Chapter 94: The Interview Where Arrogance Meets Bureaucracy

The next morning, guards escorted Jax through the academy’s pristine marble corridors.

They stopped at massive double doors. One guard knocked twice. The doors swung open.

Jax stepped inside.

The room was vast. Circular. Designed for intimidation.

He stood on the ground floor—a lone figure in the center of a sunken arena. Above him, seven elevated seats formed a semicircle, each positioned higher than his eye level, forcing him to look up at whoever sat there.

’Classic power move,’ Jax thought. ’Make the peasant crane his neck.’

For now, the seats were empty. Silent.

Then footsteps echoed.

The first figure entered with grace that defied age.

An elf woman with silver hair. Her face bore the faint lines of centuries, yet she moved with ethereal elegance. She wore flowing robes of deep blue embroidered with gold runes.

She sat without a word, her nameplate gleaming:

Aerisya Velith Elunar - Senior Professor of Ancient Magics.

Next came a woman whose presence chilled the room.

Pale skin. Crimson eyes that glowed faintly in the light. A black gown that seemed to drink in shadows. She moved with predatory grace, yawning as she sat.

Lucindra Valis Arriel - Professor of Blood Arts & Combat Theory.

A human male followed. Middle-aged, stern-faced, wearing formal academy robes. He glanced at Jax with thinly veiled annoyance before taking his seat.

Gareth Crownhart - Professor of Magic Circles & Foundations.

A massive wolfkin male lumbered in next. Silver fur, scarred arms, eyes sharp as daggers. He grinned—a predator’s grin and immediately leaned toward the next arrival.

Rowen Fenrisborn - Combat Instructor (Weapons & Tactics).

A cat-woman entered with a hiss, her tail flicking in irritation. Golden eyes locked onto the wolfkin with murderous intent. She wore light armor, twin daggers at her hips.

Kessiri Talli’nah - Duel Master & Close Combat Specialist.

"Still dragging your flea-bitten ass to meetings, mutt?" she purred.

"Still pretending those toothpicks are real weapons, kitten?" Rowen shot back.

Kessiri’s claws extended. "Say that again."

"Children," a bored voice drawled. Lucindra didn’t even open her eyes.

Then she arrived.

A dragonkin woman. Towering. Crimson scales glinting along her exposed arms and neck. Horns curving back from her temples. Eyes like molten gold, radiating arrogance. She wore fitted combat leathers that screamed confidence—or arrogance. Probably both.

She didn’t sit. She claimed her seat like a throne.

Zharina Drak’Thyra - Master of Martial Superiority.

Jax smirked. ’That title alone is a red flag.’

Finally, the air itself seemed to shift.

The last figure entered, and every single professor straightened.

She was tall. Elegant. Her presence didn’t announce itself—it dominated. Dark hair streaked with silver. Eyes that glowed faintly violet, radiating authority. Horns—subtle, elegant—curved from her temples. Her aura felt... demonic. But not entirely.

Jax’s eyes narrowed. ’Wait. Isn’t she... a demon? Aren’t demons supposed to be the bad guys here? Why is she—’

She sat, and the room fell silent.

Lysandra Ophyria - Headmistress of Astryx Academy.

Lysandra’s gaze fell on Jax. "State your name."

"Jax Rayne."

"Where are you from?"

"Veldora. Recently."

"And before that?"

Jax smiled. "A place you wouldn’t believe if I told you."

Aerisya leaned forward. "Try us."

"Let’s just say I’m from very far away."

Lucindra opened one eye. "You’re a terrible liar."

"I’m an excellent liar. You’re just perceptive."

Gareth’s jaw tightened. "Answer the question properly."

"I did. You just didn’t like the answer."

Zharina snorted. "This is already a waste of time."

"What is your mana core phase?" Aerisya asked.

Jax’s expression didn’t change. "I can’t tell you that."

Silence.

"Excuse me?" Gareth said, voice dangerously low.

"I said I can’t tell you."

"You can’t, or you won’t?" Lucindra’s eyes glowed brighter.

"Does it matter?"

Zharina slammed her hand on the armrest. "Who the fuck do you think you are? We’re offering you a position, and you refuse to answer basic questions?!"

Jax met her gaze. Unflinching. "If my phase mattered, you’d already know it. The King vouched for me. That should be enough."

"The King," Zharina spat, "doesn’t run this academy."

"Lucky for you," Jax said. "Otherwise you’d be unemployed."

Rowen barked a laugh. Kessiri’s lips twitched.

Lysandra raised a hand. "Enough."

The room fell silent.

"Scenario," Aerisya said, her tone clinical. "A student refuses to follow your instructions during a training exercise. How do you handle it?"

"I ask them why."

"They say your methods are outdated."

"Then I demonstrate why they’re still breathing using those ’outdated’ methods."

Lucindra smirked.

"A student challenges you to a duel," Gareth said. "They claim you’re unqualified. What do you do?"

"Accept. Beat them. Then ask if they have any other complaints."

"What if you lose?" Kessiri asked, genuinely curious.

"I don’t."

Zharina laughed. "Arrogant little shit."

"A student is being bullied by their peers," Rowen said. "Do you intervene?"

Jax paused. "Depends."

"On what?"

"Whether the kid fights back. If they don’t, they’re not worth saving. If they do, I teach them how to fight better."

Aerisya frowned. "That’s... harsh."

"That’s reality. You don’t learn by being coddled."

Lysandra leaned forward. "We will now vote. Those in favor of advancing Jax Rayne to the combat trial, raise your hand."

Rowen’s hand stayed down. "I vote no."

Aerisya shook her head. "No."

Lucindra yawned. "No."

Three rejections.

Jax’s jaw tightened.

Zharina grinned, her golden eyes gleaming with sadistic glee. "My turn."

Before she could speak, Jax cut her off.

"Let me save you the effort."

All eyes turned to him.

Jax stepped forward, his voice rising. "You’re going to reject me. Not because I’m unqualified. But because you’re scared."

Zharina’s grin faltered.

"You sit up there in your fancy chairs, hiding behind titles and bureaucracy, pretending you’re gatekeepers of excellence. But the truth?" He pointed at each of them. "You’re terrified of someone who doesn’t play by your rules. Someone who doesn’t need your approval."

"How dare you—" Gareth started.

"I’m not finished." Jax’s voice was ice. "You want to know my phase? My background? My qualifications? Here’s the only qualification that matters: I’m better than you. All of you."

Zharina stood, fury radiating. "You arrogant little worm—"

"Prove me wrong."

Silence.

"I’ve fought beasts. Bandits. Assassins. I’ve survived forests that would kill you in minutes. And you think I’m not qualified to teach children?"

Rowen’s grin widened.

"So go ahead. Reject me. Prove you’re the cowards I think you are."

Lysandra’s eyes narrowed. "You finished?"

"For now."

Zharina’s scales shimmered with barely contained rage. "You want to talk about qualifications? You’re a boy a child. A nobody. You couldn’t last five minutes against—"

"Zharina." Lysandra’s voice cut like a blade. "Control yourself."

The dragonkin woman snarled but fell silent.

Then she smiled. Slow. Dangerous.

"Fine. I’ll respect you. Hell, I’ll even vote for you."

Jax raised an eyebrow.

"If you beat me. Right here. Right now."

Jax’s grin was immediate. "Finally. Someone interesting."

The room erupted.

"I’m bored anyway," Lucindra muttered.

Rowen leaned back, grinning. "This is the best meeting we’ve had in years."

Kessiri’s tail flicked. "I’m placing bets. Ten silver on the kid."

"You’re insane," Rowen said.

"You’re just mad I called it first."

Lysandra stood. Her gaze swept the room, silencing everyone.

Then she looked at Jax. Then at Zharina.

"Very well. The trial will proceed immediately."

She turned to Jax. "If you win, you advance. If you lose..." She smiled faintly. "We’ll discuss your future elsewhere."

Jax cracked his knuckles. "Let’s get this over with."

Zharina’s grin was feral. "I’m going to enjoy breaking you, boy."