Julien leaned against the low stone railing outside the academy courtyard, hands stuffed into his pockets, eyes lazily drifting over the crowd of candidates scattered across the open space.
The exam was over.
Which meant the real torture was about to begin.
"Results in the evening," he muttered to himself. "Ranks uploaded. Dorms assigned. Classes decided. Battle videos of the top ten plastered all over the academy website…"
He grimaced.
"Ah yes. Public humiliation in HD."
Around him, candidates were pretending not to care while very obviously caring. Some paced back and forth. Some stared at their status windows like they could intimidate them into changing numbers. A few were already arguing about who should've ranked higher.
Julien let out a slow breath and started wandering, letting his feet carry him without much thought.
That was when he spotted Daniel.
He was sitting alone on a bench near the edge of the courtyard, back straight, eyes closed, arms folded loosely. If Julien didn't know better, he'd think the guy was meditating.
Or sleeping with ambition.
Julien tilted his head. Resting already? After that performance?
He walked over quietly and stopped in front of him.
"…You know," Julien said, "if you're trying to look mysterious, you're doing a little too well."
One of Daniel's eyes cracked open.
Then the other.
He looked up, unfazed. "You're loud."
Julien grinned. "And you're rude. We balance each other out."
Daniel sighed and opened his eyes fully. "Results aren't even out yet. Why are you so relaxed?"
Julien plopped down beside him. "Because whatever happens, it happens. Panicking won't change the ranking."
Daniel gave him a sideways look. "Easy to say when you're a duke's heir."
"Easy to say when I ranked C," Julien shot back cheerfully.
Daniel paused.
"…Fair."
As they sat there, Julien's eyes drifted down—then stopped.
There was a thin cut along Daniel's lower leg. It wasn't bleeding anymore, but the fabric around it was darkened, and the mana around the wound felt… irritated.
Julien frowned slightly.
"That from the exam?" he asked.
Daniel glanced down. "Ah. Yeah. Mutant's tusk clipped me. Didn't feel like making a fuss."
Julien went quiet for a second.
Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out a single card from his deck.
Daniel raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing now?"
"Hold still," Julien said casually.
He focused.
The card shimmered faintly as Julien poured water affinity into it—not explosively, not forcefully, but carefully. The surface softened, its structure shifting, edges losing rigidity as the mana rearranged its properties.
Sweat beaded slightly on Julien's temple.
Yeah… this still takes way too much focus.
Daniel watched, confused, as Julien gestured toward him. "Bring your leg closer."
"…You're not going to stab me with that, right?"
"No promises."
Daniel moved his leg forward anyway.
The card suddenly snapped onto the injured area like a magnet.
Daniel flinched—then froze.
The pain dulled.
No, not dulled.
It faded.
"…Huh?" Daniel blinked. He flexed his leg experimentally. "What did you do?"
Julien leaned back, exhaling. "I concentrated water affinity into the card and changed its property. It's basically acting like a high-grade bandage now. Promotes recovery, stabilizes mana flow."
Daniel stared at the card stuck to his leg. "…You turned a weapon into first aid."
"Improvisation," Julien said proudly. "Very advanced. Very tiring."
Daniel shook his head. "That takes insane control."
Julien waved it off. "Yeah, yeah. Don't spread rumors. I have an image to maintain."
Before Daniel could respond, a clear voice echoed through the courtyard speakers.
"Attention all candidates. The entrance examination rankings have been uploaded to the academy website. Selected candidates will receive dormitory and class allocation details via their registered personal emails."
The courtyard erupted instantly.
Status windows popped open. Devices lit up. Shouts echoed.
Julien straightened. "Well. Show time."
A massive holographic scoreboard flickered to life above the courtyard.
Names began to scroll.
Julien's eyes followed them lazily.
Then—
1. Daniel Mangrave
2. Rose Evercrest
3. Kevin Blackveil
4. Michael Velmor
5. Selena Frostbane
6. Isaac Frostbane
7. Sylve de Growain
8. Orion Gravation
9. Yelena Hallmark
10. Julien Morvain
Julien blinked.
"…Huh."
Daniel slowly turned to him. "You ranked tenth."
Julien stared up at his name, then shrugged. "Hey, top ten is top ten."
Around them, whispers exploded.
"Did you see Daniel's video—"
"Isn't Evercrest is the title of the emperor....then when did his daughter took exams....??"
"Kevin's kill was terrifying—"
"That Morvain heir is only C-rank, right?!"
Julien stretched his arms, unfazed. "Looks like we're officially academy students now."
Daniel leaned back, eyes drifting to the sky. "…So it starts."
Julien smiled, light and easy, though his eyes held something sharper beneath.
"Yeah," he said. "The fun part."
******
Somewhere deep inside, his status flickered quietly.
And the story—their story—moved one step forward.