointed toward a massive black stone near the staircase.
"Authority Ranking begins now."
The crowd immediately exploded with excitement.
Ranking Day.
The first official measurement of student strength.
One by one, students stepped forward and placed their hands against the black stone.
Names appeared above it in glowing silver letters.
"Silver Rank — House Veridian."
"Bronze Rank — House Calen."
"Gold Rank — House Ravenhart."
Gasps spread repeatedly through the crowd.
Higher rank meant:
better classesmore resourcesgreater authorityhigher social standingLucius stepped forward calmly.
The moment his hand touched the stone—
BOOOOOOM.
Lightning exploded upward.
Several students screamed in shock.
The black stone glowed gold instantly.
Letters appeared overhead.
LUCIUS LOCKWOODSILVER RANKHIGH COMPATIBILITYThe crowd erupted.
"Incredible…"
"He's already near Gold Rank…"
"A monster…"
Lucius stepped away without expression.
Then Chloe approached.
Smoke surrounded the platform elegantly.
Her silver eyes remained calm as she touched the stone.
A deep gray light spread through the academy courtyard.
CHLOE ASHFIELDSILVER RANKEXCEPTIONAL CONTROLAgain, the crowd reacted loudly.
Two elite talents.
Exactly as expected.
Then—
everyone looked toward Zeal.
Whispers spread immediately.
"The cursed heir…"
"The crystal breaker…"
"He won't even rank…"
Zeal walked forward silently.
The black scale inside his pocket suddenly became hot.
Very hot.
The voice echoed faintly again.
Hungry…
Zeal ignored it.
He placed his hand against the stone.
For one second—
nothing happened.
Then the academy trembled.
CRACK.
Black lines spread across the ranking stone.
Students stumbled backward.
The air became heavier.
Much heavier.
Then—
a massive dragon-shaped shadow appeared behind Zeal for a split second.
Golden eyes opened above the courtyard.
The pressure was overwhelming.
Several weaker students collapsed instantly.
Even Instructor Vael's expression changed.
The stone suddenly exploded.
BOOOOOOOOM.
Black smoke consumed the staircase.
Students screamed.
Mana surged violently across the academy.
Then silence fell.
Complete silence.
Zeal slowly lowered his hand.
The shattered remains of the ranking stone fell apart around him.
And above the broken platform—
only one line of text remained glowing faintly in black.
ERRORUNIDENTIFIABLE AUTHORITYNo one spoke.
No one moved.
Because every person there felt it.
That pressure.
That presence.
Something ancient had just looked at them.
And deep within the smoke—
Zeal's silver eyes briefly became reptilian again.
Watching.
Hungry.
END OF CHAPTER 3Next Chapter — Noble BloodThe academy begins investigating Zeal while noble factions start targeting him from the shadows. Meanwhile, Lucius decides the "worthless heir" may become his greatest obstacle yet.