After a few hours of sleep, Leon slowly opened his eyes.
His gaze fell on the fused pen resting in his hand. For a moment, he just stared at it, then let out a quiet sigh and placed it neatly on the edge of the table.
When he looked outside the window, the sky had already turned orange—it was evening.
Realizing he had slept longer than expected, Leon quickly got up. He locked his door and left the room, heading toward the notice board to check his class and schedule.
As he walked through the hallways, he saw groups of students gathered everywhere, chatting and laughing in small circles.
Seeing the crowd reminded Leon of Aaron and Reinhart.
He figured they would probably come to check their schedule too—so he made a mental note to head to the Administration Block afterward in hopes of finding them there if he can't find them in the Notice Board area .
But first, he had to check his own class.
Once Leon reached the area, he was greeted by a long line forming before the notice board zone. Without wasting time, he quietly joined the queue and waited for his turn.
Meanwhile, across the wide Main Plaza, in the heart of the Administration Block, Aaron and Reinhart stood silently.
Both were dressed in the academy's black and red uniform—distinct from the common red-and-white worn by most students.
The darker colors weren't just for show—they marked elite entrants, those who had passed the higher-difficulty trials.
"Did you see him anywhere?" Aaron asked, his voice low, eyes scanning the waves of students moving past.
Reinhart shook his head with a heavy sigh. "We checked the second site. He wasn't there… do you think he might be in this crowd?"
Both of them knew how brutal the second exam had been. Since they hadn't seen Leon after the first phase, it seemed likely—almost certain—that he hadn't made it.
That thought weighed heavily on them.
"So what do we do now?" Aaron asked, dejected.
Reinhart stayed quiet. He didn't have an answer either.
Back at the Notice Board Zone, Leon remained in line, completely unaware that the two familiar faces he'd been thinking about were actually across the plaza—just in a different wing of the same massive hall.
After nearly fifteen minutes of waiting, Leon finally reached the front.
The Student Registry Hall, where he now stood, was like a small city built indoors—an expansive, enchanted space within Eryndor Royal Academy.
The chamber was divided into two major sections: the Notice Board Zone and the Administration Block, separated by the Main Plaza, a circular open expanse paved with smooth stone.
The plaza itself had benches carved from silverwood, bubbling fountains that sparkled with floating runes, and soft magical lighting shaped like lotus flowers hanging from high glass ceilings. Dozens of students passed through it every minute.
The Notice Board Zone, where Leon now stood, featured tall, rune-lined screens mounted along the walls.
A single large screen hovered near the center, glowing with current announcements—everything from orientation times to magical beast warnings.
Below it were several smaller interactive panels. Students could tap their ID cards to view personal information like schedules, class placements, and dorm details.
Leon watched a few students do exactly that before stepping forward and placing his own card on one of the glowing panels.
A chime sounded, and the screen lit up.
---
ID Confirmed: ✅
Name: Leon
Age: 14
Class: 1-D
Homeroom Teacher: Professor Sylvia
---
A small golden message appeared beneath the details:
"Welcome to Eryndor Royal Academy."
"Classes begin tomorrow at 8:00 a.m. in the North Wing."
A map shimmered to life beneath the text.
Leon leaned in to examine it carefully.
The North Wing, where his class was located, bordered the Elemental Gardens—an area rumored to be rich in floating stones, mystic flowers, and high-mana zones. It was a place where students could train with elemental magic and attune more deeply with their affinities.
It would take around ten minutes to reach from the dorms.
Leon's eyes lingered briefly on a portrait beside the schedule: Professor Sylvia, a woman with long silver hair and a gentle smile. His homeroom teacher.
------
"Huh… that's pretty convenient," Leon muttered under his breath, stepping away from the screen.
The lights above shifted slightly with the dimming sky, their soft glow complementing the golden-orange hues of the sunset beyond the glass domes.
He slipped his ID card back into his pocket and looked around. The area was still buzzing with life—students chatting, summoning small familiars, or examining their schedules with wide-eyed wonder.
Not seeing Aaron or Reinhart anywhere nearby, Leon turned his gaze across the Main Plaza.
The Administration Block wasn't too far.
If they weren't here, they might be over there.
Without hesitation, Leon stepped onto the glowing path of enchanted stone and made his way across the central plaza.
Fountains danced beside him, and mana-lamps blinked gently like fireflies in rhythm with the soft wind spells keeping the air fresh.
He walked calmly, weaving past students, his eyes focused on the far end of the hall.
The Administration Block loomed ahead—taller and more refined than the rest of the chamber.
Polished wooden beams supported its arching entrance, and inside, glowing crystal orbs floated in perfect symmetry.
Magical scrolls drifted from desk to desk, manned by uniformed clerks who scribbled on enchanted parchment or helped students with their questions.
Leon's eyes scanned the area.
It didn't take him long.
Near one of the wide side pillars, he spotted them.
Aaron and Reinhart.
Even from this distance, they were easy to recognize. Their black and red uniforms stood out like coal and ember against a sea of white and red.
Leon paused for a moment—something unspoken stirred in his chest.
He wasn't sure if it was surprise, relief, or just that strange warmth that came when you realized you weren't alone in a new place.
He took a deep breath.
Then he started walking toward them, a small smile forming at the corner of his lips.