CHAPTER 59: FOOD VS. MISSION

The final echoes of their clash faded, and the barrier shimmered before dissolving entirely.

"The exam is finished."

Ron barely had time to register the words before the white light engulfed him. Lia, unconscious beside him, vanished in the same glow.

When the light receded, they found themselves lying in a vast marble-floored hall. The air was filled with the soft hum of magic as healers moved swiftly between rows of beds, tending to battered candidates pulled from the exam grounds.

The moment Ron and Lia appeared—bloodied, burned, and bruised—three healers hurried toward them. Warm, restorative mana washed over their bodies, closing cuts, knitting torn muscles, and easing the throbbing ache in their limbs.

Lia stirred first, blinking herself awake. She shifted slightly, only to find Ron watching her from the next bed over, a familiar teasing grin on his face.

"Well," he said with mock satisfaction, "now we’re even—ninety-two wins, ninety-two losses."

Lia gave a faint smile, her voice soft but steady.

"Yeah."

Observation Chamber — Same Time

Zane rose from his seat, stretching slightly.

"That was some good entertainment," he remarked, making his way toward the group of teachers where Lucen stood.

Mira suddenly popped up beside him, bright-eyed as ever. "Did you see, Professor Zane? Those candidates—Ron and Lia—they’re so good!"

Zane gave a single approving nod.

Varris, arms crossed and eyes closed, added in his low rumble, "They’ve got potential." He paused a moment, then fell silent again.

Aldren smiled faintly. "Yes... some fine talent there. And that elf princess, Lirael Elenros, along with Aurelian Valmont and the dwarf candidate Torren Durnan —they’re quite good as well. Then there’s that boy, Arin. He should be strong too, but we couldn’t see his full strength... Ron outsmarted him too quickly."

From the sidelines, Zane nodded again, though his eyes narrowed slightly. That boy... he’s also very suspicious.

Lucen’s gaze turned to Aldren. "Professor Aldren, you should rest and recover fully—you maintained that barrier for quite a long time."

Aldren inclined his head. "I will."

Lucen looked over the remaining staff. "The rest of you, in the meantime, we’ll be announcing the winner of this survival exam." He gave a brief gesture to one of the academy mages, who hurried off to prepare a floating platform. Moments later, the professors and candidates were escorted away from the exam grounds, bound for the soaring spires of Astralis Arcanum.

Medical Hall,

Ron and Lia, now fully healed, sat side-by-side on the recovery cots. Fresh academy-issued clothes replaced their battle-worn gear, though the magic disguises they wore for the exam still cloaked their true identities. They were casually chatting, voices low, when the sound of purposeful footsteps echoed across the polished floor.

Someone was coming straight toward them—no, toward Ron.

The boy’s tawny-brown hair caught the light, his leaf-green eyes burning with irritation. It was Arin Blake. His expression was sharp, almost stormy.

"You cheated," he declared, loud enough to draw the attention of nearby candidates and healers. Heads turned. Conversations stilled.

Ron blinked. "What?"

Lia said nothing, watching silently.

"You tricked me," Arin continued, voice edged with accusation. "You got me out of the barrier when I wasn’t paying attention!"

A murmur spread through the hall.

Ron tilted his head, genuinely confused. "Shouldn’t you be paying attention in battle all the time? Sounds like it’s your fault you got tricked. So why are you whining here?"

Arin’s face flushed a mix of embarrassment and anger. "I’ll take you on in the duel exam!"

Ron gave a shrug and a short nod. "Okk."

Without another word, Arin spun on his heel and left, the murmurs following in his wake.

Lia’s gaze lingered on the doorway. Ron... didn’t have to trick him to win, though. The thought came unbidden, and she blinked sharply. What was I thinking?

Ron’s voice broke her momentary daze. "What happened? Let’s go, Lia."

She rose to her feet, pushing the strange thought away, and followed him out.

Exam Hall,

Ron and Lia followed the stream of candidates into the grand exam hall, where the air practically buzzed with tension. Rows of seats curved around a central stage, and at its center stood a middle-aged man with a calm but commanding presence.

"Hello, candidates," his voice carried clearly through the magically-amplified space. "I am Lucen Merrith, Vice-Chairman of Astralis Arcanum."

A ripple of murmurs moved through the crowd at the name.

"Today," Lucen continued, "around five thousand of you arrived to take the entrance exam. Of those, only five hundred passed to participate in the survival exam. And now..." he paused, letting the silence thicken, "...only the top one hundred and eighty of you will pass in this stage today."

With a smooth wave of his hand, a massive list shimmered into existence in midair. Names scrolled from top to bottom in elegant golden script.

At the very top—Ron.

Second—Lia.

Then Aurelian Valmont, Torren Durnan, Arin Blake, Lirael Elenros... and on until the 180th name.

Excited cheers and relieved sighs filled the hall. Some faces lit up with pride; others darkened in disappointment. Ron and Lia shared a smile, while a few nearby candidates glanced at them with a mixture of admiration and wariness.

Arin’s eyes locked on his own name, his jaw tightening. "The top should’ve been me," he muttered under his breath.

Aurelian gave a nervous chuckle. "At least I got third spot..."

Lirael, expression unreadable, glanced at her rank and simply murmured, "Alright."

Lucen’s voice drew their attention back to the stage. "The next stage is the Duel Exam. Only ninety of you will pass this round. The matches will be judged by some of our esteemed professors." His gaze swept over the crowd. "The test will be held this evening. Until then, enjoy the lunch prepared for you by our top chefs—regain your strength and enthusiasm."

With that, Lucen stepped down from the stage, leaving the hall buzzing with anticipation for the battles to come.

.

.

.

The vast dining hall had been transformed into a feast worthy of nobles. Long tables overflowed with steaming platters, fresh bread, roasted meats, colorful fruits, and sparkling drinks. The air was warm with the scent of spiced stews and grilled fish.

Ron sat across from Lia at one of the tables, a plate piled high in front of him. The first bite made his eyes widen.

"After doing so much," he said between mouthfuls, "food tastes even more amazing, right?"

Lia swallowed a spoonful of soup, savoring the flavor. "So much more," she agreed with a small smile.

Around them, the atmosphere was a strange mix of celebration and quiet tension.

At one table, a boy with a nervous frown whispered to his friend, "The duels are going to be brutal... half of us are gone after today."

Across the room, a group of girls compared the strengths of the top-ranked candidates, excitement tinged with worry. "I just hope I don’t face one of the top ten," one of them said, laughing nervously.

Two candidates near the dessert table argued over strategy in low voices. "You can’t just go all offense—you’ll burn yourself out," one insisted.

The dining hall hummed with clinking cutlery, murmured conversations, and the undercurrent of anticipation. Every so often, someone’s gaze would flick toward the list of names magically displayed on the far wall, as if memorizing the battlefield they’d soon face.

---

Earlier,

After returning to the academy, Lucen instructed the professors, "Go to the professor’s food hall and get your lunch. I’ll handle the announcement."

Zane watched him leave, rubbing his chin. Well... food is important, he thought, but then another thought surfaced. I still need to investigate that guy... He hesitated, weighing it in his mind. "Food or that guy... hmm." A small grin formed. "Food it is."

The professor’s food hall was nothing short of luxurious—polished tables, elegant chandeliers, and dishes prepared from rare magical plants and monster meat. The aromas alone could make someone forget their mission.

"Many cuisines here... all made with magical ingredients," Zane murmured. "Let’s eat first."

He sampled everything—spiced hydra stew, crystal-fruit tarts, roasted drake meat with glowing herbs—losing himself completely in the flavors. Other professors noticed but didn’t disturb him, seeing how deeply he was focused on eating.

When he finally leaned back, satisfied, he muttered, "Around this time, Lucen said the candidates are getting lunch in the student food hall."

Bidding farewell to the other professors, Zane snapped his fingers . A thin shimmer rippled around him—barely detectable. For him, even Lucen or Aldren wouldn’t notice if he stood right in front of them.

The student food hall was massive, far larger than the professors’, though less lavish. The noise of hundreds of candidates filled the space.

Zane scanned the crowd. He spotted Lia and Ron at one table, laughing quietly over their food. But then, off to the side, he saw him—tawny hair, leaf-green eyes, tense posture.

"There he is... Arin Blake," Zane murmured, slipping closer without a sound.

Arin was eating with a scowl, the fork in his hand scraping his plate a little too sharply. Zane watched quietly, studying every movement, every shift of expression.

"That’s how it is, huh..." he said under his breath, smirking.