The two ate the dinner in silence, neither of them speaking.

After they finished, Aria thanked him for the meal and before she left, she gave him the things she brought her with her. According to her, they were magical herbs that were useful for his injuries.

Adrian took the pouches, feeling the weight of the herbs inside. "Thank you, Aria. I appreciate it."

"Take care," she said softly, and with a final nod, she left his room, leaving Adrian alone with his thoughts.

__ ____ _______

The next day passed in a blur of anticipation. The students attended their usual classes, but the atmosphere was charged with a sense of impending excitement and anxiety. Everyone knew that the joint class with the second years was close, and it was all anyone could talk about.

In the first class of the day, the students tried to focus on their lessons, but it was clear that their minds were elsewhere. The air buzzed with whispers and murmurs, speculation about the upcoming combat training filling the room.

"Do you think we're ready?" Ardel asked during a break, his eyes wide with nervous energy.

"Of course idiot. We've trained hard you know," Lila replied confidently. "We'll give them a run for their money."

Adrian nodded in agreement, though his mind was already strategizing, thinking about the event. He knew the second years were strong, but he also believed in his team's capabilities.

The second class was much the same. Even the instructor seemed to sense the tension, though he continued the lessons as usual, knowing the situation through the rumors around the staff.

Finally, the time for the combat training class arrived. The students gathered in the Combat Training Hall, the spacious building filled with an electric atmosphere.

Instructor Valerie stood at the front, her eyes scanning the crowd of eager faces.

She asked if they were ready, and encouraged them with motivational speech and words.

Not soon after, the doors of the hall opened widely and the second-year students walked in, following after their instructor - Merel.

They carried themselves with confidence, their presence immediately commanding attention. They were known as the Golden Generation for a reason, and their reputation preceded them.

Among them were seven figures who stood out the most, each one radiating a unique aura of power and confidence. These were the second-year elites, the cream of the crop of the Golden Generation.

Instructor Merel, who led the second years, was a tall, slender woman with an authoritative presence. Her sharp eyes assessed the first-year students with a critical gaze as if weighing their worth for their time.

A few first years and instructor Valerie naturally noticed it but didn't give a damn.

Both years stood face to face, on opposite sides of the arena, the air thick with anticipation. The instructors took their place at the center, their presence commanding the attention of everyone in the hall.

Instructor Valerie began, her voice strong and clear, "Today is an important day for both the first and second years. This joint class is not only a test of your combat abilities but also an opportunity for you to learn from each other. The second years will provide a benchmark for the first years, and the first years will show how much they have grown."

Instructor Merel stepped forward, her eyes sharp as she surveyed the students. "We have selected specific pairings to ensure a challenging and balanced experience for all of you. Remember, this is not just about winning. It's about demonstrating your skills, strategy, and ability to adapt. Give it your all and respect your opponents."

Well, she at least didn't forget her duty as an instructor. Or it could be said, that there might be another reason for her to speak in such manners.

"Though I admit you have no hope of winning against your seniors, I still want to see how much can you put up a fight." She said looking at the first years before she went toward her students.

"Huh? Did she just insult us?"

"Y-Yeah..."

"She seemed pretty good but..."

"Her eyes... They looked scary."

Adrian could hear students at the back murmuring to each other. He paid them no mind, his indifferent and cold gaze following Merel. He wasn't acting as well.

'Hmm?' He sensed someone looking at him pretty intensely and his gaze turned to the owner of the gaze. 'Oh, it was just her.'

It was one of the seven elites of the second year, a black-haired girl with a cold demeanor and an arrogant expression. If looks could kill, he would have been killed by now.

However, she wasn't that much important in his eyes in today's event. So, he ignored her and shifted his focus to the girl standing at the center of the seven elites.

With short dark blue hair and piercing azure eyes, she stood with an aura of authority and confidence. This was Ciel, the undisputed leader of the second-year elites. Unlike her peers who exuded a cold arrogance, Ciel's confidence was tempered with a quiet intensity. Her piercing azure eyes, the color of a summer sky moments before a storm, held a calculating glint.

They scanned the first-year students, not with disdain, but with a focused curiosity, as if gauging their potential.

'Truly worthy of being labeled as a 'True Senior Heroine'.' Adrian commented in his mind, appreciating her beauty and character. 'Though she appeared as a major supporting character in the novel, she stole many readers' hearts with her character, appearances, and scenes. The readers started calling her 'True Senior Heroine' after one reader pointed it out. And that reader is none other than myself.'

He was inwardly proud of his intuition. Seeing her in real life washed away all the doubts many fellow readers tried to put in his mind.

'I am really proud. Oh, shit. I should control myself.' He held the urge to rub his nose being proud of himself. 'Oh, damn. She is looking at me! Did I stare too much?'

'What should I do?!'

Just then a famous line, or a quote, whatever it is came to his mind.

'Act fool.'

'Act fool.'