Nero soon awakened.
"Ugh!"
He pushed the orc’s body aside. It was a simple shove, yet the corpse, having lost some of its mass, flew away, startling Nero as he registered the change. Before he could ponder it further, his body was enveloped in light, transporting him to a new location, where he appeared alongside another person.
The first thing he noticed upon his arrival was the princess sitting proudly. As expected, he wasn’t the first to clear the stage; Elreth had beaten him to it.
Not that it mattered now. Glancing sideways, he was shocked to see Khione. Judging by the circumstances, they had both emerged simultaneously, tying for second place.
For the first time, Khione showed a fleeting interest in the person who shared second place with her. Aside from his unusual eyes, she sensed nothing from him. As someone sensitive to primordial energy, it was surprising not to feel any from Nero. She was certain his strength hadn’t reached a level where he could perfectly conceal his energy; after all, there would be no point in coming to the academy if he had already achieved that state. This meant the young man before her had relied solely on his physical strength to tie for second place with her. How unusual, she mused, glancing at his arm, which dangled at an odd angle. She wondered if it hurt, but seeing him show no reaction, she closed her eyes, ignoring Elreth’s smug expression as she took a seat across from her. Next time, she would win.
"Wow! I’m impressed. To think you tied for second place with that annoying woman. Well, as much as I would love to learn how you achieved this feat, seeing as I couldn’t detect any energy from you, this isn’t the time. Go treat yourself at the infirmary," Elreth suggested. Nero nodded and exited the hall, where he ran into the instructor in charge, Balrog. The instructor greeted him with a smile and accompanied him to the infirmary, where his dislocated bone was properly reset, and his other injuries were treated. With his left arm now in a plaster cast that he would need to keep for a few days, Nero returned to the hall, where the final test had concluded.
Balrog announced the winners. As expected, the princess claimed first place, but the cadets were shocked to learn that an unknown man had tied for second place with Khione. If it weren’t for the academy’s reputation for impartiality, they might have suspected that Nero had cheated—something utterly impossible.
Balrog dismissed the cadets. Those who had failed the final test were required to leave the academy, while those who passed were instructed to head to the dormitories. Only those with exceptional results received single-person dormitories, while the rest were assigned to shared rooms. Naturally, Nero, having excelled in both the written and practical tests, was granted a single-person dormitory.
He needed to retrieve the key to his dormitory, but just as he was about to leave, the princess stopped him.
"I have something for you—" But before she could finish, Nero cut her off.
"No thanks!" He already knew what she intended to give him: the elixir awarded for first place. Someone with her background had no need for it, and he didn’t want to accept it since it would be too bothersome.
Although they hadn’t interacted for long, those brief moments made him acutely aware of one thing: this woman would be a trouble to deal with. Accepting her gift would mean being indebted to her, something he wanted to avoid. It would be too much hassle, so he politely declined, bypassing the princess and disappearing through the door.
Elreth’s lips twitched but soon broke into a smile.
"Interesting!"
She shot a glare at the cadets who were about to comment, silencing them effectively. Shortly after, she left the hall. Meanwhile, Khione, who hadn’t walked far, observed the scene. Her lips twitched before she also vanished.
In the various halls, many cadets passed by, with the top winners aligning with the instructors’ expectations. This year’s batch of cadets was exceptional, which was both a blessing and a sign that a new era of chaos was on the horizon. The last time the Glory Academy produced such remarkable talents, the entire continent had trembled. Hopefully, this time they would be able to reclaim the lost northern continent.
°°°
As evening draped her dusky gown over the land, the air turned fresh and restful, signaling the time for joyful reflection. In the achievements of the day lay a sense of pride that warmed the soul, a source of genuine happiness.
Nero arrived at his dormitory, a massive building fitting for the boys’ accommodations, with an impressive number of rooms. He made his way to room number 77, inserted the key, and opened the door, stepping inside to be greeted by a well-decorated, spacious room. It featured a living area, a bedroom, and a bathroom.
The first thing he did was take a long, refreshing bath to wash away the day’s exhaustion. Once refreshed, he collapsed onto the fluffy bed, and sleep came instantly.