"I greet Your Divine Majesty."

Navier leisurely leaned at the edge of a veranda that she conjured in a mind realm to meet Aster. Staring at the stretching scenery beyond her like it was real, she sipped her red wine lightly and twirled her glass around. Unlike her usual butterfly-shaped bun and bulky golden ornaments, her hair hangs loosely as she wore her silken night gown.

"Hello, dear. Do you want some?" She coyly tilted her half empty glass towards Aster.

"I'll pass."

"You're as boring as you father."

"I thought you said I wasn't your son."

"You are not. You and the fragments were never supposed to exist. But doesn't the vessel belong to him?"

"..."

"I heard from Vontravis. They tampered with the Aegis Dome? It must have been that blasphemer's remnants."

"I don't understand. Why are you letting Kuanos Genesis be?"

"I'm never letting them be. I'm simply observing. Patiently, from the sidelines. Since my sword isn't as sharp as it was."

"It's chipped, rusted, and rendered dull over time because of the carelessness of its previous owner."

She stared intently at Aster—no, at Kaisellin, her eyes remaining unreadable.

"That audacious child left a small dent in my perfect picture."

Aster matched her emotionless gait, hiding his clenched hand behind his back and maintaining an elegant posture.

"The relic...it was a mere excuse."

"Why do you think that way?"

"You already knew where it was. I've checked all the records kept by the Phantoms. I've continuously pondered about why it was taking them so long to find a single relic even with all the competent forces you deployed."

"But it was at the heart of the Academy all along."

"How are you so sure?"

"My Requiem resonated with its soren. It was calling out to me, but left inaccessible at the same time."

Aster's remained calm, not showing a hint of fear in front of Navier.

"It's not that you haven't found it. It's that there's a reason why you can't recklessly take it."

"You just needed a suitable excuse to bring me to Vendalius."

Navier's blood red lips formed a smooth curve.

"How surprising. You're half right."

She chuckled softly and ran her fingers at her hair, revealing her exquisite dangling earrings.

"For what reason are you telling me this?"

"Why?" Aster paused for a moment before continuing.

"Why, in spite of the deal you made, do you keep pushing Kaisellin into more dangerous situations? Is it because he tricked you—?"

Navier's sudden laughter interrupted Aster's words while she covered half her face in strange glee.

Stolen novel; please report.

"It's the second time, dear. The second time you dared to probe me with questions."

She began circling around Aster, with the hem of her silken nightgown flowing freely like fluid. It was just like back then, when Kaisellin proposed her an absurd deal.

"Ah. Nightling, dear little Nightling. Did you truly think I didn't know of his intentions from the start? And, did you think he wouldn't have known that, like a fool?"

"If so, you underestimate Kaisellin's boldness."

She leaned closer to his side, enough for Aster to feel the warmth of her breath in his nape.

"My dear son was so adamant on dying on his own. As his mother, I needed a distraction for him. A binding goal."

Very softly, she whispered to him alluringly.

"So that he can't perish without my permission."

She moved away back to the Veranda's edge to fill her wine glass while Aster remained frozen in place.

"But, who would have expected his psyche to break into pieces and develop its own consciousness? Normally, a broken psyche would have destroyed the vessel inevitably and forced the Sorenian to perish."

She let out a dry sigh.

"Is it because of his father's curse passed down to him? Only Aeon would know."

She stared at the illusory expanse of the horizon's view. Although none of the things here were real, she beheld them with such wonder.

As if simply believing would make even these illusions real.

Because she was the Lord.

The Sovereign of Abyss was supposed to be impregnable, almighty and all-knowing.

After a considerable amount of time, amidst their heavy silence, she finally spoke.

"Take the test."

"..."

"It's an order."

"Infiltrate their ranks—"

She placed her hands at her back and loosely crossed her fingers.

"—and destroy their fraudulent fortress."

Aster bowed his head.

"I will...accept your order."

♦️♦️♦️

With his usual playful demeanor, Zyler proudly entered the academy gates as if going on a casual stroll. His hands were kept in his pockets, whistling the kingdom's anthem faintly.

Unlike before, most of the commoners who greeted him were no longer present, with the central square bustling with neatly dressed young cadets who passed the first examination. Noticing a few people whispering

"Have you heard? The one who topped the test was from an unknown Marquis house."

"Right. I've never heard of the Riverbloods."

"Riverblood? Was there such a promising candidate back then?"

'I wonder if that snobby priest passed? I didn't get to hear his name back then.'

He broke through the noisy crowd flocking around a brass bulletin displayed at the center of the square.

Zyler tilted his head and stared at the posted list of passers in the bulletin. A few days ago, after receiving a congratulatory letter from a feisty eagle saying he passed the first test, he was left dead curious at what his ranking was.

He started from the bottom list without much expectation, trying to find his name.

"Where the hell is my name..." His narrowed eyes that are slowly darting off to the top suddenly widened. There, his full name—his real name, written clearly, was on the third spot of the rank.

He quickly covered his hands, trying to hide his twitching mouth. His expression must look silly now, but he was too shocked to care.

'Heck, I didn't even study!'

His shoulders lightly trembled. He noticed at the very top of the list was the name 'Aster Riverblood', but he couldn't care less about the top passer. He knew that guy must be in another league of his own.

"You look so happy you could pass off as a wandering jester."

Zyler curiously turned at the direction of the voice, which was now right beside him. He was also looking intently at the bulletin, but with a contrasting dark expression. He had dirty blonde hair and brown eyes, so Zyler quickly recognized him to be the same one he saw back in the examination room.

"Of course I'm happy, pal. My older sister suddenly kicked me out telling me to enter the academy, so I tried the test without much expectations." His grin widened and shook his head, casually putting his arms around the blonde lad's shoulders.

Of course, due to their height difference with Zyler looking a bit shorter and lankier, it looked a little awkward.

"I didn't even have a day to prepare, but I fucking passed! Hehehe." He continued giggling while covering his mouth. The blonde man sighed.

"I wish I had that kind of leisure. I studied for months."

"What's your ranking?"

The blonde man pointed at the fourth name on the list, 'Lancelot'.

'No surname? He's from the slums?'

"I was aiming for the top spot. Too bad."

Zyler hesitantly removed his hand off Lancelot's shoulders and patted his back.

"What's with that look?" Lancelot frowned at Zyler's odd behavior.

Then, annoyingly, Zyler pointed at his own name, right on top of Lancelot's.

"Too bad."

"...Didn't you say you didn't study?"

"I did."

"I don't believe you, pal."

Lancelot trudged away like he'd seen a ghost.

"You're frauds. You're all frauds."

Zyler followed behind, looking like a devil who just obtained an interesting toy.

"Ehh. Don't be like that. Wit isn't all there is to it. At the end of the day, this is a knight academy, not mages'. Strength still matters more."

"Says the guy who fooled around but still got the third spot."

"I thought you said you didn't believe me?"

"What use is believing at this point?"

The two headed for the main building to prepare for their spots at the test.

"Anyway, I'm dead curious. Just who was the one who dominated the top spot? The questions were hellish."

The two stopped in front of the entrance south wing of the building.

"What? Your examination arena is here too?"

"Yeah. You too?"

They stared at each other like a bunch of buffoons who didn't know how to communicate.

"Uhh...goodluck?" Zyler grinned sheepishly, to which. Lancelot responded with a nod.

"Likewise."

As soon as they entered, the room that greeted them was an ivory interior with benches lined up like a waiting room.

At the very front was a wide thick glass pane that separates a spacious combat room. The glass pane had glowing rune spells for protection.

They belatedly realized that a professor was already standing at the front, just behind the huge glass pane.

"Are you two going to keep standing there? Hurry up and find your seats!" Her voice boomed across the room, making the two flinch and quickly scramble for a proper seat.

Lightly pressing her chained glasses to the bridge of her nose, Professor Louise placed her sword in front of her, letting the tip of the scabbard to rest vertically on the marble flooring. She tilted it around like a cane.

"All of those present here may have already been briefed at the mechanics of today's test through the letter, but I'll repeat it again, once."

"The goal isn't to defeat the opponent to pass. Your performance will be judged on your practical abilities, judgement, and skills. It doesn't matter if you lose the spar, you may still be given the chance to pass depending on your performance. In other words..."

"Landing solid hits on your opponent. How well you utilize the knowledge and meager experience you've gained. That is what matters."

"You are allowed to use your own weapons, or you can choose among the various weaponry in the side arsenal of the arena. Do not worry about potential threatening injuries and let loose all you want. The runes will protect you."

Without further ado, the test started smoothly with the contenders randomly picked. Zyler leaned back the chair as he watched the fights take place. Some he found interesting, while some ended quickly, boring him. Beside him, Lancelot eagerly watched each match regardless of the outcome.

Zyler thought he looked like a curious country bumpkin and crossed his arms.

"Zyler Elijah Ravencrown. Alvarra LeFlorence. To the arena."

'Finally.'