The moment Professor Haldrin dismissed the class, the exam hall exploded into chaos.
Students pushed back their chairs, some groaning loudly, others just slumping forward onto their desks like their souls had left their bodies.
A few sat there staring at the ceiling, completely spaced out. Like they had just walked out of a battlefield.
Some overachievers immediately grouped up in a corner. Whispering answers and comparing notes like their lives depended on it.
A few students cursed under their breath, Looking like they wanted to tear the test paper in half or set it on fire.
Kyle leaned back in his seat and stretched.
His spine gave a small crack, and his shoulder muscles felt sore from sitting hunched over for five straight hours.
Lyra was sitting nearby, rubbing her temples with both hands. Looking like she had a headache the size of a thunderstorm.
As Kyle got up and joined the slow-moving crowd of students shuffling toward the exit.
He muttered, "Guess I wasn’t the only one struggling."
Then, out of nowhere. Reo burst through the door of the exam hall next door, his exam room.
His eyes were wide, hair a mess, and he looked like he hadn’t slept in days.
"KYLE! BRO! I’M DOOMED!"
Before Kyle could even react. Reo rushed over and grabbed him by the shoulders, shaking him so hard his teeth rattled.
"The exam was a nightmare! A NIGHTMARE! I blanked on the third question!"
"I think I mixed up mana channels with spell arrays! I’m gonna fail, Kyle! FAIL! Luna’s gonna murder me! My family’s gonna pretend I don’t exist!"
Kyle quickly pried Reo’s hands off him and stepped back. "Calm down. It wasn’t that bad."
Reo froze mid-breath. He stared at Kyle, eyes full of betrayal.
"Wait... are you saying you DIDN’T fail?"
Kyle scratched the back of his neck. "I mean... I didn’t do amazing. But I think I passed."
Reo gasped, putting a hand on his chest like Kyle had just stabbed him with a dagger.
"TRAITOR! You’re a traitor to the brotherhood of academic suffering! We were supposed to FAIL TOGETHER!"
Kyle rolled his eyes. "Sorry, man. I actually studied this time."
Reo let out a dramatic groan and flopped onto the nearest desk like a dead man, arms stretched out.
"Ugh. I hate responsible Kyle. Bring back the guy who used to wing everything five minutes before class."
Kyle laughed a little. "That guy almost got expelled. He’s retired."
Around them. The hallway was full of students having their own post-exam breakdowns.
Some were pacing, others were arguing about answers.
One kid was flipping through his notes in a panic, realizing too late what he’d missed.
A girl near the door had tears in her eyes, hugging her notebook like it was a lifeline.
Kyle glanced around again and sighed.
"Okay, maybe the test really was that hard."
Kyle rubbed the back of his neck, still feeling the tension in his shoulders.
Then, from the corner of his eye. He spotted Eleanora.
She walked toward him with her usual grace. Silent, steady, like she wasn’t just in the same five-hour mental battlefield as the rest of them.
Her long hair flowed behind her, and her eyes, that deep crimson shade, were locked straight on him.
Kyle straightened slightly without even meaning to.
"Kyle," she said, voice calm and even.
There was something about the way she said it, gentle but firm. Like she was testing the weight of his name.
"Hey," Kyle replied, trying to sound casual. "How’d it go for you?"
She tilted her head a little, thoughtful. "Acceptable. And you?"
Kyle gave a small shrug. "Could’ve been worse. Could’ve been better. Some parts threw me off."
She didn’t say anything at first, just looked at him a moment longer than most people would.
Then finally, she said, "You will do fine."
Not a question. Just a fact. Like she knew for sure.
Before Kyle could say anything back. Reo let out a dramatic groan from behind them.
"Ugh. Why does everyone sound so confident? I’m out here planning my future as a broke street beggar, and you two talk was a walk in the park."
Eleanora didn’t even turn to look at him. "You’ll survive."
Reo sat up slowly, blinking. "Wow. Thanks. Your Highness. I feel so encouraged."
Kyle gave Reo’s a light kick. "Shut up."
The room was nearly empty now. Students were filing out in slow groups.
Their steps heavy and sluggish. Some looked relieved, but most looked like they’d just been hit by a mana storm.
Bags dragged on the floor, conversations were quiet and tired.
Kyle shoved his notes and pen into his bag. His brain still felt foggy, but he was already thinking ahead.
"Practical exams the day after," he muttered. "At least we get a break tomorrow."
Reo’s eyes lit up. "Oh right! No classes! We should do something fun. Sparring?"
Kyle stared at him. "How about... sleep?"
Reo gasped, as if insulted. "Boring."
Eleanora had turned to leave but paused. She looked over her shoulder at Kyle, eyes steady.
"Rest well," she said. "You’ll need it."
Then she walked off, not bothering to wait for a reply.
Kyle watched her go. A weird feeling settling in his chest. Like she knew something he didn’t.
Something he hadn’t figured out yet.
Next to him, Reo gave a low whistle. "Man, she’s intense. You sure you two aren’t—"
"Finish that sentence and I break your nose," Kyle said without missing a beat.
Reo grinned. "Worth it."
They stepped into the hallway. It was quieter than usual.
The usual buzz of the academy. The laughter, chatter, bragging—was gone. Even the loud noble kids were too tired to show off.
Everyone just looked like they wanted to go home and sleep for three days.
Kyle let out a breath.
"One down. One to go."
And deep down. He had a strange feeling.
Something was coming.
And things were about to get a whole lot more complicated.
Apologies for the slow Chapter. Today was a bit hectic, and I was also outlining the next arc.
No promises. But I’ll do my best to post three Chapters tomorrow to make up for it!
Thanks for your patience. Peace out. ✌️