Overwhelming Firepower

While Lucen and Ark were talking, Alexander and his group finally found a restaurant to eat in and finished eating.

Once they were done with that, the trio continued to explore the city. They actually found a shop owned by the Thorneharts that sold the revolvers.

Alexander, who was very curious about the new weapons, asked how much one was and was surprised to hear that it was so much more expensive than a sword, not to mention you needed to buy bullets on top of that.

"If you really want one, I can give you one as a gift."

Hearing Cael's suggestion, Alexander was tempted, but in the end did not accept the offer. Alexander shook his head and let out a small laugh, trying to hide the slight awkwardness he felt.

"No, it's fine. I was just curious about it. Besides, if I start accepting expensive gifts the moment we become friends, it would make me a bad friend."

Cael stared at him for a moment, his expression unchanged. He had heard similar things before from the members of Thornefang.

Some said that trust could be built with shared battles, others said it could be built with time, and a few even claimed that coin could open more doors than a sword ever could.

Lucen himself once said that money was just another kind of weapon, something that could be used to protect, to build, or to destroy, depending on the person holding it.

Yet the way Alexander spoke just now felt different. There was no deep meaning behind his words, no cryptic message; it would seem to Alexander that this was something so simple to understand.

Mina, who had been quietly listening from the side, crossed her arms and nodded.

"He's right, you know. If he accepted something like that now, people would start saying he only became friends with you because of your family."

Cael looked at the two of them. It would seem that he had so much to learn about friendship.

"I see..."

That was how that conversation ended, and the group left the shop, but as they were walking, Cael spoke again.

"Still... If you ever change your mind, just ask, and I can give you a revolver. My older brother gave me a few, but I don't really like using them as much as the sword. Better to give them to you guys than them just lying around collecting dust."

"Sure, but not for now," Alexander answered.

"It's about time we head back to the academy. The results of the entrance exam should be posted around now." Mina chimed in on the conversation.

Alexander nodded when he heard Mina's words and looked toward the direction of the academy buildings rising above the rooftops of the Capital. He had almost forgotten the entire reason they came to the Capital in the first place.

'Well, I guess that's normal. So many things happened the very second I came to the Capital today.'

The trio then started running back to the Royal Academy. By the time the three reached the Royal Academy, the sun had already begun to lower, casting long shadows across the wide stone courtyard.

The academy grounds, which had been quiet when they left earlier, were now once again filled with people.

Groups of students stood gathered near the central hall, some talking excitedly, others pacing back and forth as if unable to stand still.

Of course, there were a few who were not bothered at all. One of them was Nina Drexford, and a few others.

In a different part of the Royal Academy, the same thing was happening, but for the mages. An instructor arrived and stood in front of everybody.

"Attention! Hopeful applicants. I will now announce the names of those who passed and assign them to their respective classes."

The second the instructor spoke, everyone's attention shifted to him as the entire place became quiet.

"Depending on your performance, you will be assigned to a certain class. Those who perform the best will be assigned to the S-Class, meaning special class. Then it goes A, B, C, and D, classes. Also, depending on what class you are in, there are certain benefits, with the D-class having almost none. The S-class is given certain amenities that aren't given to the other classes, but they are also the ones who will be pushed more to their very limits with a chance of dying during the school years."

When the young ones gathered and heard what the instructor said, many of them became nervous, while the others became even more excited.

"One's class is not permanent, and you may at any time be demoted or promoted to different classes depending on your performance. Now that the explanation is done, I will be announcing the names of those who pass."

The instructor slowly unrolled the parchment in his hand, his eyes scanning the long list written across it. At this moment, the only sound that could be heard was the faint rustling of paper in the evening wind.

"Those whose names are called, step forward." A few of the applicants straightened their backs, while others clenched their fists nervously.

"First, Rendal Corvin. Assigned to C-Class." A young boy, one of the few commoners present, gasped in relief and quickly stepped forward, his face full of excitement.

"Maris Elen. B-Class." A girl near the front clicked her tongue, disappointed by the assignment, but she knew that complaining wouldn't lead to anything.

The names continued one after another. Each time a name was called, the tension in the courtyard grew heavier.

Unlike the others, Alexander, Mina, and Cael were not that worried. Alexander did not really care if he passed or not; just the fact that he did his best was good enough for him.

Mina, who saw who passed, was now confident that she, who had actually made a dent in the armor, would pass as well.

On the other hand, Cael had no doubt he would pass. The very thought of failing did not even cross his mind.

The instructor continued reading names without pause, his voice calm and steady as if the tension in the courtyard did not exist at all.

"Helmut Varlein. C-Class."

The second those words were said, someone reacted in the crowd of applicants. Then a young man near the front stepped forward, his face twisting in disbelief.

"What?"

Several students turned to look at the one who spoke. What he was wearing was clearly of high quality, and the crest on his cloak marked him as a noble from one of the western territories.

"I must have misheard," Helmut said, his voice rising. "You said C-Class?"

Despite hearing the disrespectful tone, the instructor did not even bother to look at the young noble and answered while continuing to look at his parchment.

"That is correct. There is no mistake, Helmut Varlein is assigned to C-class."

"That is impossible!" Helmut suddenly shouted.

Murmurs spread through the crowd. Helmut clenched his fists, his face reddening.

"I am the heir of House Varlein! I have been trained under a knight since I was ten years old. There is no way I belong in C-Class with commoners! There must be some mistake!"

The instructor finally raised his eyes and looked directly at him. There was a certain intensity in that look of his, making a few students gulp.

"There is no mistake. Now get back and stop talking."

"No! I can't accept this! Surely I have scored better in the written tests than those commoners, and I am about to break through to the first mantle! I should be better, I should be placed in a higher class! I-"

Helmut was unable to continue shouting as he suddenly fainted. The instructor had appeared behind Helmut and knocked him out, after which he signalled the men waiting behind to bring the unconscious Helmut to the infirmary.

"Due to continuous misconduct, Helmut Varlein is now formally expelled from the Royal Academy."

The instructor announced, which shocked many of the students, but he did not allow them to be shocked for that long.

"Silence. I will now continue announcing the names of those who have passed."

The applicants did not even dare breathe loudly when they heard what the instructor said. No one complained again about their assigned class.

After a while, the first person to enter the S-class was announced. "Nina Drexford, S-class."

Hearing her name and class being announced, Nina did not show any joy or pride. She simply stepped forward without hesitation, her posture straight, her expression calm as if the result was exactly what she expected from the very beginning.

She then glanced at the stoic Cael, her eyes sharpening slightly as she clenched her fist. Getting into S-Class was only the first step toward the things she wanted to achieve.

The instructor continued announcing the names and classes of those who passed. After a while, another one was assigned to the S-class.

"Alexander Wyrd, S-class." This was even more surprising to hear than Nina getting S-class.

In recent years, only a handful of commoners had ever entered S-Class, and those who were assigned there from the very beginning could be counted on one hand in the entire history of the Royal Academy.

To witness another commoner being assigned to S-Class from the very start was an extremely rare occurrence.

Yet they would once again be surprised that another commoner in the same year was about to get assigned to the S-class as well.

"Mina Escartin, S-class."

Not once but twice, they were able to witness something that had never happened in the history of the Royal Academy: two commoners assigned to S-class from the start.

"Cael Thornehart, S-class."

Hearing that Cael was assigned to S-class made the students feel relieved. That was something they could understand, and they knew was coming. Well, no one imagined Cael being in any other class than S-class.

***

When Alexander was assigned to S-class, he was stunned for a few seconds until Mina and Cael congratulated him.

Mina, who had also been assigned to S-class, was relieved that she wouldn't be separated from her childhood friend Alexander.

On the other hand, Cael, who had also been assigned to S-class, did not show any reaction, as usual.

***

"Finally, Karl Morn, A-Class. That is all who have passed. Those who have not been called, you may try to enter for the next year. You have only one more chance to enter the Royal Academy; do your utmost to train for the day. To those who have passed, we will be sending a letter with instructions on what to do next. That is all. You are all dismissed."

The instructor did not say anything more and turned around. As he was about to leave, he glanced at the students who were relieved that they had passed.

'Hmph, you might regret passing the entrance exam later. But for now, enjoy this small triumph.'