The weekend flew by like an arrow in a storm. Both Vael and Kiera had grown used to survival — the tension, the quiet hunger, the instinct to stay alert. Now, sitting in a classroom felt exhausting in its own way. It was foreign, almost unnatural.
They spent most of their time either resting, training, or exploring the academy's vast halls. And before they knew it, Monday had arrived.
Their schedule was simple: two classes, both in the morning. One they'd already attended before — Mana Conversion. The other was new — Battle Strategy. That left the afternoon free, a welcome reprieve for the tired students.
Vael stirred awake, pushing himself off the makeshift bed on the floor. His sleep schedule had finally settled into something normal. His body still ached faintly, but the worst of his exhaustion had passed.
He slowly put on his uniform, which had been magically cleaned over the weekend. As he adjusted the collar, his fingers brushed against the smooth fabric — still faintly warm from the enchantment. Then came the eyepatch.
Oculor stirred. The snake slithered in his empty socket, coiling comfortably before going still. Lately, the creature had been unusually quiet — more so than usual. As if his mind was… elsewhere. Odd. But when Vael asked, Oculor's response was the same every time: nothing's wrong.
Vael shrugged it off. If it were something important, Oculor would tell him. Probably.
He stepped out of his room, locking the door behind him with a faint click. Outside, Kiera was waiting, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. Her expression was calm, though her eyes flicked toward him the moment the door opened.
They were early — about twenty minutes ahead of schedule — a deliberate choice to avoid the usual rush of students. The only downside was having too much time on their hands.
Their first class was in the same room as before, so they didn't need to think twice about where to go.
With that in mind, they started walking down the quiet corridor, their footsteps echoing softly through the marble halls.
Their silence was deceptive — unnoticeable to the untrained eye. In truth, they were conversing telepathically, as usual. The subtle shifts in their expressions were the only proof of it — a faint smile here, a furrowed brow there.
They wandered through the quiet halls for a while, their thoughts drifting back to the past. The forest. The mountains. The nights spent watching distant stars flicker through the branches.
And, inevitably, their goals.
Each step carried the weight of everything they'd survived, and everything still ahead.
Until, finally, it was time to head to class.
Every student sat down, most returning to the same seats as last time. The lesson began.
Annie, in her usual charismatic manner, greeted the class and asked about their weekends. As the lecture went on, she discussed mana cores — their stages, purposes, and methods of advancement. Nothing too complex yet, just the fundamentals.
The hour passed quickly, and before anyone realized, the bell rang, signaling the end of class.
Vael and Kiera decided to use the short break to finally grab breakfast.
On the menu today? Footbill — a type of bird neither of them had ever heard of before. Supposedly, it tasted like chicken.
The dining hall was packed. Dozens of students filled every table, chatting and laughing over half-eaten plates. Neither Vael nor Kiera had any desire to join the crowd, so they took their food back to their dorms, where silence was easier to find.
As they ate, conversation naturally shifted toward their next class: Battle Strategy.
A class like any other — except this time, they wouldn't be alone.
That's right. The commoners and rebels would be sharing it with…
Nobles.