Three days later, the gates of Aurora opened again to confirm our survival.
Other groups had already returned before us. Cassian Montclaire was there, with two other heirs, August Reinar and Isolde Kareth. They didn't look tired from the trial. I wondered what kind of monster they had faced to be in such good condition. Still, many had gone beyond those walls… but only a few had come back.
Our clothes were covered in dried mud and blood.
Elias still had his arm in a scarf.
Lyra limped slightly, her hands still shaking even if she kept smiling.
Dorian walked unevenly; his daggers had melted and were replaced by two twisted pieces of iron that he kept "as souvenirs".
Asha walked with her head high, her halberd resting on her shoulder, the spark of lightning still visible in her eyes.
And me… I carried the monster's skull in my arms like a trophy.
Sometimes, I surprised myself with my new strength. I thought that the people who bullied me in elementary school would probably piss themselves if they saw me now.
The giant's head was huge and deformed, its single eye torn out, still hanging, darkened.
When people saw us, whispers spread through the crowd.
— They succeeded…?!
— What is that huge head? Don't tell me they fought a giant…
— They even came back with Dorian, seriously…?
— The specter… he survived too…
— I heard he has only been awakened for six months…
Their gazes moved toward me, like always. Some were fascinated, others full of hate, and some showed a strange mix of admiration and fear.
The Great Houses were also present. Their representatives watched us from the stands, wrapped in their coats and expensive clothes. There was no applause, no warm smiles, only cold eyes judging us.
I looked up and saw him.
Valerius Montclair.
He stood in the center of his group, straight, perfect, every movement controlled. His face showed only severity and power.
But his eyes…
His light blue eyes stared at me like I was an anomaly. Like an insect he would crush sooner or later.
A silent duel was happening. His gaze against mine.
And at that moment, a truth hit me: monsters were not the only thing I had to fear.
It was him…
Then my eyes met Selene's, sitting further away with her group. Her lips slowly formed a soft smile and her eyes shined like sunrise. She slightly tilted her head, like she was greeting me.
A subtle gesture. A game.
I didn't know if she was congratulating me… or if she was happy because she had won a bet on my victory.
Finally, we were led in front of the Headmaster. His gaze passed over each of us, cold and strict, before stopping on the titan's skull.
A small twisted smile appeared on the corner of his lips.
— Some of you came back less weak than when you arrived… Good. You are preparing for the next trial.
There was nothing comforting or kind in those words. Just the observation of a man, of an institution that had no problem sending teenagers to slaughter as part of a process, like a farmer sorting good seeds to grow.
We were supposed to become the future leaders of the world. Even if the idea annoyed me deeply, knowing all this made fighting monsters feel almost normal.
Around us, the whispers were already growing.
And that evening, in Aurora's halls, in the dorms, in the gardens… a new rumor was born.
— The specter killed a giant…
I walked in the shadows of the arches, proving my nickname once again, my muscles still hurting. I thought about the fight, about my power that had echoed inside me like a wild beast.
It wasn't an easy victory.
But here, nothing was given.
And I already knew: for the next mission, we would have to push ourselves even further.
Aurora had not changed: marble arches, crystal-lit halls, floating gardens bathed in golden light.
But we had.
And everyone knew it.
In the morning, in the dining hall, silence fell when we walked in.
All eyes turned toward us.
I could feel their weight, that curiosity mixed with gossip. The heirs who were laughing loudly lowered their voices, conversations stopped.
Words floated in the air:
— That's them.
— The group that faced a giant.
— Most people fought more basic monsters.
I looked at the ground, but I could still feel their eyes. Some fascinated, some jealous, some still full of contempt.
Dorian laughed as he dropped into a chair.
— They really love to talk a lot these days.
Elias looked at him seriously.
— Let them talk… the important thing is that it shows we are already gaining influence as a group…
Lyra nodded shyly, holding her bowl tightly.
Asha watched the room like it was a battlefield.
— I don't see it the same way as you, Elias… their gossip annoys me… if they are curious, they should come talk to us, she said.
And they did.
A small group of minor heirs approached us carefully. Faces I barely knew. Family names like Gorin and Cordale, ranked near the bottom of the top twenty most influential houses… forgotten in the shadow of the great ones.
— Iron Vongold… one of them said while lowering his head. We wanted… to congratulate you.
I looked at them without answering, a bit surprised.
— We know what it's like, another continued, being isolated, being seen as worthless because of our family rank… but you proved that we can survive… and stand out too.
Elias looked at them for a long moment, then nodded.
— If you ever want to train with us, let us know.
A small smile appeared on their faces. They nodded and left.
And I realized that our victory didn't belong only to us.
It inspired others.
But the hostility didn't take long to show.
Isolde Kareth crossed the room with her followers, her cold eyes fixed on me. She didn't say a word. She just looked at me with a contemptuous smile.
You are nothing… You will always be nothing…
Kael Theryn didn't limit himself to looks. He hit the table with his fist as he passed, knocking over my bowl.
— Enjoy your little victory, specter. The swamp spared you. The desert won't.
He left laughing, his friends beside him.
I stopped myself from answering, but Asha clenched her fist, ready to jump at him.
— Not now, I whispered.
Her eyes burned, but she controlled herself.
Then there was Marcus Veyrel.
He didn't move from his table. He just watched me, his face almost curious.
And in his eyes, I saw something different from contempt.
Like he was already measuring the danger I represented.
And finally… Cassian.
He entered later, wrapped in the light from the windows like a king without a crown. The whole room seemed to straighten when he walked by.
He didn't look at me right away.
But when he sat down, he slowly raised his eyes and his gaze met mine, like he was judging me, measuring me… and condemning me already.
That night, in my room, sleep refused to come. I could still hear the whispers from the dining hall, the quiet laughs, the shy congratulations. And the threats waiting in the shadows.
Like I said, Aurora was not a school.
It never had been.
It was a permanent trial.
And every mission, every victory, every fall… was a verdict that would raise us up or destroy us.
And as I closed my eyes, I made myself a promise.
This world may hate me, it may fear me… but it will never ignore me again.