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Chapter 55 - Ch 54

The moment Wads and Reiyell stepped through the final arch of the trial chamber, the mist and echoes of their past struggles dissolved. The air shifted; they were no longer in the eerie, oppressive halls, but back in the grandeur of the Zheno Academy Hall of Fame. High, arched ceilings of polished stone gleamed under sunlight that streamed from towering stained-glass windows, casting colored shards onto the marbled floor. The walls were adorned with plaques, each etched with the names of legendary alumni and past champions of the academy's trials. Banners hung from the balcony railings above, the gold threads of the embroidery catching the light with each flicker of movement. Students milled about, some conversing excitedly, others pacing or inspecting the relics and trophies displayed in alcoves.

Some faces were familiar to Wads—fellow classmates, rivals, and a few older students he had trained alongside in sparring sessions. Others, he had only seen in passing, the sort of acquaintances whose names he might never remember. Yet the hall buzzed with a tense excitement; it was clear everyone had just returned from their own trials.

A familiar laugh cut through the chatter—a bright, unrestrained sound that made Wads glance up immediately. At the far corner, moving with effortless energy, was the very friend who had been a thorn in his side since childhood. Klyden's golden hair seemed to glow even brighter under the sunlit hall, bouncing with every step as he made a beeline toward him.

Wads rolled his eyes at the sight, but before he could speak, Klyden was upon him. A hearty pat landed on Wads' head, followed by an arm draping casually over his shoulder. It was easy—Klyden's slightly taller frame allowed him to do so without effort.

"Wads!" Klyden exclaimed, practically vibrating with excitement. "You won't believe how insane it was in there! Every trap, every twist—I swear, I almost got squished by a boulder, and there was this—oh man, you should have seen the look on the Elder Elf's face when I—"

Wads cut him off with a flat, unimpressed glance. "And you survived?" he asked dryly.

Klyden threw his hands up theatrically. "Of course! Well… mostly. But it was brilliant. Every step was like a puzzle! And the—ugh, never mind, you had to be there." His grin widened, almost infectiously bright.

Klyden's gaze suddenly fell to the figure standing beside Wads. His eyes widened, his carefree grin faltered for half a second before he bowed his head slightly. "Your Highness," he said, still attempting to maintain his jolly, relaxed composure.

Wads suppressed a chuckle, raising an eyebrow at Klyden's sudden formality. The figure in question—Keiya Anastasia Zheka—had her red hair cascading in precise waves over her shoulders. Her sapphire-violet eyes met Klyden's with a sharp, regal intensity, and the slightest lift of her chin spoke of noble authority. With a faint sigh, she lightly smacked Klyden on the side of his head.

Klyden looked like a tamed puppy, his ears metaphorically flattened as he tried not to grin despite the reprimand. Wads could barely hold back a quiet laugh, observing the interaction with silent amusement.

Keiya's gaze softened fractionally as she addressed Reiyell. "Your Highness, greetings," she said with flawless formality, bowing slightly. Reiyell inclined her head in return, her smile warm but precise, the epitome of noble grace.

Then, with an almost imperceptible roll of her eyes, Keiya turned her focus back to Klyden, whose guilty expression was comically exaggerated. "Honestly, must you always rush into everything?" she chided, her voice carrying the quiet power of authority without anger.

Klyden scratched the back of his head, attempting a sheepish grin. "Hey, I'm just enjoying the chaos!" he replied, clearly oblivious to the weight of her words. "Besides, someone had to make it fun."

"You make everything more dangerous," Keiya replied, her tone a mix of exasperation and incredulity. "Including opening that cursed chest without caution."

Klyden chuckled, waving a hand dismissively. "Ah, come on, you worry too much! It was fine! And anyway, I survived, didn't I?"

Reiyell leaned toward Wads, whispering with a slight smirk, "Sounds like someone I know." Her voice was quiet, yet it carried that familiar teasing undertone that had become almost habitual around him. Wads' poker face remained, though a single flicker of memory passed through his mind—the reason they had ended up cuffed together earlier during the trials.

Reiyell excused herself, summoned by someone from 1A class, leaving Wads with Klyden and Keiya.

Klyden suddenly ducked behind Wads' back, peeking over his shoulder with wide, anxious eyes. "Help! Help me, Wads!" he whispered dramatically, pressing himself against Wads' side.

Wads raised a brow, exhaling a long, tired sigh. "Why am I being dragged into this?" he muttered internally, the faint twitch of a frown forming on his lips.

"Please, you've got to help me!" Klyden continued, gesturing wildly. "I can't deal with Keiya on my own!"

Wads' expression remained unchanged, but he gave a slow nod. "Fine," he said flatly, already knowing this would be a ridiculous scene.

Klyden peeked cautiously from behind, tilting his head. "So… did you finish your trial?" he asked, voice a mixture of curiosity and excitement.

"Yes," Wads replied. "And it was… predictable." His flat tone did little to deter Klyden's enthusiasm.

Klyden's eyes lit up. "Oh! We fought an Elder Elf! Huge, scary, majestic!" he exclaimed, bouncing slightly on his heels. "And then we found a chest—inside was this bracelet, golden, shining! I tried to put it on, and—"

"It won't come off," Keiya interjected from her side, her arms crossed, a mix of frustration and authority in her voice.

"It's not my fault!" Klyden protested, tilting his head. "Maybe the bracelet loves me or what?" His grin was impossibly wide, exuding that naive charm.

Keiya rolled her eyes, sighing in exasperation. "You never take anything seriously. Honestly, Klyden, how are you still alive?"

Klyden shrugged innocently. "Oh, I survive by sheer charisma," he said with a cheeky grin, twirling an imaginary mustache.

Wads suppressed another quiet laugh, shaking his head. "You really are impossible," he muttered.

Klyden bounced on his heels, ignoring the rebuke. "So, Wads! Did you finish your third trial too? Tell me everything!"

"Yes," Wads replied calmly, letting his gaze drift over Klyden's overly excited expression. "It was taxing, but manageable. Some traps were… challenging, but nothing the two of us couldn't handle."

Klyden's grin widened. "See! That's why I need a partner like you! Someone who actually notices the patterns instead of screaming and running in circles like me!"

"Patterns? You? Noticing patterns?" Wads deadpanned, his lips twitching slightly.

Klyden threw his hands up in mock offense. "Hey! I pay attention… mostly! It's all about energy and feel!"

Keiya's sigh was audible. "Honestly, it's a miracle you've survived this long."

Wads let out another small, almost imperceptible chuckle as he observed the interplay. Despite the chaos and silliness, there was a strange comfort in the familiarity of these moments.

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