Chapter 313
After breakfast, Leo and Chelsea left the dormitory dining hall for Professor Mel’s special Hero Studies class.
“Chelsea. Leo is coming too?”
“Nella Unni! Let’s go to the lecture hall together!”
Nella Carven, one of the most beautiful students in the second year, approached with her characteristic languid smile.
“It’s been a while since the three of us went to a class together.”
“Yeah. Back in first-year Class 5 we used to go everywhere as a group of six.”
Chelsea pouted in regret.
Leo, Chelsea, and Carr. They’d been close friends since near the start of first year. Add to that Nella, Eliana, and Tide — they were the core strength of Class 5.
“Why don’t we take a trip to Lumeria City this weekend since we’re thinking about it?”
“Let’s do it! If any of Class 5 are free, invite them too!”
Chelsea beamed with delight.
“You okay with that, Leo?”
“I’ll keep my schedule open.”
Leo’s answer made Nella smile gently.
“By the way, how’s your dorm’s mock battle preparation going?”
Chelsea widened her eyes, put a finger to her lips with a playful grin, and said, “Are you scouting? Even if you are, I won’t tell who the King is—everyone’s an opponent during midterms!”
“I didn’t ask who the King is; I asked about mock battle preparations.”
Chelsea scratched her head awkwardly, smiling. Nella chuckled and answered, “It’s going well. We’ve already chosen our King. Glory?”
“We’ve picked ours too.”
They chatted lightly.
“Are you getting a lot of questions about who Harmony’s King is?”
“Yeah. Class 5 keeps asking.” Nella smiled lazily. Chelsea looked fed up.
“Carr and Tide keep prying, and Eliana—”
“Ah! Chelsea and Nella! And the class rep!”
Eliana ran up, waving cheerfully.
“This is perfect! Who’s Harmony’s King?”
Chelsea put on a cold expression. “This idiot asks so bluntly.”
“Who are you calling an idiot?” Eliana lunged at Chelsea and poked her soft cheeks. Chelsea instinctively bit Eliana’s fingers.
Amid the ruckus, Carr and Tide spotted the four and joined them.
“It’s been a while since we all gathered like this,” Tide said with a smile. Chelsea nodded.
“Actually, we were just talking about this—are you free this weekend? Thinking of going out with Class 5.”
“That sounds good.”
“I’ll keep my schedule open.”
The six of them chatted happily.
“By the way,” Carr said, clasping his fingers behind his head, “have all of you already selected your King?”
Chelsea narrowed her eyes. “Even if you ask, I’m not telling.”
“Who asks directly? You have to probe a little.” Carr chuckled. Before they knew it, they reached the lecture hall.
“Leo.”
As he took his seat, Celia approached. “Professor Mel is looking for you.”
Leo looked puzzled and stood. “I’ll be right back.”
“Come back soon~” Chelsea waved cheerfully. Celia narrowed her eyes at Chelsea.
“You didn’t tell Leo anything about our dorm, did you?”
“What, you think I would? I don’t carelessly spill dorm secrets.”
“You tell Abad all sorts of things, though.”
“I still don’t blurt out classified info!” Chelsea stuck out her tongue.
“Good to hear.” Celia nodded and returned to her seat.
“What do you take me for? I’m a dorm leader too.” Chelsea muttered. Eliana rested her chin on her hand and said, “I understand why Celia is worried. Chelsea, you’re always putty in the hands of the class rep or Abad, right?”
“Who says I’m putty—”
“And you seem like a cute little sister; give her candy and she might tell you everything!”
“Right! Right! If you give her candy, you could probably kidnap her!”
“What do you take me for?” Chelsea glared at Carr and Eliana. Tide smiled.
“You really are different from other dorm leaders, Chelsea.”
“How am I different?” Chelsea tilted her head. Carr answered, “Our dorm is filled with ambition. That’s expected—heirs of famous families.”
The Lewellin and Hergin families—names that meant heroic lineage. Abad and Eliza were heirs, so their pride and ambition were natural. Duran Moira, prince of the small knightly kingdom of Moira, likewise carried strong pride.
Hearing Carr, Eliana said, “Our dorm also has three people with clear paths.”
Chloe wants to write the world’s greatest magic tome based on her original magic. Chen Xia aims to rise to a hero’s place as a shadow and change public perception.
“And the class rep is… well, a heroic person by nature.”
“Right—he boldly declared in first year: the complete annihilation of Erebos.”
“The scale is different.” The students shook their heads in amazement.
“What about Harmony’s dorm leaders—what are their goals?”
“For Walden, it’s ‘becoming the strongest,’” Nella answered with a small smile. Tide crossed his arms. “That suits him.”
“The class rep’s feats are outrageous, but Walden is also a monster.” Eliana clicked her tongue.
“I wonder who would win if the two of them fought properly?”
“Leo would win.”
Walden Thaiden’s strength was considered top among the year. Without Leo, Walden would be the clear class representative.
“Celia’s goal is to be a knight surpassing her predecessors.” Carr crossed his arms.
“Everyone has solid goals. That’s why they dream of being heroes.”
Chelsea blinked. “Why do you want to be a hero, Chelsea?”
“Well… I enrolled in Lumene. I want to help my brother and bring honor to my family…” Chelsea hesitated, uncommonly flustered. “Do you all have reasons to be heroes?”
“Of course! I’ll become the greatest magic swordsman worthy of my family’s name and fame! So many will look up to me! Oh ho ho ho!” Eliana covered her mouth and laughed.
“I want to contract with a fairy.” Tide smirked.
“I want to save many people as a hero.” Nella’s smile turned kindly.
“I don’t aim to be a hero; I just want to last long as a supporter and rise in rank,” Carr shrugged.
Seeing friends with clear goals, Chelsea grew even more flustered. Why did she enroll at Lumene? ‘Because I loved hero tales as a child.’ She still did. She had talent and skill, so she came to Lumene without a specific reason beyond wanting to attend school with her older brother. If she had aimed to be the top of the year, she should have entered a year later.
‘Why did I enroll at Lumene?’ Chelsea pondered for the first time since becoming a second-year. In first year she never thought about such things; she was content following those around her—the admired mage Abad and the hero Leo. Just studying together and overcoming obstacles was enough. A girl who had never stood on her own stage felt bewildered.
‘Why do I want to be a hero?’
At that moment, Carr stood. “Where are you going?” Eliana asked.
“Bathroom.” Carr moved toward the door, passing Celia’s desk and dropping something as he passed. Celia watched the item fall, then nonchalantly tucked it away. ‘It begins.’
—
By evening, after the day’s classes, the second-year students gathered at Lumene’s pier. Dorm groups took to the air above the lake, eyeing each other warily. The mock battle for the midterm practical exam relied heavily on strongholds. Each dorm was assigned one of the islands in Lumeria City.
“Do we have to play spy games even in prep?” Carr scratched his head in annoyance. Around him, students were building defensive towers and setting traps for the stronghold. Eliza smoothed her nails and said with legs crossed, “While others toil, why don’t you help?”
Carr scoffed at Eliza’s breath. “You’re not doing nothing.”
“Do you think I’d do menial tasks? How rude. I’m on watch to counter scouting.” Eliza’s summoned beasts patrolled the island.
“By the way, I’m here with Abad’s permission,” Carr added.
“Eliza cocked an eyebrow. Abad is leading Noble’s forces now.”
“Right.”
“So Abad assigned you something?” Eliza’s mouth twitched. “What mission?”
“You came at the right time.”
Eliza’s eyes flickered. “Celia? What are you doing here…?”
“I invited you. I gave you the marker you gave me.”
If Noble students kept coming and going, Eliza’s summons would alert her. To prevent that, Eliza distributed markers that prevented her summons from reacting—Carr had given one to Celia.
“How amusing.” Eliza smiled. Noble students murmured as they noticed Celia. Duran, standing on the stronghold wall, watched her with narrowed eyes. Abad rested his chin and smiled at Celia.
Celia faced Carr. “I read your letter.” She glanced at Noble’s stronghold. “What’s your scheme?”
“No scheme. Just a proposal for an alliance.” Carr folded his arms.
“An alliance to gang up on Glory? Your dorm leaders won’t agree.” Celia knew Duran and Eliza’s pride. Two of three dorms uniting to attack one would be unacceptable. Even to topple Leo, they’d want to do it by their own hands. ‘Whether success or failure, they want to bring it down themselves.’
“I’m against that too.” Chelsea would oppose it. Walden, aiming at Leo, would not accept it. Lumene forbade lethal duels; injuries among students were a serious matter. But the exam was different—a chance for anyone to fight Leo seriously. They wouldn’t want to pass up that chance. Celia thought the same.
Carr became serious. “I’m not asking for a joint attack.”
“If we ally openly, Glory will notice and focus solely on defense. If Glory decides to defend fully, breaking the stronghold will be tough. Some won’t accept an alliance, like you said.”
The month of prep time was for fortifying strongholds. If Glory concentrated on defense, even two dorms together might find it hard to break through.
“So?” Celia asked.
“Let’s form a nonaggression pact.” Carr said earnestly. “The term lasts until Glory’s stronghold falls.”