The Crown Prince In Hiding

At last, the long-awaited day had arrived.

Week 1 Knight Division Scoring Exam

@ Madison Square Garden.

The first-years were all visibly shaken—nervous, jittery, some nearly trembling. And that was before they even got to the Garden. Once there, bright and early, they were shocked to see:

The arena was packed on all four sides with spectators—civilians from Artheris of every background. Far more than expected.

If this were a football match, the attendance would be comparable to a second-tier league game. Which, for a rookie-level duel, was honestly a huge crowd.

Backstage. In the student holding area.

The first-years were seated, waiting their turns to be called out one pair at a time. In essence, they were like prisoners being led out for execution.

They were jittery at first, of course—but they’d get used to it. Just hang in there!

Aaron’s voice echoed in Dan’s mind.

Dan, meanwhile, sat calmly, eyes closed in meditation, hugging his iron sword close.

Across the room sat his opponent, Gronk, practically vibrating with rage, eager to rip Dan apart. Dan’s calmness only made it worse.

Dan cracked one eye open at the sound of a carriage outside…

A moment later, two Royal Guards from Snowhaven entered through the back—

And Princess Nora had arrived.

The students all acknowledged her presence. Some were too intimidated to even meet her gaze. Still, in a gathering like this, it was best that Nora kept her distance from Dan. Any misstep could spark rumors—especially since everyone currently believed Dan had something going on with Zeedee. That alone had already earned him some glares from hormonal boys.

Dan bowed his head again, returning to his quiet, sword-clutching meditation.

Then came the first name call.

The man announcing it?

Professor Zoros, back in his usual role.

He gave Dan a long, cold glare. Dan looked away—feigning ignorance.

Still, duty was duty.

“First pair! Step up!!”

Two students from opposite ends stood up, scrambling to grab their weapons, and followed Zoros toward the stadium.

The average duel didn’t last longer than five minutes. This wasn’t a game governed by hundreds of rules. This was simulated killing—training for knights under safe, controlled conditions.

It wasn’t like those fantasy duels in anime where people blast energy back and forth. Knight combat was all about capitalizing on mistakes and landing lethal counters.

This was real. Brutal. No fantasy.

Mistakes lurked everywhere. One slip, and if your instincts weren’t sharp enough—you lost.

That was exactly why Rafinya had told Nora to take back her words. This wasn’t fencing.

This was kill training.

And speaking of Rafinya—

She was nearby, seated at the stairwell leading to the staging zone, within her own sealed-off prep area.

This had to be important for her.

Meanwhile…

Dan noticed Nora—pretending to clean her sword just a little too close by. To a casual observer, it looked normal. But really, she was finding an excuse to talk.

“How subtle of you,” Dan muttered.

“What? I’m just polishing my sword,” she replied innocently.

“You said you only polish it once every two weeks.”

“Don’t be smart with me.”

“Sleep well last night?”

“Yes, Mr.Fury. Actually… I was a little excited to see what kind of show you’ll put on today.”

“…Starting like that, now I’m nervous I’ll disappoint you.”

“You’re not going to blow up the arena, are you?”

“Seriously, what kind of guy do you think I am?”

Dan stood, pretending to polish his blade as well, turning his back to her.

“Do even off-site tests need royal security now, Nora?”

“Well, Mr.Fury… With a crowd this big—well over a hundred—it’s not just students watching. It gets sensitive.”

“Being a princess seems… exhausting.”

“Second pair!! Step up!!”

Zoros called the next two.

“Yikes. That was quick.”

The main contenders eventually scattered across different corners—Rafinya, Nora, and Dan each keeping to themselves.

Until…

“Pair Fourteen! Step up!”

Clang!

The sound of steel unsheathing.

Rafinya rose and walked out, accompanied by a male student.

She’s up. Let’s see how long this lasts.

Dan closed his eyes and started counting.

Ten… eleven… twelve… thirteen…

He expected maybe thirty seconds at minimum.

But no.

Just seventeen seconds later—

“Pair Fifteen!”

“?!”

Dan jerked his head up, neck nearly snapping.

That’s way too fast!

@ Artheris Educational District – City Entrance

The camera opens with a wide shot—bustling urban center near the train station. A melting pot of people from all walks of life, all ethnicities, crossing paths.

The view slowly dollies down from top-view to chest level, and then…

The camera centers on a figure in a brown cloak.

This person walks calmly through the crowded marketplace, then turns down a stone-paved path leading directly to Artheris’s main gates.

Every step produces the faint sound of metal striking metal.

When she reaches the gates, she looks up at the institution’s engraved name and proud architecture.

A flash of memory in her eyes.

A few strands of silky white hair peek from beneath her hood.

At that moment, a staff member walks past. Administrative.

“Excuse me.”

The voice is husky, tomboyish. Confident, no-nonsense. Sharp intelligence beneath the edge.

“Is Professor Foden in today?”

“?”

The staffer turned, puzzled.

“Do you have business with the Knight Division?”

“I need to speak with Professor Foden. I can wait.”

The admin took out a scheduling notepad.

“I’m sorry, but Professor Foden isn’t on campus today.”

“Where?”

“She’s overseeing the Year One exams today. Knight class. I’ll record your name and notify her—uh? Wait, where—?”

The woman in brown… was gone.

The admin spun around, bewildered.

“Pair Twenty-Three!!”

The exams were moving rapidly now. This time, it was Princess Nora’s turn.

Her opponent? A scrawny, fragile-looking boy. No way he could stand against her.

“Y-Your Highness… can I forfeit ahead of time…?”

He looked ready to cry.

“I’ll end it quickly,” Nora replied.

As she walked toward the arena, she gave Dan one last glance…

Then turned her back.

>

>

>

>

Dan overheard a group of students placing excited bets.

Wait…

Bets?

Hold on…

He had an idea.

Betting… now there’s a way to make money…

“Pair Twenty-Four, prepare yourselves!!”

“!”

It was time.

Dan vs. Gronk.

Professor Zoros was waiting on the cleanup crew’s signal.

Ahh, Nora… you couldn’t have bought me just a few more seconds? I just thought of something good!

Dan frantically pulled out his notebook and jotted a memo:

“Gambling – method for paying off debt.”

WHAM!

“!”

Before he could finish writing, Gronk shouldered him hard—knocking his pen loose and nearly slamming Dan into the wall.

“Your death’s around the corner, and you’re still daydreaming? Heh heh.”

(Gronk’s posse erupts with laughter)

“Enough messing around! Prepare yourselves!”

“Yes, sir!”

Dan met Gronk’s eyes, then calmly picked up his notebook, closed it, and drew his sword.

Zoros kept staring daggers at Dan—but turned away to signal the referee.

“Pair Twenty-Four!!! You may begin!”

And so began the most anticipated duel at the academy.

A battle born of vengeance and stolen scholarship.

Everyone’s eyes were locked on them.

Even Professor Foden had come to personally oversee this one, despite it being just a first-year match.

Upperclass Knight scholars watched from above.

Nora Ophilis, eagerly awaiting what Dan would teach her through an impossible scenario.

Rafinya, arms crossed in the stands.

And the cloaked woman…

Now quietly seated among the commoners.

Watching.

At the judges’ table, Professor Foden and three or four instructors sat side by side, notes and scoring sheets in hand.

“Both fighters are given two minutes to prepare.”

The referee turned to Gronk.

“Are you ready?”

“Ready!”

Then to Dan.

“And you?”

“Ready, sir.”

“Before we begin—shake hands.”

Dan and Gronk extended their hands and shook. Brief. Cold.

Then pulled away.

“Pair Twenty-Four!!!”

DAN BURN vs. GRONK PHILLIPS

Begin!