CHAPTER 14 — The Academy Is a Circus
The Imperial Arcane Academy officially began at sunrise.
Unofficially—
It began with screaming.
MORNING — DORMITORY CHAOS
"WHO TOOK MY BOOTS?!"
Brom Ironvein's roar echoed through the stone corridors, shaking dust from the ceiling.
Lucien rolled over in his bed, eyes half-open.
"Good morning to you too, mountain."
"I'M SERIOUS," Brom thundered. "THEY WERE RIGHT THERE."
Lucien sat up slowly and glanced down.
On his own feet—
A pair of oversized dwarven boots.
"…Huh."
He wiggled his toes.
"Wow," he said pleasantly. "+2 comfort. Respect."
Brom stared.
Silence.
Then—
"THOSE ARE MINE!"
Lucien laughed and tossed them back.
"Relax, relax. Borrowed them for science."
"For WHAT science?!"
"Foot-based stability testing," Lucien replied smoothly.
Elarion pinched the bridge of his nose from his bed.
"…It's too early for this."
Kael watched from the corner, arms crossed.
"…You humans are strange."
Lucien pointed at him.
"Careful. That's how friendships start."
CAFETERIA — FIRST BLOOD
The academy cafeteria was massive—long marble tables, enchanted windows showing shifting skies, and food from every race's cuisine.
Lucien loaded his tray recklessly.
"Alright," he said, stacking plates. "Let's test the survival rate."
Elarion stared.
"…That's three breakfasts."
"Energy management," Lucien replied. "Very advanced."
Kael sat down across from him.
"You eat like you expect a battle."
Lucien nodded seriously.
"You never know when a professor might attack."
As if summoned—
A loaf of bread flew across the room and smacked Lucien in the face.
Silence.
Lucien slowly removed it.
"…See?"
Laughter erupted across the hall.
CLASS ONE — ALCHEMY (AGAIN)
Instructor Mireya eyed the class like prey.
"Alchemy is patience," she said.
"Whoever rushes—fails."
Lucien raised his hand.
"Yes?"
"Hypothetically," he said, "if someone accidentally improves the potion by destabilizing it at the last second—"
Explosion.
Smoke filled the room.
Lucien stepped out coughing.
"…I was asking for a friend."
Mireya stared at the crater.
"…You're cleaning this."
Lucien saluted.
"Worth it."
CLASS TWO — COMBAT PRACTICE
Pairs were assigned randomly.
Lucien's opponent?
A smug noble named Cedric Halvain.
Cedric sneered.
"A blank thinks he can spar with me?"
Lucien tilted his head.
"Do you monologue before or after losing?"
Cedric lunged.
Lucien sidestepped and lightly tapped his shoulder.
Match over.
Silence.
Cedric stared.
"…What?"
Lucien shrugged.
"Latency issue."
Varos, the instructor, smirked.
"Point to Lucien."
Cedric stormed off.
Brom laughed so hard he fell over.
ELARION POV — OBSERVATION
Elarion watched Lucien closely.
He jokes.
He teases.
He acts careless.
But—
His movements were precise.
His timing flawless.
He's hiding his seriousness behind noise, Elarion realized.
That's dangerous.
KAEL POV — ANNOYANCE
Kael clenched his fists.
Why does he talk so much?
And yet—
Why did people listen?
Even instructors paused when Lucien spoke.
Charisma without authority, Kael thought.
That's… rare.
EVENING — DORM BANTER
Back in the dorms, Lucien collapsed onto his bed.
"Well," he said happily, "no one died today."
Brom raised a mug.
"A successful start!"
Elarion sighed.
"…This academy will be unbearable."
Lucien grinned at him.
"Admit it. You'd miss me."
Elarion hesitated.
"…Possibly."
Kael turned away.
"…Don't get arrogant."
Lucien smiled softly.
"Too late."
SYSTEM — QUIET NOTICE
Bond Progress Updated
Multiple contacts registered
Trust values fluctuating
No bonds mastered
Lucien closed his eyes.
Slowly, he thought.
That's fine.
GODDESS OF SIGHT — POV
She watched the laughter.
"He binds them not with power…"
"…but with presence."
Her lips curved faintly.
"That may be more dangerous than any skill."