GameDev Reincarnated into His Own Creation

Vol 2 - Chapter XXII.V - Class & Quarter

It's really them. Celia, fully grown into a lady. And then there's Vel, standing beside her. I hadn't thought the Academy doors would open to someone of his status. Yet here he is—and worse, he isn't afraid.

He stood with quiet assurance, scanning the courtyard like he belonged here. No trace of nervousness for someone of his background facing the most prestigious academy in the kingdom.

"Kein?" Vel said again, softer this time, uncertainty creeping into his voice.

The boy who was always weaker when we sparred as kids, who I always defeated. He had talent, sure, but nothing that should have placed him in an Academy full of prodigies.

I had to prove myself among nobles who sneered at me for my common birth. I survived by becoming someone stronger, colder, better. "A relationship between a noble and commoner only goes one way," they'd whisper among themselves. "They either want something from us, or they just drag us down." At least that's what nobles talk about when they think no one's listening.

Even if I wanted to acknowledge them, father's orders had been clear—I was forbidden to return to Elnor, not even one letter sent. Reconnecting with them now... that would be dangerous. Admirers aside, there are envious eyes watching, waiting for every opportunity to attack the Atherwind name, spreading rumors. I can't afford to let that happen. Not after everything I've sacrificed to get here.

The sight of their hopeful faces, unchanged despite the years, sent a knife of longing through my chest. For just a heartbeat, I wanted to smile, to call their names, to ask how they'd been.

But I couldn't. Not here. Not now.

A well-dressed peer beside me glanced over curiously. "You know them, Lord Atherwind?"

"No," I replied without hesitation, my voice carrying clearly across the space. "I don't."

I turned and walked away with my companion, who muttered something about commoners knowing their place when addressing nobility. Every step felt like a betrayal of my own heart, but my mind was already turning to the trials ahead—the test, the careful navigation of Academy politics, the endless stream of introductions and evaluations. Even my companion's words barely registered through the noise of what lay before me.

"Kein Atherwind."

The examiner's voice carried across the testing grounds, and the murmur of conversations died away. This was the moment I'd rehearsed dozens of times in father's private study. Every step toward the crystal was measured, every movement calibrated to project the confidence expected of an Atherwind heir.

I approached unhurried, aware that every applicant's attention had shifted to me. From my peripheral vision, I caught sight of Vel and Celia watching—their expressions a mix of curiosity and what looked like recognition.

I placed my palm against the crystal's cool surface.

The crystal responded instantly. Golden light poured from the artifact, bright enough to illuminate the entire testing field. Students throughout the grounds turned to stare, some raising hands to shield their eyes. Pure white threads spiraled through the gold, forming intricate, shifting patterns.

"Light affinity with holy specialization," the examiner announced, her voice carrying an unmistakable note of reverence. "Exceptional purity and strength. One of the strongest readings we've recorded in years."

I kept my expression carefully neutral despite the satisfaction building in my chest. The faculty members' excited whispers weren't a surprise. Even Severin Thornwood—that arrogant noble—looked genuinely impressed, his usual smugness replaced by something approaching respect.