Morning sunlight crept through the dorm curtains.
Peaceful.
Quiet.
Comfortable.
Too comfortable.
Keith slowly opened his eyes.
"…Morning already?"
He sat up lazily before immediately freezing.
"…Huh?"
A silver-haired girl was hanging upside down from the upper bunk, staring directly at him.
"…Good morning."
Keith nearly fell off the bed.
"WHAT THE HELL?!"
Maki blinked.
"…That reaction seems excessive."
"You're upside down!"
"Observant."
"WHY ARE YOU WATCHING ME SLEEP?!"
"I woke up first and got bored."
"…You're terrifying."
Maki dropped down from the upper bunk effortlessly.
"Thanks."
"That wasn't praise."
"Still counts."
Keith rubbed his face tiredly.
"…You're way too energetic in the morning."
"And you're way too dramatic."
"I woke up to a human chandelier staring at me!"
Maki thought for a moment.
"…Fair."
A few minutes later the two walked through the academy grounds together. Mostly because Maki kept following him.
"…Why are we walking together?" Keith asked suspiciously.
"Because we live together now."
"That's not how logic works."
"It is for me."
"…You really just do whatever you want, huh?"
"Pretty much."
Keith sighed.
"…This is gonna be exhausting."
Maki grinned.
"You'll survive."
The academy grounds were overflowing with students some practiced magic others explored the massive campus. Many immediately noticed the pair walking together and froze.
"…Isn't that Lady Maki?"
"…Why is she with that commoner?"
"…Wait, isn't that the four-attribute guy?!"
Whispers spread instantly.
"Wow lucky a nickname already." Maki teased.
Keith's eye twitched.
"…Great."
Maki looked completely unbothered.
"…You care too much about what people think."
"That's easy for a noble to say."
Maki paused slightly.
"…True."
That answer caught Keith off guard. Most nobles would've gotten defensive. She just accepted it.
Suddenly—
A group of noble students blocked their path.
Keith immediately recognized one of them.
"…Lady Maki," the noble greeted calmly.
Maki raised a hand lazily.
"Oh hey dude."
Keith nearly choked.
"…I don't think that's how a noble should talk"
The noble's on eyebrow twitched slightly.
"…It's Ivys witsburg we met at the festival 2 years ago."
"Yeah two years is a long time man."
"That got worse."
The other nobles glared openly at Keith. One stepped forward.
"…Lady Maki, why are you associating with a commoner?"
Keith immediately frowned.
Here we go again.
But before he could respond Maki answered casually.
"Because he lives with me."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Keith's soul nearly left his body.
"…YOU WHAT?!" The nobles looked horrified. Ivys looked stunned. Nearby students immediately started whispering violently.
"…THEY LIVE TOGETHER?!"
"…WHAT?!"
"…SINCE WHEN?!"
"HOW COULD I HAVE MISSED SUCH AN OPPORTUNITY"
Keith panicked instantly.
"WAIT! IT'S NOT LIKE THAT!"
Maki tilted her head innocently.
"…But we literally share a dorm."
"That's not helping!"
The nobles looked ready to explode.
"…A commoner sharing a dorm with Lady Maki?!"
"That's outrageous!"
Keith grabbed his forehead.
"…I'm gonna die."
Maki looked genuinely confused.
"…Why's everyone acting weird?"
Ivys stared at her for several seconds before sighing deeply.
"…Lady Maki…"
"…You should be more careful with your wording."
"…Oh."
A pause.
"…OHHHH."
Keith pointed aggressively at her.
"YOU JUST REALIZED?!"
"Look man, my brain just woke up."
"It's almost noon!"
The crowd continued whispering. Maki suddenly leaned closer to Keith slightly.
"…Wanna mess with them more?"
"…Absolutely not."
"…Coward."
Before the situation could escalate further a loud bell echoed across the academy.
CLANGGGG!
An instructor's magically enhanced voice rang out.
"All Elite Class students report immediately to Arena One!"
The atmosphere changed instantly.
"…Elite?"
"…Already?"
Ivys straightened.
"…Looks like class starts now."
He glanced toward Keith.
"…Don't hold us back, commoner."
Keith's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Could say the same to you."
Ivys smirked faintly before leaving. The other nobles followed quickly. Maki stretched lazily.
"…Well? roommate."
"…Don't call me that in public."
"Too late now."
"…I hate this academy already."
"You'll grow into it."
"I'd rather not."
Arena One
The largest arena in Azure Academy.
Reserved only for the strongest students.
Hundreds of students gathered in the stands watching the Elite Class arrivals carefully.
Because Elite students were different. Future kingdom leaders.
Future generals.
Future monsters.
Keith and Maki entered together and instantly became the center of attention again.
"…There they are…"
"…The four-attribute commoner…"
"…And Lady Maki…"
Standing at the center of the arena was a tall woman with crimson hair tied into a long ponytail. Scars lined one side of her face.
Her presence alone felt sharp enough to cut skin.
"I am Instructor Selena."
Her voice echoed coldly.
"Elite Class homeroom instructor."
No one dared speak. Selena's eyes swept across the students.
"…You are the academy's finest."
A pause.
"…Unfortunately, most of you are trash."
The students stiffened instantly. Maki whispered quietly to Keith.
"…I like her already."
"…Please don't."
Selena continued.
"Talent means nothing here."
"I don't care about your status."
"I don't care about your families."
"And I especially don't care about your pride."
Her aura suddenly exploded outward. The pressure alone made several students stumble.
"…Because if you hesitate in real combat…"
"…you die."
Silence consumed the arena. Even the nobles looked tense now.
Then—
Selena smiled It wasn't reassuring.
It looked dangerous.
"Now then…"
"…Let's see how many of you survive this week."
Maki's eyes sparkled slightly.
"…This academy might actually be fun."
Keith slowly looked at her.
"…Why do scary situations excite you?"
She grinned.
"Because normal is boring."
Keith sighed deeply.
"…Akira would've said the exact same thing…"
Maki froze for half a second.
"…Huh?"
Keith blinked.
"…Oh nothing?"
For a brief moment the air between them shifted strangely again.
Familiar.
Warm.
Dangerously close to the truth.
Then—
"Oi! New monsters!"
A loud voice shattered the atmosphere.
Everyone turned. A tall red-haired boy casually walked into the arena with both hands in his pockets. His academy jacket hung loosely over his shoulders instead of being worn properly. Behind him followed a blonde girl carrying an absurdly large spear on her back.
And beside her—
A black-haired student lazily eating bread like he accidentally wandered into the wrong building. Selena's eye twitched immediately.
"…You three are late."
The red-haired boy grinned shamelessly.
"Nah, technically we arrived eventually."
"…That is the definition of late." Selena shouted.
"Details."
The blonde girl sighed.
"Sorry, Instructor Selena. Leon overslept."
"Traitor," Leon muttered.
"You were drooling on your pillow."
"That information was confidential."
The black-haired student quietly raised his bread.
"…I regret being associated with them."
Selena pinched the bridge of her nose.
"…Wonderful."
She pointed toward the three.
"These are your senior Elite students."
A pause.
"…Try not to become this disappointing."
"HEY!" Leon protested immediately.
Maki leaned slightly toward Keith.
"…I like them."
"Of course you do." Keith said feeling exasperated.
"They radiate chaos."
"That's not a compliment."
"It is for me."
Selena folded her arms.
"Since you insects survived the entrance exam…today's lesson will determine whether you deserve Elite Class at all."
The students stiffened.
"…Determine?"
Without warning—
Selena snapped her fingers.
BOOOOM!!
Massive iron gates around the arena suddenly opened. Heavy footsteps echoed from within the darkness.
Then—
Something emerged. A gigantic beast covered in black armored scales, crimson eyes, rows of jagged teeth, Mana radiating violently from its body. The crowd erupted instantly.
"…A Black Fang Bear?!"
"…That thing is B-rank!"
"…Is she insane?!"
Keith's expression sharpened immediately.
"…That pressure…"
Even he felt danger from it.
Beside him—
Maki's eyes sparkled.
"…IT'S FLUFFY."
Keith stared at her in horror.
"…That's what you got from this?!"
"I kinda wanna pet it."
"That thing could bite your spine out."
"…Worth the risk."
"No!"
The Black Fang Bear roared. The sound shook the entire arena. Several students instinctively stepped backward. Selena remained completely calm.
"Your task is simple."
She smiled coldly.
"…Survive for ten minutes."
Silence.
Then chaos erupted.
"…TEN MINUTES?!"
"…WITH THAT THING?!"
"…THIS ISN'T TRAINING!"
Selena's aura exploded again.
"REAL COMBAT DOESN'T CARE ABOUT YOUR OPINIONS!"
The pressure silenced everyone instantly.
The beast charged.
FAST.
Far faster than its size suggested. A noble student panicked and launched fire magic recklessly.
BOOOOM!!
The flames exploded harmlessly against the creature's armored hide.
"…What?!"
The bear swung casually. The student got launched across the arena screaming.
"Formation!" Ivys shouted immediately.
Several nobles regrouped quickly, earth walls rose. Wind users supported movement,
water users prepared restraints.
Keith narrowed his eyes.
"…At least some of them know what they're doing."
Then—
He noticed Maki.
"…Maki?"
She was gone.
"…Where did she—"
Above the battlefield—
Maki casually stood atop one of the arena pillars.
"…Okay this thing's actually kinda cute."
The Black Fang Bear looked upward, their eyes met. A dangerous grin slowly spread across Maki's face.
"…Wanna play?"
The beast ROARED.
Then leapt directly toward her, the students screamed.
"…IT JUMPED?!"
"…THAT HIGH?!"
Maki laughed.
Actually laughed.
"OH THAT'S SICK!"
Keith grabbed his forehead.
"…She's insane."
Mid-air—
Water spiraled around Maki's arm instantly.
"Water Style: Ripple Drive." She punched downward.
BOOOOM!!
Compressed water exploded against the beast's head, redirecting its momentum sideways. The bear crashed violently into the arena wall. Dust exploded everywhere.
Silence.
Everyone stared upward.
"…She hit a Black Fang Bear head-on…"
"…Without fear…"
"…Who IS she?"
Maki landed lightly.
"…Okay maybe petting it's off the table."
The bear slowly rose again.
Angrier now.
Its body began glowing crimson. Selena's expression sharpened slightly.
"…Interesting."
Keith immediately noticed the mana shift.
"…It's enraging."
"Everyone move!" he shouted.
Too late.
The beast roared again, a shockwave erupted outward violently. Several students got blown away instantly even the formation shattered. Keith used wind magic to stabilize himself.
Then suddenly—
He saw a terrified commoner frozen in place directly in the beast's path.
"…Crap."
The bear charged, the student couldn't move fear locked his body completely.
Before Keith could intervene—
Water surged across the arena floor. Maki appeared instantly.
"Move."
She grabbed the student by the collar and threw him away just before the beast slammed downward.
BOOOOM!!
The arena cracked beneath the impact. Dust covered everything.
"…Lady Maki saved him…"
"…She protected a commoner?"
Even the nobles looked shocked. Maki slowly stood from the dust.
"…You okay?"
The terrified student nodded shakily.
"…Y-Yes…"
"Cool. Try not to die."
"…RIGHT."
Keith stared at her quietly.
"…She really does help people instinctively…"
Something about it hurt strangely, like nostalgia pressing against his chest. The beast roared again.
This time—
Keith moved too, wind exploded beneath his feet. He accelerated instantly fire gathered in one hand lightning flickered faintly in the other.
Maki noticed immediately.
"…Oh?"
Keith slammed fire directly into the beast's side while enhancing the explosion using wind.
BOOOOM!!
The creature staggered.
Not badly injured—
But interrupted.
"…Nice combo," Maki admitted.
Keith glanced toward her.
"…You too."
For the first time—
They stood side by side.
Naturally.
Like they'd done it before, Selena watched silently from above.
"…Interesting…"
Leon grinned widely.
"OHHH this year's Elite class is spicy."
The blonde girl nodded.
"…Those two especially."
Meanwhile—
Keith and Maki unknowingly moved in sync against the raging beast. Water redirected its attacks.
Wind shifted movement.
Fire created openings.
Neither needed instructions.
Neither needed explanations.
They just understood Instinctively.
Then suddenly—
Maki slipped slightly after dodging.
"…!"
The beast's claw descended immediately.
Keith reacted without thinking.
"MOVE!"
He grabbed her wrist violently and pulled her against him as the claw slammed past.
BOOOOOM!!
Dust exploded everywhere For a brief second
they froze.
Extremely close.
Maki blinked.
Keith's heartbeat spiked strangely.
Before either could continue the Black Fang Bear roared again. And somewhere deep inside both of them a forgotten memory trembled awake.The Black Fang Bear's roar shook the arena again. The ground cracked beneath its claws as crimson mana erupted wildly from its body.
Dust spiraled through the air. Students scrambled to recover formation. And right in the center of the chaos Keith and Maki stood frozen for half a second too long.
"…You really sound like him sometimes."
Keith's chest tightened.
"…Who?"
Maki opened her mouth then immediately stopped herself.
"…Nobody."
Lie.
Again.
A terrible one.
Before Keith could press further—
"MOVE, YOU TWO!"
Ivys' voice thundered across the arena.
A massive stone spear shot toward the beast's exposed side
BOOOOM!!
The impact forced the Black Fang Bear backward several meters. For the first time,
the Elite students truly began fighting together.
"Frontline, pin it down!" Ivys ordered sharply.
Unlike before, the nobles actually listened.
Three earth mages slammed their hands downward simultaneously.
"Earth Style: Titan Shackles!"
Massive stone restraints burst from the ground, wrapping around the beast's limbs.
"Wind users, stabilize the formation!"
Several students cast wind currents around the arena, redirecting dust and improving visibility.
"Water support with me!" a blue-haired noble girl shouted.
Water chains surged forward, reinforcing the stone restraints.
The beast ROARED violently. Cracks immediately spread through the bindings.
"…It's too strong!" one student panicked.
"Then reinforce them!" Ivys barked.
Keith blinked slightly.
"…He's actually competent."
Maki grinned.
"Yeah. Festival NPC became a squad leader."
"That nickname is illegal."
Then—
BOOOOOM!!
The Black Fang Bear shattered part of the restraints instantly. Students screamed.
But this time—
They didn't scatter.
"Leon!" Ivys shouted.
The red-haired senior cracked his neck lazily.
"…Finally."
Flames exploded around his body. Not ordinary flames.
Deep crimson.
Almost molten.
The pressure alone warped the air,
several first years widened their eyes.
"…That mana…"
"…Monster…"
Leon grinned wildly.
"Try not to blink."
He vanished.
BOOOOOM!!
The arena exploded beneath his acceleration.
In an instant—
He appeared directly above the Black Fang Bear.
"Crimson Style: Hell Drop."
His kick descended like a meteor.
BOOOOOOM!!
Fire erupted across the beast's back violently. The impact forced the enormous creature to its knees for the first time. The entire arena shook.
"…WHAT WAS THAT?!"
"…A senior student?!"
"…That power's insane!"
Maki's eyes sparkled like a child discovering fireworks.
"…THAT WAS AWESOME."
Keith stared too.
"…Okay yeah… that was cool."
But the beast still wasn't down, Its crimson aura intensified further. The wounds on its body slowly began regenerating.
"…It heals?!" someone shouted.
Selena nodded calmly from above.
"Black Fang Bears possess mana regeneration."
The students collectively looked horrified.
"…YOU COULD'VE TOLD US THAT EARLIER!"
"You didn't ask."
"…SHE'S CRAZY."
Maki whispered toward Keith.
"…I think she's my favorite teacher already."
"…I fear you."
The blonde senior with the giant spear suddenly stepped forward.
"…Enough playing around."
She spun the spear once. The pressure around her instantly changed.
Heavy.
Sharp.
Precise.
"My turn."
She disappeared. Not fast like Leon.
Clean.
Efficient.
Like a trained soldier. The Black Fang Bear swung at her immediately—
She sidestepped by mere centimeters.
Then thrust.
"Piercing Fang."
CRAAAAACK!!
Her spear pierced directly through the beast's armored shoulder.
The students gasped.
"…She penetrated its armor?!"
"…That defense tanked advanced magic earlier!"
The black-haired senior casually sat atop arena rubble eating bread while watching.
"…Overachievers."
Selena slowly looked at him.
"…Ryo."
"…Yeah?"
"Participate."
"…Do I have to?"
"…Would you like detention?"
Ryo sighed dramatically before standing.
"…Tyranny."
He raised one hand lazily. Dark shadows spread silently beneath the beast.
Then—
The shadows grabbed it, the entire arena froze.
"…Shadow magic?"
"…That attribute actually exists?!"
The beast struggled violently—
But the shadows held.
Not completely.
But enough.
Keith narrowed his eyes.
"…Everyone here's insane."
Maki nodded proudly despite not knowing them.
"Yep. These are my people."
"They are NOT your people."
"Too late. Adopted emotionally."
Meanwhile—
The first-year Elite students slowly regained confidence seeing the seniors fight changed something. Fear turned into determination.
"Support the restraints!"
"Don't let it move!"
"Fire users aim for damaged areas!"
Students began coordinating properly now.
Water users cooled overheated allies, wind users redirected attacks, earth users reinforced terrain.Even commoners and nobles started cooperating.
Barely.
Awkwardly.
But they were trying. Keith joined the frontline immediately.
"Left side's weakening!"
"I got it!" another student answered.
Keith slammed both hands downward.
"Earth Wall!"
Stone erupted upward just before the beast's claw crashed down.
BOOOOM!!
The wall shattered instantly—
But it bought time.
"Nice save!" someone shouted.
Keith blinked.
"…People thank others here?"
Maki snorted.
"Wow your standards for human interaction are tragic."
Meanwhile—
Maki moved through the battlefield like flowing water itself.
Elegant.
Unpredictable.
Annoyingly relaxed.
Whenever a student got cornered water suddenly appeared.
Redirecting attacks.
Creating openings.
Saving lives.
"Lady Maki behind you!"
"Mm?"
Without looking—
She casually tilted her head. A claw barely missed her face.
"…Too slow."
Water spiraled around her arm.
"Water Style: Spiral Current."
BOOOOM!!
The compressed strike slammed directly into the beast's jaw, forcing its head sideways.
Leon whistled from afar.
"…She's terrifying."
The spear girl nodded.
"…Her control is abnormal."
Ryo continued eating bread.
"…She talks weird."
"…That too." She nodded.
Then suddenly—
The beast's mana spiked violently. Selena's eyes sharpened immediately.
"…Everyone back."
Too late.
The Black Fang Bear unleashed a massive crimson shockwave.
BOOOOOOOM!!
Students got launched across the arena.
Walls cracked.
Magic collapsed.
The restraints shattered completely. The beast stood fully enraged now, breathing heavily eyes glowing brighter than before.
Several students panicked again.
"…We can't stop that thing!"
"…This is impossible!"
"…We're gonna die!"
Keith slowly stood from the rubble.
Bruised.
Breathing hard.
Then he looked around.
Students injured.
Formation broken.
Fear spreading again. His fists clenched.
"…No."
The wind around him intensified, Fire flickered beside him, Earth trembled slightly beneath his feet, Lightning crackled faintly around his arm. Maki noticed instantly.
"…Keith?"
His expression hardened.
"…If we keep panicking, people get hurt."
The pressure around him shifted. Not overwhelming like Selena's.
But solid.
Reliable.
Then—
He stepped forward.
"Everyone who can still move…"
"…support us."
Silence.
Even the nobles looked stunned.
"A commoner is giving orders?"
Ivys stared for a second then smirked faintly.
"…He's right."
The nobles froze, Ivys folded his arms.
"If you've got complaints…"
"…say them after surviving."
That shut them up quickly. Keith looked toward Maki.
"…Can you create an opening?"
Maki grinned slowly.
"…Thought you'd never ask."
For a brief second—
They smiled at each other naturally. Like this wasn't their first battle together.The Black Fang Bear roared violently as crimson mana exploded around its body.The arena trembled students struggled to stay standing.
Yet despite the fear…
No one ran anymore , Keith stepped forward first wind spiraled around his body while lightning crackled faintly across his arms.
"Everyone! Support from a distance!"
The students reacted instantly now earth users raised barriers, water users prepared support magic, gire users waited for openings. For the first time since the battle began Elite Class actually looked united.
Maki grinned beside Keith.
"…You really became the leader type, huh?"
Keith kept his eyes on the monster.
"Not really."
"Too late now."
The beast charged.
FAST.
This time Keith moved first.
"Wind Style: Burst Step!"
BOOOOM!!
He accelerated forward while dodging the beast's claw by inches.
"Lightning Style: Flash Impact!"
CRAAACK!!
Lightning exploded across the bear's side.
The creature staggered briefly.
"Maki!"
"On it!"
Water surged around her instantly.
"Water Style: Grand Cascade!"
A massive wave slammed into the beast from the opposite side, disrupting its balance completely. The students stared in shock.
"…Their coordination…"
"…They didn't even discuss strategy…"
"…It's like they already know how each other fights…"
The beast regained footing and roared again.
But this time the Elite students attacked together.
"Fire Style: Twin Burst!"
"Earth Spears!"
"Wind Cutter!"
Magic rained down across the battlefield the beast struggled to recover. Ivys smirked slightly.
"…Guess monsters really do attract monsters."
Leon laughed loudly from above.
"THIS IS GETTING GOOD!"
The Black Fang Bear lunged toward a wounded student. Keith reacted instantly.
"Maki, right!"
"Already moving!"
Water threads wrapped around the student and pulled him away while Keith slammed an earth wall into the beast's path.
BOOOOM!!
The creature shattered through it but lost momentum.
Then—
Maki appeared above it.
"…Boop."
She tapped its forehead lightly. The beast blinked.
"Water Style: Crushing Current."
BOOOOOOM!!
Compressed water detonated point-blank against its skull. The massive creature collapsed heavily onto the arena floor.
Silence.
The beast twitched weakly once then stopped moving. The entire arena froze.
"…They actually beat it…"
"…Those two…"
"…They're insane…"
Keith breathed heavily while staring at the unconscious beast.
"…Is it over?"
Selena landed calmly in front of them.
"Mm."
She looked around at the destroyed arena.
Cracked walls.
Broken stone.
Collapsed barriers.
Injured students.
Absolute devastation.
Then she smiled faintly.
"Congratulations for surviving the test."
The students sighed in relief immediately then Selena added casually.
"Ten minutes was up ten minutes ago, but hey you managed."
Silence.
Keith's eye twitched violently.
"…So you're saying we had long passed your crazy test?!"
Selena shrugged.
"Don't be so uptight, kid."
Maki immediately raised her hand proudly.
"I'm your biggest fan."
Keith slowly turned toward her.
"…Really, Maki?"
"C'mon," she said while laughing lightly. "You know you had fun."
Keith stared at the burning arena behind them.
"…What am I gonna do with you?"
"Admit I'm awesome."
"Impossible."
"Coward."
Suddenly—
Cheers erupted across the arena.
"LADY MAKI!!"
"YOU'RE AMAZING!"
"THAT WATER MAGIC WAS INCREDIBLE!"
"You rock!"
Meanwhile the commoner students crowded around Keith.
"DUDE YOU WERE INSANE!"
"A commoner made Elite look cool!"
"FOUR ATTRIBUTES IS CHEATING!"
Keith looked completely overwhelmed.
"…Why are they yelling?"
Maki grinned smugly.
"Congratulations."
"…For what?"
"You accidentally became popular."
"…That sounds horrifying."
The senior students eventually approached them personally. The blonde spear user stepped forward first.
"That was some powerful teamwork."
Maki's eyes sparkled instantly. She almost forgot to act noble again.
"Yeah thanks, you're pretty by the way."
The blonde girl froze.
"…Excuse me?"
Keith covered his face immediately.
"…Why are you like this?"
"I'm just honest."
The blonde senior blinked twice before sighing.
"…You're strange."
"Thank you."
"That wasn't praise."
"Still counts."
Keith looked toward the seniors suspiciously.
"Wait…"
"I thought you guys were supposed to observe, not assist?"
Then the black-haired senior raised his bread casually.
"Yeah."
"By the time we jumped in, you'd already survived ten minutes."
Keith stared blankly.
"…You guys are bastards."
Leon burst out laughing.
"HAHAHA! I like this guy!"
The group spent a while talking afterward.
Introductions were exchanged. The spear girl introduced herself as Elena Valcrest, Leon dramatically introduced himself as "the future strongest mage alive."
Nobody took him seriously.
The black-haired student simply introduced himself as Ryo before continuing to eat bread in silence. Even Ivys eventually joined the conversation reluctantly though mostly to argue with Leon.
Meanwhile—
Selena watched the first years quietly from afar especially Keith and Maki. Those two stood out too much, not just because of talent but because of the way they moved together.
Natural.
Instinctive.
Almost nostalgic.
"…Interesting," she murmured softly.
Selena clapped once loudly.
"Alright insects, class dismissed."
Collective exhaustion swept through the arena instantly, students slowly began leaving while chatting excitedly about the battle. Keith and Maki walked back toward the dorm together the evening breeze passed gently through the academy pathways.
"…I'm exhausted," Keith muttered. Maki stretched lazily beside him.
"…I'm hungry."
"That's your response after almost dying?"
"Fighting burns calories."
"You're unbelievable."
"Yet charming."
"Debatable."
Maki laughed softly.
For a moment—
Things felt strangely peaceful and normal
like two friends casually walking home after school. Neither noticed it but step by step the distance created by death fourteen years ago…
Was slowly disappearing.
The next day, the whispers started before they even made it halfway across the courtyard.
Keith had hoped—naively, foolishly—that almost dying to a B-rank monster would earn him at least one day of peace. Perhaps the universe would grant him a brief reprieve. A moment to breathe.
Instead, the universe apparently decided to double down.
"…There he is."
"The four-attribute commoner."
"Did you see him clinging to Lady Maki during the battle?"
Keith's eye twitched. Clinging?
"It was pathetic. She had to save him multiple times."
"Honestly, why is someone like that in Elite Class?"
"I heard he only got in through luck."
"Luck and nothing else."
Maki walked beside him, hands clasped behind her back, apparently oblivious to the growing murmur of disdain around them. But Keith noticed her fingers had stopped their lazy fidgeting.
She was listening.
"How long do you think before Lady Maki gets tired of him?"
"A week, tops."
"Please. A commoner with no pedigree? She'll abandon him the moment something better comes along."
"Someone should remind him of his place."
Keith kept his expression carefully blank. He'd heard variations of this before—at the entrance exam, during the festival, at every turn since stepping foot in Azure Academy. Being a commoner among nobles meant his existence was a constant offense to their sensibilities.
He'd learned to let it slide off.
Mostly.
But then—
"Lady Maki!"
A group of nobles suddenly intercepted them, positioning themselves directly in their path with practiced elegance. The leader was a tall boy with carefully styled golden hair and a perfectly pressed uniform that probably cost more than Keith's entire dormitory furnishings.
Great, Keith thought. Another one.
The golden-haired boy bowed gracefully toward Maki, completely ignoring Keith's existence.
"Lady Maki, I am Alfred Von Eisling, heir to the Eisling Duchy."
Maki blinked slowly.
"…Cool."
Alfred's smile flickered for just a moment before recovering.
"I couldn't help but notice your extraordinary performance in the arena today. Truly, the Valcrest bloodline shines through."
"Oh. Thanks, I guess?"
"Such raw magical talent should be cultivated alongside proper companions." Alfred's eyes slid toward Keith with poorly disguised contempt. "Not… charity cases."
There it was.
Keith's jaw tightened, but he forced his expression to remain neutral. He'd learned long ago that reacting only made things worse.
"Charity case," he repeated flatly.
Alfred smiled politely—the kind of smile that was somehow more insulting than a direct insult.
"I meant no offense, of course. Merely an observation. Commoners and nobility have… different paths. Different destinies. Surely you understand?"
"Sure," Keith said, voice carefully controlled. "Different destinies. Like being born to parents who actually worked for something versus being born with a silver spoon permanently lodged—"
"Keith," Maki interrupted mildly.
He stopped.
Alfred's expression tightened, his courteous mask fracturing slightly.
"Lady Maki, surely you can't approve of this… association."
Maki tilted her head. "Why not?"
"Well—" Alfred sputtered, clearly thrown off by her casual response. "He's a commoner! Without any noble standing! Without any pedigree! He has nothing to offer someone of your stature!"
Maki considered this.
"He's got four attributes."
"A—well—yes, but—"
"And he saved my life today."
The nobles around Alfred exchanged uncomfortable glances.
"I believe," Alfred pressed, voice growing slightly desperate, "that was a matter of circumstance. Any competent mage would have—"
"I didn't see you doing it." Maki's voice was pleasant. Way too pleasant. "I saw you panicking. Screaming. Dropping your earth wall."
Alfred's face flushed crimson.
"T-that's not—the situation was—"
"Anyway!" Maki turned toward Keith with a bright smile. "Let's go. I'm hungry."
She grabbed Keith's sleeve and started walking, practically dragging him away. Behind them, the nobles stood frozen.
"Did she just—"
"She defended him?"
"This is outrageous!"
Keith and Maki managed to get approximately ten steps before another group materialized. This one was larger—five nobles, all dressed in the colors of various minor houses.
"Lady Maki!"
She stopped. Sighed.
"…What now?"
A girl with elaborate braids stepped forward, her smile sweet enough to cause cavities.
"Lady Maki, I'm sure you didn't mean to imply that commoners are equal to nobility earlier."
"I didn't imply anything," Maki said. "I said Alfred was screaming and crying."
The girl's smile tightened. "Yes, well… he was simply… surprised. But you must understand—"
"Nope."
"Nope?"
"I'm not having this conversation five times today." Maki's tone remained light but the pressure radiating from her was anything but. "Keith's my roommate. He's in Elite Class. He's competent. If any of you have a problem with that…" She smiled. "…Take it up with someone who cares."
Silence.
The nobles exchanged uneasy glances.
One brave—or stupid—boy stepped forward.
"He's a commoner, Lady Maki. A nobody. Why would you associate with someone like—"
Maki's head tilted.
"You keep using that word like it means something."
"Because it does!" the boy insisted, gaining confidence. "He has no name! No house! No bloodline! People like him shouldn't even be in this academy! Let alone Elite Class!"
Keith watched the boy's face twist with righteous fury. He'd seen this before. The desperate need to establish hierarchy. The fear that someone without their advantages might actually be better.
He'd learned to ignore it.
Mostly.
"I earned my place here," Keith said quietly.
The boy laughed. "Earned? You passed one exam. Anyone can get lucky once."
"I didn't get lucky in the arena today."
"You nearly died in the arena today!"
"Yet here I am."
The boy's face reddened. "You're nothing but a stain on this academy's—"
"Hey," Maki interrupted, her voice suddenly cold. "I already answered this question. What makes you think asking again will get a different response?"
The boy faltered. "I—Lady Maki, I merely—"
"His name is Keith." Her voice had lost all its lazy amusement. "He has four attributes. He scored top ten on the entrance exam. He saved lives today—including mine. Whether you think he deserves to be here or not doesn't actually change any of those facts."
"B-but—"
"Or do you want to argue with facts?"
Another noble stepped forward—an older-looking boy with a sneer that could curdle milk.
"Lady Maki, the fact remains that commoners are simply inferior. They lack proper breeding. Proper upbringing. Proper—"
"Wrong."
"…Excuse me?"
Maki's eyes had gone sharp. "You think nobility means something? Your entire argument is 'my ancestors did something impressive so I deserve special treatment.' That's not merit. That's a lottery you won by being born."
The boy sputtered. "How dare you—"
"Meanwhile Keith worked for everything he has." Maki shrugged. "If that terrifies you, maybe you're the one who doesn't belong here."
Gasps. Outraged murmurs.
Keith tugged at her sleeve. "Maki, you don't have to—"
"I know."
"Really, it's fine—"
"I know it's fine. But they asked me a question." She smiled at the crowd. "And I answered."
A third noble—a girl with silver ribbons and a pinched expression—stepped forward.
"Lady Maki, you're making a fool of yourself. Associating with a commoner will damage your reputation."
"I don't care about my reputation."
"Your family will care!"
Maki paused.
Something flickered in her eyes—not anger, exactly. Something older. Worn.
"…My family can deal with it."
"But—"
"I'm going to say this exactly once." Maki's voice remained calm, but something underneath had hardened. "Keith is my roommate. He's also the only person in this entire academy who's actually treated me like a normal human being instead of a walking heirloom. So if any of you have a problem with him…" Her smile returned. "…That's your problem. Not mine."
She walked away again, and this time the crowd parted.
Keith followed, heart beating uncomfortably fast.
They made it to the dormitory corridor before anyone else intercepted them. The hallway was empty, save for the fading evening light filtering through tall windows.
Keith finally let out a long breath.
"…You didn't have to do that."
"Yes, I did."
"No, really. I'm used to it."
"That's the problem."
He looked at her.
Maki's expression had gone strangely serious. The playful mockery from earlier had faded. She looked tired.
"Everyone always talks about nobles and commoners like it matters," she said quietly. "Like blood is the only thing that determines someone's worth."
Keith shrugged. "That's just how the world works."
"Maybe it shouldn't."
"Maybe. But it does."
She stopped walking.
Keith stopped too, turning to face her.
Maki looked at him directly—seriously.
"When I asked why you were standing up to those nobles earlier, you said commoners don't have a choice. You said noble students will hate you no matter what."
"…Yeah."
"That's wrong."
Keith blinked. "What?"
Maki's eyes were bright and fierce.
"They'll hate you if you let them." She stepped closer. "But if you stop giving them power over you—if you actually stand up and fight—they won't know what to do."
Keith stared at her.
"…You're weird."
"I know."
"Really weird."
"Yeah."
"Like, aggressively weird."
"I'm aware."
A small smile tugged at his lips.
"…Thanks."
Maki shrugged. "For what?"
"For defending me. Even though you didn't have to."
"I did have to."
"No, really—"
"I made a promise."
Keith paused. "To who?"
She opened her mouth. Closed it.
"…To myself."
They stood there for a moment, silence stretching between them. The evening light caught her silver hair and for just a second—
Keith felt something strange. Not quite familiarity. Not quite recognition. But something close.
"Dinner?" Maki finally said. "I'm starving."
Keith shook his head, the moment slipping away.
"Yeah. Yeah, okay."
They walked together through the empty corridors—two people who didn't quite belong, who didn't quite know each other, who somehow kept finding each other anyway.
And somewhere deep inside him, the echo of a memory pressed gently:
"You don't have to fight alone."
He didn't know why.
He didn't know where it came from.
But for the first time since arriving at this school—
He almost believed it.
Additional Scene: Later That Evening
The dormitory common room was mostly empty when Ivys found them.
Keith was half-asleep on the couch, and Maki was lounging with her head on the armrest, reading something. She didn't look up when Ivys approached.
"…You caused quite a scene earlier."
"Mm."
Ivys sighed. "The noble students are… upset."
"Shocking."
"They're saying you've abandoned noble customs. That you're associating with undesirables."
Keith's eyes flickered open but he stayed silent, watching Maki.
She turned a page. "And?"
"And I'm supposed to report back whether you're going to…" Ivys trailed off.
Maki finally looked at him. "Whether I'm going to what? Realize I'm making a terrible mistake? Abandon the commoner and return to my proper place among the nobility?"
"…Something like that."
She turned another page.
"That sounds boring."
Ivys stared at her. "Lady Maki—"
"You know what's interesting?" She looked at him directly. "I spent my whole life being what everyone expected me to be. Perfect daughter. Perfect student. Perfect future duchess. Perfect weapon."
Her voice remained light but something sharp lurked underneath.
"Then I came here and met someone who doesn't expect any of that."
"…The commoner."
"Keith." She smiled. "Yeah. The commoner."
Ivys's expression was unreadable. "…You're going to make a lot of enemies."
"I know."
"The other houses will—"
"You know what, Ivys?" Maki's eyes brightened. "Enemies are less exhausting than allies who only want to use you."
Ivys paused.
Then, surprisingly, he laughed.
"…You're insane."
"Probably."
"The entire noble society will hate you."
"Let them."
"And your family—"
"Can complain to someone who cares."
He shook his head slowly. "You really don't care about your reputation."
She finally met his eyes.
"I care about being able to look at myself in the mirror."
Ivys was quiet for a long moment.
Then he sighed.
"…The other nobles are going to say terrible things about your commoner friend."
Maki's smile sharpened.
"Good."
"Good?"
"If they talk about it, that means they're paying attention." She shrugged. "And maybe—just maybe—they'll start to see that he earned his place here. That he actually deserves to be in Elite Class more than most of them."
Ivys stared at her.
"…You're really going to protect him."
"I'm not protecting him."
"Then what—"
"I'm standing next to him." Her voice was quiet. Certain. "And letting him protect himself. That's what matters."
Ivys didn't seem to have an answer to that.
After he left, silence returned to the common room.
Keith opened his eyes.
"…What was that about?"
Maki smiled. "Nothing important."
"You just told him to go screw himself."
"I did not."
"Basically."
"It's fine." She stretched. "He's not a bad person, actually. Just… adjusting to reality."
"You're really weird."
"You keep saying that."
"Because it keeps being true."
She laughed softly, and something warm settled in his chest.
But he didn't know why.
He didn't know where this sense of déjà vu came from. Or why her presence felt so familiar.
He just knew—
He was starting to trust her.
And that scared him more than any monster ever could.
---
Bonus Scene: The Whisper War
The whispers had only gotten worse by the next morning.
"…There he is."
"How did he even survive that fight?"
"Probably hid behind Lady Maki the whole time."
"Honestly, the nerve of some people."
Keith walked with his head down, eating his breakfast pastry quickly like it was a chore. Maki walked beside him, eating her own pastry very slowly while watching everyone with mild curiosity.
"Do you ever think," she said conversationally, "that maybe everyone here is too invested in your life?"
"All the time."
"Because they really are."
"Believe me, I know."
"Like, look at them." She pointed at a group of nobles with her half-eaten pastry. "He looks like he's rehearsing a speech about your inadequacy."
Keith followed her gaze. The noble in question—a boy with a comb-over and an expression of permanent disappointment—was indeed mouthing something to himself.
"…I hate this school."
"Don't worry. It's mutual."
"That's not comforting."
"I'm not trying to comfort you."
"Then what are you doing?"
Maki took another bite of her pastry. "I'm narrating your suffering. It's fun."
"You're a monster."
"Aw, thanks!"
The noble with the comb-over suddenly seemed to work up his courage. He marched over, flanked by three supporters.
"You there! Commoner!"
Keith didn't look up. "Hi."
"How dare you walk through these halls like you belong here!"
"I've been doing it for months now."
"Then you should have learned some humility!"
"I'm aware I'm outnumbered and outclassed by people who have actual families and connections."
"Then why do you keep—"
"I'm not going anywhere."
The noble's face reddened. "The other nobles are calling for your removal."
"That's nice."
"From Elite Class!"
Keith finally looked up. "Do you know what I did yesterday?"
"You—"
"I survived a B-rank monster attack. I saved several of my classmates. I coordinated with Lady Maki to take down the biggest threat in the arena." He smiled innocently. "What did you do? Scream and hide behind an earth wall that broke anyway?"
The noble's face went through several shades of red before landing on a dangerous purple.
"You'll regret—"
"Hey," Maki interrupted, already looking bored. "Before you threaten him, remember I'll be threatening you back."
The noble's confidence evaporated instantly.
"L-Lady Maki—"
"Good talk. Bye."
He bolted.
Keith sighed. "This is going to be a long semester."
"Probably."
"You're not helping."
"I'm here. That's helping."
"Are you, though?"
"Keith."
"…What?"
"I'm standing next to you. That's more than most people get."
He looked at her.
She smiled.
And for a second, he thought—really thought—that he'd seen that smile before. Somewhere. At some point. A long time ago.
But he couldn't remember.
And she couldn't explain.
So they just walked together.
Two people standing side by side.
Even when the whole world wanted them apart.