FMRV | Chapter 31

The Imperial Army Academy was located to the north of Twellin, carved into a rugged mountain on the outskirts of the capital, resembling a prison standing firmly on a spacious site. Being connected to the north and surrounded by mountains, despite its location within the capital, it felt completely cut off from civilization.

“From today, you are all proud cadets of the Academy! The moment you set foot here, you must forget everything about who you were until now!”

The Academy’s principal began his speech on the auditorium stage, veins bulging in his neck. His words about discarding one’s old self and adopting a resolute mindset to endure hellish training were aimed at tightening discipline among the new cadets, whose faces gradually filled with dismay.

“I heard the rumors, but this is really scary.”

“Seriously. Can we even survive this?”

The cadets sighed deeply as they imagined the hellish life ahead.

“Now, this year’s top new entrant, Theo Redrick, come up to the stage!”

At the principal’s call, a man from the first row walked confidently towards the stage. His every move exuded calm, and his stride was impeccably clean.

“Isn’t he the eldest son of the Redrick Ducal family?”

“Yeah. From such a renowned ducal family and he’s here in the military. He’s unusual.”

“But he scored perfect in all admission tests, he must be truly gifted.”

“Looking at him now, he’s also handsome. Why is the world so unfair?”

As Theo climbed onto the stage amidst the gazes of his peers, he saluted the principal and continued with the oath as the top entering student.

“…I, Theo Redrick, along with all my fellow cadets, solemnly swear to dedicate our lives to the glory of the Empire.”

Theo read the final sentence of the oath with a detached tone, casually surveying the auditorium below. His peers watched him with a mix of envy, distrust, and indifference. Theo felt acutely how he was perceived by them.

Then, his gaze shifted.

“…….”

In the front row, a man met his gaze firmly, his eyes the clear color of autumn leaves, shining more brightly than anyone else’s. Like the others, his gaze held envy and jealousy, but beyond that, something else—confidence and desire.

His eyes burned the brightest among the hundreds gathered here.

“……Theo, that’s enough. You may step down now.”

“Ah, yes.”

Distracted, Theo bowed and stepped down from the stage.

After the ceremony, cadets were immediately assigned to their dormitories. Theo, having briefly settled his belongings, stepped outside the dorm to catch his breath and prepare for the rigorous days ahead. As he familiarized himself with the structures, a murmur caught his attention.

Drawn by the noise, Theo turned a corner to find three students gathered. They were in uniform, their epaulets all green, clearly his new classmates.

“Hey, you’re a commoner, aren’t you?”

The direction of the voice turned Theo’s head.

“Yes. And so?”

The surrounded man had lustrous silver hair that fluttered in the wind. Theo recognized him—the man with the brilliant eyes from the admission event.

“How did a commoner like you get into the Academy? Which noble family did you cling to?”

The situation was clearly not one of cordial new beginnings.

And Theo knew well the type who used their lineage and inborn privilege to oppress and disdain others. The Academy was a gathering place for scions of distinguished noble families, among whom commoners were mere prey.

“I got in on my own merit.”

“Sure, you must have barely scraped by in the admission tests. Even if you got in, surviving here will be tough.”

“What do you want to say?”

But the common-born man didn’t seem cowed at all. Despite being surrounded and belittled, he seemed utterly bored rather than angry.

“If you agree to serve us, we can make your life here easy. How about it? It’s a good offer for a commoner like you.”

Theo’s brows furrowed involuntarily. He couldn’t just stand by anymore, but then laughter erupted.

“What, why are you laughing?”

The startled wasn’t only Theo. The men surrounding the silver-haired man also frowned.

“Let me ask. What were your admission ranks?”

The men hesitated, then stated their ranks: 15th, 32nd, and 47th. Being within the top 50 was quite commendable given the Academy’s notorious difficulty.

“Ah, I see. So it’s not me who should be serving you, but rather you who should be clinging to me.”

“What?!”

“I was second place in the admission exams.”

The words widened Theo’s eyes. The confidence he had seen in the auditorium now made sense.

“Second place…?”

The men were clearly taken aback, stammering and exchanging looks.

“Your parents must have spent a fortune educating you, yet you can’t even match up to a commoner like me. That must be crushing for them.”

“This, this is…!”

Stung in their pride, the lead harasser raised his fist high. The silver-haired man just smirked, not dodging but staring them down even harder.

“Stop this.”

Theo finally intervened.

As the successor to the Redrick duchy and the top new entrant recognized in the auditorium, none dared ignore him. The bullies, caught in their act, began to sweat profusely.

“No violence is permitted here under any circumstances. Have you forgotten that?”

The man with his fist raised hesitated, then straightened up and soon, they scurried away.

“Are you okay?”

Theo naturally turned his gaze to the silver-haired man. The man seemed unpleased despite Theo’s attempt to help.

“I could have handled them myself and driven them off.”

“What?”

Theo’s brows furrowed again. Not that he didn’t understand the words, but the idea of fighting to prove a point was foreign to him.

“You’re Theo, right? The top new entrant.”

“Yes.”

“Hmm,” the man nodded, stepping closer to Theo, who didn’t back down. Maybe it was the directness in his gaze that made Theo reluctant to look away.

“In the first test, I’ll be top. And in the next, and at graduation, it will be me, not you.”

“…….”

A laugh almost escaped Theo. Not out of dismissal, but because it had been a long time since someone approached him based solely on their own merit without relying on lineage or backing.

“Well, I’m going.”

“Wait.”

Theo stopped the man who was about to walk past.

“What’s your name?”

The unchanging expression and the direct question seemed to contort the man’s face as if to say, ‘You didn’t know my name?’

“Luke.”

“……”

“Remember, my name is Luke.”

With that, Luke smoothly walked away from Theo’s view, leaving his name lingering in Theo’s mind.

Dawn was slowly breaking. Lying in bed, Theo slowly opened his eyes. Usually, he would’ve jumped up to organize his bedding and prepare to leave, but today was different.

“……”

Was it because of the dream he had? Or because it brought back a memory from the past, like a fragment? The scene behind the dormitory where he first met Luke haunted him.

“……It’s full of uncertainties.”

With a heavy sigh, Theo finally got up from the bed. The day had started off a bit rocky, but nothing would change. As usual, he got up, dressed neatly in his uniform, pinned the golden insignia of the Commander-in-Chief to his chest, and left the commander’s quarters.

A single unexpected dream wasn’t enough to ruin his day.