As Mr. Jeong flipped through the syllabus, he paused to allow the students to absorb the details. A hand shot up from a row near the middle, and he nodded toward the student, a lean fae boy with jet-black hair and sharp emerald eyes.
“Sir, I have a question,” the boy began. “If a Level 4 student scores high enough on the placement test, do they move up to Level 5, or do they stay at Level 4?”
Mr. Jeong straightened, his expression serious. “That’s a good question,” he said, addressing the entire class. “The answer is no. Regardless of how high your score is, you cannot advance to Level 5 unless you meet one of two criteria: awakening or reaching the age of fifteen years. Those are non-negotiable requirements.”
The boy nodded thoughtfully, though his question seemed to ignite more curiosity among the students.
A girl with copper-colored hair and freckles raised her hand next. “So, if Level 4s can’t advance without awakening or age, are they still required to take the midterm placement test?”
Mr. Jeong shook his head slightly. “Yes, you are still required to take the midterm placement test as a Level 4. However,” he added, his tone sharpening slightly, “if you do take the test, you are still subject to the same rules as everyone else. That means if you score poorly, you risk falling a level.”
The murmurs grew louder, a mix of relief and unease rippling through the room.
“Let me make this perfectly clear,” Mr. Jeong said, raising his voice slightly to regain the class’s attention. “The pre-midterm placement test is a tool for measuring progress, not a mandatory hurdle for advancement.
But for Level 4 students who are confident in their skills and wish to prove themselves, it’s an opportunity to solidify their position or prepare for future challenges. Take it seriously, or don’t take it at all.”
He paused, letting his words sink in before continuing. “Now, one more thing. Once you become a Level 5, there will no longer be a pre-midterm placement test. At that point, you’ll only take the midterm placement test, which holds even more weight in determining your progress and ultimate placement within your family. Until then, use the pre-midterm tests wisely to prepare yourselves for the challenges ahead.”
Si-Woo leaned forward slightly, absorbing every word. I have to be ready, he thought, glancing at Z, who was now napping contentedly on his head. This wasn’t just about scoring well; it was about proving to himself that he belonged here.
Lirin leaned toward him slightly, her voice a hushed whisper. “These tests are unbelievably hard to score anything more than an 85.”
Si-Woo smirked faintly, not taking his eyes off the front. “I cant wait, It just makes me want to study harder.”
Oapa, seated beside Lirin, let out a low chuckle, his hood tilting slightly toward Si-Woo. “Good answer,” he murmured.
Mr. Jeong glanced at the clock before closing his syllabus with a decisive snap. “That’s all for today. Now, you have some free time to converse amongst yourselves until your next class,” he said, waving his hand dismissively. “Do what you will.”
As soon as he stepped out of the room, the atmosphere shifted. Students who had been quiet and attentive moments ago broke into murmurs and small groups, their chairs scraping lightly against the polished floor as they turned toward one another.
Si-Woo leaned back in his seat, Z still comfortably napping on his head. He noticed a few students glancing in his direction, as if debating whether to approach him, but their steps faltered when they spotted Oapa rising from his seat.
The tall sprit moved with quiet purpose, his hood shadowing his face but doing little to diminish the commanding aura that seemed to radiate from him. He approached Si-Woo with his hands clasped loosely behind his back, stopping just beside the desk.
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“I see you’ve already met the anti-social Lirin,” Oapa said, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
“Anti-social?” Si-Woo repeated, glancing at Lirin, who sat with her head propped on one hand, her expression bored.
Lirin scoffed, straightening her glasses. “I’m not anti-social,” she said in her defense, her tone brisk. “There’s just no reason to talk to boring people.”
Oapa chuckled, his light green eyes glinting under the shadow of his hood. “Everyone’s unique in their own way, Lirin. You never know what you might learn from someone until you give them a chance.”
She rolled her eyes, resting her head back on her hand. “Most of them are meatbrains,” she muttered under her breath, loud enough for Si-Woo to hear.
Si-Woo stifled a laugh, unsure if she meant it as a joke or if she was entirely serious. “You don’t hold back, do you?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Lirin shrugged, her expression indifferent. “Why should I? It’s not like I’m wrong.”
Oapa sighed, though his amused smirk remained. “You might want to work on that diplomacy, Lirin. It’ll help when you’re a Level 5 and beyond.”
Lirin didn’t respond, instead turning her attention back to her notebook, doodling idly in the margins.
Si-Woo glanced between the two, feeling a strange mix of amusement and curiosity about their dynamic. Maybe this won’t be so bad after all, he thought, brushing Z’s tail lightly as the wyvern stirred on his head.
The room’s light chatter faltered momentarily as a new presence made itself known. A student with autumn-orange hair that gleamed like embers and burnt orange eyes strode confidently past the desks, his movements deliberate. He brushed past Oapa without so much as a glance, his uniform adorned with the Military Family emblem, the unmistakable numeral III stitched beside it, signifying his status as a greenie Level 5.
Flanked by two lackeys wearing matching uniforms, he strode directly toward Si-Woo, his presence demanding attention.
“Well, well,” he began, his tone dripping with mock civility. “You must be Si-Woo, the prodigy everyone’s talking about.” He gave a half-smile, though his eyes were anything but friendly.
Si-Woo regarded him cautiously, his posture remaining relaxed but his mind alert. Z stirred on his head, sensing the tension.
“I just wanted to personally congratulate you on your... impressive feats,” Myro continued, his tone growing sharper as his gaze flickered disdainfully over Lirin, who sat unfazed with her head still resting on her hand. “But let me give you some advice, newbie—hanging around abhorrent moonks like this will only degrade your mind.”
The words were pointed, and he turned to glance back at Oapa, his lip curling slightly in disgust. “Or worse,” he added, “turn you into one of them.”
Lirin gazed up at him, her expression a mix of boredom and mild irritation, while Oapa stood silently, his hood obscuring his features but his body language betraying a restrained tension.
Myro spread his arms wide, his grin returning. “Come with us, Si-Woo. There’s no need to waste your time here when you can be in better company.”
Behind him, his lackeys snickered, their laughter low and mocking.
Si-Woo met Myro’s gaze evenly, his voice calm but firm. “Thank you for your offer and generosity,” he said, his tone polite but edged with steel. “But you’ve interrupted me and my friends. Please leave.”
The laughter stopped abruptly. Myro’s grin vanished, replaced by a dark scowl. He stepped closer to Si-Woo, his voice dropping to a menacing growl. “What the fuck did you just say?”
He leaned in, his burnt-orange eyes narrowing. “You really want to go this route, newbie?”
Before Si-Woo could respond, Oapa moved swiftly, grabbing Myro’s arm with a firm grip. “As a member of the student council, I can’t allow you to instigate a problem here, Myro,” Oapa said, his voice low and calm but carrying a warning.
Myro struggled against Oapa’s grip, his muscles tensing as he tried to free his arm. Oapa held firm for a moment longer before finally releasing him.
Myro stumbled back a step, his face twisted in anger. “Don’t touch me, you bloodthirsty sprit,” he spat, venom lacing his words.
Oapa didn’t react, his calm demeanor unshaken as Myro clicked his tongue in irritation and turned back to Si-Woo. “Don't rest, newbie,” he sneered, his voice dripping with malice. With that, he spun on his heel and stormed back to his seat, his lackeys trailing behind him.
As the tension in the room slowly began to dissipate, Oapa glanced at Si-Woo. “You handled that well,” he said simply, his tone carrying a hint of approval.
Si-Woo exhaled quietly, his hand brushing Z’s tail as the wyvern chirped softly, sensing his bond’s lingering unease. Lirin, meanwhile, rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath, “Meatbrain.”