Denebergen Academy (3): The Guardians Awaken

The bizarre atmosphere that had enveloped the front gate of Denebergen Academy after the storm named Yozef had passed gradually settled. By now, tiny question marks were sprouting one by one above the heads of the waiting students. These small question marks met, resonated with each other, and grew larger.

"When the hell are we getting in?"

"Ugh, I've got so much luggage, it's heavy."

"How long are they gonna make us wait out here?"

"I asked the guards, but they wouldn't say a thing."

They had all arrived on time, yet the school gates remained closed to them. There had been no announcement about a separate gathering spot that they absolutely had to go to, and it was hard to imagine that a group this large had made such a basic mistake. Above all, there was royalty right here among them. The imperial side wouldn't have bungled the prince's commute so badly.

"Ahem, you lot don't know yet, do you?"

"Shh, shh. You'll find out when the time comes."

"Hey, what is it? Tell me at least."

On the other hand, whispers of confidential info were being exchanged among students who seemed to know something. They were aware of what was about to happen.

To be precise, I was also among those who had only just figured out what was going on.

"Young master, what's happening?"

"Man, my sister's got a real mean streak. Didn't even warn me ahead of time. If my memory was any worse, I'd have totally forgotten."

"Pardon?"

Denebergen Academy was no pushover. To think ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠they'd throw a test just to get through the gates. If my sister hadn't come home during break back when she was a freshman and excitedly spilled all the school stories, I probably wouldn't have known either. Of course, I'd let most of it go in one ear and out the other back then—I even forgot the academy's name—but the trial process had been intriguing enough to stick in my mind.

"Hahaha, Deneb. So you knew after all. With a brother and sister who went here first, it's only natural."

"No way. I haven't even seen my brother, and my sister isn't that kind to her baby brother."

"Oh?"

"If she'd known about this, she would've tipped me off before today. It's just something she mentioned in passing ages ago that I happened to remember."

Prince Yozef nodded with an amused grin. From the looks of it, Denebergen Academy kept its entrance process pretty airtight. Unless you'd heard it from someone who'd enrolled before, you wouldn't have a clue. Take Charlotte, for example—she still had no idea what was going on.

"What do you mean, young master?"

"Just wait. It'll show up any second now."

No sooner had I spoken than things started to change. Magic wrapped around the academy as an eerie fog rolled in. The guards had vanished without a trace, and a crunching sound echoed in their ears. Even combat-track students insensitive to mana could feel the magic unfolding.

Thankfully, the fog didn't reach the students at the front gate, but Denebergen Academy—which had been visible through the gates just moments ago—was now cloaked ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in a hazy mist like a flowing gown.

"Kyaaah!"

"W-what is this?!"

"Look! The statues are moving!"

"It's finally starting!"

A few students panicked at the sudden shift. Others felt a faint thrill, knowing the event they'd heard about was underway. One thing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was certain: the winged lion statues flanking the academy's front gate were moving.

Students who pinpointed the source of the crunching realized this and gaped in unison.

GRRRROOOOARRR!

GRRRRRRRRR!

The pair of winged lions roared, sending the timid students stumbling back while the bold combat students reached for their weapons. Yozef and I didn't budge. He kept his same cheerful smile, and I just stared indifferently at the two lion statues.

"H-hiii?! Y-young master, that's definitely black magic. No way... has an evil black mage invaded the academy...!"

"Calm down. Why are you clinging to my arm like that?"

"S-sorry..."

Charlotte had practically latched onto my arm, pressing her chest against me, but she finally seemed embarrassed and slowly peeled away. She was still scared, though, keeping a grip on my collar with just her thumb and index finger—I decided not to call her out on that.

Meanwhile, as the students fell into chaos from the moving statues and sudden fog, the lions opened their stone mouths.

The students began to murmur in relief. Magic students marveled at the advanced constructs mimicking higher lifeforms. Combat students grumbled that if they were real monsters instead of guardians, they could've smashed them already. But the key point was that everyone was now waiting for what the self-proclaimed guardians Rube and Rosen would say next.

The students glanced around. They'd expected someone handing out parchments with the trial rules, but saw nothing. Then they realized rolled parchments were tucked into their pockets, hands, or collars.

"Hahaha! Magic really is the best!"

"Y-young master! I can't find mine..."

"It's... right here."

"Huh?"

"...Check inside your clothes properly."

"Why would it be... Ah! Thank youuu..."

For some reason, even the one wedged in Charlotte's cleavage—I pulled it out, and the students united to read the trial rules.

"Dorms are first-come, first-served?"

Someone gasped. And for good reason—Denebergen's dorms were infamous for the huge gap between top-tier and bottom-tier rooms. They were usually divided by grades, so how did it work for first-semester freshmen with no prior records?

The answer was right there on the parchment.

"That's unfair!"

The already noisy crowd went dead silent as someone bellowed. All eyes snapped to them instantly.

Caught off guard by the attention, the student hesitated but soon pressed on without backing down.

"I-it is, right?! Kids whose families went here before know what test is coming and can prepare ahead!"

Yozef gazed warmly at the boy who'd spoken.

"A warrior of the sun god from the southern frontier? A bit aggressive, but he nailed what I've been thinking since earlier."

"Dark skin and that axe on his back... yeah. Did you hear about the trial beforehand too, Your Highness?"

"I don't have helpful siblings either, so no. Just a heads-up from imperial aides."

The sun god warrior's outburst plunged the front gate into chaos again. Whether intended or not, it sowed division—those in the know versus those who weren't, sparking conflict.

But Rube, the lion guardian, handled it smoothly, as if this wasn't his first rodeo.

The students seemed convinced. No hard proof, but the lion statues' words rang with undeniable trust. Even the sun god boy didn't argue further. As the commotion died, the statues delved into the trial.

The dry, stiff voice took on a warmer, playful feminine tone at the end. It soothed the mind inexplicably, and I found myself stepping forward unconsciously.

"H-hey!"

"He's going in already?"

"Sh-should we too?"

"Sucking up to the prince that hard..."

My assassin-honed hearing picked up every whisper. For some reason, among the central noble kids, I was apparently the desperate prince-chaser. A bit of history study would've shown Lehinar wasn't a house to trifle with.

'If I were them, I'd think the same.'

They looked down on outer nobles just for being central, but jealousy was probably the real culprit. These guys had swallowed their pride to cozy up to the prince, only for him to bolt straight to me.

At seventeen, anyone might act out like that. Compared to Elfin in puberty, it was nothing. I felt generous.

Trailing me weren't just enemies. Charlotte hurried after with quick steps, and Yozef strode forward without hesitation.

"Y-young master! Wait for me!"

"Even as a friend, I won't allow anyone ahead of royalty! I'll clear it first and wait for you, Deneb!"

With my two friends, I was the first to step into the trial.