Morning arrived with a bang.
Literally.
A student attempting a basic summoning spell had accidentally called forth a minor fire elemental instead of a squirrel. Now, the west courtyard garden had a new feature: spontaneous combustion.
Kael Vaelthorn watched the chaos unfold from his window, sipping tea.
"Yep. Magic class," he muttered.
—
"Trial Two: Arcane Tactics and Field Strategy"
The second test of the final exams had clear instructions:
Five-person teams.
Capture the glowing sigil at the center of an enchanted battleground.
Score based on cooperation, creativity, and success.
Oh—and no dying.
Kael's team lineup looked like a recipe for madness:
Kael (strategically nap-oriented)
Lyra (perfectionist sword master)
Hema (tactician and walking library)
Renley (snack distributor)
Mira (a fifth-year who regretted volunteering the moment she saw Kael)
"You're him, aren't you?" Mira asked.
Kael tilted his head. "Depends. Who's him?"
"The guy who wins by tripping over his own shoelaces!"
"Ah. Then yes."
Mira groaned. "Great."
Lyra pulled her blade free with a metallic whisper. "Focus on the mission. Leave Kael to us."
"That's comforting," Mira deadpanned.
Kael unwrapped a sandwich.
—
From the Observation Deck
Elira leaned against the railing, arms folded. The instructors beside her whispered.
"He's not even using mana…"
"Is he chewing?!"
"He's always chewing."
Elira said nothing. Her eyes followed Kael like a hawk. She didn't need spell analysis to know—
He was planning something.
Or worse.
He wasn't planning anything at all.
And somehow… that was still dangerous.
—
Inside the Arena
The battlefield shimmered into a sprawling jungle ruin, complete with booby-trapped pathways, hidden glyphs, and elevation zones.
Every other team sprinted into action—shields, spells, summons.
Kael's team?
Sat down.
"We should move," Mira snapped.
"We are," Kael said.
"No, we're sitting."
"Right. But they're moving. Toward each other. So... eventually, fewer problems for us."
Hema nodded. "It's sound logic. Let them burn each other out."
Renley passed around pastries. "And we get lunch."
—
Ten Minutes Later
Half the arena had exploded in magical fury.
The elite teams were collapsing under their own arrogance and flashy overkill.
Kael stood, brushing crumbs off his cloak.
"Time to walk."
"Just like that?" Mira said, still stunned.
He shrugged. "The sigil's open."
Sure enough, it was. One last team stood guarding it—but barely, after fending off a barrage.
Kael yawned and walked forward.
"Cover him," Lyra said.
"From what?!" Mira asked.
"Fate," Hema replied.
—
The Clash (That Wasn't)
As Kael neared, the last team panicked and launched three spells.
Kael bent down—his boot was loose.
The spells collided in mid-air, triggered a magical feedback loop, and launched all three enemies skyward.
Kael tied his boot.
"I win?" he asked.
The sigil pulsed.
Match Complete: Team Kael – Victory.
Mira was speechless. Renley clapped. Lyra rolled her eyes. Hema scribbled something furious into her notebook.
—
Instructor's Deck
Silence.
The instructors watched the glowing scoreboard.
"...That's the third perfect score."
"He never cast a spell."
"He tied a shoe."
Elira muttered under her breath. "This boy is the eye of the storm."
—
Later, in the Library
Kael sat between towering books, sipping tea while pretending to study. Lyra walked in and handed him a sandwich.
"You're starting to terrify the instructors," she said.
"I'm terrifying myself," Kael replied.
She smirked. "Tomorrow is the puzzle test."
He winced. "How bad can it be?"
"Lightning traps, mimic chests, logic illusions…"
He sighed. "And no nap rooms, I suppose?"
"Only if you pass."
Kael groaned. "This school is tyranny."
—
Meanwhile, in the Shadow Society
> Report: Kael Vaelthorn
Event: Exam Phase Two
Result: Victory
Method: Divine misdirection via inaction
Suggested Doctrine Update:
—"In stillness, we dominate."
—"Tie your laces. Rule empires."
Seven Pillars approved the doctrine revision unanimously.
—
Elsewhere: Hema's Private Notes
> Kael Vaelthorn – Ongoing Risk Assessment
Intelligence: Unclear
Tactics: Improvised brilliance or demonic luck
Social Gravity: High
Emotional Denial Level: 100%
Conclusion: Still pretending to be average.
Danger Level: Rising.
Then she added one more line—just in case:
> Possible Crush: …Statistical likelihood rising.
—
Nightfall: Kael's Room
He collapsed on his bed, groaning into a pillow.
"Why is not trying so exhausting…?"
The shadows outside twisted.
But no threat came.
Only watchful silence.
The world continued to orbit around the boy who only wanted peace—
—and kept stumbling into prophecy instead.
---
End of Chapter 44