The next morning, the announcement of the official trials spread across the Academy like wildfire.
Elias stood at the center of the training grounds, reading the official notice pinned to the board. Around him, students—nobles and commoners alike—whispered in hushed voices.
"The Academy Council has sanctioned a series of official trials to assess the legitimacy of House Null. These trials will test strength, strategy, and knowledge. Failure will result in the dissolution of House Null."
"Trial One: Combat Examination"
"Trial Two: Tactical Simulation"
"Trial Three: The Unknown Challenge"
Lira exhaled next to him. "They're not even trying to hide that they're stacking the deck against us."
Elias smirked. "Oh, definitely. But at least they're making it interesting."
Reinhardt, Cecilia, Marco, and Ivy gathered around, scanning the notice.
Reinhardt grinned. "Trial One is just a fight. That's basically a warm-up."
Cecilia smirked. "Trial Two is a strategy test? Good luck finding nobles who actually use their brains."
Marco frowned. "Trial Three, though… 'Unknown Challenge'? That worries me."
Ivy nodded. "The Academy wouldn't name it that unless it was dangerous."
Elias exhaled, rolling his shoulders. "Well. No time to complain. We have one week to prepare."
Trial One: Combat Examination
A few days later, Elias and House Null stood in the Academy's grand arena, facing off against handpicked noble duelists.
The combat trial was simple—five matches, one for each House Null member.
First up? Reinhardt.
The instructor raised his hand. "Begin!"
The Greystone duelist opposing Reinhardt charged forward, wielding a two-handed enchanted greatsword.
Reinhardt planted his feet—and let the opponent hit him first.
The moment the sword slammed against his shoulder armor, the entire force rebounded, sending the noble flying backward.
Reinhardt grinned. "Too easy."
The instructor barely had time to register what happened before calling the match.
"Winner: House Null!"
The nobles in the stands murmured in disbelief.
Next? Cecilia.
Her opponent was a high-speed dual dagger user.
The match lasted all of ten seconds.
Cecilia let the noble get close—then vanished from sight.
A moment later, the noble collapsed, Cecilia standing right behind them.
The crowd gasped.
"Winner: House Null!"
Marco's match was against a fire mage. The moment the noble cast a fireball, Marco threw an alchemical freezing agent, neutralizing the spell on contact.
The instructor stared for a second before calling it.
"Winner: House Null!"
Ivy's turn. She faced an illusionist—someone who specialized in misdirection.
But predicting movement was Ivy's talent.
The noble blinked out of sight—only for Ivy's arrow to pin them to the ground before they could attack.
The crowd erupted in disbelief.
"Winner: House Null!"
Finally, it was Elias's turn.
His opponent?
A noble with lightning magic.
The moment the match started, the noble unleashed a powerful bolt of lightning.
Elias raised his gauntlet.
Absorption mode activated.
The entire attack vanished into his gauntlet's core.
The noble stared in shock.
Elias grinned. "Thanks for the charge."
He twisted his wrist, redirecting the stored energy into a massive shockwave punch.
The noble was blasted backward into the arena wall.
Silence.
The instructor swallowed. "Winner… House Null!"
Trial Two: Tactical Simulation
The Academy wasted no time moving to the second trial.
House Null was placed in a magical simulation chamber, where they had to defend a fortress against an enemy army.
The test? Last for twenty minutes.
Lira watched nervously from the stands. "This isn't just a normal test. They want to see if Elias can actually lead."
Inside the simulation, the countdown started.
Elias scanned the battlefield. Their defenses were weak, their numbers limited, and the enemy was overwhelming.
The nobles probably expected them to play defense.
Elias grinned.
So they did the opposite.
"Reinhardt! Take the frontline! Hold them off!"
"Cecilia, disrupt their scouts. Make them blind!"
"Marco, reinforce Ivy's arrows with alchemical explosives!"
"Ivy, find their commander and take the shot!"
The nobles watching expected House Null to struggle.
Instead?
They annihilated the enemy force in under ten minutes.
The instructor stared in shock.
"…Trial complete."
Trial Three: The Unknown Challenge
Now, the final challenge loomed.
No one knew what the third trial would be.
Even the instructors seemed tense.
Elias and House Null stood in front of the Academy Council, waiting for the reveal.
The Headmaster himself stepped forward.
His eyes scanned Elias carefully, as if measuring something unseen.
"The final trial," he said slowly, "will be a mission outside the Academy."
Murmurs spread through the crowd.
Lira stiffened. "That's… not normal."
The Headmaster continued.
"You will investigate a disturbance at the border of the Academy's magical barrier. Unstable mana surges have been detected. Your task is simple—determine the cause and report back."
Elias frowned. Something about this felt off.
The nobles whispered nervously.
For the first time, even they seemed unsure.
Cecilia muttered, "Something's wrong about this."
Marco nodded. "They're sending us into an unknown situation."
Ivy's eyes narrowed. "This isn't just a test anymore."
Elias exhaled.
Whatever this disturbance was—it was serious.
The Academy wasn't just testing House Null.
They were using them.
Lira whispered, "Elias. I don't like this."
Elias clenched his gauntleted fist.
Neither did he.
But there was no turning back now.
"House Null accepts the trial."
And just like that—
They were walking into the unknown.