The announcement about the academy exchange spread through the academy faster than Jezebeth expected.
By the following morning, almost everyone seemed to be talking about it.
Students gathered in the corridors before class, comparing their abilities and discussing who they thought would be selected. Some were confident. Others were already nervous.
Jezebeth mostly ignored the conversations.
He already knew where he stood.
As Special Candidate Number One, he was almost guaranteed a position.
Seraphina was in the same position.
But Leon was another matter.
He wasn't a Special Candidate.
And there were only three spots available for their academy.
Jezebeth leaned against the classroom window, watching students move across the courtyard below.
"So..."
Leon dropped into the seat beside him.
"You think you're getting picked?"
Jezebeth glanced at him.
"I'd be surprised if I wasn't."
Leon laughed.
"At least you're honest."
"You asked."
"I know."
Leon rested his head against his hand.
"I'm still going to try."
Jezebeth looked at him for a moment.
"You should."
Leon raised an eyebrow.
"That sounded almost encouraging."
"Don't get used to it."
Seraphina, sitting on the other side of Jezebeth, quietly smiled.
The conversation was interrupted when the classroom display suddenly activated.
A message appeared.
ALL SPECIAL CANDIDATES ARE TO REPORT TO THE HEADMASTER'S OFFICE AFTER CLASSES.
Jezebeth stared at the screen.
Seraphina did the same.
Leon looked between them.
"That's probably about the exchange."
"Probably," Seraphina said.
Jezebeth leaned back in his chair.
"Guess we'll find out."
---
After classes ended, Jezebeth and Seraphina made their way toward the headmaster's office.
The academy corridors were considerably quieter now.
Most students had already returned to their dorms or headed toward the training grounds, leaving the hallways almost empty.
They eventually stopped outside the large wooden doors of the headmaster's office.
Seraphina looked at Jezebeth.
"Nervous?"
"No."
"Not even a little?"
Jezebeth shook his head.
"You?"
She paused.
"Maybe."
Jezebeth smiled.
"You're still getting selected."
"I know."
"Then what's there to worry about?"
Seraphina looked at him.
"You make everything sound simple."
"Usually is."
She smiled faintly.
"That's probably why you're annoying."
Before Jezebeth could respond, the doors opened.
"Come in."
They entered.
The headmaster sat behind his desk, several documents arranged neatly before him.
He looked at the two students.
"Jezebeth Chronos. Seraphina Vale."
Both stood quietly.
"I assume you know why you're here."
"The exchange," Jezebeth answered.
The headmaster nodded.
"Correct."
He picked up a document.
"Due to your status as Special Candidates, your selection was determined before the general evaluation process."
Jezebeth wasn't surprised.
Seraphina remained composed.
"You two will represent this academy during the exchange."
Jezebeth nodded.
Seraphina bowed her head slightly.
"Understood."
The headmaster placed the document down.
"However, there is one final position."
Jezebeth's attention shifted.
"The third position will be awarded based on the results of tomorrow's evaluation."
Seraphina looked toward him.
"So there will be another test."
"Not exactly."
The headmaster leaned back.
"The evaluation will focus on more than individual ability."
His gaze became serious.
"Combat performance. Control. Decision-making. Teamwork."
Jezebeth understood immediately.
They weren't looking for the strongest student.
They were looking for someone who could function alongside others.
The headmaster dismissed them shortly afterward.
As they stepped into the hallway, Seraphina looked at Jezebeth.
"Any idea who will get the last spot?"
Jezebeth thought for a moment.
"No."
A familiar voice came from behind them.
"That's because nobody knows."
They turned.
Leon stood a few meters away.
He had apparently been waiting for them.
Jezebeth smiled.
"How long have you been standing there?"
"Long enough."
Seraphina crossed her arms.
"You were listening?"
"Maybe."
Jezebeth shook his head.
"You're unbelievable."
Leon grinned.
"I'm trying to get that third spot."
Jezebeth looked at him.
"Then prove you deserve it."
Leon blinked.
Then smiled.
"Gladly."
---
The following day, the evaluation began.
Students were brought to the training grounds in groups.
The atmosphere was completely different from ordinary classes.
Everyone knew what was at stake.
Only one student would earn the final position.
Jezebeth watched from the side as students took turns demonstrating their abilities.
Some were powerful.
Some were fast.
Others had impressive techniques.
But many lacked control.
A student would launch an attack too aggressively, destroying more of the training equipment than necessary.
Another would hesitate when given a difficult situation.
Jezebeth noticed every mistake.
Then Leon stepped forward.
The evaluation changed immediately.
Leon wasn't the strongest student there.
He didn't have the most impressive ability either.
But he was clever.
He adapted.
When another student lost control during the partnered portion of the evaluation, Leon didn't attack.
He protected his partner instead.
When given a difficult combat scenario, he didn't rush toward the objective.
He observed.
Then he acted.
Jezebeth watched silently.
Seraphina stood beside him.
"He's good."
Jezebeth nodded.
"Yeah."
"He might actually get it."
Jezebeth smiled slightly.
"Maybe."
Hours later, the results were announced.
The students gathered around the main display.
One name appeared beneath the two Special Candidates.
**JEZEBETH CHRONOS**
**SERAPHINA VALE**
And finally...
**LEON**
The crowd erupted.
Leon stared at the screen.
For several seconds, he didn't move.
Then his face slowly broke into a grin.
"I actually did it."
Jezebeth walked over and tapped him on the shoulder.
"Congratulations."
Leon looked at him.
"You sound disappointed."
"I'm not."
"You sure?"
Jezebeth smiled.
"You earned it."
Leon laughed.
Seraphina approached them.
"Congratulations, Leon."
"Thanks."
He looked at the three names displayed above them.
"Looks like we're a team now."
Jezebeth glanced toward Seraphina.
She nodded.
"Looks like it."
---
That evening, Jezebeth had barely returned to LaCroix Dorm when his phone vibrated.
A message appeared.
**Seraphina: Come to Lucia Dorm.**
Jezebeth stared at the message.
He typed.
**Jezebeth: Why?**
The response came almost immediately.
**Seraphina: We need to strategize.**
Jezebeth looked at the screen.
Then at the time.
He sighed.
"Of course."
A few minutes later, he arrived at Lucia Dorm.
The building was quieter than LaCroix Dorm, with only a few students moving through the halls.
Jezebeth stopped in front of Seraphina's room.
He raised his hand and knocked.
A few seconds passed.
The door opened.
And Jezebeth froze.
Seraphina stood in the doorway.
Her usually neat silver hair was gone.
Instead, soft blonde hair framed her face, falling naturally around her shoulders.
Her sapphire eyes met his.
For a moment, Jezebeth forgot why he had come.
He simply stared.
There was something about the way the light from the room reflected against her eyes that made it difficult to look away.
Seraphina noticed.
She tilted her head slightly.
"Jezebeth?"
He didn't answer.
His thoughts had completely stalled.
She watched him for another second.
Then her eyes moved across his face.
His messy dark hair.
His unusual pink eyes.
The slightly tired expression he carried.
For some reason, she found herself staring too.
Neither of them spoke.
The silence stretched between them.
Jezebeth finally blinked.
"...Your hair."
Seraphina's eyebrows lifted.
"My hair?"
"It's blonde."
She stared at him.
"Yes."
"I thought it was silver."
"It is usually silver."
Jezebeth looked at her again.
"So this is different."
Seraphina touched a strand of her hair.
"My natural color is blonde. The silver appearance comes from my ability."
Jezebeth nodded slowly.
"I see."
Another silence.
Seraphina looked at his hair.
"And yours is always messy."
Jezebeth immediately frowned.
"That's unnecessary."
"It's true."
"I fixed it this morning."
"That explains why it looks like that."
Jezebeth stared at her.
She smiled.
A genuine smile.
He couldn't help smiling back.
For a brief moment, neither of them thought about the exchange.
Neither thought about the competition.
Neither thought about their abilities.
They were simply standing there, looking at each other.
Seraphina eventually stepped aside.
"Are you coming in?"
Jezebeth snapped out of his thoughts.
"Right."
He walked inside.
Seraphina closed the door behind him.
A desk sat near the window with several papers spread across it.
Jezebeth looked at them.
"You're serious about this."
"We're representing the academy."
She walked toward the desk.
"We should know what we're getting into."
Jezebeth followed.
"And Leon?"
"He'll meet us tomorrow."
Jezebeth nodded.
He pulled out a chair.
"Then let's figure out what those academies are bringing."
Seraphina sat across from him.
"Exactly."
Neither of them noticed how close they had ended up sitting.
Outside the window, the academy grounds slowly disappeared beneath the evening sky.
The exchange was still several days away.
But the first step had already been taken.
And for Jezebeth, something else had begun that had nothing to do with the exchange.