No matter how many times Vale looked at the date in today's newspaper, it remained the same. Eighty years had passed since he entered the first trial. He knew that time flowed differently there, but seeing it in print still made it hard to believe.
Wasting no more time, he approached the librarian and asked for a newspaper from eighty years ago—specifically around the time when the assassination of the royal family took place.
The librarian gave him a questioning look but led him to the correct aisle. Vale quickly found what he was looking for.
"...Breaking news! The King is dead, along with his entire family…"
His heart raced—pounding against his ribs as he continued reading.
"...Beheaded. The King was found in the master bedroom alongside his wife, the first prince, and several servants…The second prince's body is missing. Some suspect he orchestrated the crime, while others believe he was taken hostage."
A dark expression consumed Vale's face. He had already accepted that his family had likely been assassinated along with him—but to be blamed for it? Disgusted at the thought, he continued flipping through more newspapers.
"5th Anniversary of the Royal Family Massacre—No Suspects Found."
"Ten Years Later—The Killer Still Remains Unknown."
"30 Years On—The Mystery Behind the Royal Family Massacre."
"50 Years Later—Government Ends Search, Presumes Murderer Is Dead."
They never found out who did it.
Eighty years had passed, and no one knew who had killed him and his family. To make matters worse, the government had stopped searching—why?
He couldn't accept this injustice. He would find out who was responsible, no matter what it took.
Deep in thought, Vale left the library, stopping only once to give the librarian a small bow before hurrying back to his room.
Inside, he sat on the edge of his small bed, still processing what he had just learned. There was one silver lining—his identity was safe. No one would expect a second prince to reappear after eighty years. Even if he did reveal himself, people would probably dismiss it as nonsense.
But did that really mean his killer was dead, too?
Before Vale could answer his own question, a soft knock sounded at his door.
He approached cautiously, the memory of the night he died still fresh in his mind.
As he opened the door, two familiar figures stood before him.
"Vale," greeted Luna, a wide smile on her face. "This is Ayla. She's new to the Academy, just like you, so I thought I'd take you both to the canteen for dinner."
Vale's gaze shifted toward Ayla. The slender girl smiled and gave him a slight bow.
"Does she bow to everyone?" Vale wondered, nodding in return.
"Would you like to join us?" Luna asked.
"Sure."
"Great! Let's go."
The trio sat at one of the empty tables. The Academy's canteen was massive, designed to accommodate thousands at once. Rows of long tables stretched across the marble floor, each seating at least ten people.
The hall buzzed with conversation as students, lecturers, and faculty members indulged in lively discussions over meals prepared by the finest chefs in the Kingdom of Verythmia.
Yet, at their table, there was little talk. Not because they were unwilling to converse, but because the food in front of them demanded their full attention. Tonight's meal was steak—cooked to perfection. None of them dared to waste a single moment speaking.
"The food here is amazing. It really makes you never want to leave," Luna said, staring wistfully at her empty plate.
"Do they always serve this much?" Ayla asked.
"Of course! It's important that the future Awakened are well-fed and taken good care of. Oh! I almost forgot—here are your IDs." Luna reached into her pocket and placed two rectangular objects on the table.
Vale picked up one and examined it.
*****
Central Academy
Name: Ayla
Rank: Dormant
*****
"Ayla? Oh…"
"Here, I think this is yours," he said, handing it to her.
"Thank you," she replied, accepting it with both hands.
Vale then picked up the second ID, confirmed it was his, and tucked it into one of his many pockets.
"Good. Now that you have your IDs, you can access any of the Academy's utility rooms. I already showed you both the training rooms and lecture halls, but if you have any questions, come see me anytime. I have to go now, but I'll see you around."
And just like that, Luna left, leaving Vale and Ayla alone.
The awkward silence stretched between them for a few minutes before Ayla finally spoke.
"I'm heading to the Ability Testing Facility," she said. "Miss Luna mentioned that there are always long queues in the morning, but if we go now, they might test some people early. Would you like to join me?"
Vale hesitated for a moment before nodding.
If he could get it done today, it would free up his schedule tomorrow. It was worth a try.
Their walk to the testing facility was uneventful. They moved in silence, occasionally stopping to ask faculty members for directions. Everyone at the Academy was incredibly helpful—perhaps too helpful. Every person they asked offered to personally escort them, though they politely declined each time.
Soon, they arrived at the towering metal doors of the Ability Testing Facility. The structure loomed over them, its imposing presence a stark contrast to the rest of the Academy's grand yet inviting architecture. The doors, adorned with intricate engravings of ancient runes, shimmered faintly under the artificial lighting, hinting at the powerful enchantments woven into their frame.
A faculty member greeted them outside, taking down their names before instructing them to sit on a nearby bench until they were called.
The pair sat down, waiting endlessly as the hushed murmurs of passing students and the occasional clatter of footsteps filled the air.
Minutes passed, stretching into what felt like an eternity, before a female voice finally called out to them.
"Ayla, please dismiss any artifacts and step inside the testing facility," a female faculty member announced.
Ayla didn't linger. Since she had no artifacts to dismiss, she simply stood and walked through the doors.