Morning light filtered through the tall academy windows, cutting pale lines across rows of desks.
The class was louder than usual.
Not chaotic, just restless.
Rei leaned back slightly in his chair, whispering toward Cain without subtlety.
"Transfer student today."
Cain didn't look at him.
"So?"
Rei smirked. "So? We've been fighting wooden corpses for a week. I deserve something interesting."
Cain flipped a page of his notes.
"You'll survive."
Rei clicked his tongue. "I hope she's cute at least."
A few nearby students overheard and chuckled quietly.
The classroom door opened.
Silence fell naturally, not forced, just reflex.
Instructor Halden stepped in, boots echoing once against the stone floor. His expression was the same as always, neutral, unhurried.
He placed a folder on the desk.
"We have a transfer student joining this class," he said evenly.
Rei straightened slightly.
Transfer student.
His mind was already painting an image.
Tall? Short? Strict noble? Quiet prodigy?
Please don't be another silent sword fanatic, he thought. I can't handle two of those.
Halden turned toward the doorway.
"You may enter."
The door opened again.
A girl stepped inside.
Simple academy uniform. Neatly worn. Hair tied back without ornament. Calm eyes scanning the room, not searching, not anxious. Just steady.
She walked forward and stopped beside Halden.
She bowed politely.
"My name is Aera," she said softly. "I will be studying with you from today onward. I request your guidance."
Her voice was gentle, but not weak.
Cain's eyes lifted.
For a moment, nothing moved.
Recognition.
Not shock.
Not surprise.
Just confirmation.
Rei looked from Aera to Cain.
Then back to Aera.
Then slowly back to Cain again.
Oh.
Ohhh.
Halden spoke again before the silence stretched.
"Training will pause today. You have one day of rest."
A quiet wave of relief moved through the class.
"Use it properly," Halden added. "External evaluation is approaching."
He gave no further explanation.
Then he left.
Just like that.
The room broke into murmurs.
A day off.
After a week of bruises and mana fatigue, it felt unreal.
Aera glanced once more across the room.
Her gaze met Cain's fully this time.
Small shift.
She stepped down from the front.
Students began introducing themselves casually, curiosity outweighing reserve.
Rei stood up immediately.
He walked toward Cain, folding his arms.
"So," he muttered under his breath, "this is interesting."
Cain rose from his seat.
Aera approached before Rei could continue.
They stopped a comfortable distance apart.
No awkwardness.
"How are they?" Cain asked first.
Aera understood immediately.
"They're well," she said. "Your mother still worries too much."
Cain gave a faint nod. "That hasn't changed."
"And your father?" she asked.
"Training as usual."
Aera smiled softly at that.
"How was your family?" Cain asked.
"They're fine," she replied. "Busy."
A brief pause.
No dramatic reunion.
No emotional rush.
They had both changed.
Cain gestured lightly toward the rest of the class.
"You should speak with them."
Aera nodded. "Yes."
She stepped away and began introducing herself to nearby students.
Her tone was calm. She answered questions without hesitation. When someone asked her attribute, she responded simply.
"Water."
No boasting.
No explanation.
Just fact.
She listened more than she spoke.
Rei leaned closer to Cain again.
"First Liora," he whispered.
Cain didn't respond.
"Now childhood friend."
Still nothing.
Rei grinned. "Competition for your heart is escalating."
"There is no competition," Cain replied evenly.
"Sure," Rei said, unconvinced.
Across the room, Aera laughed lightly at something another student said.
Not loud.
Not forced.
Just natural.
Liora, seated near the window, glanced over once.
Her expression unreadable.
Then she returned her attention to her notebook.
Normal.
Everything felt… normal.
After some time, students began dispersing.
A day off meant rest, food, or collapsing onto beds.
Rei stretched his arms overhead.
"Well," he said, "if this is what rest days look like, I approve."
Cain walked toward the corridor.
Rei followed.
"You knew she was coming?" Rei asked casually.
"Yes."
"And didn't think to tell me?"
"It wasn't necessary."
Rei laughed. "You're impossible."
They parted ways near the dormitory stairs.
Cain entered his room quietly.
The familiar was already there, perched near the window, sensing his presence.
Cain closed the door.
"Aera joined," he said simply.
The familiar tilted its head.
He removed his outer layer and sat on the edge of the bed.
A healer.
In the coming external evaluation, that would matter.
Water attribute.
Stable mana control.
Useful.
But beyond that,
Greyridge felt less distant now.
He lay back slowly.
For a brief moment, he remembered a younger girl at the village gate, waving both arms wildly as a carriage rolled away.
Today, she had bowed calmly in a classroom.
Time moved quietly.
Cain closed his eyes.
The academy hummed faintly beyond the walls.
Tomorrow, training would resume.
And soon,
External evaluation.
Sleep came without resistance.
The day ended gently.
_____________________
Binge readers, pls move on to next chapter
Normal readers, hear me out.
Announcement from the author.
Hello guys, officially we have reached chapter 50 and just 15 to 20 more to finish my season 1 and next season 2 will arrive.
Guys, thanks for all the support u have given me but the sad part is NO ONE HAS YET JOINED MY DISCORD!!. Bro, I made it 2months back and yet not even a single soul has joined. I am collecting fans of my novel but still no one joins, so JOIN NOW!! Link is in the author's note.
Anyway, now as I have introduced Area. This gonna be good.
Chapter 50 celebration.
I will give u one spoiler guys.
"Area will be cain's first gf but she won't tell her feelings"
That's all.
Byee
Author - nikhiil
Editor - leo( u know him)