Inside the grand hall of the Lacona patriarch's manor, moonlight filtered through the tall windows, casting long shadows against the cold marble floor. The patriarch stood before the vast window, hands clasped behind his back, his sharp gaze fixed on the night sky.
Clack. Clack.
The sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the hall before a servant dropped to one knee.
"My lord," the servant said, head bowed low, "our man at the Handol barony seems to have been found dead."
The patriarch slowly turned, his lips curving into a faint, menacing smile.
"Oh? So the children truly carry the blood of Lukas after all. They managed to kill a C-rank hunter…" His eyes narrowed. "Could it be… that one of those brats has already surpassed C-rank?"
The servant shook his head quickly. "No, my lord. According to the reports, the highest confirmed ranking among them is only D. It seems unlikely they were the ones who killed our man. We believe someone of higher rank is protecting them."
The patriarch's smile twisted into something darker. "So… another survivor besides the children? Interesting. Very interesting." His voice grew sharp. "Investigate immediately. I want to know who this person is."
"Yes, my lord." The servant bowed once again before retreating from the hall.
Left alone, the patriarch's expression hardened, his gaze burning with venom as he whispered, "This Lukas family... always make things harder for me."
A day later, beneath the towering walls of the Royal Capital, the stagecoach pulled away, leaving behind Jun and Jina with their luggage.
"Brother. What now?" Jina asked, tilting her head.
Jun stretched his arms and smirked. "Good question. There's still plenty of time before the entrance exam starts. Should we travel a little and look around?"
"Do we have the money?" Jina asked, narrowing her eyes in suspicion.
"Yep. We have plenty. You don't need to worry about that."
Her face brightened immediately. "Ok then, why are we waiting here? Let's go, here I come—it's shopping time!"
Jun could only sigh as Jina rushed ahead with sparkling eyes.
From that moment, the siblings spent hours wandering the lively streets of the capital. They visited countless shops, admired the grand plazas, and marveled at the towering monuments. Jina's laughter echoed through every corner as they tasted delicious foods and indulged in sights they had only dreamed of before.
By noon, the siblings finally reached the entrance of the Royal Academy. The gates were massive, adorned with ancient runes, and crowds of nobles stood in front, their carriages gleaming in the sunlight. Parents in elegant robes fussed over their children, most of them dressed in the finest silks.
Among the crowd, Jina tugged at Jun's sleeve.
"Brother, are we going to use our noble family name?"
Jun frowned. "Why will we use our noble family name?"
"Huh? Then how are we gonna get the recommendation for admitting?"
Jun's lips curled into a teasing smile. "How else? You're gonna take the written test and make it to the top."
Jina froze, her jaw dropping. "Are you kidding me? It's not time for joking."
"I'm not joking, though."
Before Jina could explode, a teacher from the academy walked over, calling for the commoner children to follow him for the test.
Jun crouched slightly and waved at Jina in an exaggerated manner, grinning ear to ear. "Good luck, little sister~"
Jina stared at him with the most ridiculous face she could muster, cheeks puffed in frustration, before storming off with the others.
The lighthearted moment faded as Jun straightened, his smile vanishing. His gaze hardened, sharp as a blade.
"…Now," he muttered under his breath, "it's time to get revenge."
Inside the towering halls of the Royal Academy, Jina followed the teacher along with the other commoner students. The air was filled with nervous energy, whispers and murmurs echoing across the vast chamber.
Some students stood confidently with chins raised high, while others fidgeted nervously, their faces pale.
A heavy silence fell over the room when another teacher entered, carrying a gleaming crystal orb that pulsed faintly with light. He placed it carefully on a pedestal at the front, the glow spreading across the chamber like ripples of power.
"All of you, listen carefully," the teacher's sharp voice cut through the whispers. "We are going to start the potential test."
The room tensed, breaths being held.
"I will call your names one at a time. The one called will step forward and place their hand on this orb. If your potential is at least B-rank, you will pass and be allowed to proceed to the written test."
He let his eyes sweep across the group before his tone sharpened.
"Those below B-rank… will be disqualified on the spot and will not advance any further."
A cold murmur ran through the students like a wave, some panicking, some scoffing, some trembling in silence.
"Good. Then we shall begin the test."
The orb pulsed brighter as the teacher unrolled a list of names. One by one, the fate of the students would soon be revealed.