The Apex

The room descended into an uncomfortable silence as Azriel retracted Void Eater.

Cadet Chad stood there, despairing, his head hanging low.

Clap-!

Instructor Salvator clapped his hands together, the sound echoing through the room.

"That was outstanding, Cadet Azriel. Please remain inside the academy—you'll be guided to your room at the end of the day when the rankings are decided. The overall rankings of all students will be revealed the day after tomorrow when classes commence."

Instructor Salvator's respectful tone made it clear that Azriel's passage was a foregone conclusion, even before the entrance exam had taken place.

Being addressed as "Cadet" was a sign of the instructor's acknowledgment.

Azriel simply nodded and left Chad and the instructors behind.

He avoided looking at Solomon or Freya, his thoughts unsettled.

Quite frankly, he was a little afraid to see Freya's expression right now.

'...I did what I had to do.'

He reassured himself as he stepped outside, ignoring the gazes of the other prospective students waiting for their turn.

"Prince Azriel."

The staff member who had escorted him earlier was there, waiting with a slight bow.

"Allow me to guide you to a room where you can relax while waiting for the results."

Azriel nodded, but then paused.

"Wait."

The staff member looked at him questioningly.

"What is your name?"

"Ah, my name is Daniel, just Daniel, my prince."

Azriel nodded once more.

"Daniel. I shall remember your name."

*****

Not long after Azriel left, the instructors decided to continue the exam, bringing in the other priority students.

As expected, the priority students performed extremely well, showcasing their abilities.

Fortunately, after Azriel's display, Cadet Chad managed to save face with the following candidates, though it was clear that the incoming students this year were particularly talented.

Or at least, that's what everyone in the room believed—until the turn of a certain blonde-haired student.

The student's performance was so overwhelming that it ended with Cadet Chad being accidentally sent to the infirmary.

To say the instructors and the headmistress were surprised would be an understatement.

They were utterly shocked.

Another student capable of defeating a Grade 3 Intermediate, just like Azriel.

After that incident, another third-year was called upon to continue the exams.

Fortunately, the remainder of the entrance exams proceeded without further issues.

After the third-year student left the room, a heavy silence settled among the instructors.

No one spoke, each lost in their own thoughts.

The students this year had remarkable potential.

If they had taken the entrance exam three years ago, deciding who would gain the title of Apex would have been a difficult task for the instructors.

Fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately—just like last year, the choice for who would gain the title of Apex seemed obvious.

Or at least it should have been, if not for a certain blonde-haired student.

"...Shall we vote?"

Instructor Juliet finally broke the silence, her voice tired as she looked around at her colleagues with a weary smile.

The long day of evaluating students had taken its toll on everyone.

Instructor Salvator nodded and picked up the documents in front of him.

"The candidates for the title of Apex are as follows."

He began, clearing his throat.

"Azriel, Anastasia, Celestina, Yelena, Vergil, and... Lumine."

The six names Salvator listed were the top contenders for the title, but it was clear that only two of them truly stood out.

"Looks like we have some dark horses this year, huh..."

Ranni remarked, flashing a wry smile as she reviewed the documents.

"I think we can all agree that the Apex this year will be either Azriel Crimson or Lumine Versille."

Instructor Salvator said, and the others nodded in agreement—except for Freya, who appeared deep in thought.

'Why... why did he do that?'

Freya's mind raced as she replayed everything Azriel had done so far.

None of it made sense.

His actions during the entrance exam didn't align with the plan he was supposed to follow—the plan he had told her about.

Freya had been confident she had fooled Azriel into believing she supported his plan.

So why hadn't he followed through?

Why didn't he hold back as he said he would?

As she considered every detail about Azriel Crimson, something suddenly clicked in her mind.

"...!"

Her eyes widened in realization.

'It was a decoy!?'

"Heh. You figured it out faster than I thought."

Solomon said lightly from beside her, making her turn to him.

He was smiling, as usual.

The plan Azriel had presented was a decoy all along—a plan he genuinely intended to use, making Freya believe in it as well.

But the truth was, Azriel had switched plans the moment the banquet ended.

'Why...?'

Before she could voice her thoughts, she realized something that made her skin crawl.

She didn't want to believe it, but...

"How...?"

She muttered, her voice barely audible.

The other instructors, noticing the tension between Freya and Solomon, looked confused.

Solomon simply shrugged.

"I have no clue, honestly... but we were lucky. Extremely lucky."

'Lucky, huh...'

Freya thought.

Yes, they were indeed fortunate.

Because if she had seen through the ruse earlier, everything would have been for nothing.

"I told you, didn't I? You shouldn't underestimate one another."

"..."

'...I really did underestimate him. But how did Azriel know?'

Freya wondered, now more curious than ever.

Before, she might not have cared, but now?

Now she was dying to know.

'For once, I'm glad I underestimated him...'

She didn't want to imagine what would have happened if she hadn't.

"What's wrong?"

Instructor Juliet asked, noticing the odd exchange.

"It's nothing, really. Just us grown-ups talking, so don't worry about it. Let's just make Azriel the Apex and be done with it—my butt's starting to hurt!"

Solomon replied, waving off the conversation.

Instructor Juliet frowned.

"Lumine Versille is still a possibility for being the Apex, Solomon."

Knowing she wouldn't get answers from Freya or Solomon, Juliet steered the conversation back to the decision at hand.

"He is not."

Instructor Salvator interjected, while Ranni nodded as if she knew what he was about to say.

"And why is that?"

Juliet asked, confused.

"Perhaps if Azriel Crimson wasn't one of the students this year, then yes, Lumine Versille would have been the Apex. But that's not the case."

Salvator explained.

"Why does that matter? Both defeated a Grade 3 Intermediate. In fact, I'd say Lumine is a better candidate since the current Apex for the second year is already Jasmine Crimson. It's always been a child of one of the great clans who's the Apex in their year. The students would find it motivating to see that someone else could top a prince or princess."

Instructor Salvator shook his head.

"I think you've forgotten the true meaning of the Apex title. It's meant for the strongest, for someone who will lead the students when necessary. It isn't something you give for social and motivational reasons. Would you trust someone unknown who somehow managed to defeat a Grade 3 Intermediate, or Azriel Crimson, a prince of the Crimson Clan, who has presumably survived the Void Realm on his own for two years?"

Instructor Juliet fell silent at his words.

It was true—people would rather trust a prince with a rumored history of survival than an unknown student.

"And, currently, Azriel Crimson is indeed stronger than Lumine Versille."

Salvator continued, noticing Juliet's confusion.

"Cadet Chad was defeated by Lumine Versille, but they fought, didn't they? The same could be said for Azriel Crimson, no?"

Juliet looked at him, her expression questioning.

"It cannot be said the same."

Salvator stated firmly.

Suddenly, Juliet's eyes widened in realization.

"Azriel Crimson didn't fight Cadet Chad. That wasn't a fight—it was a halted execution. If the prince had desired, he could have killed the poor guy ten times over without him knowing what happened. Unlike Lumine Versille, who genuinely had to exchange blows."

"Oh..."

Instructor Juliet could only exclaim in realization as she comprehended Instructor Salvator's point.

Azriel had finished the exam faster than anyone else.

Unlike the other students, he hadn't engaged in a fight or even laid a scratch on Cadet Chad, yet he had defeated him with overwhelming ease.

Azriel had the power to hurt—or even kill—Cadet Chad if he had chosen to, but he had refrained from doing so. 

"...If anyone objects to Azriel Crimson being named the Apex, please raise your hand."

Freya's unexpected announcement drew the attention of the room.

The instructors, who had thought Freya was lost in thought, looked up in surprise.

Yet, no one raised their hand.

In the end, Freya and Azriel's goals had aligned.

She wanted him to be the Apex, and so did Azriel.

It was mutually beneficial.

However, Freya now had a new concern—a dangerous one—that she would need to address promptly.

'I'm starting to understand how he managed to survive the Void Realm.'

She thought, shaking her head as she met the gazes of the other instructors.

"Then it's official: Azriel Crimson is hereby named the Apex of the first years."