The morning sun had barely risen when Leonhard summoned both Asrial and Theresia to his private chamber. His expression was unreadable, but the weight in his voice betrayed the seriousness of his intentions.
"Sit. Both of you." His tone left no room for argument.
Asrial and Theresia exchanged a brief glance before taking their seats opposite him.
"I have arranged for you both to join the Royal Academy next month," Leonhard began without preamble. "It is an essential step. Whether you like it or not, the academy is where the true game begins."
Theresia's eyes lit up. "The academy? Really? That's where all the greatest knights and mages—"
Leonhard raised a hand, cutting her off. "Don't be so eager. It's not a sanctuary—it's a battlefield." His gaze hardened. "Noble factions, secret alliances, political traps… It is a nest of vipers. And you'll be walking straight into their den."
Asrial leaned forward, his voice steady. "What do we need to do?"
Leonhard's lips curved into a thin, almost cruel smile. "A trial. One last test before you're worthy of stepping into that world."
He unrolled a scroll across the table. It depicted a vast forest, its terrain marked with red ink. "You will be sent into the Adramis Forest. Ten days. Fifty monsters. Minimum."
Theresia's breath caught. "Fifty? In ten days?"
Leonhard's stare pinned her in place. "Survive. Hunt. Prove yourselves. If you can't handle this, the academy will devour you."
Asrial narrowed his eyes. "Will we be watched?"
Leonhard didn't hesitate. "Yes. My scouts will shadow you. If you fall into life-threatening danger, they'll intervene. But only at the brink of death. Don't expect them to hold your hand."
Asrial's gaze remained firm. "And if we fail?"
Leonhard's voice turned cold. "Then you won't set foot in the academy. You'll be forbidden from training under me ever again."
Silence fell over the room, heavy and suffocating.
"You have two days to prepare. Gather what you need."
Leonhard's eyes flicked toward Theresia. "Leave us. I need to speak to Asrial alone."
Theresia opened her mouth to protest. "Why? I—"
"Theresia." Leonhard's tone softened, but his authority remained absolute. "Please."
She gritted her teeth, glancing at Asrial before reluctantly turning to leave.
As the door closed, Leonhard's stern façade cracked, if only slightly.
"Listen carefully, Asrial."
Asrial's posture straightened.
"You must protect Theresia. At all costs."
Leonhard's voice was not the commanding roar of a sword saint, but the desperate plea of a father entrusting his child's life to another.
"You've seen how the world operates. How the strong prey on the weak. The academy is not just dangerous—it's lethal. Factions within it will tear each other apart. Some will kill without hesitation to rise through the ranks."
He leaned forward, his eyes sharp as a blade. "If anything happens to Theresia, I won't be able to protect you. I won't be able to protect her. Not there."
Asrial's chest tightened, but his voice didn't falter. "You've already done more for me than I could ever repay. It's my duty to defend the family you gave me."
Leonhard's gaze softened, but his next words were a warning. "Good. But remember, Asrial… in the academy, strength alone won't be enough. You'll need to see through lies, navigate traps, and sometimes, you'll need to strike preemptively."
Asrial nodded, fully aware of the path he was walking. "I understand."
Leonhard finally leaned back in his chair, the tension in his shoulders easing just slightly. "Go. Prepare. The next time we speak, you'll either be ready… or you won't come back."
Asrial bowed deeply. "I will not disappoint you."
---
Theresia waited in the training yard, arms crossed, visibly frustrated.
"Took you long enough."
Asrial offered a faint smile. "Sorry. He wanted to make sure I understood how important this is."
"And?"
"He asked me to protect you."
Her expression faltered, then softened. "He didn't need to ask you that. I already trust you to."
Asrial's heart steadied. For the first time in a long while, he felt the weight of someone else's life resting in his hands—and strangely, he welcomed it.
"Let's start preparing. We'll need weapons, supplies, maps—"
"And lots of patience," she teased, nudging him playfully.
Asrial chuckled, a rare sound that felt unfamiliar on his own lips. "Yeah. We're going to need that too."