Chapter 4: Rankings Do Not Lie
The Royal Academy did not reward effort.
It rewarded results.
That truth became painfully clear the moment the ranking boards were unveiled.
Aren Valerius Arcanveil stood among the gathered students in the central plaza, his gaze fixed on the massive crystalline panels hovering above the stone platform. Lines of light rearranged themselves constantly as names, ranks, and scores updated in real time.
The academy's First-Term Preliminary Rankings.
Whispers spread instantly.
"Look at that—Kael Durnhart is first again."
"No surprise. His sword intent is already at Disciple level."
"Lucien Valecrest is second… of course."
"The gap between them and everyone else is ridiculous."
Aren listened without reacting.
He already knew the top ten by heart.
Kael Durnhart.
Lucien Valecrest.
Elira Moonveil.
Other ducal heirs and geniuses.
Names carved into fate.
And I'm not supposed to be here at all, Aren reminded himself.
His eyes moved lower, scanning the endless list until—
Rank 147: Aren Valerius Arcanveil
He stopped.
Not because the rank was low.
But because it was too high.
I should've been lower.
Given his restrained performance, Aren had expected to land somewhere beyond two hundred. A rank under the radar. A place no one bothered to remember.
Yet the academy's evaluation was ruthless.
Consistency.
Stability.
Efficiency.
Traits Aren had displayed unintentionally too well.
"…Rank one-forty-seven?" someone nearby muttered.
"That's higher than I expected from an Arcanveil extra."
"Didn't he survive the west wing collapse?"
Aren felt it immediately.
Eyes.
Not many—but enough.
The system pulsed softly.
[World Convergence System]
Notice: Plot Engagement Increased
Cause: Ranking Deviation
Effect: Rival Awareness Rising
"So even this counts," Aren thought grimly.
The ranking board shimmered again, locking the positions for the week.
At the top, Kael Durnhart stood alone, sword emblem blazing beside his name.
Lucien Valecrest followed, radiant mana crest glowing faintly.
The distance between first and second was small.
The distance between second and the rest… was a chasm.
And Aren?
He was standing just high enough to be noticed.
Later that afternoon, Aren found himself summoned to the Combat Evaluation Hall.
The hall was circular, its walls engraved with runes that recorded mana flow, physical output, and intent fluctuations. Several instructors sat behind a long table, expressions neutral.
"Student Aren Valerius Arcanveil," one of them spoke. "Step forward."
Aren complied.
"You displayed stable dual aptitude during training," the instructor continued. "Unusual for your background."
Unusual.
A polite word.
Aren bowed slightly. "I train diligently, sir."
A pause followed.
Then another instructor leaned forward.
"Your ranking places you within the top quarter of first-years. Be advised—future evaluations will be stricter."
Not a warning.
A declaration.
Aren understood instantly.
They're watching now.
"I understand," he replied calmly.
He was dismissed moments later.
No rewards.
No punishments.
But the message was clear.
From now on, mediocrity would no longer protect him.
That evening, Aren trained alone.
No spectators.
No praise.
Just blade and breath.
Sword forms flowed seamlessly into mana circulation, each reinforcing the other. Pain bloomed in his muscles, sharper than before, but his body endured.
Growth pressed against his limits.
Then—
A familiar pressure descended.
Not hostile.
Not friendly.
Evaluative.
The system manifested fully.
[World Convergence System]
Name: Aren Valerius Arcanveil
Title: Canon-Dead Extra | Ranked Academy Student
Affiliation: House Arcanveil
Path:
- Magic Cultivation
- Sword Cultivation
Realm:
- Magic: Apprentice Mage (Mid)
- Sword: Sword Trainee (Peak)
Attributes:
- Strength: 15
- Speed: 14 (+1)
- Stamina: 16
- Vitality: 16
- Mana: 19
- Mental Focus: 18 (+1)
Combat Stats:
- Physical Power: C
- Mana Control: C+
- Sword Mastery: C+
- Battle Instinct: B-
Skills:
- Dual Path Sovereignty (Authority · Passive)
- Basic Mana Control (Improved)
- Foundation Sword Forms (Refined)
Plot Metrics:
- Plot Engagement: 12% (+3%)
- Rival Nodes: 2 (Dormant → Stirring)
- Fate Attention: Low → Slight
Condition:
- Physical Fatigue (Moderate)
- Mana Circulation: Stable
System Evaluation:
- Status: Acceptable
- Threat Classification: Emerging Variable
Aren stared at the words Emerging Variable.
So fate had finally begun to adjust.
He sheathed his sword slowly.
"Rankings don't lie," he murmured. "But they don't tell the whole truth either."
The academy bell rang, signaling curfew.
Tomorrow would bring new evaluations.
New rivals.
New pressure.
And soon—
The first duel invitations.
Aren's eyes sharpened.
He had stepped onto the board.
Now the game would move faster.