The academy had not changed.
F-Class still occupied the oldest building on campus.
Its walls were worn, its training equipment outdated, and its classrooms sat furthest from the main academy halls.
Students from the higher classes walked past without a second glance.
Some laughed.
Others simply ignored them.
"F-Class."
"Still the academy's dead weight."
Kael heard the comments as he walked through the courtyard.
He didn't react.
After seven months, they had become little more than background noise.
The only thing that had changed...
Was him.
---
The classroom slowly filled.
Dren dropped into the seat beside Kael with a tired sigh.
"I ran five laps before breakfast."
Kael looked up from his notebook.
"Only five?"
Dren smirked.
"I was hoping you'd say that."
Across the room, Tovin rested his head on his desk.
He looked half asleep.
"You two are exhausting."
"You've been asleep since we got here," Dren replied.
"I know."
"And?"
"I'm tired."
Dren rolled his eyes.
"You say that every day."
"And every day I'm right."
A few students chuckled.
Even after seven months, Tovin somehow managed to contribute almost nothing to class discussions while still passing every evaluation.
No one understood how.
---
The classroom door opened.
Instructor Vaelis entered.
Without a word, the room fell silent.
He placed a folder onto his desk before looking across the class.
"You have two months remaining."
No one spoke.
"The first seven months of this academy year were spent building your foundations."
He paused.
"The final two months will determine whether those foundations were worth building."
Several students straightened in their seats.
"From this point onward, evaluations will become significantly more difficult."
"They will test your combat ability."
"Your judgment."
"Your teamwork."
"And your growth."
His gaze lingered on the room.
"Monthly rankings will continue."
"But understand this."
"The gaps between students are beginning to widen."
"Those who continue improving will climb."
"Those who become comfortable..."
"They will be left behind."
Silence settled over the classroom.
Vaelis closed the folder.
"Today's lesson begins outside."
---
The class filed toward the training grounds.
As they crossed the academy courtyard, students from B-Class passed by.
One glanced at the group before scoffing.
"F-Class."
Another laughed.
"Didn't know they still trained."
The group continued walking.
Nobody stopped.
Nobody argued.
They were used to it.
---
Kael walked near the back of the line.
Beside him, Tovin kept his hands in his pockets.
For several moments, neither of them spoke.
Finally, Tovin broke the silence.
"Seven months."
Kael glanced sideways.
"...What about them?"
Tovin looked ahead.
"Long enough."
"For what?"
A faint breeze drifted across the courtyard.
Tovin's expression remained as unreadable as ever.
"...To stop pretending."
Kael frowned.
"I don't know what you mean."
"I know."
Tovin gave no further explanation.
He simply continued walking toward the training grounds.
Kael watched him for a moment before following behind.
Somewhere ahead...
The academy bell rang.
The real climb was about to begin.