I folded the last shirt and tucked it into my travel bag, pulling the drawstring tight.

The room looked bare now, no scattered papers, no weapons leaning against the wall, no personal touches that marked it as mine.

Just two beds, two desks, two empty wardrobes staring back at me with hollow indifference.

Kyle had left that morning, practically bouncing with excitement about seeing his family. He'd talked for twenty minutes straight about his mother's cooking and how his sister promised to spar with him.

Sira had departed the night before without much fanfare, just a nod and a "see you next semester" before disappearing into the darkness.

Tobias had awkwardly hugged everyone goodbye before his family's carriage had arrived, a fancy thing with the family crest emblazoned on the door.

I'd stayed behind, taking my time. No rush to get anywhere.

I looked around the room one final time, taking in the space that had been home for the past few months.

This is the last time I'll be here.

Strange how things changed. A few months ago, I'd walked into this room as the Raith disappointment, the one nobody expected anything from.

Now I was leaving as first rank.

I slung the bag over my shoulder, grabbed my sword, and headed for the door.

---

The hallways were mostly empty, just a few stragglers still packing or saying last goodbyes to friends. My footsteps echoed against stone floors as I made my way toward the main entrance, the sound lonely in the vast corridors.

"Jin!"

I turned.

Emma hurried down the corridor toward me, slightly out of breath, her own bag slung over her shoulder. She smiled when she caught up, tucking a strand of brown hair behind her ear.

"Thought you'd already left," I said.

"No, I wanted to say goodbye properly." She fell into step beside me as I continued walking. "How are you feeling? About everything?"

"Confused, mostly. Still processing the whole first-rank thing."

"You earned it." Her voice was firm, leaving no room for argument. "Stop doubting yourself."

"Easy for you to say."

"It's easy because it's true." She bumped her shoulder against mine lightly. "Just accept that you're good at this, Jin. It'll make things easier."

We walked in comfortable silence for a moment, passing through the main common area where a few students lounged by the fireplace, their conversations muted and lazy.

"Aren't you heading home?" I asked. "For break?"

She shook her head, her smile faltering slightly. "I have some work here. Two or three days, then I'll head back."

"Work? The semester's over."

"Professor Thorne needs help cataloging some research materials. Offered to pay me for it." She said it casually, but I caught the exhaustion in her voice, the way her shoulders sagged just slightly. "Extra coin helps."

I wanted to say something, tell her to rest, to take care of herself, but the words felt hollow. She knew her situation better than I did. Platitudes wouldn't pay for supplies or lodging.

Instead, I just nodded. "Don't overdo it."

"I'll be fine." She reached out and took my hand, her grip warm and steady. "Come on. I'll walk you to the gates."

I looked at our intertwined hands, then at her, and nodded.

"Sure."

We continued through the Academy grounds, past the training yards where a few dedicated students were getting in last-minute practice, their practice weapons clacking against each other.

Past the gardens where the late afternoon sun painted everything in shades of gold and amber, making the whole world look softer than it really was.

Her hand stayed in mine the entire walk, and I didn't mention it. Didn't want to make it weird.

When we reached the main gates and she finally stopped.

I turned to face her, the weight of goodbye settling between us.

I squeezed her hand once before releasing it. "Take care of yourself, Emma."

"You too." She smiled, and this time it reached her eyes.

"Don't do anything stupid during break. Like fighting wild beasts or clearing more dungeons solo."

"No promises."

She laughed, the sound light and genuine, cutting through the melancholy.

"Good luck, Jin. With everything."

"Yeah. Thanks."

She stepped back, raising one hand in a small wave. "Goodbye."

"Bye."

I turned and walked through the gates, glancing back once to see her still standing there, watching me go, silhouetted against the late afternoon light.

Then I focused forward and kept walking.

The Academy gates were flanked by two guards in standard uniform, leather armor reinforced with metal plates, spears held at attention, expressions professionally neutral.

As I passed between them, something caught my attention.

They looked... identical.

Same height, same build, same face structure, same dark hair cut in the same military style. Even the way they stood was mirror-perfect, down to the angle of their spears.

I paused, looking between them.

Are they twins?

The guard on the left's eye twitched slightly. The one on the right remained perfectly still.

Definitely twins. Or clones.

Do they have cloning magic here?

I shook my head and kept walking.

Not my problem. Probably just Academy security protocol or something.

The road from the Academy led down into the valley, winding through forested hills before opening into farmland.

The air smelled cleaner out here, away from the city, pine trees and fresh earth, with an underlying hint of woodsmoke from distant farms.

The nearest major town—Greyhaven—was about two hours away by carriage, serving as a travel hub for students heading to various parts of the kingdom.

I followed the main road until I reached the carriage station, a simple wooden structure with a covered waiting area and a stable for horses.

A few other students milled about, waiting for transport, their bags piled around them.

An older man with a weathered face and callused hands approached, holding a leather-bound ledger. "Where to?"

"Greyhaven," I said.

He consulted his ledger, running his finger down a list of names and destinations. "Next carriage leaves in twenty minutes. Two silver for the ride."

I pulled out the coins from my pouch, part of the compensation from Aldwin, and handed them over.

The metal clinked softly as it changed hands.

He marked something in his ledger with practiced efficiency and gestured toward the waiting area. "Have a seat. Driver'll call when ready."

I found a bench and sat, dropping my bag beside me. The other students ignored me, caught up in their own conversations or exhaustion from the semester.

One month. That's how long break lasts.

One month back at the Raith estate.

One month with Father, Cassandra, Victor and...

I pushed the thought away. No point worrying about it now.

The carriage arrived right on schedule, a sturdy six-seater with reinforced wheels and a driver who looked like he'd been doing this route for decades. His face was lined with age and sun exposure, but his hands were steady on the reins.

Students began loading their bags, claiming seats with the territorial efficiency of people who'd been traveling all their lives.

I climbed in, taking a spot by the window, and settled in for the ride.

As the carriage rolled away from the Academy, I watched the campus disappear behind us, the towers reaching toward the sky, the training grounds where I'd pushed myself to exhaustion, the dormitories where I'd spent the last few months learning what it meant to belong somewhere.

First semester done. Made it to first rank.

Now I just have to survive going home.

The carriage rattled down the road, and I closed my eyes, letting the movement lull me into a half-doze.

Hope the ride goes smooth.

But it didn't.

I woke to the sound of shouting.

The carriage had stopped, the horses whinnying nervously.

Through the window, I could see we were in a forested section of the road, trees pressing close on either side, their branches creating a canopy that blocked most of the fading sunlight.

"Everyone out!" The driver's voice, sharp with urgency. "Slowly. No sudden movements."

I grabbed my sword and bag, my heart already picking up speed. The other students looked confused, frightened, scrambling to gather their belongings.

I stepped out of the carriage, my boots hitting the dirt road.

And froze.

Six men stood in a loose semicircle around the carriage, blocking the road.

They weren't wearing uniforms, just rough traveling clothes and mismatched armor. But the weapons in their hands were well-maintained, and the way they held them spoke of experience.

Bandits.

Are you kidding me? Bandits again? Even cliché stories don't repeat this kinda shit.

The leader stepped forward, a scarred man with a crooked nose and cold eyes. He looked at us like we were livestock at market, assessing value, calculating profit.

"Well, well," he said, his voice rough. "Academy students. This'll be a good haul."

The driver raised his hands slowly. "Take the carriage. Take whatever you want. Just let the passengers go."

"Oh, we'll take the carriage." The leader's smile didn't reach his eyes.

"And the bags. And anything else valuable you're carrying." His gaze swept across us, lingering on a few of the noble students whose jewelry and fine clothes marked them as wealthy.

"Might even take a few of you for ransom. Noble families pay well to get their children back."

One of the other students, a girl with blonde hair, made a small sound of fear.

The leader's smile widened.

I assessed the situation quickly. Six bandits. Four students plus the driver. The students looked terrified, probably never been in a real fight in their lives. The driver was old, unarmed except for a small knife at his belt.

I sighed.

So it's just me then.

Settingmy bag down carefully, I drew my sword, the familiar weight settling in my hand.

The leader's attention snapped to me. "Bold one, aren't you? Put the sword down, boy. You're outnumbered."

"I can count," I said flatly. "Still keeping the sword."

"Your wish boy." The leader grinned. "Prepare for your funeral."

And gestured to two of his men.

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