The Leaderboards
Hours later, after the last student had been evaluated, the results were compiled. The head professor unfurled a scroll, his voice echoing through the hall.
"The updated ranking of the Second-Year Students is as follows."
A glowing script unfolded in the air, hovering above the students for all to see:
1. Reiyell Georgia Frey Ravenscroft
Macheo Arcana I | Diety X
2. Ashborne Cloud Dunsmore
Clarkeo Arcana III | Diety X
3. Liora Vallegoire
Clarkeo Arcana III | Diety Q
4. Wyxro Waxzi
Clarkeo Arcana II | Diety XX
5. Klyden Yurei
Clarkeo Arcana III | Diety X
6. Keiya Anastasia Zheka
Clarkeo Arcana III | Diety X
7. Ysoria Eldridge
Clarkeo Arcana II | Diety X
8. Jerken Knightmore
Clarkeo Arcana II | Diety X
9. Thaddeus Wynthrope
Clarkeo Arcana II | Diety Q
10. Niccolo Faustino
Clarkeo Arcana II | Diety Q
11. Trex Vayne Trivel
Clarkeo Arcana II | Diety Q
12. Hans Zimmer
Clarkeo Arcana I | Diety Q
...and the list continued downward.
The hall erupted in murmurs—half cheers, half sighs of disappointment.
Wads stared at his name. Fourth. Higher than he had ever placed before. For a moment, satisfaction flickered through him like a quiet flame. He didn't smile, but his eyes softened as he adjusted his glasses, exhaling slowly. There was still more to climb.
Klyden thumped his shoulder with the weight of a hammer, grinning like a fool. "Top five, huh? Not bad, not bad at all! Now you're officially a big shot. Should I start bowing to you?"
Wads gave him a flat look. "You bow and I'll step on your head."
"See? Already acting like royalty!" Klyden laughed.
Liora tilted her head, smirking as her eyes gleamed. "Careful, Wads. At this rate, you'll overtake me next."
Wads shook his head, muttering, "Don't count on it." But the tiniest twitch at the corner of his lips betrayed him.
Klyden gasped dramatically, clutching his chest. "Wait—did you just almost smile? Someone mark this day down in history."
Liora rolled her eyes but chuckled. "Please. That wasn't a smile. That was a facial muscle spasm."
Wads pinched the bridge of his nose. "You two are noisy."
Ashborne, seated farther back, allowed himself the faintest flicker of amusement before returning to his usual impassivity. Reiyell, meanwhile, only glanced at the board once. Her eyes lingered on Wads's name for a brief second, a small, private smile tugging at her lips before vanishing into her usual composure.
Keiya exhaled, her posture relaxing. She hadn't moved up, but there was no shame in her standing. She felt… lighter somehow, as if even the struggle had given her something.
Class Assignments
The professor raised his hand again, silencing the chatter. "Rankings aside, the new class settlements shall now be announced."
Scrolls unfurled, names spilling into the air like floating ribbons of light.
For 2-A:
Reiyell Georgia Frey Ravenscroft
Liora Vallegoire
Ashborne Cloud Dunsmore
Wyxro Waxzi
Klyden Yurei
Keiya Anastasia Zheka
…
For 2-B:
Ysoria Eldridge
Jerken Knightmore
Thaddeus Wynthrope
Niccolo Faustino
Trex Vayne Trivel
Hans Zimmer
… and so on, down to 2-J.
The moment the last name was read, the hall exploded in cheers, groans, and sighs of relief.
...
Wads sat back in his chair, letting his shoulders ease as the noise swelled around them. Then, as expected, Klyden leaned in with a grin so wide it was almost suspicious.
"Looks like we're stuck together again, huh?"
"Stuck?" Liora arched a brow, smirking. "You should be honored, Klyden. I'm the best company you'll ever get."
Klyden gasped. "The best? Please. The only thing you're best at is making everyone's life harder."
"Oh?" Liora's smirk sharpened. "And what exactly are you best at?"
"Me?" Klyden puffed his chest out. "I'm the team's morale booster. A natural-born leader. The glue that holds us together."
Wads chuckled softly under his breath. "More like the headache that keeps us awake."
Klyden pointed at him dramatically. "Et tu, Wads? Traitor."
Liora covered her mouth with mock horror. "Oh no, the glue is cracking. What ever shall we do?"
Even Keiya, usually composed, let out a small laugh. "You all sound like children."
"Correction," Klyden grinned, "we are children—genius, talented, ridiculously attractive children."
"Attractive?" Liora echoed with a scoff. "You can't even attract proper grades."
Klyden clutched his chest as if stabbed. "Low blow, Liora. Low blow."
Wads sighed, shaking his head, but there was a quiet warmth in his eyes now. "…Some things never change."
"Exactly," Klyden said, slinging an arm around both Wads and Liora before either could push him away. "So here's to another year. Stronger, better, and classmates again like the old times. Cheers, yeah?"
Liora groaned, "Get your arm off me."
Wads muttered, "You're heavy."
But neither actually pushed him off.
Then Klyden's gaze landed squarely on Keiya. His grin widened. "But the one I'm most thankful for—Keiya Anastasia Zheka. Truly, what luck to still be your classmate."
Keiya blinked, caught off guard. "...What?"
Klyden leaned in, all confidence. "Don't look so shocked. Imagine if fate had cruelly separated us—you'd be adrift without my charm. Lonely. Probably brooding in a corner."
Her eye twitched. "Brooding?" she repeated slowly, voice flat.
"Exactly," Klyden continued, undeterred. "Brooding, joyless, colorless—like bread without butter. Admit it, Keiya. You'd miss me the most."
Liora snorted so loudly it turned a few heads. "Oh, stars. This is gold."
"Miss you?" Keiya said flatly, "I'd celebrate. Maybe even throw a feast."
But Klyden refused to let up, flashing a grin that could blind. "Oh come on, admit it—you'd be bored without me. Who else makes your life this entertaining? You'd wake up one day, sighing, 'Where's that handsome, brave, clever Klyden who keeps my heart racing with his mere presence?'" mimicking Keiya's voice in a silliest way.
"Handsome? Brave? Clever?" Each word dripped venom. Keiya inhaled through her nose, fingers twitching at her side like she was restraining herself from smacking him right then and there. "Klyden," she said, perfectly calm. "You sound like a traveling salesman no one asked for."
Klyden clasped his hands together, grinning as though she'd just confessed undying love. "Yet here you are, still listening. Face it—you can't ignore me."
Liora nearly fell out of her chair howling with laughter. Even Ashborne, sitting in the back, covered his face with a hand like he couldn't believe he was witnessing this circus.
Another twitch of her eye. Her lips pressed thin. "Unbelievable."
Wads finally sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "One day, Keiya will actually strangle you, and I won't stop her."
"Strangle me?" Klyden grinned, tilting his head. "Ah, see? Even in threats, she can't hide her affection."
Keiya just turned away, deciding silence was safer than indulging him further. But the faint flush at the tips of her ears betrayed the effort it took not to smack him outright.
..
The Great Hall's torches flickered low as the night settled in. The trials were over, the ranks set, the classes decided. Yet the bond among them lingered—brash, warm, unshaken.
Whatever trials lay ahead, whatever battles awaited, they knew one thing for certain.
This year, they wouldn't just endure it.
They would face it together.