The moment Instructor Aurelia stepped into the room, the chatter died instantly.
Even the most talkative students snapped their mouths shut, sitting up straighter in their seats. Nobody wanted to risk ticking off the Gale Witch—especially not after the incident with Professor Vaylen last week.
Aurelia's sharp blue eyes swept across the room before landing on Reo, who was slouched in his usual spot beside Kyle.
"Good morning, students," she said, her voice crisp.
"I see everyone is present today."
Reo grinned, unbothered by the pointed look. "What can I say? I'm turning over a new leaf."
Aurelia arched an eyebrow. "I will believe it when I see it."
She walked to the front of the class, her robes flaring slightly with the faintest hum of wind magic—just enough to make the papers on her desk flutter.
"Next week, you'll be taking your Virtual Reality Combat Exam" she announced.
A few excited murmurs broke out.
VR battles were one of the most anticipated exams at Solvayne—high-stakes, immersive, and, most importantly, painless compared to real combat.
Aurelia waited for the noise to settle before continuing.
"You'll be paired up in teams of two," she said. "You can choose your own partner—pick wisely."
Kyle leaned back in his seat, considering.
In the original novel, this exam had been a free-for-all royal battle, not a partnered one. But then again, a lot of things were changing now.
Then Aurelia dropped the twist.
"Oh, and one more thing." A faint smirk tugged at the corner of her lips.
"You'll be chained together—five-meter distance limit."
Silence.
Then—chaos.
"Five meters?!" someone blurted.
"How are we supposed to fight like that?!"
A boy with curly brown hair near the front raised his hand. "Professor, what about students with lightning affinity? Won't they shock their partners if they are chained together?"
Aurelia shrugged. "Then control your mana better."
The class groaned.
"The chains are mana-resistant" she clarified, "but yes, lightning users can still electrocute their partners if they're careless. So don't be."
Kyle exhaled through his nose. 'Great.' That meant he'd have to be extra careful with his lightning—no wild surges, no reckless discharges.
Aurelia crossed her arms. "Any other questions?"
The room stayed silent.
"Good. You have time till tomorrow morning to submit your partner's name. After that, no changes."
She turned to the chalkboard, her winds lifting a piece of chalk effortlessly.
"Now, open your mana theory textbooks to page 147. Today, we are covering elemental resonance in close-quarters combat—which, coincidentally, might help you not blow each other up next week."
As the lesson began, whispers still flitted through the room—students glancing at each other, silently negotiating partnerships.
Aurelia cleared her throat sharply. "Focus. Or I'll assign partners myself—and I promise, you won't like my choices."
The class fell silent.
Kyle sighed
'This was going to be a disaster.'
****
"Alright, that's it for today's lesson," Aurelia announced.
"Choose your partners by tomorrow and submit the names to me. No last-minute changes."
With that, she strode out of the classroom.
The moment the door slid shut behind her, the classroom erupted into chaos.
Students scrambled out of their seats, already shouting over each other to claim their ideal partners.
"Who are you pairing with?"
"Dude, we have to team up—"
"Not if you keep screwing up your mana control!"
Some were bargaining, some were pleading, and a few were outright bribing—Kyle even saw one guy offer half his semester's academic credits just to team up with Serena Blackthorne (she ignored him completely).
Kyle turned to Reo, who was busy stretching his arms behind his head like he hadn't a care in the world.
"Hey," Kyle said, nudging him with his elbow. "We're teaming up, right?"
Reo's grin faltered. He scratched the back of his neck, suddenly very interested in the ceiling. "Uh… about that."
Reo's grin faltered. He glanced at Kyle, then quickly looked away, scratching the back of his neck. "Uh… no offense, man, but hell no."
Kyle frowned. "What?"
Reo sighed dramatically.
"Look, man, I love you, but I also love not being turned into a fried crispy snack." He shuddered.
"I still have nightmares about that flaming boar you turned into charcoal during the entrance exam."
Luna, perched on the edge of a nearby desk, burst into laughter. "Oh my gods, Reo! You're scared of a little zap?"
Reo shot her a glare. "Oh yeah? Why don't you team up with him, then?"
Luna's grin vanished. She coughed, suddenly very interested in the ceiling. "Uh… I mean, I would, but… I've got this… thing. Yeah. A thing."
Kyle rolled his eyes. "Cowards. Both of you."
Luna pointed at him. "Don't act like you wouldn't accidentally turn me into a lightning rod!"
Reo nodded sagely. "See? Even she knows it's a death wish."
Kyle sighed, slumping back in his seat. "Great."
He scanned the room, wondering who else he could ask. Most of the students were already pairing off—Lyra with Cassian, Sylvie with another quiet mage. Even Serena Blackthorne had somehow been roped into a team by a determined-looking girl from the back.
Just as he was considering his options, a familiar figure stepped in front of his desk.
"Kyle."
A voice, cool and firm, cut through the noise.
Princess Eleanora D'Argent stood in front of his desk, her blood-red eyes locked onto his. She had moved so fast that a group of girls—who had been inching toward him with hopeful expressions—froze mid-step, then awkwardly retreated.
Kyle raised an eyebrow. "…Yes?"
"Partner with me."
It wasn't a question.
Kyle studied her for a second. "Why?"
Eleanora's expression didn't waver, but there was something different about her today—a slight tension in her posture, a sharper edge to her words.
Normally, she was calm, composed, effortlessly regal. But right now? She looked like she had made up her mind and wasn't taking no for an answer.
"Because you need someone who won't be scared of your lightning." She shot a pointed look at Reo and Luna, who both coughed and looked away.
Kyle smirked. Fair point.
"And" she added, quieter, "I know you don't have anyone else in mind."
'Damn.' She wasn't wrong.
He didn't really have anyone else in mind, and Eleanora was strong—probably one of the best fighters in their class. Plus, she wasn't afraid of his lightning.
"Fine" he agreed. "We will make it work."
Eleanora nodded once, sharp and satisfied. "Good. Meet me in the training hall this evening. We will strategize."
Kyle shrugged. "Sure."
As she turned and walked away, her light blonde hair swaying behind her like a victory banner.
Reo whistled low under his breath. "Damn. The princess just claimed you."
Luna grinned. "I told you she had a crush on—"
Kyle flicked a tiny spark of lightning at her. Luna yelped and ducked.
"Not. Another. Word."
Reo cackled.
Kyle just sighed again, watching Eleanora's retreating figure.
Something told him this partnership was going to be… interesting.
***