The night passed in the blink of an eye.
After everything they had endured, none of the students had the strength to stay awake for long. Conversations faded one by one, lights disappeared behind closed doors, and the hotel eventually fell into a deep, well-earned silence.
For the three hundred students who had survived the second trial, rest came quickly.
Then
Morning arrived.
Before sunrise, the hotel stirred back to life.
Students rose from their beds, showered, and dressed in the attire prepared by the Aurelian staff. The clothes were refined far too refined to be ordinary school uniforms. Every stitch seemed to carry an air of wealth, authority, and prestige.
Jay stood before the mirror in his room.
A half-sleeved blue shirt fit neatly against his frame, tucked into tailored black trousers. A lavish belt rested around his waist, while polished formal shoes felt unfamiliar beneath his feet.
He studied his reflection for a moment.
"…That's new."
He turned away without another glance and left the room.
When Jay entered the hotel hall, only a handful of students had gathered.
But the number steadily increased.
Within minutes, the quiet hall transformed into a gathering of three hundred young men and women, each dressed sharply and carrying themselves with varying degrees of confidence and restraint.
Elegance filled the room.
And among them stood several figures impossible to overlook.
Mira stepped into the hall wearing a red dress that contrasted beautifully with her golden hair and eyes. The morning light seemed to favor her, and murmurs followed wherever she went.
"She's beautiful…"
"Wow…"
Neva appeared soon after in a sky-blue dress.
Her expression remained cool and composed as she walked through the crowd, seemingly untouched by the attention surrounding her.
She carried herself like an ice princess who had no interest in the world around her.
Moriko followed in a green dress that complemented her hair. She glanced around with quiet confidence, completely ignoring the stares from several boys.
Her expression tightened slightly.
"Suckers," she muttered under her breath.
She continued walking without slowing down.
Aric stood near the center of the hall, surrounded by attention as usual.
He accepted the gazes directed toward him with practiced indifference, chin slightly raised and posture flawless.
This was a world he had been born to dominate.
Rey, meanwhile, made absolutely no attempt to hide his satisfaction.
He flashed wide smiles at the girls whispering nearby, clearly enjoying every stolen glance.
And then there was Jay.
He drew attention without making any effort to do so.
Whispers followed him.
Soft giggles echoed as he passed.
Yet his expression never changed.
His eyes remained distant and focused, already fixed on what lay ahead.
Not everyone admired him.
A few boys watched him with narrowed eyes, jealousy twisting their expressions.
"Huh. A peasant with a decent face."
"A nobody getting lucky."
"Let's see how far looks take him. He'll fail soon enough."
Jay heard every word.
He ignored them.
They weren't worth his attention.
A familiar voice suddenly cut through the noise.
"Good morning, students."
Marcus stood at the front of the hall, his hands clasped behind his back as he scanned the room with a satisfied smile.
"As punctual as ever," he said lightly. "Nothing less than Aurelian standards."
The students instinctively straightened.
"The buses are waiting outside," Marcus continued. "Please take your seats immediately. Our next destination is Aurelian High."
With that, he turned and walked away.
The students followed.
Three hours passed quietly as the buses traveled deeper into Aurora Isle.
Through the windows, breathtaking scenery unfolded.
Lush greenery stretched alongside the roads. Advanced structures blended seamlessly with nature, while towering buildings reflected the morning sunlight like polished glass.
The farther they traveled, the more impressive their surroundings became.
Then
The buses came to a halt.
One by one, the students stepped outside.
And immediately—
Silence.
Before them stood a pair of massive gates.
They towered over the students, constructed from dark metal and elegant golden detailing. The Aurelian emblem the rising sun above an island was engraved at the center.
Beyond those gates stood Aurelian High.
But the students could see nothing of what awaited them inside.
Only the towering walls.
Only the gates.
Only the feeling that something far greater stood beyond them.
Footsteps echoed across the courtyard.
Marcus approached.
But this time, he wasn't alone.
Beside him stood a woman who appeared to be in her thirties. Average in height, she wore a perfectly fitted black suit. Her hair was tied neatly into a ponytail, while her sharp black eyes moved across the students with unsettling precision.
She didn't need to raise her voice.
Her presence alone commanded attention.
Marcus gestured toward her.
"From this point onward, you will follow the instructions of Professor Vega."
Every eye turned toward her.
Marcus gave the students one final glance.
And smiled faintly.
"Good luck."
Then he walked away.
A brief silence followed.
Vega stepped forward.
"Hello, students."
Her voice was sharp, clear, and commanding.
"I am Professor Vega, one of the professors of Aurelian High."
Her gaze swept across the students like a blade.
"I will be responsible for explaining the rules of your final examination."
The atmosphere changed immediately.
Tension spread through the crowd.
Some students clenched their fists.
Others swallowed nervously.
Vega turned toward the enormous gates.
She placed one hand against the cold metal.
"As you all know…"
Her voice echoed through the courtyard.
"Every year, Aurelian High accepts only one hundred students."
Silence.
"This year is no exception."
A heavy weight settled over the crowd.
"Only those who make it into the top one hundred," Vega continued coldly, "will have the right to cross these gates…"
She paused.
Her eyes moved across the students.
"…and witness what lies beyond."
Jay's eyes narrowed slightly.
Direct. Absolute. No room for negotiation.
He studied Vega carefully.
She's here to control the flow from the beginning.
Vega turned back toward the students.
"And the rest…"
Her voice remained completely emotionless.
"…will be returned to where they belong."
A sharp intake of breath rippled through the crowd.
Three hundred students.
Only one hundred places.
Two hundred would be sent home.
Vega allowed the silence to linger.
Then—
"Now," she said, "let me explain the rules of the third test."
The students held their breath.
Behind Vega, the enormous gates remained closed.
For now.