The combat grounds remained in chaos.
Not combat chaos.
Social chaos.
A completely different and somehow far more dangerous category.
The training field that was supposed to be preparing students for team battles had transformed into the academy's greatest source of entertainment.
Students stood in groups.
Watching.
Whispering.
Analyzing.
Gossiping.
Several had completely forgotten they were supposed to be discussing combat tactics.
Because at the center of the field stood two people.
Aedon Flinth.
And Lady Valeryn.
The unexpected duo had become more interesting than the actual class.
Meanwhile—
Kel was beginning to understand why academy gossip spread faster than magical communication networks.
Every single student seemed to be paying attention.
Some openly.
Others pretending not to.
The pretending was not convincing.
Not even slightly.
Across from him, Valeryn continued observing him with those sharp crimson eyes.
Her long crimson hair swayed behind her like flowing fire beneath the afternoon sunlight.
Golden embroidery decorated the sleeves of her dark academy combat coat.
Her posture remained elegant.
Confident.
Composed.
Like someone entirely accustomed to being the center of attention.
Unlike Kel.
Who was currently wishing the ground would develop the ability to swallow people.
Unfortunately—
The ground appeared unwilling to cooperate.
A brief silence lingered between them.
Then Kel finally spoke.
His expression remained calm.
His voice polite.
"My name is Aedon Flinth."
Valeryn studied him for a moment.
The simple introduction seemed almost refreshing.
Most students already knew who she was.
Many tried to impress her immediately.
Others attempted to boast about their backgrounds.
This one merely introduced himself.
Eventually she nodded.
"Valeryn Darkhart."
The full name landed like a stone dropped into a lake.
Several nearby students immediately reacted.
The Darkhart House.
One of the Seven Pillar Houses.
One of the families standing at the absolute peak of the Aurelia Empire.
A bloodline older than many kingdoms.
A family that had produced generals, heroes, governors, and legendary warriors for centuries.
Kel nodded politely.
As though she had introduced herself as an ordinary student.
The reaction confused Valeryn slightly.
Most people reacted differently.
Far differently.
Then again—
Most people didn't attempt to escape upon first seeing her.
The silence stretched briefly.
Then Valeryn folded her arms.
The sunlight reflected within her crimson eyes.
Her expression became serious.
Not hostile.
Just direct.
The way powerful people often were.
"I suppose you've already heard stories about me."
Her voice carried confidence.
Not arrogance.
Simply certainty.
"The academy enjoys rumors. Students enjoy exaggerations. Every year new stories appear. Some are ridiculous. Some are partially true. A few are unfortunately accurate."
Several nearby students immediately nodded.
Very accurate.
Valeryn continued.
"So allow me to simplify things."
Her gaze locked onto Kel.
Sharp.
Focused.
"You and I are partners for today."
The atmosphere shifted slightly.
The surrounding students leaned closer.
Listening.
Valeryn continued calmly.
"As long as we are partners, don't waste my time. Don't create unnecessary complications. Don't force me to carry all the work myself."
Her voice remained perfectly composed.
"Follow instructions when they make sense. Communicate when something is important. And don't create problems simply because you think they're entertaining."
The last sentence felt strangely specific.
Kel immediately suspected she had experience dealing with idiots.
A lot of experience.
Then Valeryn smiled.
A small smile.
One carrying faint danger.
"And if you decide to ignore all of that..."
She tilted her head slightly.
"...then many of the rumors you've heard will probably happen to you, Mister Aedon."
The nearby students collectively shivered.
Some remembered broken training dummies.
Others remembered defeated challengers.
One unfortunate student remembered a sparring match from last time and immediately looked traumatized.
Kel listened carefully.
Then nodded.
Reasonable.
Surprisingly reasonable.
Far more reasonable than the academy rumors suggested.
Though admittedly—
The threat at the end was probably unnecessary.
Probably.
Meanwhile—
Far away beneath Scarder Lake.
Seiren's voice echoed inside his mind.
"She seems nice."
Kel nearly walked into a nearby weapon rack.
"Nice?"
"Compared to some people you've befriended?"
The goddess sounded amused.
"Extremely nice."
Unfortunately—
She had a point.
Kel had befriended warlords, pirates, gods, ancient monsters, and several people who probably qualified as natural disasters.
Valeryn was actually quite normal by comparison.
A terrifying realization.
Then—
Valeryn turned around.
Without waiting for agreement.
Without waiting for discussion.
Without waiting for permission.
And simply began walking.
"Come with me."
Kel blinked.
Then followed.
What else was he supposed to do?
The moment he started walking beside her—
The surrounding students exploded.
Not literally.
Though the volume suggested otherwise.
"HE'S FOLLOWING HER!"
"OF COURSE HE'S FOLLOWING HER!"
"WHAT ELSE WOULD HE DO?!"
"I DON'T KNOW!"
Several students immediately began arguing.
A group of boys watched with complicated expressions.
Very complicated expressions.
One clenched his fist dramatically.
"I can't believe it."
His friend looked confused.
"What?"
"He's walking beside Lady Valeryn."
The friend stared.
Then slowly nodded.
"Yes."
"Do you understand what this means?"
"No."
The boy pointed dramatically toward Kel.
"He is living my dream."
Silence.
Then another student placed a hand on his shoulder.
A hand filled with sympathy.
"My friend."
The first boy blinked.
The second boy sighed.
"You forgot the important detail."
"What detail?"
"She's Lady Valeryn."
The first boy froze.
Then remembered.
The stories.
The sparring matches.
The broken training equipment.
The screaming.
The crying.
The educational trauma.
The jealousy immediately vanished.
Instantly.
Like a candle extinguished by a storm.
The boy looked toward Kel again.
This time with admiration.
Deep admiration.
"You know..."
His voice carried emotion.
"I wish him luck."
The group nodded solemnly.
A sacred moment unfolded.
Another student added—
"He may need it."
The entire group agreed.
Meanwhile—
A different group viewed the situation entirely differently.
These students weren't jealous.
They were excited.
Because this was entertainment.
Pure entertainment.
One student was already recording notes.
Another appeared to be sketching.
A third looked ready to publish a newspaper article.
"What do you think happens next?"
One asked.
His friend immediately answered.
"Sparring."
"Then?"
"Someone gets punched."
"Who?"
The student considered carefully.
Then pointed toward Kel.
The group nodded.
Reasonable.
Very reasonable.
Not far away—
Luna watched everything unfold.
The black-haired girl sat atop a stone barrier while observing the spectacle.
Several classmates surrounded her.
Unfortunately.
One student immediately pointed toward Kel.
"Your friend is walking beside Lady Valeryn."
Luna nodded.
"I can see that."
"What do you think will happen?"
The black-haired girl thought for a moment.
Then answered honestly.
"I have absolutely no idea."
And that was the frightening part.
Because usually Luna could predict people.
She understood people.
She understood classmates.
Professors.
Students.
Nobles.
Adventurers.
Aedon Flinth remained a mystery.
Every time she thought she understood him—
He did something completely unexpected.
Like running away from one of the academy's most famous students.
Or accidentally becoming her partner.
Or somehow surviving the conversation.
The black-haired girl sighed.
Then looked toward the sky.
For some reason—
She had a feeling the team battles would be far less chaotic than the partner preparation phase.
A remarkable achievement.
Meanwhile—
Kel continued walking beside Valeryn.
The pair moved toward a quieter section of the training grounds.
The noise gradually faded behind them.
The crowds became more distant.
The gossip remained.
But at least it became quieter.
Eventually Valeryn stopped near a stone training platform.
Ancient runes glowed softly beneath its surface.
The wind moved through her crimson hair.
Then she looked toward him.
For several moments she remained silent.
Studying him.
Observing him.
Trying to understand him.
Finally she spoke.
Her voice was calmer now.
Less formal.
More curious.
"You know, Mister Aedon..."
Kel looked toward her.
"What?"
Valeryn folded her arms.
A faint smile appeared.
"Most people spend their first conversation with me trying to impress me."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"You spent yours trying to escape."
Kel sighed.
Not this again.
The crimson-haired noblewoman laughed softly.
The sound surprised even herself.
Because somehow—
For the first time in quite a while—
Academy life had become interesting.
And far away beneath Scarder Lake—
Seiren started laughing again.
Kel immediately considered muting reality itself.