The homeroom session had ended, leaving behind a lingering tension in the air. Professor Vekar's words had been nothing short of disheartening to most, stripping away any illusions of an easy academy life. The announcement of the upcoming Practical Evaluation had shaken several students, as it was evident in their stiff postures and quiet murmurs as they dispersed from the classroom.
Velren, however, remained mostly unaffected. It wasn't as if he had expected the academy to be lenient in the first place. Still, the lack of details regarding the evaluation left him mildly curious.
Pushing those thoughts aside for now, he found himself wandering toward the cafeteria—a large, open hall located within the main academy grounds. The scent of freshly prepared meals wafted through the air, mingling with the chatter of students scattered across the numerous tables and benches. Large stained-glass windows filtered in streams of soft daylight, casting a warm ambiance over the vast dining area.
Despite the grand design, it was the sheer variety of food that momentarily overwhelmed Velren.
'This is... something else, alright.'
He had spent most of his life cooking for himself, relying on whatever he and Fenrir could hunt in the forest. On occasion, Gramps would bring supplies from the kingdom—dried goods, grains, spices—but most of Velren's meals had been prepared with his own hands. He considered himself a decent cook, always experimenting with new recipes when he had the chance.
Yet, here he was, standing in front of a vast selection of dishes he had never even seen before.
After a brief moment of indecision, he settled for something simple.
Now, sitting at a desk in the corner of the cafeteria, Velren glanced down at the tray in front of him.
A modest lunch set.
Perfectly shaped rice balls, sprinkled lightly with sesame seeds, neatly cut rolled omelets, stir-fried vegetables, and a couple of cherry tomatoes.
He took a bite.
The taste was clean, perfectly balanced—not too salty, not too bland. Every ingredient had been cooked with precision, bringing out the natural flavors without overwhelming them.
It was delicious.
As he chewed thoughtfully, a small realization crept into his mind.
For the first time in a long while, he wasn't the one who had prepared his own meal.
A newfound curiosity sparked within him.
'Will I be able to make something this good someday?'
A sudden sound from the students sitting behind him caught his attention.
"Any idea what the Practical Evaluation will be about?" one of them asked.
"No clue. I even managed to ask one of my upperclassmen, but all they gave me was a vague answer. It's as if they were told to keep silent about it as well."
Velren hummed to himself. That was certainly one way to gather information—asking upperclassmen.
Then again... that would be tough for him. Unlike others, he hadn't made any friends among his fellow first-years on his first day. It wasn't that he didn't care to, but he had always found socializing to be an exhausting effort.
His thoughts wandered, lingering on his own sense of detachment. The life he had lived until now had never required him to interact much with others outside of Gramps and the wolves. Now, thrown into an unfamiliar setting, he was beginning to feel the difference.
'Damn... I can't be seen like some kind of a lonely and gloomy kid on the first day!'
Before he could dwell on it any longer, a voice called out to him.
"Mind if I sit here?"
Velren looked up.
A young man stood before him, older than him by at least a few years. He wore a faculty uniform, marking him as someone affiliated with the academy, yet something about him felt oddly familiar. His dark brown hair was slightly unkempt, with a few stray strands falling over sharp, observant eyes. His posture was relaxed but not careless, as if he had spent years honing a certain level of composure.
"Uh… sure," Velren muttered.
The man sat down across from him, setting his own tray onto the table. There was a pause before he spoke again.
"You know, I never got the chance to say thank you."
Velren blinked.
"What?"
"For saving my life," the man clarified, quirking up his lips slightly.
"Though I doubt you remember."
Velren stared at him, caught off guard.
Did he know this person?
"You don't recognize me, huh?" The man chuckled lightly.
"I suppose that makes sense. It was six years ago, after all. I was a student back then, just like you. An old man and a younger kid saved my friends and me in Sylmare Forest."
'Oh...'
That day was suddenly clear in his mind—returning from the capital with Gramps when they encountered three students struggling against a couple of Vaelith Bears on the forest. Among them, the one wielding a spear had fought desperately but was outmatched.
"So it was you," Velren murmured, piecing it together.
The man gave a small nod.
"Name's Kael Winslow."
Velren nodded back.
"...Velren."
Kael smiled faintly. "You were just a kid back then, but I remember you. I have to admit, I was surprised when I saw you earlier. Never expected to run into you here."
Velren tilted his head slightly.
"I'm surprised you even remember me."
Kael let out a dry chuckle.
"How could I not? There have only been a few times in my life when I truly thought I was going to die—when I felt completely powerless. That day was one of them. If it weren't for you and the old man, I wouldn't be here today."
His voice carried a weight that Velren wasn't used to hearing. Gratitude wasn't something he often received.
It was a little… strange to hear it so directly.
Velren rubbed the back of his neck.
"Well… it wasn't just me. Gramps did most of the work."
"Maybe," Kael admitted.
"But that doesn't change the fact that you were there. That day, I regretted a lot of things—my weakness, my inability to protect my friends—but one of my biggest regrets was not being able to say thank you."
Velren wasn't sure how to respond to that. He settled for a small, awkward smile.
After a brief silence, he decided to change the topic.
"Are you a teacher here?"
Kael let out a laugh.
"Gods, no. I'm nowhere near qualified for that. Right now, I'm just an assistant to one of the instructors. I still have a long way to go before I can actually teach in this place."
Velren nodded in understanding. "What about your friends from back then?"
"They're doing well. One of them, Ilya, actually works here now as a researcher. Who knows? You might come across her someday."
Velren muttered.
"I see..."
It was an odd feeling—knowing that his actions from years ago had left a mark on someone. He had never thought much about that day. Back then, he and Gramps had simply done what needed to be done. He hadn't expected gratitude, nor had he sought any acknowledgment. Yet, sitting here now, seeing Kael alive and well, Velren couldn't help but feel a strange sense of fulfillment.
'So this is what it meant for one's actions to bear fruit...'
For so long, he had lived a life that revolved around survival, honing his skills in isolation with only Gramps and the wolves by his side. The thought that someone out there, beyond his small world, still remembered him—that they had carried his actions with them all these years—was oddly humbling.
Velren took another bite of his meal, chewing slowly as he processed these thoughts. Perhaps, just perhaps, his presence in this academy wouldn't be as insignificant as he had originally assumed.
Kael leaned back slightly, his expression turning a bit more casual.
"By the way, if you ever need help or have any questions, don't hesitate to call out to me. I don't mind lending a hand."
Velren looked at him for a moment before offering a small nod.
"Thanks. I'll take you up on that offer."
Just as Velren was about to return to his meal, something clicked in his mind. His eyes narrowed slightly as he regarded Kael. If Kael had once been a student here, and if he was now assisting an instructor, then...
"I suppose... you can tell me about the content of the upcoming Practical Evaluation?"