The scene shifted once again to the classroom of the Royal Academy. The air was dense with anxiety — a heavy, suffocating tension clinging to every corner of the room. Students sat restlessly at their desks, most of them tapping their feet nervously or whispering in low, panicked voices.
A moment later, the door creaked open, and their homeroom teacher stepped inside, carrying a scroll of parchment in one hand. His expression was calm, but his eyes betrayed a hint of weariness. He cleared his throat, standing before the class.
"Listen, everyone," the teacher began, his voice steady but firm. "Panicking will get you nowhere. I know the exam was difficult — more difficult than any of you expected — but the results will be what they will be. Stay calm, no matter the outcome."
Despite his attempt at reassurance, his words did little to soothe the restless students. Their unease lingered in the air, thick and palpable. Whispers erupted once again.
"I couldn't solve even half of it…"
"That exam wasn't even for us, it was like something for the 5th or 6th grade!"
The teacher sighed, placing the scroll on his desk and leaning against it."Look, I understand your frustration. To be honest, even we teachers and staff can't do much about it. The order for this exam came directly from the Emperor himself. It's out of our hands. All we can do now is follow the procedure."
There was a brief, uncomfortable silence before one of the braver students at the back of the room spoke up, his voice edged with frustration.
"But sir, how's it fair we only got three days to prepare? And the exam wasn't even from our syllabus — not even 5th grade students could solve that paper. How were we supposed to pass it?"
A chorus of murmurs rose in agreement. The teacher looked at them, visibly uncomfortable."I… I agree it was harsh. But as I said — our hands are tied."
Just then, one of the students pointed towards Kazuki, who sat quietly by the window, his chin resting on his hand, a calm, almost amused smile on his face. He hadn't flinched during the announcement, nor reacted to the chaos around him.
"Then what about him, sir?" the student blurted out, voice rising with frustration."Kazuki's sitting there like nothing even happened. It's like he already knew everything or wasn't affected at all! How's he so calm when the rest of us are falling apart?"
A hush fell over the room. Every pair of eyes shifted toward Kazuki, whose crimson gaze met the student's without a hint of surprise.
The teacher hesitated."Well… don't forget that he's from the royal family of our nation. The royal bloodline has always been known for producing prodigies. Every generation."
Another student immediately cut in, shaking his head."That doesn't explain it, sir. Not even Prince Arthur or Princess Ezabela could've passed this exam at our age — everyone knows that. So how is he this calm? This isn't normal."
For a moment, the teacher had no reply. The room hung in silence, the question lingering heavy in the air.
Kazuki, still wearing that quiet, unnerving smile, finally spoke — his tone light and casual, yet his words sharp enough to slice through the tension.
"Maybe I'm not normal."
His words sent a cold shiver through several of the students. Some turned away, unwilling to meet his gaze, while others stared at him with a mixture of fear and awe.
The teacher cleared his throat again, attempting to steer the conversation back on track."Alright, enough of that. We'll announce the results soon. In the meantime — control yourselves. Regardless of your scores, you'll all have another chance, even if it means repeating the year. Life isn't over because of one test."
But none of them were listening anymore.
The only thing they could focus on was the boy by the window — the one smiling in a room full of fear.
Kazuki's crimson eyes gleamed faintly as he thought to himself,"It's not about exams. It's about survival, and none of you are ready for what's coming."
And with that thought, he rested his head back on the desk, shutting his eyes to the restless room around him.