Chapter 31: The Eyes of the Kingdom
The sun rose over the academy grounds, but today was different.
Colorful flags flapped from every tower. Merchants lined the outer plaza. Commoners, nobles, and adventurers alike filled the stands surrounding the massive coliseum built beside the academy—a structure long unused, saved only for historic events.
Today marked the Final Exam of the Second Golden Generation.
And the kingdom was watching.
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Inside the grand viewing platform, heavily guarded and adorned in royal colors, King Alan, dressed in his modest but regal armor, sat with quiet intensity. Beside him, Queen Elsa smiled gently at the excited crowd. Between them was their youngest daughter, Princess Akane—a silver-haired girl with curious eyes and a notebook already in her hand.
"My brother and sister really missed out," Akane whispered, grinning. "I heard one of the students even took down a five-times-enhanced Bugbear."
Queen Elsa chuckled. "Then let's see if the rumors were true."
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Not far behind them, sitting on high elevated chairs reserved for military officials, were three powerful figures from the Twelve Divisions:
Captain Elara of Division 10, her sharp sky-blue eyes scanning the arena calmly, her short hair tucked behind one ear.
Captain Alistair of Division 7, arms crossed, brown hair tied into a low ponytail, exuding quiet strength. Known as a stealth tactician, her gaze focused on the terrain layout below.
Captain Roy of Division 1, the famed archer, leaned back with a charismatic smile, a wide-brimmed hat shading his eyes. "Heard one of them's got a wolf and some dark magic. Sounds like my kind of chaos," he said with a smirk.
Behind them sat two commanding presences:
General Leonhart, a muscular elder with a lion-like mane and a jagged scar over one eye. He leaned on a cane, but his presence silenced those nearby.
Beside him was Vice General Sasakibe, impeccably dressed with a clean mustache, politely nodding to nobles and commanders alike.
"The future of this kingdom is in that arena," Sasakibe said, adjusting his gloves.
Leonhart grunted. "Then let's see who's worth forging… and who's worth discarding."
---
Back in the coliseum staging area, students stood in formation, clad in their finest battle gear. Among them, Synoh adjusted his cloak, ribs still faintly aching. Yuta grinned beside him, a baby slime perched on his shoulder. Lux was sharpening his radiant blade, eyes calm.
A horn blew.
A staff member announced loudly, "Let the Final Exam commence! All spectators, welcome! Nobles, villagers, and warriors—witness the birth of Eldoria's new protectors!"