CHAPTER 193: CHAPTER 193 - YOUR EXAM STARTS NOW!!

The clearing echoed with the clash of steel against crackling magic. Luca’s twin sabers carved swift arcs through the air, deflecting shards of ice that burst like glass upon contact. A streak of lightning hissed past his shoulder, scorching the ground behind him. He dashed forward, closing the gap, but Selena’s hand flicked upward—an icy wall erupted before him. His blades struck it, sparks flying, the force sending a shiver through the barrier.

They broke apart, distancing themselves, breath steady but eyes sharp.

Selena lowered her hand, frost fading from her fingertips. "You didn’t use your full power," she said coolly, violet eyes narrowing.

Luca chuckled, twirling his sabers once before letting them rest at his sides. "Nor did you."

For a moment, the tension hung between them, then both put away their weapons. Luca closed the distance at an easy pace, expression softening as he asked, "So...What do you think of Big Bull?"

Selena’s face hardened, her composure cracking just slightly. "Wall....He’s like a wall. Where did you even find him?"

A sly smirk tugged at Luca’s lips. "Well, we just did."

She gave a small nod, arms folding. "With him, you, me, and the Saintess, the exam shouldn’t be a problem."

"Tomorrow we will leave for exams," Luca said, his tone settling into thought. "Any idea where it might be held?"

Selena shook her head. "Nobody knows."

They found a bench beneath the shade of an old tree, sitting side by side. The horizon stretched out before them, painted orange and gold by the sinking sun. Luca leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, his gaze fixed on the fading light.

"Are you aiming for first rank?" Selena asked suddenly, her voice quiet, almost curious.

Luca glanced at her, then looked away again. "Hmm. Not really."

Her brows rose slightly. "Then why put in so much effort? Gathering this team?"

A soft laugh escaped him. "Honestly? It just happened." His thoughts drifted to the Saintess, her presence in his plans reshaping the path he had been so sure of. If she wasn’t here, I probably would’ve just tried the hard difficulty myself. Well, no point thinking about it now.

Selena studied him, the corners of her lips threatening to shift. "I didn’t expect you to think this way."

He tilted his head, genuinely confused. "Hmm?"

"I thought you’d be competing hard with Aiden," she explained, eyes narrowing just a fraction. "He really does see you as his rival."

Luca chuckled, shaking his head. "It’s not that I’m not competing. But it’s different for me. I actually enjoy it—our fights, our rivalry. But the danger we’re facing now?" He leaned back, eyes fixed on the horizon again. "It’s not something a single Aiden or a single Luca can solve. It needs Selena, it needs Lilliane, it needs the Saintess, it needs Kyle, it needs Big Bull. Even people like Eric. Lots of them. So instead of throwing everything into rivalry, I want all of us to grow stronger together."

Selena’s gaze lingered on his face, the last of the sunlight catching in his eyes. "So... no grand ambitions then, huh?"

Luca chuckled again, finally turning to look at her. "Not really. Ever since I stepped into this academy, I’ve had just one simple ambition: find a quiet town, open up a bakery or maybe a bar, and raise a cat." His voice grew softer, steady. "And to make that happen, I’ll just have to kill the Devil Emperor first. That way the world can be at peace—and I can live out my dream."

For the first time in what felt like forever, Selena’s icy mask faltered. She chuckled softly.

Luca blinked, surprised. "Did you just... laugh?"

But in the next breath, her composure returned, her expression smooth as still water. "You saw wrong."

Luca tilted his head slightly, lips curving. No... I definitely saw it. She laughed. She did.

The sun dipped, the night swallowed the campus, and with it, tomorrow crept closer.

***

The first rays of dawn filtered through the dormitory windows, soft gold spilling over the neat rows of beds. Luca stood before the mirror, fastening the silver-trimmed collar of the uniform the academy had delivered the day prior.

The fabric was light yet oddly firm against his skin—woven not from ordinary cloth, but embedded with enchantments.

Real-time monitoring, micro-cameras in the seams, protective wards... they really thought of everything, didn’t they? Luca mused, brushing a hand across the chest where the faint shimmer of a mana-weave pulsed. The surveillance runes meant that professors could watch their every move, track vitals, and even analyze spellcasting precision. The protective barrier built into the jacket would deflect a lethal blow once, but only once. Beyond that, you were on your own.

Convenient... but suffocating. It’s like walking around with eyes glued to my back.

With a quiet exhale, Luca turned away and reached for his pack. He laid out his gear with mechanical precision: vials of restorative potions, neatly packed rations, coils of sturdy rope, an iron-tipped torch, and several small tools he hoped he wouldn’t need. Each item vanished into the shimmer of his storage ring, leaving the room spotless once more.

"Alright. That should do it." He muttered under his breath before stepping out into the crisp morning air.

The academy courtyard was already filled with a hum of voices. Hundreds of students in matching uniforms stood in loose clusters, adjusting straps, checking weapons, or simply whispering nervously about what awaited them.

Luca’s sharp eyes scanned the crowd until familiar faces broke through the sea of strangers.

"Morning," Eric greeted, flashing him a lopsided grin, one hand resting on the pommel of his sword.

The Saintess inclined her head gracefully, though her expression remained as calm and unreadable as ever. Beside her, Selena adjusted the edge of her sleeve, her pale eyes flicking briefly toward Luca before darting away.

And of course, the towering figure of Big Bull gave a booming laugh that turned several heads nearby.

Eric said, "You’re late, Luca! Thought you’d overslept, hah!"

"I don’t oversleep," Luca replied dryly, though his lips curved slightly.

Their small group settled together, exchanging short greetings, when a familiar, teasing voice cut across the courtyard.

"Hey, brother-in-law!"

Luca froze. Slowly, he turned, already recognizing that tone. Sure enough, Kyle strolled toward them, shoulders squared with cocky energy, his grin stretching from ear to ear.

Eric blinked, then smirked. "Here comes your ’Brother-in-law’?"

The Saintess tilted her head ever so slightly, her eyes narrowing in polite curiosity. Selena stiffened, fingers curling into her sleeve, while Big Bull simply barked out another laugh.

Luca pinched the bridge of his nose. He never misses a chance, does he...?

Kyle stopped before them, his gaze sweeping over the group. "Quite the lineup you’ve got here. Looks like you pulled together a powerhouse team." His tone was half admiring, half needling.

"Indeed, I do," Luca answered evenly, refusing to rise to the bait.

Kyle puffed out his chest, laughing. "Still, this time, we’re gonna beat you."

"Oh?" Eric’s grin only widened. "We’ll see about that."

Luca tilted his head, curiosity glinting in his eyes. "Do you know which dungeon it is?"

"I don’t," Kyle admitted, his confidence undented. "But whatever it is, we’ll surely beat you." With that, he pivoted smartly and strode back toward his own team, swagger in every step.

"Same old Kyle," Eric muttered, shaking his head with amusement.

Before Luca could reply, the courtyard fell silent.

Seraphina’s voice rang clear, carrying effortlessly across the entire gathering. She stood on the central platform, her sky-blue hair catching the sunlight, her gaze sweeping over the assembled first-years like a hawk sizing up prey.

"Everyone," she began, her tone cool and authoritative, "I hope you all are ready for the exams."

A ripple of nervous murmurs spread instantly. Students straightened, clutching their weapons tighter.

Seraphina raised her hand—and the noise cut off.

"Your exam..." she paused, her eyes narrowing slightly, "...starts now."

The courtyard fell into utter silence.

Luca’s lips twitched. Wait... what? Now? Where’s the dungeon? Where are the instructors leading us? What is that supposed to mean—?

He glanced around, heart thudding, as unease began to ripple through the crowd.

Something was about to happen.