Kaiser Junior lounged under the shade of a tall crystal archway, his silver goblet shimmering under the midday sun. His two subordinates, Leon and Leoy, stood nearby—identical twins, both tall and unusually skinny, their hair spiked like they had lost a fight with lightning. Thick-rimmed glasses sat crooked on their noses, as if defying gravity and fashion all at once.
Luci, Eron, and I had just settled near the nobles' waiting area. The strength assessment hadn't begun yet, and the tension was mounting.
Suddenly, raised voices sliced through the buzz.
"We said bow your heads!" Leoy snapped, stepping toward two younger students—one a peasant in ragged linen, the other a slightly better-dressed commoner.
"Why should we?" came a firm voice.
I turned.
The peasant stood tall, fists clenched. Despite his worn attire, there was strength in his posture. Next to him, the commoner mirrored his stance. Brothers in spirit, if not in blood.
Leon scoffed. "You dare talk back? Fine. Duel us. If you win, you stay. If you lose—you bow and walk away from this academy for good."
Gasps scattered through the watching crowd.
"They're challenging nobles?" someone whispered.
"I accept."
The peasant stepped forward, unflinching. "My name is Aerus."
He turned to the commoner beside him. "This is Ritchi."
Leon and Leoy smirked as the duel began.
"Three!"
Luci gripped my sleeve. "This is madness."
"Two!"
Even Kaiser Junior paused his drink to glance up.
"One!"
A brief silence.
Then—"Start!"
Leon lunged at Aerus with a straight punch. Aerus ducked, twisting and catching Leon's wrist, using his own weight to flip him onto the dirt.
Leoy launched himself toward Ritchi, a flurry of blows aimed at his chest. Ritchi blocked, countered, and landed a sharp jab to the side of Leoy's ribs.
Back and forth they went—pure hand-to-hand combat. No spells. No tricks. Just grit.
Minutes passed.
Finally, Leon staggered, falling to one knee, blood at the corner of his mouth. Leoy collapsed beside him, wheezing.
Ritchi and Aerus stood victorious—but barely.
"Impressive," Kaiser Junior muttered, setting his goblet aside.
"Imagine losing to short lives"
Then came the roar.
A thunderous, bone-shaking roar that made even the wind still.
From the far end of the field emerged a massive white lion—its mane flowing like silk, eyes golden and fierce. It growled as it approached.
"My pet," Kaiser Junior announced smugly. "Meet Junior."
The lion prowled forward, muscles rippling beneath its fur.
"This is now two-on-two," he said, drawing his sword.
Aerus and Ritchi were exhausted, barely able to stand.
The lion leapt, its paw raised.
Gasps.
Luci grabbed my arm. Eron was frozen.
I… didn't move.
Then—a blur.
In an instant, a white shadow zipped through the field. One second, the lion was mid-air. The next, it had landed hard, its paw redirected.
Two figures appeared beside Aerus and Ritchi. The first—a large white wolf, its fur like frost under moonlight. The second—a boy, calm and deadly.
His expression was ice.
Eyes that held ancient storms.
Hair dark, tousled yet somehow regal.
His aura poured around him like a second skin, heavier than armor.
He spoke, voice cold.
"Cut it out."
Kaiser Junior snarled. "Who the hell are you?"
The boy met his gaze.
"Arceus. D. Diamond."
The crowd fell silent.
"Another Prince!" someone gasped.
I blinked.
So that was him.
I'd heard the rumors—how he had trained alone, rejected every formal tutor. While Kaiser Junior trained under the King's Left Hand, Arceus wandered the wilds, hunted beasts, mastered solitude.
Rimu froze where she stood with Angel. "That's… brother."
"We have to go there!" Angel urged.
Kaiser Junior laughed awkwardly. "Arceus, long time no see!"
Arceus didn't smile.
"You're abusing your position. Again."
"It was just a game," Kaiser said, shrugging.
Arceus turned to the lion, then to the wolf at his side.
"You chose a lion," he said softly. "I chose a wolf."
The tension snapped like a twig.
Kaiser sheathed his sword. "This was fun. Let's meet again soon."
He turned and left with Leon and Leoy trailing behind.
A blink later, Aerus and Ritchi were gone.
"Teleportation?" Eron muttered.
Luci sighed. "Man, that was intense. When are they starting the damn test already?"
Right on cue, an announcement rang out.
"All students! Please gather in your groups. Upon your number being called, approach the triangle crystal and place your hand upon it. Your aura will be measured."
One by one, students stepped forward. Lights flashed, colors shifted.
Evening fell.
Another announcement came.
"The top ten results are as follows."
Excitement buzzed.
"Number 10: Leon – 5678 aura units."
Murmurs.
"Last year, 6000 got fourth place. This year's insane."
"Number 9: Angel Aqual – 5858."
"Number 8: Rimu D. Kaiser – 5900."
"Number 7: Ritchi – 6001."
"Number 6: Luci Elenoir – 6307."
Luci punched the air. "Boom!"
"Number 5: Aerus – 6588."
Silence.
A peasant… made top five?
Shock rippled through the crowd.
"Number 4: Praller Fire – 6999."
"Number 3: Kaiser Junior – 7100."
Kaiser twitched.
"Number 2: Ryan Elenoir – 7354."
I blinked.
"Wait, what?"
Luci tackled me. "YOU BEAT KAISER?! YOU BEAT ME?!"
"I wasn't trying to," I said flatly.
"Liar!" she screamed, half laughing.
"Number 1: Arceus D. Diamond – 7554."
Silence again.
Then whispers.
"Who is Ryan?"
"Arceus is that strong?"
"Kaiser Junior lost to both of them?"
Kaiser threw his clipboard. "Bullshit! This system is rigged!"
Arceus turned.
He walked slowly to the center stage, looked at Kaiser Junior.
And then, in front of everyone, he said:
"A lion may be more powerful than a wolf. But remember—wolves don't perform in circuses."
He walked off, cape fluttering.
Kaiser stood frozen, lips twitching. Then he smiled.
"You haven't changed," he muttered, and left.
Luci elbowed me. "Congrats on second place, Mr. Mystery."
I didn't answer.
I was still thinking.
About Arceus.
Who the hell was he… really?
Eron chuckled. "I didn't even make top twenty."
"Same," Luci grinned. "But hey—we've got a second-place guy in the squad now!"
I glanced at her.
She was laughing like a child.
And for once, she looked… happy.
Maybe this academy wouldn't be so bad after all.