Fall of Eden

HOXRRARY ACADEMY: BOYS' DORMITORY

When I emerged from the underground, the sun had long set, leaving only the chill wind brushing against my skin as I made my way back to the dorm. Exhaustion weighed heavy on me, both physically and mentally, as I entered my room. The events of the day replayed in my mind like an endless loop, a constant reminder of the madness I had uncovered.

Sitting at my desk, I lit the lamp candle and began writing a detailed report of my discovery. The words spilled onto the paper with the same weariness that plagued my body.

"Who would've thought..." I muttered to myself, my voice low and filled with disbelief. "The underground of Hoxrrary Academy of Arcane Magic—supposedly the safest place for student education—would house such terrifying monsters."

I held up the summary report under the soft glow of the lamp, the ink glistening faintly in the flickering light. My mind wandered briefly as I considered the implications of what I'd seen.

"This is sure to shock the former Empress Rozaria," I murmured.

Before long, the fatigue became too much. My hand faltered, the pen slipping from my grip. Unable to fight it any longer, I rested my head on the desk, letting the darkness of sleep take over.

HOXRRARY ACADEMY: HIGHEST TOWER OF THE LEFT BUILDING

Bathed in the pale glow of moonlight, the child—freed from his chains—wandered the dimly lit room with an air of playful mischief. His small figure moved silently, the shadows seeming to cling to him like a second skin.

"Keh-heh-heh-heh," he chuckled to himself, his voice echoing faintly in the emptiness. "It feels damn good to be free of those chains. But... given the current state of things, it's going to be tricky to deal with that pretender masquerading as the chairman."

He stopped near the window, staring out at the sprawling academy grounds below. The silver moonlight cast an eerie glow across his features, making his grin all the more unsettling.

"And let's not forget... those students. If things go south, they'll be in real danger. Well..." He tilted his head, his grin widening. "I suppose it's time to request some help from my family."

HOXRRARY ACADEMY: FIRST-YEAR DURAND CLASS

"Ugh, I'm so tired," I groaned, dragging myself into the classroom with a voice heavy with fatigue. I hated mornings. No matter how many of them I endured, my body just never seemed to adjust.

"ASHURA!"

The booming voice echoed through the corridors, grating against my already weary mind. I sighed heavily, a pang of frustration bubbling within me. Why can't he be quiet for even a second? Does that idiot really have to shout like that so early?

Before I could brace myself, Edmond came barreling into me like a wild beast, slamming his body against mine. He rested his head on my shoulder, a wide grin plastered across his face.

"Hehehe... Ashura, where were you yesterday?!" he asked with a tone that was far too enthusiastic for this hour. "I knocked on your room so many times, but you didn't answer!"

I groaned inwardly, the weight of his intrusion adding to the exhaustion that clung to me like a heavy cloak. Why me... Why always me?

"I had something to take care of, sorry," I replied to Edmond, my voice still heavy with weariness.

Edmond, unfazed as usual, twirled a strand of my hair between his fingers and grinned. "It's fine, not a big deal."

Before I could brush him off further, Jarek arrived. Predictably, he and Edmond instantly fell into one of their usual quarrels, their bickering escalating until the sound of footsteps silenced them. Professor Cedrick entered the room with his customary commanding presence.

"I'm sure you all know that the Great Festival of Hestia is approaching," Professor Cedrick began, his voice steady as he surveyed the class. "As first-years, you will be in the spotlight during the festival."

He continued, "Traditionally, the top 30 rankings in the festival's trials are dominated by students from the Leclair and Valmont classes. It's been this way for years."

A ripple of tension moved through the room as the professor's gaze lingered on each of us, gauging our reactions. "However, if any of you manage to rank beyond the top 40, the academy will provide substantial rewards based on your placement."

The mention of rewards immediately sparked interest among the students, murmurs breaking out across the room. But Jarek, always eager to stand out, raised his hand with a defiant glint in his eyes.

"What if we make it into the top 10?" he asked boldly, his voice burning with determination.

Professor Cedrick raised an eyebrow, his expression cold. "It's good to set ambitious goals, Jarek Everest, but let me ask you this—do you genuinely believe you're skilled enough to compete against students from Leclair and Valmont classes?"

The question was like a slap to the face. Cedrick didn't wait for a response, pressing on, "You might have shown strength when sparring with Ashura, but against those from Leclair and Valmont? You're nothing."

A tense silence filled the room as Jarek's face burned with frustration. He opened his mouth to retort, but the words caught in his throat. The weight of Cedrick's blunt truth left him unable to respond.

"This is my advice as your teacher," Cedrick concluded, his tone firm but not unkind. "Don't waste your energy trying to challenge something far beyond your current caliber. Focus on realistic goals and improving yourself step by step."

With that, he turned toward the board and began the lesson. The class remained silent, the tension from his words lingering in the air like a storm cloud.

Ding Dong Dang Dong

The bell rang, signaling the end of the day, and the food hall gradually filled with a lively crowd of students. The aroma of roasted meat and fresh bread hung in the air as voices blended into a chaotic hum.

"Urghhhh... did he really have to say it like that?" Jarek grumbled, slumping into a chair like a deflated squid.

"Of course, you fool," Edmond replied, leaning lazily on my shoulder with his usual smugness. "Professor Cedrick's just worried about us. Let's face it, students in the Leclair class are called 'geniuses among geniuses' for a reason. There's no way we can match them."

Jarek, undeterred, shot Edmond and me a defiant look. "But that doesn't mean we're so weak we can't land a single slash, right?"

Just as I opened my mouth to respond, a sharp, mocking voice cut through the air.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't the Defactus. I was wondering which forgotten corner you'd crawled into this time," came the unmistakable sneer of Luzis Zurion.

I turned to see him standing there, flanked by a couple of equally arrogant-looking Leclair students. Luzis, with his tousled golden hair and a smirk that could curdle milk, looked down at us like we were insects beneath his boots.

"Just as I thought—you truly belong to the lower class," Luzis continued, his laugh grating like nails on a chalkboard. "Keheheheh."

Jarek, who had been slouched and weary only moments ago, shot up from his seat with fire blazing in his eyes. "Oi! Who gave you the right to ridicule anyone? And what's wrong with being in a normal class?"

The transformation in Jarek's demeanor was instant. His fatigue was gone, replaced by pure indignation. His glare locked onto Luzis, unflinching and full of raw defiance.

Edmond, still leaning on me, sighed dramatically. "Here we go again," he muttered, clearly anticipating the brewing storm.

But this time, I stayed silent, observing. Something about Luzis's smug expression made my fists itch, but Jarek's outburst was already causing heads to turn. A fight here wouldn't end well—for anyone.