Leaving the gardens behind, Todd stopped before a large stone monument.
Several letters were engraved across its surface.
Apex Academy Ranking System
Elara tilted her head. "What is this?"
"This academy isn't divided by age."
"It isn't?"
"No."
Todd folded his hands behind his back.
"We divide students according to potential."
He pointed toward the first engraving.
"C Class. The foundation. They possess exceptional academic ability. The world sees them as our finest students. They consistently achieve results that ordinary schools can only dream of."
"So they are your greatest scholars."
"Precisely."
He then pointed higher.
"B Class."
Elara immediately noticed the letter was larger.
"These students fascinate me. They may not always excel academically... but each possesses a talent so extraordinary that it surpasses normal human expectations."
He smiled.
"The world's fastest student? B Class. The greatest pianist? B Class. The student capable of memorizing an entire textbook after reading it once? B Class."
Elara looked impressed. "So talent outweighs knowledge?"
Todd nodded without hesitation.
"Every time. Knowledge can be taught. Talent..."
"...is priceless."
He continued upward.
"A Class. The academy's finest. They possess both exceptional intelligence and exceptional talent. The kind of individuals capable of thriving almost anywhere."
Elara immediately smiled. "Sir Haru belongs there."
"He does."
"I am unsurprised."
Todd laughed. "I had a feeling you'd say that."
Then—
Elara noticed something.
Above A-Class...
One final letter.
S.
She pointed toward it. "And that?"
Todd became noticeably quieter.
"...S Class."
His smile remained.
Yet somehow...
It felt different.
"They are students who have exceeded the limits placed upon ordinary humanity."
"..."
"..."
Elara waited.
"...That's all?"
Todd laughed. "I never said I was going to explain everything."
"So they truly exist?"
"Oh yes."
"In fact..."
He turned toward her.
"I hope every student one day reaches S Class."
"...Then where are they?"
"They're busy."
"...Busy doing what?"
Todd looked out across the academy.
"Preparing to become the kind of people history never forgets."
"..."
"They still attend this academy?"
"They do."
"I have yet to see one."
"You won't."
"...Why?"
"Because becoming an S-Class student changes everything."
He began walking again.
"Their lessons. Their responsibilities. Their future."
"It all changes."
"..."
"..."
Elara frowned. "You enjoy speaking in riddles."
Todd grinned. "I've been told that before."
---
As they rounded another corner...
Loud whistles echoed through the air.
The unmistakable sounds of bouncing basketballs, cheering students and clashing practice swords filled the academy grounds.
Todd spread both arms dramatically.
"And here..."
"...is my favorite place after the gardens."
The enormous sports complex stretched as far as Elara could see.
Indoor courts. Swimming pools. Training halls. Running tracks. Climbing walls. Practice arenas.
Her jaw slowly dropped.
"...Your soldiers train here?"
Todd blinked. "My what?"
"Your soldiers."
"...Students."
"They appear remarkably similar."
"...I suppose that's one way to look at it."
Just then...
A towering man wearing a whistle around his neck walked over.
Muscular. Broad shouldered. Warm smile.
"Todd."
"Benjamin."
Todd gestured toward Elara. "Our newest student."
Benjamin extended his hand. "Nice to meet you."
Elara immediately stood perfectly straight before saluting.
"It is an honor to meet this academy's Knight Commander!"
Benjamin froze.
"...Knight Commander?"
Todd immediately burst into laughter.
Benjamin scratched the back of his head.
"I've been called Coach... Sir... Even Drill Sergeant once..."
"...but Knight Commander is definitely a first."
Elara nodded proudly. "It suits you."
Benjamin couldn't help smiling.
"You know what? I'll take it."
Todd wiped a tear from his eye. "I knew introducing you two would be entertaining."
---
The moment Benjamin pushed open the massive gymnasium doors, a wave of noise washed over them.
Basketballs bounced rhythmically against polished floors. Volleyballs flew through the air. The sharp clang of practice swords echoed from a fenced training area.
Somewhere in the distance...
Someone screamed triumphantly.
"I DID IT!"
Immediately followed by another voice.
"NO YOU DIDN'T! GET BACK HERE!"
Elara's eyes sparkled. "...Magnificent."
Benjamin laughed. "I take it you've never seen anything like this."
"It resembles a grand military training camp."
"..."
"I suppose that's not entirely inaccurate."
Todd folded his arms.
"Unlike ordinary schools, we believe talent should be nurtured, not ignored."
He gestured around the enormous building.
"Every sport. Every art. Every craft. If a student possesses talent..."
"We provide the means for them to reach their absolute peak."
Elara slowly turned in every direction.
"I would require an entire day merely to admire this place."
"You'll have far longer than that."
---
"Headmaster."
A familiar voice interrupted them.
Todd smiled. "Perfect timing."
Walking toward them in sports attire was Celeste.
Even dressed casually, she carried herself with the confidence of a champion.
She stopped beside Todd before noticing Elara.
"...You."
Elara smiled brightly. "Lady Celeste."
"I've been wondering when we'd meet again."
Celeste sighed. "I had a feeling."
Todd clasped his hands together. "Actually, I have a favor."
"...I knew it."
"Would you mind showing Elara around the facilities?"
Celeste looked between them. "...Why me?"
"Because you know this building better than anyone."
Benjamin nodded enthusiastically. "She's basically our tour guide at this point."
"...I never agreed to that title."
"You don't have to. I've already printed it mentally."
Celeste pinched the bridge of her nose.
"...Fine."
She looked toward Elara. "Come on."
---
The tour was surprisingly lively.
"This is the basketball court."
"The volleyball courts."
"The swimming pools."
"The martial arts dojo."
"The indoor climbing arena."
"The gymnastics hall."
Every explanation was immediately translated inside Elara's head.
"Warrior's court."
"Sky-ball arena."
"Royal bathhouse."
"Knight's training grounds."
"Mountain simulation."
"Acrobat battlefield."
Celeste eventually stopped correcting her.
"...Close enough."
---
As they walked deeper into the building...
Rapid punches echoed from a nearby room.
THUD. THUD. THUD.
Elara instinctively peeked inside.
A girl with crimson-red gloves was relentlessly assaulting a punching bag.
Left. Right. Uppercut. Hook. Knee strike. Elbow.
She moved with frightening precision.
Even after several minutes...
She hadn't slowed down.
Elara blinked. "...Is she battling an invisible foe?"
Celeste glanced over.
"Oh. That's Mika. She trains whenever she has free time."
Elara looked impressed. "Wait—did you say Mika?"
Almost as if hearing her name...
Mika unleashed one final punch—this time she spun around, carrying a lot of momentum, which she aimed at the punching bag.
BOOM!
The heavy punching bag swung so violently that its chain snapped.
The entire thing crashed onto the floor.
Silence.
Everyone inside the room slowly turned toward her.
"..."
"...Oops."
Mika scratched the back of her head.
"I'm... sorry about that."
Benjamin sighed from across the hall. "...Again?"
She awkwardly smiled. "Again."
Elara waved her hand.
"Hey, Mika! Nice punch."
Mika chuckled nervously, then looked surprised.
"Elara!"
Without a second thought she abandoned the punching bag entirely and sprinted over.
"Where the heck did you disappear to?! One second you were beside me, the next—poof!"
Elara laughed awkwardly.
"His Excellency employed rather... unconventional means of transportation."
Mika blinked.
"...You mean the headmaster kidnapped you?"
Todd coughed into his fist.
"I prefer the term 'borrowed.'"
"That's still kidnapping."
Celeste nodded. "Let us carry on."
The headmaster said awkwardly, "Good day to you, Mika."
---
They continued walking until Elara suddenly stopped.
Rows upon rows of green courts stretched before her.
Students dressed in white uniforms rallied back and forth.
The steady rhythm of rackets striking tennis balls echoed beautifully through the air.
Elara tilted her head. "...What manner of duel is this?"
"Tennis."
"They're using shields?"
"...Rackets."
"I see."
Her gaze followed every movement.
The footwork. The positioning. The timing. The explosive swings.
"..."
"..."
Something clicked.
"...The movements resemble swordplay."
Benjamin overheard her.
"They actually do. Good footwork is everything."
Elara looked at him. "...May I attempt this battle?"
Benjamin grinned. "That's what this place is for."
---
Five minutes later...
Benjamin handed her a racket.
Elara accepted it with both hands.
"...A curious sword."
Benjamin blinked. "It isn't—"
Too late.
With one smooth motion...
She drew it from her side as though unsheathing a legendary blade.
SHING!
There was, of course, no actual sound.
But everyone nearby somehow imagined hearing one.
Benjamin slowly covered his face. "...She's doing it again."
Celeste sighed. "I warned you."
---
Benjamin bounced a tennis ball toward her.
"First lesson. Don't hit it. Just bounce it on the racket."
Elara nodded confidently. "I understand."
One bounce.
Two.
Three.
Then...
She unconsciously shifted into a swordsman's stance.
Benjamin's eyes widened. "...Wait."
Too late.
"HYAAAH!"
WHOOOOM!!
The ball shot straight upward.
Everyone instinctively looked toward the ceiling.
Five seconds.
Ten.
Fifteen.
"..."
"..."
"...Where did it go?"
A loud crash echoed somewhere outside the building.
Benjamin sighed. "...Maintenance is going to hate me."
---
The second attempt went far better.
Benjamin demonstrated a proper forehand.
"Relax your wrist."
"I see."
"Less strength."
"I understand."
"Don't treat it like a sword."
"...Very well."
She nodded seriously.
Then immediately bowed toward the opposite side of the court.
"I respectfully request this honorable duel."
Benjamin laughed so hard he nearly dropped his whistle.
Celeste actually smiled. "...You're unbelievable."
---
The next half hour passed quickly.
Each rally lasted longer than the last.
At first...
Elara missed almost every ball.
Then...
She started returning them.
Soon...
She began predicting where they would land.
Benjamin folded his arms. "...She's learning absurdly fast."
Celeste nodded. "I noticed."
"She only repeats a mistake once. Never twice."
Benjamin smiled.
"I've seen gifted athletes before... but this..."
"This is ridiculous."
---
Eventually...
Benjamin looked around.
"We need someone stronger."
Almost immediately...
A calm voice answered.
"I'll do it."
Everyone turned.
Walking toward the court was a girl with long black hair.
Crimson eyes.
An almost regal posture.
She casually spun a tennis racket in one hand.
For a split second...
Elara's heart skipped.
"..."
"...Have we met?"
The girl frowned ever so slightly.
"...No."
"...I don't believe we have."
Yet...
For reasons neither could explain...
Both of them felt as though they had met countless times before.
Benjamin smiled. "Perfect timing, Yukiko. Mind giving our newcomer a proper challenge?"
The crimson-eyed girl nodded.
"...Gladly."
She walked onto the opposite side of the court before calmly taking her stance.
Then...
For the very first time...
She smiled.
"I'll make this simple. First to win three matches."
Elara mirrored her stance. "...I accept."
Around them...
Students slowly began gathering.
Without realizing it...
The gym had just found today's entertainment.
The spectators naturally formed a circle around the court.
Some students leaned against the surrounding fence while others sat on nearby benches.
Word spread astonishingly fast.
"Isn't that the girl from yesterday?"
"The one who outran the disciplinary committee?"
"I heard she fought Celeste."
"No way."
"Who's her opponent?"
"...Yukiko."
"...Poor new girl."
---
Benjamin stepped between them holding a basket full of tennis balls.
"The rules are simple. Three matches. No dirty tricks. No killing each other."
Elara raised a hand. "...That last rule concerns me."
Benjamin blinked. "It was mostly directed at you."
"...Understandable."
Several students burst into laughter.
Even Yukiko's lips twitched ever so slightly.
---
The whistle blew.
The first match began.
Yukiko's opening serve looked effortless.
THWACK!
Before Elara could even react...
The ball landed behind her.
"Fifteen-love."
Elara slowly turned toward the ball. "...It has remarkable speed."
Benjamin nodded. "Welcome to tennis."
---
The next point...
Elara swung far too early.
The one after that...
Far too late.
She occasionally forgot she wasn't wielding a sword and attempted wide sweeping strikes that would have looked magnificent on a battlefield but accomplished absolutely nothing on a tennis court.
Benjamin buried his face in his hands. "...She tried to parry it."
Celeste folded her arms. "I told you she'd treat it like swordsmanship."
---
The first match ended almost embarrassingly fast.
"Game. Yukiko."
Elara bowed respectfully. "...You are formidable."
Yukiko simply nodded. "So are you."
"..."
"..."
Everyone stared.
Benjamin blinked. "...Didn't she lose every point?"
Yukiko kept watching Elara.
"...She learned."
---
The second match started immediately.
This time...
Something had changed.
Instead of staring at the ball...
Elara watched Yukiko.
Her shoulders. Her feet. Her grip. The movement of her wrist.
She wasn't following the ball anymore.
She was reading the person hitting it.
The first serve came.
Elara moved.
THWACK!
The ball flew back across the net.
The crowd gasped.
"She returned it!"
"Already?!"
Yukiko's eyes narrowed. "...Interesting."
---
The rallies gradually became longer.
Five hits.
Seven.
Ten.
Thirteen.
Every time Yukiko scored...
Elara adjusted.
Every mistake disappeared almost immediately.
Benjamin couldn't hide his excitement. "She's downloading tennis in real time."
Todd chuckled. "I've noticed."
Celeste sighed. "...That sentence somehow made perfect sense."
---
Despite her rapid improvement...
Experience still prevailed.
Yukiko claimed the second match as well.
She calmly walked back toward the baseline.
"Two."
Elara smiled. "...One more."
"I look forward to it."
For the first time...
Yukiko smiled back. "So do I."
---
The third match began.
Immediately...
Everyone realized something was different.
No one spoke.
The rallies became faster. Longer. Sharper.
Neither side willingly surrendered a point.
Benjamin's whistle hung forgotten around his neck.
Even he had stopped pretending this was merely practice.
---
"Haa!"
THWACK!
"Hah!"
THWACK!
"Hya!"
THWACK!
Back and forth.
Again. Again. Again.
The rhythm became almost hypnotic.
Students unconsciously leaned forward.
Each return somehow came back even better than the last.
---
Yukiko smiled. "...You're adapting again."
Elara laughed. "...I could say the same."
Without realizing it...
Neither of them was thinking about winning anymore.
They were simply enjoying themselves.
For reasons they couldn't explain...
Playing against each other felt...
Comfortably familiar.
---
The scoreboard ticked upward.
Deuce.
Advantage.
Deuce.
Advantage.
Again. Again. Again.
Benjamin stared. "...This is only her first hour."
Celeste quietly answered, "...I know."
---
Only one minute remained.
Yukiko launched a deep shot toward the back line.
Elara sprinted.
She barely reached it.
The return soared high into the evening sky.
Everyone instinctively looked upward.
The descending ball seemed to hang in the air forever.
Elara bent her knees.
Preparing to strike.
Then...
A memory surfaced.
Not her own.
A group of volleyball players.
One leaping high above the net.
Driving the ball downward with explosive force.
She remembered Celeste's words.
"That's called a spike."
"...A spike..."
She whispered.
Benjamin suddenly noticed the way she crouched.
"...Wait."
Celeste's eyes widened. "No..."
Elara jumped.
Far higher than anyone expected.
Time itself seemed to slow.
Her body twisted gracefully in midair.
For just an instant...
The tennis racket no longer looked like sporting equipment.
It looked like the sword of a knight descending upon her greatest enemy.
"HYAAAH!"
The instant the racket connected—
BOOOOOOOM!!
The air exploded.
A visible shockwave burst outward.
The sound echoed throughout the entire gymnasium.
Benjamin's whistle flew out of his mouth.
Students stumbled backward.
Several balls rolled off nearby courts.
The tennis ball became little more than a yellow blur.
Yukiko reacted immediately.
Perfect footwork. Perfect positioning. Perfect timing.
She swung.
CRACK!
Her racket flew completely out of her hand.
It spun through the air before embedding itself halfway into the protective fence.
Silence.
...
...
The tennis ball struck the court.
BOOM!
Dust erupted.
When it cleared...
A deep crater-like dent had formed in the surface.
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
Benjamin slowly walked over.
He stared at the damaged court.
Then at Elara.
Then back at the court.
"..."
He sighed the sigh of a man who knew paperwork awaited him.
"...Todd..."
The headmaster smiled innocently. "...Yes?"
"...You're paying for this one."
"I had a feeling you'd say that."
The scoreboard buzzed.
Game. Match. Elara.
The crowd erupted into thunderous applause.
Yukiko looked at the empty space where her racket had once been.
Then at Elara.
She slowly exhaled.
"...I won the first two matches."
"...Yet somehow... losing the last one feels far worse."
Elara scratched the back of her head sheepishly. "...Does that mean I improved?"
Yukiko stared at her for several seconds.
Then...
She extended her hand.
"...It means... I want a rematch someday."
Elara's face lit up. "I would be honored."
Their hands met.
For the briefest instant...
Both of them froze.
Again.
That strange feeling that only Yukiko understood.
Like they had shaken these same hands...
Long ago.
Neither spoke of it.
Yukiko quietly picked up what remained of her dignity... and what remained of her racket.
"I have class to attend."
She turned and walked toward the exit.
Benjamin watched her leave before looking back at Elara.
"...Congratulations. You just broke the tennis court."
"...On your first day."
Elara blinked. "...Is that considered poor etiquette?"
Celeste laughed.
Actually laughed.
"...Very."
The entire gym burst into laughter, and even Todd couldn't suppress a smile.
He had come to evaluate a transfer student.
Instead...
He had just witnessed yet another impossible talent.
And somewhere deep inside...
His confidence grew.
Perhaps... this time... we really do stand a chance.
The silence was suddenly filled by slow clapping.
Elara turned, surprised to see it was Todd.
"Impressive. You have clearly proven you are talented."
He smiled.
"Now it is time to evaluate your academic prowess. The written exam is next."
"I look forward to seeing how you perform."
— END OF CHAPTER —