When I finally woke up, I didn't feel like myself.
For a moment, I wasn't even sure where I was.
The soft mattress underneath me… the warmth… the familiar wooden ceiling of my dorm…
It all felt unreal after three straight days of riding, no sleep, barely eating, and pushing myself until my body nearly gave out.
I groaned and rolled onto my side.
My muscles protested immediately.
"Ugh… never again…" I whispered, even though a part of me knew I would absolutely do something that stupid again.
Light leaked past the curtains.
It wasn't dawn glow — it was way brighter.
I jolted up.
"W-wait… what time is—!?"
I scrambled to the window.
The sun wasn't rising.
It was already halfway toward mid-morning.
"…I overslept…" I whispered in disbelief. "I actually overslept."
It felt wrong. My body didn't want to move, but at the same time I felt… safe. Like I wasn't running from anything. Like no deadline was chasing me. Like no orc was waiting to kill me. Like no elemental monster was looming over my shoulder.
It was the first time in a very, very long time that I woke up without fear.
And for a second, I just breathed.
No urgency.
No pressure.
Just… breathing.
"Guess… I can rest. For once."
I yawned so hard my jaw popped, then forced myself out of bed and stretched. Every joint felt like gravel, but compared to yesterday, I might as well have been reborn.
Classes wouldn't start for a week.
No announcements.
No missions.
No deadlines.
And it was winter now. The cold outside was probably awful, but after Frostveil, the academy's chilly breeze felt like a warm bath.
I changed into fresh clothes, splashed water on my face, and exhaled.
"Okay. Nothing to do… except train."
And so I did.
A Week of Training
With nothing scheduled and a whole academy to prepare for, I decided on something obvious: Train every day from sunrise to night.
Because if I stopped moving now, if I let myself relax too much, I would lose the edge I earned with blood in Frostveil.
I threw myself into training harder than ever before — though ironically, training felt easier than the journey back.
Sword forms.
Footwork drills.
Breath control.
Shadow-sparring.
Circulation attempts — which still hurt my chest every time.
I needed to be better.
Stronger.
Faster.
Because I had a title now.
Because everyone would be aiming for me.
Class 1-S, Rank 1.
Representative.
A target on my back.
I wanted to be proud, but instead I felt a weight I couldn't name. Every time I thought about thousands of students returning… thousands of eyes…
I trained harder.
And then there was Juno.
He passed too—barely—ending up in Class 1-D, the second lowest. But to Juno?
It was a victory.
Every morning when I went to the training field, he would pop out of nowhere like a stray cat that learned how to teleport.
"Rain! Teach me! I want to get stronger! I HAVE to—please just one more drill!"
On the first day:
"Fine."
Second day:
"…Fine."
Third day:
"You again?"
Fourth day:
"Juno, you were literally passed out on the field yesterday."
"Rain… strength… doesn't sleep…"
"You did."
Fifth day:
"I swear if you show up—"
"I'M HERE—teach me!!"
He was annoying.
But… it was also warm.
Having someone look up to me—me, of all people—was strange. Like I had become an older brother overnight. The feeling embarrassed me so much I had to look away whenever he got too serious.
But I didn't hate it.
On the sixth morning, everything changed.
When I stepped onto the dorm balcony, the academy—which had been quiet and empty for weeks—was now alive.
Crowds of students were entering through the main south gates. Thousands. Wearing capes of different year colors, laughing, talking, shouting. Knights in training, mages, spear users, archers, every type of warrior.
And then—
Carriages poured in.
Merchants delivered supplies.
Training fields thundered with returning students.
Boots, chatter, laughter, shouts — the air grew alive with noise.
Nearly 3,500 students returned.
Knight uniforms of every color.
The clang of weapons.
Instructors barking orders.
Snow beginning to fall lightly, turning Lionhearth Academy into a white-quilted battlefield of activity.
I had never seen the academy like this. The first week I'd arrived, it was empty.
Now?
It felt like a city.
Students stared as I walked through campus.
Some whispered.
Some pointed.
Some straight-up froze.
"That's him—"
"The new blood—"
"Killed an orc alone—"
"The Class S first-year rep—"
My throat tightened.
I wasn't used to eyes.
I wasn't used to attention.
I wasn't sure I liked it.
The air vibrated with excitement and nervousness.
"This… is Lionhearth when it's full?"
It felt huge. Like the whole world was here.
Juno walked out from his room and whistled.
"Rain… look at all those first, second and third years. We're gonna suffer."
"You are," I corrected.
"Rude."
I smirked.
We headed toward the main courtyard because today was important:
The Ranking Board Reveal for First-Years.
And apparently… everyone was interested.
As I walked, I started noticing something strange.
People were staring.
No—everyone was staring.
Some whispered.
Some pointed.
Some stepped aside as I walked.
Some even bowed their heads slightly, like I was some noble's son or something.
"Why… are they looking at you like that?" Juno whispered.
"You tell me."
"I don't know! You didn't tell them you were number one already, did you?!"
"I found out at the same time as you."
Then we walked past a group of second years.
"That's him," one muttered.
"The freshman who soloed a difficult-tier quest."
"And came back with minutes left."
"He's the one Sir Zenite took as a student."
More whispers followed.
"The one who fought the wolf king alone—"
"No, it was an orc."
"I heard it was ten orcs."
"Idiot, it was a hundred."
I frowned.
"…Where are they getting this information?"
Juno coughed. "Rumors spread, I guess."
But the strangest part?
Every upperclassman who saw me… moved aside.
Giving me a path.
Clearing the walkway.
Like I was carrying a legendary sword instead of just walking around hungry.
It was uncomfortable.
It was embarrassing.
It made my skin itch.
But a small part of me…
A very small part…
felt proud.
At the main courtyard, hundreds of first-year students gathered around the giant crystal board. Professors and knights were channeling magic into it. Runes glowed. Light shimmered.
Then the rankings appeared.
First-Year Roster – Combat Division Rankings
The crowd quieted immediately.
Then, words appeared:
1st – Rain (Class S)
2nd – Seraphyne Flametide (Class S)
3rd – Varein Sylwind (Class S)
4th – Kazen Drayle (Class S)
5th – Theon Ward (Class S)
A moment of silence.
Then—
"WHAT?!"
"How did he get first!?"
"He looks so average!"
"No, wait—look at his eyes, he's scary—"
"That kid? He's the one who—"
"No way he's stronger than Seraphyne!"
"Are you blind? Varein should be first—he's literally a walking storm—!"
"Kazen beat three monsters in his exam!"
"Theon disarmed an instructor!"
Dozens of voices exploded around me.
Juno grinned ear-to-ear.
"RAIN! YOU'RE NUMBER ONE! NUMBER FRICKIN' ONE!"
I sighed.
"I know. I can see."
"You're S-class! YOU'RE THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE ENTIRE FIRST YEAR!"
"I know, Juno."
"I'M ROOMMATES WITH THE REPRESENTATIVE!!"
"…Good for you?"
He started shaking me in excitement.
Meanwhile, four students—my new rivals—appeared one by one from the crowd.
Seraphyne Flametide – Rank #2
A fiery pink-haired girl walked toward me, her eyes sharp and annoyed.
"You're Rain?" she asked bluntly.
"Yes?"
"You beat my score."
"Sorry?"
"I'm going to beat you next time."
"…Okay."
She scowled.
Varein Sylwind – Rank #3
Then a black hair boy with green in his hair. He was a graceful boy with wind swirling lightly around him stepped forward.
He bowed slightly.
"I look forward to dueling you, First Rank."
His pressure felt heavy—refined, elegant, dangerous.
Kazen Drayle – Rank #4
A tall guy with white hair and calm eyes nodded at me.
"You soloed an orc."
"I did."
"…Respect."
Short. Simple. Genuine.
Theon Ward – Rank #5
Finally, a muscular boy with a cocky grin leaned in close.
"So you're the one everyone's talking about."
"Apparently."
"You don't look that strong."
"People say that a lot."
"Hmph. I'll test you in training."
"Go ahead."
He grinned wider.
Rivals.
All four of them.
I didn't dislike it.
We left the courtyard afterward, Juno chattering nonstop, when something happened.
An instructor—broad-shouldered, scarred, carrying a heavy greatsword—stepped directly in front of me.
He looked down at me like he was looking at a bug on the floor.
"So you're Rain."
"…Yes."
"You think being Rank 1 means something?"
"…Not really."
"Good."
He leaned down, voice cold.
"Prove it. In class. In drills. In real combat. If you fail even once, the academy will eat you alive."
My heart pounded.
But I didn't step back.
"…I'll keep that in mind."
The instructor stared for a moment.
Then smirked.
"Not bad, kid."
And walked off.
Juno exhaled loudly.
"RAIN—WHAT WAS THAT—?! WHY DID HE—? WHO—?! DO YOU KNOW HIM?!"
"No."
"THEN WHY WAS HE SO SCARY?!"
"I don't know."
By the time the sun started setting, the academy was buzzing.
People talked.
People stared.
People whispered my name.
I felt… overwhelmed.
But also proud.
And scared.
And excited.
And nervous.
And hungry.
So after eating an entire plate of roasted meat and bread, I returned to my room.
Juno fell asleep instantly, snoring loud enough to shake the walls.
I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling.
I finally made it.
Rank 1 of the first years.
I wasn't satisfied.
But I was happy.
Even if only a little.
And for now…
for today…
That was enough.