The main hall of Zheno Academy was alive with murmurs, the tension thick as the final scores were displayed on the grand enchanted board suspended in midair. Every student held their breath, eyes flicking between the numbers, the names, and the faces around them. Today, the trials had culminated in a public acknowledgment of talent—a true glimpse of what each student could wield, in strength, wit, and power.
The physical leaderboard appeared first, the names scrolling elegantly from the lowest to the highest. The room erupted in whispers and quiet gasps as the top three were displayed in full:
1. Reiyell Georgia Frey Ravenscroft
2. Liora Vallegoire
3. Ashborne Dunsmore
Wads' gaze traveled down, and a small chuckle escaped from Liora and Klyden when they noticed his rank.
"Fifty-fourth, Wads!" Liora called teasingly, her violet eyes sparkling. "I didn't know you were going for the underdog trophy!"
Klyden laughed loudly, clapping Wads on the shoulder. "Hey, at least you're consistent with being average. I'm proud of you, man!"
Wads rolled his eyes, adjusting his glasses. "Hilarious. Keep it up," he muttered dryly, though his attention was fixed firmly on the very top. His gaze lingered on Reiyell Georgia Frey Ravenscroft. The full name, the complete surname… his mind raced. Ravenscroft. Princess. Royalty. He shook his head subtly, a mix of disbelief and worry crossing his features. All the casual conversations, the teasing, the easy camaraderie—they were with a princess. One wrong move, one misunderstood word, and consequences could be fatal. His calm exterior remained, but a silent calculation churned inside him.
Next came the Diety leaderboard. The air grew electric as it appeared, students leaning forward, their breaths caught. Names scrolled up, and the shock was immediate:
1. Wyxro Waxzi
2. Reiyell Georgia Frey Ravenscroft
3. Keiya Anastasia Zheka
4. Ysoria Eldridge
5. Liora Vallegoire
6. Ashborne Dunsmore
7. Thaddeus Wynthrope
Then, somewhere near the top of the list:
20. Klyden Yurei
Wads blinked, slightly confused, before his eyes landed fully on the very first name: Wyxro Waxzi. Recognition dawned slowly—his own reflection, the result of his Diety aptitude. The hall fell silent, students staring, whispering, and turning to look at him as realization spread. Wads' analytical mind noted every expression—the wide-eyed disbelief, the upward flick of eyebrows, the murmurs. He simply adjusted his glasses again, calm but inwardly pleased.
Klyden, unrestrained, let out a booming laugh. "I knew you had it in you! That's my friend! Top of the Diety charts! Take that, all of you!"
Liora's grin widened, her eyes glittering with amusement. "Wads, I always knew your brain would pay off. Not bad for the 'average' guy, huh?"
Wads, unmoved outwardly, allowed himself a small smirk. "I didn't expect applause. I expected calculations."
Reiyell, standing gracefully nearby, observed quietly, her indicolite eyes unreadable. Yet a subtle twitch of her lips suggested faint approval. Though she didn't reveal her emotions, she made a mental note of Wads' surprising capability—someone she would have to watch closely.
Finally, the combined leaderboard was revealed, blending both physical and Diety performance. The hall watched with bated breath:
1. Reiyell Georgia Frey Ravenscroft
2. Liora Vallegoire
3. Ashborne Dunsmore
4. Thaddeus Wynthrope
5. Klyden Yurei
6. Keiya Anastasia Zheka
7. Nash Voldemort
8. Ysoria Eldridge
9. Yetro Zaikeroli
…
20. Wyxro Waxzi
The murmur of the room was deafening as everyone processed the results. Wads' physical deficit kept him lower in the combined ranking, yet his Diety prowess had made a clear statement—brains could rival brawn, and he had proven it spectacularly.
Klyden, still chuckling, nudged him again. "You may not lift a thing, Wads, but man, your head's worth more than half the guys here combined!"
Liora laughed, flicking her hair back. "Don't get cocky. But… okay, maybe just a little. That was impressive."
Meanwhile, Wads' gaze returned to Reiyell, now fully aware of her royal identity. His calm exterior remained intact, but inside, a careful calculation of future interactions began to form. For all her elegance, her overwhelming power, and her authority, she had treated him as an equal—not a mere commoner. That alone was dangerous… and fascinating.
Among the other students, subtle tensions began to form. Keiya, clearly powerful in Diety, narrowed her eyes slightly, mentally noting the competition. Thaddeus, Nash, Ysoria, and Yetro all observed the top performers, already calculating rivalries, alliances, and strategies. Liora and Klyden's camaraderie contrasted sharply with the silent assessment of the others, hinting at the shifting dynamics in the academy.
By the time the leaderboards were fully absorbed, the hall had quieted into focused anticipation. Friendships, rivalries, and unspoken challenges were all beginning to take root. Wads adjusted his glasses again, feeling both the weight of his sudden recognition and the thrill of the hidden games ahead.
The orientation had ended, but the real contest—the balance of power, intellect, and cunning—was only just beginning.