"Nine? The white-haired guy's obviously going to pass."
Darian stepped forward and raised a staircase of stone leading up to the stage with a flick of his hand.
"You don't need to despair if you didn't make it. Each of you holds some kind of potential. If you didn't pass this time, you can try again next year... or apply to another institution."
He inhaled deeply, then continued.
"I'll now announce the names and marks of those who passed, in order from the lowest score to the highest. If your name is called, step up onto the stage."
From his left pocket, Darian removed a second sheet of paper. After glancing at it briefly, he began.
"Ivory Stronghold, 25 out of 40."
"Darion Vexley, 26 out of 40."
No! Damn it the devil passed... How the hell did she even do it? She only carries around a dagger....
But even still... deep inside, he was relieved she had passed.
"Dawn Stronghold, 28 out of 40."
"Mirae Vale, 29 out of 40."
Yes! Even Dawn made it...
Alger spotted Ivory stepping onto the stage, calmly taking her place behind the Instructor. A moment later, Dawn followed her, standing beside her.
The row behind Ronan grew slowly, the accepted students standing in quiet anticipation. But Alger still didn't see her... the silver-streaked girl from before.
I guess she failed...
"Thalen Wyrde, 31 out of 40."
"Alira Duskwood, 32 out of 40."
Ronan paused—he was now reaching the names of those with exceptional scores.
"Lux Mire, 34 out of 40."
It was the blonde boy.
Lux? So I was right.... he is strong.
"Rosalind East, 35 out of 40."
Alger could hear the crowd whispering around
"East?! Did the Instructor say East?!"
"Yes! She has the last name East!"
"It is my first time seeing someone from the—"
Is she some kind of big shot?
Just as the murmurs began to quiet, a young girl slowly ascended the stairs.
Her hair fluttered in the wind—long, black strands threaded with silver that shimmered under the afternoon sun.
It was her.
Alger's eyes widened slightly.
Thirty-five...?
Of course, the fact that Alger's name hadn't been called out yet meant he had gotten higher than her. And he already knew something like this was going to happen...
She stepped onto the stage with quiet grace, her expression calm and unreadable. Unlike the others, she didn't glance at the crowd or search for familiar faces—she simply walked by...
But she did notice something... Lux. The person who scored only a point lower than her.
Blonde-haired, sharp-eyed, and only a few inches taller than her, Lux stood like a quiet monolith in the row. There was something strange about him... his posture was terrible, his sword was terrible, his clothes were terrible, and yet he had somehow managed to got only a point lower than her....
She took her place beside him.
Alger's gaze lingered on her for a moment longer.
Then, Darian looked down at the paper again—only one name left.
'Did the instructor miscount or something? I only counted 13 students before me....' Rose thought to herself.
Darian folded the paper with the list of students and put it in his pocket once again....
After seeing that, Rose was pretty much sure that was the case.
"Alger...." Said Darian in a calm tone.
Rose was shocked...
'what....'
"Alger Stronghold, 39 out of 40"
'No—there has to be some kind of mistake....'
She gritted her teeth and clenched the handle of her sword.
A skinny young man slowly made his way up the steps.
His hair was as white as the clouds drifting overhead, catching the light with every step. His expression remained calm—unbothered, distant.
When Rose saw him, she understood... understood why she couldn't defeat him...
'White hair....' she thought to herself
Alger slowly walked in front of the others and stood beside her...
Rose opened her mouth and softly spoke...
"What is a royal of your caliber doing in a small corner of Mytherra?"
Alger slowly turned around and looked down at her...
"Me? A royal? You must be kidding! I am an Orphan from a small city in the south...."
"Stop lying! Just look at your hair." She glanced at Alger's white hair, which was waving in the wind.
My hair?... Now that she mentions it, even Waye was surprised after seeing me...
"I don't know what you're talking about..... uh? Rosalind."
'What—does he really not know...'
"It seems I was mistaken... Alger. You can call me Rose, like everyone."
'If father finds out about him....'
Darian had finished his speech, and the ceremony came to a quiet close.
Slowly, the crowd began to disperse.
Some laughed in misery, forcing humor into their failure.
Some stood in place, trembling, quietly wiping tears from their eyes.
But most were simply silent—too stunned, too numb to speak.