The person giving the lecture was Kevin…

Of all the summoned heroes, all those insufferable classmates from college, Kevin was the absolute worst. The memories of his relentless bullying, the snide remarks, the shoves in the hallway, and the humiliating beatdown in the gym locker room – they all came flooding back, a torrent of resentment and anger.

And there he stood, basking in the adulation of the crowd, the savior of this world, the prodigy, the genius. William’s fists clenched, his nails digging into his palms. He’d give anything to wipe that smug grin off Kevin’s face, to see him toppled from his pedestal.

‘Why him?’ William seethed, his frustration mounting. Of all the people to be celebrated, why did it have to be the one who had made his life a living hell? It felt like a cruel cosmic joke.

William fought to maintain a neutral expression, burying his resentment deep within. He couldn’t let Tholfnir sense his turmoil. The invisibility sphere was a blessing in disguise. He could observe Kevin without fear of being recognized, a voyeur in his own twisted reunion.

Kevin’s power was immediately apparent, radiating from him in palpable waves. It was undeniable – the man was leagues ahead of William.

They were both summoned heroes, blessed with exceptional talent and innate skills, but while William had trained under the tutelage of Gorn and Jinra, Kevin had clearly been molded by the best of the best. Mages on par with Tholfnir, or perhaps even stronger, had honed his abilities. Resources flowed freely to him, the chosen savior destined to confront the demon lord.

But instead of discouragement, a fierce determination ignited within William. He would work harder, push himself further, and surpass them all, even without their privileged access to resources and elite instructors. He would carve his own path to power.

A hush fell over the hall as Kevin began his lecture. He started with training tips, sharing insights gleaned from his diverse mentors across various kingdoms.

These methods differed significantly from Snowpeak’s traditional practices, making them particularly valuable to the eager audience. William, despite his animosity, found himself leaning forward, absorbing every word.

Despite his personal feelings, William wasn’t foolish enough to ignore potentially valuable information. He listened intently, gleaning whatever insights he could from Kevin’s lecture. He maintained a meditative facade, more for Tholfnir’s benefit than his own. He’d already made significant progress with the Magic Mind runes; his focus now was on staying under the radar.

The second part of the lecture, however, took a sharp turn. Kevin’s confident demeanor shifted, a gravity settling over his features as he addressed the audience.

“The demon lord and his forces are not the only threat we face,” he announced, his gaze sweeping across the room. “The Kingdom of Sartana is mobilizing against yours. And they have allies. My kingdom is prepared to offer assistance in this impending war.”

A ripple of unease spread through the hall. William glanced at Tholfnir, who sat beside him with a grim expression.

“Did you know about this?” William whispered, his voice laced with concern.

Tholfnir nodded slowly. “We were aware of Sartana’s aggression,” he admitted, “but the involvement of allies…that is troubling news. It’s not a full-scale war yet, but they’ve been testing our defenses, sending troops across our borders, embedding spies within our ranks.”

William’s mind raced. “Does this have anything to do with the reduced intake of students at the academy?” he asked, a sudden realization dawning on him.

Tholfnir met his gaze, a flicker of admiration in his eyes. “You’re a perceptive young man, William,” he said. “Indeed, you’re correct. We must conserve our resources. Each student represents a significant investment.”

It all made sense now. The academy provided everything for free – tuition, lodging, even meals. With war looming, they were tightening their belts, ensuring they had the financial means to weather the coming storm.

The weight of the impending conflict settled heavily on William’s shoulders. The future seemed fraught with uncertainty, and his desire to join the academy intensified. It was his best chance to gain strength, to become a force to be reckoned with, and perhaps even to find a way to navigate the treacherous currents of the looming war.

As the two-hour lecture concluded, Kevin approached Tholfnir, requesting a private conversation. Tholfnir exited the sphere, leaving William concealed within its shimmering walls. From his hidden vantage point, William listened with bated breath as their hushed words reached him.

“I’m also here seeking information about one of the summoned heroes,” Kevin murmured, his voice low and conspiratorial. “I have reliable intel suggesting he’s hiding somewhere in this kingdom.”

Tholfnir’s brow furrowed. “One of your own? Why isn’t he with you?”

“Let’s just say there plications,” Kevin replied evasively. “Unfortunately, I don’t have a portrait, and his appearance may have changed. But I’ll return in a year to continue the search, and I hope to enlist your aid.”

“Of course,” Tholfnir agreed readily. “We can work together to locate him.” Read latest stories on empire

Fear gripped William’s heart. He had one year. One year to either vanish from Kevin’s radar or to become strong enough to face him head-on. The clock was ticking.

The irony wasn’t lost on William. He hadn’t even set foot inside the academy as a student, and yet, his primary goal had already shifted to surpassing Kevin, to proving himself not just worthy, but superior.

A wave of relief washed over him as Kevin finally departed, soaring through the sky with a display of high-level magic that underscored the chasm between their current abilities. He and Tholfnir exited the now-invisible sphere, stepping back into the bustling hall.

“I must attend to urgent matters in light of this new information,” Tholfnir declared, his brow furrowed with worry. “We’ll speak again soon, William.”

William simply nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. He wouldn’t burden the headmaster with trivial concerns.

As Tholfnir hurried away, Altair materialized beside William, his usual cheerfulness replaced with a frown.

“Where were you?” he demanded. “I looked everywhere! You know those who skipped the lecture will be punished, right?”

William shrugged, a smirk playing on his lips. “I’m not officially a student yet, so what can they do? Besides,” he added casually, “I watched the lecture with Headmaster Tholfnir.”

Altair’s jaw dropped. “W-what? With the headmaster? How?”

“I just asked,” William replied vaguely. He clapped a hand on Altair’s shoulder, his expression turning serious. “We need to secure our places in this academy, Altair. If war is coming, we need to be ready.”

The levity vanished from Altair’s face. “You don’t need to tell me,” he said, his voice tight with determination. “My family lives near the border. I have to get stronger, to protect them.”

The atmosphere within the academy crackled with a newfound intensity. Kevin’s lecture, with its stark warnings of impending war, had cast a long shadow over the exam-takers. The carefree confidence of the previous days evaporated, replaced by a grim determination.

The tension ratcheted up another notch when Tholfnir announced a further reduction in available spots.

Only eight individuals would gain entry into the academy. Panic rippled through the ranks, but William remained unfazed. His strategy was clear: master the Magic Mind spell. The sheer power of that spell would guarantee him a place, regardless of how many spots were up for grabs.

Time seemed to accelerate, the remaining days blurring into a frenzy of focused study and practice. Finally, the moment of truth arrived. The exam. A chance to showcase their newfound abilities, to prove their worth, and to secure their future in a world teetering on the brink of war.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep