Night gradually settled over Martial High.
Lanterns hanging from the stone corridors illuminated the academy with a warm golden glow.
The sounds of training slowly faded.
The academy, which had bustled with thousands of hopeful applicants throughout the day, finally began to quiet.
Yet...
Very few people actually slept.
Tomorrow...
The Entrance Tournament would begin.
---
Eastern Guest Residence
Rowan lay flat on his bed.
"...I'm going to lose."
His roommate looked over.
"You haven't even fought yet."
"I know."
"...That's why I'm worried."
He sat upright before sighing deeply.
"I climbed those stairs and nearly died."
"What if my first opponent is Jian Yu?"
"...Or Han Zhen?"
"...Or some hidden genius?"
His roommate laughed.
"If you keep thinking like that..."
"You'll lose before stepping into the arena."
Rowan rubbed his face.
"...You're probably right."
Then...
His thoughts drifted toward one person.
Kael.
The quiet mountain youth had climbed ten thousand steps without looking tired.
Yet...
He hadn't shown off.
Hadn't looked proud.
Hadn't even talked about it.
"...He's strange."
Rowan murmured.
"...But somehow..."
"...being around him makes me less nervous."
---
Southern Courtyard
Han Zhen stood alone beneath the moonlight.
His massive saber rested across his shoulders.
Without warning—
He swung.
WHOOSH!
A crimson arc of Martial Qi sliced through the air.
Another swing followed.
Then another.
Powerful.
Direct.
Every strike carried enough force to split stone.
His master watched silently from a distance.
"You've trained enough."
Han Zhen lowered his saber.
"I can still improve."
"You can."
His master nodded.
"But not tonight."
Silence lingered between them.
Finally...
The elder spoke.
"You've been distracted."
Han Zhen frowned.
"...Have I?"
"You keep looking toward someone."
The young man thought for a moment.
"The mountain boy."
"The one in gray?"
"...Yes."
His master smiled.
"You felt something unusual?"
Han Zhen slowly shook his head.
"No."
"...That's what bothers me."
"I can't feel anything from him."
The elder chuckled softly.
"Then stop thinking about him."
"If he's weak..."
"You'll defeat him."
"If he's strong..."
"You'll meet him eventually."
Han Zhen smiled.
"...You're right."
---
Northern Residence
Jian Yu calmly wiped his sword with a clean cloth.
Each movement was careful.
Respectful.
One of his junior brothers approached.
"Senior Brother..."
"Do you think anyone here can challenge you?"
Jian Yu remained silent for several moments.
Then...
"I hope so."
The younger disciple blinked.
"...Hope?"
"If no one challenges me..."
"...then I haven't grown."
He sheathed his sword.
"I came here to become stronger."
"Not merely to win."
---
Zhao Lian
She stood alone on a wooden balcony overlooking the academy.
Moonlight reflected in her eyes.
Footsteps approached.
Her grandfather quietly joined her.
"What are you thinking about?"
She smiled softly.
"The people I met today."
"So many different backgrounds."
"So many dreams."
The old man nodded.
"That's Martial High."
"Everyone arrives carrying something."
"A dream."
"A burden."
"A promise."
He looked toward the stars.
"...What did you bring?"
Zhao Lian answered almost immediately.
"...Responsibility."
The old man smiled proudly.
---
Kael
His room was...
Simple.
A wooden bed.
A table.
A chair.
A small window overlooking one of Martial High's many courtyards.
He placed his backpack neatly beside the bed.
Then carefully removed Grandpa Elias' hunting knife.
He laid it on the table.
Beside it...
He placed the bronze examination token.
2480
Kael quietly stared at the two objects.
One represented where he had come from.
The other...
Where he was going.
He smiled faintly.
"...Grandpa..."
"I made it."
No one answered.
Only the gentle sound of the night breeze entered through the window.
---
Unable to sleep...
Kael decided to take a walk.
The academy was beautiful at night.
Stone lanterns lined the pathways.
Small streams flowed quietly beneath elegant bridges.
Even the training grounds had become peaceful.
As he wandered...
He eventually reached a large lake.
The moon reflected perfectly upon its still surface.
"...Pretty."
He sat quietly beside the water.
Simply enjoying the silence.
---
Elsewhere...
The elderly groundskeeper slowly swept fallen leaves beneath an ancient maple tree.
He suddenly paused.
"...Come out."
A figure emerged from the darkness.
It was the Headmaster.
"You noticed me."
The old groundskeeper smiled.
"You've become better at hiding."
The Headmaster laughed softly.
"I'll take that as praise."
He looked toward the lake.
"...Watching someone?"
The old man resumed sweeping.
"...Perhaps."
"The mountain boy?"
"...Perhaps."
The Headmaster folded his hands behind his back.
"What do you think?"
The groundskeeper swept another pile of leaves before answering.
"I think..."
"...he still knows nothing."
The Headmaster raised an eyebrow.
"...Nothing?"
"He doesn't know who he is."
"He doesn't know what he possesses."
"He doesn't know how differently he walks compared to everyone else."
The old man smiled faintly.
"And that's exactly why..."
"...his steps remain so steady."
The Headmaster followed his gaze toward Kael.
The quiet youth was currently throwing tiny pebbles into the lake.
Watching the ripples spread across the water with genuine curiosity.
"...An unusual child."
The Headmaster admitted.
"Indeed."
The groundskeeper replied.
"But remember."
"He is merely a child."
"Do not burden him with expectations before he has taken his own path."
The Headmaster nodded respectfully.
"...Understood."
Neither of them approached Kael.
Neither wished to disturb his quiet moment.
---
After several minutes...
Kael stood.
"...I should sleep."
Tomorrow...
The tournament would begin.
As he walked back toward the guest residence...
He unknowingly passed countless other contestants still training beneath the moon.
Some practiced swordsmanship.
Others cultivated Martial Qi.
Some repeated the same technique hundreds of times.
Everyone prepared in their own way.
Kael's preparation was much simpler.
A good night's sleep.
Because Grandpa Elias had always said—
"A tired body makes slow decisions."
He quietly returned to his room.
Far above...
The moon continued watching over Martial High.
Tomorrow...
The first names would rise.
The first dreams would shatter.
And the first true encounters between the academy's future legends would finally begin.
End of Chapter 21