Chapter 27

The next morning, Adrelo still wasn’t ready to face the world. He lay sprawled on his bed, staring blankly at the ceiling and wondering how long it would take for the rumors to die down if he just… stayed here forever.

His stomach grumbled, reminding him that hiding indefinitely wasn’t an option.

“Traitor,” he muttered to his stomach before reluctantly dragging himself out of bed. He pulled on his uniform and decided he’d at least sneak to the library or somewhere quiet to avoid the chaos of the dining hall.

As he stepped into the hallway, he felt an ominous presence behind him.

“Good morning, roommate!” Milo’s voice chirped, entirely too cheerful for someone who had been kicked the day before.

Adrelo froze, already regretting his decision to leave his room.

“Milo,” he began slowly, not turning around. “What are you doing?”

“Escorting my dear friend to breakfast, of course!”

Milo looped an arm around Adrelo’s shoulders as if they were lifelong pals.

“I don’t need an escort,” Adrelo said through gritted teeth, trying to shrug Milo off.

“Nonsense! What if someone ambushes you for an impromptu singing performance? I can be your bodyguard!”

Adrelo shot him a glare that could have frozen lava.

“Do I look like I need a bodyguard?”

“No,” Milo replied, unbothered by the glare.

“But you look like you need a friend.”

Adrelo groaned, dragging a hand down his face.

“Why are you like this?”

“Because I care,” Milo said with mock sincerity, placing a hand over his heart.

Adrelo gave up trying to shake him off and instead focused on weaving through the academy’s halls. They weren’t overly crowded yet, but a few students lingered, and he could feel their stares burning into his back.

The whispers were unavoidable.

“Isn’t that Adrelo Dierre?”

“The one with the voice everyone’s talking about?”

“They say he’s better than Elias Fernhart!”

“Impossible. No one’s better than Elias.”

Adrelo quickened his pace, his jaw tightening. Milo, on the other hand, seemed to be soaking up the attention on his behalf.

“You hear that?” Milo said, grinning.

“They’re comparing you to Elias now. Isn’t that something?”

“You definitely did something” Adrelo muttered, “and it’s not good.”

Milo waved him off.

“Oh, come on. You should be flattered! Being compared to someone like Elias means you’re–”

“Don’t finish that sentence,” Adrelo interrupted, shooting him a warning glance.

Milo held up his hands in surrender, but the mischievous grin didn’t leave his face.

They rounded a corner, and Adrelo spotted the entrance to the library. Relief flooded him. At least he could hide there for a while.

As they reached the door, Milo pulled a dramatic halt.

“I won’t go in there,” he declared.

“Libraries are a dangerous place for someone as loud and charismatic as me. I might disrupt the peace.”

Adrelo snorted, despite himself.

“You’d disrupt peace anywhere.”

Milo clutched his chest as if wounded.

“You wound me, Adrelo. Truly.”

Adrelo shoved the door open, eager to escape before Milo came up with another scheme.

“Enjoy your peace and quiet!” Milo called after him, giving an exaggerated wave.

Adrelo didn’t look back as the door swung shut behind him, muffling the chaos Milo seemed to carry with him like a cloud.

Finally, he thought, silence.

For now, at least, he could hold onto that.

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*****

The weeks passed, and the once-sensational rumors about Adrelo's singing began to fade. By the end of the month, the academy halls were buzzing with new gossip, leaving Adrelo with a sense of relief. Life at the academy settled into a more predictable routine.

Adrelo had been careful to avoid unnecessary attention, sticking to his classes and his usual spots at the library or the dormitory. To his surprise, he had yet to cross paths with the female lead. Whether it was luck or some unseen force keeping their paths apart, Adrelo was grateful for it.

What did surprise him was his deepening friendship with Elias Fernhart. Despite their rocky start, the two had formed an easy camaraderie. Elias, much to Adrelo's surprise, wasn't those kind of arrogant nobles he had assumed them to be. Instead, he was genuine, kind, and occasionally prone to teasing Adrelo about his serious demeanor.

However, there was one constant thorn in Adrelo's side: Milo.

Adrelo sat at their usual table in the library, a stack of books in front of him. Across the table, Elias was quietly taking notes, his golden hair catching the light streaming in through the windows. It was a rare moment of peace.

And then Milo arrived.

"Adrelo! Elias!" Milo's voice boomed through the quiet library, earning him a glare from the librarian. He sauntered over, dropping into the seat beside Adrelo with his signature grin.

Adrelo pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Milo, keep your voice down."

"Sorry, sorry," Milo said, clearly not sorry at all. He leaned over, grinning at Elias.

"So, Elias, have you ever heard Adrelo sing yet? It's-"

"Milo," Adrelo interrupted, his tone sharp.

Elias chuckled, glancing up from his notes.

"Oh, I've heard. You've mentioned it at least a dozen times this month."

"And yet, you've never asked him to perform," Milo said, wagging a finger.

"You're missing out on a life-changing experience."

Adrelo shot him a glare.

"Milo, I will personally ensure your life changes if you don't drop this."

Elias laughed, leaning back in his chair.

"You two really do have an interesting dynamic. I'm almost tempted to side with Milo just to see what happens."

"You wouldn't dare," Adrelo said, narrowing his eyes.

"Oh, come on, Adrelo," Milo whined, nudging him.

"You're depriving the world of your talent. Think of the inspiration you could bring! The hearts you could move! The-"

"-headaches I could cause if I strangle you right now," Adrelo finished, cutting him off.

Milo raised his hands in mock surrender, grinning. "Alright, alright. I'll let it go. For now."

Elias shook his head, smiling. "You're relentless, Milo."

"Someone has to be," Milo said, shrugging.

****

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a soft orange hue over the academy grounds. Adrelo strolled aimlessly, hands tucked in his pockets, trying to shake off the monotony of the day. The rumors about his singing had faded, but their echo still lingered in his mind whenever Milo teased him. At least his days had returned to relative peace.

That was, until a familiar voice called out from behind him.

"Adrelo!"

Adrelo turned to find Elias jogging toward him, his silvery-blond hair catching the remnants of sunlight like strands of moonlight. His smile was warm, as always, genuine, gentle, and utterly disarming.

"Elias," Adrelo greeted, trying to suppress the flutter in his chest.

Elias slowed to a stop, tilting his head with a slight frown.

"You look tired. Have you eaten yet?"

Adrelo blinked. Elias had this way of making the simplest questions feel like acts of genuine care.

"Uh, yeah. I grabbed something earlier."

Elias smiled in relief.

"Good. You tend to forget meals when you're stressed."

Adrelo scratched the back of his neck, a little embarrassed that Elias had picked up on that habit.

"I'm fine, really. Just wandering around to clear my head."

Elias nodded thoughtfully.

"Mind if I join you?"

"Sure."

The two walked in companionable silence for a while, the sound of their footsteps blending with the distant hum of students wrapping up their evening activities.

Elias glanced sideways at Adrelo.

"You know, I've been meaning to thank you."

Adrelo raised an eyebrow. "For what?"

"For being such a good friend." Elias's voice was soft, almost shy.

"I know I'm not always the most exciting person to be around, but... you make things feel easy. Comfortable."

Adrelo's heart did a weird little flip. He cleared his throat, trying to brush off the warmth creeping into his cheeks.

"You're kidding, right? You're probably the most pleasant person in this entire academy."

Elias laughed, a quiet, musical sound.

"I don't know about that. But I'm glad you think so."

They reached a small garden tucked behind one of the older buildings. Elias gestured for them to sit on a bench beneath a blooming wisteria tree. The evening air was cool, and the faint scent of flowers lingered.

Adrelo leaned back, letting the quiet settle around them. Being with Elias was easy-too easy, sometimes. It was dangerous, the way he could forget all his worries in moments like these.

Elias broke the silence.

"By the way, Milo keeps mentioning your singing."

Adrelo groaned, leaning forward to bury his face in his hands. "Don't even start."

Elias chuckled.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't laugh. It's just... Milo has a way of turning everything into a spectacle, doesn't he?"

"That's putting it lightly," Adrelo muttered. "He's relentless."

Elias tilted his head, a curious look in his eyes.

"But... is it true? Do you really have a voice that rivals ours of Fernhart? You've never let me hear you sing though."

Adrelo hesitated, his fingers fidgeting with the hem of his sleeve.

"I don't know about 'rival.' Milo exaggerates everything. I just... hum sometimes. That's all."

Elias studied him for a moment, his expression thoughtful. Then, with a gentle smile, he said,

"Well, if Milo's exaggerations brought even a little truth to light, then I'm glad. You shouldn't hide something that makes you unique. You're always unpredictable too, Adrelo"

Adrelo felt a lump form in his throat. How did Elias always manage to say the right thing without sounding condescending?

He shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant.

"It's not really a big deal."

"To you, maybe," Elias said softly.

"But sometimes, the things we think are small mean the most to others."

Adrelo didn't know how to respond to that, so he stayed quiet, letting Elias's words sink in.

After a while, Elias stood, brushing off his uniform.

"I should head back before Lucien sends a search party. He gets antsy when I'm out too late."

Adrelo stood as well, watching as Elias turned to leave.

"Elias," he called out before he could stop himself.

Elias turned back, his gentle smile still firmly in place. "Yes?"

Adrelo hesitated, then gave him a small, almost shy smile.

"Thanks. For... you know, being you."

Elias's cheeks flushed faintly, and he laughed softly.

"I could say the same to you, Adrelo."

With that, he waved and walked off, leaving Adrelo standing alone in the quiet garden.

Adrelo let out a long breath, running a hand through his hair.

"Dangerous," he muttered to himself, shaking his head.

But as he walked back to his dorm, he couldn't help but feel lighter, as if some of Elias's warmth had melted the cold weight in his chest.

****

Later that evening, Adrelo sat by the window of his dorm room, staring out at the academy grounds. The air was crisp, the faint hum of students' chatter drifting up from the courtyard below.

Lucien hadn't approached him since their last encounter, which was both a relief and a curiosity. Elias hadn't mentioned anything about it either, but Adrelo couldn't shake the feeling that Elias had said something to his brother to keep him at bay.

And then there was Celine. She had been unusually busy lately, always rushing from one academic activity to another. Adrelo had barely seen her, though he had caught glimpses of her in the library or at formal events.

"Maybe it's for the best," Adrelo muttered to himself.

The quiet was nice, but it also left him with too much time to think. About his family, about the rumors, and about the strange twist his life had taken since coming to the academy.

For now, though, the peace was enough.

Adrelo closed his eyes, letting the stillness of the evening wrap around him like a comforting cloak.

****

But that piece was soon to be broken by the next day.

Adrelo stirred from his sleep as the muffled buzz of chatter reached his ears. The early morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow across his dorm room. Rubbing his eyes, he groaned, wondering why the academy felt unusually alive this morning.

He had barely stretched when the door flew open with a bang, startling him fully awake.

"Milo!" Adrelo snapped, clutching his blanket.

"What have I told you about knocking?"

Milo, practically bouncing on his feet, ignored him, his face alight with excitement.

"Adrelo! You're missing it! Everyone's going crazy outside!"

Adrelo frowned, sitting up.

"Crazy about what?"

"The princes of Breneille, Xaviel Alistair Raventhorn, and Cielros Nevrine are back! They've just returned from Nordheimska Academy!"

Adrelo blinked.

"What? They weren't supposed to return for another two months."

"Exactly!" Milo said, flopping onto a chair like he owned the room.

"That's why everyone's losing it. Nobody saw this coming. I mean, why would they cut their northern stay short? It's weird, right? Even commoners students know Nordheimska is a big deal."

Adrelo frowned, processing the information. Xaviel and Cielros returning early didn't bode well.

"Great," he muttered.

"So much for peace and quiet. It's going to be chaos now."

Milo grinned, unbothered by Adrelo's grim tone.

"That's not even the best part! Guess what else I heard?"

Adrelo pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Do I even want to know?"

Milo leaned forward, lowering his voice conspiratorially, as if the walls themselves might have ears.

"Visitors from the five most powerful academies around the world are expected to arrive next month. Some say it's because the Eirwinter Trials might happen earlier than scheduled!"

Adrelo's eyes widened.

"The Eirwinter Trials? Already? That doesn't make sense-they're always held later in the year."

Milo shrugged.

"Who knows? Maybe something's up. Or maybe they just want to keep us on our toes."

Milo laughed, standing up and heading toward the door.

"Better get ready. The academy's buzzing with excitement!"

As the door closed behind Milo, Adrelo let out a long sigh. He could already feel the headache forming.

First Xaviel and Cielros, now rumors of the Eirwinter Trials. His peaceful days were officially over.

****

With their sudden arrival...

Adrelo paced his dorm room, Milo's earlier words swirling in his mind like an ominous storm. He stopped mid-step, running his hands through his hair.

"A battle of magic users..." he muttered to himself, the words heavy with dread. He clenched his fists.

"This is where everything starts falling apart for the original Adrelo in the novel."

In the novel, this exact event had marked the downward spiral of Adrelo's life at the academy. The battle concerning juniors and seniors was supposed to highlight the strengths of the academy's top magic users, showcasing their abilities in a competitive, almost gladiatorial fashion. For the original Adrelo, however, it had been nothing short of a disaster.

Adrelo remembered reading that part vividly: the humiliation, the jeers from the crowd, and the way Xaviel and Celine had effortlessly outclassed him. Adrelo, with no visible magic or skills, had been mocked mercilessly. The memory made him wince.

"This cannot happen," he muttered, determination flaring in his chest. "Not this time."

But there was a problem-he had no idea if this body even had magic. In his time at the academy, he'd avoided every situation that required him to use it. Whenever a subject required magic demonstrations, he had managed to skate by with quick thinking and the help of his classmates.

His professors hadn't caught on yet, which was a small miracle, but he couldn't keep bluffing his way through forever.

He collapsed onto his bed, staring at the ceiling. "How do I figure out what magic I have? If I even have any?"

Adrelo's mind raced. The body he now inhabited belonged to the original Adrelo, and according to the novel, the character should have had magic-albeit weak and unremarkable. The problem was that no one, not even Adrelo himself, had ever figured out what it was.

"That's probably why he failed so miserably..." Adrelo mumbled.

He sat up abruptly. There had to be a way to figure it out. This was a magical academy, after all. There had to be books, rituals, or tools to determine someone's magical affinity.

"I'll start with the library," he decided.

Adrelo grabbed his cloak and left his dorm room, heading straight for the academy's sprawling library. He avoided the bustling hallways, which were alive with chatter about the return of the princes and the potential magic battles.

When he reached the library, he immediately headed for the section on magical fundamentals. The towering shelves were lined with tomes about everything from basic spellcasting to advanced magical theory.

"Magical affinities... magical diagnostics..." Adrelo muttered, scanning the titles. His fingers brushed against a thin book titled Unveiling the Arcane: Methods for Discovering Your Magical Potential.

"Bingo," he whispered, pulling it off the shelf.

He found a secluded corner and started flipping through the pages. The book detailed various methods for identifying magical abilities, from meditation techniques to using specialized artifacts.

One section caught his eye: The Core Resonance Test.

According to the book, every mage had a core where their magical energy resided. The test involved focusing on that core and channeling energy outward to create a reaction, which would reveal one's affinity. It sounded simple enough, but the book warned that the process could be unpredictable for those unfamiliar with their magic.

Adrelo leaned back, chewing on his lip. It was risky, but he didn't have much of a choice. If he didn't figure out his magic, he'd be walking into that battle blind-and he knew how that would end.

"I'll try it tonight," he decided, closing the book.

With the book tucked under his arm, Adrelo left the library, his mind already racing with plans. If he could discover his magic, even if it was weak, he could start training. Anything was better than standing helpless in front of Xaviel and Celine.

"Failure isn't an option," he murmured to himself, his steps resolute.

As he walked back to his dorm, a shadow passed over him-literally. He glanced up and saw a figure standing on one of the academy's balconies, their silver hair gleaming in the moonlight.

Cielros Nevrine.

The young mage's gaze was fixed on Adrelo, his expression unreadable. For a moment, Adrelo felt a chill run down his spine. Then Cielros turned and disappeared into the building.

Adrelo frowned. "What was that about?"

Shaking off the uneasy feeling, he quickened his pace. There was no time to worry about anything or the other returning nobles. Tonight, he needed to uncover his magic. Everything else could wait.