CHAPTER 38: THE SELECTED FIFTY
The next morning...
Vee woke up before his alarm.
He stared at the ceiling.
For a few seconds, he said nothing.
Then—
"...I'm early again."
He slowly sat up.
"This is getting suspicious."
He got ready and left his room.
As he walked through the Academy hallway, he noticed one of the guardians standing near the stairs.
The guardian looked at him.
"Vee."
Vee stopped.
"Yes?"
"Where are you going?"
"My class."
The guardian raised an eyebrow.
"Your normal class?"
"Yes."
"...Didn't anyone tell you?"
Vee frowned.
"Tell me what?"
"You don't have your normal schedule today."
Vee stared at him.
"...I don't?"
"No."
"Then where am I supposed to go?"
The guardian pointed toward the eastern training grounds.
"Special training hall."
Vee blinked.
"Why?"
"You'll find out when you get there."
Vee sighed.
"Why does everyone in this Academy enjoy keeping me confused?"
The guardian smiled.
"Perhaps because you ask too many questions."
Vee pointed at him.
"That's not an answer."
He started walking.
"You're welcome."
Vee stopped.
"...What?"
But the guardian had already walked away.
Vee shook his head.
"Strange people."
As Vee made his way toward the eastern training grounds, he suddenly saw someone familiar walking toward him.
White hair.
Calm expression.
Lightning aura faintly surrounding his body.
Kai.
Kai stopped when he saw Vee.
"You're going there too?"
Vee nodded.
"Apparently."
Kai looked ahead.
"Then we're probably going to the same place."
Vee raised an eyebrow.
"Wait."
He looked at Kai.
"Did you also get kidnapped by the Academy?"
Kai frowned.
"I'm not kidnapped."
"That's exactly what someone who's been kidnapped would say."
Kai sighed.
"Just keep walking."
Vee smiled.
The two continued together.
After a short while, they reached the training grounds.
Vee immediately noticed something.
There were a lot of students.
Aurelia was there.
Leon.
Luna.
Several other students from Special Zone One.
But there were also students Vee had never seen before.
Vee looked around.
"What's going on?"
Kai answered.
"I don't know."
Vee stared at the crowd.
"That's unusual."
"What is?"
"You usually know everything."
Kai glanced at him.
"I don't."
"Good."
Vee smiled.
"I was beginning to feel inadequate."
Kai ignored him.
A teacher stepped forward.
The crowd became quiet.
"Good morning."
"Today, fifty students have been selected for a special training program."
Whispers immediately spread through the crowd.
"Fifty?"
"Why us?"
"What kind of training?"
The teacher raised his hand.
"Silence."
Everyone quieted down.
"You were selected based on your combat ability, mana control, potential, bloodline compatibility, and overall performance."
Vee looked around.
"So basically..."
He whispered to Kai.
"We're the Academy's favorite problems."
Kai looked at him.
"Speak for yourself."
Vee nodded.
"You're right."
He paused.
"I'm definitely the bigger problem."
Kai almost smiled.
Almost.
The teacher continued.
"This training will be different from your regular Academy classes."
"You will train together."
"You will be pushed beyond your current limits."
"And you will be expected to cooperate."
Vee's expression became thoughtful.
"Cooperate..."
That sounded interesting.
Then the teacher said something that caught his attention.
"Among these fifty students are several of the Academy's strongest first-years."
Vee looked around.
Aurelia stood nearby.
Kai was beside him.
Leon and Luna were among the selected students.
Vee smiled.
"So they gathered most of the important characters in one place."
That couldn't possibly go wrong.
At least...
He hoped.
The teacher folded his hands behind his back.
"Before training begins, everyone will introduce themselves."
A student stepped forward.
"My name is Leon."
"I specialize in swordsmanship and physical combat."
He stepped back.
Another student walked forward.
"Luna."
She gave a short introduction before returning to her place.
Then Aurelia stepped forward.
"My name is Aurelia Vaelis."
The moment she spoke her name...
Several students straightened.
"A princess..."
"She's actually here?"
Aurelia calmly returned to her place.
Vee smiled.
"She's getting used to that reaction."
Then Kai stepped forward.
The crowd became noticeably quieter.
"My name is Kai."
"I specialize in lightning."
He said nothing else.
He returned to his position.
Vee stared at him.
"...That's it?"
Kai looked at him.
"Yes."
Vee shook his head.
"Your introduction has the personality of a receipt."
A few students laughed.
Kai ignored him.
The teacher pointed toward Vee.
"Your turn."
Vee stepped forward.
Fifty pairs of eyes turned toward him.
He looked around.
"My name is Vee."
Silence.
He thought for a moment.
"I like sleeping."
A few students laughed.
"I like eating."
More laughter.
"And apparently..."
He looked toward the teacher.
"...I like getting dragged into strange situations."
The teacher sighed.
Vee smiled.
"But seriously."
"My goal is simple."
He paused.
"I want to become stronger."
The atmosphere became slightly more serious.
Vee stepped back.
The teacher nodded.
"Good."
Then he looked toward the remaining students.
"Next."
One by one, they introduced themselves.
Some were nobles.
Some were commoners.
Some specialized in weapons.
Others specialized in magic.
A few possessed rare affinities.
Vee quietly observed them.
"Fifty students..."
"Different backgrounds."
"Different abilities."
"Different personalities."
He glanced at Kai.
Then Aurelia.
Then the others.
Something about this training felt different.
This wasn't simply another Academy lesson.
The teachers weren't just trying to make them stronger.
They were preparing them for something.
And Vee had a feeling...
Whatever was coming next...
The Academy wanted its strongest students ready.