The dormitory building of Eclipse Hunter Academy was enormous.
Four massive towers connected by long stone corridors.
Each tower housed hundreds of students.
As the newly accepted candidates entered, instructors began assigning rooms.
"E Rank students, Tower Three."
Lysander followed the crowd quietly.
His body still felt sore from the fight with the Wolf King.
The system had stabilized his injuries slightly, but exhaustion lingered in his muscles.
Still…
He was alive.
Which was more than the original Lysander could say.
Inside Tower Three, an instructor handed him a small metal key.
"Room 317."
Lysander nodded.
"Thank you."
The hallway was long and quiet.
Students were already unpacking and arguing in nearby rooms.
He stopped at the door labeled 317 and pushed it open.
The room was simple.
Two beds.
Two desks.
Two windows overlooking the training grounds.
And someone was already inside.
A tall young man with messy dark hair and wolf-like ears sat cross-legged on the bed.
A long tail swayed lazily behind him.
Beastkin.
The moment Lysander stepped in, the boy looked up.
Bright golden eyes widened.
"Oh! Roommate!"
He jumped off the bed immediately.
His movements were energetic, almost explosive.
"You're Lysander, right?"
Lysander blinked once.
"…Yes."
The boy grinned widely.
"I'm Taro Stormfang!"
He thrust out his hand enthusiastically.
"Wind element! Beastkin clan from the northern plains!"
Lysander stared at the extended hand for a second.
Then shook it.
"…Nice to meet you."
Taro laughed.
"Man, you're quiet."
He leaned closer suddenly.
"But you're the guy who killed those wolves earlier, right?"
Lysander paused.
"…What?"
Taro scratched his head.
"I saw the aftermath when I got there. Three wolves cut clean in half."
He made a slicing motion with his hand.
"Like whoosh!"
Lysander kept his expression neutral.
"There were a lot of people there."
"True."
Taro shrugged.
"But still."
He plopped back onto his bed.
"This academy is crazy already."
Then he leaned forward again, eyes shining.
"Did you hear about the Wolf King?"
Lysander nodded slightly.
"Everyone's talking about it."
"Yeah!"
Taro's tail wagged excitedly.
"They said someone killed it alone!"
His voice lowered dramatically.
"Some people think it was an instructor."
Others think it was a hidden genius among the candidates.
He suddenly pointed at Lysander.
"…Not you, though."
Lysander raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
Taro grinned.
"Because if you killed a D-rank boss monster…"
"…you wouldn't be E rank."
Lysander nodded slowly.
Fair logic.
He walked toward the window.
Outside, dozens of students trained in the courtyard below.
Sword practice.
Magic drills.
Combat exercises.
The academy was already alive with activity.
This place would become the center of the story.
Behind him, Taro stretched.
"So what's your element?"
Lysander thought for a moment.
Then answered calmly.
"…Lightning."
Taro's ears perked up instantly.
"Oh! That's a good one!"
"Fast attacks."
"Speed boosts."
"Super flashy."
He grinned.
"You're gonna be a swordsman?"
Lysander glanced toward Kagekiri leaning against the desk.
"…Something like that."
Taro laughed.
"Nice!"
He stood up again.
"Let's spar later!"
Lysander turned toward him slowly.
"Spar?"
"Of course!"
Taro cracked his knuckles.
"If we're roommates, we're training partners too."
His golden eyes gleamed with excitement.
"I wanna see how strong you are."
Lysander sighed quietly.
This guy has too much energy.
But sparring would actually help.
He needed to:
practice sword control
hide Void Draw
test lightning enhancement
"…Sure."
Taro's tail wagged even faster.
"Awesome!"
But before either of them could say anything else—
A loud bell echoed through the academy.
Students across the dormitory paused.
Then a voice rang through the building.
"All first-year students report to the Central Training Arena."
"Orientation begins in ten minutes."
Taro grinned.
"Looks like things start immediately."
He grabbed his jacket.
"Come on, Lightning Boy."
Lysander followed him toward the door.
But as they stepped into the hallway—
Two figures stood at the end of the corridor.
Leon Valerian.
And beside him—
Elara Moonveil.
Both looked directly at Lysander.
Leon smiled casually.
"Hey."
Elara's gaze was sharper.
More analytical.
Then she spoke quietly.
"…We should talk."