Chapter43 – Settling In

The first day within the Academy walls had been overwhelming. From the grand architecture to the sheer number of students, everything felt larger than life. Yet, as the dust settled from the initial entrance test, Ethan and Ronan found themselves facing something more daunting—integrating into the Academy's structure.

The Academy wasn't just a place for training; it was a world of its own. Divided into different divisions, each catered to unique paths of strength. There were the Battle Arts Division, focused on combat and refining one's power, and the Scholarly Division, where research into traits, ancient texts, and strategy took precedence. Then came the Craftsmen's Division, specializing in artifact creation, weapon refinement, and engineering trait-based tools. And lastly, the Strategic Command Division, where students studied warfare, leadership, and governance.

Each student was tested and placed accordingly, though some, like Ethan and Ronan, were considered free agents, able to move between divisions until they found their ideal path. This privilege was rare and meant that both of them had attracted attention, even if no one knew exactly why.

After settling their enrollment, they were assigned dormitories within the Adept Hall, a place reserved for high-potential students. The hall was vast, with an entire floor designated for their batch. Each room housed two students, meaning that Ethan and Ronan were separated for the first time in years.

Ethan stood before his door, exhaling slowly before pushing it open. Inside, the room was neat but minimally furnished—a bed on each side, a study table, and a personal storage unit. What caught his attention wasn't the room but the figure seated at the far end, cross-legged on his bed, eyes shut as if deep in meditation.

His roommate.

The moment Ethan stepped inside, the young man opened his eyes. They were a piercing silver, reflecting the light like a blade. His presence was sharp, not in aura but in demeanor, as though every action was calculated.

"You must be my roommate," the boy said, standing up. "I expected someone... different."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "And what exactly did you expect?"

"Someone less interesting," the boy admitted before offering his hand. "Leonhardt Vael."

Ethan shook it, noting the strength in his grip. "Ethan Verdanian."

"Verdanian?" Leonhardt muttered before smirking. "Ah. I see."

Ethan didn't react, but he could tell that Leonhardt knew something about his family. Whether that meant he knew of Ethan's place within it or just the name itself, he wasn't sure. Either way, he wasn't interested in proving anything.

"You took the free agent status," Leonhardt continued, studying him. "Interesting choice. I assume you aim for the Battle Arts Division?"

Ethan shrugged. "I want to learn everything I can."

Leonhardt chuckled. "Then you'll find this place far more brutal than you think."

Ronan's Roommate

Ronan, on the other hand, found himself paired with someone completely different. His roommate was a giant—literally. The young man, who introduced himself as Kael Durand, was over six feet tall with a muscular frame and a relaxed demeanor.

"You're smaller than I thought," Kael said, scratching his chin.

"You're bigger than I thought," Ronan shot back, smirking.

Kael laughed. "I think we'll get along just fine."

Unlike Ethan's conversation, which held an undercurrent of tension, Ronan and Kael immediately hit it off.

The next morning, a large orientation was held in the Grand Assembly Hall. Thousands of students filled the massive space, with instructors lined up at the front. At the center stood an elder figure, someone whose presence alone was enough to command attention.

Grand Instructor Aldros.

A legend. A man who once shaped the greatest warriors of the previous generation.

"I will not waste time with pleasantries," Aldros began, his voice booming across the hall. "You are here because you have potential. But potential means nothing if not sharpened into something greater."

His gaze swept across the crowd.

"Many of you will fail. That is a fact."

Silence.

"But failure here does not mean death—it means mediocrity. And mediocrity is something this Academy does not tolerate."

He turned to the instructors.

"These will be your guides, but they will not hold your hand. You will fight. You will struggle. And only the strong will rise."

With that, the orientation ended, and the real journey within the Academy began.

As students filed out, Ethan and Ronan shared a glance. This was where they would forge themselves. Where they would prove they weren't just survivors, but contenders.

But somewhere within the crowd, hidden among the thousands, a pair of eyes watched them closely.

The journey had only just begun.