Uriel's eyes followed hers to the massive scoreboard displayed in the central courtyard.
Student names were arranged by department and year, and within moments her gaze landed on the top bracket.
As expected—Stacia's name stood at the very top.
"Looks like Stacia's ranked first again," Uriel murmured, almost to herself. "She really doesn't let up."
"She's amazing," Reina added quietly, glancing at the board as well. "She topped the midterms too, didn't she?"
"Mm." Uriel's smile tightened faintly. "I suppose sharing the number one spot in the Knight Department with her was bound to be temporary."
Her words weren't bitter, just... honest.
Although their rankings in the Knight Department were neck and neck in terms of practical combat, the written exams had tipped the balance.
Stacia's academic prowess—refined, relentless, and precise—pushed her slightly ahead overall.
Uriel, while no slouch herself, had always leaned more toward battlefield instincts than scholarly theory.
