The music inside the Grand Hall slowly resumed.
Conversations returned.
But the earlier moment between Lysander and Cassian had not gone unnoticed.
Several nobles quietly discussed it.
A blessingless commoner challenging a noble heir.
It was… unusual.
Taro leaned closer to Lysander.
"You really have no survival instinct."
Lysander took a calm sip of his drink.
"He approached me."
"Not the other way around."
Taro groaned.
"That's not the point."
Elara watched the room quietly.
Her silver hair reflected the chandelier light.
Several noble heirs had already glanced toward their table.
"…You attracted attention," she said calmly.
Lysander sighed.
"That wasn't my intention either."
Across the hall, Cassian returned to his table.
A young noble beside him spoke quietly.
"You're interested in that commoner?"
Cassian folded his arms.
"…Not interested."
"Just curious."
The noble laughed softly.
"A blessingless student."
"That's hardly worth your attention."
Cassian looked across the hall again.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Maybe."
At another table, two noble girls whispered.
"Did you see that?"
"The commoner?"
"He spoke to Dreadmoor without fear."
The second girl smiled slightly.
"…That's unusual."
Meanwhile—
Near the noble balcony—
House Moonveil's representatives spoke quietly with Elara's father.
Lord Moonveil observed the hall carefully.
His gaze eventually landed on Lysander.
"…That boy."
One of the nobles beside him asked,
"The commoner?"
Lord Moonveil nodded slowly.
"Elara seems comfortable around him."
That alone made him curious.
Back at the student tables, Taro was already eating again.
"You know," he said between bites,
"This banquet isn't bad."
Elara sighed.
"You only care about the food."
"Correct."
Lysander continued observing the room.
The nobles.
The instructors.
The priests.
Every conversation felt like a negotiation.
Power.
Influence.
Future alliances.
The academy truly was a political battlefield.
Suddenly the large doors at the front of the hall opened.
The room slowly quieted.
Headmaster Arcturus entered.
The elderly man carried the presence of someone who had fought countless battles.
He stepped toward the center of the hall.
The music stopped.
All eyes turned toward him.
The headmaster spoke calmly.
"Students."
"Tonight celebrates your awakening."
"But the academy does not measure potential through blessings alone."
The hall grew silent.
"Strength must be proven."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Which is why the First-Year Ranking Challenge will begin next week."
Excited whispers spread instantly.
A ranking system determined:
status inside the academy
mission priority
future leadership
The headmaster continued.
"Combat trials will determine your placement."
"Only the strongest will reach the top ranks."
Then his gaze slowly moved across the hall.
For a brief moment…
It stopped on Lysander.
"…Prepare yourselves."
Because once the rankings begin—
Your true worth will be revealed."
Taro leaned toward Lysander again.
"Okay…"
"Now things are getting interesting."
Lysander remained quiet.
But inside his mind—
The system appeared briefly.
Upcoming Event Detected
Academy Ranking Trials
Lysander closed the window.
His eyes drifted across the hall.
Until they landed briefly on Cassian again.
The rival heir was already watching him.
High above the hall—
On the balcony shadows—
The cloaked observer whispered softly.
"The story continues to change…"
Then vanished into the darkness.