The silence doesn't last long.
After the last few students finish their turns at the Orb none with a class worse than D rank the king gives a final, sweeping nod.
"Come. You must be weary from the summoning. Let us take you to dine and rest. The awakening takes a toll on the body."
He turns on his heel, robes flowing dramatically as he walks toward a side door. The queen follows, serene as a swan. The princess lingers for a moment, her eyes scanning us not with curiosity, but calculation then glides after them.
A guard barks something I don't hear, and a row of armored soldiers falls into place along the sides of the group, wordlessly urging us to follow.
We shuffle after them.
The throne room empties out slowly.
No one really talks to me as they file out, still whispering about the Orb results. No one asks how I'm feeling. Not even the teacher. I don't blame them. I wouldn't know what to say to someone with a "▓▓▓▓▓" class and an F-rank either.
A servant dressed in dark blue bows stiffly and gestures toward a side corridor. "This way, honored guests. This is the Hall of Moonlight for your welcome feast."
The name is fancy, but it's just another massive room. Vaulted ceilings, stained glass windows, chandeliers like frozen stars. A long table stretches down the middle, lined with ornate chairs. Golden plates and polished silverware gleam in the candlelight.
Everyone's a little too stunned to complain.
Brian immediately takes a seat near the head of the table, just down from where the king and queen are settling in. The princess sits silently beside them, sipping from a crystal goblet.
I find a seat near the far end. Quiet. Out of the way.
Platters of food appear, wheeled in by silent servants. Roasted meats, glazed vegetables, fruits I don't recognize. The smell is unreal. For a second, I think about how absurd this all is. Just this morning we were in math class, half-asleep. Now I'm in a castle, in another world, being fed like royalty.
The class starts eating, hesitant at first, then with growing enthusiasm. Food's food, even when you're traumatized.
Conversation buzzes down the table. Brian's already trying to impress the princess, asking loud, obnoxious questions about training and monsters. A few of the girls chat excitedly about their classes some kind of healer, a beast whisperer, a flame magician. All flashy.
The king answers every question with patient, regal authority.
"Yes, you'll each be given training under our Royal Order."
"Your rooms have already been prepared."
"No, returning to your world is not currently possible."
That one brings the room down. Forks pause midair.
Even the teacher goes quiet.
The queen adds gently, "You are not prisoners. You are honored guests. Champions. You shall want for nothing."
The princess doesn't speak at all. Just watches us, her expression unreadable.
I pick at my food and try to ignore the glances being sent my way. Most of them are quick and awkward classmates darting their eyes away when they realize I noticed. But the meaning's clear.
Pity.
I don't blame them. I probably look like the biggest dead weight in the group. F-rank. Redacted. The only one who didn't get an encouraging nod or a polite smile from the king.
Aria eventually asks, loud enough for the nobles to hear: "About the redacted class… is it some kind of mistake?"
The room goes quiet again.
The king sets down his goblet and meets her gaze. "The Orb does not lie."
That's all he says.
And that's all I need to know.
After dinner, more servants arrive to lead us down another hallway, this one quieter, less grand. A row of doors lines both sides.
"You each have your own room," the princess announces, speaking for the first time since the throne room. Her voice is soft but carries. "These are temporary quarters until your dormitories in the East Wing are prepared."
One by one, people peel off to find their doors, murmuring excitedly about the beds, the furniture, the hot baths.
I walk slowly, watching each student disappear into their room.
At the very end of the hallway, where the stone gets colder and the lanterns dimmer, I find mine.
It's just a plain door. A servant gestures silently.
Inside is a small room. Bed. Desk. Wardrobe. No chandelier. No extra touches. It's a normal medieval room.
I sit on the bed and stare at the blank wall.
I'm not angry.
I'm just… numb.
After some time i lay down and go to sleep.