As Reinhart and Aaron stood among the crowd near the Administration Block, their eyes scanned the flow of students moving through the Main Plaza.
Even though hours had passed, they still hadn't found any trace of Leon. Deep down, they both hoped he had passed—despite the odds.
Reinhart narrowed his eyes, then blinked.
"Wait a second…" he muttered.
His gaze locked onto a familiar figure creeping toward them, body hunched low, arms flailing in exaggerated "stealth mode" like a thief sneaking up behind a guard.
It was Leon.
He tiptoed through the plaza with a suspiciously dramatic expression on his face, dodging between benches and even ducking behind a potted plant as if someone might spot him and drag him back to the dorm.
A grin spread across Reinhart's face—but he kept quiet. He didn't tell Aaron, deciding instead to enjoy what was about to unfold.
Leon crept up behind them like a mischievous child playing spy games and—
Smack!
He gave Aaron a light chop to the back of his neck.
Aaron yelped, spinning around furiously with clenched fists. "Who the he—"
His expression froze mid-sentence as his eyes locked onto Leon.
And then…
"Boohooo! Leooon!"
Aaron's voice cracked as he burst into sudden tears, throwing his arms up like he'd just been reunited with a long-lost brother at sea.
Leon and Reinhart both stiffened in disbelief.
"W-Why are you crying?!" Leon asked, alarmed.
"You idiot! I thought you didn't make it! This bastard Reinhart was even giving me subtle hints—like you failed or something!"
Aaron wiped his tears, then immediately turned and started splashing metaphorical "dirty water" at Reinhart with his words.
"You emotionally manipulative knight reject! You ice-block of a friend! You—"
"Okay, okay, that's enough," Reinhart's mouth twitched as he held back his growing irritation. "It's not the right place to fight."
Despite the chaos, all three of them stood together now, the tension finally lifted. Their trio had made it. That unspoken relief filled the air between them.
After a few more moments of banter, they settled down on a bench near the Administration Block, beneath a softly glowing lotus-shaped lamp.
Reinhart leaned forward, a curious glint in his eyes.
"So Leon… what did you awaken?"
"Yeah, I've been wondering that too," Aaron chimed in. "Now that we know you're in, don't keep us guessing."
Leon rubbed the back of his neck, awkwardly. "Well… I didn't awaken anything."
"…Huh?"
Both Aaron and Reinhart blinked at him.
Leon then explained everything—how his awakening yielded no element, how he nearly gave up, and how the academy head personally accepted him.
There was silence.
"…So let me get this straight," Reinhart muttered. "You didn't awaken. You didn't do the second test. And yet… you got in."
Leon gave a sheepish shrug. "Yup."
Aaron turned toward Reinhart with an unreadable expression. "I feel like we were cheated."
Reinhart nodded slowly. "I feel insulted."
Leon laughed nervously as both of them fell into a contemplative silence, staring at the plaza's floor like it had betrayed them.
Eventually, Aaron snapped out of it and puffed up proudly. "Well, putting that aside! What class are you in, Leon? I got Class 1-A! Reinhart too."
Leon sighed. "I'm in 1-D."
Aaron's smile faltered. "Oh…"
"It's fine," Leon added quickly. "At least we're in the same academy. We can still meet after class."
Aaron gave him a thumbs-up with dramatic enthusiasm. "That's right! Lunch, break, after-hours—we're inseparable!"
Reinhart snorted. "Until exams come."
"Shut up," Aaron grumbled.
Leon looked at the two of them—bickering already like nothing had changed—and smiled softly to himself.
The sun dipped behind the towering academy spires, painting the sky in hues of orange and violet.
The three boys, lost in their cheerful chatter, hadn't even noticed how quickly time had passed.
"Whoa, it's already dark?" Aaron blinked, looking up at the glowing lanterns floating gently above the cobbled paths.
"Time really flew," Reinhart chuckled. "Feels like we only just found each other."
Leon stretched lazily and let out a small yawn. "Let's call it a day. We'll meet tomorrow morning."
"Sounds good to me," Aaron replied.
The three of them started to walk—but Leon abruptly turned in the opposite direction.
"Uh... Leon?" Reinhart called out, watching him wander off. "Wrong way, genius."
Leon paused mid-step and pointed behind him with his thumb. "Nah, my room's over here."
Aaron tilted his head. "Seriously? You're in the opposite wing?"
"Yeah," Leon nodded. "Guess the academy's trying to keep us apart on purpose."
Aaron groaned. "We're already in different classes, and now rooms too? This place is heartless."
Leon just smirked. "Maybe they sensed I'd be too much for you two to handle."
"Delusional " Reinhart said, rolling his eyes.
With a round of lazy goodbyes and playful mock salutes, the group split up, each heading toward their own rooms.
Leon's path was quiet. The lanterns lining the stone walkways pulsed gently with magic, casting soft pools of light across the corridor.
The silence was peaceful, interrupted only by the faint hum of the wind and the occasional sound of distant laughter from other students settling in.
He finally reached his door—Room 1 and unlocked it with the key card he'd been given during registration.
Click.
The door creaked open, revealing a surprisingly cozy space. A soft magical lamp lit up automatically as he stepped in.
Leon threw himself onto the bed with a sigh. "Finally."
The sheets smelled fresh. The pillow was soft. For a moment, he let his eyes drift shut… until his stomach let out a growl that sounded like a wild beast protesting starvation.
"...Right," Leon muttered, sitting up. "I didn't eat dinner."
Just then—knock knock knock.
He blinked.
"Who's that?"
Another knock. Curious, Leon walked over and opened the door.
Standing there was something out of a sci-fi novel. A robot—boxy, metallic, with a humanoid head and a smooth cylinder for a lower body—stood patiently.
It was pushing a sleek trolley filled with warm containers, much like the ones used on luxury flights.
Its glowing eyes blinked once before it spoke in a flat, robotic tone:
"Room 1. Meal delivery."
"Oh?" Leon tilted his head. "I get room service here?"
The robot handed over a silver box that radiated with heat.
"Food."
Leon took the box, eyebrows raised. "Uh… thanks, Mr. Foodbot."
The robot didn't respond, merely turned with mechanical precision and rolled away silently down the corridor.
Closing the door behind him, Leon placed the box on his desk and opened it.
The aroma hit instantly.
Steamed vegetables, sizzling meat cuts, soft bread, and a glowing blue drink that looked way fancier than it should've been.
"Yo, is this what rich kids eat every day?" Leon said with a grin.
Not wasting a second, he attacked the meal like a starving predator. His fork moved like a blur.
In a matter of minutes, the box was empty, and Leon leaned back in his chair, rubbing his now very full stomach.
"Who needs a dining hall when you've got robots bringing food to your door…"
Dragging himself to bed like a bear after a feast, he collapsed under the covers and didn't even bother changing into his sleepwear.
Within seconds, Leon was snoring softly, one leg hanging off the bed.
The Next Morning
The first rays of sunlight peeked through the small window, casting a warm glow across Leon's peaceful face.
He stirred, groaned, and slowly sat up.
"Ugh… why did I eat so much?" he muttered, holding his stomach.
But a second later, he remembered what today was.
"First day…"
Despite his complaints, he got up, washed his face with the water from the enchanted sink in his room, and changed into the crisp academy uniform.