Chapter 9 – Battle for Leadership
A great night's sleep. As soon as the instructors brought us back to the dorms, I collapsed completely. I hadn't realized how much I had pushed my body until it surrendered the moment it touched the bed.
The dorm building is fairly simple, made of gray stone with low ceilings and few windows, located just beside the complex where the exams for commoners were held. This part of the academy is like a separate town, divided into small zones depending on the type of applicant.
To the east are the huts of the aspiring civil servants or advisors. Calling them "shacks" would be generous. They're damp, shaky wooden structures that look like they'll collapse under a strong breeze. Their inhabitants walk with their heads down, knowing their future depends on staying invisible to the nobles.
At the center lies the residence for commoner knight aspirants—a long, sturdy building with more than a hundred individual rooms. This is where we, the ones who aspire to fight, sleep under the same roof. Behind the building is a modest stable where mounts can be kept. Some recruits don't even have a horse yet, so the academy rents them out... for a fee. Ten gold coins for a medium-breed mount. I had no idea how lucky I was until the instructors saw mine and suggested I sell it. "Too flashy," they said. "You'll attract trouble."
They were right. Some lesser nobles might see it as a provocation... or an opportunity.
Speaking of provocations, the instructors made one rule clear: no killing inside the campus, and never in front of an instructor. Everything else... is allowed. Theft, intimidation, humiliation. The academy believes the real world is cruel, so this place just reflects that truth. Some instructors even outright ignore us commoners, only paying attention to the nobles.
And yet, all of this feels new to me. Fascinating. I feel like a child with a shiny new toy. Despite how much the commander's presence shook me... I'm more motivated than ever.
I woke up before dawn. With my body recharged, I went out looking for water. There are no faucets or pipes here. Just a communal well out in the open.
According to Angel, it was 5:30 AM. I had an hour before the first ray of sunlight. When I reached the well, there was already a line. Some waited with buckets, others were bathing using boards to keep their clothes dry. There were no dividers, no privacy. Even some girls were quickly washing themselves at the back, dodging stares.
But the moment I set foot near the well, everyone stepped aside. The guy using the bucket handed it to me with both hands, his head lowered. I could feel their eyes on me... and not just his. Everyone was watching. It wasn't respect. It was... reverence. Fanaticism. A chill ran down my spine.
Before I could say anything, two figures approached from behind. Both were knight aspirants.