The morning sun streamed through the high, arched windows and cast pale beams across the rows of restless students. The air smelled faintly of ink and parchment, mingled with nervous breaths and the rustling of notes. The usual chatter of the halls had faded into a strained silence.

  Kael sat at his desk, his fingers drumming a quiet rhythm against the wood. His gaze lingered on the door as he lost himself in thought.

  Funny, he mused. There’s so much happening in my life: Astras's plans, my secret ability. But today, none of that matters. All that counts is knowledge of trivial things.

  The door opened, and Professor Jade entered with her usual calm authority. Her steps echoed sharply through the lecture hall as every head turned toward the front.

  "Students," she began, her voice cutting through the tension, "today marks the beginning of your exams. They consist of three parts. Today, we will start with the theoretical section. You will be asked ten questions on math, chemistry, physics, geology, flora and fauna, philosophy, and wilderness survival."

  A wave of groans rippled through the hall.

  "It's a lot, but necessary," she continued, unfazed. “Each topic is worth one hundred points. Tomorrow, your swordmanship will be tested and evaluated. Your instructors will give you a rating between one and ten, which will be multiplied by ten and added to your theoretical score to determine your final result. Anyone with a total below five hundred will be expelled from the academy immediately.”

  Gasps echoed and a few students exchanged anxious looks.

  "Silence," Jade ordered, her tone sharp enough to cut through the murmurs. “I’ve told you many times before. Only the best of the best graduate as Chroniclers. Only those with ambition and discipline will achieve that. Complaining will get you nowhere. Students who score above five hundred will earn the right to participate in the final test, the Labyrinth of Twist. Details will follow in two days."

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  She paused, letting the weight of her words settle over the room like cold iron.

  "It's time. You may begin. You have until sunset.”

  The room filled with the sound of parchment shuffling and quills scratching—a soft chorus of tension. Aside from that, there was only silence.

  Kael scanned the mountain of papers on his desk. Euler’s formula . . . calculate the maximum height of a flying arrow . . . explain why Motarith mines are often found along tectonic fracture lines . . . describe the habits of a dusk griffin . . .

  He exhaled through his nose.

  These questions aren't easy. If Zaros had to take my exam instead of his guard’s test, he’d be in trouble.

  He started with the natural sciences. Numbers and facts came easily to him; logic was a comfort. His hand moved swiftly as he solved equations, reasoned through geology, and analyzed flora and fauna.

  This part is simple. But philosophy and wilderness survival are different. I’ll have to do well on at least one of them to reach five hundred. My swordmanship probably won't earn me more than a five.

  He set the completed sheets aside and turned to the philosophy section.

  Can truth exist independently of language? Should all individuals be allowed to learn the Words, or should knowledge be restricted to prevent misuse? Is it ever justified to suppress knowledge for the greater good?

  His hand hovered above the page. You can’t solve these with logic. The academy doesn’t care about right or wrong; they want to see who follows convention and who dares to think differently.

  For the first time during the exam, Kael hesitated. He didn’t want the academy to read too deeply into his mind. With a quiet exhale, he set the sheet aside and moved on.

  The wilderness survival section came as a relief. The questions were clear and structured: how to find water, build shelter, and identify dangerous terrain. His quill moved confidently again. By the time he finished, only the philosophy sheet remained blank, a silent gap among pages full of ink.

  He gathered his papers, stacked them neatly, and walked toward Professor Jade’s desk. She looked up, her eyebrows lifting slightly.

  "Student Kael," she said in a measured tone. "You're quicker than I expected. I hope your answers are as good as your speed.”

  He handed her the stack, nodded politely, and left the hall. The cool air of the courtyard greeted him like a quiet wave.

  I prefer Professor Nora, he thought. He’s strict, but at least he doesn’t wear his disdain like armor.