Chapter 10
Ian had a bad feeling.
He quickly turned on his heel. But before he could take more than a few steps, a chilling voice called out from behind.
“Hey! You there! I think you’re exactly who I’ve been looking for. Care to show your face?”
Ian ignored the words and continued walking toward the dormitory.
‘This doesn’t feel right.’
Unfortunately, his intuition proved correct.
The person showing interest in Ian was none other than Prince Helios of the Sonokin Kingdom.
“Quite bold. You’re different from what I’d heard. Not that it matters.”
Helios smirked. But his expression and true feelings didn’t align—while his lips curled upward, his eyes burned with malice.
That single remark revealed how much Helios resembled a delinquent prince.
In truth, he was infamous for his ruffian behavior.
The further he fell in the line of succession, the more he rampaged like an unbridled colt. This was why he’d essentially been exiled to the Academy against his will.
Everyone knew this story, yet he remained second in line to the throne.
Perhaps that explained why he refused to wear the Academy uniform despite being enrolled.
Instead, he wore gilded armor and a crimson cape, with an ornate jeweled sword hanging at his waist.
Who could refuse to bow before such an imposing figure?
“Your Highness!”
One of the sycophants crowding around him stepped forward. Helios waved a dismissive hand.
“Enough with titles. This is the Academy. Want a disciplinary mark?”
“What do you mean? If punishment for addressing you properly brings honor to my house, I’ll wear it proudly!”
“Hahaha! Amusing. I like you!”
The successful bootlicker smirked in triumph.
It wasn’t hard to understand—opportunities to curry favor with royalty rarely came so easily.
“The gall of this one! This is why Magic Department brats are called ill-mannered. Let me teach him respect!”
“Let him be. Watching a cornered rat struggle can be entertaining, no?”
“How merciful you are… Your Highness.”
The sycophants’ fawning reached Ian’s ears.
‘Things just got complicated.’
Ian tugged his hood lower.
Helios was a natural disaster.
The royal family stood above the law—logic and reason held no power here.
Avoidance was the only option.
He’d barely secured Professor Frost’s cooperation. All he needed was to return, verify Felix’s repayment, and prepare for next week’s demonstration…
A fight here would spiral everything out of control.
‘Any disciplinary action would attract scrutiny from royalist professors. That can’t happen.’
Ian pushed through the crowd.
“Boo!”
Helios’ lackeys blocked his path.
“Where you scuttling off to, hood-rat?”
“Hey. The Prince wants a word.”
“Come quietly if you value your skin!”
Tensions soared.
Then heavy footsteps approached. A calloused hand clamped onto Ian’s shoulder.
“Ignoring someone’s call? That’s poor manners for a Magic Department student. Especially with this audience.”
Fate’s cruelty showed itself on his first day.
Ian removed his hood and turned.
“Ho!”
Helios barked a laugh, his gaze drilling into Ian’s face. The prince’s noble lips twisted almost instantly.
“Just as the rumors said! A remarkable freshman appears at the Academy. I’d planned to wait until the entrance ceremony, but this chance meeting? Delightful. Ian Oracle.”
Only then did Ian properly see Helios’ face—a grotesque scar marred the prince’s cheek, stark against his regal features like a flaw in pristine marble.
‘Now I see why he hates handsome people.’
If Milo’s gossip held truth, the prince clearly had a complex.
The scar’s origin was unknown. Unhealed by magic, it hinted at either a grievous wound or willful refusal of treatment.
“Cat got your tongue? The Oracles I recall would weep at the honor of addressing royalty—”
“Who said anything about royalty?”
Helios flinched as if struck. His lips contorted again.
The lackeys surged forward, hands on their crude first-year swords.
“You bastard! How dare you insult His Highness!”
“A petty baron’s whelp!”
“Petty? Sure. Our family has no lands, just debts. But even paupers speak truths. Heard the Academy’s equality rule? Hypocrites lecturing about obedience.”
Ian’s cool retort left the lackeys speechless.
They’d underestimated him.
Known as a recluse, he’d rarely been seen in public. Yet here he stood unflinching, radiating noble poise blended with arcane dignity—a combination that gave even bullies pause.
‘First impressions define everything.’
A misbuttoned collar ruins fine clothes.
Likewise, humiliation on the first day would haunt the Magic Department’s freshmen throughout their Academy years.
Ian refused to become that weak link.
Thwack!
He slapped away a lackey’s grasping hand.
“If accosting passersby is the Martial Arts Department’s tradition, this Academy’s doomed. Why not quit and go play nursemaid at home?”
“Shut your mouth!”
Another lackey lunged, but Helios raised a halting hand.
“Entertaining, Ian Oracle.”
The prince chuckled, nodding slowly.
“Impressive mettle. Strange—I’d heard no tales of such talent in House Oracle. Faulty intelligence?”
Something felt off to Ian.
‘Can mere insecurity explain such venomous hatred?’
More importantly—why had Helios said “intelligence” instead of “rumors”?
‘Did the royal family investigate me?’
Without knowing the prince’s speech patterns, certainty was impossible.
“Regardless. Planning to hide in academia forever? You’ll eventually serve the crown. Will you still preach equality then? Answer carefully.”
Ian nearly laughed at the clichéd power play.
They say those with nothing to lose are fearsome. The Oracles owned no lands nor held royal ties.
“Would your disappointment change anything?”
“What?”
“Listen, Helios.”
The crowd gasped. Few dared address the prince so familiarly.
“Let me reiterate since you’re slow. This is the Academy. You’ve inherited the Sun King’s hair and eyes, but none of his wisdom.”
Helios erupted in jagged laughter.
“Kkh—Hahaha! Marvelous audacity! Ian Oracle. Your parents died exploring ruins, yes? Now I see why—you’re just as reckless! Daring to insult the Sun King’s legacy!”
“The Academy’s equality rule was established by the Sun King himself. Who’s insulting the crown now?”
“Youuu—!”
Helios’ face flushed crimson.
Just then, Milo and Edel shoved through the crowd.
“That idiot… I told him to be careful!”
“Wh-What do we do?”
“We watch. For now.”
“Shouldn’t we help?”
Milo white-knuckled his wand, ready to intervene. This wasn’t just about roommates—every Magic Department freshman here shared the sentiment.
Ian had voiced their principles.
Letting the delinquent prince win would disgrace them all.
“Fine. Ian Oracle. Your sermon was… inspiring! Worthy of historical record. Thus, I’ll grant you a reward—reunion with your parents in the afterlife. May their wandering souls find peace!”
Ian could endure many things.
But slandering his parents wasn’t one of them.
“A duel, Ian Oracle.”
Swish!
Helios’ handkerchief fluttered to Ian’s feet—a formal Sonokin duel challenge.
Approved duels required witnesses and allowed lethal force without consequence.
Refusal was possible…
…but meant lifelong cowardice.
‘I’ve never sparred before.’
Few knew about his mana instability. If his parents hadn’t spoken of it, no one should.
The Oracles were renowned theoretical mages—creativity over raw power.
Magic Department freshmen watched eagerly, anticipating his acceptance.
‘Lose your life, not your pride. Never disgrace the family.’
Ian bent to retrieve the cloth—
—when another hand snatched it first.
“Who are you?”
Helios demanded, but the hooded figure stayed silent.
Their staff differed from others’, its head glowing with a luminous cubic crystal.
