Novel's Extra: The Lost Heir of Dragon Queen

Kael returned to his dorm, a secluded space of luxury befitting the status of an S-Class student.

The dormitory itself was an architectural marvel, a towering structure with an intricate blend of classical and modern designs.

Each S-Class student was afforded their own private room.

Kael stepped into his room, a spacious chamber.

A large window stretched across one side of the room, offering an unobstructed view of the academy’s sprawling grounds and the distant mountains.

The furniture was minimal yet elegant—

Kael sat on the edge of his bed.

His thoughts drifted as he gazed out the window.

The mix-class session between both sections of S-Class.

He knew exactly what tomorrow’s mixed class for S-Class students was about.

The academy was preparing to announce the upcoming S-rank mission.

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The grand hall of the academy buzzed with palpable energy, the air thick with excitement, rivalry, and unspoken tension.

The two S-Class sections had finally merged, and as the large doors to the auditorium creaked open, a collective hush fell over the room.

Students shifted in their seats.

Some scanning the room in search of their future life partner, others whispering among themselves.

Kael’s entrance into the hall did not go unnoticed.

In fact, it seemed like the entire room turned its gaze toward him.

The whispers started almost immediately, a soft murmur that rippled across the space, then grew louder as more eyes turned toward the trio entering behind him.

Kael eyes briefly flicked to Lumia, who was seated toward the front of the room.

The moment she saw him, her purple eyes locked onto his with an intensity that made Kael’s heart momentarily race.

She didn’t look away, her gaze fixed on him, and he could feel the weight of it—

But before he could process it fully, the moment passed.

She subtly turned her attention back to the front of the room, her expression unreadable, though Kael could feel the residual pull of her gaze lingering.

Ren, walking beside him, smirked and leaned in.

"Well, well, seems like you’ve got the whole room watching, Kael. Guess they can’t stop talking about how you wiped the floor with Eric. You’re turning into a bit of a legend around here."

Marcus chuckled from Kael’s other side.

"Not just legends. More like a celebrity status," he said.

Kael glanced around at the students who had shifted their attention to him, his face remaining a mask of calm as he allowed the whispers to wash over him.

He wasn’t bothered by it; in fact, he found a strange sense of satisfaction in it.

The rumors that had spread about his fight with Roderick, the son of the first noble house, were inevitable.

Suddenly, Lira—his teammate, and one of the only people Kael truly considered a close ally—was there behind him.

Before Kael could react, Lira jumped onto his back with a mischievous grin, causing a loud laugh to echo through the room.

Her weight was light but her enthusiasm infectious, and she playfully wrapped her arms around his neck in a headlock, making it seem like she was trying to choke him.

"Hey, Kael! You look like you’re the center of attention! Let’s make it even more fun!"

Kael groaned, shifting to balance her weight. "Lira, get off before you break my spine."

The students around them burst into laughter.

For a moment, the atmosphere lightened, and Kael, though slightly startled, grinned despite himself.

It wasn’t often that his team members were this carefree in public, but Lira’s impulsive nature always had a way of breaking the ice.

Lumia, seated at the front, had been watching the scene unfold.her lips pressing into a thin line.

Her grip on her pen tightened as Lira’s laughter rang out. As then—

Kael gaze shifted towards Lumia

Lumia —Who, up until now, had been sitting still and composed.

She stood up abruptly, her piercing gaze never leaving Kael.

Her Purple eyes burned with a mixture of curiosity and an almost predatory intensity as she stepped forward, walking toward him with quiet purpose.

As she approached, Kael could feel the weight of her approach—a silent challenge in her every step.

The room fell quiet again, the students sensing the sudden shift in atmosphere.

Some even leaned forward in their seats, wondering what would happen next.

Kael’s chest tightened as he met her gaze, but he refused to flinch, standing tall as she came closer.

The moment Lumia reached him, she stopped, her eyes narrowing slightly as she regarded Lira on his back.

"Kael — You’re a bit too... lively, aren’t you?" Lumia remarked, her voice smooth but laced with an edge.

"Do you think this is appropriate behavior during an official assembly?"

Kael’s brow furrowed as he glanced at her. "Is there a problem, President?"

"Go to your seat. Don’t make a scene here."

There was no mistaking the sharp edge to her tone, the kind of forceful command that made the entire room quiet down.

She wasn’t asking.

She was ordering, as if she were a leader used to everyone following her.

Kael blinked in surprise, his heart skipping for a brief moment.

He had expected some kind of reaction, but this? The president of the first year, Lumia, acting with such decisiveness—and in front of everyone?

It felt different

Kael’s attention was no longer on lira or the others.

His gaze was firmly on Lumia now, who, after issuing her command, quickly turned her eyes away from him.

Kael frowned, his mind working.

Why did she look away so quickly? She had been staring at him with such intensity moments ago.

Her eyes locked onto him like she had something to say—but now, she seemed almost… uncomfortable?

Kael’s instincts told him something was off.

It was the way she held herself, her rigid posture betraying a quiet frustration.

As the room filled with whispers and murmurs again, Kael couldn’t shake the feeling that something deeper was going on.

Was it just the stress of being president? Or was there something more personal behind her words?

Lumia’s face remained unreadable, her back straight, but her expression betrayed a flicker of something he couldn’t quite decipher.

Jealousy? Kael thought to himself, a faint realization creeping up on him.

Her eyes darted to the side, her lips twitching slightly as if she were holding something back.

It was clear to Kael now—

Lumia sat back down, her heart pounding in her chest. Why did I react like that?. Why did it anger me so much?

Just then, the Professor stepped forward, his presence immediately commanding attention.

The murmurs in the room stopped, and every student shifted into a more attentive position, the playful energy giving way to something more serious.

"Good Morning, S-class students," he began, his deep voice reverberating in the grand hall.

"Today, we gather for an announcement that will set the tone for the next stage of your journey as elite members of this academy."

The room fell silent, save for the faint rustling of robes and the occasional shifting of chairs.

"Your first goal," he said, his gaze sweeping the room, "is Carol Island."

The name dropped like a thunderclap, and a ripple of whispers spread among the students.

"Carol Island? Isn’t that—"

"The island full of magical anomalies?"

"I heard it’s crawling with dangerous monsters."

The professor raised a hand, and the whispers ceased instantly.

"Indeed, Carol Island," he confirmed.

"An island known for its unpredictable terrain, ancient ruins, and a wealth of dangerous creatures. It is a place where only the strongest, the smartest, and the most resourceful can thrive. And that is why it has been designated as the location for your first S-rank task."

A murmur of excitement and apprehension swept through the hall, quickly silenced again as the professor continued.

"The Rewards for entering Carol Island are sent to your group chat"

"However, not every team will be allowed to participate," he said, his voice taking on a sterner tone.

"Only four teams will earn the right to take on this task. To determine those four, we will conduct a selection process."

The students leaned forward in their seats, the weight of his words settling on them.

"The selection will be based on your ability to complete objectives" the professor explained.

"Each team must successfully complete ten C-rank missions, seven B-rank missions, and four A-rank missions. These tasks are not to be taken lightly—they will test your skills, your teamwork, and your resilience."

He paused, letting the magnitude of the challenge sink in.

"The first four teams to meet these criteria will be granted the honor of competing on Carol Island. Your time begins tomorrow."

A sharp intake of breath echoed across the hall, followed by an eruption of whispers.

"Ten C-rank, seven B-rank, four A-rank? That’s insane!"

"Only four teams? The competition will be brutal."

"Carol Island... If we get selected, this could define our careers."

The professor allowed the students a moment to absorb the information before raising his hand once more—