Chapter 29
Though traces of magic were sporadically visible, the cuts on the monsters’ bodies appeared almost as if made by a single hand.
‘There shouldn’t have been any students recently permitted to enter the forest alone.’
Haroon sifted through his memories, puzzled.
If someone with this level of skill existed, they would have undoubtedly drawn attention long ago.
Finding it strange, he addressed the students:
“For now, let’s head deeper into the forest.”
The students nodded with tense expressions. The closer they got to the center, the stronger the monsters would become.
But, unexpectedly, their progress was smooth. Someone had already cleared the path ahead.
Before long, Haroon’s eyes widened as they reached the heart of the forest.
“T-This is….”
Before them lay the corpse of a massive high-tier monster.
“A drake!” the students exclaimed in excitement.
“They damaged its hide first, then pierced its vitals with a single strike.”
Amid the murmurs, Haroon carefully examined the body.
‘To take down a high-tier monster alone… They must be at least a Sword Expert-level knight.’
He tilted his head in both awe and confusion.
‘But someone of that caliber couldn’t possibly be at the academy…’
The other students began whispering among themselves.
“Could someone have reached the level of a Sword Expert?”
“None of the upperclassmen are that skilled, right?”
“Maybe it’s an outsider. The Kistar Knights stayed nearby not too long ago.”
Haroon shook his head as he listened.
The monster’s wounds were rough—consistent with the marks left by the standard iron swords issued to academy students.
A seasoned knight wouldn’t wield such a crude weapon.
‘Why would someone of this skill hide their abilities?’
Haroon, known for his meticulous nature, couldn’t help but mutter in admiration:
“Whoever they are… they’re incredible.”
One thing was certain:
The moment this person’s identity was revealed, the entire academy would be in an uproar.
Eila glanced down at the antidote in her pocket and smiled brightly.
‘Thankfully, it was prepared without a hitch. Those pests have been relentless lately.’
Despite their previous failure, the Freyja clique had continued harassing her nonstop—tripping her, drenching her chair, stealing her textbooks and supplies, and more.
Of course, none of it worked. Eila had been prepared for all of it.
Each time, she deftly avoided their schemes with pre-prepared potions, which only seemed to infuriate them further.
Their frustrated whispers behind her back were almost comical.
‘Still, the losses add up. I’ve used quite a few expensive potions, and stocking up on extra textbooks and supplies wasn’t cheap.’
Eila sighed briefly as she tallied the damages.
‘Before my finances collapse, I need to secure the princess’s favor soon.’
The money she’d brought from the duchy wasn’t substantial, so she had to act quickly.
Fortunately, today was the day the princess returned to the academy after a long absence.
Just as Eila was about to take her seat, the classroom erupted in murmurs.
“Isn’t that Her Highness?”
“Yeah. She hasn’t been here in ages.”
All eyes turned toward one figure.
A girl with flowing platinum hair walked in gracefully, her presence stunning enough to captivate anyone.
But soon, uneasy whispers spread among the students.
“But today’s a potion-making class…”
“We’re supposed to pair up for the experiment today.”
“There’s someone without a partner, but…”
Their gazes flicked toward Eila.
“We can’t possibly pair Her Highness with Eila…”
Though they fretted amongst themselves, no one stepped forward to partner with the princess.
Most already had fixed partners, and approaching someone of the princess’s status uninvited was against imperial etiquette.
Then, Professor Jeysee, the potions instructor, entered the room.
She had taken over after the previous professor’s retirement and was renowned as an authority on potion-making in the Magic Tower.
The chatter died instantly.
As Professor Jeysee scanned the room, her eyes landed on one girl.
Her sapphire-blue eyes, gleaming like embedded gems, unmistakably marked her as royalty.
But Jeysee showed no interest, coldly turning away before walking to the lectern.
Her stern voice soon rang out.
“Everyone, pair up and stand at your stations. We’re beginning immediately.”
The imperial princess, Fione Celestia.
Despite her composed exterior, she was painfully shy.
Her frequent absences due to poor health also made it impossible for her to make friends.
‘Everyone else seems so close…’
Fione watched as the students paired up, acutely aware of being left alone.
Group assignments like this were always an ordeal for her.
Her status meant most students didn’t dare speak to her first.
‘Only someone from a ducal house would even approach me…’
If she wanted a partner, she had to make the first move.
But her timid nature always held her back.
Then, Professor Jeysee’s sharp voice cut through the room.
“You there, standing alone—what are you waiting for? Find a partner now.”
Realizing the professor was addressing her, Fione’s heart froze.
She glanced around frantically but couldn’t muster the courage to approach anyone.
‘What do I do? Maybe working alone would be better…’
Her fingers trembled, her mouth dry.
Just as she wished the ground would swallow her whole—
A familiar voice spoke from behind.
“Fione, want to team up?”
Startled, Fione turned.
A girl with soft pink hair stood there, glowing warmly.
‘Eila Blanchet.’
Though Fione rarely attended the academy, she knew how popular Eila was.
It was odd seeing her alone today.
‘What’s going on?’
She didn’t know why, but it felt like a stroke of luck.
Eila, being from a ducal family, was close in status.
They had even exchanged brief greetings at a banquet once.
Blushing, Fione nodded, grateful for Eila’s kindness.
“Sure. Let’s do it together.”
After a hesitant pause, she added cautiously,
“But… I’ve missed a lot of potion classes. I’m not very good. Is that okay?”
Most academy students were competitive, preferring skilled partners.
Though Fione studied hard on her own, she knew her potion-making lagged behind others.
Partnering with her would only hold Eila back.
Yet Eila didn’t seem bothered at all.
“Yeah, it’s fine.”
Her reply was firm and confident.
Fione tilted her head, puzzled.
Soon, the professor’s voice echoed through the room.
“Are all pairs ready? Begin the experiment. Today’s task is to brew a luminescence potion. A successful potion will emit a deep golden glow.”
The moment the instructions ended, students rushed to gather materials.
Eila was no exception.
Watching her handle the ingredients with practiced ease, Fione couldn’t help but admire her.
‘She’s really skilled…’
