Chapter 11: Exams, Enemies, and Ego Deaths
Two hours of sleep.
One cup of bitter, lukewarm mana coffee.
And zero hope for mercy.
It was exam day at Ashborn Academy—the most elite institution in the empire—and I was here to prove a point: Ashen Crimson is dead.
Only Ashen remains. And Ashen... doesn’t lose.
The academy gates loomed tall, etched with magical runes that pulsed with judgment. The entrance alone could scare the dreams out of a weak-willed noble.
Students flooded in—some confident, some shaking, some pretending to be confident while shaking. Robes of every color and sigil marked their affiliations. Some were laughing, others were praying.
Me?
I walked through the crowd like a ghost with a grudge.
Inside, the Grand Hall was transformed into an examination arena. Rows of desks extended endlessly under chandeliers suspended with light crystals. Enchantments layered every surface—anti-cheating runes, mental focus amplifiers, even mana suppressors.
They weren’t taking chances.