Chapter 41: Evaluation phase
As the gathered students exchanged words, waiting for the evaluation to begin, the air was charged with a mix of tension and excitement. The ranking progression was a crucial step, and each of them was eager to see where they now stood after their first official outing.
Dorian leaned back with a smirk, nudging Reynard. "I'm just saying, if we're getting ranked again, I should obviously be ahead of you."
Reynard scoffed. "Based on what? Your incredible ability to teleport away from danger while I actually fight?"
Selene, standing nearby, let out a small sigh, arms crossed. "Not this again..."
Elyreina simply shook her head, already used to their endless banter.
A few other students turned to watch the exchange with mild amusement, while others ignored them, focused on their own thoughts. The observers had yet to arrive, and there was still some time before the evaluation would begin.
"I heard we're officially moving into the next rank," one student murmured. "Adept to Archmage for the top ten, right?"
"Yeah, but do you think they'll make exceptions?" another asked. "Like, Seraphina and Zarek are clearly beyond just one step up."
"That's true," someone else agreed. "I also heard rumors about that one guy—what's his name? The one who collapsed when we saw a beast?"
"You mean the one who didn't participate at all?"
"Yeah, exactly. I don't think he'll even show up."
Before they could continue, the atmosphere shifted. The sound of approaching footsteps silenced the murmurs, and then—
Lyrian walked into the hall.
The casual conversation died instantly.
Dorian was the first to react, eyes widening before he grinned. "Well, well. The devil himself decides to make an entrance."
Reynard gave Lyrian an appraising look. "Took you long enough."
Elyreina exhaled, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly now that she saw him up and moving.
Selene simply observed, expression unreadable, though her gaze lingered on Lyrian for a moment longer than the others.
The students who had just been gossiping about him were suddenly quiet, their previous words now feeling misplaced in the presence of the very person they had doubted.
Lyrian said nothing at first, merely walking forward until he stood beside his group. Only then did he glance toward Dorian.
"Devil, huh?" he mused. "I like the sound of that."
Dorian laughed, clapping him on the back. "That's the spirit."
With that, the moment passed, but the shift in the atmosphere was undeniable. Whatever expectations or doubts the others had about Lyrian were now in question, and soon, the evaluation would provide real answers.