Dozens, maybe even hundreds of names burst across the hall, scattering in every direction. They floated, overlapped, and shifted so fast that it was almost impossible to follow a single one long enough to check if it was yours.

  Toby narrowed his eyes, tracking the movement, doing his best to catch a glimpse of where his name might appear.

  Then the names shifted again.

  This time, they began to rearrange themselves. One by one, they fell into place, forming a clean vertical ranking at the center of the hall.

  And Toby saw it.

  His name.

  Right at the very top.

  He went completely still.

  For a second, he wondered if he had read it wrong. Was he really in first place?

  Whispers spread through the hall almost immediately. Some voices carried clear disappointment when they failed to spot their names. Others grumbled under their breath, insisting the scores made no sense at all.

  Then Toby noticed something else.

  Valeria’s name stood directly beneath his.

  And Cassandra’s was in third place.

  The three of them had taken the top three spots in the trial?

  That was… unreal.

  Then his gaze lowered to the fourth position.

  The name there made him stop breathing for a beat.

  Lucien Viremont.

  People were never required to reveal their full names or family names. Those who came from powerful families or well-known clans usually chose to display them openly. Still, there were cases like Toby, who even used a false name. Valeria and Cassandra did the same.

  But Viremont… Toby knew that family name very well. It belonged to the heir of the Kingdom of Astoria.

  Which meant that was Toby’s homeland.

  Was it really possible that a prince from a neighboring branch of the royal family had decided to enroll here? It was not entirely unusual. Political exchanges between kingdoms and academies were common. Alliances, influence, strategic advantage. It happened often enough.

  But if that was true…

  Then that boy was not just another noble. He carried the same royal blood as Toby.

  Even if Tobias himself had been born to a mere servant of the kingdom, that blood still ran through his veins. Yet a child born from a servant and a king was deemed illegitimate.

  He was denied the royal name. He held no claim to inheritance. His existence was something the palace preferred to keep hidden.

  Toby clenched his fists tightly as the murmurs from both sides grew louder, clearly directed at the seat where he was sitting.

  “Cassie, we made it. We’re in the top three,” Vale said right after that.

  Cassie smiled softly. “I’m so happy. Even though I owe so much to the two of you,” she replied.

  Toby nodded in response to both of them, saying nothing but understanding exactly how they felt.

  Without them realizing it, Instructor Lyriana was already standing beside their table. The sight of her made Toby rise to his feet at once. Vale stood as well, and Cassie followed with their help.

  “You have shown an extraordinary achievement,” the woman said.

  “Toby, you kept fighting no matter how harsh the pressure became. Even when the odds were against you, you refused to step back and showed remarkable resilience. Valeria, you demonstrated not only skill but also loyalty. Despite having just met each other, you chose to stand by Cassandra and support her without hesitation. And Cassandra, your ability to guide them in critical moments brought everything together. Your judgment under pressure turned chaos into clarity.”

  She paused briefly before continuing. “Together, you proved that with cooperation and trust, even the toughest challenge can be overcome. That is the spirit we aim to build here at Eclipsion.”

  Applause erupted around them, filling the hall with resounding cheers.

  After the applause slowly faded, the woman raised her right hand and summoned something into the air above her palm. A single card hovered there, spinning lightly.

  The moment it appeared, many students stared in shock, some even gasping at the sight of it.

  “This is a Bone Card dropped from a Rare-grade Tier-3 Sand Tyrant,” Lyriana said. Everyone there understood exactly what that meant.

  Within the Cardmaster system, cards were generally divided into two main types: Soul-Bound and Synthesis, though Synthesis had only emerged in recent years.

  Soul-Bound cards consisted of Innate abilities, Prime Cards, and a third type that could be obtained randomly from defeated Mana Beasts. This final category was known as the Bone Card. Once activated, it fused directly with the Cardmaster’s skeletal structure.

  It could bind to the skull, forming hardened armor or curved horns. It could extend along the fingers, shaping them into long, lethal claws. It might emerge from the spine, creating blades, tails, or jagged protrusions of bone. Whatever shape it assumed, it always mirrored the traits of the monster from which it originated.

  The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  “This is for you, Toby.”

  Lyriana lowered her hand, and the floating card drifted toward him. Toby slowly reached out and accepted it, his expression caught between disbelief and restraint.

  “Thank you, Instructor,” Toby said quietly.

  “Thank you very much, Instructor,” Vale added with a bright smile.

  Cassie followed right after. “We’re truly grateful. Thank you.”

  Lyriana stepped away from their table and spoke once more. “Your dorm rooms have already been assigned, and your official groups will be announced shortly. Prepare yourselves well, because this is only the beginning of your journey at Eclipsion. Dismissed. You may return to your respective rooms.”

  At the same time, the students began to rise from their seats. One by one, they accepted whatever outcome had been placed before them as the final result of the trial.

  Until…

  Everyone’s attention shifted to a single figure. The sudden change in atmosphere caused Instructor Lyriana to stop mid-step.

  “I request a clear explanation,” a firm voice rang out. “These scores demand accountability. I believe the evaluation was unfair.”

  All eyes turned toward the boy who had spoken. He had striking red hair, pristine attire without a single crease, a sharp, composed face, and a tall, steady build that naturally drew attention.

  Lucien Viremont.

  At that moment, Toby heard Cassie whisper the boy’s name under her breath. And suddenly, Toby clearly remembered him from yesterday’s trial.

  Lyriana slowly turned and fixed her gaze on the boy. Her expression did not change, nor did her posture waver.

  “The results you see are the final evaluation,” she said evenly. “They were calculated through verified metrics, direct observation, and recorded performance during the trial. You are free to question them in your own mind.”

  Her eyes sharpened slightly.

  “But Eclipsion does not revise its judgments to satisfy personal doubt. We do not entertain complaints based on dissatisfaction. Rank is earned on the field, not negotiated afterward.”

  Her voice remained calm, yet the authority behind it was unmistakable.

  “Regardless of your title or origin, every student here stands under the same standard. That includes you, Prince Viremont.”

  At Lyriana’s words, the entire hall fell into stunned silence. Several students stopped breathing altogether. The prince, now the center of every gaze, looked openly furious.

  “This is absurd,” Lucien snapped. “You speak of standards, yet this academy fails to uphold them. I came to this institution to fulfill a political accord between kingdoms, not to be subjected to flawed judgment.”

  His jaw tightened.

  “If this is how Eclipsion measures merit, then your so-called fairness is nothing more than a performance.”

  Lyriana did not flinch.

  “There is much you have yet to learn,” she replied. “Pride can cloud even the sharpest mind. If you believe you deserve more, then prove it through achievement. Results are not granted through status, nor adjusted to protect dignity.”

  Lucien’s eyes burned.

  “Then explain this,” he demanded, his voice rising. “How does a Rank-1 secure the highest score? He used Harmonic Link. That is not the effort of one individual. My team cleared the freefall stage first. We eliminated the most monsters on the field. By every visible measure, we performed better.”

  His words rang loudly across the hall.

  Lyriana continued to hold his gaze.

  “You mistake visibility for value,” she said calmly. “The trial was not scored on spectacle alone. Completion speed was only one factor. The number of monsters defeated was only one factor. Harmonic Link is not a shortcut. It is a high-risk synchronization technique that demands precise timing, trust, and control under pressure.”

  Her voice grew firmer.

  “Your team demonstrated power. Rank-1 demonstrated adaptability, coordination, and survival efficiency under unstable conditions. The scoring reflects overall mastery, not isolated achievements. That is entirely consistent with what I stated earlier.”

  The hall remained silent, the weight of her words pressing down on everyone present.

  The prince did not look convinced. Instead, he slowly turned his head toward Toby and lifted a hand, pointing straight at him. His posture straightened, chin slightly raised.

  “Very well,” he said. “If rank is to be decided by merit, then let us resolve this properly. I, Lucien Viremont, formally challenge you to a duel. Let everyone witness who truly deserves the highest position.”

  His gaze did not waver.

  “A rank without undeniable proof is meaningless. I will not stand below someone who has yet to prove himself against me.”

  Toby remained standing, doing everything he could to steady his emotions. The boy before him was perhaps a year older, maybe not even that. Their births could not have been far apart in time. Yet here he stood, in the middle of the hall, acknowledged openly as the heir of a kingdom, carrying a name that was recognized without question.

  Lyriana stepped in before the tension could rise any further.

  “Official duels are permitted within academy regulations,” she stated firmly. “However, they will be facilitated only after your formal enrollment period begins. You will follow the proper procedure and submit the request through the designated channel.”

  Her eyes swept across both of them.

  “Until then, this matter is closed. Dismissed.”

  Even though the tension had not fully faded, Lyriana had already turned and walked away, and the rest of the students slowly began to disperse. Conversations resumed in low murmurs as they left the hall.

  Lucien, however, remained standing where he was, several of his companions positioned neatly behind him.

  Toby also stayed where he stood, with Valeria and Cassandra just behind his shoulders.

  For a moment, neither side moved.

  Then Toby broke the stillness. He said nothing in response to the challenge. Instead, he turned his head slightly, as if dismissing the matter altogether, and began to walk.

  Just as he passed the prince, he stopped for half a second and glanced sideways at him.

  “Make sure the stakes are worth it,” Toby said calmly. “Otherwise, this won’t entertain me at all.”

  In that instant, Lucien’s composure cracked. His jaw tightened, and anger flashed openly across his face.

  Valeria walked past him right after, sticking her tongue out slightly before flashing a teasing grin. “Careful, Your Highness. If you keep getting mad that easily, people might start calling you the Tantrum Prince.”

  Cassandra hurried after the two of them, offering Lucien a small, polite nod before quickly following Toby and Vale out of the hall.

  Lucien clicked his tongue in irritation as the others behind him leaned closer.

  “Your Highness, should we deal with them outside?” one of them muttered.

  “No,” Lucien replied. “I will handle Toby myself. I will be the one to break him.”

  His eyes darkened, pride and anger mixing in his expression.

  “He thinks that with his Synthesis Cards he is untouchable?” Lucien continued coldly. “They seem to forget that the Kingdom of Astoria stands at the forefront of card development. We are the best in this field. I will crush his Synthesis Cards with my own.”

  The others followed closely as he began to walk.

  “They would not stand a chance,” another voice added quickly. “If we had used our Synthesis Cards from the beginning, Your Highness, the outcome would have been very different.”

  The prince walked with a straight, measured stride, his posture flawless and unshaken.

  Wherever he moved, eyes followed. Whispers trailed behind him. He was the center of attention without even trying, admired by many simply for who he was and the name he carried.

  Enjoying the story? Get early access to chapters, exclusive content, and behind-the-scenes updates by supporting on Patreon!

  patreon.com/GalenVaro