The bell signaling the end of first period echoed throughout the academy.
Students spilled into the hallways, stretching their arms and chatting excitedly as they made their way toward their next classes.
Ethan adjusted the strap of his bag as he stepped into the corridor with Rowan and Oliver.
"That wasn't as bad as I expected," Oliver admitted.
Rowan looked at him. "You shattered a mana crystal."
"…Details."
"You nearly shattered two."
"I said details."
Ethan laughed.
"I have a feeling Professor Marianne is going to remember your name."
Oliver puffed out his chest proudly. "I choose to believe that's a good thing."
The three wandered into one of the academy's open courtyards during the short break.
The courtyard was lively.
Some students sat beneath flowering trees reviewing notes.
Others hurried between buildings with books tucked under their arms.
A few Swordsmanship students were already eating snacks while comparing bruises from morning training.
Oliver bought three small pastries from a nearby stand. "My treat."
Ethan blinked. "You don't have to."
"I know."
Oliver handed one to him anyway.
"Consider it payment for not laughing too hard when I broke my crystal."
"I definitely laughed. So did Rowan."
Rowan took a bite of his pastry. "I regret nothing."
Oliver sighed dramatically.
"I've been betrayed."
The three shared a laugh.
Ethan felt…comfortable.
Like he was actually making friends. Not just pretending to be Lucien.
A familiar blue screen appeared in front of him.
[Upcoming Class
Introduction to Monster Ecology
Location: Lecture Hall A
Departments Attending:
Magic
Swordsmanship
Knight Studies
Scholarship| ]
Ethan's eyes widened slightly.
A shared class…
"So this is one of the general subjects."
According to Lucien's memories, students from every department attended these lectures together.
Which meant…
His gaze drifted toward the Swordsmanship Building across the courtyard.
"…Adrian will be there."
[Affirmative.]
A small smile tugged at the corner of Ethan's lips.
Maybe today…
He'd finally get a chance to speak with him.
.
.
.
The break passed quickly.
Soon, another bell rang across campus.
Students immediately began moving toward Lecture Hall A.
Unlike the department buildings, Lecture Hall A was enormous.
Wide stone steps led up to heavy oak doors, already propped open for the flood of students entering.
"This place is even bigger than Professor Marianne's classroom," Rowan muttered.
Oliver looked around. "There must be students from every department here."
Ethan remembered reading about these lectures in the novel.
First-years all learned the same foundational subjects before focusing on their specialties.
Inside, the lecture hall resembled a small theater.
Rows of seats rose in wide tiers around a large teaching platform.
Students naturally grouped together by department.
Swordsmanship students occupied one side.
Magic students another.
Knight Studies and Scholarship students filled the remaining sections.
Oliver pointed toward three empty seats.
"There!"
The trio hurried over and sat down.
Ethan found himself on the aisle.
He looked around discreetly.
Swordsmanship students continued filing in.
Then
Black hair.
Gray eyes.
Adrian entered with several other first-years.
Unlike yesterday, he wasn't alone.
The two students Ethan had seen him walking with after Mana Control chatted quietly beside him.
Adrian listened more than he spoke, occasionally nodding.
"Looks like he's making acquaintances." That was good. Very good.
The original novel had mentioned that Adrian wasn't completely isolated at first. The loneliness came later.
After certain events…
Events Ethan intended to stop.
Adrian and the others found seats only two rows ahead of Ethan.
Not close enough to talk naturally.
But close enough to see.
Oliver leaned over.
"Looks like the famous commoner is in our lecture."
Rowan nodded.
"I heard he's already become popular among the Swordsmanship instructors."
Ethan remained quiet.
He didn't want to draw attention to how interested he was.
The room gradually settled.
Then the doors closed.
An older professor with neatly combed silver hair stepped onto the platform carrying a stack of thick books.
Without any introduction, he wrote two large words across the board.
MONSTER ECOLOGY
He set the chalk down.
"Good morning."
"Good morning, Professor," hundreds of students answered.
"I am Professor Cedric Holloway."
"I teach Monster Ecology, one of the academy's required foundational courses."
His sharp eyes swept across the room.
"It doesn't matter whether you're a mage, swordsman, scholar, or knight."
"When a monster is trying to kill you. It certainly won't care."
Everyone seemed to straighten up at those words feeling the weight of it.
Professor Holloway nodded in satisfaction.
"Good."
He opened one of his books.
"For your first lesson… I have a simple question."
He looked around the room.
"What is the most dangerous monster in the Eastern Forest?"
Several hands immediately shot into the air.
The professor ignored them.
Instead…
His gaze drifted across the lecture hall until it landed on a student who hadn't raised a hand at all.
"You."
He pointed calmly.
"The young man by the aisle."
Ethan blinked.
"…Me?"
Professor Holloway nodded.
"Yes."
"What is the most dangerous monster in the Eastern Forest?"
Ethan's heart skipped.
"Seriously? I didn't even raise my hand"
The entire lecture hall turned to look at him.
Even Adrian glanced back, his gray eyes meeting Ethan's for the briefest moment.
Ethan quickly searched Lucien's memories…
And found nothing.
"Come on…come on…"
Then another memory surfaced.
Not Lucien's.
His own.
From the novel.
He remembered reading an early chapter where Adrian corrected a professor about this exact question.
Ethan swallowed.
"…The Crimson Fang Wolf."
The professor tilted his head.
"And why?"
"Because…" Ethan took a careful breath.
"People often assume it's the Iron Bear due to its strength. But Crimson Fang Wolves hunt in coordinated packs. They're intelligent enough to lure prey into ambushes. They're responsible for more casualties among adventurers than any other monster in the Eastern Forest."
The lecture hall grew quiet.
Professor Holloway studied him for a long moment.
Then…
A faint smile appeared. "Correct."
He nodded once.
"Very few first-years know that. You've done your reading."
Ethan let out the breath he'd been unconsciously holding.
"…Thank you."
As he sat down, Oliver leaned forward and whispered,
"You've been hiding that brain this whole time?"
"I got lucky."
Rowan smiled.
"I don't think luck had anything to do with it."
Two rows ahead, Adrian glanced back once more.
Not for long.
Just long enough to quietly wonder how a noble student had known an answer even some Swordsmanship students hadn't.
It lasted only a second before he turned his attention back to the lecture.
Still…
It was the first time Adrian had truly noticed Lucien Veris.
[Story Deviation: 0.6%]