A week flew by in the blink of an eye.
The days were a blur of nervous energy, mundane chores, and Raya constantly asking if the "Owl-Mail" had arrived yet, confusing her storybooks with reality.
But finally, the notification pinged.
Now, the entire family was squeezed into Ryn's bedroom, huddled around his desk.
The glow of the Holo-Terminal illuminated their faces in the dim room. A single, encrypted message from the "Stellar Nexus Academy Admissions Office" sat in the inbox, pulsating with a soft, golden light.
"Okay," Ryn breathed out, his finger hovering over the interface. "I'm opening it."
"W-wait!" Kaya suddenly grabbed his wrist, her eyes wide with panic. "I'm not ready yet!"
Ryn paused, looking at his mother. "Mom? It's just a letter. We've been waiting all week for this."
"I know, I know! But..." She bit her lip, staring at the screen with a mix of dread and hope. "What if you... what if you actually get accepted?"
Ryn blinked. "Isn't that the goal?"
"It is! But if you get accepted, you'll have to leave!" Kaya's spiral of worry began to accelerate. She started counting on her fingers, her voice rising in pitch. "You'll be living in the dorms! Alone! Who is going to cook your meals? You hate cafeteria food! And who is going to wake you up? You sleep like a log! You'll miss your first class and get expelled on day one! And what about your laundry? You'll mix the whites with the colors and ruin everything!"
Raul chuckled from behind her, placing a calming hand on her shoulder. "Kaya, breathe. He's sixteen, not six."
"He's my baby!" she retorted, turning to her husband with watery eyes. "What if he gets lonely? What if he forgets us?"
Ryn watched her, a warm, helpless smile tugging at his lips. Even in the face of the most prestigious academy in the world, his mother's biggest fear wasn't monsters or danger; it was him eating bad food and shrinking his shirts.
"Mom," Ryn said softly.
She sniffled, looking back at him.
"I promise I won't forget you. And I won't starve," he said gently. "And... I'll visit every week. The train is only fifty minutes, remember?"
Kaya stared at him, her lower lip trembling slightly. "You promise? Every weekend?"
"I promise. I'll come home for dinner every Saturday."
She let out a long breath, wiping her eyes.
"Okay. Okay, then." She released his wrist, though she immediately grabbed onto Raul's arm for support. "Open it."
Raya, who had been bouncing on her toes trying to see over Ryn's shoulder, whispered loudly, "Open it! Open it!"
Ryn turned back to the screen. He took a deep breath and tapped the icon.
Click.
The golden envelope icon dissolved into particles of light. A projection expanded into the air, displaying the official crest of the Stellar Nexus Academy, a starlight sword, and a staff crossed over a stylized galaxy.
Beneath the crest, bold letters materialized.
——⭑⋆⋆⋆⭑——
OFFICIAL ADMISSION NOTICE
To: Ryn Dale
Subject: Entrance Examination Results
'Dear Mr. Dale,
We are pleased to inform you that you have successfully passed the Entrance Examination for the 107th Academic Year of Stellar Nexus Academy.
Your aggregate performance across all testing phases has demonstrated exceptional aptitude and tactical awareness suitable for advanced instruction.
OVERALL RANKING: 25th
Congratulations. Your ranking places you within the top percentile of this year's intake. You have been assigned to the Elite Division.
ASSIGNED CLASS: S-CLASS
[Administrative Instructions]
Opening Ceremony: September 1st, 09:00 AM at the Grand Hall.
Dormitory Check-In: All accepted students are required to report to the Academy Campus three days prior (August 29th) for dormitory assignment and ID registration.
Tuition & Fees: As a recipient of an Elite Placement, you have been awarded the Merit Scholarship, covering full tuition and dormitory costs for the first academic year.
Equipment: Please bring your registered specialized gear. Standard Academy uniforms and a new Class-S Arc-Link device will be provided upon arrival.
We look forward to seeing your potential unfold.
Welcome to the Nexus.'
Signed, Headmaster Idril Miriel.
——⭑⋆⋆⋆⭑——
"..."
Silence filled the room for exactly three seconds.
"S... Class?" Raul whispered, his eyes wide.
"Merit Scholarship?" Kaya gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. "Full tuition?"
"YEAHHH!" Raya screamed, breaking the spell. She jumped onto Ryn's back, nearly toppling his chair. "Brother is S-Class! Brother is a hero!"
"Rank 25..." Ryn muttered, staring at the number.
Ideally, he would have preferred Rank 50 or 60, somewhere safe in the middle of B-Class. His carefully curated "average" performance in the written exam and final simulation should have secured him exactly that.
But it seemed the hidden points from the secret train test and his high efficiency rating in the Combat Showcase had backfired, inflating his score against his will.
Now, instead of a quiet life, he was stuck at the top.
Being in S-Class meant he would be in the same room as the monsters like Mirana, Asher, and the other heirs of great families.
It was the spotlight he wanted to avoid.
But looking at his father's beaming face and his mother crying tears of joy this time, relieved of the financial burden, he couldn't find it in himself to complain.
"I did it," Ryn smiled, patting Raya's arms wrapped around his neck. "I got in."
"...Waha!"
Suddenly, Kaya let out a cry that was half-laugh, half-sob.
"My brilliant, amazing boy!"
She leaned in, wrapping her arms around both him and the clinging Raya in a warm, firm embrace, careful not to squish the little girl between them. She planted a loud, joyful kiss on Ryn's cheek, then turned and did the exact same to Raya, making the girl giggle.
Then, she spun around and grabbed Raul by the shoulders.
"And you!"
She pulled her husband down slightly and planted a firm, resounding kiss on his cheek.
Raul stiffened, his face turning a shade of red that rivaled a tomato. He gently touched his cheek, his eyes darting frantically toward Ryn and Raya.
"Kaya! Not in front of the... the kids are watching!" he stammered, clearing his throat loudly.
But Kaya was completely unaffected. She was floating on the moon, untouchable by embarrassment or decorum. She stepped back, beaming like she had just won the lottery herself.
"Let them watch! I have the smartest son, the cutest daughter, and the most handsome husband in the world!" She threw her hands up in the air. "We are going to throw a party tonight!"
"A party?" Raya's eyes sparkled. "With cake?"
"With cake, with juice, with everything!" Kaya cheered, spinning toward the door. "I'm going to call the neighbors! No, I'm going to call everyone! We need to celebrate!"
"Yay! Party! Party!" Raya chanted, pumping her small fists in the air as she slid off Ryn's back to chase her mother.
Raul watched his wife run out of the room, still rubbing his cheek, though the dopey grin on his face betrayed his embarrassment. He looked at Ryn and chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound.
"Well," Raul said, "you heard your mother. Brace yourself, son. It's going to be a long night."
Ryn looked at the empty doorway where his mother and sister had vanished, their joyous shouts echoing down the hallway. He glanced back at the screen, at the daunting "S-Class" assignment that promised a future of headaches and unwanted attention.
Then, he looked at his father's proud smile.
Ryn leaned back in his chair, the warmth of the room settling deep into his bones.
"Yeah," Ryn said softly, his own smile reaching his eyes. "I can handle it."