The sun had barely risen when Tesline and I walked toward the main building of the academy. After our adventures in the dungeon, the everyday world felt a bit calmer, though no less interesting. Our conversation revolved around the legendary grimoire we had found.
"It's curious, you know?" I remarked while holding the magic book I had purchased a few days ago. "This book is practically useless now. All the spells it contains are also in the grimoire we found."
Tesline looked at me with a mix of interest and mockery.
"Then why are you still carrying it? Sentimental attachment to useless things?"
I chuckled, shaking my head.
"Not quite. This book has potion recipes. Not many, but there are some interesting ones that could be useful later. You never know when you might need something to recover energy or heal a wound."
She raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms as we walked.
"You and your obsession with wanting to know everything. Aren't spells enough for you?"
"It's never enough when it comes to being prepared for the unexpected," I replied with a shrug. "Besides, you never know when there might be another dungeon or dangerous situation."
Before she could reply, we reached the classroom. We sat in our usual spots, where we had a bit more freedom to chat without disturbing others. The teacher, an older man with round glasses and a perpetually tired expression, was already arranging his notes on the desk.
After a few minutes, the door closed, and he cleared his throat to get everyone's attention.
"Today's class will be different," he announced in his usual monotone. "We have special guests. I ask that you show respect and pay attention."
The door opened again, and three figures entered the classroom with confident strides. They were older students, evidently from the student council.
Leading them was a young woman with perfectly styled blonde hair and silver eyes that seemed to analyze every corner of the room. She wore the academy uniform with impeccable elegance, and the distinctive council bracelet gleamed on her right wrist.
"Good morning, everyone," she said in a firm yet polite voice. "My name is Rowen Ironheart, president of the student council."
Murmurs began to fill the room, but Rowen raised a hand, and silence returned instantly.
"I'm here to inform you that in one week, the Class Competition will take place. This event is a tradition in our academy, designed to evaluate your performance and skills in a competitive environment. All first, second, and third-year students will participate, and the results will determine your reassignment to new classes based on your performance."
The announcement triggered a wave of reactions among the students. Some seemed excited, while others showed obvious signs of concern. Tesline, as expected, leaned toward me with a confident smile.
I, on the other hand, relaxed a bit as I remembered this was the event I had forgotten about—the one that, as Rowen mentioned, would reassign everyone to new classes.
"This will be interesting. Do you think there will be fights?"
"Probably," I replied, though my mind was distracted. There was something about the way Rowen looked at me. Her silver eyes seemed to linger on me longer than necessary, as if she was trying to figure something out.
When the student council finished their presentation, they left with the same elegance they had entered. However, just before exiting, Rowen turned slightly and gave me one last look, confirming my suspicions.
"Did you see that?" I asked Tesline in a low voice.
"See what?"
"The student council president. She looked at me like she knew me."
Tesline let out a brief laugh, shrugging.
"You're paranoid. She was probably just evaluating who the weirdest person in the class is. Spoiler: it's you."
"Very funny," I replied, though the feeling of being watched didn't go away.
The teacher interrupted our conversation by raising his voice.
"Now, the second guest of the day. I'm sure some of you already know him."
The door opened again, and a familiar, robust figure entered the room. His red hair, combined with the commanding presence he exuded, made Tesline and me exchange an immediate glance of recognition.
"Aldwyn!" Tesline whispered excitedly.
The guild leader walked to the front of the class with firm steps, crossing his arms as he observed us with a neutral expression.
"Good morning, students," he said in his deep voice. "My name is Aldwyn Steelwill, head of the local guild. I'm here to talk to you about the opportunities you'll have as future adventurers."
The atmosphere in the room shifted completely. Many students were now attentive, excited about the chance to hear from someone so respected in the adventuring world.
Aldwyn began explaining how the guild collaborated with the academy to offer missions to advanced students, allowing them to gain real-world experience. He talked about the importance of teamwork, the responsibility of decisions in combat, and how even the smallest mistakes could be costly in the field.
As I listened, I couldn't help but feel intrigued by the connection between the academy and the guild. Although we already knew Aldwyn from our recent adventures, this was a completely different side of him—more formal and instructional.
When he finished his presentation, some students raised their hands to ask questions. However, Aldwyn, being as direct as ever, answered briefly and without beating around the bush.
"I won't entertain absurd questions about how to get rich quickly. Everything requires effort, dedication, and sometimes a bit of luck."
"According to the academy's agreement, today all new students will receive their adventurer card, allowing them to take on missions and earn money."
Tesline and I remained silent, watching as the guild leader ran a hand through his hair and turned his gaze toward us.
"Well, this is getting interesting," I said quietly, looking at Tesline.
Aldwyn, with his arms crossed and a serious expression, stood at the front of the class as the murmurs of the students gradually died down. His deep voice resonated with authority.
"Before I leave, I want to remind you of something important. Being an adventurer isn't just about facing monsters or collecting rewards. It's also a commitment to a code of conduct."
He cleared his throat, letting his words sink in.
"There are many rules you must follow, but today I want to emphasize three fundamental ones. First, never take missions above your rank. Not only would you endanger your lives, but also those of anyone who might attempt to rescue you if something goes wrong."
A slight chill ran down my spine. Although our recent dungeon expedition had been technically off the guild's radar, I knew we were walking a fine line.
"Second," Aldwyn continued, "aggression between adventurers is not allowed. Conflicts must be resolved civilly, and any violations will be severely punished."
Some students exchanged uncomfortable looks, probably recalling minor altercations at the guild.
"And the third," his tone grew even more serious, "if you discover a new dungeon, you must report it to the guild immediately. It is our responsibility to send explorers and classify the dungeon's rank before anyone else enters."
My heart skipped a beat, and I noticed Tesline beside me tense her shoulders. I could feel the same nervousness in her that was starting to creep through my body.
Aldwyn paused, as if carefully deliberating his next words.
"Incidentally, yesterday a dungeon was discovered in Emerald Valley. What's interesting is that this area was recently visited by two novice adventurers."
My mind raced. Emerald Valley. It was obvious he was referring to us. I glanced at Tesline, who returned an uneasy look.
"That's quite the coincidence," I murmured, trying to sound casual. I raised my hand and spoke with a nonchalant tone. "Surely it must be hard to prove if someone entered there, right?"
Aldwyn looked at me with a mix of patience and severity.
"It would be hard, yes..." he replied, pausing intentionally. "If not for the fact that we found a strand of blue-and-white hair on one of the floors."
I felt the blood drain from my face. Damn it, this was more incriminating evidence than I could handle.
Tesline shot me a warning glance, but before she could speak, I jumped ahead with a feigned expression of surprise.
"Well, there are plenty of adventurers with blue and white hair. You must be looking for someone with both hair colors."
Aldwyn sighed deeply, and for a moment, I thought I had convinced him. However, his next move caught us off guard.
"Rurik, Tesline," he said in a tone that brooked no argument, "I need to speak with you in private. Step outside for a moment."
A few students murmured among themselves, intrigued by the sudden order. But Aldwyn, with his imposing presence, seemed to extinguish any potential questions before they could arise.
"Is something wrong?" Tesline asked, trying to sound innocent.
"No, quite the opposite," Aldwyn replied with a slight gesture of impatience. "It's about your rank promotion."
That made no sense, and we both knew it. There were specific requirements for rank promotions, and one had to request it themselves. Furthermore, any conversation about promotions was usually handled at the guild, not in a classroom full of students.
We left the classroom, feeling the weight of our classmates' stares on our backs. Once the door closed behind us, Tesline wasted no time expressing what we were both thinking.
"He's lying. This has nothing to do with a rank promotion."
"You think I don't know that?" I whispered, glancing down both ends of the hallway to ensure no one was nearby. "I think he just wants to question us about the dungeon."
"What was all that back there?" Tesline asked, crossing her arms in frustration.
"I panicked, okay?"
"And now what do we do?" I looked at her for a moment and then said, "Deny everything," forcing a confident smile. "If they don't have definitive proof, they can't do anything."
Tesline looked at me skeptically, but before she could respond, the classroom door opened again, and Aldwyn stepped into the hallway.
"Let's continue this conversation somewhere more private," he said, gesturing for us to follow him.
We walked behind him in silence as the tension grew with each step. It was clear Aldwyn knew more than he was letting on, and it would be difficult to get out of this unscathed.
Aldwyn turned to face us with a weary expression. His eyes seemed to pierce through us, as if he could read our thoughts effortlessly. I felt a chill run down my spine.
"Save the excuses," he said firmly, crossing his arms over his chest. "I know it was you who entered that dungeon."
My eyes met Tesline's. Neither of us said a word, but I clearly understood what she wanted—a quick exit. I decided to take the lead.
"I don't know what you're talking about," I said, trying to sound casual as I shrugged.
"Exactly, we didn't do anything wrong," Tesline added, slightly nervous but with a convincing tone.
Aldwyn raised a hand, like a tired teacher weary of unruly students.
"Relax," he said, in a calmer tone that made me think maybe we weren't as deep in trouble as I had feared. "You're not in trouble... at least, not the way you think."
That last sentence left me feeling more tense than reassured. I glanced sideways at Tesline, who looked just as confused.
"It's true that there's a rule stating any discovered dungeon must be reported to the guild," he continued. "But it's not illegal to enter without permission, especially if you're the first to find it. That happens more often than you'd think."
I let out a sigh of relief, though I didn't completely let my guard down. If it wasn't illegal, why the interrogation?
"However," Aldwyn added, with a more serious tone, "that doesn't mean you're exempt from penalties."
And there it was—the hit I knew was coming.
"Since this is your first offense, the penalty will be mild. You won't be paid the reward typically given to those who discover a dungeon."
Tesline immediately raised her hand, interrupting him.
"Wait a second, what do you mean by 'reward'?"
Aldwyn raised an eyebrow, as if surprised by the question, but responded calmly.
"The guild incentivizes adventurers to report new dungeons by paying a sum based on the initial difficulty determined from exploring the first few levels."
Tesline's eyes widened. I could see the realization of what we had just lost hitting her like a rock.
"They would have paid us?" she asked, almost in a whisper.
"Yes. And considering the initial rank of the dungeon you visited, you probably would have earned a considerable sum."
Her face fell instantly. She looked down, crossing her arms as she let out a long sigh.
"All that effort… and not a single coin," she muttered, as if speaking to herself.
I tried to console her, patting her shoulder lightly.
"Come on, Tesline, it's not the end of the world. At least we weren't kicked out of the guild."
She glanced at me sideways, as if silently appreciating the gesture, though it was clear she was still upset. I decided to change the subject.
"So… was the promotion thing a lie?"
Aldwyn shook his head, his expression relaxing a bit.
"No, that's entirely true. After reviewing your progress, we've decided it's time for both of you to be promoted."
That was a surprise. Though before I could feel too satisfied, he continued.
"But… you'll need to choose a name for your party before we can finalize the registration."
I blinked.
"A name?"
"Exactly. It's a requirement for adventurers who work as a team. It helps with identification and also gives prestige if you complete challenging missions."
I looked at Tesline, waiting for some kind of reaction. She seemed too absorbed in her frustration to think about something as trivial as a name.
"Well, we'll think of one," I replied. "Do we have time to decide?" He nodded.
"You have until tomorrow. After that, I'll finalize the registration."
With that, he dismissed us. As we walked down the hallway, I couldn't help but chuckle.
"How about 'The Dungeon Discoverers'?" I suggested playfully.
Tesline glanced at me sideways, clearly not in the mood for jokes. "Don't even dream about it."
Though she was still somewhat annoyed, I caught a faint hint of a smile on her face. We both returned to the classroom, where all eyes turned to us as we entered. We sat down, and the professor resumed the lesson.
Potion class was more entertaining than I had expected. Maybe it was because, for once, I didn't have to guess how to do things. My spellbook, though somewhat outdated now, turned out to be a clear and detailed guide.
I followed each step to the letter, finishing my potion well before most of my classmates. Tesline, on the other hand, seemed to enjoy the chaos of mixing ingredients more instinctively, but even she ended up with a decent result.
When the bell rang, announcing the end of class, Tesline elbowed me in the ribs.
"Let's go to the dining hall. I'm starving," she said, quickly gathering her things.
"Go ahead. I need to use the bathroom," I replied while packing my book and materials.
She nodded and rushed out, leaving me alone in the empty classroom. I walked leisurely to the bathroom, enjoying the brief moment of peace after a surprisingly productive class. However, my tranquility didn't last long.
As I stepped out, I didn't see it coming. A sudden impact slammed me against the wall, making me grunt in pain.
Before I could process what was happening, I felt a hand gripping my neck firmly—not enough to strangle me, but enough to keep me pinned and unable to move.
"Seriously?" I muttered irritably, my eyes landing on Darius, who looked at me with an apathetic expression. "Don't you have any other moves?"
I wasn't scared, not even nervous. What I really felt was annoyance. This guy had a knack for showing up at the worst times and ruining my day.
Darius tilted his head slightly, as if studying me, and asked in a monotone voice:
"Are you a reincarnate too?"
His question caught me off guard, though I didn't let it show on my face. I stayed silent, trying to buy some time to think. Finally, I opted for the most convincing denial I could muster.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
Darius's brow furrowed slightly, as if he'd expected that answer. Before I could react, he pulled a knife from his belt and, without hesitation, stabbed it into my right hand, which was pressed against the wall.
A scream of pain escaped my lips as blood began to drip to the floor.
"What the hell is wrong with you, psychopath?!" I shouted, trying to break free.
Darius pulled the knife out just as calmly as he had stabbed it, then murmured a healing spell. A burning heat coursed through my hand as the wound closed, though the process was anything but pleasant. It hurt like hell.
"Ah! Damn it! Couldn't you use something less painful?" I cursed, gritting my teeth as the freshly healed skin still burned.
Darius looked at me again, his eyes devoid of any emotion.
"Are you from another world?" he asked again, this time with a firmer tone.
I knew denying the obvious wouldn't get me far. This lunatic was determined to get an answer.
"Fine!" I snapped, clearly irritated. "Yes, I'm from another world. Happy now, you lunatic?"
For a moment, he seemed satisfied, but his next comment was even stranger.
"Then you should respect the original story of this world."
I let out a bitter laugh, though my hand was still trembling from the lingering pain.
"What the hell are you talking about? Look at me. Do you think I'll respect anything after everything that's happened?"
Darius didn't respond immediately. He just watched me with his cold, calculating eyes.
"I knew it," he finally said, as if speaking to himself. "The amnesia thing didn't make sense, but it didn't feel like a lie either. Of course, how could you remember anything when this isn't even your original body?"
My eyes narrowed at his comment.
"How did you know?" I asked, unable to hide my curiosity.
Darius paused before replying.
"A few things. Your behavior, the inconsistencies in what you say... It wasn't hard to deduce. And only a player would know about the Tomb of the Forgotten Heroes."
I sighed, tired of this surreal interrogation.
"And what is it that you want now?"
His gaze hardened, as if he were about to lecture me.
"I want you to step aside. Let the story unfold as it should."
I stared at him, feeling my patience wear thin.
"You know what? At first, I might have considered your proposal. But after everything that's happened, it's no longer in my best interest."
I smiled bitterly, raising my right hand, still somewhat numb.
"Besides, you stabbed my damn hand. So no. Go to hell."
For a moment, his eyes lit up with an intensity that was almost intimidating, but I didn't look away. If he wanted to intimidate me, I'd at least do the same. I felt my magic begin to stir in response to my anger, warming my body in a way that gave me confidence.
The tension in the air was palpable, as if everything was about to explode. But before either of us could make the next move, a familiar voice broke the silence.
"What are you two doing?"
We both turned to see Tesline, who had returned and was now watching us with a mix of curiosity and suspicion.
That was the moment I could've asked for help or said something interesting. Instead, I had the brilliant idea to blurt out something completely out of place.
"Don't get the wrong idea, Tesline. This isn't romantic or fetishistic."
She stared at me incredulously for a second before letting out a laugh that echoed down the hallway.
"You're an idiot, Rurik," she said, though her smile quickly faded when she looked back at Darius.
What surprised me the most was her expression. There wasn't anger or disgust in her gaze, just a kind of controlled antipathy.
"Darius," she said firmly, "let go of Rurik."
For a moment, I thought he would resist, but he finally stepped back, releasing me, though his eyes remained fixed on mine.
Tesline stepped forward, placing herself between the two of us, her stance relaxed but clearly protective.
"Enough of these games," she said, crossing her arms. "Let's end this once and for all."