Chapter 14 Entering the Viper’s Nest

The heavy wooden gates of the Obsidian Academy stood wide open under the dark sky. Beyond the walls, the school looked like a massive castle made of dark rock, its tall towers stretching up into the cold night fog. Small lanterns hung along the paths, casting a faint yellow glow over the courtyard.

Rudy walked through the entrance, carrying his own small travel bag with his left hand. His right shoulder was still stiff and sore from the carriage accident, but he kept his posture straight.

A few steps behind him walked Bella. She was no longer wearing her silver dress. Before entering the gates, the academy guards had handed her a plain, gray servant’s uniform with a white apron. The fabric was rough and cheap, a clear sign of her low status in this place.

The courtyard was busy. Dozens of wealthy students dressed in fine black uniforms with gold trim were standing in small groups, talking and laughing. These were the children of the empire's top families, powerful nobles, and magic prodigies.

As Rudy and Bella moved down the main path, the chatter slowly died down. Heads turned, and eyes fixed onto them.

"Look who it is," a tall boy with sleek brown hair whispered loudly to his friends. "Is that the eldest son of House Vance? The one who made a fool of himself in front of the Crown Prince?"

"Yes, that's him," a girl replied, letting out a sharp snicker behind her hand. "The rumors say he can't even light a candle with his mana. His father kicked him out of the capital to hide the shame."

Rudy kept walking, his face perfectly calm. He didn't look at the students, nor did he respond to the insults. He had expected this. In a school built on power and reputation, the "Disgraced Fool of House Vance" was an easy target.

"Rudeus," Bella muttered from behind him, her voice tight. She was staring at the ground, her fingers gripping her apron tightly. "They are all looking at us."

"Let them look," Rudy said quietly, not slowing his pace. "Their words don't change who we are. Keep your head up, Bella."

Bella lifted her gaze slightly, looking at the back of his head. She was surprised by how little he cared. The old Rudeus would have started a fight or screamed threats at anyone who dared to laugh at him. This calm indifference was far more intimidating.

They reached the main doors of the grand hall, where an older man in a long black robe was waiting with a checklist. He looked at Rudy’s plain traveling clothes, then down at his paper.

"Name?" the man asked, his tone dry and bored.

"Rudeus Vance," Rudy replied.

The man marked the page with a thick line. "Ah, yes. The transfer from the capital. Your father left specific instructions. Your room is in the lowest tier of the boys' dormitory, room 104. You will receive your basic uniform tomorrow morning."

The man then shifted his eyes to Bella, his gaze turning cold. "And this must be your personal maid. Servants are not allowed in the student quarters after dark. Girl, your bed is in the basement kitchen barracks. You report for duty at five in the morning."

Bella’s shoulders tensed. She looked at Rudy, a sudden flash of fear in her dark eyes. She had never lived in a servant barracks before.

Rudy stepped in closer to the desk. "Is there an issue if she handles my laundry and meals personally?"

"As long as she doesn't break the curfew," the robed man said, waving his hand dismissively. "Now move along. You are blocking the path for the real elite."

A few students behind them laughed out loud at the comment.

Rudy didn't argue. He turned to Bella, his voice softening so only she could hear. "Go to the barracks and get some rest. Don't worry about what they say. I will find you tomorrow near the dining hall."

Bella looked at him, her lips parted as if she wanted to say something more. The gray uniform made her look small, but the intense curiosity in her eyes was stronger than ever. "Are you going to be alright alone?"

"I am fine," Rudy said, offering a small nod. "Take care of yourself, Bella."

She paused for a second, then gave a quiet nod. She turned and followed a passing kitchen servant down a dark set of stairs leading to the basement.

Rudy watched her disappear before turning toward the boys' dormitory. As he walked down the long, dim corridor of the lower tier, he could feel the cold dampness of the walls. It was a place reserved for the weakest and most disgraced students of the academy.

He found room 104 and pushed the door open. Inside was nothing but a small cot, a plain desk, and a single window looking out at the dark courtyard.

Rudy tossed his bag onto the bed and sat down. He called for the system in his mind.

The yellowed parchment floated into view, the text glowing faintly in the dim room:

Rudeus Vance has entered the Obsidian Academy as a total outcast. Surrounded by enemies and marked as a fool, his survival rate has dropped significantly.

Rudy looked at the words and let out a dry, quiet chuckle. "An outcast? Perfect. That means nobody will be paying attention when I start changing the rules."