"Not exactly the best introduction," Xueluo muttered inwardly. He brushed the dust off his clothes, took a deep breath, and adjusted his expression into a smile.

"I’m Xueluo. I’m Irina’s—"

"—little sister!" Irina cut in, swiftly looping her arm through his before he could finish.

"Hey," Xueluo protested, his smile tightening into something strained. Irina beamed, utterly unfazed by his discomfort.

*You’d save yourself trouble if you just admitted it,* Guya’s voice echoed in his mind.

*No. Absolutely not.*

Clearing his throat, Xueluo turned to face his new classmates. Their gazes were anything but welcoming.

Irina leaned close, whispering, "Our city’s small. Only two exam slots for our school."

"I’m ranked first here. The second-place student trails far behind me."

*So they fear I’ll steal someone’s spot?* Xueluo thought. *Typical human logic. Though it matters little to me.*

He stepped forward, but Irina tugged his sleeve. "Weren’t you taken to the basement earlier? What did the *real* Zerich tell you?"

Xueluo stiffened, then ruffled her hair. "He told me to come up and learn the basics."

As he approached, Rosalia resumed her lesson with a smile. "Now, where were we—"

"Teacher."

A deep voice cut through the room. A broad-shouldered boy with a square jaw strode forward, stopping before Rosalia. "With exams days away, is adding a new student wise?"

Xueluo frowned. Irina whispered, "Odell. He’s ranked second."

*Second place? What’s his game?*

*Let’s see what he wants,* Guya mused.

Odell pressed on, "We’ve finished foundational training. She’s starting from zero. Is that fair?"

Rosalia’s smile didn’t waver. "What do you propose, Odell?"

A flicker of triumph crossed Odell’s lips.

*He can’t even hide his bloodlust. How could he ever be a true Mage?* Guya scoffed.

Odell spun to face the class, raising a steel cylinder. "A test! How else will she prove she can keep up?" He paused, scanning the room. "Right?"

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the students. Rosalia merely tilted her head. "And what test would you suggest?"

"Isn’t it obvious, Teacher?"

*Whirr—*

Light erupted from the cylinder. In that split-second between night and dawn, a blade of pure radiance flared into existence—gone as quickly as it appeared, leaving only an afterimage seared into the air. A mournful hum vibrated from its edge, slicing falling leaves clean in half. Frost-sharp. Deadly.

*Soulblade.*

Xueluo recognized it instantly. A weapon forged from raw magic, reserved for elite Mages. Unlike guns, it demanded mastery. Created to slay Vampires at close range, its complexity meant only skilled Mages could summon it. Now, it was a badge of honor. Every Hymn Guild member had to craft their own—or be cast out.

As Xueluo stared, transfixed by the blade’s fading glow, Odell’s voice boomed:

"Let’s see if the girl before me can even draw a Soulblade."