The noble boy’s sneer deepened, his arms folding across his chest as if to solidify his dominance. “Your Highness, of all the people in this library, you chose to sit with him? A nobody. No status, no lineage, and no place in our world. Surely you can find better company.”
Adrian’s grip on his book tightened, but he refused to look away. “Funny, I didn’t realize this exam was about lineage. Last I checked, it’s about skill, something you might want to focus on instead of where people sit.”
The boy’s entourage exchanged murmurs, some of them smirking at Adrian’s retort, though others clung to their arrogant expressions, unwilling to waver. The noble flushed with anger. “Skill? You think you have the right to talk about skill to me? Someone like you couldn’t possibly understand what it takes to reach greatness.”
Adrian Leaned back slightly in his chair. “Oh, I understand just fine. I understand that no amount of embroidery on your tunic is going to help you when it comes to actual talent.”
The noble’s jaw tightened as he took a step forward. “Watch your mouth, commoner. Or you’ll regret it.”
Adrian stood slowly, his movements deliberate, meeting the boy’s height without hesitation. “Or what? You’ll embarrass yourself even more than you already have?"
The rising tension crackled through the library, drawing even more eyes to the unfolding confrontation. Students craned their necks, some barely concealing their amusement while others watched with open curiosity.
The noble boy’s face twisted in anger, his lips parting to retort—
“Enough.”
Alisha’s voice rang out,cutting through the library’s murmurs like a knife. She stood with the effortless grace of royalty as her eyes locked onto the noble with a look of great contempt.
“Whoever you are, you have done more than enough to make your point, though I struggle to see what it is. Instead of studying, you’ve chosen to waste everyone’s time with petty insults and pointless displays.”
The boy stammered, clearly unprepared to be addressed so directly. “Your Highness, I only thought—”
“You thought?” Alisha interrupted. She stepped forward, her presence filling the space between them. “No. What you’ve shown is not thought but arrogance. A desire to elevate yourself by tearing others down. If that is what you think nobility represents, then you are sorely mistaken.”
Her words landed like hammer blows. The noble’s entourage shifted behind him, their earlier confidence dissolving as Alisha’s scorn swept over them. The boy’s face reddened, and his mouth opened as if to protest, but no words came.
Alisha’s gaze didn’t waver. “Now, unless you have something meaningful to contribute, I suggest you leave.”
The silence in the library was chilling, even the rustling of papers and books had stopped. The noble boy hesitated for a moment, his pride warring with his humiliation. Finally, he gave a stiff, jerking bow and turned on his heel, marching toward the exit with his entourage trailing awkwardly behind him.
As the heavy doors swung shut behind them, the tension in the room eased, and the hum of the library resumed. Adrian exhaled, his hands loosening at his sides. He turned to Alisha, who had returned to her seat.
“Are you alright?” she asked.
Adrian nodded, though his jaw was still tight. “I’m fine. You didn’t have to do all that for me.”
She tilted her head slightly, smiling. “Maybe not, but I couldn’t let such behavior go unchecked. There’s nothing noble about bullying someone for where they come from.”
Adrian’s lips curved into a small smirk, and he sat back down. “Well, you definitely put them in their place.”
“Some people are so consumed by their own sense of importance that they forget what truly matters.”
“You can say that again.”
Silence between them stretched as neither quite knew what to say from here on out. Adrian occasionally glanced up from his book, catching Alisha flipping through her own with an unreadable expression. Her movements were precise, yet there was an energy about her, as though her mind were preoccupied with something unsaid.
Adrian tapped his pen lightly against the edge of his parchment, pretending to focus on his notes but feeling the weight of the unspoken tension hanging between them. She wants to say something. I can feel it. His gaze flicked to her once more, her lips pressing together briefly before parting as though she’d decided to speak.
“I was thinking—”
But before she could say more, the creak of the library doors drew their attention. The instructor strode into the room, his polished boots striking the floor. His presence instantly silenced the low whispers, and all heads turned toward him. Adrian straightened in his chair. Looks like that’s our cue.
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The instructor’s gaze swept over the students as he spoke, "attention. The written portion of the entrance exam will commence in three minutes. Gather your belongings and proceed to the examination hall immediately.”
***
After the Written Exam.
Adrian sat at a corner table in the expansive cafeteria, his tray holding a modest meal of bread, cheese, and a small bowl of soup. Around him, clusters of students filled the room, their chatter rising and falling like waves. Some laughed loudly, others whispered conspiratorially, but all seemed to cast occasional glances his way.
He tore a piece of bread and dipped it into his soup, letting it soak for a moment before taking a bite. The stares didn’t bother him. Most didn't feel malicious, just curiosity from students who hadn’t quite figured him out yet. Just ignore them, you have better things to think about.
His eyes wandered across the room, taking in the variety of uniforms and family crests adorning the students. Some bore themselves with an air of confidence bordering on arrogance, while others leaned in close to their companions, animatedly discussing the written exam.
Adrian caught snippets of phrases: questions about magical theory, muttered complaints about time limits, but he tuned them out, focusing on the meal in front of him. The test wasn’t too bad. If the practical is anything like the written, I should be fine. He smiled faintly at the memory of one particularly tricky question about mana destabilization and how he’d worked out the answer with a logical twist. Lysander’s books definitely paid off.
“Why the long face, Adrian?” Kael asked.
Adrian looked up to see Kael dropping into the seat across from him, a sly grin plastered across his face. His loose headband sat slightly askew, and his relaxed demeanor was as unshakable as ever.
“I don’t have a long face,” Adrian replied, his tone flat but laced with humor. “I’m just eating.”
“Eating like someone who got all the easy questions wrong,” Kael teased, propping his chin on one hand. “Seriously, you look like you’re plotting world domination or something.”
Adrian rolled his eyes but couldn’t help the small laugh that escaped. “I’m fine, Kael. What took you so long?”
“Well, some of us don’t have the luxury of reading questions on our own. They had to set me up in a special room with a guide who read everything aloud. Took a little longer than expected.”
“Makes sense. Did it go okay?”
“Oh, yeah. Gramps didn’t drill me for nothing. The guide even said I was faster than most students who don’t have the same ‘obstacles.’”
“Obstacles, huh?” Adrian leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. “If anything, you’ve got an advantage because you can just focus solely on the exam."
Kael chuckled. “You’re not wrong. I just focus on what they say and let my brain do the heavy lifting.”
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps approaching drew their attention, and Adrian glanced up to see Alisha standing beside their table. “Mind if I join you?” she asked.
Adrian gestured to the empty seat next to him without hesitation. “Of course. Take a seat.”
Kael, however, froze mid-sentence, his relaxed demeanor cracking as he stared in her general direction. “Wait, her? She wants to sit here? With us?”
Alisha’s lips twitched upward into a faint smile as she settled into the seat. “Yes, with you. Why is that so surprising?”
Kael leaned toward Adrian, lowering his voice in mock seriousness. “Adrian, what did you do? Did you save her life or something?”
Adrian shot him a look, half amused and half exasperated. “Kael, she’s just sitting with us. Don’t make it weird.”
Alisha let out a light chuckle, folding her hands neatly in front of her. “You two make an interesting pair. I take it this is your friend from earlier?”
“Kael,” Adrian confirmed, gesturing toward him. “He’s the one who doesn’t know how to act normal.”
Kael recovered quickly, flashing a grin as he offered a casual wave. “Pleasure to meet you, Your Highness. I’m the guy who keeps Adrian grounded when he starts acting too smart for his own good.”
Alisha laughed softly, the sound light and musical. “It’s good to have someone like that. Although, from what I’ve seen, Adrian strikes a good balance on his own.”
Kael raised an eyebrow, tilting his head toward Adrian. “Well, well. Getting compliments from royalty now. You’ve officially moved up in the world.”
Adrian groaned, rubbing his temple. “Kael, I swear—”
“It’s fine. You two remind me of a few of my cousins. Always bantering but loyal where it counts.” Alisha said, chuckling slightly.
“Then I’ll take that as a compliment.” Adrian said.
The cafeteria’s lively hum started to ebb as students finished their meals and prepared for the next stage of the exam. Adrian leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed loosely as he listened to Kael and Alisha’s banter. Kael had just finished an exaggerated story about a failed sparring session involving a training dummy that refused to stay upright.
“And then Gramps walked in,” Kael said, gesturing animatedly, “saw the mess, and told me that if I couldn’t beat a wooden dummy, I might as well let it teach me instead.”
Alisha covered her mouth with one hand, laughter escaping. “He really said that?”
“Word for word,” Kael replied, his grin wide. “Worst part? The dummy did fall on me later, and Gramps didn’t let me live it down for weeks.”
“Sounds like you deserved it.” Adrian said, shrugging.
Kael threw up his hands in mock indignation. “What is this, pick-on-Kael day? I thought royalty was supposed to be on my side.”
Alisha tilted her head with a teasing smile. “I’ll stay neutral, for now.”
Before Kael could fire back, the sharp tap of boots against the tiled floor cut through the room. An instructor in the academy’s deep blue uniform strode into the cafeteria. The din of conversation quieted instantly as he cleared his throat.
“Attention, all students. Lunch time is coming to an end. Please finish your meals and make your way to the training hall immediately for the practical portion of the entrance exam.”