After receiving the key, Zephyr entered the building.
The interior was bustling with life. People moved about with purpose—some walking briskly, others engaged in animated conversation. Perhaps they were friends, comrades, or mere acquaintances. Regardless, they appeared fortunate to be here, navigating the corridors with an ease Zephyr did not yet possess.
He did not linger. Determination propelled him forward as he made his way toward his assigned room. Yet, as he walked, fragments of conversation floated through the air, carried by the casual murmur of gossip.
"Did you hear? One of the heirs was seen near the inner border. We don't know the full story, and perhaps we shouldn't speculate, but some say the heir was punished and forced to venture there," one voice murmured, heavy with curiosity.
"Yeah, we heard that too," replied another, tinged with fascination.
"That's unfortunate or maybe fortunate… though there's nothing we can do about it."
Another voice chimed in. "The three who supposedly saw him say the heir is a girl. They claim she's… stunning, beautiful beyond words."
"Fool," interrupted someone sharply. "All the great clan heirs are remarkable—handsome, beautiful, extraordinary. Don't single her out so trivially."
"Don't be harsh. You're only making yourself look pathetic," the first voice replied sheepishly.
"My bad… it's just… seeing and hearing are worlds apart, aren't they?"
A man standing nearby sighed, finally intervening. "Enough gossiping, everyone.Better focus on what's in front of us, the training will begin tomorrow and I do hope that you all are prepared."
" Yeah, it's better to rest now..." A voiced echoed
Startled, the group dispersed quickly, their murmurs fading into the background, as if ashamed to have caused a commotion.
Zephyr caught only piece of their chatter, but he didn't care.
"A hier, huh?" he muttered under his breath, already aware of who the topic of the rumors must be. Yet, he still harbored a quiet, simmering resolve.
Those who had mocked him, those who had struck him without consequence—they would pay dearly. A hundredfold for the humiliation they inflicted. He won't forgive them, better cut the roots before it started growing...for now he will just act accordingly to his given script.
He reached his room, a modest chamber designed with simplicity in mind. A narrow bed occupied one corner, accompanied by a small wooden table.
An open window allowed a gentle breeze to enter, carrying the sounds of the bustling campus outside. It was a room clearly intended for those of lower standing within the academy—a place devoid of luxury or comfort, a befitting place for him.
A grim expression crossed Zephyr's face. "What a wretched place, even the room provided is trash" he muttered quietly, though fatigue dulled his capacity for irritation.
Exhaustion overwhelmed him, the events of the past day pressing heavily on both mind and body. From awakening to registration, from encounters with strangers to unexpected conflicts—everything had happened at once, a relentless onslaught of experience.
Finally, surrendering to his weariness, he collapsed onto the bed, sleep swiftly claiming him. without caring the whole World, his body really felt terrible just from those hellish he experienced. It was definitely world shattering yet he managed to survived.
*****
The next morning, a ringing bell shattered the early stillness, signaling the commencement of the trial. Zephyr awoke before the others, heart thrumming with anticipation. Today marked the true beginning of his journey.
"That was a good sleep...even though it's not good compared to the registration hall it is much better compared to the outskirt" the irritation he felt yesterday may be caused by his fatigue because today he really appreciated the whole room.
"Let's go, Zep," Maw's voice called, calm yet infused with a subtle excitement.
"Yeah," Zephyr replied, rising to meet the day.
*****
In the lobby, the scene was already alive with activity. Individuals of all sorts filled the space. Some were clad in armor that gleamed under the morning sun, while others wielded weapons with practiced ease.
A few carried intricate weapons with different kind of forms was strapped to their wrists, their purpose known only to their bearers.
The crowd varied in age, though most were the same age of Zephyr. These were the fortunate ones—the survivors of the first trial, those who possessed strength, intelligence, or the sheer luck to endure what many could not.
Yet, amongst them, some stood out immediately. Wearing the academy's standard uniform, they could have been mistaken for novices but the difference was unmistakable. They were heirs and scions of some vassal minor clans and those who stand above them, the Great Clan hiers and scions. Just from their posture, the confidence radiating from them, one could sense the power, the prestige, and the expectations they carried.
In this training camp batch, there were three recognized heirs from the Great Clans. From the very beginning, they had formed a team—a cohort, perhaps, bound by loyalty, mutual ambition, or the instinctive alliance expected of those born into prominence. They were not alone in their strategy; great clans often commanded networks of minor clans. These subordinate clans acted as the limbs and servants of their masters. Obedience and service brought reward: wealth, influence, position, and protection. It was a system both intricate and ruthless, a hierarchy designed to cultivate loyalty while ensuring the supremacy of those at the top.
Zephyr observed them, noting their composure, the ease with which they carried themselves. They were the epitome of refinement and power. And yet, he felt a quiet determination swell within him a conviction that, despite his humble origins and the hardships he had endured, he would carve his own path in this world, one trial at a time.
Zephyr will crawled to the deepest pit of the abyss as long as he will survive.
The stage was set. The candidates were in place,and for Zephyr, the journey was only just beginning. The climb to power will truly begin here. The training camp, or just maybe it will help him, to his climb to the peak...