Evening arrived, and with it came a knock on my door.
I opened it to find Sera, the Elenor diplomat, standing in the hallway with a single envelope in her hand.
"This is for you," she said, extending the envelope. "Aldorian Kingdom House is holding a first-year recruitment meeting tonight at seven PM in the Elite Dorm A common room. All Aldorian Elite tier students are invited to attend and learn about faction structure and benefits."
I took the invitation, noting the formal wording and official Aldorian Kingdom House seal embossed on the envelope's surface.
"You're going?" I asked.
"Of course. I'm Elenor, not Aldorian, but diplomatic observation is valuable. I'll be attending similar meetings for other factions over the next week to understand the political landscape before committing anywhere." She paused. "Someone mentioned earlier that operating independently as a first-year Elite makes you a target for both recruitment pressure and potential sabotage. Factions provide protection as much as resources."
"Who mentioned that?" I asked, curious about the source.
"One of the third-years during orientation. Aldric Vane, I think his name was. Ranked fifteenth overall in academy-wide rankings, been in the top twenty consistently for three years. His advice carries weight."
She left before I could ask additional questions, apparently having her own preparations to handle before evening meetings began.
I closed the door and opened the invitation properly, reading the formal text.
'The Aldorian Kingdom House'
'Cordially invites all first-year Aldorian Elite tier students to attend our annual recruitment presentation.'
'Date: Today, 7:00 PM'
'Location: Elite Dormitory A, Common Room'
'Topics: Faction structure, member benefits, obligations, and opportunities for advancement'
'Current Leadership: Third-year President and Executive Council'
The invitation was straightforward, professional, and told me nothing I didn't already know from Sera's summary.
I checked the time: six PM. The faction recruitment meeting started in one hour.
I spent the time in meditation, restoring mana and centering myself before whatever political complexity the meeting would introduce. The Primordial Chaos Physique worked steadily, my enhanced recovery maintaining optimal condition despite the examination's recent stresses.
At six-fifty PM, I left my room and descended to the Elite Dorm A common room.
The space was already filling with Aldorian students, perhaps thirty people gathered in small clusters. I recognized some from examination performances: students who'd ranked well enough to make Elite tier and who'd been born or raised in Aldoria rather than the other four kingdoms.
Near the front of the room stood a group of older students whose uniforms marked them as second and third years. Their bearing suggested confidence and authority that came from surviving academy pressures long enough to become established. One of them, a tall third-year boy with sharp features and calculating eyes, appeared to be directing the setup and organization.
Phina stood among the first-years, conversing with several other new students but clearly not running the meeting herself. When she noticed me enter, she gestured slightly in acknowledgment but didn't interrupt her current conversation.
I found a position along the wall where I could observe without being pressed into the crowd's center. The gathering felt simultaneously welcoming and evaluating, existing members measuring new arrivals to determine who would become valuable faction additions versus who would be recruited merely to fill numbers.
At precisely 7 PM, the tall third-year stepped onto a small raised platform and the conversations died down immediately.
"Thank you all for coming," he began, his voice carrying natural authority that suggested years of practice. "I'm Markus Thornfield, third-year student and current president of the Aldorian Kingdom House faction. For those unfamiliar with our structure, Kingdom Houses exist for students from each of the five kingdoms to maintain connections, share resources, and support each other in the academy's competitive environment."
He gestured to the other older students standing nearby.
"This is our executive council: Vice President Helena Brightwood, second-year. Treasurer Davis Ironheart, third-year. And Secretary Lyanna Stormwind, second-year. Together we manage faction operations, resource distribution, and member support across all three years and all three tiers."
Markus's presentation was polished and professional, clearly refined through multiple recruitment cycles.
"We currently have approximately one hundred twenty Aldorian students across all three years and all three tiers. Elite tier Aldorians receive priority in resource allocation and specialized training opportunities, but Standard and Foundation tier members are equally valued for their potential, their connections to families back home, and their contributions to faction strength."
He explained faction benefits systematically: shared training sessions where older students provided guidance, information networks about instructors' expectations and examination patterns, political backing during ranking battles to prevent coordinated attacks from rival factions, and access to resources pooled from members' family connections.
"Joining Kingdom House isn't mandatory," Markus continued. "Some students prefer operating independently or joining Combat Guilds organized by fighting style rather than national affiliation. But Kingdom House provides advantages that independent students struggle to replicate, particularly for first-years who lack established networks and institutional knowledge about how the academy actually functions."
He opened the floor for questions, and several first-year students immediately raised their hands.
"What are the obligations?" someone asked. "If we join, what's expected of us?"
"Participation in monthly faction meetings to maintain community cohesion, contribution to shared resource pools either through material goods or information depending on your capabilities, and mutual support during ranking battles and dungeon expeditions when faction interests align with personal goals. We don't require members to exclusively associate with Kingdom House. Many members also join Combat Guilds for specialized training. But we expect loyalty when faction interests are directly at stake."
"What about conflicts with the imperial family?" another student asked, their tone carefully neutral. "If Kingdom House positions conflict with what's best for the Crown?"
Markus smiled at that question, apparently having anticipated it multiple times over his years as president.
"Kingdom House supports Aldorian interests broadly, which generally align with Crown interests since we all benefit from a strong, stable kingdom. However, the faction operates with institutional separation from the imperial family to avoid the appearance of Crown controlling academy student politics. My position as president is elected by existing members through democratic vote, not appointed by royal decree. Princess Seraphina and whoever-else-is-Aldorian-royalty participate as regular members without special authority unless they earn leadership positions through demonstrated capability."
The questions continued for another twenty minutes, covering everything from resource distribution formulas to how conflicts between members were arbitrated. Markus handled all inquiries with practiced ease, his answers balancing honesty about obligations with emphasis on concrete benefits.
Finally, he concluded the formal presentation.
"Membership decisions don't need to be made tonight. Take time to consider whether Kingdom House aligns with your goals and preferences. We'll have another meeting next week for those who want to join formally, at which point you'll meet with executive council individually to discuss your specific contributions and needs. In the meantime, feel free to approach any current member with questions."
The gathering dissolved into smaller conversations as people began networking and asking more specific questions of older students. I remained where I was, observing social dynamics and noting who seemed genuinely interested versus who was attending purely for information gathering.
Markus navigated through the crowd, spending time with various first-years and apparently evaluating recruitment priorities. Several older members did the same, their approaches ranging from aggressive salesmanship to subtle assessment.
Eventually Markus reached my position along the wall, his calculating eyes studying me with interest that suggested he'd already researched my examination performance.
"Kaine Einsworth. Forty-seventh overall, Elite tier Weapon Specialist track. Your tactical assessment performance was particularly notable, from what I heard through the rumor networks. Demonstrated leadership without announcing authority, made sound decisions under pressure, finished the scenario efficiently despite group dysfunction."
"Rumors exaggerate," I replied, keeping my tone neutral.
"Sometimes," he agreed easily. "But examination results don't exaggerate, and forty-seventh overall speaks for itself. Kingdom House would benefit from having someone with your capabilities and your family connections. The Einsworth name carries weight in Aldorian military and political circles."
"I'm considering options," I said, not committing to anything. "Kingdom House provides clear benefits, but I need to understand the full landscape before making decisions."
He nodded, apparently satisfied with that response.
"Fair enough. Just know that faction affiliation becomes increasingly important as academy pressures intensify. First month you can operate independently without major consequences. By second month, ranking battles and dungeon expeditions make allies necessary rather than optional. By third month, students without faction backing find themselves isolated and vulnerable to coordinated challenges from those who do have support."
"I'll make my decision within the month," I said.
"Good enough. We'd value having you, but we're not desperate enough to pressure undecided students into commitments they'll resent later. That creates bad dynamics and weakens faction cohesion."
He moved on to the next first-year, his recruitment approach professional and strategic rather than desperate or aggressive.
I left the common room around eight PM, having gathered sufficient information about Kingdom House structure, leadership, and culture. The walk back to my room gave me time to process everything.
'Faction benefits are real: shared resources, information networks, political backing during competitive events. But obligations are substantial too: monthly meetings, resource contributions, expected loyalty during conflicts. Need to evaluate whether advantages outweigh loss of independence and whether Kingdom House specifically is the right choice versus other factions.'
I reached Room 307 and sealed the door, finally achieving privacy after a day filled with constant social navigation and information gathering.
The enchanted tablet on my desk chimed softly, indicating a new message.
I checked it and found brief communication from academy administration:
[REMINDER: First class begins at 6:00 AM tomorrow, Training Ground Seven. Late arrival results in punishment exercises. Ensure proper equipment is prepared.]
I set out everything I'd need: training uniform, combat boots, water container, the Einsworth Family Saber because I refused to be separated from the weapon even during non-combat instruction.
Then I settled onto the actual bed, substantially more comfortable than anything I'd slept on since leaving the Einsworth estate.
Tomorrow would bring the first real test of whether Elite tier placement was deserved. Physical Conditioning with all tiers mixed together, creating an environment for conflicts and resentments to surface. Combat Track training under the legendary Master Silas whose expectations would be demanding. Elemental Development with Instructor Frost who apparently valued control over raw power. Tactical Studies with Elite tier students who'd all proven themselves exceptional.
'I made it through the entrance examination,' I thought as exhaustion began pulling me toward sleep. 'Ranked forty-seventh overall. Elite tier placement secured. Specialized instruction under legendary masters. Everything needed to build the foundation for growth.'
'But examination was controlled environment with clear success criteria. Academy life is three years of sustained pressure, political conflicts, realistic danger from dungeon expeditions, and constant competition through ranking battles. This is where the real challenge begins.'
'Three years to transform from disappointing eldest son into something worthy of the legendary saber I carry. Three years to master enough elements to unlock true Chaos manipulation. Three years to prove I deserve this second chance at life.'
I closed my eyes, letting my enhanced physique work through the night while consciousness faded.
'The Continental Academy. Day one starts tomorrow. Let's see what I can become.'