Dawn came too early and hurt too much.
I woke to pain radiating from my ribs with every breath, leg throbbed.
Not ideal conditions for a physically demanding examination.
I pushed myself upright slowly, testing my range of motion. My ribs protested but held. The leg was stiff but functional.
"Morning!" Kyle's voice was aggressively cheerful for someone who'd been dead asleep thirty seconds ago.
He sat up, hair sticking in every direction, grinning like today was the best day of his life.
"How do you have this much energy?" I muttered.
"It's exam day! How can I not be excited?" He bounced out of bed and started pulling on his armor with practiced efficiency. "Today we become Academy students! Well, if we pass. But we're totally gonna pass!"
"Your optimism is exhausting."
"Thanks!" He took it as a compliment.
I pulled on the clothes Kyle had given me yesterday, simple dark trousers, a grey tunic, nothing fancy but clean and whole.
Moving hurt.
Kyle noticed my wince. "You okay, man? Your ribs still messed up?"
"I'm fine."
"You sure? Because if you need to like, sit out or whatever—"
"I'm. Fine."
Kyle studied me for a moment, then nodded. "Alright! Let's go kick some exam ass!"
He bounded toward the door with the energy of someone who hadn't been stabbed recently.
I followed more carefully, mentally preparing for whatever hell awaited us.
-----
The Academy grounds were packed.
Thousands of candidates filled the courtyard, some in expensive armor with family crests emblazoned on their chests, others in simple leather like Kyle, a few in robes that marked them as magic-focused.
All of them looked ready. Prepared. Like they'd been training their entire lives for this moment.
And I felt distinctly out of place.
"Whoa," Kyle breathed beside me. "That's a lot of people."
Families clustered near the edges, saying final goodbyes. Nervous chatter filled the air, mixing with the occasional laugh or shout.
I scanned the crowd, taking in details.
A girl stood alone near the far wall, her expression cold and focused. Her posture screamed combat training, balanced, alert, dangerous.
A boy in expensive blue robes talked animatedly with a group of similar mage-types, gesturing dramatically while they laughed.
Near the main entrance, a massive guy in full plate armor stood with his arms crossed, glaring at everyone who passed. Had to be at least six-foot-five, built like a brick wall.
Threats. Everywhere I looked, potential threats.
"This is so cool!" Kyle was practically vibrating. "Look at all these people! I wonder what the trials will be like? Oh man, what if—"
His voice cut off abruptly.
I followed his gaze and saw what had stopped him.
Marcus Valen.
Standing maybe thirty feet away, talking with a group of nobles. His face was still flushed—probably permanent at this point—and when his eyes landed on me, they narrowed with immediate recognition.
And hatred.
Oh good. The drunk idiot from the festival.
Marcus said something to his companions and started walking toward us.
"Uh, Jin?" Kyle's voice had lost some of its enthusiasm. "That guy looks mad. You know him?"
"Unfortunately."
Marcus stopped a few feet away, his expression twisted with barely restrained anger. "You."
"Me," I agreed flatly.
"You have some nerve showing up here after what you did at the festival."
Kyle glanced between us, confused. "What happened at the festival?"
"He humiliated me in front of Lady Hena," Marcus spat. "Made me look like a fool."
"You made yourself look like a fool," I corrected. "I was just standing nearby when it happened."
Marcus's face went redder. "You tripped me! I know you did—"
"How could I have tripped you from ten feet away?" I kept my voice bored, dismissive. "You were drunk. You fell. Not my problem."
His hand moved to the sword at his hip.
I didn't move, just met his eyes with complete indifference.
Go ahead. Draw it. See what happens.
"Marcus."
A new voice cut through the tension. Calm, controlled, but carrying authority.
Adrian Westmore approached from the left, his sandy brown hair perfectly styled, his expression carefully neutral. He looked... composed. Nothing like the humiliated ex-boyfriend from the festival.
Great. Both of them.
"Adrian," Marcus said, not taking his eyes off me. "This is the bastard I told you about."
"I remember." Adrian's gaze settled on me, calculating. "Jin Raith. Victor's younger brother."
He said it like he was reciting a fact, not making conversation.
"That's me."
Adrian studied me for a long moment. "I heard about your... altercation with Isabelle at the festival. Quite the performance."
Performance? Interesting word choice.
"Was that before or after your own performance?" I asked dryly. "With the spilled wine and the dramatic exit?"
Adrian's composure cracked slightly, a muscle twitching near his jaw.
Marcus stepped forward aggressively. "You think you're clever? You think—"
"Candidates!"
A voice boomed across the courtyard, amplified by magic. Every conversation died instantly.
A man stood on a raised platform near the main building.
Middle-aged, wearing Academy robes in deep blue with gold trim, his presence commanding immediate attention.
"I am Instructor Aldwin, Head of Examinations," he announced. "The entrance examination will now begin. All candidates will proceed to the main hall for briefing. You have five minutes. Anyone not inside when the doors close will be disqualified. Move!"
The crowd surged forward immediately.
Marcus shot me one last venomous glare. "This isn't over."
"Looking forward to it," I said, matching his tone with deliberate boredom.
He and Adrian turned and headed toward the hall, joining the flow of candidates.
Kyle let out a breath. "Okay, so those guys definitely hate you."
"They definitely do."
"What did you do to them?"
"Don't know."
"Man." Kyle shook his head but was grinning. "You've got enemies and you haven't even started yet. That's kind of impressive."
"Glad you think so."
"Come on!" He grabbed my arm, carefully this time, avoiding my ribs. "Let's go find out what horrible trials they're gonna put us through!"
We joined the flood of candidates moving toward the hall.
I was halfway there when—
Ding!
[Quest Requirements Met]
[Location: Royal Academy - Confirmed]
[Examination Status: Active]
[Candidate Registration: Verified]
[Unlocking Hidden Quest...]
The notification expanded, gold text filling my vision.
[MAIN QUEST UNLOCKED: Rise From Nothing]
[Description:]
[You are the family embarrassment. The poisoned weakling. The disappointment who should have died quietly.]
My eyes twitched.
What the hell system?
[But you survived. You recovered. You made it here despite everything. Now prove you belong.]
[Objectives:]
•Pass the Physical Combat Trial (0/1)
•Pass the Magical Aptitude Trial (0/1)
•Pass the Strategic Thinking Trial (0/1)
•Achieve Ranking: Top 500 of all candidates (Current: Unranked)
•Hidden Objective: ??? (Locked - Conditions not met)
[Rewards:]
•Academy Admission (Required for continued progression)
•EXP: 1000
•Skill Evolution: ???
•Title: Academy Student
•Hidden Reward: ??? (Dependent on final ranking)
[Failure Conditions:]
•Fail any single trial Ranking below 500th place Death (reminder: don't)
[Note: This is your chance. Don't waste it.]