I Reincarnated as the Bastard Prince? Well, At least I'm OP!-Chapter 34: The written exam

Raven’s eyes widened in shock. "You want my Guardian Spirit? Why?"

I met her gaze calmly. "Because I believe I can tame it."

She gawked at me like I had sprouted horns. "You’re insane. No one can tame the Warrior-King. He’s a monster—a force of destruction. He’s too dangerous to let loose."

"I have to try," I insisted, my voice steady. "You said it yourself—you’re frightened of him. You don’t want anyone else getting hurt. If you want, I can make him go away. I could transfer the Warrior-King to another host."

Raven frowned, studying me carefully. "...You mean yourself as the host."

I gave a faint smirk but said nothing.

She fell quiet, her eyes searching mine, her fingers twisting the fabric of her sleeve.

Then, to my surprise, she shook her head firmly. "No. I can’t do it."

Gwyneria folded her arms, her crimson eyes narrowing. "Why not? You could finally be rid of the Warrior-King. You just said he’s too dangerous. If you’re so afraid of him, why not be free of him?"

Raven’s jaw tightened, her fingers curling into fists. "I know. But I can’t risk it. This Guardian Spirit was put inside me for a reason—to protect me. My grandmother bound him to me. I don’t know why—but I trust her. I won’t dishonor her will, by giving him away."

Disappointment settled in my chest.

I had hoped to add the Warrior-King’s power to my arsenal, but I wouldn’t force her.

"I respect your decision," I said, leaning im slightly. "But if the warrior-king ever gets loose—if he ever goes out of control—I won’t have a choice. I will tame him."

Raven met my gaze, her jaws clenched. "Then I’ll learn to control him first. I’ll work hard. You will teach me."

Gwyneria raised an eyebrow. "And what if you fail to tame him? What if he turns on your allies, burns cities, destroys everything you care about?"

Raven hesitated... then looked at me, her voice soft. "Then Archer can do what he must. If I can’t control the Warrior-King... he can take him. I won’t stop him."

I nodded slowly. "Very well."

Then I straightened, my eyes scanning the throne chamber. "For now, you’ll stay here in the Red Dragon’s Domain with me. At least until the written test begins."

Raven looked around once more at the flame red banners and the hulking orc warriors still kneeling in absolute silence

"Fine. I’ll stay."

I turned to face the gathered orcs, Gwyneria beside me, Raven slightly behind.

My voice echoed across the throne room.

"Everyone," I announced, "There’s someone I want you all to meet. Someone new who will be joining us here."

The orcs exchanged glances, intrigued murmurs rippling across the chamber.

"I met her in the Frosthelm Mountains," I continued. "And from today onward, she’s going to become a member of our family."

I lifted my hand, and opened my Infinity Vault.

From within the vault, a small figure stepped out, clutching the hem of my cloak shyly.

Skadra stood there, her pale blue skin glowing faintly under the chandeliers, her silver-white hair cascading down her shoulders.

She peered up at the towering orcs and the imposing figure of Gwyneria with wide, nervous eyes.

"This," I said, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder, "is Skadra. Princess of the Ice Giants."

A stunned silence filled the chamber.

Raven’s jaw dropped. "She’s... so small."

Gwyneria burst into laughter, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "In a couple of hundred years, she’ll be taller than this castle. Still—"

She paused, grinning at me, "I can’t believe you, my liege—you went and snatched an Ice Giant princess?"

I shook my head. "I didn’t snatch her. Her mother, Thrymara, the Ice Queen, entrusted her to me. She wants Skadra to grow strong and powerful under my leadership."

Gwyneria’s expression softened, and she stepped forward, kneeling to meet Skadra at eye level.

"Little one," she murmured, her voice surprisingly gentle, "do you know who I am?"

Skadra hesitated, then nodded. "A... great dragon."

Gwyneria smiled. "That’s right." She glanced back at me. "Master, if you’ll allow me... I would like to take full responsibility for Skadra’s training. The Ice Giants and my kind have long been acquainted. Thrymara..." She chuckled. "She was but a babe the last time I saw her."

I raised an eyebrow. "Well, Thrymara did mention sensing the magic essence of a great dragon within me."

Gwyneria’s chest swelled with pride. "Naturally." She straightened, her tone turning serious. "So? May I train her?"

I looked down at Skadra, who peeked up at me shyly but nodded, her tiny fingers still clinging to my cloak.

"Alright," I said. "She’s yours."

I paused to whisper in Skadra’s ears. "Don’t worry. Gwyneria might look intimidating, but she’s the best teacher you could ask for."

Skadra swallowed, then bowed her head slightly. "I... I will work hard."

Gwyneria grinned, her sharp teeth glinting. "Oh, I know you will, little snowflake. Come with me."

Skadra reached out and took Gwyneria’s hand, and together, they walked off together.

* * * *

The next two days passed slowly, the hours stretching like syrup dripping from a spoon.

The floating castle of the Red Dragon’s Domain was now our refuge.

I couldn’t have asked for anything better.

The castle was filled with winding corridors, towering libraries, and training halls that echoed with the clang of steel from my orcs.

I spent most of my time in the library, buried in ancient tomes on magic theory and forgotten combat techniques.

I devoured everything—texts on forbidden sigils, war magic, enchantment theory, spirit-binding rituals... anything that might give me an edge.

Between study sessions, I trained with my sword, refining my swordsmanship with the orcs in the training grounds until my muscles burned.

Raven, however, refused to leave my side.

At first, it was... strange.

She trailed behind me like a shadow, watching everything I did with wide, curious eyes.

If I sat down to read, she plopped beside me, peering at the pages and asking too many questions.

If I trained, she perched on the sidelines, fists clenched in excitement whenever I landed a particularly sharp strike.

It should have been annoying. But instead, I found myself adjusting.

"Here," I said one evening, tossing her a basic primer on elemental theory. "If you’re going to stare, you might as well learn something."

I began breaking things down as simply as I could.

How to channel mana through one’s core. How to build magical focus. How to pronounce incantations correctly.

Even though she was a Laymen, completely cut off from magic, Raven refused to be discouraged.

"I don’t need to cast it to understand it," she muttered stubbornly, jabbing a finger at a diagram of mana flow. "Explain this part to me."

So I did.

She practiced until her voice went hoarse. Held her fingers in casting positions until they trembled.

She memorized spell theory better than I expected. What she only lacked was magical essence.

By the second day, we’d fallen into a rhythm.

Mornings were for studying. I read aloud from advanced texts while Raven scribbled notes, absorbing knowledge like a sponge.

Afternoons were for sparring.

Dwayne and Rust were the strongest of my orc warband. They were my sparing partners.

Raven on the other hand, practiced meditation techniques, trying to sense the mana around her.

Evenings were spent quizzing each other on academy material, preparing for the written exam.

It was... oddly peaceful.

By the third day, Raven and I had memorized every possible loophole in the exam’s grading system.

Tomorrow, the real test would begin.

* * * *

The next morning, Raven and I stepped into Waurweth academy’s courtyard once again—but this time, it looked different.

Long rows of desks and chairs had been arranged in perfect symmetry across the stone floor.

Each seat was neatly set with parchment, ink, and a sharpened quill.

Banners bearing the Waurweth Academy crest fluttered gently from the courtyard walls.

Raven’s eyes widened as she took it all in.

"They really went all out," she murmured.

I nodded silently, scanning the rows. Toward the center, I spotted familiar faces. "And the gang are here," I added, a warm smile spreading across my face.

Anais sat with his legs crossed under his desk, arms folded behind his head like he owned the place.

Beside him was Odessa her notes already stacked neatly at the corner of her table.

Pandra twirled a feather quill between her fingers, clearly bored, while Hardy and Brody leaned back in their chairs silently scribbling something onto a scrap of parchment.

When they saw us, their faces brightened up.

"Look who finally decided to show up," Pandra said with a knowing smirk. "If it isn’t Archer and his adorable girlfriend."

Raven’s cheeks heated up. "H-He... he’s not my boyfriend."

Odessa raised a brow and leaned forward. "Oh yeah? Then explain where have you two been the last three days? Everyone thought you both dropped out or something."

I offered a casual shrug. "We needed time to rest. After what happened... I figured laying low was the smart move. Sorry for making you guys worry."

It was a lie, of course. But I wasn’t about to tell them Raven and I had been studying in a floating castle above the clouds with orcs.

Before any of them could ask any further questions, the air suddenly shifted with a commanding presence.

Everyone’s heads turned.

Chancellor Elysia appeared at the edge of the courtyard, walking with graceful steps.

She stopped at the front of the courtyard, her eyes sweeping over us.

"Good morning," she said, her voice echoing across the courtyard softly. "I welcome you all to the final phase of the first Selection: the written exam."

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