Next Morning..
The cafeteria was loud as usual, metal trays clinking, chairs scraping against the floor, the low hum of dozens of academy students starting their day. Sunlight filtered through tall windows, casting golden lines across long dining tables packed with fighters, mages, assassins, and healers alike.
Ashan sat across from Nevil, calmly cutting into his breakfast as if nothing in the world could disturb his peace.
Then, without warning,
"So tell me, Nevil… when are you going to introduce your girlfriend to me, hmm?"
"PFFFFT..!"
Nevil spat out everything in his mouth in a chaotic spray of crumbs and half-chewed bread.
He began coughing violently, pounding his chest while staring at Ashan in complete disbelief.
"W–Wait.. what?! How?!"
Ashan casually reached over and patted Nevil's back as if consoling a child.
"Oho… did you really think you could hide something like that from me?" His lips curved into a slow, dangerous smile. "I know everything."
He tilted his head slightly.
"A mage girl, I assume."
Nevil froze. His fork slipped from his hand and clattered against the plate.
"She and I met in secret…!" he whispered harshly. "Just how did you know? I was actually thinking about introducing her to you soon!"
"Really?" Ashan leaned back with exaggerated satisfaction. "That's wonderful. So who is she? And when exactly did this all happen?"
Nevil scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. His face slowly turned red as he avoided eye contact.
"Her name is Elara… and she's one year older than me."
Ashan raised a brow but didn't interrupt.
"We first met during one of my solo dungeon raids," Nevil continued more quietly. "You were still recovering from that monster attack back then… so I went alone without telling you."
Ashan narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Oh? So that's when you decided to explore without me, huh?"
Nevil laughed nervously.
"Yeah… well… that's how I met her. She was part of another party. Calm. Sharp-minded. Stronger than she looks. And kind." His expression softened unconsciously. "When the dungeon went wild, her group was nearly wiped out. I helped them escape. After that… we just kept running into each other."
Ashan observed him carefully.
"Running into each other?" He smirked. "Sounds suspiciously like fate."
Nevil let out a breath, a nostalgic smile forming.
"Maybe it was. We met a few more times after that. We talked a lot. She'd laugh at how clumsy I was with my sword. I'd tease her about how serious she looked while casting spells."
He paused.
"But then one day… she vanished. No message. No trace. I thought I'd never see her again."
Ashan folded his arms, watching.
"And yet?"
Nevil's lips curved shyly.
"When we enrolled at the academy, I didn't recognize her at first. Her appearance had changed a little. But when she saw me… her expression…"
His ears turned red.
"She was happy. Genuinely happy. So we started walking together after classes. Training sometimes. Spending time." He swallowed lightly. "And recently… she confessed."
Ashan let out a low whistle.
"So that's why you've been disappearing lately. And she confessed first?" He shook his head in mock disappointment. "So my friend isn't dense, she just beat you to it."
Nevil groaned and ran a hand through his hair.
"You don't have to phrase it like that…"
Ashan burst into laughter.
"I'm teasing. Relax." His expression softened slightly. "Still, Elara, huh? A kind mage girl with courage. That suits you."
Nevil blinked.
"You've always needed someone to steady you," Ashan added. "You're reckless when you fight."
Nevil chuckled.
"Maybe you're right. But it's not just that she's talented. It's… the way she acts. The small things. When she smiles or worries about me…" He pressed a hand to his chest unconsciously. "It gives me this warmth I've never felt before."
Ashan's teasing faded completely.
"Then don't lose her this time," he said quietly. "People like that don't appear twice."
He leaned forward.
"Didn't I tell you back then you'd find someone here?"
Nevil nodded firmly.
"Yeah. You did."
Silence lingered for a moment before Nevil suddenly turned toward him.
"Wait. You never said how you found out."
Ashan's smile turned strangely serious.
"Are you absolutely sure you want to know? You might regret it."
Nevil stiffened.
"…Regret? Why would I regret it? You're scaring me. Just say it already."
Ashan looked around carefully to ensure no one nearby was listening. Then he leaned closer to Nevil's ear.
"Yesterday," he whispered, "I happened to walk past your room."
Nevil's heartbeat spiked.
"My sharp ears caught… interesting sounds."
Nevil froze.
"So I decided to use one of my skills to look further."
Nevil's face drained of color.
"And do you know what I saw?"
Nevil's hands began trembling.
"H–How much did you see?"
Ashan's lips curved into a wicked grin.
"How much? Let's say… a considerable amount."
Nevil's entire body stiffened.
"The only reason I stopped," Ashan continued calmly, "was because watching you two kiss like wild animals was already more than enough."
Nevil buried his face in his hands.
Ashan placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Tell me honestly," he whispered again, lowering his voice further. "Did you two do it back then?"
Nevil's face turned crimson.
"No! No, we didn't!" he said quickly. "We're not ready for that yet!"
Ashan studied him for a moment.
"Is that so? Still, you two scared the hell out of me. What if someone else caught you? You know the academy rules."
Nevil's embarrassment shifted into seriousness.
"Yes. I know. We'll be much more careful next time."
Ashan blinked.
"Next time?" His eyebrow lifted slowly. "Planning ahead already?"
"Ashaaaan… stop."
Ashan laughed loudly.
…
Later That Morning..
After breakfast, the entire academy gathered at the Grand Stadium.
The arena was massive, white marble flooring etched with combat arrays, tiered seating rising high above, banners fluttering in the morning wind.
Students stood in organized formations according to their specialization.
Combat fighters in heavy armor.
Mages holding staves.
Assassins cloaked and silent.
"So this is it," a mage whispered excitedly. "We're starting the real thing."
"Of course," another replied. "Beginner training is over. Now it's combat drills and advanced study."
"I heard physical fighters went through absolute hell while we were polishing spells."
"Haha, that's true."
"But from here on, no one gets it easy. We'll all be thrown into real battles."
Ashan stood among them, arms crossed, eyes half-closed as he listened.
'It came faster than expected,' he thought.
'Everyone pushed hard. We cleared the beginner stage quickly.'
His gaze sharpened as he looked around the stadium.
'From here on, it gets serious. Combat simulations. Strategy lessons. Ranked duels. If we don't keep up, life here won't be pleasant.'
The air buzzed with anticipation.
Then,
Clack.
Clack.
Clack.
The sound of heels echoed from the northern gate.
It wasn't loud.
But it carried authority.
The murmurs died instantly.
Conversations cut off mid-sentence.
Students straightened subconsciously.
Ashan didn't need to look immediately.
He already knew.
A faint smile appeared on his lips as he turned toward the stage.
"There she comes."