The morning air was crisp and faintly scented with dew as Kael hurried across the courtyard, his steps quick and light. He didn’t want to be late to his first lecture of the day.

  Inside, he quickly washed the sweat and exhaustion from his morning training off, then gathered the utensils he needed for class. He glanced at the windowsill where Ausma usually perched. The spot was empty. A faint smile crossed his face, a mixture of fondness and longing. The falcon was self-sufficient and would return when he wished. Still, Kael missed the quiet weight on his arm and the sense of silent companionship that required nothing.

  With that small comfort in mind, Kael left the dormitory and made his way toward the lecture hall, looking forward to his next class. The one he shared with Lia and Zaros.

  When he arrived, the room was already full. His gaze swept across the sea of students until he spotted his friends, who had saved him a seat. He smiled, walked over, and placed his materials neatly on the desk before sitting down.

  "Good morning," he said, Cassandra’s words already fading to the back of his mind.

  They both turned to him, smiling in reply. But Kael quickly noticed the uneasiness in Zaros’s eyes.

  “What’s with you?” Kael teased, raising an eyebrow. “Didn’t sleep well?”

  "No, that's not it," Zaros muttered, his gaze darting nervously toward the front of the hall where Professor Tehno was setting up his notes.

  "I, uh... went out with his daughter," Zaros confessed under his breath, "and then kind of... dumped her. I’m afraid she told him, and he’s going to hold a grudge.”

  Kael stifled a laugh and leaned slightly closer. "Ah, that's why Noelia keeps stabbing you with her glances," he whispered, pointing over his shoulder at a brown-haired girl sitting behind them.

  Zaros followed Kael’s finger and froze when he saw her glaring back at him, her face trembling with anger. He hesitated, then gave her a small, awkward wave. She responded with a loud, indignant snort.

  Kael and Lia burst into laughter at his gesture. "Man, do you actually want her to explode with rage?" Kael asked between fits of laughter. Lia simply patted Zaros’s shoulder. She was laughing so hard that she could barely breathe.

  "Just shut up," Zaros muttered, though a reluctant smile tugged at his lips.

  Kael’s laughter died down when he suddenly felt someone’s gaze on him. He looked around but couldn't tell where it came from.

  Meanwhile, Lia and Zaros had already resumed their usual bickering, with her accusing him of being a brute with no understanding of women and him retorting that she was just a short-tempered girl. Suddenly, a stern voice cut through the noise.

  “Silence! Today’s lesson may begin,” announced Professor Tehno, his deep voice echoing through the hall as his sharp eyes swept over the room.

  He walked to the chalkboard, the sound of his boots echoing through the silent hall. He picked up a piece of chalk and began to write an equation in precise, fluid strokes.

  Zaros started sweating the moment he saw it. "What does that even mean?" he whispered to Kael, his confusion evident.

  Before Kael could reply, the professor’s commanding voice filled the room.

  "This is the logic of belief. It teaches that certainty is fragile. What we call truth is merely belief shaped by evidence. As evidence changes, so does truth itself.” His eyes swept across the hall. “Remember that, all of you. The mind must learn to doubt before it can understand."

  He let his words sink in before scanning the room with a sharp, expectant gaze. "Now then," he said. "I need a volunteer to explain the terms of this equation. Any takers?"

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  A few eager hands shot up, while others rose hesitantly. However, most students suddenly found their pens and notebooks far more interesting.

  Kael and Lia both raised their hands and exchanged an amused glance. Zaros, on the other hand, sank lower in his seat, trying to make himself invisible. His hope was short-lived.

  "Mr. Zaros," the professor called, his tone leaving no room for escape.

  Zaros froze, staring blankly ahead. Kael and Lia placed supportive hands on his shoulders, suppressing laughter, as if consoling a doomed man.

  Behind them, Noelia’s lips curved into a triumphant smirk.

  Zaros exhaled heavily and slumped his shoulders in defeat. "Let's just get this over with," he muttered. He rose from his seat like a man walking to the gallows.

  All eyes followed him as he trudged toward the front; his footsteps echoed louder than they should have. Even Professor Tehno arched an eyebrow as if anticipating disaster.

  ...

  After what felt like an eternity, Professor Tehno finally dismissed Zaros and ended the lesson. With a brief nod, he left the hall, signaling that the students could take their break before the next lecture began.

  Kael and Lia remained seated, waiting for Zaros to return from the front. A moment later, he dropped into his chair, slumping forward as if his fighting spirit had been thoroughly crushed.

  "It wasn't that bad," Lia said after a pause, her tone gentle as she tried to cheer him up. Kael nodded in agreement beside her.

  Zaros didn’t answer. He just ran a hand through his hair and sighed deeply.

  "At least you've learned your lesson," Kael remarked with mock seriousness before grinning. "Never start something with a professor's daughter."

  Both Kael and Lia burst into laughter.

  Zaros frowned at first but then exhaled and smirked in defeat. "You're right. Next time I try something like that, just hit me hard.”

  "Already done," Lia replied with a mischievous smile.

  Zaros laughed for real this time. The tension finally faded between them as their laughter filled the empty hall.

  They stood and left the lecture hall among the last students. Outside, the air was warm and clear, nothing like the misty morning Kael had trained in. Together, they headed toward the cafeteria to eat before splitting up for their afternoon lectures.

  As they sat down with their trays, Lia turned toward Kael with a curious look. "What's your next class?" she asked, unsure of what chroniclers were taught.

  "Oh, nothing extraordinary," Kael replied lazily. "Just the usual lecture from Professor Jade about necessary knowledge and all that. Boring, generic stuff.” He sighed and halfheartedly poked at his food. "I thought we'd finally start learning about the power of words and how to use them, like they promised after the exam."

  "But you know that kind of knowledge is the most guarded secret in the Empire," Zaros said matter-of-factly. "It's normal that they won't teach it to students who don't yet know how to handle it."

  "That's obvious," Kael replied calmly, yet with a hint of frustration in his voice. "I don't even want to use it. I just want to understand it better. But no, they’ll only reveal anything once we graduate.”

  Lia smirked, resting her chin on her hand. "Someone's eager to learn, huh? I guess this mysterious power really intrigues you.”

  Not in the way you think, Kael thought, but only shrugged in response.

  "Well," Zaros said as he stood up and gathered his tray, "I guess I'll go work off my frustration with some training. See you later.”

  Kael and Lia watched him walk away with his confident stride returning.

  "He'll never change," Lia said with a chuckle.

  "Yeah," Kael agreed, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

  A pleasant, warm silence settled between them as they continued eating, occasionally meeting each other’s gaze. When Kael finished his last bite, he stood and gathered his tray. "I should get going," he said.

  Lia smiled and waved lightly. “See you later.”

  Kael smiled back, dropped off his tray at the counter, and made his way toward his next lecture, sighing quietly as he thought about what awaited him.

  To his surprise, when he entered the hall, he saw not only Professor Jade at the front, but also Professor Nora. The two were deep in conversation, their tones sharp and their gestures restrained. From Professor Jade's tight expression, it was clear that their exchange was anything but friendly.

  Kael raised an eyebrow but didn’t comment. Instead, he slipped quietly into a seat in the back of the lecture hall and watched, amused, as Professor Jade struggled to maintain her usual composure.

  Soon, the room filled with the nineteen students who remained in the Chronicler division after the first-year eliminations. Kael’s eyes scanned the room until he spotted Cassandra at the top of the room, surrounded by her old group. Her smile was practiced and polite. Her demeanor was once again the perfect mask.

  Should I be glad or disappointed that she isn’t sitting next to me this time? Kael wondered, chuckling quietly to himself.

  When all nineteen students had arrived, Professor Jade stepped away from the corner where she had been speaking with Professor Nora and moved to the center of the podium. Her expression was calm and composed, though a trace of tension lingered in her eyes.

  "Students," she began, her tone firm but edged with restraint. "Today's lecture will differ from our usual curriculum."

  She paused briefly, then gestured toward the man beside her. "Professor Nora will be assisting with today's lesson."