It didn't take long before Jean's name was called.

  He entered the room, and Ena shut the door behind him with a soft click. She gestured toward a chair. "Please, take a seat."

  Jean sat down, his eyes wandering around the room curiously for a moment.

  Looking at the desk, the rows of files on the shelves.

  The same snake was engraved on every piece of wood, on every document...

  Like an identity, yet...

  They all felt different...

  Different from the one he saw in the cave, on the pillar...

  His eyes drifted back to Ena, whom he found was looking intently at him.

  Her curiosity was evident.

  "Well, Cadet Jean," she began warmly, "first, let me officially welcome you to the School of the Badass."

  Jean nodded in acknowledgment, though Aaron's voice cut in almost immediately.

  [What does that brat want now...] Aaron muttered...

  After a short pause, he instructed. [Brat, thank her for hiding your feral affinity.]

  Jean, trusting Aaron without question, spoke without hesitation. "Thank you for hiding my affinity."

  Ena blinked, a genuine look of surprise crossing her face, followed by a deep smile. "So, you already know. Well... the school has its ways of doing things, and only wishes for the best."

  Her tone softened as she continued, "Now, I'd like to hear more about you—your past and what you hope to achieve in the future."

  Jean hesitated, expecting Aaron to offer some guidance. But for once, Aaron remained silent.

  Aaron wanted Ena to see Jean as more than a clueless child. There were life lessons that only experienced adults could impart, but others would unfold naturally in time.

  After a moment of quiet reflection, Jean spoke, eyes staring at his clenched, small hands, his voice steady and resolute. "I only know that my family was attacked by my grandfather.

  As for the future..." He raised his eyes, showing determination, unbefitting his age. "I want my dad, mom, and brother back."

  Ena's expression softened further, her smile turning wide and gentle. "That's a grand ambition, Jean," she said sincerely.

  "For now, just focus on your studies. I've reviewed your combat profile—it's impressive for your age. But reading and writing are equally important. Learn them well."

  Jean nodded earnestly as she spoke.

  Then, Ena added, "Do you have a particular interest in anything? Here, we teach combat and evasion to everyone, but you'll also have opportunities to study alchemy, combat research, medicine, sorcery, taming, and more. The full list will be available when it's time for selection. But do you already have something in mind?"

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  Remembering the recorded message...

  Without hesitation, Jean answered, "Sorcery."

  Ena's expression remained unsurprised. "A wise choice," she remarked. "Since you're now a cadet, you'll need to choose a task to work on as part of your training. For now, the available tasks are in the kitchen or on the farm. Which would you prefer?"

  Jean thought back to the meal he'd had yesterday—warm, comforting food that felt like the essence of a home.

  Though these words were sophisticated for his age, the feelings were universal.

  The more he thought about it, the more he felt like the kitchen was the right choice.

  He didn't fully understand why, but he felt drawn to the idea of cooking.

  "Is it okay if I learn to cook?" he asked tentatively.

  Ena chuckled lightly. "Of course, it is. But be warned, the head chef has shared a table with Teacher Aaron a few times, so his standards for food are... higher than normal."

  Jean's eyes glittered with excitement.

  Ena started writing down on a piece of paper on her desk, handed it to him.

  She started explaining it to him since he couldn't read yet; it was his schedule.

  Getting dismissed, he started running out of the room.

  Jean couldn't stop staring at the paper, his eyes full of enthusiasm.

  [What's wrong with you? It's a schedule, not a treasure map,] Aaron quipped, his tone laced with sarcasm.

  Jean giggled at Aaron's comment, then dashed off toward the mess hall for breakfast. Like any military base, meals were scheduled with precision—breakfast typically came an hour after the morning assembly and training were concluded.

  However, the mess hall maintained flexibility; anyone who was hungry or had missed their meal for any reason could always stop by and grab something to eat.

  Still...

  Nothing could beat a freshly cooked meal.

  Since he didn't have morning training today, Jean could head straight to the mess hall and savor the warm food he'd enjoyed yesterday.

  The thought of that meal quickened his steps.

  [Sigh... If only the mess hall back then had such food...] Aaron mused with exaggerated disdain.

  [Zombies would've been better cooks than those three idiots. Their taste buds were nonexistent.]

  Jean didn't fully understand what Aaron was talking about, but his laugh echoed through the corridor as he hurried to enjoy another warm meal.

  Step.

  Step.

  Step.

  Roman appeared with Isolde, watching Jean run past them with a happy, carefree demeanor.

  Roman's expression was complicated. "No matter how many times I see children run happily after arriving here, I can't seem to get used to it... Teacher changed so many lives. Just passing on his teachings and taking care of them is already a task too great for us. We all trained with only Teacher in our eyes..."

  Isolde smiled softly. "There's no need to try and catch up to Teacher. He was a unique existence in this world. He never truly belonged to it."

  Roman nodded, his tone thoughtful. "Indeed. But to his legion, he was also a unique existence. He was unique wherever he went."

  He paused, glancing at Isolde. "Since we have someone like Mojian here for the first time, perhaps we should teach them more about Teacher's history. There are certain aspects that could reignite the flame in his heart."

  Isolde nodded in agreement. "These kids could never imagine how he lived anyway."

  She looked one last time at Roman before saying, "For now, I'll prepare for my departure."

  Step.

  Step.

  Step.

  Roman stood alone, watching Isolde's departing figure. A mix of emotions churned within him. Since becoming the school's principal, he'd been tied to the institution, unable to take on missions. The thought of stepping down had crossed his mind more frequently of late. But he pushed the idea aside, telling himself it was selfish. After all, everyone had their role to play in maintaining the system.

  The pillar and the interviewer's office were located in the same building where his office was, he walked back to his duty... and prison.

  In the mess hall, Jean grabbed his food and sat at the same table as Mojian and Nina. Mojian, ever the scholar, offered to read anything they couldn't when needed.

  Zeroth and Darvok sat alone in the furthest corner of the hall, while Sia sat alone in the center, not sparing anyone a glance.

  The hall was enormous, accommodating thousands at the same time.

  They started discussing the duties they took on.

  Nina had taken cleaning duties, along with Zeroth and Darvok, who didn't want to be separated. Mojian had chosen to copy books in the library, while Sia, ever attuned to nature, gravitated toward working in the fields.

  Mojian seemed brighter than ever. He'd quickly come to terms with his lack of affinity or natural gifts and appeared to be in better spirits than anyone expected.