Wor-en scribbled the final item onto the chalkboard, then turned to face the class.

  “These are your subject choices,” he said, tapping the board. “Each of you must enroll in at least three and pass them. This room will remain open after lunch for your use—studying, practicing, whatever you like. I’ll be here Monday and Wednesday morning unless I’m called away. I have other obligations, and I won’t always be on campus. If you need me, go through the principal.”

  He gave them a long look, as if daring anyone to complain.

  Suri leaned over to Kana and whispered, “What subjects are you taking?”

  “History, Art, and Geography,” Kana replied without hesitation.

  Suri made a sour face. “Ugh. So boring. Well, except Art. Book-eater Kana is back!”

  “I’ll take the same ones,” Boris said, challenging Kana. “You might fail one, and I will do better this time.”

  Kana raised an eyebrow. “Unlikely.”

  “I’m taking Art, Mana Theory I,” Suri said, twirling a strand of hair, “and I’ll leave one slot open for my dear Andel. We need to meet at least once a week, after all.”

  Across the room, Andel suddenly shivered. He looked at the trio, confused, then shook his head and forced himself to focus back on Wor-en.

  Wor-en cleared his throat. “One more thing. I know you’re aware but copper class can also join. Each year, we hold an annual tournament—teams of up to ten students from the same year battle in an elimination format. Winners receive silver coins, enchanted items, and something better—recognition and honour from the king himself.”

  A ripple of excitement spread through the room. Even among Copper Class, the words “enchanted items” held weight.

  Kana, Suri, and Boris exchanged glances. They’d only heard of the event through wandering merchants—who spoke of packed arenas and fierce duels. Admission alone was costly enough to keep out most commoners.

  “We should not join,” Boris said abruptly.

  Kana blinked, surprised. “You’re the last person I expected to say that.”

  “I agree,” Kana added. “Too much attention. Unwanted attention”

  They both looked at Suri, who was busy fidgeting with her nails.

  She didn’t even look up. “I will not.”

  The three of them sat in mutual silence for a moment—united, for once, in a shared refusal.

  ……..

  “Any questions?” Wor-en’s voice echoed slightly in the modest classroom. His gaze swept across the eight students, eyes sharp but already tired. “If not, bring me your chosen subjects by the next meeting—or I’ll choose them for you. And I don’t pick gently. Class dismissed.”

  Chairs scraped against stone as the students stood. Boris immediately veered off, clearly desperate to escape Suri’s chatter, and made a beeline for Adam. The two began an animated conversation, likely about muscles.

  Suri, meanwhile, was still going strong beside Kana, babbling cheerfully about the complicated ecosystem of love, longing, and hairstyle compatibility.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  Kana remained stone-faced. She didn’t even try to follow.

  Then came a soft voice behind them. “Um… hello. Can I join you?”

  They turned to see Rin—the pale girl with too-big eyes and hesitant steps—twisting her fingers nervously.

  “I don’t really know anyone here,” she continued, voice nearly whispering. “And I’m a commoner, so I—”

  Before she could finish, Suri grabbed her by the wrist and yanked her down into the seat beside them.

  “Of course you can join us!” Suri said brightly, already buzzing with new energy. She gestured toward Kana. “That one over there? Completely boring. So let’s talk about something important.”

  Rin blinked, startled. “Important?”

  “Boys,” Suri declared with a dramatic sigh. “Tell me—do you have someone you like?”

  Kana didn’t even respond. She simply turned her head and gave Suri a flat stare.

  Suri grinned. “See? No soul. But you and me, Rin? We’re going to get along great.”

  Kana shook her head slowly. Suri always had time for nonsense. How, Kana could never understand.

  ……

  Kana looked at Boris, two large boys outside the entrance of the door.

  “Adam! How did you get your chest that big? I’ve been trying to improve that part.” Boris asked, voice low but filled with eager curiosity.

  Adam grinned, his academy-issued uniform stretched comically tight across his torso. With practiced ease, he flexed his chest muscles one at a time, the motion visibly rippling beneath his shirt.

  “This?” he said proudly. “I focus on pushing against my own weight—slow movements, real control. You want to isolate the chest, keep tension throughout the motion.”

  Across the room, Kana sighed. That was the downside of having enhanced awareness—you couldn’t choose what you heard. Even now, with Boris and Adam murmuring, their words carried to her as clearly as if they were shouting.

  She shifted her gaze and noticed something odd: Toby, the exorcist, sighed at the exact same time.

  The exorcist kid?

  She tilted her head slightly. Toby sat hunched over a stack of books, his brow furrowed. Kana remembered reading about his class in passing—a name, a mention, nothing useful. Most of their classmates were the same. Very rare in records. But Exorcist? She might ask a favour for him in the future. What if I got cursed in the dungeon?

  Should I give him a hint?

  Kana stood and approached him quietly. Toby looked up, startled as she stopped beside his table.

  “I love reading books,” Kana said plainly.

  Toby straightened so quickly he nearly knocked over his chair. His cheeks turned pink. “Really? Me too!”

  “Good to hear.” Kana kept her tone neutral, her eyes drifting to the text in his hands. “I think I read about someone like you. Same class. Made a fortune.”

  She lied. Badly. Even she rolled her eyes at herself.

  Toby didn’t seem to notice. “Are you serious?”

  He gestured for her to sit. His expression had shifted—eager, hopeful, desperate for direction.

  “That guy,” Kana said, lowering her voice. “You can’t heal in the usual way. But you can cure people—if they’ve been cursed. That’s your key. It won’t show in normal tests. You need to find someone who’s been affected.”

  Toby’s eyes lit up. “That makes sense... I haven’t tried that yet. I’ve just been going down this list—” He pulled out a crumpled piece of parchment filled with tiny notes and crossed-out ideas.

  Kana gave him a nod and stood. “Try the Adventurer’s Guild. They might let you test your skills on a real case.”

  “Thank you!” Toby beamed, his nervous posture forgotten as he stuffed the paper into his pocket. He ran for the door, pausing only to wave back at her with one hand. “I’ll tell you if it works!”

  Kana smirked to herself. Curses were poorly understood, wrapped in myth and half-truths. She didn’t know much, but she had a good feeling about Toby’s class. If he owed her later, even better. Favors were a currency more valuable than gold.

  She returned to her seat. Suri and Rin were still giggling—too loud, too bright, as usual. As Kana sat down, Suri leaned forward and grinned wickedly.

  “I didn’t know you liked bookish boys,” she said. “Toby’s cute in a ‘frazzled scholar’ sort of way. I approve!”

  Kana groaned very loudly. Little did she know that giving Toby’s hint would bring a lot more troubles than it’s worth.