Praller stood beside me, calm as ever, but now that I looked closer, something about him stood out.
He had striking red hair, deep and untamed like wildfire, falling in gentle waves just above his shoulders. His features were sharp, almost aristocratic, with eyes that held the weight of someone who had seen too much too young. There was a certain grace in how he stood—disciplined, yet relaxed. He looked like someone born for command, yet burdened by it.
Luci nudged me with a gasp.
"You seriously don't know about the Lords?" she asked, eyes wide.
I raised a brow. "Should I?"
She groaned and threw her hands in the air. "Ugh, commoners…"
Eron chuckled behind us.
Luci began pacing, clearly enjoying the chance to educate.
"There are five great guilds that hold most of the power in the realms. Each is governed by a Lord," she explained.
She ticked them off on her fingers.
"Fire Guild, ruled by the Lord of Fire. That's Praller's dad, by the way. Then there's the Nature Guild, the Beast Guild, the Realm Guild, and the Love Guild."
"Love Guild?" I asked, unimpressed.
"Don't laugh," she warned. "They're terrifying."
Praller simply nodded. "Their abilities lie in charm, compulsion, even soul-binding."
"Out of the five Lords," Luci continued, "three are men, two are women. They're incredibly powerful—some say even above the royal family in terms of elemental mastery."
"But even they serve under someone," Praller added quietly.
Luci nodded with a dramatic pause. "The one and only Great Lord—Shodou D. Kaiser."
That name carried weight. Even I had heard of it.
"He's royalty himself," Luci said. "A descendant of the original earthblood line. They say his aura can bend landscapes, and he walks with beasts at his side. He's the right hand of the Lord King."
"So Praller's the son of one of those Lords?" I said, looking at him again.
"Yep," Luci confirmed. "Which makes him fire royalty."
Praller offered a small smile. "That's cool, I guess."
There was something in his voice. Not pride… something quieter.
"You don't seem excited about it," I noted.
Praller looked away. "I don't like my father."
Luci blinked. "Why though?"
He didn't answer at first. Just sighed.
"There are reasons. Maybe one day I'll talk about them."
Before we could press him, a loud bell rang through the air.
A voice followed, crisp and formal.
"Your attention, please. All students are to return to their designated areas. Nobles to the east plaza, commoners to the center, peasants to the outer ring."
Groans and muttering followed as students shuffled into place.
We found our spot among the nobles. Around us were velvet uniforms, polished boots, and too many smirking faces.
Another announcement echoed across the courtyard.
"In a few minutes, the aura measurement test will begin. Each student will be called by number. Upon hearing your number, approach the central pedestal, place your palm on the triangle-shaped crystal, and let it read your strength and aura."
Students murmured excitedly.
"After all participants have completed the test, we will announce the top ten students of the year. The top five hundred will proceed to the next round. Thank you."
I folded my arms. "Guess we're waiting a bit."
Then I heard it.
Hooves.
Trumpets.
Marching boots.
Soldiers appeared at the academy gates, forming perfect lines. One of them called out.
"Make way! The future King approaches!"
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
A rider came into view, mounted on a black stallion adorned in silver armor. The rider wore a crisp white coat with gold-lined edges and a royal crest over the heart. He had short black hair, smooth and neatly brushed, and an aura of quiet, chilling authority.
He dismounted slowly, eyes scanning the students.
Then he smiled.
It wasn't a warm smile. It was calm. Beautiful. Dangerous. The kind of smile that made you feel seen and small all at once.
He stepped forward and addressed us in a composed voice.
"Glad to meet you all. I am Kaiser Jnr."
The courtyard erupted.
"THE PRINCE!"
"THE NEXT KING!"
Students bowed. Some cheered. Others just froze.
Luci yanked my sleeve.
"Do you know what this means?" she whispered urgently. "The Kaiser family rules the human kingdom alongside the Diamond line. They're the second generation of royal blood!"
"In other words," I murmured, "he's power. In human form."
My eyes locked with his for a split second. Just a glance. But in that one moment, I felt it—he wasn't just strong. He was dangerous. Maybe even more than anyone we'd met so far.
He turned slightly. A girl stood beside him. Slender, with calm green eyes and long silver hair tied back neatly. Her posture was proper, her smile gentle.
"That's his sister," Luci whispered. "Her name is Rimu. A rare soul."
"And next to her," Luci gestured again, "is Angel. Her closest friend. Don't let the name fool you. She's sharp. Kind, but sharp."
"You know a lot," I said, watching them from a distance.
"Of course," Luci said proudly. "I'm a noble, unlike you."
"Oh yeah?" I smirked. "A loudmouthed noble monkey, maybe."
She didn't even hesitate. Smack.
I flew three feet to the right.
"Worth it," I groaned, laughing.
The fanfare died down as Prince Kaiser Jnr. and his entourage walked inside the Academy halls. Their presence had changed the energy entirely.