The next morning dawned bright and quiet, the usual hum of the academy returning after the chaos of the festival. The banners were finally gone, the stands dismantled, and even the air felt clearer—as though the entire campus had exhaled.

Aston stepped out of the dormitory, his boots tapping lightly against the polished walkway. The morning breeze carried the faint scent of spirit mist and fresh metal polish from the nearby terrace. Gray padded silently beside him, tail flicking lazily, while Mirage glided overhead, her translucent feathers catching sunlight in fractured hues.

It was peaceful—deceptively so.

His mind was still replaying the past few days. The battles. The roar of the crowd. The way Tristan's smirk had faded when Gray's rift tore open the air. But the exhilaration had long since faded, leaving behind a strange calm.

He wasn't thinking about fame, or the whispers that still followed him everywhere. He was just thinking of the next step.

At the corner of the main plaza, the crowd had gathered again—not for a match this time, but for something far more mundane. The academy bulletin board glowed faintly with new postings. Its runic display was alive with rotating announcements: updated class schedules, new assignments, and a few messages congratulating the winners of the Grand Neophyte Festival.

Aston slowed his pace as the crowd parted slightly.

The headline pulsed in gold:

"Festival Rewards Distributed – Congratulations to the Winners!"

Students leaned closer to read the details.

"The winners' rewards have been distributed to their registered devices," a line read. "Prize details may vary depending on the event and ranking. Please confirm your updated balances and privileges through your personal academy interface."

As he skimmed the glowing text, his wristband pulsed once. A quiet chime followed.

[Incoming Message: Dawn Crest Administrative System]

He tapped the projection open. Three separate notifications appeared in sequence.

—

[Integration Tactics Showcase – Team Shadowhide]

Reward: 500 Academy Points (divided equally among members: 100AP per participant).

Additional Reward: Tier II Tactical Utility Packs – granted to all members for exemplary coordination and synergy.

[Team Arena – Finalist (2nd Place)]

Reward: Exchange Credit equivalent to 200 Academy Points – redeemable at the Academy Exchange Hub.

Note: Credit usable only within the exchange hub. Not tradeable.

[Singles Arena – Champion]

Reward: Advanced Housing Upgrade (Full-year waiver).

Description: All lodging fees waived for the Advanced Tier dormitories for one academic year.

—

Aston blinked, the last one catching him off guard. "Advanced tier housing?" he murmured.

As a first year, he hadn't even considered promoting his housing. His current dorm—while comfortable—was small, quiet, and tucked away at the edge of the student complex. And the advanced quarters… what were the benefits again?

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Aston checked the copy of the school handbook on his device and found the section for the lodging.

—

Monthly Maintenance Cost

Covers basic accommodation, three meals per day, and access to standard training facilities. Nonpayment results in service suspension.

Basic tier maintenance costs 30 AP per month.

Includes: standard meals, housing, basic training facilities.

Advanced tier maintenance costs 90 AP per month.

Includes: everything from the Basic tier, plus:

Upgraded housing: Private room with personal study space, improved furnishings, and integrated spirit energy conduits for faster recovery and meditation.

Enhanced meals: Access to advanced menu with spirit-nutrient-enhanced meals, in a buffet style, which improves stamina and recovery marginally over time.

Priority access to facilities: early access windows and extended hours for standard training facilities.

Tier 2 library access: includes access to some restricted data, books, and scrolls normally inaccessible to first-years.

Spirit beast lounge access: a shared environment where students can safely let spirit beasts rest, train, or socialize. Higher-tiered beast-care services included.

One free mission transfer per month: allows replacement or rerolling of one assigned mission.

Workshop access: permission to use intermediate-tier alchemy, enchantment, or engineering workstations (if the division allows).

Minor monthly AP subsidy quests: additional board with exclusive low-risk, low-reward missions only accessible to Advanced tier or higher.

Elite tier maintenance costs 150 AP per month.

…

—

Aston was dumbfounded and was immediately elated. I just struck it rich!

It was a rare prize—something even senior students would covet if they knew.

As he scrolled through the messages, he saw the total Academy Points reflected on his account—143 AP (200 AP consumable at the Exchange Hub).

The sight gave him pause. Just a month ago, he had grinded together with his friends for academic points just so they wouldn't be expelled. And now…

He caught himself smiling faintly. "From rationing meals to advanced housing… we've come a long way, huh?"

Gray yawned, tail flicking smugly. Mirage hooted softly, the air rippling with a hint of contentment.

"Don't get cocky," Aston said with a faint smirk. "We're not done."

He turned back to the board. More names were scrolling beneath the announcement—winners of the other divisions.

His name shone at the bottom of the list, bold and unmistakable.

A few nearby students noticed him staring and immediately began whispering.

"That's him! The one who won the Singles Arena."

"Wait—he's also part of the Integration Showcase winners?"

"Damn, that means he took two firsts."

"No wonder the bulletin's glowing red on his name."

Aston exhaled slowly through his nose, trying not to draw attention, but it was already too late. Admiring looks mixed with envy as eyes followed him again.

He stepped back from the board, pretending to adjust his wristband. "Come on," he muttered under his breath. "Let's not make this a show."

Gray purred as if amused, and Mirage fluttered her wings in quiet agreement.

They walked away, heading toward the eastern terrace where the sunlight fell through stained-glass panels, painting the corridor in gold and violet.

For all the noise, for all the fame—it didn't change his pace.

The academy really does give rewards that would give the winners an advantage while surviving here. Opportunity. Access. Privilege.

And the inevitable attention that came with all of them.

He'd earned his place among the academy's elite now. But in the world Aston had stepped into—the Shadow Ops, the unseen hierarchy of power—this was just the beginning.

He tapped the message once more, confirming receipt of his prizes. The interface shimmered and faded, leaving only his reflection in the screen—a faint smile, a steady gaze, and the quiet certainty that eyes, both known and unknown, were already watching him again.

The bell rang in the distance, and the plaza lights flickered as the academy's wards shifted for the afternoon cycle.

Aston walked forward, his beasts trailing in perfect rhythm—no longer just a student, but a storm waiting for its next wind.

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