“You remembered me? I thought you wouldn’t.” Leo said, a small smile tugging at his lips. “You look different than before, but I still recognize you.”

  His gaze lingered on Kana for a moment, sharp and appraising, until Boris cleared his throat.

  “What brings the son of a duke here?” Boris asked, suspicion sharpening his tone.

  Leo shrugged. “As you can see, I’m also a new student. I was enrolled early because of some family duties. That’s why you didn’t see me yesterday.” He paused. “But I’m here on my father’s behalf. He wants to talk to you.”

  “What about?” Suri asked, curiosity lighting her eyes.

  Leo shook his head. “Better if they explain it themselves. I can’t say much.”

  At that moment, Boris’s stomach growled loudly.

  Leo grinned. “There will be food. You just need to come. And we promise your safety.”

  Kana nodded, weighing the offer. Suspicious, yes. But they were a bit hungry. And the food of nobles was known to be worth the risk. Besides, they should be able to defend themselves.

  “Alright,” she said. “Let’s go.”

  Outside the academy gates, a high-quality carriage waited. The ride took half an hour, carrying them to the nobility district—where houses weren’t houses, but mansions that could swallow villages whole.

  Leo stepped down first. “This is our house. It’s small, really—we don’t live here much. Just for a few occasions.”

  Suri whistled, clearly impressed. Boris tried to hide it, but his eyes roamed the grand estate, wide with disbelief. Kana, as always, stayed calm and composed.

  ….

  One of the men—a broad-shouldered fellow in his forties standing near the front two way doors—stepped forward and gave a crisp nod.

  “I’m Tan, the head butler. Please, follow me. The Duke is expecting you.”

  They were led through marble halls until they arrived at a large dining hall. A long table was already set, silverware gleaming, the scent of roasted meats and spices curling through the air.

  The man at the head of the table stood. He was broad-shouldered, with streaks of gray in his hair and the easy confidence of someone used to being obeyed, Leon resembled him.

  “Please, have a seat,” he said. “You may address me as Duke Stark—or simply Duke.”

  He gestured to the food. “Let’s eat while we talk.”

  They sat. The dishes were already steaming, and Suri’s eyes lingered a moment too long on the roasted pheasant.

  “I invited you here,” the Duke said, his voice calm but direct, “to offer sponsorship—to Kana and Suri. And after seeing Boris, I’ve decided to include him as well.”

  “Sponsorship?” Kana asked. “What does that involve? Are you expecting something in return?”

  The Duke chuckled. “Wary, are you? That’s good.”

  He leaned back slightly in his chair, as though settling into a well-practiced speech.

  “Sponsorship means support. You’ll receive allowances, items, services—whatever we can legally provide—without strings attached. In return, when you succeed at the Academy, my name will be attached to your achievements. The greater your success, the greater the recognition for me. Especially if the King takes notice.”

  “That’s it?” Suri asked, raising an eyebrow.

  “That’s most of it. Rarely, we might ask for a favor in return—something small, nothing forced. And if you agree to help, you’ll be rewarded for it.”

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  “Are you sure?” Kana asked. “We’re just a copper class. I heard that’s the lowest class.”

  The Duke laughed, loud and unrestrained. “I expected that question. I have a skill—[Sharp Instinct]. I’ve learned to trust it when evaluating people.”

  He leaned forward now, more serious.

  “My son, Leon, his skills were considered a gold class three years ago. And you—” he pointed slightly toward Kana “—defeated him. You might not have realized it, but back then, he was considered one of the most promising talents in the kingdom.”

  He paused, letting the words settle.

  “You bested him easily. And now you’re sitting here, labeled copper? I don’t know why you chose that rank, but based on your skills then—and now—you’re qualified for far more.”

  He smiled, not unkindly. “Which leads me to believe you failed the tests on purpose.”

  Kana said nothing but she must be wary of her behaviour in front of the Duke.

  The Duke continued, “And you’ve grown stronger since. My son couldn’t beat you now, nor could he beat your friend Boris.”

  Leon though stopped eating for a moment as if he couldn’t believe that even a [Spearman] class like Boris could defeat him.

  He gave a small shrug. “I won’t pry into how you’ve gotten this strong, or why you chose copper class. That’s your business. But I recommend you take my offer seriously.”

  Boris cleared his throat. “How much is the allowance?”

  “Fifty silver coins a month,” the Duke replied. “Not including weapon or equipment maintenance and replacements—we’ll cover those as well.”

  Boris glanced at Kana, eyes signaling his thoughts without saying a word.

  “Fine,” Kana said. She didn’t care much about prestige or politics. But food, gear, and fewer things to worry about? That was enough.

  Suri, meanwhile, hadn’t said a word. She trusted Kana’s judgment—but her focus was entirely on the food. Roasted pheasant, garlic potatoes, thick gravy... even the nobles didn’t distract her from a well-cooked meal.

  ………

  After a few moments, the butler arrived, a bundle of scrolls tucked neatly under one arm. “The agreement will take effect once each of you signs,” he said, offering the parchments.

  Boris didn’t hesitate. He snatched one scroll, scrawled his name across the bottom—an unpracticed, almost childlike signature—and handed it back.

  Kana took hers more carefully. She scanned the document from top to bottom, eyes narrowing with focus. Only after ensuring everything was in order did she sign. Her penmanship was meticulous, almost artistic—each letter slanted, strokes heavy at the start and tapering toward the end. The butler blinked, clearly impressed. He had never seen handwriting quite like that before.

  “Suri!” Boris called.

  She was still at the dining table, nibbling at leftovers with all the intensity of a first meal after a fast. At the sound of her name, she looked up, blinked once, then hurried over, scribbled her name with one hand, and was already halfway back to her plate before the ink dried.

  Her feast, however, was cut short by the Duke's sudden voice. “I believe this is your first day,” he said, raising an eyebrow. “Your orientation class should begins shortly.”

  Kana stiffened. Right. First day of classes. First meeting with their advisor. One of those mandatory sessions—weekly, and not to be missed.

  Without another word, she grabbed Suri by the collar and hauled her upright. “Apologies, Duke. We’re off to class.”

  The Duke gave a low chuckle as the three bolted out the door, a ragtag band of free-spirited kids.

  ….

  Back at Stark’s Mansion...

  The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the marble floors of the estate. Roana Stark swept into the grand hall, her purple gown flowing behind her like spilled ink. The color complimented her pale, unblemished skin and high, noble poise.

  The Duke greeted her with a soft smile, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “My dear, you’ve just missed them.”

  Roana's eyes lit up with curiosity. “That’s a pity. I was looking forward to meeting them.” Her tone shifted slightly, playful but sharp. “And I heard you offered them fifty silver each, not twenty. Quite generous. What changed?”

  The Duke folded his hands behind his back, glancing out the nearby window. “Their value changed. It wasn’t the same as before. Simple as that. Same with Boris.”

  She arched an eyebrow. “I understand Kana and Suri. But Boris? A common [Spearman]?”

  He gave a slow nod. “Exactly. Which is why it caught my attention. Either they’re all far more talented than they appear—or they’re hiding something.”

  Roana's gaze turned thoughtful. “Intriguing. Kana and Suri make sense—they have presence. Potential. But Boris… catching up with them so soon?”

  She crossed her arms, tapping one finger lightly against her elbow. “They’re either blessed… or what could they possibly be hiding?”

  “Possibly both,” the Duke admitted. “But I can’t assign anyone to observe them. Kana’s perception is unusually high. She’d notice.”

  Roana grinned—a rare event. “Then we’ll need to be more creative in our approach.”

  Her eyes gleamed with quiet delight.