The instructor stepped back to the podium. His sharp gaze swept over the assembled students, ensuring he held their attention before he spoke.

“The entrance exam will test not only your skills but your ability to adapt, reason, and persevere under pressure. It is not designed to be easy, nor should it be. You are here because you aspire to greatness, and greatness demands effort.”

Adrian straightened in his seat, his fingers tightening around the number “8” in his hand. Sounds about right for this kind of institution.

The instructor continued. “The first test will measure your comprehension and critical thinking. This is not a test you can brute force, nor one you can solve through sheer memorization.”

Adrian flicked a glance at Kael, who appeared unfazed, lounging in his seat as if the words were a casual bedtime story. Heh, at least he seems relaxed.

The instructor adjusted his glasses, lifting a sheet of paper from the podium. “Before we begin, you will have one hour to prepare. Follow me to the library, where you may consult the resources available there."

Several murmurs passed through the students, but the instructor’s raised hand silenced them. He stepped down from the podium and moved toward the double doors at the front of the room. Without a word, the students began to stand, chairs scraping against the stone floor as they shuffled to follow.

Adrian rose from his seat, adjusting his jacket with a confident tug as he caught Kael’s grin from the corner of his eye.

“You ready to conquer this or what?” Kael asked.

Adrian smirked, rolling his shoulders. “More than ready."

Kael chuckled, falling in step beside him. “That’s the spirit. Although, I have to say, you’re looking a little too composed for someone walking into a trial like this."

Adrian shot him a sidelong glance. “Just confidence, Kael. You might’ve heard of it.”

Kael tilted his head, a wry smile tugging at his lips. “Well, look at you. Already talking like you’ve got this in the bag.”

“Don’t I?” Adrian quipped, arching a brow. “What about you? Winging it again?”

Kael tapped a finger to his temple. “Of course. Gramps always says I think best on my feet. Why mess with perfection?”

“Perfection?” Adrian asked, mock disbelief coloring his tone. “You’re just hoping you remember everything you crammed last minute.”

“Maybe,” Kael replied with an easy shrug. “But it’s worked so far, hasn’t it?”

The two of them joined the flow of students heading into the hallway, their footsteps echoing off the marble floors. Adrian scanned the faces around him, catching flashes of nervous energy and barely contained anxiety. Some students whispered in hushed tones, while others kept their heads high, exuding confidence, or trying to.

“Noticed something, Kael,” Adrian said casually, keeping his voice low. “Half these people look like they’ve been training for this moment their entire lives.”

Kael shrugged, his tone as laid-back as ever. “Let them overthink it, we should just focus on what we do."

They followed the wave of students into the library, and Adrian let out a low whistle. The towering shelves were crammed with books that gleamed under the warm light filtering through the massive arched windows. Tables stretched across the space in perfect rows, their polished surfaces glinting faintly in the sunlight.

“Alright,” the instructor called from the front of the room, his tone sharp enough to command attention. “Spread out. Use any resources you see fit. Staff are here to assist, but do not waste time with unnecessary questions. You have one hour.”

The students dispersed quickly, some darting toward shelves with determined strides, while others hesitated, scanning the room as if unsure where to begin. Adrian lingered for a moment, weighing his options. Should I start with magic theory? Or maybe history?

Kael gave him a light shove. “I want to explore more of the library, you go grab a book and start somewhere. We’ll meet back here when it’s time.”

Before Adrian could reply, Kael wandered off, his hand trailing lightly along the edge of a nearby table. Adrian exhaled sharply, forcing himself to move. His feet carried him to a shelf marked “Magical Fundamentals.” He scanned the titles, his eyes landing on one that looked promising: Applications of Theoretical Mana Constructs. Pulling it from the shelf, he settled into a chair at an empty table and flipped it open.

Adrian dove into the dense text, forcing himself to focus. The book’s language was intricate, with diagrams illustrating mana flow and theoretical constructs. After skimming briefly, nothing here looks too difficult, a lot of it is consistent with what I already know. Plus, Lysander let me into his personal library to study often, so nothing here should phase me too much.

His concentration deepened, the world around him fading into the background. Words on mana resonance and stabilizing magical constructs danced before his eyes, challenging him at every turn. Just as he managed to grasp a particularly tricky concept, a soft voice cut through his thoughts.

“Excuse me, but may I study with you?”

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Adrian’s head jerked up, his heart skipping. He was about to offer a polite, reflexive “I don’t mind,” but the words caught in his throat when he saw her. Is that… Princess Alisha?

The elf princess stood a few steps away, her long pink hair shimmered in the library’s golden light, and the tailored coat she wore emphasized her regal presence. Every movement she made was effortlessly graceful, yet there was a certain warmth in her demeanor that disarmed him.

Adrian’s brain stalled. He gripped the edges of his book, blinking rapidly as he tried to process her question. Why is she asking me?

When he didn’t respond right away, her delicate eyebrows lifted slightly. “Is something wrong?” she asked, tilting her head ever so slightly.

“N-no,” Adrian stammered, shaking his head. “Nothing’s wrong. I’m just… surprised that you wanted to sit with me."

Alisha’s lips curled into a soft chuckle, a sound that carried no malice—only genuine amusement. “And why wouldn’t I? You’re another student here, aren’t you? There’s no need to act so distant.”

Her gaze softened as she moved to the chair across from him. “Please, call me Alisha.”

Adrian swallowed hard, struggling to find his voice. “Alisha,” he repeated hesitantly, the name feeling foreign yet oddly familiar on his tongue.

Just another student? The thought was almost laughable. Her presence drew every eye in the room, whispers buzzing faintly as other students noticed where she’d chosen to sit.

Alisha pulled out the chair gracefully and sat down, her posture relaxed yet refined. She glanced at the open book in front of Adrian, her expression curious. “What are you reading?”

“Uh, Applications of Theoretical Mana Constructs,” Adrian replied, holding up the book so she could see the title.

Her eyes brightened with interest. “Ah, I’ve read parts of that before. It’s challenging, but fascinating once you understand the core principles. May I?” She extended a slender hand toward the book.

Adrian hesitated before sliding it across the table. “Sure.”

Alisha’s fingers moved gracefully over the pages of the book, her eyes scanning the text with practiced ease. “This section on resonance theory can be tricky,” she said, tapping a particular passage with a well-placed finger. “The diagrams help, but they gloss over the foundational assumptions. Focus on the energy alignment formula first; it simplifies everything else.”

Adrian leaned forward, his lips curving into a faint smile. “I noticed that too. The equations didn’t align until I worked backward from the diagram. It’s like they expect you to already know the solution.”

She blinked, her surprise subtle but not hidden. “You caught that on your own?”

“Of course,” he said with an easy shrug. “It’s not my first time tackling convoluted theory.”

Her expression softened into a smile, genuine and warm. “I can see that. You’ve clearly done your homework.”

“Could say the same about you,” he replied, his tone light but confident. “So, what’s a princess doing brushing up on resonance theory? I thought tutors handled that sort of thing for royalty.”

Alisha chuckled softly, the sound light but carrying a hint of pride. “They do, but I’ve always preferred learning things myself. It sticks better that way.”

“That, I can respect,” Adrian said, nodding. “It’s one thing to be taught; it’s another to actually understand.”

She returned the book to him, her gaze lingering for a moment. “You’re not what I expected.”

“What did you expect?”

“Honestly? Someone who’d be flustered talking to me.”

“Not everyone gets tongue-tied around royalty. But I’ll admit, I wasn’t expecting to have a study partner today.”

Her smile widened, her eyes sparkling with quiet amusement. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Their conversation paused for a moment, the hum of the library filling the air. Adrian glanced around, catching the curious gazes and hushed whispers of other students. He exhaled sharply, shaking his head. “Why’s everyone staring at us?”

“Let them,” Alisha said simply, her tone calm but firm. “They’ll get bored eventually.”

Adrian grinned, shaking his head. “You’re handling it better than I would. Guess being a princess comes with thicker skin.”

“Or a lifetime of practice,” she countered, resting her elbows lightly on the table. “Speaking of which, Adrian… have we met before?”

“I… don’t think so. Why do you ask?” Don't want her to think Im crazy. Best to just play a little dumb for now.

She hesitated, brushing a strand of pink hair behind her ear. “It’s strange. Ever since I saw you earlier, I’ve felt like I know you. Not just in passing, it’s like I’ve known you for years.”

Adrian frowned, his thoughts racing. “That’s… odd. I’ve felt the same. Yet, the truth is we barely know each other."

Her green eyes narrowed slightly in thought, her chin resting on her hand. “Maybe it’s nothing. Or just one of those things you can’t explain.”

“Maybe,” Adrian replied, though the thought left him uneasy. Why does she feel so familiar?

Alisha shifted the subject smoothly, her tone brightening. “What about you? What’s your story, Adrian?”

His shoulders relaxed slightly, and he met her gaze with confidence. “I grew up in a convent. My parents weren’t around, so the nuns took me in. Stayed there until I was about nine.”

Her brows lifted slightly, her curiosity evident. “A convent? That’s unusual. What happened after that?”

“Got adopted by an adventuring couple,” Adrian said, his voice softening. “Marcus and Anisa, they’re good people. They taught me a lot about the world.”

She nodded thoughtfully, a small smile forming. “That’s admirable. It sounds like you’ve had an interesting life so far.”

“What about you? What’s it like being royalty?”

“Complicated. Tutors, court etiquette, endless politics… it’s a lot of responsibility.”

“Sounds exhausting, but you don’t strike me as the type to shy away from it.”

“I don’t. It’s my duty, and I take it seriously. But sometimes, I envy people like you.”

“Me?” Adrian raised an eyebrow. “I don't think my life has been particularly enviable."

Alisha chuckled lightly. “I suppose the grass is always—"

Their exchange might have continued, but a sharp voice cut through the low hum of the library. “Your Highness, there you are!”

Adrian turned as a group of well-dressed students approached. Leading them was a boy with dark brown hair, his tailored tunic embroidered with elaborate silver and blue patterns. Behind him, others followed, their attire equally extravagant.

“Why are you sitting with him?” the boy demanded, his disdainful gaze fixed on Adrian. “Surely you don’t need to associate with… commoners.”

Adrian’s jaw tightened. He met the boy’s gaze steadily, refusing to look away. Great. A self-important noble looking for attention.