The walk across the academy grounds was quieter than before.

  Most of the initiates had finally begun to feel the weight of what had happened during the exam. The excitement from seeing the rankings had faded, leaving only exhaustion and lingering tension.

  Clarence walked at the front of the group with steady steps.

  No one spoke.

  Even Aster couldn’t find a way to break the tension.

  Oscar glanced around as they followed the stone path deeper into the academy grounds. They had already passed the main school building and were now approaching the student dorm section.

  Students and instructors moved throughout the academy grounds, preparing for the orientation scheduled for tomorrow. Some were setting up rows of chairs in the central plaza while others organized equipment along the perimeter.

  Compared to the courtyard earlier…

  This part of the academy felt alive.

  Students laughed as they carried supplies between buildings. Others sparred casually in small training areas nearby.

  But beneath the cheerful atmosphere, Oscar could feel something else.

  Strength.

  The students here were relaxed—but incredibly powerful.

  Three dorm buildings stood roughly a hundred and fifty meters apart from one another.

  Clarence stopped in front of the first building.

  “This,” he said calmly, “is Dorm One.”

  Several students looked up at the structure.

  It was a three–story stone building with large windows and reinforced walls marked with faint protective runes.

  Aster blinked.

  “…Okay. This place is actually pretty nice.”

  Clarence folded his arms behind his back.

  “Forty-eight initiates have been divided into three dormitories.”

  His gaze returned to the group.

  “Your exam rankings determined which class you would be placed in.”

  No one needed further explanation.

  Class 1-A.

  The top sixteen.

  Clarence opened the door and stepped inside.

  The students followed him into a large common area.

  “This will be your living space,” Clarence said. “Feel free to talk, relax, or study here.”

  He gestured toward the staircase on the left.

  “That side leads to the boys’ rooms.”

  Then he turned to the opposite side.

  “The girls’ rooms are on the right.”

  His finger moved upward.

  “The two floors above contain your sleeping quarters,” he continued. “There are four rooms on the second floor and four on the third. Two students per room.”

  Lillie raised her hand.

  Clarence looked at her.

  “Yes?”

  She smiled politely.

  “What are the room assignments?”

  Clarence answered immediately.

  “Figure it out yourselves.”

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  A few students blinked.

  He paused for a moment before continuing.

  “I understand that all of you are still young, but you will soon be expected to make important decisions—not only for yourselves, but for the people fighting beside you.”

  His gaze swept across the room.

  “Take this time to get used to one another. You will be living and training together for the next three years.”

  Excited murmurs spread across the group.

  Aster slowly turned toward Oscar and gave him a look.

  Oscar sighed.

  “…Fine.”

  Aster grinned.

  “Hell yeah.”

  The two headed upstairs.

  They opened the door to one of the rooms.

  The interior was surprisingly spacious.

  A small sitting area connected to a compact kitchen space. A bathroom sat in the back corner equipped with a shower, toilet, and sink.

  A doorway led to the bedroom itself.

  Two beds sat against opposite walls with desks beneath the windows.

  Aster laughed.

  “Damn. They’ve got us sleeping in the same room.”

  Oscar smirked.

  “Kind of romantic.”

  Aster snorted.

  “Ah hell nah.”

  Both of them laughed.

  Aster tossed his bag onto the bed beside the window.

  “Dibs.”

  Oscar tilted his head.

  “…Oof. Bad pick.”

  Aster froze.

  “Excuse me?”

  “You’re excused,” Oscar replied casually.

  Aster crossed his arms.

  “How is my spot worse?”

  Oscar shrugged.

  “Because it is.”

  Aster narrowed his eyes.

  Then he noticed the huge grin on Oscar’s face.

  “…HEY.”

  Oscar burst out laughing.

  “You were messing with me!”

  “It was way too easy.”

  Aster collapsed onto the bed with a groan.

  “I’m not falling for that again.”

  Oscar smirked.

  “We’ll see.”

  A knock sounded at the door.

  Alexander stood in the hallway.

  Next to him was a tall boy carrying a long bow across his back.

  Alexander nodded toward the room.

  “We’ll be next door.”

  He gestured to the archer beside him.

  “This is Archer.”

  The boy offered a polite smile.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you two.”

  Aster grinned.

  “Nice to meet you too.”

  Alexander glanced at Aster and chuckled quietly.

  “Looks like someone fell for the bait.”

  Aster pointed accusingly.

  “He’s too sarcastic. It’s impossible to tell when he’s serious.”

  Alexander shrugged.

  “Whoomp whoomp.”

  Aster groaned.

  “I’m surrounded by traitors.”

  Footsteps echoed through the hallway as the other students finished choosing their rooms.

  Oscar walked over to the window.

  From here he could see a wide stretch of the academy grounds.

  Training fields.

  Stone pathways.

  Towering academy buildings in the distance.

  This place was massive.

  Laughter echoed from downstairs.

  Doors opened and closed throughout the dorm.

  Eventually someone shouted from the staircase.

  “Everyone’s gathering downstairs!”

  Oscar stood up.

  “…Does my nose deceive me, or is that food?”

  Aster nodded.

  “Of course you’d notice that first, fatass.”

  Oscar laughed.

  “There you go. It’s more fun when you fight back.”

  The two headed downstairs.

  By the time they reached the common area, most of the others had already gathered.

  Several students sat around the large table while others relaxed on the couches.

  Elaina sat with her arms crossed, talking quietly with Lillie.

  Near the window—

  Vega stood alone, staring outside.

  Silent.

  Like something was on his mind.

  Oscar walked over and chuckled.

  “We see the fit, bro.”

  Vega slowly turned.

  “…What does that mean?”

  Oscar grinned.

  “Who knows?”

  Food was being prepared in the kitchen while the mood slowly relaxed.

  Then—

  A loud knock echoed through the dorm.

  Before anyone else could move, one of the students opened the door.

  A tall student stood outside with several others behind him.

  “So this is the famous top sixteen.”

  Elaina scoffed.

  “Yes, it is. Do you have a problem with that?”

  Oscar whistled softly.

  For a moment, no one spoke.

  The tension was subtle—but unmistakable.

  The tall student stepped forward slightly.

  “Rankings don’t mean anything.”

  His eyes shifted toward Vega.

  “Right?”

  Vega didn’t react.

  He simply stared at the student without the slightest hint of interest.

  Lillie stood up from the couch.

  But before she could speak—

  The door opened again.

  Clarence stepped inside.

  The entire room immediately fell silent.

  He glanced around the room.

  “I figured something like this would happen.”

  He sighed.

  “You all settled in?”

  No one dared answer.

  Clarence nodded.

  “Good.”

  He motioned toward the other students at the door.

  “Leave.”

  They didn’t argue.

  Once the door closed again, Clarence turned back toward the group.

  “I was planning to say this later,” he said, “but since I had to stop this nonsense…”

  He crossed his arms.

  “Your training begins tomorrow after orientation.”

  Aster blinked.

  “…Orientation?”

  Clarence nodded.

  “It begins at eight.”

  He walked toward the door.

  “Be ready and leave together.”

  He paused before stepping out.

  “Oh.”

  Clarence turned back.

  “Word travels very quickly here.”

  His gaze swept across the room.

  “And I’m not just referring to the academy.”

  “The entire city hears about what happens within these walls.”

  Oscar’s expression sharpened slightly.

  Clarence continued.

  “Many people are already talking about what happened during the entrance exam.”

  Murmurs spread through the room.

  “The corrupted alpha.”

  He raised a hand.

  “Do not concern yourselves with that matter. It is the Guardians’ responsibility to handle that situation.”

  He stepped toward the exit again.

  “But if you hear rumors…”

  Clarence glanced back one last time.

  “…ignore them.”

  Then he left.

  Silence filled the dorm.

  Lillie exhaled slowly.

  “Let’s not let that ruin the mood.”

  She clapped her hands lightly.

  “Dinner’s almost ready.”

  Several students nodded.

  The tension slowly faded as conversations resumed.

  Oscar remained quiet.

  He crossed his arms and stared toward the floor.

  Something about this entire situation didn’t sit right with him.

  The corrupted alpha.

  The academy acting like nothing unusual had happened.

  And the way Clarence told them to ignore the rumors.

  Oscar frowned slightly.

  I thought they abandoned the alpha project…

  So what changed?

  Because if those rumors were true—

  Something was very wrong.

  And sooner or later…

  Everyone at Aegis Academy was going to find out.