《A Young Dragon in the Starland》


 Drive.1: Draco Iuvenis, Argenteus Fulmen

    Fate is such a puzzle, isn''t it? It twists and turns like a river, leading us down paths we never imagined we''d take.


    I''m Kaios, the son of Ashmeyer who descended from a lineage that originated from the Parpaldia Empire''s oldest colony called Deventer. By my country''s customs, that will make my legal name "Kaios Ashmeyer van Deventer." Having my name rendered like that makes it feel like a big name akin to nobles, but to tell you the truth, the ''van Deventer'' part feels distant to me since I was born in Esthirant near the sea, far from that colony in the interior. I''ve never even set foot there. The busy streets of the Imperial Capital are all I''ve ever known. My name might as well be "van Esthirant."


    My dad runs a fleet of five clippers, and he''s done really well since taking over the family business after my grandfather and mother passed away. When I get home from school¡ªwell, former school in Parpaldia¡ªI often help out with little chores. But I can''t help but wonder what my future holds. The questions swirl in my mind like leaves caught in a gust of wind. Will I just follow in my father''s footsteps? Or will I try to forge my own way, find my own path?


    And then, out of nowhere, my friend Elto and I ended up studying in the Holy Milishial Empire. Not just visiting as a tourist, but actually studying there, thanks to our luck being selected to represent the country in an exchange program after doing well in the given tests. It''s a lot to take in.


    And thus, we found ourselves catapulted into a situation far beyond our wildest dreams... into the Land of Stars.


    <hr>


    October 31, 1616 Central Calendar, 14:30


    Northern Lafleya Training Ground, Runepolis, Holy Milishial Empire


    "Psst...! Hey! Blondie over there!"


    A voice called out from behind Kaios, who was crouched low behind a bush on the training ground.


    Startled, he snapped a glance over his shoulder to find a taller boy sneaking out from the shadows. The boy had messy black hair that fell haphazardly over his forehead and striking red eyes. He was dressed in a dark green jacket with white stripes that hung loosely over a pinstripe white shirt. His khaki pants were a bit wrinkled, and scuffed brown boots were visible beneath the fabric. In contrast to Kaios'' bold red-and-black parka, this boy seemed to blend into his surroundings better by virtue of his more subdued outfit.


    "Oh... it''s you, Crow," Kaios blinked.


    The other boy gave him a relaxed smile. "...Yeah, it''s me. You''re Chaos right¡ª"


    "Kaios."


    "Yes, yes. So, I wanted to talk to you... Sorry for turning you down earlier. I''ve thought about what you said, and I''m convinced. So... let''s work together?"


    Kaios let out a small sigh, his heart racing with a mix of relief and wariness. "Really? You mean that?"


    "Yeah, I realized taking on the examiner alone was a bit reckless. I mean, she''s tough! And..." Crow''s voice trailed off while he looked into the distance dreamily. "Damn... she''s fiiiineee..."


    "W-what? What are you talking about?"


    "The examiner! She''s fine¡ªlike, crazy stupid fine."


    "Hah?"


    "...The bottom line is that our examiner is hot."


    Kaios gaped. "¡ª¡ªHow is this helping!?" he suddenly shouted.


    Someone has to remind everyone to stay on the assignment... Because if not, the intrusive thoughts will enter Kaios'' mind too.


    Suddenly, a distant yelp cut through the air, and both boys winced instinctively.


    "Is that... the Redhead?"


    "Shirley," Kaios corrected worriedly. He hoped their groupmate was okay, however abrasive her attitude might be. "We need to check on her... I think we should regroup. All four of us should work together. I mean, this test is going to be tough, and if we don''t collaborate, we might all end up failing."


    "That''s nice and all, but don''t forget there are only two bells. Only two out of four of us will pass this exam. You really think the others are just gonna start holding hands and singing positivity?"


    Kaios winced, reluctantly admitting that Crow had a point. The exam was intentionally designed using thedivide et imperaapproach and challenged the examinees to overcome it and work together for a better chance of winning¡ªat least that''s the theory of the exam''s main objective. However, Exam Group 58 isn''t exactly the most cohesive unit from the beginning.


    "Well, I think there''s more to this test... I have a theory: the examiner set it up like this to see if we can set aside our rivalries and help each other. It''s a way to test our teamwork and trust."


    Crow raised his eyebrows, half in disbelief and half amused.


    "That''s some deep stuff right there. But let''s be real for a second.Thisis a competition. There are only two bells, and if we don''t make sure one of us gets one, we''re both toast. So why not just team up¡ªjust you and me? That way, we can watch each other''s backs and secure our spots."


    "Are you really sure that whoever those two fromthis groupwilldefinitelypass when the exam is over?" Kaios asked. "All the groups'' results will be announced on the same day, remember? Why is that?"


    At first, Crow didn''t quite get the meaning behind that question, but after mulling over it, his eyes widened in realization.


    "Oh, shit. You don''t mean..."


    "I think it''s possible that depending on the performance, there might be one or two groups that performed so well they all pass, or be so terrible at their assignment that none of them pass. That''s what I''m thinking!"


    "Oh... shit..." Crow held his head.


    "I remember that my mentor said that this exam is a substitute for war. Now, if we''re thinking along those lines instead of seeing this as a sporting event¡ªwhat is the cardinal sin in a military strategy? Dispersing your forces and watch as they are defeated piecemeal."


    "Whoa, whoa, whoa... Okay, that''s a bit of a reach but it makes sense, I think."


    "The point is we''re going to have a better chance of passing this exam if we work together instead of acting separately. What''s the harm in trying?"


    "Counterpoint: Shirley. I don''t know about the Other Guy¡ª"


    "Ishmael."


    "Yeah, him. But I say again, I don''t think you can convince them that easily."


    Kaios brought a hand to his chin and pondered about it.


    "Hmm. How about we¡ª"


    "¡ªDone discussing, boys?"


    "Huh?"


    A teasing feminine voice suddenly came from above. When both of them looked up, their eyes widened as they saw the examiner perched on a nearby branch, interrupting their strategy meeting with a grin on her face.


    "OH, SHI¡ª"


    "Language!"


    The examiner''s grin widened as she dropped down and twisted mid-air before aiming an axe kick directly toward Crow.


    "NGAAAAAAAAAAAAH¡ª!!!"


    With a comically high-pitched shriek, the raven-haired boy just barely evaded the strike, flinging himself backward while his legs splayed wide to avoid her boot, which smashed into the groundalarmingly closeto his groin.


    Scrambling in fright to create a distance, they pivoted to face the examiner and assumed fighting stances, forming a shaky two-man front.


    "That was close...!"


    "Y-y-yo-you don''t say!" Crow cried. The ramifications of that one attack if it connects will beimmense. What was she even thinking!?


    Kaios still couldn''t believe it. This woman might be crazier than they initially thought.


    Shizuna R. Misurugi, 24 years old. Hailing from the Hinomawari Kingdom in the Second Civilization Area, she in fact belonged to that country''s military organization called the Order of the Sun Ring, an affiliation the examiner greatly emphasized in their initial meeting. Six years ago, she came to the Middle Lands with a purpose similar to Kaios'', following the Holy Milishial Empire''s initiative to invite youths from foreign nations to study as part of its intentions to deepen the cooperative relationship between nations, at least that''s the gist of it. For the most part, it was really an attempt to improve the condition of this world before the Ancient Sorcerous Empire arrived, but some other countries see it as an arrogant self-proclaimed ruler of the known world flexing its might and giving away some of its secrets due to it believing itself to be so far ahead their ''primitive'' civilizations. Some people just can''t be pleased.


    Shizuna had long, silver hair reminiscent of the Rogueriders and Pendragons, and striking blue eyes. Wearing a form-fitting black bodysuit beneath a long-sleeved white jacket that finely accentuated her figure, this woman in her mid-20s radiated a playful confidence that instantly put Kaios on edge.


    Amidst their standoff, Shizuna sized up the pair facing her and cocked an eyebrow.


    "That''s a good answer to the exam''s real question, I must say."


    "Is... is it the right answer, though...?" Kaios timidly probed her in response.


    "Hmm... the right answer? Well, is there even the ''right'' answer?"


    Meanwhile, Crow steadied her breathing and whispered to Kaios out of the corner of his mouth.


    "...Alright, Blondie, here''s the plan. I''ll go in first, close range. While I''m trying to snatch those bells, you find an opening. Attack from her blind spot, then cover me if she counterattacks."


    With a tight nod, Kaios'' gaze flicked back and forth between Shizuna and Crow. Even with the numbers on their side, he couldn''t imagine a pair of high schoolers standing a chance against a military mage in a direct contest of martial arts and magic¡ªit would be foolish to expect that. Instead, he resolved to do his best and hoped that the "process" would also be part of the evaluation.


    "¡ªAlright."


    "Let''s give her our best performance. Here we go. Maximum effort!"


    Crow charged at Shizuna, summoning tendrils of water that spiraled around his arms as he closed the distance. He twisted his hands to shape the water into a sharp-edged whip that snapped toward the examiner''s ankles in a blur. But Shizuna easily sidestepped the attack, barely breaking a sweat as the whip sliced into the ground where she''d just stood.


    Meanwhile, Kaios darted sideways into the examiner''s blind spot while she was busy engaging his partner. After bringing his hands together and willing his water elemental magic, his desire was swiftly translated by the Manadriver attached to the holster on his left waist underneath his parka, which let him paint the reality and conjure the spell in an instant!


    ''Attack, one, two, three, four...!''


    Channeling his mana, Kaios conjured a swirling mass of water before him and launched it at Shizuna in segments. With each punch and a sweeping roundhouse kick, he sent blasts of water at high speed while continuing to circle around the melee. Unlike the typical fighting style used by mages with a water elemental affinity, Adonis Roguerider taught Kaios to wield his element in a less elegant but more agile manner, employing sharp, swift movements to direct streams of water.


    Four of those blasts were now hurled at Shizuna, curving midair to surround her from directly behind, left, right, and above.


    Shizuna gasped in excitement sensing Kaios and Crow''s attack converging on her. She then proceeded to briefly turn in Kaios'' direction and dodged three of the incoming water blasts. As the remaining fourth shot surged toward her head, she raised her arm and slashed through it with a mana-covered hand chop, scattering the water into a mist that glimmered in the sunlight.


    Crow, seizing the moment, lashed out with his water whip, aiming for Shizuna''s midsection. However, the examiner sprang into a somersault over the whip. As the two tracked her movement while continuing their assaults, Kaios and Crow''s jaws clenched upon seeing how effortlessly she had evaded their attacks.


    "Nuh-uh...! You''re not bad, boys, not bad at all," she teased, casually dusting off her jacket. "But I hope you didn''t think you''d catch me so easily!"


    Crow groaned. "Are we evenmakinga dent?"


    "You know, I''ve been in a number of situations like this," as Shizuna continued, her voice dropped several octaves. "Let me show you what will happen next."


    "!!!"


    "Uh-oh..."


    Crow and Kaios instinctively tensed up, bracing for whatever punishment the examiner was about to deliver. Her eyes glinted dangerously, and both boys felt an icy chill run down their spines.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    But then, to their absolute bafflement, Shizuna turned on her heel and bolted, sprinting across the training ground into the clearing''s direction at full speed.


    "Catch me if you can, boys! Kyahahahahahaha!" she called over her shoulder, laughing along the way.


    Crow blinked, dumbfounded. "...Is sherunning away!?"


    "Oh, no! That''s the One-Thousand Step Tactical Repositioning Technique!" Kaios gasped.


    He had seen this being done several times, mostly by his sparring partners from the three families of Roguerider, Pendragon, and Legendorga. Things will turn troublesome when they pull off this particular technique. Seriously.


    "That''s just running away!" retorted the other boy fiercely.


    "No, no, there''s a difference!"


    "GRRRR! WHAT IS EVEN HAPPENING RIGHT NOW!? ...Ugh, fine! D-don''t lose sight of the examiner! We can''t let her get too far!"


    With that, Crow took off after Shizuna, followed by Kaios.


    "Wait! The examiner knows what she''s doing. She might be aiming to disrupt our plans, or maybe moving somewhere to negate whatever advantage we have!" Kaios explained in the middle of the pursuit.


    "That''s a lot of speculation right there, smart guy! Likewhat!?"


    "...Yeah, well, a ''disruptive variable'' is already within visual range. Twelve o''clock!"


    Kaios pointed ahead, where the trees thinned and the ground sloped down into a small clearing next to a small lake. From the bushes in the opposite direction, a girl with long sanguine hair jumped out and angrily charged at the examiner head-on.


    Shirley Orlando, 16 years old. Unlike Kaios, Crow, and Ishmael, who all attended the Runepolis Magic Academy (though they were in different classes), she hails from Runes Valletta, an aviation specialist famously known as a rival to the RMA. This baggage that she carried to the exam for some reason added to Kaios'' chagrin, as it complicated any attempts to approach let alone work together with her.


    Furthermore, as a wielder of fire elemental affinity¡ªunsurprising, if Kaios were to be honest¡ªher approach to developing her magical skills is rather problematic. Although harnessing anger is a quicker way to train fire magic, it is very muchnotthe best method. There might be personal issues involved, but someone should really drag her to a therapist for anger management to break this negative cycle before she harms herself or someone else.


    "Great, just our luck! This group is cursed! I''m so done..."


    As the two boys stopped at the edge of the clearing to see how things played out, Crow let out a frustrated groan while watching the other examinee barreling down the clearing with reckless abandon like an ogre. However, he quickly turned to Kaios beside him.


    "¡ªAlright, Blondie, what''s the play?"


    "Hah?" Kaios blurted, taken aback.


    "Well, aren''t you the ''plans'' guy? You carry yourself like a ''plans'' guy. You have a plan for this?"


    Kaios frowned as he tried to contemplate their next move. "Earlier, I wanted to say that if we can adjust to Shirley''s movements, we could create an illusion that we''re working together, and I hope it''s good enough," he said, trying to devise a plan on the fly.


    "That''s easier said than done," Crow grimaced.


    Looking at the chaotic scene in the clearing, the two of them witnessed the examiner easily dodging Shirley''s firebending as if she were toying with the angry girl. She didn''t even try to fight back, which made the wild redhead even angrier.


    At that moment, Kaios'' eyes widened as he remembered something.


    "Crow, what time is it!?"


    "I don''t know, I left my watch before the fight."


    Kaios deflated. To be fair, he had done the same too.


    "The exam will be over at the next bell toll from the clock tower. It''s already been forty-five minutes since the exam began... How many times does the bell toll here again?"


    "Eight times a day. Dammit... we might not have much time left!"


    "Then we can''t waste any more time!" exclaimed Kaios. "I''m sorry, I can''t think of any other plan. We have to adjust to Shirley, or dither and we might miss our chance entirely... what say you, Crow?"


    "Hnggggg...! Fine! Let''s give it a shot. We''ll adapt to Shirley''s moves or whatever¡ªsomehow. Just for the record, I won''t blame you if we all fail."


    Kaios sweatdropped, but found those words nice(?).


    Shooting another wary glance toward the clearing, he witnessed the examiner dance around Shirley''s fiery attacks with irritating ease. Every time the redhead thrust a fist or whipped a blazing arc of flame toward her, Shizuna sidestepped or spun out of reach, the flickering heat never so much as grazing her jacket. Shirley was red-faced, whether from effort or rage, and her frustration was building like the sparks of explosion curling from her hands.


    "Shirley''s fighting with everything she has," Kaios muttered. "But she''s wasting so much energy. She''ll tire herself out soon."


    Crow rubbed his neck. "Must be because of whatever happened between them earlier."


    Meanwhile, Kaios also felt a gnawing discomfort as he glanced around.Where''s Ishmael? The fourth member of their group had been conspicuously absent ever since they split up.


    "So, we''re doing your plan now or what?"


    At those words, Kaios gave him a nod. "Yes. It''s now or never."


    "Okay, then! On the count of three. One...! Two...! Three...!"


    The two darted out from behind the cover of the trees and into the clearing, each taking up positions flanking the fighting Shirley and Shizuna from opposite sides.


    A frustrated Shirley unleashed a close-range explosion attack. While the examiner leaned back just enough to avoid the brunt, Crow seized the moment, channeling his mana into the air around him.


    "Water Dragon¡ªnow!" he shouted, conjuring a small dragon of water that surged toward the examiner from the side.


    But before it could close in, Shizuna twirled and finally cast her own magic spell: a frosty whirlwind suddenly erupted around her. The water dragon struck the snowy barrier and instantly fractured, dispersing in a shower of droplets that misted into the cold air.


    Caught off guard by the storm and thrown back, Shirley whipped around as she got up and glared at Crow. "Huh!? What the hell are you two doing!?"


    Visibly annoyed but undeterred, Crow shot back. "Helping ourselves pass, obviously!"


    "What!?"


    As Shirley''s frustrated glare darted between Crow, Shizuna, and Kaios, the latter took a quick breath and raised his hands in a placating gesture.


    "Shirley, look. From now on, we''re going to provide you support!"


    "What do you mean ''to support me''?"


    "Oh, come on! Just attack the examiner or something, we''re going to give you covering fire!" Crow shouted.


    What a rude groupmate. This is a greatly frustrating day!


    From across the clearing, Shizuna looked on in visible amusement, as if she was watching a particularly entertaining show.


    Then... Kaios saw the examiner''s attention flick toward him and in a flash, the silver-haired woman closed the gap and lunged. Kaios barely had time to raise his arms before she was upon him and struck. He managed to parry a knee strike, but she followed with a spinning back kick with that same leg that struck his guard, sending him staggering several feet to the side.


    But just as Shizuna went for a follow-up, two hands burst from the ground right at her other foot, fingers reaching to latch onto her ankle.


    "Oh?"


    Kaios'' eyes widened. It looked like their missing groupmate had finally made his move.


    However, Shizuna soon yanked that leg free and pulled Ishmael out of his hiding spot in the process. Dirt flew as his head and shoulders emerged from the ground.


    With one powerful heave, Shizuna proceeded to throw the panicked short black-haired boy through the air in the direction of Shirley, who had just raised her arms for another fire spell. As soon as Ishmael went airborne, his frantic flailing intersected perfectly with Shirley, and the two collided with a painful thud, tumbling into a messy pile as Shirley''s spell sputtered out, leaving only embers in the air.


    Meanwhile, Shizuna turned back to see Kaios who rushed to the bells on her waist from behind. Before Kaios could react to the situation, she whipped her jacket off in a swift motion and flung it right at his face. Blinded, he stumbled and crashed next to the examiner. Furthermore, while he was frantically trying to bat it away, Kaios felt a surge of air swirl around him¡ªa powerful gust of wind magic that Shizuna had cast.


    "I can''t see! Ah¡ª!? AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!"


    "Blondie! NO!"


    With a startled scream, Kaios was lifted off the ground and sent launching headlong toward the lake''s edge far away from their spot.


    For a moment, Kaios felt a sensation of weightlessness before a cold and wet shock suddenly enveloped him like a blanket, all while his vision was obscured by the stubborn fabric. Panic surged through him as he thrashed, but it only made the situation worse. Dark water enveloped him, blurring his vision further and robbing him of direction.


    ''Water!? ...Am I drowning!? ...No, nonononono! I don''t want this! Please...! Augh! Up! I want to go up! Send me upward! PLEASE!''


    Kaios desperately formed a coherent thought to escape and channeled his mana... enough trigger for his Manadriver to turn into his lifesaver.


    As the magical tool resonated with his strong desire, the water around him began to churn and bubble. In that instant, Kaios felt the water morphing into a powerful surge that propelled him exactly in the direction he wanted¡ªupwards. With a violent splash, Kaios broke through the surface of the lake and managed to remove the jacket covering his face, gasping for air.


    What Kaios saw was the rest of his groupmates devolved into a disorganized mess soon after his forced departure. It was heartbreakingly quick, although that was a given seeing how their ''teamwork'' wasbarelyexistent.


    Still determined to rejoin the fray, Kaios took a moment to steady his breath and calm himself, before once again focusing on his desire to get back. The water around him began to swirl, forming a powerful jet that thrust him upward and toward the shoreline.


    "WHOOOOOOOOOOO¡ª!!"


    Kaios felt himself lift from the water, his heart racing from the sensation. However, the splashdown he had envisioned turned into a graceless crash landing as he hit the ground and rolled unceremoniously across the grass before coming to a stop. Pain shot through his body, but he quickly pushed himself up.


    "Ugh...! Not the landing I was hoping for," he muttered, shaking off the dizziness.


    Despite his unceremonious return, he couldn''t help but feel wonder at the capability of his Manadriver. Equip the sailors with it and train them well, none of them will ever drown anymore, that''s what he thought.


    "Alright, enough getting sidetracked, I have to¡ª"


    BONG...... BONG...... BONG......


    The embers of Kaios'' spirit withered in an instant at the dreaded sound. It was the tolling of the nearby clock tower''s bell.


    "Oh no........."


    ?????


    The far shore of the Lafleya Training Ground''s lake remained peaceful throughout, where two young men could be seen sitting on a rug, contentedly watching the bout unfolding on the opposite side. Both of them were born with hair the color of fresh snow glinting in the sunlight, whose silver strands shimmered faintly in the late afternoon glow.


    One of them, caressing a small, crystal-like translucent green mechanical butterfly in his hand, chuckled quietly to himself before turning to the other young man.


    "Do you want to hear what I''m thinking? You throw a rock out here, you hit a reincarnated person. They look like them, bear a similar name as them, but can act completely differently from them. Out of trillions, he only succeededonce... Amatsu-Mikaboshi''s little failures have created such an amusing sight to watch in this plane of existence. But at the same time, it also makes things so chaotic."


    The second young man shifted his gaze toward his companion, his clear, piercing blue eyes meeting the other.


    "It''s best not to question it," he commented offhandedly. "If you think too hard about such things, where any of them came from or who they truly are, it''ll all seem nonsensical. Existence is chaos. Nothing makes any sense, so we try to make some sense of it. That''s how it has always been. That''s the glorious purpose they and we have been burdened with."


    The first young man glanced back to the scenery across the lake.


    "That little one''s purpose is more burden than glory."


    "I want to see how that one lives with it."


    "Like so many times before. Of course you do."


    The first young man gently released the crystalline butterfly into the cool late afternoon breeze that day, watching it flutter for a moment before it disappeared into the distance.


    "I think it''s time for me to return and finish my work. You?"


    "I might just wait here for a little bit, and let time pass..."


    ?????


    18:30


    A certain room in an apartment''s 3rd Floor, Tranquila District, Runepolis


    While waiting for Gabi to make dinner, Kaios lay on the couch while tightly wrapping himself in a blanket and stared emptily at the ceiling, tuning out his roommates'' chatter and Irmiya''s attempts to play a certain popular song from the Holy Empire that he learned on his guitar¡ªunless someone spoke to him directly.


    The events several hours ago at the training ground were clearly still lingering in his thoughts.


    Kaios barely stirred as his childhood friend from Parpaldia, Elto van Dalsen, slipped into the apartment from across the hallway. While he noticed her, Kaios didn''t feel like reacting, remaining cocooned in his blanket and just waiting for Elto to enter.


    Elto was halfway through entering the room when she suddenly stopped. A shift of her posture signaled her attention elsewhere before she turned back to Kaios.


    "Hey, Kaios. Guess who''s coming."


    "Hmh...?"


    "Hey."


    Accompanying that familiar voice, a mop of silver hair peeked in. Seeing the figure who had appeared at the doorway with Elto''s prompting, Kaios couldn''t help but smile slightly.


    "Please, don''t just stand there, you two," Kaios called out.


    "Excuse me..."


    "Hey, everyone."


    "Meteos! Are you staying for dinner?" Irmiya waved with a grin. "Gabi''s making us some fancy dinner tonight!"


    "His Highness is too kind."


    Elto sat down on the sofa opposite Kaios, while the other visitor, having entered the room with the girl, slid into the seat on the side where he could face the blanketed blonde head-on. Kaios noticed that he had a backpack hanging from one shoulder but didn''t inquire further, as it wasn''t his place to ask.


    Meteos Roguerider, 16 years old. This silver-haired boy is one of the children of the corporation sponsoring Kaios and his friends'' education in this country. Being the same age as them, he naturally became one of their first friends from Milishial. He used to be very blunt, lacking even Elto''s tact and spoke his mind without restraint, but he seemed to have become more diplomatic over time, though he still had his moments. He also didn''t enjoy being teased.


    Like all of his older siblings, Meteos possessed an intellect that seemed to rival that of an entire country, despite his very young age. It''s hard to believe that he''s responsible for at least a dozen inventions in this country. Kaios found it difficult to accept, but it is what it is.


    Such a person had introduced Kaios to the wonders of technology, the sight of whichsparkedsomething inside him.


    "How are you doing?" Meteos asked after settling on the couch. "Elto messaged me earlier saying you got thrown into the lake during the exam."


    "Yes, he was soaking wet and forgot to bend the water to dry himself for some reason until I reminded him before he got out of the Training Ground," the girl confirmed.


    Kaios chuckled sheepishly. "I''m fine. My body''s fine. I''m not sick or anything..." He paused, clutching the blanket tighter around him. "I just... mentally exhausted, I guess?"


    "Ah..."


    "My prospects of passing looks bleak..."


    Elto raised an eyebrow at Kaios'' comment. "Wasn''t it you who said that you weren''t expecting to go that far?"


    Kaios sat up at her words. "I am...! But... during the exam, I¡ªwell, I don''t know how to explain it. It was like... I wanted to pass, like, really badly. Like, everything in me was pushing for it, even though I''d never get that far in the first place. It''s weird, right?"


    Meteos, listening quietly to Kaios'' confession, cleared his throat and adjusted his position to lean forward.


    "......What''s so wrong with that? If you want to be an inventor, that is exactly what you must have. A drive to see if you can push further, even when you think you''ve hit your limits."


    "Haah... wow, that makes me feel better, somewhat."


    "Really? Don''t tell me you think it''s a wrong thing to feel?"


    Kaios'' face went red at the two''s teasing.


    "Sheesh... now I really envy you, Meteos. You just sat down and played schaken."


    "I don''t recall you ever winning a game against me, Kaios," Elto retorted.


    Hearing that, Irmiya who had been quietly listening couldn''t contain himself and burst out laughing. And with that, Kaios'' attempt to redirect the topic backfired hilariously.


    ?????


    21:00


    After partaking in a hearty dinner with the foreigner kids and talking for a bit more, Meteos had decided it was time to head back. Inside the car driven by his eldest brother, Meteos watched languidly as the city lights faded into a blur during their drive home.


    "Kaios needs a little encouragement, but otherwise he''s fine."


    With his hands steady on the wheel, Adonis merely hummed in acknowledgment. "Is that so?" he said in a neutral tone, before his next words held a sliver of accusing edge in them. "Then, do you want to bemore of helpthan that?"


    Meteos couldn''t help but chuckle softly, well aware of what his brother was implying. "That wouldn''t be necessary. Therefore, I''ll leave the judgment to Shizuna. She''s his examiner after all."


    Adonis glanced at him for a brief moment.


    "I see."


    "However... I''d like to see the footage from today and get a copy of her report."


    Even though the bout had concluded, the current phase of the exam wouldn''t be over until the time came.

 Drive.2: Er Over Nadenken, Erop Hopen

    When Kaios woke up to the darkness, he sensed that something was off. His head did feel cushioned, resting on a pillow, but he felt that everything else was splayed out in an unfamiliar way. As his mind processed the sensation, his heart began to race. Was he still dreaming? Or was he¡­ trapped somewhere!? His mind spiraled into a panicked haze.


    But then, realization sparked through the fog of his panic¡ªhe didn¡¯t remember falling asleep. His body jerked upright, but he froze, his eyes adjusting to the dark, and the quietude slowly began to make sense.


    The couch. Of course. His mind slowly caught up to his senses, and he sheepishly sighed. He must¡¯ve fallen asleep while sitting there, exhausted from the day¡¯s events. The panic in his chest faded, replaced by a wave of embarrassment.


    ¡°It¡¯s just the living room¡­¡± he muttered to himself, rubbing his face. ¡°Kaios, you dunce¡­¡±


    After Meteos came visiting and gave him yet another present like it was nothing, he remembered fiddling with that thing after dinner before falling asleep, and his roommates had not woken him up for some reason¡­


    Shedding his blanket and stretching, the blonde Parpaldian proceeded to fumble in the dark, reaching for the table where he remembered leaving his belongings last night. His fingers grazed an empty small box made of heavy paper, an empty glass, and then something metallic and familiar which is the cool band of his wristwatch.


    The gadget came to life as he pressed a button, its face glowing faintly in the living room previously almost devoid of light. The digital display read 05:17 on the first day of the eleventh month in the Central Calendar. He blinked at it, his mind piecing together the information. The Holy Milishial Empire¡¯s capital city of Runepolis, perched at a higher altitude than his hometown in the Parpaldia Empire, wouldn¡¯t see daylight until nearly seven this time of the year. For now, the world outside remained wrapped in darkness until around one and a half hours later.


    It¡¯s still brightly lit on the streets with magic lighting, though.


    With a groan, Kaios stood, deciding whether to shake off the last vestiges of sleep to continue to probe the secrets of that thing or proceed with other essential priorities, or surrender to them again.


    ¡­Eventually, he decided to start his day properly. Washing his face would help clear his lingering grogginess.


    Stepping into the small hallway, he noticed a faint glow spilling out from the kitchen¡¯s direction. Someone was awake and active. The sound of something sizzling confirmed it. Curious, he walked closer. As he approached the entrance, he found that someone was indeed there. His voice escaped him in reflex.


    ¡°Oh¡­¡±


    The figure at the counter turned, and Kaios found himself blinking at a young man with striking features¡ªsharp blue eyes and short blonde hair that seemed to catch the light. Despite the early hour, his expression was serene, as if he were perfectly at home in the quiet of the morning. A faint aroma of spices filled the air, mingling with the sizzle of something cooking in a pot, enveloping the room in a comforting warmth.


    ¡°Ah, Kaios, you¡¯re awake. Good morning,¡± the cook replied with a warm smile, his voice calm but pleasant.


    ¡°Uh¡­ yes, Gab¡ªGabi? Wait¡ªHark? ¡­Louria? Your Highness?¡± The still-groggy Kaios was clearly unsure which alias to use.


    The cook¡ªthe foreign prince going by the name Gabriel van Helsing, more commonly called ¡°Gabi¡± by those close to him¡ªlet out a soft chuckle, shaking his head.


    ¡°Oh, my. You¡¯re still asleep. Why don¡¯t you go wash your face first?¡±


    Kaios muttered something under his breath before excusing himself to the bathroom. The cool water helped shake off the last remnants of sleep, though he still felt the weight of yesterday¡¯s trials lingering in his muscles. Once refreshed, he returned to the kitchen, pulling out a chair to sit near Gabi.


    ¡°¡­Okay, why didn¡¯t anyone tell me to move from the couch? You all just let me sleep there?¡± Kaios pouted.


    While he was chopping potatoes on the counter, Gabi glanced over his shoulder at Kaios with an apologetic smile.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. But we did¡ªtwice, actually. You muttered something unintelligible and went right back to sleep each time. In the end, we figured you must¡¯ve been completely exhausted and decided to let you rest.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡±


    Kaios rubbed the back of his neck, a sheepish grin spreading across his face.


    ¡°I must¡¯ve been out like a rock. Guess the exam yesterday really took it out of me, I barely even remember falling asleep¡­¡± he sighed, glancing toward the open door leading to the hallway. Turning back to his roommate, he tilted his head. ¡°¡­So, what¡¯s cooking?¡±


    ¡°Goulash.¡±


    Kaios blinked, recognition lighting up his features. ¡°Ah, from Louria,¡± he murmured, leaning forward slightly to catch a better glimpse of the ingredients.


    The aroma of beef beginning to brown was unmistakable now. It was a dish Kaios had come to associate with Gabi as a staple of his homeland, the Kingdom of Louria. While Kaios himself hadn¡¯t traveled much beyond Parpaldia, Altaras, and now the Holy Milishial Empire, he¡¯d learned bits and pieces about Louria from Gabi during their time as roommates. That includes cuisine, of course.


    Goulash, as Gabi had explained during one of their late-night conversations, was a stew of meat, potato, and vegetables seasoned with paprika and other spices. Kaios had tasted it before, cooked by Gabi¡¯s own hand during his turn at chores, and had been blown away by its rich and satisfying flavor. Momentarily forgetting the dynamic between their respective countries, living with the scion of a noble and a prince in the same apartment where they will take turns doing chores like this always amused him, who was born a commoner.


    He was aware, of course, that Gabi wasn¡¯t just an ordinary boy¡ªhe was Hark, the younger prince of Louria, sent to study in the Holy Milishial Empire on a diplomatic arrangement of sorts just like him with the Parpaldia Empire in what could be described as the Holy Empire¡¯s outreach program. Now, for someone from a country considered one of the ¡°peripheral barbarians¡± of the Far East, Gabi certainly didn¡¯t fit the mold of what most people expected.


    The Kingdom of Louria of the Rodenius Continent, after all, was a land notorious for its outdated beliefs, where human supremacism was deeply rooted and feudalism still prevailed. The people of Louria were seen as less refined and even more primitive than the Altarans, to put it lightly. However, efforts to at least curb the former are currently underway, particularly as the society of Louria¡¯s current benefactor, the ever-imposing world¡¯s most powerful superpower of the Holy Milishial Empire, views the very concept as HERESY with capital ¡®H,¡¯ and with growing intensity as of late.


    Kaios believed that for Louria to be so tone-deaf of that would probably lead to particularly nasty repercussions, wouldn¡¯t it?


    From the first day they met, Gabi was nothing like the stereotype. In fact, he seemed to absorb the finer habits of his environment almost effortlessly. Whether it was adjusting to the way the Milishian nobles carried themselves or picking up on local customs, Gabi fit in here without much effort. His sensibilities, studious nature, his calm and affable demeanor, and the way he carried himself with confidence and grace made it almost impossible to see him as someone from a primitive country where everyone there is thought to be as clumsy as they are arrogant and stupid. Was it that Gabi himself wasn¡¯t representative of his homeland, or was Louria not as bad as everyone thought? Or perhaps¡ªKaios mused with a wry smile¡ªGabi was simply an exceptional young man.


    That train of thought lingered in his mind as the three of them, including the now-awake Irmiya, sat at the dining table to have breakfast before carrying on with their day.


    ?????


    November 1, 1616 Central Calendar, Sunrise


    After seeing off his friends as they headed off to school, Kaios returned to the now-quiet apartment and sank onto the couch with a heavy sigh. He wasn¡¯t unwell or anything that would prevent him from attending the Academy, but his unexpected string of luck in passing the Qualification Phase of the Imperial Board Magical Exam¡ªafter his mentor enrolled the entire circle¡ªhad earned him a government-mandated dispensation during the exam period. In other words, as long as he¡¯s still in the competition, Kaios is exempted from attending classes so that he can focus on preparing for the next round.


    Now left alone, assuming it would be a sluggish Tuesday with nothing planned, Kaios pondered what to do next. He leaned back, stretching out on the couch, and let out another long, exaggerated sigh. With the Academy out of the picture for the time being, and his friends off poring over their books and spellcrafting techniques, his day seemed destined to dissolve into boredom as he was recommended to dedicate this day to rest and doing nothing else.


    ¡®But that¡¯s so boring¡­¡¯


    Maybe he should try to write a thesis about dichotomies.


    That¡¯s when he felt it¡ªa faint rectangular bulge in the pocket of his jacket. Humming in realization, he reached inside and pulled out that thing, a device that had been fascinating to him since yesterday.


    It was his grimoire¡ªno, not the tome of magic. This one had no pages to turn or ink to smudge. Apparently in this country, the term had been appropriated to describe a highly advanced manacom, for lack of a better word. What the conservative magic society calls ¡®lack of respect,¡¯ the Milishians call it ¡®skill issue.¡¯


    He¡¯d owned a grimoire since arriving in Runepolis, of course, given by his sponsor. But last night, Meteos had come along, informed that his old one is functional but outdated, and traded it with this newer version. ¡®Outdated already, Meteos? ¡­Really? I mean¡ªwell¡­¡¯


    Still, he couldn¡¯t deny how much of an upgrade this new model was. The unchanged part, the touchscreen, resembled a polished black mirror, dotted with faint smudges from his earlier attempts to figure out more of it, encased in a sleek red frame. And that¡¯s not all: somehow, whoever created this if not Meteos himself even managed to insert a high-quality camera into this grimoire, with a lens nestled in the upper-right corner of the frame. He had taken some photos with it, actually.


    A press of one of the side buttons brought it to life, the surface glowing softly with a bluish hue and revealing an intricate grid of tiny, colorful symbols that the device¡¯s manual referred to as applications. The already familiar functions of voice and text messages were still there, and the contacts list populated with the names of his friends, mentor, and a few other acquaintances as carried over from his old grimoire. But surrounding them was a dizzying array of new icons.


    The one called Clock opened an interface showing the current time; a ¡®world clock¡¯ with different time zones from some random land in the easternmost part of Rodenius to all the way to Leifor; a ¡®stopwatch¡¯ to measure the amount of time that elapses between its activation and deactivation; and an alarm clock. Next, there¡¯s the Calendar app, but he found nothing interesting in there other than the obvious.


    ¡°That¡¯s neat,¡± Kaios chuckled, swiping back to the main grid.


    The Music app offered a collection of recorded songs across various genres. If he wanted more, he could visit the Roguerider Foundation¡¯s headquarters and ask the staff there to add them. The Gallery revealed several photos of him and his friends, one of them an unflattering candid of him yawning while cocooned in his blanket, probably taken by Meteos during the grimoire¡¯s setup. Kaios rolled his eyes at that, but he was unsure whether to delete it or not.


    Other apps included a Data Manager, which seemed to organize files and information; Settings, for customizing the grimoire¡¯s functionality; a Calculator, surprisingly powerful with features for complex equations; Notes and Recorder, perfect for jotting down or vocalizing his thoughts; a Compass; and even a Channel app tuned into local news and entertainment frequencies.


    The craftsmanship was remarkable, far beyond what he thought possible for a manacom. Seeing all this, one question surfaced in his mind.


    ¡°¡­Where in the world did Meteos get his hands on this kind of technology?¡±


    His sponsor was talented, no doubt, but this level of sophistication? It felt downright otherworldly. Not even the mainstream Holy Milishial Empire¡¯s magic technology is this good. Therefore, this must be his conglomerate¡¯s latest product¡­ or a prototype. That boy¡¯s attitude is also notable, casually handing out devices like this as if it¡¯s no big deal to his group of foreigners. Is the Foundation being careless?


    Swiping through the apps again, his attention caught on a particular icon: Domain. The symbol was abstract¡ªa circle intersected by faint glowing lines. Curiosity piqued once more, he tapped it¡­ for the same result as last night.


    The screen turned completely white. No text, no symbols, no apparent functionality. Just an empty void staring back at him. He frowned, tapping the screen. Nothing happened. He swiped, pressed the buttons, and even shook the device lightly. Still nothing. Furthermore, it was the only one not covered in the manual for some reason, which suggests that this feature must be a last-minute addition in making this grimoire.


    ¡°Hm¡­ what¡¯s the point of this?¡± he asked aloud. At least he can exit the strange app into the main grid. Well, he could always ask Meteos or someone relevant about it later, but for now, the strangeness that seemed to beckon him to uncover its mystery, piqued Kaios¡¯ curiosity. Should he spend the day contemplating what this ¡®Domain¡¯ really is, judging by its name, before he gives up?


    In the end, he was deep in thought after putting the grimoire aside and lying down on the couch. The more he pondered, the more confused he became, until he was lost in a spiral of tangent that seemed impossible to answer alone. Just then, a sudden vibration and beeping from his grimoire snapped Kaios out of his trance. He blinked, realizing the device had buzzed with a message.


    Upon unlocking the screen, what he saw was a text: ¡°I¡¯m outside bringing you something. Open up.¡±


    It was from his mentor¡¯s contact. Wait, something!?


    ¡°¡­!? C-coming, coming!!¡±The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Eyes widened, the young Parpaldian jumped up from the couch. So engrossed Kaios was in his thoughts that he hadn¡¯t even heard knocking on the door. Quickly setting the grimoire down on the table, he rushed to the door and flung it open. Standing there was a tall, slender man with silver hair, his facial features similar to Meteos¡¯ but older, draped in a beige long coat. Just like the text said, in his hand was a rather large paper bag.


    Adonis Roguerider, 20 years old. Meteos¡¯ oldest sibling and the one who took Kaios and his friends under his wing as apprentices, he is a research and development leader at the Roguerider Foundation. He is the man responsible for Kaios¡¯ current situation¡ªnot meant in a bad way, of course.


    Kaios, still catching his breath from his hurried dash to the door, cleared his throat and bowed awkwardly. ¡°Master¡­! G-Good morning. I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t hear you knocking.¡±


    Quirking an eyebrow at his apprentice¡¯s flustered state, Adonis looked at him intently in the eyes.


    ¡°¡®Good morning,¡¯ hm?¡± he said. ¡°What do you mean? Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not; or that you feel good this morning; or it is a morning to be good on?¡±


    ¡°A-all of them at once? I suppose¡­¡±


    Kaios let out a baffled stammer at the end of Adonis¡¯ barrage, earning him a lifted corner of the mentor¡¯s mouth.


    ¡°You should really try to improve your self-confidence, young one,¡± he commented.


    Kaios blinked a couple of times, trying to regain his bearings. He opened his mouth, then hesitated. Finally, he couldn¡¯t resist a polite protest.


    ¡°Master, I¡ªuh, I¡¯ve never heard anyone start a conversation like that.¡±


    ¡°There you go,¡± Adonis said with a widening smile.


    ¡®Is he testing me? He¡¯s testing me, isn¡¯t he?¡¯


    Adonis watched the boy for a moment, clearly amused by the fact that this apprentice of his clearly likes to overthink things, looking underneath the underneath, as some people like to say.


    After Kaios stepped aside and gestured toward the door, his earlier fluster slowly gave way to a more composed demeanor.


    ¡°Please, come in, Master.¡±


    Stepping into the apartment after handing over the paper bag, Adonis settled on the sofa in the living room. Kaios followed suit, taking a seat across from him and checked the gift to find it was mostly food and beverage.


    ¡°So, how are you doing?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, Master. I only need rest after all that happened yesterday, it seems.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Adonis nodded, noting the reassurance in Kaios¡¯ tone.


    As part of the regulations, apprenticeship team leaders weren¡¯t allowed to contact their students who participated in the Imperial Board¡¯s Exam immediately after the test session. So, while Adonis could have easily checked in on him the day before, he had respected the rule, even though it meant waiting until today to bring him food and offer his support.


    Then, after a beat of silence, Adonis spoke again.


    ¡°By the way, your examiner Shizuna asked me to pass something along to you.¡±


    Kaios, who had been inspecting the contents of the paper bag, paused and looked up. The mention of the incredibly attractive but unhinged examiner immediately caught his attention.


    ¡°The Examiner?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Well, as you know, she¡¯s not allowed to contact participants directly during the exam period outside the test unless you want to be disqualified for collusion,¡± Adonis stated, prompting Kaios to take a sharp breath at the mention of such a harsh penalty. ¡°But she asked me to pass along her apology for what happened during your test.¡±


    Kaios blinked and let out a rueful laugh. ¡°Well, let bygones be bygones¡ªas long as it wasn¡¯t out of malice.¡±


    What he left unspoken was his desire to forget the dread he felt when he nearly drowned in that cold lake, only surviving thanks to the Manadriver¡¯s power to grant his wish. Well, if the skilled Miss Shizuna is practical and keen to avoid losing her license over an accidental death, she¡¯s bound to step in and save him. Now, Kaios could only hope that his move¡ªmaking it out of the lake on his own¡ªwould earn him enough favor to pass this stage.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Adonis asked.


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    Kaios nodded with a smile, setting the paper bag aside. Studying him for a moment, Adonis shrugged lightly.


    ¡°Very well. But after the exam ends, you might want to meet her for a talk to conclude things. This is serious business, if not for the regulations, she would be here right now.¡±


    ¡°Hm¡­¡±


    Somewhat familiar with what this country¡¯s people consider ¡®serious business,¡¯ Kaios tilted his head at the suggestion and decided to act on it when the chance presented itself.


    ¡°Master, since you¡¯re here¡­ can I ask you about something?¡±


    Adonis leaned back on the couch, crossing his legs with a relaxed air. ¡°Sure. What¡¯s on your mind?¡±


    ¡°Um¡­¡±


    ¡°You will not get exam-related answers from me,¡± the mentor added.


    ¡°Right¡­ then¡­ there¡¯s something about this new grimoire.¡±


    ¡°Go on.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s this application called ¡®Domain.¡¯ I tried opening it, but¡­ it just shows a blank white screen. There¡¯s nothing in the manual about it either. Is it supposed to do something?¡±


    Adonis hummed.


    ¡°Well, it doesn¡¯t do anything right now. But when it¡¯s active, it¡¯s a tool that provides access to a vast repository of information about things you¡¯d want to know once we establish a network of interconnected knowledge bases. When the time comes, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll know what to do with it.¡±


    The concept sounded lofty and complex, like something out of a scholar¡¯s fanciful musings rather than practical magick or technology. But at the same time as Kaios tried to understand it based on what he had learned so far, it didn¡¯t actually seem that ultra-complicated to comprehend.


    ¡°Then, it¡¯s like having a library in my hand. Instead of walking all the way there, I can just grab my device and find what I need. But, it¡¯s not really the device doing all that¡ªit¡¯s just a way to get to the library. Something they call a conduit? The library itself is more like something from a story, where this super powerful being leaves behind its physical form when it ascends¡­¡±


    Adonis could see the young man piecing together the pieces of the puzzle in his mind, even though the final understanding still eluded him. Having guided him in broad directions and letting him explore on his own, Adonis took pleasure in observing Kaios, who stumbled over his thoughts and muttered to himself¡ªa byproduct of gears in his mind turning. It was clear that in only a year, this young man had reached a level that those who had brought him from Parpaldia had hoped for.


    Eventually, Kaios¡¯ mumblings became too unintelligible for the general audience to understand.


    ¡°¡­Are you done?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± the boy perked up in confusion.


    ¡°I¡¯m asking if you¡¯re done with your mutterings.¡±


    ¡°Oh, um¡­ yes. Yes, Master.¡±


    Realizing he¡¯d drifted into his own world, Kaios cleared his throat. An awkward silence hung in the air as Adonis regarded him in amusement.


    ¡°So, uh¡­ how¡¯s Meteos doing?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the same as always. He¡¯s back in the workshops, tinkering.¡±


    ¡°Really? ¡­Does he ever rest?¡±


    Seriously, it¡¯s like his brain never switches off.


    ¡°My young apprentice, that brother of mine seduced eastern beauties by talking philosophy. It¡¯s best to not question it,¡± Adonis lightly waved his concern off. However, he quickly added in the same offhanded tone, ¡°Though, Legiel did comment on it, and I quote him, ¡®Through passion, he gains strength, and through strength, he gains power.¡¯¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Legiel.¡±


    ¡°Y-yes.¡±


    Best to not question it either.


    Kaios absentmindedly glanced back at the grimoire.


    ¡°He is.¡±


    ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry?¡±


    Adonis gestured to the device with a tilt of his head. ¡°Meteos designed that, yes.¡±


    ¡°I-I see¡­¡±


    Figured as much¡­? Somehow, it seemed more natural to believe that he did create this advanced grimoire, building upon his own mentor Robin Calvello¡¯s research, which would eventually lead to the creation of Manadrivers, than to think otherwise.


    ¡°Is that why he easily gave away such things? I don¡¯t think that¡¯s how it works,¡± the boy wondered. However, it still seems a bit of a reach to link the two occasions and draw that conclusion.


    ¡°The Foundation supports you, is it not?¡±


    ¡°Are you insinuating that¡­¡±


    With a face that looked like he was recalling a fond memory, Adonis shifted in his seat and brought a leg to rest on the other¡¯s knee before replying.


    ¡°Once, I said to Meteos that if he¡¯s so driven to advance, at least he should take the others with him¡­ Whether he took those words to heart or not, this is what happened.¡±


    ¡°Meteos¡¯ drive¡­?¡± Kaios started carefully, glancing up at Adonis. ¡°Does he ever wonder if it¡¯s¡­ wise to trust foreigners so easily?¡±


    ¡°It seems you¡¯ve been thinking about this, haven¡¯t you?¡±


    Kaios nodded slowly.


    ¡°I¡¯m not ungrateful, I just¡­ I wonder if there could have been more trustworthy people to be entrusted with it at this point. We¡¯re not exactly locals, you know?¡±


    Adonis regarded him with a small, cryptic smile.


    ¡°This is the Way.¡±


    More questions lingered in his mind, but there would seem to be no easy answers today.


    The visit ended shortly after that, with Adonis making his way to the door and Kaios still mulling over the conversation. His mentor¡¯s casual way of handling this kind of state of affairs had only added to his mysterious air. Once the door shut, Kaios slumped back onto the couch, his gaze returning to the grimoire.


    <hr>


    November 9, 1616 Central Calendar, 09:00


    Imperial Board of Magical Arts Supervision Headquarters, Runepolis, Holy Milishial Empire


    Kaios continued to look for the underneath the underneath until the end.


    Entering the ninth day of the month, it marked the conclusion of the Exam Phase 2 group tests. The results from each group were submitted and evaluated, after which the organizers revealed the participants who were eligible to advance to the eliminations starting next week. For that purpose, the 256 participants were called to the Imperial Board¡¯s Headquarters for another conference. The hall was laid out similarly to the previous session, with rows of seats facing a large semicircular podium beneath a large magic transmission monitor. However, this time, the lectern was positioned to the side, and at the center stood a box.


    ¡°Since the next phase is a competition format, it¡¯s probably there for drawing lots,¡± casually elaborated Meteos, who was sitting beside him. Well, it made sense, given the context.


    As for Kaios, although he believed he was no closer to discovering the ¡®real test¡¯ of Phase 2¡ªif such a thing even existed, his hope of seeing his name on the list of 128 grew stronger each day. And now, as he sat down in the same hall used for the pre-Phase 2 technical meeting surrounded by the participants from his circle, he couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that hope was at its peak, despite his conscious repeatedly telling himself to keep his expectations low to avoid disappointment, no matter the outcome.


    To be fair, he had come this far, well beyond the initial expectations. If he¡¯s being pretentious, he could say he¡¯s one of the underdogs of this entire exam.


    In truth, Kaios doesn¡¯t even come with the baggage of carrying the Parpaldia Empire¡¯s name with him. Emperor Leonius might be difficult, tough, and all sorts of unpleasant (with good intentions¡­ MOST of the time), but even he knows where to draw the line when it comes to placing unrealistic expectations on (Parpaldian) children.


    And so, the same Imperial Board official from before entered the hall to begin the conference. The loudspeaker crackled to life, cutting through the clamor of the hall.


    ¡°Attention, please! ¡­Thank you. Don¡¯t worry, we still value brevity while keeping the message across. Let¡¯s get this over with so you can go home and get a good rest quickly, shall we?¡± the official stated. Whether it was intended as a joke or not, it earned a few hearty chuckles from his young audiences before the official raised his hand to quiet them down.


    ¡°Now, without further ado, we shall begin announcing the names of the participants who will advance to the elimination phase. When your name is called, come up to the podium and draw a lot from the box, and after that please remain on the podium. Your number will determine your match and placement in the bracket.¡±


    A wave of tension rippled through the room as the participants collectively held their breath, their gazes fixed on the official.


    ¡°The judges have determined that the following participants have demonstrated exceptional skill and determination, earning their place in the next phase.¡±


    The official began, pausing for a moment as the first name appeared on the monitor behind him.


    ¡°Nadia Smirnova.¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    There was a bristle, and there was a loud cheer and applause. Kaios himself couldn¡¯t help but smile as the first name called was one he recognized.


    Sitting just two seats away was a girl named Nadia Smirnova, a 16-years-old girl whose eyes widened before softening into a smile of disbelief with the subtle flush on her cheeks that conveyed her elation. She tucked a strand of her golden, cascading hair¡ªglimmering like sunlight¡ªbehind her ear and stood up.


    The loudest cheer came from the seats around her, and of course, it came from her partner, Meteos. Ushering her to get up, the two of them gave each other a quick kiss on the cheek, followed by the other friends congratulating her before Nadia straightened and made her way to the podium.


    Once there, she gingerly reached into the box, drawing out a numbered ball. The official glanced at it and announced.


    ¡°#20. Bout 10.¡±


    Wow, Kaios mouthed. According to the schedule, Nadia¡¯s match would take place on the opening day of the elimination stage¡¯s Round of 128.


    Her name and placement in the bracket appeared on the monitor, and a smattering of polite applause followed as she bowed slightly and scooted closer to the official to remain there.


    ¡°Next. Langris Vaude.¡±


    Another round of applause as a boy with a small build and thick, brown wavy hair stood up. He¡¯s #70, Bout 35.


    After several more names were called and the pattern was repeated, Kaios began to seriously wonder if they were going to keep applauding for ALL 128 names. The lighthearted banter helped ease his nerves, but he couldn¡¯t help glancing up at the monitor every time a new name appeared. And then, another name from their circle was called out.


    ¡°Annette Pendragon.¡±


    ¡°Oh, my,¡± gasped a silver-haired girl sitting next to the empty seat that Nadia occupied before. Standing up, she turned at them with a defiant grin. ¡°Well then, if you¡¯ll excuse me, gentlemen. I¡¯ll be going on ahead.¡±


    ¡°No, no, it¡¯s alright! By all means, Milady,¡± Meteos chortled, motioning with his hand.


    The lady was Annette Pendragon, 16 years old¡ªthe second daughter of Duke Lucius Pendragon ¡°the Good,¡± the Lord Mayor of the Holy Empire¡¯s capital city. Though their families came from different social backgrounds (not that it has any significant meaning other than titles considering centuries of conditioning by the sovereign in this country, hence Milishian nobles are weirdos), Annette and Meteos shared a close bond since they were newborns. The Pendragons even entrusted her to the care of the Rogueriders on occasion, or whenever baby Anna wanted to see her friend Met. They even shared a bed when they were younger!


    Despite their closeness, Annette always considered her relationship with Meteos to be platonic, believing that not only were they silver-haired, they were also too similar in personality. And then, when Nadia entered the picture, Annette was quick to support their relationship out of their shared fondness for the girl.


    Anyway.


    After Annette and more unfamiliar names, Meteos was called to join the group on the podium, to the surprise of nobody.


    After him came Walman Falkenhausen, a 16-years-old brunette and another of Meteos¡¯ childhood friends. He¡¯s notable among the circle due to his shared aspirations in magical engineering, which led him and Meteos to reach for this country¡¯s elite ministry. Annette, meanwhile, was on a different path, pursuing her own interests and advancing rapidly in her field. Initially. Only time would reveal whether their paths would converge again in the future.


    At this point, the only Parpaldian in this entire room had quietly resigned to himself, concluding that the odds of passing were far too abysmal to overcome.


    ¡°Crow Armstrong.¡±


    Kaios perked up at the name. Crow, his groupmate and the only one willing to humor his over-thoughts during the test, was among those moving forward. Kaios couldn¡¯t help but smile faintly. But since apparently there will be two participants from each group, who will be next from Group 58¡ª


    ¡°Kaios Ashmeyer van Deventer.¡±


    Eh.


    ¡°Eh¡­?¡±


    Kaios wondered if he misheard. The noise around him faded as the blood rushed to his ears. It couldn¡¯t be. But there it was, bold and clear on the monitor, displayed for everyone to see. The applause echoed as before, while those from the circle currently standing on the podium directed pointed looks toward his seat in the crowd.


    ¡®EEEEEEEEEEEEHH!?¡¯