Overwhelming Firepower

While the four heirs were talking, another presence approached from behind them, light steps, confident but unhurried.

A girl with cropped brown hair and a mischievous smirk approached, amber eyes alight with challenge, a sharp contrast to the composed airs of the heirs before her.

Her frame was slender, almost delicate at first glance, but there was a quiet strength in the way she moved, the kind born from long hours of training rather than formal instruction. A finely crafted bow rested across her shoulder, and a quiver of arrows hung neatly at her waist.

This was Raina Graven, one of the few commoners chosen to attend the Royal Academy. She was fourteen years of age and used a weapon that most aura users wouldn't use, a bow and arrow.

Still, her talent with it was incredible. It was a talent so rare that even the instructors whispered she could shoot an apple off a hawk's claw mid-flight.

She stopped a few steps away, planting a hand on her hip.

"Hoh, what do we have here? If it isn't the great heirs of the four ducal households."

Lucen glanced at the confident girl who suddenly appeared. Judging by her bow and unfamiliar face, she wasn't one of the characters he knew.

Mireya had tilted her head in confusion as to why this random girl, whom she knew nothing about, suddenly spoke to them.

Elyra, who was in the same grade as Raina, simply glanced at the other party and said nothing.

Evander showed a bright smile and spoke to Raina. "Good day, may I ask who you are?"

Raina crossed her arms, raising a brow at Evander's polite tone. "Raina Graven," she said simply, then added with a grin, "One of the few commoners lucky enough to stand in the same academy as all of you."

Her words dripped with teasing confidence, but her eyes were sharp, observant.

"No need to speak like that. As you know, in the Royal Academy, there are no nobles or commoners. In here, every student is of equal standing." Evander answered his smile changing into a gentle smile.

Raina gave a short laugh, not mocking but amused. "Equal standing, huh? That's a nice thing to say… though not everyone here seems to believe it."

Her gaze flicked briefly toward a group of noble students watching from a distance, their whispers sharp and judgmental.

Evander followed her eyes, his expression softening. "Perhaps not everyone, but that's what this academy strives for, merit above birth."

"Hm... I guess the heir of a Duke is a little bit different from the other nobles." Raina stared at Evander, then shifted her gaze to Lucen.

"Now what do we have here. The rumored Dragon Slayer. So, is it true, did you really kill a dragon?"

There was a cold glint in Raina's eyes as she spoke; it was obvious she was planning something. The other students also got a little bit closer to their group. Lucen already noticed all of this and had an early assessment of Raina.

'So this chick is that type of character. A talented commoner who seems to hold resentment against nobles, but in truth, is most likely just jealous. This type of character usually tries her hardest to be seen, to be heard. She wants to prove a point, and I'm guessing she would either do everything in her power to make it, or she would simply prove herself through her true skills.'

Seeing Lucen deep in thought, everyone assumed that he was thinking of how to answer. It was at that moment that Lucen finally spoke.

"Yes, I did kill a Dragon."

The second Lucen said those words, there was a commotion, and Raina sneered, as she was about to say something, Lucen continued speaking, interrupting her.

"But it was a young dragon, wounded at that. I also did not kill it by myself. I had people around me who helped."

Raina was stunned by the sudden continuation of his words. Raina blinked, her smirk faltering for a moment. The reaction she'd hoped to provoke, arrogance, pride, or even defensiveness, never came.

"Is it true you killed the monster using those unknown weapons you created?" One of the students whose curiosity was at its peak could not help but ask.

"No, at the time, I had no weapon that was strong enough to finish the young dragon. So I gathered whatever mana I could and unleashed the raw mana at close range in the young dragon's open wound. My mana then exploded into the wound, staggering it. After that, my companions and I just kept on stabbing it until it died."

"Then how about your victory in the underground arena?" Seeing that Lucen answered honestly, another student asked a question.

"Sir Faust simply allowed me to win."

"Allowed you to win? Did you bribe him or something?"

The second those words were said, Raina was once again attentive and waited for Lucen to answer. Lucen shook his head and responded.

"No, Sir Faust would never allow money to disrupt the honor of a duel. The reason I won is simply because Sir Faust had a lot of restrictions he placed on himself, and the second I got a lucky hit in, he forfeited."

The students around them went quiet. The way Lucen answered was not what they expected.

"... Then what about the monster wave? Did you truly participate?"

"Yes, and so did the people with me." Lucen gestured at his bodyguards, Sir Thalos and the others. "It wasn't just Stellhart, the soldiers of the First Fortress, men and women gathered from every corner of Norvaegard, all fought to protect their homes and families."

Raina frowned. "You talk like it's nothing special. Most nobles would've sung praises of their own glory by now."

Lucen smiled faintly. "If you spend enough time near death, you realize there's not much glory in it."

That simple line silenced the courtyard. Many of them were amazed by Lucen's answer. It was hard to believe that this person was near their age. They were unaware of Lucen's thoughts right now.

'Nice! I was able to say such a cool line. Now what more do you have to say, Raina? Come on, are you going to push me more, or are you going to retreat?'

Lucen was already thinking about what other cool things he could say, depending on what Raina or the other students would say.

Raina's brows furrowed slightly. For a moment, she didn't seem to know how to respond. Around them, the students exchanged quiet whispers. Their earlier excitement of conflict was fading and turning into a strange sort of respect.

Raina, who came here to provoke the four heirs and try to make them show their true colors, the same as those other arrogant nobles, had failed.

Based on what she had seen and heard while looking at Lucen's expression, she understood now that Lucen was a different kind of noble.

'Are all the nobles in the north like this, or is he special?' Raina thought to herself.

Her gaze drifted, and for a heartbeat, she wasn't standing in the courtyard but back in her village, where the Viscount's men came collecting taxes her friends and family could barely pay.

Her Father, who was the best hunter of their village, was the person who taught her everything about being a hunter, on how to use a bow and arrow. He was a kind-hearted man. So when the taxes doubled, he tried his best to help the others in the village.

Her kind Father worked so hard to be called a lazy and useless person by a noble, who looked like he had never worked in his entire life.

She also remembered the first time she came here to the Royal Academy. She knew that this place was supposed to be neutral ground, where no matter if you were a royal, a noble, or a commoner, everyone was of equal standing.

Yet reality was cruel indeed. She quickly learned the idea of the Royal Academy did not hold much weight.

There were indeed nobles and instructors who treated the commoners equally, but they were the minority.

Most nobles and instructors treated the commoner students as if they were lesser than them. They made it difficult for commoners and easier for nobles.

Of course, the principal of the Academy was someone who truly upheld the philosophy of the school, but if you complained to the Principal.

The noble or instructor would be punished, but at the same time, life in the Academy would become very hard as the other nobles and instructors would start to harass you.

Of course, if the Principal knew he would not stand for it, the Principal was a busy person and could not simply devote his time to protecting a single student.

This place just made Raina feel that the noble class were all b*stards that were nothing more than their names. They were just lucky enough to be born in good families, and they did not really have any talent.

Raina clenched her fists, her jaw tightening. She hated it, the calmness in his eyes, the way he didn't act like the nobles she despised. It threw her off balance. For the first time since she entered the Academy, she wasn't sure if her anger was justified.

She understood that not all nobles were the same, as not all commoners were the same. Still, she could not help but feel a burning resentment against them due to her experience.

"I guess, you might be a bit different from what I expected... But... I won't lose to you in the tournament."

"Is that so? Then let the two of us do our best."

Lucen extended his hand forward for a handshake. Raina was once again surprised by Lucen's actions. She hesitated for a few seconds before grabbing his hand and shaking it.

"Hmph… See you later, Dragon Slayer." With that, Raina suddenly left. She was like a storm that came and went on her own terms.