Kai walked out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist.

"Here’s your uniform," Talitha handed him his clothes. "I’ve ironed them for you. And I have also asked for the beds from the academy. I was worried that they might make it difficult, but surprisingly, they didn’t."

"You did not need to do this," Kai said, looking at the freshly ironed uniform. "I don’t consider you a servant."

"It’s okay, really," Talitha shook her hands. "I don’t have anything to do anyway."

Kai nodded and went back to the bathroom to change.

Once he came out of the bathroom, he looked fresher than ever. His uniform no longer clung to his body loosely. It fit him perfectly now, hugging his build in a way that made him look dashing and every bit the proper student.

Even Talitha couldn’t help but stare.

"Where did you get this?" He asked as he looked down at his body.

"Just earlier this morning," She answered, still in awe at Kai’s looks. "The academy gave me a few other things for you. One of them is the academy uniforms, four sets of them. I thought you were demoted."

"I am," Kai went to the mattress and sat down. "But I retained a few privileges."

Later, Kai lay on the mattress while waiting for class to start.

Sitting not too far away was Talitha. She was cleaning the scimitar with a cloth and water.

Considering that she has nothing to do most of the time, Kai told her that she could do this.

Just that she needed to be careful since it’s sharp and lethal.

As he stared at the ceiling, his mind replayed what Bree said to him earlier.

Bree had told him about the Red Prince title. It was a distinction held by only one student per grade level within Eventide Academy, earned through the Dragon Ring, a tournament hosted by the academy itself.

Participating students would be pitted against one another.

And only the strongest of each grade level could hold the Red Prince title.

It means Kai would need to beat every freshman.

Becoming the Red Prince is the first step for him to have the liberty to be known by the people on the surface. His true aim was the Lower Olympian Ring. It’s also a tournament—but not a normal one.

According to Bree, this tournament would be broadcast on the surface.

It was a tournament that drew in every academy within a Cloud Colony.

Participation was reserved exclusively for students who held a special title like the Red Prince. Each academy had its own unique titles, but for Eventide Academy, it was the Red Prince who carried the honor.

Just reaching the top five is enough to make him well-known on the surface.

But Kai could even aim for higher than that.

If he placed in the top three, he would advance to the Lower Olympian Ascendancy. Another tournament to determine the best freshmen Angels across three Cloud Colonies. It was a really prestigious event, eagerly watched by those on the surface.

A billion people are going to watch it.

Kai would have no problem demanding everything he wanted at that point.

Nothing the academy could do about it.

It surprised Kai that he hadn’t known anything about these tournaments. But reflecting on it, he had spent most of his high school years buried in books by day and working by night. Even weekends offered no reprieve—he still worked.

Even if he had time to spare, he spent it watching movies with Bella or going out.

And Bella only liked to watch romance movies or horror movies.

She never wanted to watch local TV channels.

But to achieve those things, I needed to have a group.

In order to be eligible to participate in the Dragon Ring, he would need to be chosen as the representative of a group. Nobody would choose a Lesser Angel as the person who would be representing the group, so Kai needed to make a group of his own.

One who would agree to choose him.

Bree is the one who wants me to make a group, and she said she’d abandon her current group to be with mine. I can likely count on Matilda and Dorian as well, and three capable allies are enough. I don’t need to make a big group.

But can I do it?

Kai draped an arm over his face, sighing deeply.

He recalled the Blood Rite.

Back then, he couldn’t pacify Abigail and Dorian. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Dorian didn’t listen to him at all, other than the obvious things, and Abigail was isolated.

Recalling those rough days, he remembered seeing the sign that Abigail was completely dissatisfied with her situation. He saw it while she was cooking, and he wondered if he was a better leader. If he said something to her at that moment, could he stop her from betraying the team?

He probably could.

But alas, that time, he didn’t know what to say, and that led to her betrayal.

It was still mostly her fault for being timid and weak, but Kai couldn’t deny that he could do something to change the outcome. And that made him hesitate to make the group. Maybe I’ll let Matilda or Bree lead the group. Both seemed more capable in this than I.

Kai attended class, and it was still the same topic.

Once it was done, he made his way to the cafeteria alone, still thinking about the group.

Frankly, becoming the leader of a group would put a lot of attention on him. But that’s exactly what he really needed right now. Something that would make him safer. If he kept being isolated and alone, then it would be far easier for the academy to take him out.

As much as he hated being in the spotlight or being in a crowd, he needed to do this.

But he didn’t feel capable enough to do it.

All he had been doing throughout his entire life was grovel and take orders from his superiors; leading was never his forte. It was nerve-wracking to even think of leading a group of students where all troubles would be on his shoulders.

Damn it. I should really let Matilda or Bree lead.

Kai sighed and ate the food before him alone.

He ate quickly since he wanted to find out more about the two new cultivated clouds.

Or perhaps stop by the library to learn more about Star Beasts.

As he was about to do that, he heard a commotion. Kai glanced toward the only entrance to the cafeteria and saw students gathered there. Bickering about something before going away. And then more ran out, following the first crowd.

Frowning, Kai stood up and headed for the entrance after putting away the steel tray.

"Someone is going to be executed for breaking the rules!"

"Are you serious? I thought the academy was only scaring us with their new rules!"

"How stupid are you? Can’t you see the grey-masked Angels? It’s serious."

"What happened?"

"I heard it’s because this freshman tried to kill a senior!"

"Holy shit!"

Kai followed the crowd, flowing out of the main building and then to the main square. It was not far away, only a few hundred yards straight through the main street. And soon, Kai was greeted by a spherical plaza where nearly a hundred students had already gathered.

All of them came to watch the execution.

It was packed, and he didn’t want to squeeze through the crowd.

Instead, he walked to a short tree, about two feet taller than him, on the right side of the plaza, and stood there, watching the execution unfold from the side. "A murder attempt on a senior? What could possibly be the reason? Bullying? We barely meet with the seniors other than on the streets."

Just as he waited for the freshman to appear, someone approached from the side.

It was Matilda.

"Here for the show, too?"

"I only wanted to see who it was."

Matilda shook her head, "Who is even stupid enough to try and do this?"

"Probably someone desperate," Kai shrugged. "Or broken."

As Matilda was scanning the crowd, she saw an Angel standing at the center, surrounded by the gathered crowd. "Is that the senior who was almost killed?" She pointed at the senior who had a slash mark on his mask, presumably from the murder attempt. "He looked familiar."

"Familiar?" Kai squinted his eyes and realized who it was. "Isn’t that—?"

His question was cut short when he heard the sound of flapping wings.

Kai and Matilda gaze upward. Two Angels descended on winged boots—their silhouettes stark against the sky. Between them, they held a student bound in chains, it was the same kind that had been used on Professor Richard during the Culling of Nonentity.

A woman was the culprit, given how frail her frame looked.

As the Angels descended, a platform of solid cloud coalesced at the square’s center, solidifying beneath them like a stage specifically manifested for decree. They landed in unison and drove the culprit to his knees.

Just then, Professor Bork walked out and stood right before the cloud platform.

He lifted his head and addressed the crowd.

His voice resonated with undeniable authority.

"Today is a good day for an important lesson. Rules... are not suggestions. They are there to be obeyed. Rule breakers are not tolerated. This student is the first one who dared to test the rules, and he will not be allowed to remain. Let this be a lesson to you all."

Once he finished, one of the grey-masked Angels gave him a leather parchment.

Professor Bork read the content aloud.

"Suspect, Angel Dorian. A Supernal of an Empusa. Last night at exactly ten, he attempted to murder High Angel Hensen near the Aerial Stables, sneaking an attack from the rear—with a knife. High Angel Hensen managed to react, but the knife grazed his mask. And it now served as proof that the event happened."

He gestured towards High Angel Hensen’s mask.

And then continued.

"For attempting to kill a Blooded Angel, Angel Dorian will be executed. High Angel Hensen has chosen the method of execution, and it is the Black Draught. May this be a lesson for those who still look down on the academy."

Even from afar, Kai could hear Professor Bork’s voice loud and clear.

His eyes widened, and his pupils dilated as he fixated on the kneeling student on the platform.

As much as he wanted to say that he must’ve heard it wrong, the crimson eyes that peered from the mask of the kneeling Angel made it unmistakable that the identity behind it. That this was really the execution of Dorian.

"N-No way..." Kai’s voice trembled in utter shock. "This must’ve been a mistake..."