Chapter 25: Beyond the Exam
An hour had passed since the conclusion of the entrance exam, and after submitting the form with his chosen specialization and name, Fulan left the hall without a word to anyone. The academy's corridors, with their wooden floors and walls illuminated by golden lanterns, stretched before him like a labyrinth of shadows and light. The warm glow of the lanterns cast intricate patterns on the polished wood, creating an atmosphere that was both serene and imposing. Fulan, with his black hair and dark eyes, walked quietly through the corridor, occasionally passing other students he didn't recognize. The academy's interior design was elegant and refined, a fact that didn't escape Fulan as he took in the details of the place where he would spend the next three years of his life.
When he reached the male dormitory wing—a section of the academy clearly divided between male and female quarters—he paused for a moment outside his room. He stood silently for a few seconds, his hand hovering over the bronze handle of the brown wooden door. He suspected Akira might be inside.
After three seconds of silence, he turned the handle and opened the door, only to be met with a surprising sight. Akira stood there, dressed in a blue jacket and gray pants, a black bag slung over his right shoulder. His light blue spiky hair and piercing blue eyes gave him an intense, almost electric presence. He looked as though he was about to leave the room.
The two locked eyes, and for a moment, the room was filled with a heavy silence.
Fulan remained quiet, while Akira clenched his teeth, his anger visibly rising. In a sudden burst of motion, Akira grabbed Fulan's shirt and shoved him against the wall, his blue eyes glowing with barely contained fury.
"I respected you on the first day, Fulan," Akira hissed, his voice low but seething. "I thought we'd be on good terms if we both passed the exam. That's why I came to you and proposed an alliance. But instead, you chose to team up with those weaklings instead of me?! If it weren't for you, I would've passed! What's wrong with you?!"
Fulan's dark eyes remained calm as he studied Akira's furious expression. After a brief pause, Fulan placed his hand on Akira's wrist and replied in a steady voice, "The White Tiger is a ferocious beast, and it can sense killing intent. That girl was too honest, too straightforward. Before you could strike her down like lightning, I had already moved to protect her. I felt your intent to kill. But it took me longer to reach her than it would've taken you. After all, I'm not as skilled in using your ability as you are. I'm lucky that I was closer to her than you in the arena."
Akira's teeth ground together so hard that small sparks of blue lightning flickered around his face, appearing and disappearing like a storm about to break. "That's exactly what makes me angry!" he snapped. "What do you mean by 'White Tiger'? And how are you able to use my cursed ability?!"
Fulan met Akira's gaze directly, his black eyes cold and unyielding, as if their dark depths could swallow the anger burning in Akira's blue eyes. "Tell me, Akira," Fulan said calmly, "do you think you're the only one born with talent? Or are you just angry because I used the ability you've spent years honing?"
Akira's eyes widened slightly, and for a moment, the fury in them wavered. Fulan's words had struck a nerve. The glowing aura of anger around Akira dimmed, and he released Fulan's shirt, taking a step back.
*Tch!*
The blue light in Akira's eyes faded, and he turned away, walking toward the door. "I'm not done here," he said, his voice quieter but still firm. "I'll never stop. Three years? So what? I'll spend every second of it training, and then I'll come back. I'm Akira Denki, and one day, I'll become one of the Crystal Knights. Remember my name, Fulan..."
With that, Akira left the room, the door closing behind him with a soft click. Fulan leaned against the wall for a moment before slowly sliding down to sit on the floor, catching his breath after the long day. He turned his dark eyes toward the window, where the sky was overcast, draped in the unpredictable mood of autumn weather, and let out a quiet sigh.
'You're right, Akira. You have more than enough talent to become a Crystal Knight in the future. You could become truly powerful. That's exactly why I had to make sure you failed the exam. If you had passed, you would've been with us—the group that gets to meet the King on graduation day. It's a rare event, happening only once a year, and it's crucial for my plan. If I were to rush at the King at the speed of sound, you would intervene and stop me. You have the speed to do that. That's why I had to remove you from my path now. I owe you an apology, of course, but don't worry. I owe everyone an apology, even myself...'
The assassination Fulan thought about every day was the foundation of the entire story, an event that would determine the fate of the kingdom. If the Kingdom of Saita were to fall, the entire world would enter an era of unprecedented change. This was exactly what the King of the fallen kingdom of Tania had intended all along. The man who had sent Fulan on this mission after threatening to execute every member of his clan.
Many cards had been revealed, but every answer only led to more questions and secrets...
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Meanwhile, in one of the academy's lantern-lit corridors, Fayrouz and the blond girl, Lazaria, walked side by side toward their dormitory after submitting their forms. The corridor, unlike the quiet one Fulan had walked through earlier, was now alive with activity. The injured students had been healed, and those who had failed the exam were gathering their belongings and preparing to leave the academy. The sight prompted Lazaria to comment, "All their injuries and burns are gone. What kind of treatment did they use on them?"
Fayrouz, lost in thought, walked quietly with her eyes fixed on the ground. 'Even though I boasted that I'd give him eight points as a gift, he ended up earning them on his own. I guess I still owe him after all...'
The only thing that snapped Fayrouz out of her thoughts was Lazaria suddenly stopping in her tracks. Fayrouz lifted her gaze from the floor and followed Lazaria's line of sight, only to find Mondo standing in front of them.
He looked unusually serious, his gaze fixed on Fayrouz's blue eyes. Before she could process the situation, Mondo spoke in a calm but firm tone, "Fayrouz, this is the first time I've called you by your name, right? I'm not good with sweet talk, so I'll just say it directly: I want you to go out in a date with me."
The corridor, once filled with the murmurs of students and the sound of footsteps, fell silent as all eyes turned toward the unxpected scene.
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