The sharp buzz of the bell rang through the academy, signaling the end of the lunch break. A wave of students poured back into their classrooms, the once-bustling grounds gradually emptying as the stragglers made their way indoors.
"An hour already passed,huh." I muttered to myself.
I took and small tour but had returned early since I have nothing better to do, choosing solitude over mingling is more suitable. The first day was always unpredictable, but even I hadn't expected to witness trouble so soon. Fortunately, I wasn't caught in it, though that didn't mean I had avoided it entirely. Trouble had a way of affecting even the bystanders.
The incident during lunch break still lingered in my mind. It had been chaotic, an unavoidable clash between students. But what truly unsettled me wasn't the fight itself—it was him.
A single figure had turned the tide of the confrontation at its climax: a mysterious guy named Mikare. He hadn't merely intervened; he had overturned the entire outcome without a single casualty. And he did so casually.
His speed had been nothing short of supernatural. At the very moment a collapsing structure threatened to crush a girl beneath its weight, he appeared—out of thin air. His movements were beyond the normal scope of human perception, as if he operated outside the flow of time. He had reached her just before the debris landed, snatching her away with such precision that not even a gust of wind followed his movement.
More than just raw speed, his actions defied logic because at that speed even the air would be rock solid, every direction would be like running into solid walls, not only that to move someone at such velocity without reducing them to splinters was unthinkable. No whiplash, no shockwave—just effortless, perfect execution. It left only one question:
Was it a skill? Or was he simply that fast with a blessing? Or… was he manipulating time itself?
If we were to ever face him in future battles, what could we possibly do? Could Eugene and his friends be aware of his existence? My musings were interrupted by an unexpected voice.
"T-there you are! I've been looking for you."
Turning toward the speaker, I found myself face-to-face with a girl—her long silver hair shimmering under the afternoon light, almost ethereal in its unnatural brilliance. Her breaths came in ragged gasps, her slender hands resting on her knees for support. She had run herself breathless searching for me.
I frowned slightly. Why?
"You are…?" I asked, keeping my voice neutral.
Why am I asking something so obvious?
As I glanced at her once more, a thought crossed my mind—was it just me, or did she look far too young to be nearing graduation? Perhaps she simply had a youthful appearance, If she weren't in the same class as I am, I would've mistaken her to be of the same age with Lumi Vainen, the daughter of the inn I'm currently staying in.
"Huh—Eh!"
She visibly flinched, startled by my question. Her reaction puzzled me. Had I been too blunt? No, it wasn't that. There was something else—something more instinctive, like… fear but not quite that.
She hesitated before finally speaking in a soft voice. "I-Isis…"
"Isis?" I echoed, waiting for more.
That's not what I mean...but that's fine.
She fidgeted, shifting uncomfortably, then took a deep breath and steadied herself."It's alright, he won't bite." She muttered to herself.
Do I look like someone who randomly bites people?
"It's Livia Isis," she finally said.
Her voice carried traces of nervousness, as if speaking to me required immense effort. Was she naturally timid, or was it me she found intimidating?
Before I could inquire further, another voice joined in.
"So this is where you've been all this time. We've been looking for you."
I can see that.
I turned to see Eugene approaching. His gaze briefly flickered to Livia before addressing me again.
"I'll take it from here. You can return to your seat."
Livia nodded wordlessly, quickly retreating to a nearby desk—right next to mine. I hadn't even noticed she sat there during my introduction earlier. Had she been there the entire time?
"Sorry about that," Eugene said as he took a seat. "She's just shy around you."
I glanced at Livia, who kept her head low, avoiding eye contact. Shy was an understatement.
"I understand," I replied simply.
Eugene leaned forward, a bright expression on his face. "Would you be free after class?"
That caught me off guard. An invitation? Was this a casual offer to get to know each other, or was there something more to it? Regardless, I had no plans after school, so I saw no harm in accepting.
"I guess," I replied. "Why?"
"I want to introduce you to everyone," Eugene said enthusiastically. "And there's something we need to discuss. A new major event is coming up in place of the festival event. The news is only known by me."
That piqued my interest.
A secret information known to a selected few, that's interesting.
"I see," I nodded. "But why wait until after class?"
We have an astounding break time of an hour, it's illogical that they choose the timing to be after class. Although there are various things that people like to enjoy, some have activities while some spends the time with their younger siblings, lover or friends.
The academy provide three stages of education, the first stage has five semester, each semester takes a year to complete, the second stage has four semester while the third stage has three semesters and we're in the last semester. Normally we can't transfer mid-semester, you can only do so if you can clear the written examination or physical examination of the other semester with a promising score, so geniuses are known to skipped many semester. But direct graduation is strictly prohibited because experience is also important.
"Well…" Eugene scratched the back of his head. "We were going to ask earlier, but you disappeared right after lunch and a certain incident caught our interest, although we're too late on that too. And so we spent most of the break looking for you, but by the time we realized where you were, the bell had already rung."
"Seriously?" I asked.
Did they search the whole academy? Except this classroom? Well I did make a few tour on the way.
That explained why Livia had been so winded. She had been running all over the campus looking for me. Somehow, that made me feel… guilty.
"We checked the classroom twice but you weren't there each time."
I did take a tour to check on Lumi and went to the washroom for a break but to think that each time I missed them is ironic.
"My apologies," I muttered.
"Did you say something?" Eugene asked.
"Yes, since I don't have anything to do, why not?"
Eugene's eyes lit up showing his excitement and by then everyone is already inside.
"Come on, face forward." Elizabeth pulled Eugene to face towards the podium.
Before Eugene could reply, our Physical Education teacher entered slamming the door, instructing us to change into our training gear and head downstairs on the ground.
-----------
The opened field buzzed with energy as students prepared for the exercise. Some chatted excitedly while other stretched. I changed into the required uniforms and took in sight of my classmates. Then in distance I saw students from other classes approaching. Among them- a familiar red hair figure approach.
"Eugene!!" A voice called.
It was the red hair guy from before.
"Wha—Glenn!!??"
Eugene turned abruptly, eyes widening as he took in the red-haired young man approaching him with a bright grin. Glenn Beak—his old friend, the same one who had caused a ruckus during lunch break.
"Hey Eugene, Long time no see!" Glenn beak grinned, wrapping an arm around Eugene's neck, pulling him into a headlock with playful dominance.
"W-what are you doing here?" Eugene managed to ask, struggling slightly for air as he tried to pry himself free.
"What? You mean you haven't read the notice?" Glenn's expression turned mockingly surprised as he released him.
"Notice? No, I haven't..." He continued to muttered as he glance towards me, looking away from Glenn." ...Because we're busy with something else."
They spoke like old friends reunited after years, but their dynamic was closer to that of brothers—bickering, teasing, yet undeniably bound by something stronger than words.
I watched their exchange from a distance, recalling the fresh notice that had been posted earlier today as I made my way back to my classroom. It was an announcement for the graduating students—an unexpected special test. The reasoning behind it was vague, but one thing was clear: students from different classes, regardless of their specialties, were required to participate. The test was set to span an entire week, forcing all other events into an indefinite delay.
At first, I had assumed the event Eugene mentioned was this very one. But the flicker of surprise in his eyes, the slight shift in his demeanor—those subtle yet telling reactions—made it clear I was mistaken. He had been speaking of something else entirely. Something I had yet to uncover.
Now that I scanned around the field, I could see a diverse group gathering—mages, healers, warriors, they are all individuals from different races. Yet, despite the growing crowd, one thing was oddly amiss.
Where were the girls?
"Seriously!?" Eugene's voice rose in disbelief, snapping my focus back.
Glenn smirked. "By the way, did you find your fifth member yet?"
Eugene blinked before realization struck him. "That's right! I almost forgot. Chàros, come over here."
"..."
Before I could react, Eugene grabbed my arm, pulling me forward so abruptly that I nearly tripped.
"This is Chàros. He's our fifth member."
I steadied myself, glancing at Glenn, who studied me before extending a firm hand.
His intense stare is making me nervous
"Glenn Beak. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet to you too." I accepted the handshake.
Something about Glenn was… contradictory. Despite his boisterous energy, there was a strange familiarity to him, an underlying composure that mirrored Eugene's in a way. As if sensing my thoughts, he suddenly leaned in, draping an arm over my shoulder and whispering in a low voice.
"Take care of Eugene, will ya? He might look bright but that's only in surface level." His smile remained, but his tone carried a hidden weight.
For a moment I was in thought that he would make a playful headlock with me too but surprisingly that wasn't his intention.
Eugene, oblivious to our exchange, turned the question back on him. "What about you? Did you find your fifth member?"
Glenn's grin faltered for a second before he scratched the back of his head. "Eh, well… about that—"
"He got beaten to it." I cut in before he could dodge the topic further.
Eugene's curiosity deepened and after a brief hesitation, Glenn relented, explaining the incident. But even he didn't know who that mysterious figure -Mikare- really was.
Eugene raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Seriously? A transfer student?"
Glenn exhaled, reluctantly nodding. "I believe so."
"Why is there so many transfer student this year? Isn't the whole point of this academy that we can't climb rank recklessly ?" Eugene asked, his voice laced with skepticism at the meantime crossing his arms. He glanced at Glenn. "Wait we can, which section do you think he belongs to?"
While the academy had no shortcut for entry, there existed rare exceptions–one could transfer mid-semester either by retaking every exam up to that point or through a direct decree from the king himself, but the king wasn't so foolish to grant anyone this special option.
Although I'm one of those transfer student, Eugene doesn't seem to bother asking how I got in.
Glenn paused, his brow creasing."Now that you mention it… where is he?"
"Wait, he's not here?" Eugene's eyes narrowed.
Glenn nodded, rubbing his chin in exaggerated thought. "Yeah, I wonder why?"
Eugene frowned. "What do you mean?"
"I don't know man, stop asking me like I'm supposed to have all the answers." Glenn smirked, nudging Eugene with his elbow before turning away. "Anyway, it's almost time. Gotta go pretend to be a model student now." He waved a lazy hand and started walking off, though there was a flicker of curiosity in his eyes.
"Glenn–nevermind."
Eugene wanted to dig deeper—but gave up since Glenn already left and didn't want to bother him.
That nagging feeling remained. Something was definitely off.
The instructors were nowhere to be seen.
And still, the girls hadn't arrived.
I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something was wrong. "Is this normal?" I asked Eugene.
"What do you mean?"
Eugene response made me realised he has no idea what I'm talking about. He was more focused on the fact that the test should've already began.
"Nevermind, It's nothing." I replied trying to shrugged off the topic.
Maybe I was overthinking it, I thought. But just as the thought crossed my mind—
A sound.
A faint whistling noise, high and distant.
I turned toward the sky, following the source. A single firework ascended, crackling into the air before bursting in a weak, unimpressive display.
"Fireworks? In broad daylight?" Someone scoffed. "What kind of joke is this?"
The sentiment was shared. There was nothing particularly beautiful about the sight—just a wasteful, meaningless explosion.
But something was off. The ashes caught my eye. There were too many– far more than a single firework could produce and...
Why are they falling towards us only?
They drifted, swirling in the air like embers refusing to die. Unlike ordinary fireworks, the remnants didn't fade. They hovered, countless in number, mesmerizing. I found myself reaching out, curious. A strange feeling crept up my spine as I extended my hand letting a piece of the ash fall into my palm or rather my body was moving on it's own.
Why does this feel—
"Chàros! Watch out!"
Eugene's voice tore through my thoughts.
Time seemed to slow. His expression was a mix of urgency and terror as he rushed toward me with a white light glowing on his right palm , yet my eyes were drawn back to the delicate ash descending into my outstretched palm.
And then I realized and quickly withdraw my hand.
These weren't ordinary ashes. For someone like me it's hard to notice the mana imbuled on it but seeing Eugene reaction made me realized but it was probably too late.
I tried to get away but there's too many of them and before I could think any further, the tiny ember ignited.
A violent flash of light.
Explosion.
The ground beneath us quaked as a chain reaction erupted across the field. Smoke blanketed the air, consuming everything in thick darkness. Coughs and gasps filled the space, followed by groans of pain. The explosion had sent several students to their knees, but none fatal injuries.
*Cough*
I could hear repeated coughing.
"What the hell!?"
"What's going on!?"
"Are we under an attack?"
I coughed, waving my hand to clear my vision. A gust of wind swept through, dispersing the smoke, revealing the aftermath—
Dozens of students, sprawled across the field like fallen warriors. While a few stood with a barrier protecting them.
Eugene placed his hand on my shoulder. "Are you alright, Chàros?" His concern was evident.
I exhaled sharply. "Yeah… thanks."
He smiled, albeit bitterly. "That was a close one, huh."
I turned my palm, seeing where the ash had landed. If not for Eugene's quick thinking…
At the last second, he threw a white orbs between us. I quickly poke the orb and it instantly expanded creating a weak but quick barrier that pushes away the ashes out of range and reduced the damage by nearly eighty percent.
Without his intervention, I would've been reduced to nothing more than dust but then again it didn't have enough power to kill anyone. The best it could do would be put one unconscious due to shock with a few minor injuries.
The students groaned, standing shakily as the wind carried the smoke away. While some are completely unbothered like it never happened, it wasn't a challenge for them.
Then, from the clearing mist—
A figure emerged.
A wand floated in the air, spinning before suddenly stopping. With a pop, a cloud of smoke expanded, revealing a tall man clad in a long magician's robe. A large hat cast a shadow over his clown face, but his grin was unmistakable.
"Good afternoon, students! How do you like my glorious performance?"
The lively tone in his voice was almost mocking, his smirk making it worse. Everyone was confused and watched his arrival in displeased.
"Areh! What's this, what's this?" He mockingly acted surprised and laughed.
"Why was he laughing? Is something funny?" I could hear murmur from the crowd.
"Is something funny!?" Someone exclaimed.
"Good question!" He continued." Well you see, this was a test to see how many of you could react in time and how you would react when being ambush. And, oh my, what a disappointment! Half of you failed."
Someone snapped. "Cut the crap! My friend almost died! This ain't no test! This is an attempt murder."
"That's right!" Several students followed his lead.
The masked man chuckled. "Oh my! Oh my! Do I have to repeat myself? Now matter the harsh conditions this was the part of your test and it was part of the agreement in your admission form, isn't it? Or am I wrong?"
Murmurs erupted among the students.
"But—"
A student voice was cut short by the masked teacher.
"Anyway, that's okay. Next time make sure to be always on alert and pay more attention. Consider it a lesson—never trust silence. Follow your instincts and don't ever doubt it." He chuckled muttering behind his hand.
Another student, furious, stepped forward. "Not everyone is specialised in magic, some of us are just basically ordinary humans!"
The masked man waved a hand dismissively. "The world isn't so kind to treat them any better... and they're not hurt that bad, are they? I was told about the promising candidate that would soon serve the kingdom but this is beyond a disappointment." His voice carried no remorse, only amusement."At this rate, the kingdom would be in ruin by the next generation." He said as he twist his body with his want pressing his lips over his mask. His tone serious.
His tone was so menacing that everyone felt terrified for a split moment. He was extremely serious when he said that.
He wasn't wrong.
In this world, the measure of mercy is no more than an illusion. Whether you're gifted or powerless, marked or mundane, it makes little difference. The cruelty of others knows no restraint—people will bare their fangs with equal fervor, no matter who stands before them.
Being young buys you no grace. Being weak earns you no reprieve. If anything, it only paints a clearer target on your back.
Before the argument could escalate, he stomped twice on the ground and sigh. A radiant green light spread across the field, enveloping the injured students. Within moments, wounds closed, pain vanished, and they slowly regained their strength.
Then, he turned to the one who had spoken up.
"What's your name, young man?"
The student hesitated. "H-Huston Daeger."
The masked man smirked, raising his hand theatrically. "Mr Daeger! Your courage in standing up for your peers is commendable. That's the attitude of a man who should be serving the kingdom. Because of you, they shall receive a second chance."
A murmur of gratitude rippled through the crowd, praising him, showing their favor.
"Isn't it too early to be cheering?" The masked man said silencing the crowd with a serious tone.
"Now listen up! This wasn't merely just a test. If it was a real situation more than half of you would've died, the test or rather the exclusive exam following this would be more cruel and no complaint shall be heard." the magician tone stricken, "this test was issued by the King himself. It was an urgent request. Your safety is not guaranteed from what's to come. So If any of you wish to resign before the next test begin, this is your last chance."
A long silence followed.
"If it's only going to get worse, I might as well give up here."
"Same here, I'd choose to live anyday than die for a piece of paper."
Just like that two people choose to give up and it's not long before the rest follow them.
A figure from the back stepped forward, his voice steady despite the weight of his decision. "I couldn't even predict this one anyway."
"I-I'm only a human so I shouldn't bother." Another followed.
The magician's or rather the clown's lips curled into a knowing smile. "Hmm… interesting. It would seem you understand your own limits. That deserves recognition." His tone was almost approving, yet laced with something else—something unreadable.
Then, with a slow, deliberate motion, he turned his gaze to the remaining participants. "Now then… it's only a matter of time before your friend joins you." His voice dropped ever so slightly, his last words carrying an eerie undercurrent, as if he already knew the outcome.
The silence that followed was far heavier than before.
"Come now, we don't have all day." He added." Resigning now won't evoke your admission and you get to go home early."
This offer must be specialized for the ordinary students who's here to learn.
Then—one by one—students began to step back leaving the previous group.
"Well, if it's not going to be effective later on then..." Another student left.
"I thought I would be dying for real this time."
"Who wouldn't take a half holiday?"
By the end, more than half had left and were sent home.
That last offer is kind of tempting but I'm curious on what kind of adventure will this exam bring us. One considered exclusive is always exclusive.
Only thirty remained.
The magician grinned. "As for you guys… follow me, I'll be explaining the rules and regulations for this exam."
---------
"...The purpose of this urgent exam is to assess both the quality of the students' achievements and their effectiveness in battle also how they would adapt in harsh environments based on their capabilities," the masked man explained as we followed him. "As I have said before the request comes directly from the King himself. After the incident that happened a month ago, on his room was a message left behind by an anonymous person, the message warned about an upcoming disaster, he took the message seriously and wishes to prepare for the worst-case scenario. Should such an event occur again, he wants to ensure that the students are capable of defending themselves... at the very least..."
We trailed behind him for nearly five minutes as he state the conditions of the test, weaving in circles around the academy grounds. His tone remained calm and composed, yet there was a distinct weight to his words.
"You may wonder what's so exclusive about this exam. Well about that, if anyone manages to pass, they would be rewarded by the king and given a special session with the king." He turned toward us."Tempting right?"
He stopped in his tracks and spoke again. "There are no rules in this exam, it's straight survival of the fittest... But if I were you guys I would rather join hands." He said in such a suspicious tone. "Anyway I just heard information that the girls are already there."
When did he get that information? Is he telepathicaly connecting with others while talking to us? Such an amazing person is dressed up as a clown? The world does works wonder.
"Does anyone have any questions?" he asked as we approached the heart of the campus.
"Sir, I have a question," Huston spoke up.
"What is it, Mr Daeger?."
"I've been wondering… why are we walking in circles?" Huston asked, his concern evident.
Huston—no, most of the students—hadn't realized it yet, but while the instructor spoke, he had been subtly dragging a stick across the ground, leaving behind faint traces of mana. What seemed like idle gestures were, in reality, precise strokes forming an intricate pattern.
I supposed it's a teleportation circle and hopefully not a trap.
I had seen him employ similar tricks before, so it was difficult to piece together his intent. However, the location of the test site was far from here according to his data. Rather than wasting time traveling, he must have been preparing the means to transport us all at once.
An advanced magic trick only known and mastered by few.
The instructor turned toward Huston, offering a small smile, yet he remained silent. His gaze swept over all of us, unreadable and unwavering."You'll find out soon." He continued to walk around in circles but this time he was alone."Stay where you are."
It was only a matter of time before the spell activated.
"I wonder where the test will be held," Eugene mused as he smirked excitedly.
He was back to his clumsy behaviour.
I shook my head, just as clueless as he was. But the presence of a teleportation circle meant one thing—they want to conserve our mana and stamina for the test. Just how grueling would this test be? If it was guaranteed to be harsher than the previous one…
Eugene leaned in, whispering something important to me.
"Well then… here goes—"
With a swift snap from his finger a small spark dropped on the ground. The intricate magic circle pulsed with a brilliant green light as the spark connect with the ground, tracing its way along the engraved patterns before flaring to life.
The glow engulfed us, momentarily blinding our vision. A sensation unlike anything most of us had experienced followed—a rush of displacement, a weightlessness that sent a shiver down my spine. Then, just as suddenly as it came, the light faded.
I wouldn't be surprised if we turned blind after being exposed to such light but this didn't affect anything and it was done in an instant.
Our surroundings had changed entirely.
A dense forest loomed in the distance, the crisp scent of nature replacing the familiar air of the academy grounds. Confused murmurs spread among the students.
"Where are we?"
"What is this place?" someone stammered.
"Are we really at the right place?"
"Where is he?" Several students referred to the masked instructor, now nowhere in sight.
"Chàros look!" Eugene pointed toward the other direction."Beautiful!" He exclaimed with a smile.
He pointed toward the horizon, where an immense forest stretched like a living wall—its gnarled trees packed so tightly that even sunlight seemed hesitant to pass through. Just beyond its shadowed veil, the faint outline of the Wall Clock Tower Bell pierced the distant sky, its spire barely visible, like a forgotten sentinel watching over a world we had only moments ago departed. The teleportation bought us a mile away from the kingdom.
The unease in the group grew. Some were anxious, others on edge. But just as the confusion threatened to spiral, a figure approached from a cave-like entrance nearby.
"Over here! This way!" A voice called out. One of the instructors had come to fetch us.
Following him, we were led through a narrow passage before emerging into a wide, open space where a group of students was already waiting—the girls.
"Eugene!"
A girl with long, flowing black hair and striking ruby-red eyes broke into a sprint toward him.
"Huh–Elizabeth!?" Eugene barely had time to react before she threw her arms around him.
The murmurs around us shifted. The other male students bristled, their expressions darkening with envy.
"I'm glad you're alright." Elizabeth pulled away, her voice soft yet relieved.
Eugene, however, was still frozen in shock. "What… what gives?"
"Well, you see there's this huge explosion right before we were teleported so I thought you might be in danger."
"Huh, ah yeah, it was nothing."
Before he could process it further, another girl stepped forward—one of our members. With her arrival, our group was complete.
She walked towards me."You must be Chàros, my name's Lily, Lily Westwood. I look forward to working with you."
What's up with the formalities?
"I feel the same." I shook the hand she offered.
Lily Westwood, she carried an air of quiet confidence, her short dark blue hair and pointed hat giving her the distinct presence of a witch—reminiscent of Miss Eldermoon. She was holding quite the huge wand.
A subtle movement caught my attention.
Livia.
She had inched closer to me, almost as if she were seeking cover. Her expression was unreadable—displeased, perhaps even anxious.
Sensing her unease, I decided to not bother her and let her be. But something bothered me.
Why was she tugging herself to me? Wasn't she supposed to be wary of me? I questioned myself.
Then, more figures emerged.
"Is this everyone?"
"Yes." The instructor who guide us responded.
"Quite the number." He exclaimed.
Two instructors joined the first, their presence shifting the atmosphere into something heavier. Their faces were concealed beneath cloth hoods, their posture rigid, almost unnatural.
"This way," one of them ordered, his voice void of emotion.
And so, with silent glances exchanged between us, we obeyed—uncertain of what awaited us next.
Shortly after one of the instructor spoke up explaining the details of the test as we dive deeper into the dungeon.
"Since most of us are new to a dungeon. I'll summarise it just incase. The place we are in right now is called a dungeon—this dungeon leads to a different dimension, a place where monsters spawn but can't leave due to a curse. The curse placed has two effect on them, one is to respawn when dead after sometime, the second curse is that they can't leave, one may refer to it as the Eternal Prison." the instructor began, his voice steady and authoritative. "However, this floor is known as the Preparation Stem. For the next few blocks, no monsters will appear. This place is designed by the Gods for adventurers to gain real battle experience as a training. Unlike towers, you have to climb down to proceed to the next floors and we,, the instructors, will not intervene, as our involvement might influence the outcome... You may give up anytime you want. Just repeat the phrase, 'I am in agony' twice..."
His words continued, but my focus wavered.
In the middle of the instructor's long-winded explanation, Elizabeth leaned toward Eugene and whispered something only he could hear. His eyes flickered—just a slight widening, but enough to betray his surprise. Almost instantly, he masked it, giving her a subtle nod before slipping back into composure.
"Are you sure?" he murmured, his tone low and tense.
Elizabeth nodded once.
At his signal, our team quietly pulled back, forming a small huddle at the rear while the rest of the students kept listening.
The instructor's voice still boomed across the chamber, droning on about test conditions, dungeon monsters, and survival strategies. But Eugene's words cut sharper than any of that, his voice urgent enough to pin all of us in place.
"Everyone, listen closely." His gaze was unwavering, shifting from one of us to the next. "I can't confirm it yet, but we may be walking into something far more dangerous than an exam."
Lily stiffened. "What do you mean?"
"Based on what Elizabeth just told me… there's a high chance this is an assassination plot."
The air seemed to grow heavier with that word.
"Assassination?" Lily's brows knitted. She turned to Elizabeth. "What makes you say that?"
Elizabeth crossed her arms, calm but grave. "Do you recall the rumors about the king's hidden daughter? The one supposedly enrolled in this academy—the very reason he sponsored its founding?"
"Yes," Lily admitted slowly, "but… what does that have to do with this?"
Elizabeth's voice hardened. "Isn't it obvious?"
Lily tilted her head, lost. "…No?"
The conversation was spiraling in circles.
"Eugene." I placed my hand firmly on his shoulder, grounding him before things spun further. "Just say it clearly."
He exhaled and nodded. "Alright. The instructors. They're all new. And not a single one of them shows their face. Think about it—why such secrecy? At first, I thought maybe they were trying to smoke out the king's daughter. Whoever finds her would gain leverage for an audience with the king. And then I remembered: the reward for passing this exam is exactly that—an audience with him. Doesn't that sound too convenient? Almost like a trap laid by a secret organization."
I bit my lip, thinking back. His suspicion wasn't without merit. The clown mask. The plain mask. The veils. All of them concealed. And the coincidence with the reward was unnerving.
Still, something about it didn't sit right.
"They are suspicious," I admitted carefully, "but that doesn't prove they're after the princess."
Eugene narrowed his eyes. "Then what do you think?"
Everyone's eyes were on me now, waiting for an answer.
"If their target really was the princess, this whole setup would be unnecessary. They could strike directly. The clown alone looks strong enough to rip through castle security. And they've had plenty of opportunities already—when we were separated, when we were unarmed. If they wanted her gone, we wouldn't be standing here right now."
"That… does make sense," Elizabeth said reluctantly. "But then, why the masks?"
I could have fabricated something neat, something to calm their nerves. But no—this wasn't the kind of fear you solved with lies.
"If we assume they're high-ranking figures of the kingdom, then secrecy makes sense. Identities like theirs aren't meant for public eyes. Imagine warriors or officials powerful enough to be hidden assets—too dangerous, too valuable to be exposed openly. Especially someone who can secure a king's audience at will… and someone with strength like the clown's."
Eugene's expression shifted as the thought clicked. "…So they're not infiltrators. They're the kingdom's hidden weapons."
"That… actually explains a lot," Lily admitted, relief softening her voice.
But even as the tension eased, unease still crawled at the back of my mind. The tattoo I glimpsed earlier—an upside-down cross etched onto their wrists—didn't match any kingdom emblem I knew of. And Elizabeth's whisper… what exactly had she told Eugene to make him jump to assassination so quickly?
Before I could dwell further, I felt eyes on me. Looking down, I found Livia watching. Her lips curved into a faint, serene smile. A calm smile. The smile of someone untouched by the storm around us.
"Let's move—we're lagging behind," Eugene urged, jogging to regroup with the others. We followed suit.
When we finally caught up, the instructors brought us to a halt.
"Beyond this point is where monsters begin to spawn," the masked man announced, his voice carrying authority. He gestured, and the veiled instructors stepped forward to hand out booklets.
"Each of you will receive one. It contains detailed information about the dungeon, from the first floor to the twenty-ninth. I expect every word memorized by tomorrow."
Silence fell as the booklets were distributed.
"This concludes today's session," the masked man continued. "Tomorrow, we meet again on campus. The exam will begin, and you will be teleported inside. Until then—return to your families. Speak with them. Secure their consent. This trial carries real risk. And remember—study your booklet."
He paused, as though weighing his next words.
"Questions?"
No one spoke.
"Very well. You are dismissed. However… you'll walk back to the kingdom on foot."
A beat of silence. Then outrage erupted.
"What?!"
"You can't be serious!"
"W-we're walking back?!"
The spark of panic spread fast.
"Well then, good luck," the masked man sneered. He tossed a smoke bomb, laughter echoing as thick smoke swallowed the chamber.
When the haze cleared, the instructors were gone.
The students' panic boiled, voices overlapping in chaos. But in the end, there was nothing we could do.
We began walking.
At first, complaints and chatter filled the air, each student venting their frustration. But hours passed, the heat weighed on us, and thirst dried our throats. One by one, voices faded. What remained was the sound of weary footsteps, dragging through dust and stone.
Six hours later, after twenty grueling miles, the gates of the kingdom finally came into view. The guards eyed us with suspicion, bristling at our ragged state. We nearly faced real trouble at the checkpoint, but luck favored us—somehow, we were let through.
We wouldn't be in trouble if we hadn't changed our uniform but thanks to one of us who bought his class representative identification card, the matter was solved.
Even then, it was another hour's march before the kingdom swallowed us whole. By the time I reached my doorstep, every step felt heavier than the last.
But I couldn't shake it.
The tattoo. The masks. Elizabeth's whisper.
Something wasn't adding up.