NTR School: S Rank Student

Once Raphael returned to Vailstone, it was as if time hadn't passed at all. Lillian was still asleep in their bed, and the night was still young.

But after his time in the Dragon's Realm, he felt completely drained. His body ached, his mind was clouded with exhaustion, and rest was the only thing he needed. He had plans for tomorrow, and he needed to be at full strength to carry them out.

---

The next morning, Raphael woke from a deep sleep.

Judging by how bright the sunlight was streaming through the windows, it had been morning for quite some time. Lillian was no longer in bed beside him.

I must have been more exhausted than I thought.

After dressing, he left the room and stepped into the palace hallways. Unlike the quiet of the night before, the palace was now bustling with activity. Maids hurried through the halls, attending to their lords and nobles, their footsteps echoing against the polished floors.

But Raphael didn't care about any of that. His mind was set on one thing—finding Christopher Reynolds.

It was a weekday, meaning the students of the Three Divine Academies would be in classes. Lillian was likely still somewhere in the palace, either eating breakfast or exploring, but Raphael preferred to handle this alone.

This mission had started as an order from the Queen, but ever since he learned that Christopher Reynolds might be carrying a dragon inside him, it had become personal.

Grabbing his map, Raphael made his way out of the palace and began his journey toward the Three Divine Academies.

---

The academies were built on land owned by Emperor Joshua Brunell, which meant they were located close to the palace.

It took Raphael only half an hour to reach them on foot. The walk was peaceful, and he took the time to appreciate the unique scenery.

The crimson grass beneath his feet stretched endlessly, swaying gently in the breeze. The wildlife was unlike anything found in the central regions—strange birds with glowing feathers perched on the trees, and small creatures darted through the tall grass, barely visible as they moved.

It was a beautiful land. Peaceful.

But the academies were the complete opposite.

To his surprise, all three of the Divine Academies were housed within a single massive building—a tower that stretched high into the sky.

The design was unusual. The base of the tower, the first floor, was the largest. As it went higher, each floor became slightly smaller than the one below it, creating a layered structure that reminded Raphael of a giant cake. The entire tower was made of dark marble.

There were no students outside, no training grounds, no open courtyards—just the towering structure in the middle of an empty field.

So all the activity happens inside?

The strange design made him wary. It was unlike any other academy he had seen before.

Walking up to the entrance, he found a pair of massive double doors. There were no guards stationed outside, which he found odd, but he didn't waste time questioning it. He pushed open the doors and stepped inside.

---

The moment Raphael entered, he understood why the outside had seemed so lifeless.

The first floor of the tower was packed with students. Hundreds of them moved through the massive open hall, dressed in identical grey uniforms. Some walked in groups, chatting with each other, while others rushed toward various doors leading to classrooms.

The ceiling was high, supported by towering pillars that gave the room an almost cathedral-like feel. It wasn't just a school—it was a city within a building.

Raphael, in his red uniform of the Rose School, stuck out immediately. As he walked through the crowd, he felt the weight of dozens of eyes on him. Whispers followed in his wake, though none of the students dared approach him.

At the centre of the hall, he noticed a massive spiralling staircase leading to the upper floors.

So that's how this place works… the higher the floor, the fewer the students.

He scanned the crowd and spotted a lone student carrying a stack of books. The boy had a nervous, nerdy look—exactly the kind of person who would know how things worked around here.

Raphael stepped in front of him, blocking his path. "Excuse me, do you know where Christopher Reynolds is?"

The boy blinked at him in confusion, shifting the books in his arms. "Christopher Reynolds? You won't find him on this floor. All X-Rank students are on the top floor."

Ah. So that's why the tower is designed this way—to separate students by rank.

"Thanks," Raphael said, already turning toward the staircase.

But before he could move, the boy suddenly gasped.

"Wait a minute… I recognise you. That red uniform confirms it—you're Raphael Brooks! The last student accepted into the Five Schools!"

Raphael froze.

Shit.

The boy's voice wasn't loud, but it was just enough for the students nearby to hear. Within seconds, heads turned, conversations stopped, and a wave of whispers spread through the hall.

"No way. Is that really him?"

"It can't be. What would Raphael Brooks be doing here?"

"Only rejects from the Five Schools come to the Divine Academies."

"Dude, haven't you heard? He's a woman stealer. Maybe that's why he's here."

"Shit, I better hide my girl."

More and more students stopped to stare at him, the crowd forming a loose circle around him. Some looked amused, others wary, but all of them were focused on him.

I guess it's time for me to go.

He turned and pushed his way through the crowd, making his way toward the staircase at the centre of the hall.

The spiral stairs twisted upward, connecting the floors in a continuous climb.

He passed the second floor without stopping. From the glimpses he caught, it seemed smaller than the first, with fewer students roaming about.

But he wasn't interested in them.

He needed to reach the top. Where Christopher would be.

As he stepped onto the third floor, the atmosphere changed completely.

Unlike the chaos of the lower levels, this floor was eerily quiet. The hallway stretched out in a straight line, with doors on either side—likely classrooms or private dorms for the highest-ranked students.

The only sounds came from the lower floors beneath him—the faint echo of voices, muffled by distance.

It seems like all the X-Rank students are in class.

Raphael exhaled, standing alone in the silent corridor.

Am I really about to barge into a classroom to find this guy?

No. That was too reckless. He had already drawn enough attention downstairs—he didn't need to cause a scene on the top floor as well.

Instead, he leaned against the wall and crossed his arms.

There will be a time when the students leave their classes. I'll catch him then.

Or so he thought.

As he stood on the top floor of the Three Divine Academies, Raphael suddenly felt a strange sensation stirring within him. It was a powerful feeling, as though something was reaching out to clutch hold of him.

He had felt a familiar energy when he stood in the Thornbatch estate. When he had met another owner.

That meant that this entity tugging at him could only be one thing.

The Red Dragon was nearby.

So it's true... Christopher was the owner.

He could feel his presence now. Out of the several classrooms on the highest floor, only one called out to him.

As he stood before it, he was certain that the man behind the door could sense him too.

Raphael could only imagine what was running through his head at that moment.

Then, he called upon the dragons, making sure they were ready to strike, before placing his hand on the classroom door and pushing it open.