"Did you hear? They say that Leon guy has entered our academy, and he was placed in the Elite Class!"
Several senior students were walking down the academy corridor. Their conversation was loud enough to catch the attention of someone passing by. She only listened from afar, careful not to look like she cared.
"What? How could that troublemaker enter the Elite Class?"
"No idea. The mentors said it's confidential. Could the Moriet family have moved in secret?"
"Probably. Without the Moriet name, that Leon would be nothing but dust."
The female student who overheard them stepped closer. Her smile was gentle, yet her eyes were sharp like blades of ice.
"M-Miss Lyena!" one of the students stammered.
The blue-haired girl merely smiled faintly. The elegant aura surrounding her made everyone before her feel small.
She was Lyena Arche, the perfect student who excelled in every field, from magical theory to combat. Every title given to her eventually merged into a single name.
Princess of Stunning.
"Could you tell me more about what you heard?" she asked softly, her voice carrying subtle pressure.
Inside Mentor Arion's office.
A week had passed since I was discharged from the academy hospital. My body had fully recovered, although Umbros had yet to awaken. I could still feel her presence, resting quietly within my consciousness.
Today, I had been summoned to Mentor Arion's office.
"Enter," a firm voice echoed from behind the door.
I stepped inside. Arion was writing something on a magical board, surrounded by small crystals slowly rotating and emitting a gentle blue glow. The scent of alchemical medicine filled the room, sharp to the nose yet strangely calming.
"You have fully recovered, Leon Moriet?" he asked without turning around.
"Yes, Mentor. Completely."
"Good. In that case, I will assign you a special task. Consider it compensation for all the classes you missed."
I nodded. I had expected as much.
In the dormitory.
I stared at the sky through the narrow window of my room. On the desk, a document titled Special Assignment from Arion lay waiting.
I let out a long sigh. Maybe I should have asked to be transferred to another class instead.
Arion ordered me to collect signatures from representatives of every year. According to him, this would serve as official proof of student acceptance toward my presence in the Elite Class. In other words, there were simply too many complaints.
"Ugh. What a hassle," I muttered, scratching my head. "I don't even want to be in the Elite Class. It's just a gathering place for troublemakers. I didn't enter by choice anyway."
I heard Elena was given the same task. It seemed she was granted a second chance to enter the Elite Class. That meant I would meet her sooner or later.
Well then. One step at a time.
Still, things would not be easy with that person around. Lyena Arche. The perfect one who was not truly perfect. Everyone thought she was born talented, yet her perfection was forged through relentless effort. She hated empty praise from those who did not understand the work behind it.
"I should start with my own year first," I murmured.
There were three academic years in the academy. First year students were newcomers. Second years held most of the influence within the academy. Third years spent most of their time outside completing their final missions.
The second year was led by Lyena. The third year's leader was still away and would return next semester. So it was best to focus on those currently present.
I walked casually into the academy's main training grounds, filled with the clashing of metal and small magical explosions. At the center of the field, two figures were engaged in fierce combat.
Tohime and Penelope.
The smaller girl spun through the air like a wild bird, while Tohime blocked every strike with graceful yet firm movements.
"Tohime," I called when their training session ended.
"Oh, Leon? You're here for the signature, right?" she said without hesitation. She wiped the sweat from her brow and signed the document immediately.
I raised an eyebrow. "That was fast. Thanks. But how did you become our year's representative? Shouldn't Arthur have been chosen?"
"He was, at first," Tohime replied, twirling the bracelet on her wrist. "But Arthur declined. He said you were the one who deserved that honor. But as you can imagine, not many agreed. So the role ended up with me."
I fell silent.
Arthur gave up that position?
It seemed I had already begun altering the original storyline. Strangely, the world adjusted itself to my choices. Still, I needed to prepare for the butterfly effect.
"I see. I also heard Elena is collecting signatures," I said.
Tohime exhaled softly. "Yes. But things are complicated."
She explained that Elena had become a topic of gossip among students these past few days. Many accused her of entering the Elite Class out of Arion's pity rather than her own ability.
But I knew how hard she worked. Arion's task was no ordinary assignment. Every material she gathered possessed special magical properties that only experienced wind practitioners could handle. Yet others only saw the result, never the struggle.
Those rumors would eventually disrupt the balance of Arthur's group. If that happened, the main storyline would shift.
I could not remain idle.
Elena's hiding place was a high cliff at the edge of the academy, overlooking the open sky. Only Arthur and Elena knew about it. Of course, I knew as well. This was where they often talked in the story.
From afar, I saw her floating in midair. Her light silver hair swayed gently in the wind. Small whirlwinds danced around her, moving in harmony with her motions.
She looked free. Happy.
That smile was something I had never seen before.
The wind truly loved her. No wonder she would later be known as the Queen of Sky, inheritor of the Tempest Dragon's power.
"L-Leon!?" she cried out in panic when she noticed me. She lost her balance and fell from her magic staff.
I did not panic.
Several green lights appeared beneath her. Wind spirits. They danced softly, catching Elena before she touched the ground and gently lowering her in front of me.
Her face turned bright red. "Y-you saw that? That's so embarrassing," she said, lowering her head and gripping the edge of her robe.
I smiled faintly. "Not at all. You're amazing at using wind magic."
"E-eh? O-oh, that's because wind is my main element, and for some reason, it's the only magic I can use," Elena said, lowering her head further. Her demeanor changed.
This was not good.
If this were a game, this was the moment where a crucial choice appeared. Elena's shy and uncertain nature stood in stark contrast to Lyena, who lived with absolute faith in hard work.
If Elena were guided incorrectly, the Tempest Dragon's power within her would never awaken. And in the arcs ahead, she would be cast out of Arthur's group.
I stared at her for a long moment.
"Elena. Do you want to become strong?" I asked quietly.
"Eh? I-I don't know… Being strong means defeating others, right? I don't want to hurt anyone," she replied, clutching her staff tightly.
"Answer me. Yes or no?"
My pressure made her fall silent.
Among all the characters who would eventually join Arthur's group, many could replace Elena. But now, this was no longer a game. This was reality.
And I would use every one of them to survive.
"Y-yes… I want to be strong. Strong enough to protect others," she said, her voice trembling.
I smiled faintly.
That was enough.