Chapter 47 – Surprise Examination and Trial

The sharp clang of the academy bell shattered the studious silence that had settled over the vaulted halls of the Royal Academy. It rang out abruptly, like a blade unsheathed in the stillness, pulling every student's attention away from their texts and incantations.

Kaelian, immersed in a forbidden tome on blood magic, lifted his gaze immediately, senses on high alert.

"A surprise exam?" he murmured under his breath, fingers tightening on the fragile parchment. Around him, whispered exchanges flurried like a rising storm — shock, nervous excitement, and pale dread mixed in uncertain measures. Surprise exams were rare enough in the Academy, but an unexpected, all-encompassing test? That was something else entirely. A warning. A trap.

In this empire, where magic was jealously guarded by nobility and court politics could end a life as swiftly as a dagger, such an announcement was never just an academic exercise. It was a gauntlet thrown down. A test not just of skill, but of survival.

Kaelian felt a familiar thrill course through him. His rebirth in the body of a royal bastard had given him a second chance, but it had also thrown him into a deadly game where one misstep meant ruin. This examination would reveal who was truly worthy to thrive in this court of vipers.

**

Entering the Arena of Mind and Magic

As he made his way to the grand hall where the trial would unfold, the air thickened with tension. Flickering torches cast long shadows on stone walls carved with the sigils of old dynasties. The amphitheater was packed with students, from proud nobles to obscure illegitimate scions — all under the watchful eyes of the faculty.

At the dais stood Archmage Elgorn, his face carved from stone and eyes like smoldering coals. Around him gathered other stern professors, their gazes sharp and unforgiving.

"Silence!" Elgorn's voice boomed, commanding immediate stillness. "Today's trial will test more than your arcane knowledge. It will separate the weak from the strong, the cautious from the cunning. This is not merely a test. It is a proving ground for those destined to shape the fate of our realm."

Kaelian's heart pounded with anticipation. Every word was a promise of peril. This was the court's way of whittling down the contenders — a brutal filtration that would weed out the unworthy.

The first task was announced: a series of complex magical riddles, crafted to ensnare the reckless and punish the arrogant. These were no ordinary spells; they demanded mastery of ancient, volatile magic that could tear at the caster's very soul.

For Kaelian, this was a moment to shine. He closed his eyes briefly, summoning the clandestine knowledge gleaned from the forbidden grimoire stolen from the academy's vaults. His advantage lay not only in raw intellect, but in blending the modern strategies of his previous life with arcane secrets long lost to others.

He allowed a faint smile. The game was on.

**

The Onslaught of Enigmas

The first riddle manifested as a tapestry of shifting runes and elemental puzzles. One false move and the spell would rebound, inflicting agonizing burns or draining magical vitality.

Beside him, Prince Théor scowled darkly, his usual arrogance replaced by thinly veiled frustration as he struggled to untangle the puzzle.

Kaelian studied the glyphs with laser focus, reciting the incantations with the precision of a seasoned strategist. The air around his feet shimmered as a perfect circle of crimson flame ignited, illuminating the runes in their true meaning.

His solution unleashed a controlled burst of magic, stunning nearby students and sending several into staggering retreats.

Théor shot him a venomous glare, but said nothing — the duel had only just begun.

**

The Second Trial: The Arena of Alliances

No sooner had the first challenge ended than the students were divided into impromptu teams, forced to cooperate despite deep rivalries and mistrust. Success now depended not only on personal power but on forging temporary bonds.

Kaelian's new team was a study in contradictions: Lyssa, the enigmatic lowborn healer whose loyalty remained suspect; Seredric, a haughty noble knight known for his martial prowess and ambition; and a quiet, shadowy figure from an obscure background who said nothing.

The dilemma was clear — unite or perish.

Kaelian proposed a cautious strategy, capitalizing on their differing strengths and anticipating hidden threats.

"Lyssa, keep us hidden and heal our wounds. Seredric, hold the frontline steady. I'll strike where their defenses crack," he instructed calmly.

The group nodded warily. Trust was a currency few could afford here, but survival demanded at least a veneer of cooperation.

**

The Trap Tightens

As they advanced through the shifting maze of illusions and magical hazards, Kaelian's keen eyes caught an anomaly — their opponents' attacks appeared unnervingly coordinated, as if guided by an unseen hand.

His instincts screamed danger.

Suddenly, a violent magical explosion erupted behind them, sending Seredric crashing against stone. Kaelian surged forward but found the field rapidly deteriorating.

The quiet figure vanished into the shadows.

And somewhere in the gloom, a cloaked presence manipulated the battlefield with cruel precision.

This was no mere test; it was an assassination attempt disguised as an exam.

**

Forbidden Magic and Revelations

With no time to hesitate, Kaelian tapped into a forbidden ritual, channeling flames of electric blue that roared to life, bathing the arena in ghostly light. The spell shielded his group and repelled the encroaching assault.

Lyssa countered with protective wards, stabilizing Seredric's injuries.

Then the cloaked figure stepped into the flickering light, revealing a face Kaelian recognized instantly — an old rival who had nursed a grudge from a past betrayal.

"Thought you could outplay me without consequence?" the traitor spat venomously.

Kaelian's smile was cold steel.

"No one escapes the consequences in this court. Least of all you."

**

Endgame and Promise of War

The trial ended with Kaelian's narrow victory. Exhausted but unbroken, he had proven himself not just a scholar but a survivor and a master manipulator.

The faculty exchanged uneasy glances. Kaelian's unorthodox magic and ability to outmaneuver the hidden threat shifted the balance of power within the Academy.

But more than that, Kaelian now understood the harshest truth: enemies lurked everywhere, even among those he called allies.

He vowed silently — he would outwit, outlast, and outplay all who stood against him.

**

As he exited the arena, a royal messenger rushed to him, delivering a sealed letter stamped with the Queen's insignia. The words inside were chilling:

"Kaelian, your survival threatens the crown. The Queen's schemes grow darker. Prepare yourself — the true game is about to begin."

A sly grin touched Kaelian's lips. The stakes had just skyrocketed.

The game was far from over.

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