Finally, a massive board appeared in the air above the courtyard, glowing with magical light.

Names began filling it, those who'd passed all three trials.

I scanned frantically, looking for mine, my heart hammering against my ribs.

"JIN RAITH- PASSED TRIAL RANK: 447"

I stared at the number.

Top 500. I'd made it into the top 500.

Relief hit me so hard my knees nearly buckled.

"KYLE STONEHEART - PASSED" TRIAL RANK: 389

"YES!" Kyle's shout nearly deafened me. "WE DID IT! JIN, WE ACTUALLY DID IT!"

He grabbed my shoulders, shaking me with more enthusiasm than my battered body appreciated. "We're Academy students! Actual Academy students!"

Around us, reactions varied wildly. Some candidates celebrated, others collapsed in tears of relief or disappointment. A few just stood in shocked silence, processing their results.

Instructor Aldwin's voice boomed across the courtyard again. "Congratulations to the 500 candidates who have earned admission to the Royal Academy. You have proven yourselves worthy."

A pause, then his expression softened slightly.

"For those who did not achieve admission, this is not the end. The Academy offers scholar programs for those showing academic potential in specific fields. Applications are opened for non-combat tracks including, theory, historical studies, and strategic advisory positions."

Some of the disappointed candidates perked up at that, hope returning to their expressions.

"Additionally," Aldwin continued, "those who did achieve combat admission may also apply for dual-track enrollment if they demonstrate aptitude in scholarly pursuits. Testing will held in few hours."

Interesting. A backup option for those who wanted to pursue both paths.

"All admitted candidates, report to the Administration Hall tomorrow morning to receive your official Academy tokens, dormitory assignments, and orientation schedules. You are dismissed until then."

The crowd began to disperse, candidates breaking into celebrating groups or quietly departing in defeat.

An assistant instructor moved through the admitted candidates, handing out small metal tokens, temporary identification until the official ceremony tomorrow.

When he reached me, he pressed a bronze token into my palm without comment. It was warm to the touch, with the Academy crest embossed on one side and the number 447 engraved on the other.

Proof that I'd actually done it.

Kyle received his own token and immediately started waving it around like a trophy. "Look at this! We're official! Well, temporarily official, but still!"

"Come on!" He grabbed my arm. "We need to celebrate! The inn! Food! Probably alcohol, though I don't know if they'll serve us—we look young—but we can try!"

He dragged me along before I could protest.

The Sleeping Griffin inn was crowded with other successful candidates, all of them celebrating their admission. The common room buzzed with laughter, loud conversation, and the clink of mugs.

Kyle somehow secured us a table in a corner, then immediately ordered food and ale from a passing server who barely glanced at our ages.

I collapsed into the chair, my entire body aching from days of physical and mental abuse.

"We did it," Kyle said again, still grinning like an idiot. "I can't believe we actually did it. Two days ago I was just a village kid with a sword, and now..." He gestured broadly. "Academy student!"

"You earned it," I said honestly.

"So did you! I mean, you barely passed like every single thing, but passing is passing!" He laughed. "Rank 447! That's... that's not last place! There are 53 people below you!"

"Thanks for the reminder."

"I'm just saying, you made it! Against all odds! Your family's gonna be so..." He stopped, his enthusiasm faltering. "Oh. Uh. Are they gonna be happy? Or..."

"Probably not."

"Right. Sorry." He scratched his head awkwardly. "Well, screw them! You're here! That's what matters!"

The food arrived, meat pies, roasted vegetables, bread, and two mugs of ale. Kyle dove in immediately, talking between bites about everything and nothing.

I ate more slowly, letting his words wash over me without really processing them.

The exhaustion was catching up now that the adrenaline had faded.

"And did you see Seraphine Ashcroft?" Kyle was saying, his voice dropping to what he probably thought was a conspiratorial whisper but was still clearly audible.

I glanced at him. His expression had shifted, less general enthusiasm, more... specific interest.

"She's amazing," Kyle continued, leaning forward. "Her in the combat trials? The way she moved? It was like watching water flow, but also..." He gestured dramatically. "just perfect, you know?"

"Uh-huh."

"And her magic! A-rank! That's so cool!" He paused. "Literally cool. You know." He grinned at his own.

I took a long drink of ale, already seeing where this was going.

"I'm gonna talk to her," Kyle announced. "Tomorrow. When we get our official tokens. I'm just gonna walk up and say something clever and—"

"You're going to embarrass yourself," I said flatly.

"What? No! I'm charming!"

"You're a golden retriever in human form."

"Is that a compliment?"

"No."

Kyle laughed anyway. "Come on, you have to admit she's impressive though, right?" He sighed dreamily. "I bet she's really interesting once you get past that cold exterior."

"Or she's exactly as cold as she appears and will freeze you solid if you bother her."

"That's a risk I'm willing to take!" Kyle declared with absolute confidence. "Tomorrow, I'm gonna, wait, what do you even say to someone like that? 'Hey, nice ice magic?' No, that sounds stupid. Maybe something about her combat technique? Or—"

He continued strategizing his approach while I finished eating, my mind drifting.

Seraphine Ashcroft.

Yeah, she was impressive. Objectively. Anyone with eyes could see that.

She'd also looked completely isolated during the trials. No friends, no group, just standing alone while everyone else clustered.

Maybe that's what happened when you were that talented. People either feared you or resented you, leaving no room for actual connection.

Or maybe she just prefers being alone.

"Jin? You listening?"

"What?"

"I asked if you think I should bring her flowers. Do Academy students like flowers? Is that a thing?"

"Kyle."

"Yeah?"

"She's rank 2. You're rank 389. She probably won't even notice you exist."

"Not with that attitude!" Kyle grinned. "You gotta think positive! Maybe she likes enthusiastic guys! You don't know!"

I sighed.

What a yapper.

"Do whatever you want," I said. "Just don't drag me into it when she inevitably shuts you down."

"Deal!" Kyle raised his mug. "To the Academy! And to shooting our shots with talented ice mages!"

"I'm not shooting any shots."

"Your loss!" He drank deeply, then immediately started planning his next approach strategy.

I let him talk.

The quest notification blinked in my peripheral vision.

[Quest Complete: Rise From Nothing]

[Final Ranking: 447 of 500 admitted students]

[Calculating Rewards...]

I dismissed it. Would check later when I had privacy.

Kyle was still talking, now apparently planning to learn ice magic himself to impress Seraphine, which was possibly the worst plan I'd ever heard.

"I'm going to bed," I announced, standing up.

"What? It's still early!"

"I'm exhausted. Need actual sleep." I headed toward the stairs leading to our rented room.

"Fine! But tomorrow we're exploring the Academy properly! And getting our official stuff! And I'm definitely talking to Seraphine!"

"Good luck with that," I called back without turning around.

I climbed the stairs slowly. Reached our room and pushed inside.

I collapsed onto the nearest bed fully clothed and just... lay there.

Staring at the ceiling.

Just me and the quiet realization that I'd done something everyone expected me to fail at.

The door opened and Kyle bounded in, still yapping.

"I'm trying to sleep."

"Right, right." He moved to his own bed, though he didn't actually lie down. "But seriously, do you think—"

"Kyle."

"Yeah?"

"I'm tired. Please stop talking."

"Oh. Yeah. Sorry." He finally settled onto his bed, though I could hear him fidgeting. "It's just, today was amazing, you know? We're actually—"

"Kyle."

"Right. Shutting up now."

Silence. Blessed silence.

I closed my eyes, exhaustion pulling at me.

But before I let sleep take me completely, I pulled up my quest window.

[Quest Complete: Rise From Nothing]

[Objectives Achieved:]

Passed Physical Combat Trial ✓

Passed Magical Aptitude Trial ✓

Passed Spell Application Trial ✓

Achieved Top 500 Ranking ✓ (Rank: 447)

Hidden Objective: ??? X

[Calculating Final Rewards...]

...

[Rewards Granted:]

Academy Admission (Confirmed)

EXP: 1000

Skill Evolution Available: Adaptive Blade Style → (Select Evolution Path)

Title Earned: Academy Student

[LEVEL UP!]

[Level 4 → Level 6]

[+10 Stat Points]

The notifications flooded in, but I was too tired to process them fully.

All of it could wait until tomorrow when my brain was actually functional.

I dismissed the windows and let my eyes close.

From Kyle's bed, I heard soft snoring, apparently he'd actually managed to shut up and fall asleep.

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow I'd deal with all of it.

Tonight, I just needed to sleep.

******

In the Administration Hall, as the final lists were being compiled, Instructor Aldwin sat in his office reviewing candidate profiles.

He paused at one particular file, frowning.

JIN RAITH Rank: 447 Combat Trial: Defeated Thomas. Magic Trial: F-rank, no clear affinity. Spell Trial: Used projectile manipulation instead of traditional casting

Aldwin tapped his fingers on the desk, thinking.

"Interesting," he murmured. "Very interesting."

He made a note in the margin:

"Priority observation during first semester. Potential greater than initial assessment suggests. Unusual approach to magic, requires further investigation."

He closed the file and moved to the next candidate.

But Jin Raith's name stayed in his mind long after the others faded.

Something about that boy didn't add up.

And Instructor Aldwin had learned, over his many years at the Academy, that students who didn't add up were either spectacular failures...

Or spectacular successes.

He'd be watching to see which one Jin Raith would become.

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