Professor Holloway set down a thick textbook down with a quiet thud.
"Knowledge is useful."
He looked around the lecture hall.
"But knowledge without observation…" He tapped the edge of the podium. "Gets people killed."
The room fell silent.
"Most monsters don't behave exactly as they're described in books. They adapt. They migrate. They hunt differently depending on the season."
He folded his hands behind his back.
"If you rely solely on memorization, you won't survive long outside the academy."
Ethan nodded to himself. That matched what he'd read in the novel. Monsters in this world weren't mindless beasts. Some possessed frightening intelligence.
For the next half hour, Professor Holloway described the ecosystems surrounding the kingdom.
The Eastern Forest.
The Mistwood Marsh.
The Ashen Highlands.
As he spoke, enchanted illustrations floated above the lecture platform.
Towering wolves with crimson fur.
Massive bears covered in rocky armor.
Winged serpents soaring through storm clouds.
Students scribbled notes as quickly as they could.
Even Oliver looked unusually focused.
"…These drawings are incredible," he whispered.
Rowan nodded. "They're enchanted memories. They were recorded by adventurers."
Ethan watched the illusion of a Crimson Fang Wolf silently stalking through dense woods.
"Seeing it is much different than reading about it…"
Eventually, Professor Holloway closed the book.
"Enough listening."
A collective groan spread through the hall.
"I was wondering when he'd say that," Oliver muttered.
The professor ignored the reaction. "You'll now complete a short exercise."
With a wave of his hand, several assistants entered carrying stacks of parchment.
Each student received a single sheet.
Ethan looked down.
Across the top, in neat handwriting, were the words:
{First-Year Monster Identification Assessment}
Below were ten illustrations of different monsters.
Some looked familiar.
Others…not at all.
Professor Holloway smiled faintly.
"You may discuss your answers. However…"
He paused just long enough for everyone to pay attention.
"…You'll be working in pairs."
The room instantly erupted into conversation.
"Pairs?"
"With who?"
"Can we choose?"
Professor Holloway raised one hand.
"You will not be choosing." The excitement immediately quieted.
"I've already prepared the pairings."
"Oh no," Oliver whispered dramatically.
One of the teaching assistants began reading names aloud.
"Anna Fletcher…with Marcus Bell."
The two students gathered their papers and moved together.
"Lena Frost…with David Rowan."
More students stood.
Desks shifted.
Chairs scraped softly against the floor.
Ethan waited patiently.
Soon
"Oliver Hawthorne…"
Oliver perked up hopefully.
"…with Henry Collins."
"…Aw."
Henry waved from the opposite side of the room.
Oliver sighed before grabbing his paper.
"I'll see you two later."
"Good luck," Ethan said.
"I'll need it."
More names followed.
Finally
"Lucien Veris…"
Ethan stood.
"…with Rowan Ellis."
The two exchanged surprised looks.
"Well," Rowan said with a smile.
"That makes things easy."
"It does."
They pushed their desks together.
Across the room, Oliver gave Ethan an exaggerated thumbs-up before sitting beside Henry.
A few more names were called.
Then…
"Adrian Ashbourne…"
Several Swordsmanship students glanced toward him.
"…with Caleb Mercer."
A broad-shouldered boy with sandy blond hair looked up from the second row.
"There you are."
Caleb smiled easily as Adrian took the seat beside him.
Unlike many nobles…
There wasn't even a hint of hesitation in his expression.
"Looks like we're partners."
Adrian gave a polite nod.
"It seems so."
"I'm Caleb."
"Adrian."
The introduction was simple.
But genuine.
Ethan noticed it immediately.
"Caleb…"
The name sounded familiar.
He searched his memory.
Then remembered.
Caleb Mercer.
A supporting character from the novel.
One of the first people in the Swordsmanship Department to treat Adrian normally.
Not a major character.
But an important one.
"So the story's already progressing"
That was one less thing to worry about.
Professor Holloway clapped once.
"You have twenty minutes."
"Begin."
The lecture hall filled with quiet discussion.
Rowan studied the first illustration.
"A Stoneback Boar."
"Yeah," Ethan said. "The tusks give it away."
Rowan smiled.
"That was easy."
The second illustration was much harder.
The creature resembled three different species.
They debated quietly for several minutes before agreeing on an answer.
Meanwhile…
Ethan couldn't help occasionally glancing toward Adrian's side of the room.
Not often.
Just enough to notice.
Caleb did most of the talking.
Adrian listened carefully before offering short observations.
Whenever he spoke…
Caleb nodded thoughtfully instead of dismissing him.
It was a surprisingly balanced conversation.
Ethan felt relieved.
The novel hadn't focused much on Adrian's early friendships.
Most of those relationships faded away after darker events unfolded.
Maybe…
Just maybe…
Some of them could still be preserved.
"Lucien?"
Rowan's voice brought him back.
"Hm?"
"I think you're overthinking this one."
Ethan looked up.
He had been staring at the fifth illustration for nearly a minute.
"…Sorry."
"Something on your mind?"
"Just distracted."
Rowan didn't press further.
Instead, he pointed at the page.
"I think this one's a Moon Hare."
Ethan looked closer.
"No…"
He smiled.
"It's a Silver Brush Rabbit."
"The ears are shorter."
Rowan blinked.
"…You're right."
"You really know your monsters."
Ethan scratched the back of his neck.
"I've…read a lot."
That much, at least, was true.
Twenty minutes passed quickly.
Professor Holloway called the class back together.
"Time."
Papers were collected one row at a time.
As students returned to their original seats, conversations continued.
"I definitely failed number seven."
"What even was number nine?"
"I guessed."
Oliver flopped dramatically into the seat behind Ethan.
"I never want to see another rabbit again."
Rowan laughed.
"It wasn't that bad."
"It was."
The professor stacked the assessments neatly.
"Your scores are not important."
Several students looked confused.
"This exercise was meant to show you how much there is still to learn."
He looked around the room.
"Overconfidence has ended more adventuring careers than ignorance."
The bell rang almost on cue.
Professor Holloway smiled.
"That concludes today's lecture."
"Enjoy your lunch."
Students immediately began packing their bags.
The lecture hall buzzed with conversation as everyone prepared to leave.
Ethan slung his satchel over one shoulder.
As he turned toward the aisle—
He nearly walked straight into someone coming from the opposite direction.
"Oh—"
Both of them stopped just in time to avoid colliding.
Gray eyes met amber ones.
Adrian.
For a split second, neither of them spoke.
Then Adrian stepped back half a pace.
"…Sorry."
His voice was calm.
Quiet.
"It was my fault."
Ethan blinked.
He hadn't expected this.
"N-No, I wasn't paying attention either."
An awkward silence settled between them.
Students continued filing past on both sides.
Caleb called from farther down the aisle.
"Adrian! Come on, or the lunch line's going to be huge!"
Adrian glanced toward him before looking back at Ethan.
He gave a small nod.
"…See you."
Before Ethan could respond, Adrian turned and caught up with Caleb.
Ethan stood frozen.
"…That counted as an introduction, right?"
A familiar chime sounded.
[Side Quest Progress Updated
Introduce yourself to Adrian Ashbourne
Progress: Incomplete
A brief exchange has occurred, but neither party has properly introduced themselves.]
Ethan let out a helpless laugh.
"Seriously?"
Rowan walked over, raising an eyebrow.
"You know him?"
"Not really."
"It was Awkward then."
"…Yeah."
Ethan looked toward the doorway where Adrian had disappeared.
Their first real conversation… well it wasn't even considered a conversation.
"How am I supposed to talk to him …"