Eventually, the doors to the training grounds burst open and Garrick stormed in with a savage grin stretched across his face.

"Stop whatever pathetic excuse for training this is and follow me, you maggots!" he barked before suddenly turning toward Zephyrion with a strangely gentle smile. "...you too, top trainee."

The expressions of the trainees twisted instantly.

Garrick was practically declaring that Zephyrion was the only person present who wasn’t trash.

Yet Garrick shamelessly turned around and walked away without the slightest care for their reactions.

...

Moments later, Zephyrion found himself standing within the steel training grounds alongside countless other trainees gathered around the arena.

Steel, iron, foundary, every trainee within the third tier was present.

Lumi and Tobias had already broken away from their respective lines to stand beside him among the iron trainees.

Though that drew numerous displeased looks from the steel trainees, those gazes still paled in comparison to the ones directed toward Zephyrion himself.

Eventually, Instructor Warren stepped forward to address the trainees. However, just as he opened his mouth to speak, a loud voice suddenly cut through the grounds.

"Alright, listen up you brats!"

Warren’s brows furrowed as he turned toward Garrick.

As the instructor of the steel trainees, he should have been the one addressing the assembly.

However, Garrick completely ignored him and strode forward, casually snatching the paper from Warren’s grasp.

"Garr—"

"You’ve all gone through one hell of an experience this past week." Garrick shook his head with a look of utter disappointment.

"Some of you embarrassed your ancestors. Some of you performed just barely well enough to avoid embarrassing them. And a few of you actually managed not to disappoint me."

Instinctively, nearly every gaze turned toward Zephyrion.

He remained completely indifferent to them.

"Well, embarrassing or not, I’ve got the results of your performances right here." Garrick raised the paper in his hand.

"This is the list of candidates representing the house during the Proving. As usual, the one ranked first gets the title of First Steel." 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"The candidates?!"

"Finally!"

"...who do you think gets First Steel?"

"Should be Kaelion."

"...before the mission, yeah."

"After what happened out there? I’m not betting against that monster anymore."

Whispers rapidly spread throughout the crowd as countless gazes shifted back and forth between Zephyrion and Kaelion.

Though the title of First Steel had already been temporarily given to Zephyrion, it was traditionally reserved for the strongest trainee within the tier. The rankings of the choosing would determine whether he kept it or not.

"Here are the names. In tenth place... Tobias Calderalth."

"YES—!"

The shout escaped Tobias before he could stop himself. He nearly jumped in celebration.

However, the moment he realized every eye had turned toward him, he immediately coughed awkwardly and straightened his posture.

"Ahem. I mean... thank you, Instructor."

"...I’ve never seen someone this excited to barely qualify." Garrick stared at him with undisguised disappointment. "Get on the platform, you fucking loser."

"Y-yes, sir."

Tobias instantly lowered his head and hurried onto the stage.

Shaking his head in disgust, Garrick continued.

"Ninth place. Bella Calderalth..."

A tall, lean girl with afro like hair stepped forward and climbed onto the platform.

The names continued to be called until they eventually reached sixth place.

"Sixth place, Kaiden Calderalth!"

Kaiden clenched his fists tightly as he released a slow breath. Though he tried to maintain a calm expression while walking onto the platform, the excitement burning within his eyes was impossible to hide.

Meanwhile, frowns spread across the faces of the steel trainees.

"Tch. An iron trainee made sixth?"

"What exactly is the house thinking?"

Those ten spots were incredibly competitive. For an iron trainee to make it in, rather than one of them, was absurd.

"Fifth place, Fiona Calderalth!"

Fiona clenched her fists as visible excitement spread across her face. The expressions of the steel trainees darkened even further, several of them gritting their teeth in frustration.

"Third place... Logan Calderalth!"

A broad shouldered youth stepped forward before calmly joining the others on the platform.

"Now, second place..."

The atmosphere shifted instantly. Silence descended across the training grounds. The trainees unconsciously leaned forward.

This name would decide everything.

"The second place of the choosing is..." Garrick slowly dragged out the sentence while dramatically raising his arm. The trainees leaned forward even further.

"Ah... let me take a quick drink first."

Garrick suddenly pulled out a bottle of alcohol before taking several massive gulps without the slightest shame.

The trainees looked moments away from committing murder.

Why the hell was he drinking now of all times?!

Still, they endured it in tense silence.

Eventually, Garrick lowered the bottle before releasing a deeply satisfied burp.

"Alright! Now let’s get to it. In second place is..."

The trainees immediately leaned forward once more.

"Ah... I’m thirsty again."

Under the widening eyes of the trainees, Garrick casually raised the bottle again and resumed drinking without the slightest shame.

At that moment, nearly everyone present looked ready to tear him apart.

Still, they endured it.

"Ahhh... that hits the spot." Garrick released another satisfied burp before grinning at the murderous gazes around him. "Alright, let’s do this properly this time! Second place goes to..."

The trainees leaned forward once again, several of them practically holding their breath.

"Ah... I need to take a shit."

"Oh, for the love of—!" Warren finally snapped. "Kaelion Calderalth! Second place is Kaelion Calderalth!"

"Kaelion?"

"Wait... he’s second?"

"Then First Steel is..."

Whispers instantly erupted throughout the crowd as countless gazes shifted toward Zephyrion.

Meanwhile, Kaelion’s expression barely changed. He simply gave a faint nod before calmly stepping onto the platform.

"Tch. Fun crusher."

Garrick clicked his tongue before shooting Warren an irritated glare, which Warren returned immediately.

Eventually, Garrick turned back toward the trainees, and the heavy aura rolling off his body instantly silenced the entire training grounds.

"Alright, you brats. Lastly..."

"The first place of the choosing, and the one who will bear the title of First Steel, is..."

"Zephyrion Calderalth!"