Noah didn’t stop walking until Raven Dormitory disappeared behind him.
Only then did he let out a slow breath.
"...That was close."
Luna Frost.
She had recognized something.
Not him...
But Ragnarok.
That was dangerous.
Very dangerous.
The System remained silent.
No explanation.
No warning.
Just silence.
It was becoming a habit Noah disliked.
The academy bell rang.
DONG!
A blue screen materialized before every first-year student.
FIRST-YEAR NOTICE
Mandatory Orientation Mission
Location: Ironwood Valley
Objective: Eliminate monsters and collect Mana Cores.
Teams will be assigned randomly.
Departure: Tomorrow at dawn.
The courtyard erupted with excitement.
"A real mission already?"
"I thought we’d wait until next month!"
"I hope I get Luna’s team."
"I hope I don’t get Cassian."
Eric appeared beside Noah, grinning.
"Looks like our first mission."
Noah sighed.
"Nothing good ever starts with the word ’mandatory.’"
The next morning...
Over two hundred first-year students assembled outside the academy gates.
Massive armored wagons waited in neat rows.
Professors stood at the front.
Professor Elena stepped forward.
"This mission is simple."
She pointed toward the distant mountains.
"Ironwood Valley has experienced an increase in monster activity."
"Your objective is reconnaissance."
"Not heroics."
She looked directly at the students.
"If you’re ordered to retreat..."
"...you retreat."
Several nobles looked unconvinced.
Professor Elena noticed.
"The cemetery is filled with talented people who ignored that order."
Silence followed.
A magical board appeared.
Team assignments slowly formed.
Noah searched for his name.
Then he found it.
Team Seven
Noah BlackwoodEric WalkerLuna FrostSophia NightingaleDamien Ashbourne
Noah blinked.
"...Random?"
Eric looked over.
"No way..."
"The academy’s strongest girl..."
"...and we’re on her team?"
Across the gathering...
Cassian found his own team.
His eyes immediately drifted toward Noah’s.
His jaw tightened.
He looked... disappointed.
A gentle voice interrupted Noah’s thoughts.
"It seems..."
"...we’ll be working together."
He turned.
Luna stood beside him.
Calm as ever.
Before he could respond—
Another girl bounced over.
She had shoulder-length auburn hair tied into twin tails and bright emerald eyes.
She smiled confidently.
"So you’re the famous F-Rank."
Noah raised an eyebrow.
"...Famous?"
She laughed.
"Everyone’s talking about you."
She extended her hand.
"Sophia Nightingale."
Noah shook it.
"Noah."
"I know."
She grinned.
"You embarrassed Cassian."
"Half the academy loves you."
"The other half wants to beat you up."
"...Sounds about right."
Eric laughed loudly.
A shadow fell across the group.
A tall young man approached.
Short black hair.
Athletic build.
A massive spear strapped across his back.
He looked at Noah.
Then at Luna.
Finally at Sophia.
"I don’t care about rankings."
His voice was steady.
"If we’re teammates..."
"...don’t become dead weight."
He walked past them without another word.
Sophia sighed.
"That’s Damien."
"He has the personality of a brick."
Eric scratched his head.
"I kinda like him."
Professor Elena raised her voice.
"Board your wagons!"
Students quickly climbed aboard.
Noah’s team occupied the same carriage.
For a while...
No one spoke.
The wagon rolled away from Valhalla Academy.
The city slowly disappeared behind them.
Forests replaced roads.
Mountains rose in the distance.
Then...
Noah felt it.
Predator’s Instinct.
A faint warning.
He glanced out the wagon window.
Far away...
High on a rocky cliff...
A lone figure watched the convoy.
Black cloak.
Silver hair.
Even from that distance...
Noah recognized him.
Azrael.
The Apostle smiled.
Then raised one hand in greeting.
Before disappearing into the wind.
Noah’s expression darkened.
"He’s following us..."
Without anyone noticing...
He quietly tightened his grip on Shadowfang.
This wasn’t going to be a routine academy mission.
Not even close.