"Hey," I said after a moment. "Jingis. They’re basically cat people?"

Ken stared at me strangely. "You really haven’t seen many before, huh?"

"I’ve seen one," I replied carefully. "Just not up close."

"Well, yeah. They’re rare around here." He shrugged. "Most Jingis stay farther south. There are a few in the academy, though. They’re usually pretty chill."

I nodded slowly.

Yesterday, when I first saw one near the girls’ dormitory, my brain had nearly short-circuited. Seeing someone with feline ears, slit pupils, sharp teeth, and a tail casually walking around like it was completely normal had been a lot to process.

Honestly, my first thought had been that she might attack someone.

Which, in hindsight, was incredibly stupid.

Great.

I’d been racist toward cat people within five seconds of meeting one.

Good job, Ace.

"So," Ken said while leaning toward me slightly, lowering his voice. "Mio already knew you were Ambly-blessed."

"Yeah."

"And you still didn’t tell me. Your own roommate."

"I didn’t tell her either," I replied. "She figured it out herself."

Ken pointed accusingly at me. "You still hid it."

"I’m trying not to attract attention, Ken." I sighed. "People already stare enough."

"Of course they stare. You’re Ambly-blessed." He shook his head dramatically. "That’s insane. People pray their entire lives for blessings like that."

Lucky. Right.

I remembered lying in that alley back on that room, bleeding out while Kara and Ambly stood over me.

Very lucky.

If I had made slightly smarter choices back then, I probably would’ve still been in my apartment right now instead of worrying about magical wars, monsters, and royal politics.

"Never asked," I said after a while. "Which god blessed you?"

"Solvane," Ken replied immediately. "God of Light."

"Sounds fitting."

"Honestly, I thought I’d get Thessir." He adjusted his blond hair while speaking. "My parents were blessed by Thessir. Same with my grandparents."

"Family tradition?"

"Pretty much." He shrugged. "My mother almost cried when my blessing came out different."

Before I could answer, a teacher’s amplified voice echoed across the courtyard.

"Students! Begin heading to your classrooms immediately. Do not crowd the corridors. Make room for Her Majesty’s guards."

Around us, students immediately started standing up and gathering their belongings. Conversations died down quickly as groups began moving back toward the academy building.

Royal guards were already visible near the entrances, watching the crowd carefully.

Ken groaned while standing. "Guess that’s our cue."

"Looks like it."

He pointed at me while walking backward toward the entrance. "Break time. Same spot."

"Yeah, yeah."

"And try not to become more famous before lunch, okay?"

"No promises, though."

Ken laughed and disappeared into the crowd of students.

Something told me today was going to be very exhausting.

ꨄ︎ꨄ︎ꨄ︎

As the final lesson of the day ended, I leaned back in my chair and let out a long breath. The moment the teacher dismissed us, the classroom exploded into noise. Students immediately began talking over one another, scraping chairs against the floor as they hurried out into the corridor.

Most of them rushed toward the back courtyard where the practice matches would be held. Others stayed behind in small groups, discussing formations, spells, and strategies like they were marching into war instead of a school tournament.

Honestly, same difference.

No point delaying the inevitable, I guess.

I got up and stepped out into the hallway. The corridor was already crowded with students moving in the same direction. Somewhere farther down the hall, someone shouted excitedly about the Queen arriving.

Then I spotted Ken leaning against the wall with enough energy to power the entire academy.

The moment he saw me, he pushed himself off the stone wall and practically sprinted over.

"They’re saying the Queen is already here," he whispered loudly while grabbing my shoulders. "She’s in the back courtyard. Nobody’s allowed inside yet."

I nodded once. "Okay. And?"

Ken stared at me in disbelief. "And? Ace, the Queen is here."

"Yeah."

"The actual Queen."

"Still yeah."

"You are impossible to excite."

"I’m trying not to throw up from stress," I lied. "Where’s Mio?"

"She was near the elder tree when I saw her last."

"Then let’s go before you vibrate through the floor."

Ken rolled his eyes dramatically and followed beside me as we headed toward the main hall.

The closer we got to the academy entrance, the worse the crowd became.

The entire hall was packed.

Students filled nearly every inch of space, their voices blending together into a constant wave of noise. Teachers stood near the walls trying to maintain order while academy guards and royal soldiers watched silently from their positions.

The royal guards stood out immediately.

Unlike the academy guards, their armor looked heavier and more polished, cloaks hanging behind them with silver-threaded emblems stitched into the fabric. None of them looked relaxed. Their hands stayed close to their weapons while their eyes constantly scanned the crowd.

Guess royal visits weren’t exactly casual events.

Near the entrance leading outside, I spotted Mio immediately.

Mostly because she looked like the only calm person in the entire building.

Her short red hair stood out among the sea of uniforms, and the scar crossing her face only made her easier to notice. While everyone else buzzed with excitement, Mio stood with her arms crossed, completely unbothered by the chaos around her.

Honestly, she looked like she’d rather be anywhere else.

"Hey," she said as we approached. "Finally decided to show up?"

"It’s crowded, huh?" I muttered while looking around.

"What did you expect?" Ken asked. "People lose their minds whenever royalty shows up."

"I’m starting to notice."

A teacher near the stairway suddenly raised her voice, amplified by magic enough to silence part of the hall.

"Students, maintain order and remain patient. Entry to the rear courtyard will begin shortly after Her Majesty’s guard detail completes its security inspection. Do not push, do not run, and keep the corridors clear."

That sounded a lot more official than the screaming chaos around us.

Another teacher raised his voice from farther down the hall.

"Tournament participants who have not yet registered with Professor Veyra are to do so immediately. Unregistered teams will not be permitted into the practice matches."

Ken pointed toward the courtyard entrance. "That’s us."

I followed his finger and spotted Professor Veyra sitting beneath the elder tree with an enormous ledger resting across her lap. A line of students stretched out in front of her while she checked names one by one.

Mio sighed quietly. "Come on."