Award Ceremony [II]

One by one, the Grandmaster announced the names of the Cadets who had successfully secured a place in the top ten ranking by the end of the Evaluation Exam.

"Roy Noname!"

"Riley Bently!"

"Sirius Jax!"

"Alexia Von Zynx!"

"Lily Elderwing!"

As each Cadet was called, they stepped out of the lines and gracefully walked over to the stage under the intense gazes of their peers.

Naturally, everyone present in the crowd was eager to catch a glimpse of the Cadets who had outshone them.

After all, these ten individuals were going to start the term at the top of their year.

They were cut above the rest and had clearly demonstrated their superiority by outperforming everyone else on the Exam.

They were the benchmark for strength and excellence for every other Cadet in their year.

And so, as they ascended the stage, the crowd kept on staring at them, humming quiet whispers and hushed murmurs of curiosity and admiration while applauding them.

Meanwhile, the Grandmaster continued calling names.

"Katlyn Throne!"

"Michael Godswill!"

"Vince Cleverly!"

"Ray Warner!"

Then, there was a short stretch of silence that only served to heighten the anticipation for the name that was going to be announced next.

The Grandmaster leaned closer to the mic and lowered his voice just enough to make it sound dramatic.

"And finally, please welcome your Ace, Samael Kaizer Theosbane!"

The crowd's breath caught. A collective silence blanketed the courtyard as the last name echoed through the microphone like a thunderclap.

For a single heartbeat, the world seemed to freeze.

Then, the sound of applause rolled through the gathered crowd.

But this time, there was a weight to it as their eyes locked onto the golden-haired boy who was stepping forward.

Few have had the misfortune to face the youngest Theosbane on the battlefield, and even fewer had seen him in person.

He had been a headline sensation recently.

He fought his own father, the Golden Duke, before coming to the academy… and then claimed the title of first-year Ace by ranking highest in the Evaluation Exam.

From what was known about him, he was supposed to be an obnoxious, foul-mouthed, entitled brat.

A troublemaker who had been involved with the teen gangs in his city, faced multiple public arrests, and made a scene in every noble gathering he ever attended.

He was a high-noble, undeserving of his birth title as a Duke's son.

He was nothing but a disgrace born in a family of heroes and legends.

But the Samael Kaizer Theosbane who approached the stage was both precisely the same and somehow very different from the person everyone expected him to be.

Tall, sharp, and striking, he walked with a poise that was almost regal, each step exuding the kind of confidence that suggested he was above every other living creature in existence.

He had an air of untouchable superiority surrounding him that made people want to back away when he passed them by.

His golden eyes gleamed under the sun, scrutinizing the Cadets present in attendance all around him as he moved with calm indifference.

Only old nobility moved with such conceited arrogance like they genuinely believed everything in the world existed solely for their pleasure.

Like they owned the very earth under their feet and the people beneath their gaze.

The rumors painted Samael as unrefined, careless, and more like a street hooligan than the son of a Duke.

The expectation was that he'd be crass, loud, and disrespectful – an eyesore among the nobility.

However, the Samael who stepped forward defied these superficial aspects while embodying the core of his reputation.

His presence wasn't loud or chaotic.

Instead, he possesses a quiet confidence. As if he didn't need to follow the spotlight, but the other way around.

There was no visible defiance or disorder in his appearance or movement. Instead of an unruly delinquent, he appeared as a composed, almost regal figure.

Sure, he did appear to be arrogant and self-centered, as implied by the rumors, but in a more subtle, almost aristocratic way.

Just his presence alone was enough to hold everyone's attention.

The shift in his nature wasn't anything too big. But it came as a shock, really. Especially for the people who knew him prior to this day.

One of those people was Lily Elderwing, standing on the stage with calm violet eyes and long strands of ash-blonde hair cascading down her slender back.

She was ranked sixth in the Exam.

Lily and Samael had been old friends turned couples turned… she didn't know what they were now.

Definitely not friends.

He had been ghosting her, and she understood why.

Although they were never serious about each other, she broke his trust and, as a result, shattered whatever bond they once shared.

A fact that she regretted deeply.

She, of all people, knew Samael wasn't a bad guy. 

He was troubled and had his own demons, but he was not a bad person.

She had tried to help him change, to steer him away from the bad influences he surrounded himself with.

But it was like he didn't even want to try.

Yet, despite everything, she'd believed in him. She'd considered him a true friend, someone worth sticking by.

That's why she didn't want things between them to end in resentment.

And that's why she felt a flicker of surprise seeing him today. He looked so calm, so put-together — nothing like the Samael she remembered.

When he ascended the stage and walked past her to stand in the center, she almost took a step forward.

"Sam—" she started, but her whisper was cut off as a white-haired girl slid smoothly between them, blocking Lily's view with a cool, indifferent stare from her piercing azure eyes.

At the same time, Michael, who stood right beside Lily, took her hand and pulled her back.

"Leave him," he muttered, his voice dripping with unfiltered disdain.

Lily glanced at Michael, then back at Samael's retreating figure before letting out a sigh. 

Yeah, Michael was right. Talking to Samael wouldn't change anything.

He wasn't the type to forgive and forget, especially toward someone who violated his trust.

So whatever they once had, well, that was history now.

They were never going to be friends again.

Lily was about to sigh one more time… when a high-pitched squeal interrupted her thoughts. 

She turned her head to see a short girl with fiery orange hair giggling with excitement, her hands covering her mouth and her gray eyes sparkling with delight.

"Ooh, I smell drama~!" Alexia sang out, practically bouncing in place as she pointed at Lily, then back at Michael. "So, let me guess — was it a love triangle? You both were endgame, and Samael was heartbroken? Now things are sour between you three! Am I right? Am I?"

"Shut up," Michael snapped, clicking his tongue in obvious irritation.

But just then, a boy standing a step behind the blind girl growled murderously at Michael.

"Hey!" the boy snarled. "Watch your tone when speaking to the young mistress of the Zynx family! It's your honor to even be in her presence!"

Michael blinked, caught off guard by the hostility.

He took a moment to assess the boy. Late teens, about his age, with a rough, almost wild edge to his appearance.

His cerulean eyes gleamed with an unsettlingly feral intensity. His hair was as white as cotton, and his canines seemed sharp like a wolf's.

He looked more than ready to tear Michael's head off right then and there.

But before anything could happen, Alexia casually raised a hand in front of the boy with a smug little smile on her doll-like face.

"Now, now, Kang," she cooed, "let's not cause a scene. We're all friends here, aren't we?"

Michael opened his mouth, ready to retort, but he couldn't find the words.

He wanted to ask how she could shamelessly call herself his friend after paralyzing one of his limbs during the Exam?!

But after considering it for a heartbeat, Michael decided to swallow his argument.

He made a mental note to stay as far away from this crazy girl as humanly possible.

She could keep her 'friendship' — preferably at a great, great distance.

•••

I came to stand at the center of the stage. My eyes were as calm as a still lake on a quiet winter night, and my face was a mask of polite confidence.

Usually, I'm more… expressive, wearing a smug smirk or a shameless grin.

But Juliana had suggested— no, insisted— that I act neutral for once, like how high-nobles such as myself were supposed to behave.

After all, the role of the Ace came with certain expectations. Everyone in my year was supposed to look up to me now.

So, I had to at least try to act like a model Cadet.

And try I did.

I walked with a detached elegance while looking around at the world like it was natural for me to be at the center of it.

…But even as I kept my composure and acted as gracefully as I could, I was screaming inside in complete panic.

'Was that Lily I just passed by?! Why was she approaching me? Why did I ignore her?! She's the female lead! Should I turn back? No! That would look ridiculous. Just keep looking forward, Sam! Keep. Looking. Forward!'

And it was not like Lily and I were on friendly terms anymore, anyway.

I hated her.

Well, I hated her once — before I regained my memories. Now? Now I felt nothing for her or what had happened between us.

After all, I'm a firm believer in forgive and forget.

Besides, my past life memories gave me a fresh perspective. I could see now how poorly I had treated her when we were together.

I used to talk down to her just because I was of higher birth, disregard her feelings most of the time, and treat her more like a trophy than an actual girlfriend — all to appear tough in front of my so-called 'friends.'

She was one of the nicest people I knew, kind to all, and going out of her way to help anyone she could.

I was the complete opposite of her. Getting in fights, hurting people, always thinking of myself and what would please me.

Well… I guess I didn't change in that regard even after regaining my memories.

So, to be honest, I couldn't blame her for leaving me. 

But, to be even more honest? I couldn't care less about high school drama and teen romance.

Because right now, my sole focus was on surviving the upcoming first arc of this story.

And to do that, I had to get stronger.

Fast.