The next day of class felt different before Ronan even stepped through the door.

He arrived later than most students, deliberately so, and the moment he crossed the threshold the weight of attention pressed against him like something physical. Eyes tracked him from every corner of the lecture hall.

It wasn’t just him.

Every student who entered after the mass purge received the same treatment. They wanted to see who entered, and who was left.

But Ronan noticed the looks directed at him carried something a little sharper.

They didn’t think he belonged here.

It amused him more than it really bothered him.

He descended the stone steps slowly, scanning the room.

He noticed Aura in the top corner of the room, sitting there with a considerable amount of space between her and the other students. Her face was in her arms, and she appeared to be sleeping.

Irene was also there, and she was staring at him. Blatantly.

He gave her a friendly wave with a smile, but she turned away, her expression not giving anything away.

Vulcan mentioned that she will be present in the meeting after class today, he thought idly.

He recognized a few other students as well from other classes. Although, most of them were from the original S class.

The lecture hall that once overflowed with students now felt hollow.

Seats that had been packed shoulder-to-shoulder before the Inter-Class War sat empty. It looked isolated, and the room felt far too large.

Ronan found Elara from the corner of his eye.

Looks like she chose her seat as far as she could away from Freya.

She sat alone, far from the other students, her posture stiff and arms crossed. Her usual scowl was absent, replaced by a more mundane expression.

It was likely that the students treated her with the same regard they treated him. They thought she didn’t deserve the spot.

Not all of them of course. There were a few students in class S that respected her, being from class B. Sapphire and Mira being two of them.

Though they didn’t sit next to her. She was all alone.

He walked up to her and slapped her on the back without warning.

Elara yelped.

Sniggers broke out across the room.

She twisted around, glaring daggers at him.

"What the hell, Ronan?"

"Congratulations on making it into S-Class," Ronan said, lowering himself into the seat beside her with a grin. "You earned it."

"Shut up."

But her glare weakened.

They exchanged their usual banter in low voices, quieter than usual because the attention on them hadn’t faded completely yet..

Ronan could feel students watching, waiting for something worth gossiping about.

"Are you sure that–"

Then a hand slapped against his back.

Hard.

Ronan’s head hit the desk with a loud bang.

"Good morning, best friend."

Kazuma’s monotone voice drifted from above him.

Ronan lifted his head, rubbing his forehead. "We are not friends."

"We sat together in Class B. We attended the elective fair together. We fought in the Inter-Class War together. That is the definition of friendship, is it not?"

Elara laughed at his expense. "That’s what you deserve."

Ronan shot her a look but said nothing. He straightened in his seat and turned toward Kazuma, who had already settled beside him as if this arrangement were completely natural.

Ronan found it annoying that he still couldn’t sense Kazuma’s presence properly. Even now, sitting right next to him, Kazuma felt like a blank space in the room.

That reminded him.

"What were you doing during the Inter-Class War?" Ronan asked.

Kazuma blinked once, tilting his head.

"Fighting."

Elara leaned forward, suddenly interested. "That’s what I wanted to know too. How did you get into S-Class? Ronan I can sort of understand, even if he didn’t show the most battle prowess, but I don’t recall you doing anything during the entire exam, besides just helping around camp."

Kazuma shrugged, his expression unchanged. "I fought a little in the final battle. Maybe that is why."

Elara nodded slowly. "That makes sense."

Ronan also nodded.

That makes sense.

The thought settled into his mind smoothly without any of the usual resistance.

He accepted the explanation without questioning it further. He wasn’t even at the final battle, so how could he know?

And yet, somewhere deep in the back of his awareness, a part of him recognized that this acceptance was strange.

That he should have questioned it.

But the thought dissolved before it could form completely, leaving only quiet agreement in its place.

The double doors at the front of the lecture hall swung open.

A tall woman strode in, her silver hair tied back, sharp gray eyes sweeping across the depleted class. Her Academy robes bore the insignia of a Master-ranked instructor.

The murmurs died immediately.

"Congratulations," the instructor said, her voice carrying easily through the silent hall. "You survived the purge. You are now Class S. That title means nothing if you waste it."

Her tone was stern.

"This class will demand more than talent. Expect no leniency, and do not expect me to forgive complacency."

Her gaze lingered briefly on Ronan’s group, as it did everyone else, before continuing across the room.

"My name is Selene Voss. I am your new class S instructor. The old class S instructor has been relieved of his duty, and I will be taking his place."

Many students recognized her instantly. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

The Ashen Commander, Selene Voss. A rank 5, initial-stage powerhouse.

"Now that I am your instructor, every student will be required to follow a strict training routine starting today. Progress will be tracked. Measured. Recorded."

Selene paused, her gaze sweeping across the depleted class.

"The Inter-Class War was nothing. A test to measure potential. The real Academy experience starts now."

Several students shifted uncomfortably. Others leaned forward, anticipation flickering across their faces.

"Stand."

Chairs scraped against stone as the class rose one by one.

BANG!

The double doors suddenly burst open.

Four students entered.

Grace walked in first, smiling apologetically and waving her hand in greeting.

Behind her came Iris, who was pinching the bridge of her nose in irritation, followed by Luca with his usual calm indifference. And behind them all–

Princess Seraphina Valon.

Grace clasped her hands together, her voice bright and cheerful.

"I’m so sorry we’re late! We got lost on the way here, hehehe."