Reborn as The Seventh Prince of Eternal Winter

Chapter 45: Chapter 45: The Upper Class

Theon walked stright to his chambers while Trying not to atract Lyra or Lazeria attention towards The door. he soon got to his chambers and slept off while thinking about what was within the door Soon The morning bell of the Imperial Academy rang across the floating bridges.

Theon opened his eyes slowly.

For a second, he forgot where he was.

Then he saw the silver ceiling, the blue mana lights, and the faint glow of the imperial runes, and everything came rushing back.

The Hall of Resonance.

The sealed results.

The strange blue door.

And the pulse he had felt from the Eternal Frostblade during the night.

He sat up and looked toward the far wall. The sealed door could not be seen from his room, but he still remembered the way its runes had reacted to him. The glow had reached its peak, and his chest had tightened as if something inside him had answered it.

A soft knock came from the entrance.

"Master, are you awake?"

Lazeria.

"Yes."

She entered carrying the academy uniform that had been delivered earlier that morning.

It was different from the uniforms of ordinary students. White and silver, with a dark blue mantle over the shoulders. On the chest, the emblem of the imperial family was woven together with the crest of the academy.

Lazeria held it carefully, almost like it was something sacred.

"It suits you."

Theon took the uniform and smiled a little. "I haven’t even worn it yet."

"I can already tell."

Before he could reply, the door burst open.

Lyra marched in, dragging her oversized uniform behind her.

"This thing is trying to eat me."

Theon stared.

The sleeves covered half her hands, and the mantle nearly reached the floor.

Lazeria quickly covered her mouth to stop herself from laughing.

Ifrith, curled up on the windowsill while stretching his cat form body, did not even try to hide his amusement.

"The future terror of the academy has been defeated by clothing."

Lyra pointed at him. "You’re next."

"I refuse."

A short while later, the four of them left the Imperial Dormitory.

The floating bridges were already crowded with students heading toward the academic district. The moment people noticed Theon, the atmosphere changed.

First came whispers.

Then someone started clapping.

Another joined in.

Within seconds, applause spread across the bridge.

"That’s the Seventh Prince!"

"The one who’s results were sealed!"

"The student who shattered the resonance hall!"

Theon’s expression became stiff.

He hated this.

He had wanted a quiet academy life, something ordinary and peaceful. Instead, he felt like a spectacle being pushed onto a stage he had never agreed to stand on.

Lyra waved happily at the crowd, enjoying every second of it.

Lazeria looked overwhelmed and stayed close to Theon.

Ifrith muttered, "You should wave too."

"Absolutely not."

"It would improve your image."

"I don’t need an image."

Ifrith blinked. "That is the most unrealistic thing you’ve said so far."

Theon ignored him and kept walking.

Students moved aside instinctively as he passed. Some looked excited, some nervous, and some openly suspicious. Their attention settled on him like a second cloak.

The Upper Class building stood apart from the other academy halls.

Unlike the elegant silver architecture of the central academy, this structure was built from dark froststone reinforced with combat runes. Sword marks covered the walls, and mana scars spread across the training yard.

This was not a place for scholars.

It was a place for fighters.

Theon entered the classroom first.

The noise inside disappeared instantly.

Dozens of students turned to look at him, then at Lyra, then at Lazeria. The silence became so complete that he could hear the faint hum of the runes beneath the floor.

He resisted the urge to sigh.

"Good morning."

No one answered.

A few students quickly looked away. Others stared even harder.

At the back of the room, the silver-haired swordsman Leon gave him a small nod.

Near the window sat the mysterious girl from the plaza. Her crimson eyes flicked briefly toward Ifrith before returning to the world outside.

Beside the center aisle lounged a broad-shouldered noble boy with bright red hair and an arrogant expression.

The loud rival Jason.

The moment Theon and the others sat down, Jason stood up

"So it’s true."

The classroom tensed immediately.

Theon looked at him.

Jason crossed his arms. "The prince with no rank actually made it into the Upper Class."

Murmurs spread through the room.

Lyra frowned.

Lazeria looked uneasy.

Ifrith’s tail flicked once, slow and deliberate.

Theon answered calmly. "Do you need something?"

Jason’s eye twitched. "I need to know if the rumors are true."

"What rumors?"

"That you’re stronger than the rest of us."

Theon leaned back in his chair. "I never said that."

Jason took a step forward. "Then fight me."

Several students immediately became interested. A duel on the first day was exactly the kind of chaos they wanted.

Theon looked at him for a moment, then shook his head.

"No."

The classroom blinked.

Jason also blinked too.

"No?"

"I’m not interested."

His face darkened. "You refuse?"

"Yes."

"Because you’re afraid?"

"No."

"Then why?"

Theon met his gaze without the slightest change in expression.

"Because there’s not worth or gain in going up against you."

Jason clenched his fists.

"You the prince actually hides behind his title.."

Theon stood up slowly.

For a moment, several students thought he had accepted.

Instead, he walked past Jason and sat down again as if nothing had happened.

Jason expression became even uglier.

"You think you’re special because your result was hidden?"

Theon did not even look at him.

"I think you care about my result more than I do."

A few students failed to hold back their laughter.

As Jason face turned red.

Ifrith whispered, "Third time ignored."

"I’m still not counting." Theon said

"I am." Said Ifrith

Before the argument could continue, the classroom doors opened.

Then An instructor entered, and the entire room straightened immediately.

He was a tall man with short black hair, a scar across his jaw, and the presence of someone who had spent most of his life on battlefields rather than behind a desk. A sword hung at his waist, and the pressure of his mana filled the room effortlessly.

"Enough."

One word was enough to silence everyone.

His eyes swept across the class, pausing briefly on Theon, then Lyra, then the red-haired boy named Jason.

"Today’s combat placement test will determine your practical class assignment."

He turned to the board and wrote three names.

Lower Class.

Middle Class.

Upper Class.

He faced them again.

"This is not a mana test."

Several students looked surprised.

"This is a swordsmanship and combat evaluation."

The class became serious at once.

"You will face an academy instructor. Your performance, not your victory, will determine your placement."

He pointed toward the training yard outside.

"We begin immediately."

Theon rose with the others and followed the class toward the combat grounds.

Far above the academy, hidden behind the clouds, the tallest building pulsed once with a faint blue light.

The training yard behind the Upper Class building was enormous.

Black froststone covered the ground, and dozens of combat runes glowed faintly beneath the surface. Practice dummies lined the edges of the arena, each reinforced with mana-resistant metal.

The moment the students arrived, the atmosphere changed completely.

The chatter disappeared.

This was no longer a classroom.

It was a battlefield.

Three instructors stood waiting in the center of the yard.

The lead instructor from before stepped forward.

"My name is Instructor Kaelus."

His voice carried across the arena with ease.

"You will face one of us for a short exchange. We are not testing your strength alone."

He raised a finger.

"We are testing your judgment, your control, your reaction speed, and your swordsmanship level."

Several students swallowed nervously.

Kaelus pointed at the first student.

"You. Begin."

The test moved quickly.

Some students attacked recklessly and were defeated within seconds.

Others defended well but lacked confidence.

A few showed genuine talent.

After each match, Kaelus announced the placement.

"Lower Class."

"Middle Class."

"Upper Class."

The crowd grew quieter as they realized the instructors were much stronger than expected.

Then it was Lyra’s turn.

The small girl walked into the arena carrying a training sword that looked almost as long as she was tall.

A few students chuckled.

Even the instructor facing her looked uncertain.

"You may begin when ready."

Lyra held the sword awkwardly.

The instructor attacked first with a simple probing strike.

Her eyes widened.

Then instinct took over.

Clang.

A perfect parry.

The instructor blinked.

A second strike came from the side.

Clang.

Another clean parry.

The third attack came faster.

Lyra stepped back, turned her wrist, and redirected the blade with frightening precision.

The arena fell silent.

Theon narrowed his eyes.

That was not Lyra’s swordsmanship.

That was the Flame Empress.

Not full possession, only fragments of ancient instinct flowing through her movements.

The instructor increased his speed.

Lyra kept parrying.

Not elegantly.

Not like a trained swordsman.

But with terrifying accuracy that seemed far older than her own years.

After several exchanges, Kaelus raised a hand.

"Enough."

The instructor stepped back, breathing a little harder than before.

Kaelus studied Lyra for a long moment.

"Upper Class."

The students burst into surprised murmurs.

Lyra blinked.

"I passed?"

"You did more than pass." Ifrith said

She ran back to Theon with a huge grin.

"Did you see that?"

"I did."

"Was I cool?"

Theon smiled faintly, warmth spreading through his chest despite everything.

"Very."

More students were tested.

The red-haired rival earned Upper Class after a powerful but reckless performance.

Leon also earned Upper Class with calm, efficient swordsmanship that impressed even Kaelus.

Then Kaelus called,

"Prince Theon Nivaris."

The yard became quiet again.

A normal instructor stepped forward to face him, but before the match began, Kaelus raised a hand.

The instructor stopped.

Kaelus walked forward, took the training sword from him, and entered the arena himself.

Murmurs spread immediately.

"The lead instructor?"

"He’s testing the prince personally?"

Theon’s expression remained calm, but inside he became cautious.

This was different.

Kaelus settled into a stable stance.

"Show me what earned you a place in this class

Young prince."

Theon tightened his grip on the sword.

He could not afford to underestimate this man.

Inside his mind, he called silently.

World Archive. Evaluate opponent.

A blue screen appeared.

Notifications currently suppressed by user. Several pending notifications remain unopened. Proceed with evaluation only?

Yes.

The screen shifted.

Analyzing target.

Evaluation complete.

Opponent threat level: 80%.

Estimated combat experience: Extremely high.

Probability of user defeat: 70%.

Recommended strategy: Avoid prolonged exchange.

Theon’s eyes narrowed.

Seventy percent.

This was far more dangerous than he had expected.

He dismissed the screen, feeling his heartbeat quicken.

Kaelus noticed the brief change in his expression.

"Ready?"

Theon exhaled slowly.

Ready or not, he had no choice.

"Ready."

Kaelus lowered his stance.

"Come."

Theon moved first.

He rushed straight toward the instructor.

Several students looked surprised, but Kaelus did not move. His eyes remained fixed on Theon’s shoulders, hips, and sword angle.

A skilled fighter would never charge directly without a plan.

Which meant the charge itself was probably the plan.

Kaelus prepared for a feint.

At the last second, Theon leaped upward and brought his sword down in an overhead strike.

Kaelus blocked exactly as Theon had intended.

The instant their blades met, Theon twisted his wrist and let the force slide away.

Instead of pushing down, he used the rebound to spin around Kaelus’s right side.

Kaelus reacted immediately.

Too fast.

Theon barely avoided the counterattack, the training sword passing his shoulder by less than a finger’s width.

The crowd gasped.

Theon retreated three steps, breath tight in his chest.

the seventy percent had definitely not been exaggerated.

Kaelus was genuinely dangerous.

The instructor attacked again, faster this time.

Clang. Clang. Clang.

Theon blocked three strikes in rapid succession.

The fourth forced him backward, and his arms trembled from the impact.

Lazeria’s hands tightened anxiously.

Lyra leaned forward without realizing it.

Ifrith’s eyes remained fixed on the fight, unblinking.

Kaelus pressed forward relentlessly.

Theon defended, redirected, and searched desperately for an opening.

Then he saw it.

Not a weakness in the stance.

A weakness in expectation.

Kaelus expected another trick.

So Theon gave him one.

He deliberately stumbled.

Just slightly.

Kaelus’s eyes sharpened at once.

An opening.

He struck immediately.

At that exact moment, Theon’s stumble vanished.

He pivoted low, slid past the attack, and appeared behind the instructor.

The tip of his training sword stopped cleanly at Kaelus’s neck.

Silence.

Complete silence.

Kaelus froze.

Then he slowly lowered his own sword.

Theon stepped back immediately, his heart hammering in his chest.

For a second, nobody spoke.

An S-rank adventurer instructor had just been defeated by a ten-year-old prince.

Kaelus turned to face him.

The surprise in his eyes was real.

Then he nodded once.

"Upper Class."

The yard exploded with noise.

As Lyra cheered loudly. Lazeria looked stunned, one hand still pressed against her chest.

Jason stared in disbelief.

Then Leon’s eyes narrowed with quiet, growing interest.

And from the shadow beside the academy wall, Noel Embercrest watched the Seventh Prince for once with genuine, undivided attention.