Dragon's Awakening: The Duke's Son Is Changing The Plot-Chapter 61 - 60 - The Theory Test.

A few days later.

The skies above Velmoria Royal Academy were a crisp blue, the wind gentle, and the weather perfect for a leisurely walk—or, in Raven’s case, a slow march toward what he felt was academic execution.

"I feel like I’m being led to the gallows," Raven muttered, eyeing the path leading to the grand entrance of the academy’s examination hall, which was usually used by teachers, with dread.

Today, he had to give the theory test, which was mandatory, even for a Vaise.

However, since the classes were ongoing, he couldn’t write the test there, so he was allowed a seat in the examination hall.

"You studied," Clara, walking beside him, said, though her tone lacked sympathy.

She was too busy throwing veiled glances at the girl who walked on Raven’s other side—Siris.

Raven groaned. "Studied? Yes. Understood? Debatable."

Behind them, Alex slapped him on the back. "Don’t worry, my man! If you fail, you’ll just embarrass the entire Vaise family and possibly get demoted to ’family disappointment.’ No pressure."

Raven’s jaw clenched, and Alex flinched. "H-Hey! I-I was just saying, man! No need to get so worked up!"

Raven closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. ’No use beating the guy. It won’t help me pass the test.’

Yes, he had to worry about passing.

After all, despite having a great sword talent, he wasn’t that great at studies, unlike the original Raven, who was good at studies but sucked at swordplay.

’At times like this, I wish I had a photographic memory!’

Walking a step behind Raven and looking at his expression, Rufus tried to comfort the guy. "Cousin Greg had already taken that title, so you don’t need to worry."

Raven’s lips twitched, and his jaws clenched.

"Man..." Alex, with an expression of pity, shook his head. "You should’ve just stayed quiet."

"W-What...?" Rufus had a bad feeling and the next second—

"You know, you should stay quiet..."

—Raven’s voice reached his ears.

"You feel more like pop-up ads these days," Raven turned toward Rufus, who didn’t even understand what pop-up ads were. "You are unwanted, unnecessary, and somehow always there."

"Damn..." Alex shivered, feeling the burn secondhand. "I don’t even know what pop-up ads are, but I get the second part, and that alone is enough to make me feel bad for poor Rufus."

"This is why you should know when to speak," Jessy sighed, shaking her head as she distanced herself from Rufus, not wanting to catch the disease of brainlessness.

Jake sighed, his expression calm as always. He had already seen this coming when Rufus’s lips moved.

And now, it happened.

Walking ahead, Clara snorted; not even interested in this topic—her attention was elsewhere.

Rufus, on the other hand, lowered his head. "I-I was just—"

"Existing, I know," Raven cut him off, his expression filled with understanding. "We all have our burdens."

...that last line hurt Rufus hard, and the rest of the walk was almost silent, as no one wanted to irk Raven.

However, despite how they were talking among themselves, to others, they were a striking group, walking down the path lined with trimmed hedges and statues of past academy legends.

Each had the crest showing affiliation to the Vaise family—the Black Dragon—pinned on their collars.

Among them, a girl attracted the most attention because she kept humming as they walked, unbothered by Raven’s mood.

It was Siris.

Dressed in her formal exam robe—a sleek, modified version of the academy’s uniform—she walked with eerie grace, blue eyes clear and calm.

She didn’t seem nervous. Not in the least.

Instead, she looked... curious, like a cat examining its new territory.

However, no one said anything to her, not bothered by her presence.

All except one person.

’Fuck! Why is she walking so close to him?!’ Clara growled inwardly, gritting her teeth in annoyance.

What bothered Clara wasn’t just how close Siris was walking beside Raven—it was that Siris had been doing that every day for the past three days.

Her mind drifted back to the moment Siris was declared a Vaise.

"The one who brought her will be responsible for teaching her the Vaise way and ensuring that she doesn’t do something that could tarnish the Vaise name."

Those were the Patriarch’s words, and from his tone, it was clear he wouldn’t take any objections.

’S-So what if it’s the Patriarch’s orders?!’ Snapping back to the present because of Siris’s humming, Clara exclaimed inwardly, ’She can’t just take my position!’

Clara had observed it since the day of verification; Siris had attached herself to Raven like a loyal ghost.

Worse, she didn’t even realize how much it irritated Clara.

"Scoot left," Clara hissed silently, nudging Raven, who didn’t budge.

"What?"

"She’s too close."

"She’s always close. I tried moving; she moved too."

"Try moving faster."

Meanwhile, Siris tilted her head toward Raven and said, "Will there be food after this?"

Raven nodded absently. "Yeah, probably."

"Then I will pass the test."

"...That’s your motivation?"

"Yes. Food away from the old place tastes good."

Those words silenced the group as they recalled what Siris had been through. Even Clara lowered her head, feeling somewhat guilty.

That was until she saw Siris’s shadow shifting closer to Raven’s.

Clara ground her teeth. "Raven."

"Yes?"

"She’s not even trying to hide it anymore."

"Hiding what?!" He asked, exasperated.

"That she’s marking you like a wolf on territory!"

"I am not," Siris said blandly, then added, "...Unless that’s how you become official."

"What?!"

"We are here," Jessy cut in, pointing at the gate before them. "If we delay, they will be late."

Clara clenched her jaw, slamming her feet on the floor and huffing before she nodded.

They approached the looming doors of the Main Hall, where dozens of students were already lined up.

Most were second-year students who had failed their tests, trying to retry, hoping to qualify for the third year.

Few of them paid Raven’s group any mind—except when they noticed the Vaise crests. Then, the whispering started.

"Those are the Vaises."

"Then the one at the center must be Raven Von Vaise..."

"So, he’s the one who’s responsible for the previous principal’s death."

"Yeah, man. The first day in the academy, he had already taken down the Principal. I wonder what more he would do."

"What’s with the girl beside him? Is she a Vaise too?"

"She’s... quite a beauty."

"But man, doesn’t she feel dangerous?"

"Hah... danger is my friend—"

"There’s a spider on your shoulder."

"—Ahhhh!!"

"Some friends you are with danger."

Raven’s group reached the door surrounded by whispers, and the guard stepped aside without a word, recognizing the crest.

An older examiner greeted them, offering them a respectful nod.

"Raven Vaise. Siris Vaise. Welcome. You’re here for your theory exams?"

Raven sighed. "Yes."

"Very well. As per your status, you’re exempt from physical trials. Please proceed to your private examination room. Three out of five subject passes are required for third-year enrollment."

As they moved past the threshold, Raven gave one last look at his group.

"I hope I survive this."

"You survived five of us at once," Clara said, repeating the word he had once said. "This should be easier, right?"

The sarcasm was clear in her voice, but Raven couldn’t respond to her, as he knew it would make things worse.

Siris, on the other hand, was humming to herself.

"...You’re awfully calm," Raven muttered.

"I finished the course material," she said plainly.

"You... what?"

"In three days. I now understand the empire’s structure, magical theory, alchemical principles, historical timelines, and beast classification. The world’s systems are fascinating."

Raven nearly tripped on the threshold. "You WHAT?!"

"Come, I’ll help you if you want," she said, walking ahead, expecting him to follow.

Behind them, Clara was watching like a hawk.

"Three days?" She whispered.

"She didn’t sleep," Jessy whispered back. "I saw her reading four books at once."

"She memorized the dictionary," Jake added, monotone.

Alex folded his arms. "Well, that’s great. So, she’s not just a walking death machine—she’s also a genius? Why not throw in flight and fire-breathing while we’re at it?"

Clara narrowed her eyes. "I hate that she’s this efficient."

Inside the exam hall, Raven sat down with the same energy as a man facing trial.

The instructor placed the papers in front of them.

"You may begin."

The sound of quills scratching echoed.

Raven stared at the first question.

"Explain the role and long-term impact of the Great Mana Collapse on magical development and societal structure."

He blinked.

Then blinked again.

Then he lowered his forehead slowly to the table.

Thud.

"...I hope I pass," he whispered.

Across from him, Siris had already filled half a page.

...........................

Outside the room, the rest of the team waited in a lounge reserved for high-status examinees’ guests.

They played a quiet game of cards, but their ears were attuned to the clock’s ticking, each second dragging longer than the last.

"Think he’ll pass?" Alex asked.

"..." Clara said nothing, her mind still occupied with a problem called Siris.

"Yes," Jessy answered instead. "He might fear the test because of how difficult the books he read were, but remember what books we gave him?"

Alex tilted his head. "Wasn’t it our course book?"

"...no," Rufus corrected. "There were books of the old course, which was said to be harder than any courses ever existing."

"So... he’ll pass?" Alex asked again.

"Yes," Jessy replied again before she added, "Let’s hope he doesn’t stop at the first question, as that’s always the hardest question in the paper."

Jake only sipped his tea in silence.

But somewhere in their minds, they all knew one thing.

If Raven failed... they wouldn’t be staying in the academy either.