Na-Isekai Ako
Chapter 69: Pre-Storm Calm, Post-Storm Mayhem

Chapter 69: Pre-Storm Calm, Post-Storm Mayhem

Later in class, Antennor made an announcement.

"The Symposium will allow the noble ladies participating to sit for formal academy exams," he said, tone dry as ever, as if he hadn’t just dropped a noble society bombshell.

Cue dramatic sighs and horrified gasps from half the class. One girl even dropped her quill. Katherine wasn’t sure if it was out of shock or if her soul had just left her body.

Katherine, on the other hand, blinked. Wait, I can actually try taking real exams?

She tilted her head slightly, processing the announcement while the others descended into their usual drama. I mean, I wasn’t planning to start my academic redemption arc in a magical monarchy, but hey—if the option’s there, why not?

Besides, it wasn’t like she was aiming to prove anything. She just... wanted to see if she could keep up. Or at the very least, not fail miserably.

She glanced around the room. The noble girls looked like someone had asked them to clean a stable with their bare hands. One of them whispered, "Exams? But... I thought this was a cultural exchange!" Another muttered, "This is outrageous. My family donates to this academy."

Meanwhile, Katherine was already mentally color-coding her notes. It’s giving "surprise pop quiz energy" but make it couture.

Honestly, she was kind of excited. It was like signing up for an extra credit challenge in high school, except with less cafeteria pizza and more passive-aggressive politics. Maybe a side of sabotage. Still, she had something they didn’t: actual study habits and a desperate need to stay alive in this fictional world.

Watch me pass this test like I’m passing the vibe check in a survival game.

While the rest of the class spiraled into pearl-clutching chaos, Katherine quietly opened her notebook, trying not to look too interested.

"Alright, chill. It’s just an exam. Not a duel to the death," she told herself. Still, a small, determined grin tugged at her lips.

Maybe she wasn’t about to go full honor-student mode... but she could at least try not to embarrass herself.

***

After class, Katherine lingered by her desk, pretending to slowly pack her things until the last of the noble ladies floated out with their perfume trails and high-pitched complaints about the "barbaric" topic of military history. Once the coast was clear, she made her way up to the front where Professor Antennor stood, already jotting something stern and important-looking into a ledger.

"I heard you mentored my brother once," she said, aiming for respectful and casual. In her head, it came out sounding like a normal human sentence. Out loud, it felt more like she was auditioning for Interview with a Battle-Hardened Strategist.

Antennor didn’t even look up at first. When he finally did, it was with that signature ’what-makes-you-think-you-deserve-my-time’ look, which could probably make war generals sit up straighter.

"I did. For two years," he said, brisk as ever.

Katherine tilted her head, cautiously curious. "You parted ways?"

"Creative differences," he replied, as if they’d been part of a doomed garage band.

"Cool," Katherine thought, "So my brother was the idealistic lead singer and Antennor was the drummer who left when the band wanted to add synths."

"His ideas were too... optimistic," Antennor added after a moment, as if that clarified everything.

Which, considering this was a man who probably sharpened his chalk for fun and used military maps as wallpaper, was saying a lot.

Still, despite the steel in his tone, Katherine caught something. A flicker. Not fondness exactly—more like the distant squint of a man remembering a storm he both admired and resented. Wary concern? Guilt? That weird nostalgia that shows up when someone younger challenges your world view and you kind of hate that it stuck?

"I assume your visions didn’t align?" she asked carefully.

Antennor’s gaze shifted, just slightly. "Jonathas believes in changing the world. I believe in surviving it."

Well, that was grim.

Still, Katherine caught something in his tone—an edge of concern, maybe even a touch of fondness, like a grumpy uncle trying not to care too much. Before she could press further, he added in a low voice:

"You and your brother... tend to attract attention. More than you realize. Be careful, Lady Noraleigha."

Katherine blinked. Coming from him, that was practically a heartfelt speech.

"Thank you," she said softly, bowing her head. "For looking out for him."

She left the classroom wondering if Jonathas was somewhere nearby. Was he watching her progress? Did he know she was here?

***

Later that week, Katherine was tucked away in a quiet corner of the library, surrounded by a growing fortress of books. With the upcoming exams looming, she was determined to be as prepared as possible. Sure, the idea of passing with flying colors was satisfying on its own—but if she also managed to surprise a few people along the way? Well, that would just be a bonus.

Just as she was about to decipher the difference between a flank maneuver and a pincer strategy, a voice slid into her bubble of focus like an unwanted ad on a YouTube video.

"Need a tutor?"

She didn’t even look up. "Oh no. Not you."

Adolfo pulled the chair across from her like he owned the library. "Relax. I promise I’m being serious this time."

"Absolutely not," she said, giving him a sideways glance. "Last time you ’tutored’ me, you spent the entire session sketching wizards in my notes, and somehow we ended up in a chicken vs. horse debate."

Adolfo flashed that typical grin of his. "Ah, the chicken and horse debate—that was the most intellectually enriching topic I’ve encountered all week. The question of whether poultry can be magically enhanced to teleport across dimensions is an issue that deserves serious thought."

"Please, I beg you, no more talk of magical chickens," Katherine muttered, rubbing her temples. "I wanted to pass this exam, not fail it because of poultry-related philosophical discussions."

To her surprise, Adolfo didn’t offer some other weird distraction this time. Instead, he sat down across from her and pulled out a stack of notes. Katherine eyed him warily, wondering if he was planning some new form of nonsense. But this time, there were no drawings or cryptic comments—just a well-organized set of study materials.

"I’ve prepared some material," he said casually, "and I promise I won’t make you question the logistics of magic chickens. This time, I’ll actually help you."

Katherine narrowed her eyes. "Are you sure? Because last time, I think I learned more about wizarding chickens than any actual magic."

Adolfo chuckled, "I was just... expanding your worldview." He shrugged, pretending to be unbothered, though the smirk never left his face. "Besides, the horse’s teleportation abilities were crucial to understanding magical kinetics. You should be grateful."

Despite herself, Katherine found herself chuckling. "I’m really not sure I can ever be grateful for that debate, but fine—let’s see if you can actually tutor me without derailing into chicken nonsense."

To her surprise, Adolfo—when he wasn’t distracting her with ridiculous debates—actually had a solid grasp of the material. He didn’t make it overly complicated, explaining things step by step and even adding a few tricks that made remembering the strategies easier. Who knew the guy could be useful when he wasn’t being... well, him?

"I’m calling this the ’Adolfo Method.’ You’re welcome," he said smugly.

Katherine muttered, "If this ends with me summoning a chicken instead of passing my test, I’m reporting you to the Headmaster."

Adolfo just laughed in response.

By the time they finished, Katherine was more confident about her preparation. And when the exam results were posted a few days later, she saw her name near the top of the list, with a perfect score beside it. She’d done it.

She couldn’t help but grin, though she couldn’t let herself get too smug about it. The last thing she needed was for people to think she was bragging about it.

Still, as her classmates muttered in surprise, Katherine allowed herself a small, victorious smile. But deep down, she was more impressed with Adolfo’s sudden shift from menace to actually decent tutor.

***

In the quiet, shadowed office of Professor Antennor, the air was thick with the scent of old parchment and the faint hum of distant students conversing. The professor sat at his desk, a large wooden surface cluttered with scrolls, books, and maps, all meticulously arranged in a way that only someone with a sharp mind—such as himself—could understand.

A single candle flickered beside him, casting long, wavering shadows across the room as he examined a sealed report. The wax seal was still intact, bearing the academy’s insignia—an emblem of knowledge and power that demanded respect from all who laid eyes upon it.

With a swift motion, Antennor broke the seal and unfurled the parchment. His sharp eyes scanned the report with precision, lips thinning as he read the contents.

The report described Katherine’s recent activities, noting the curious meeting with a certain individual: a red-haired, green-eyed person. Someone whose appearance was eerily similar to hers. The report stated that this individual had been seen multiple times in Katherine’s company, prompting a question of family ties, or perhaps a shared connection that could be of greater consequence.

The mention of "suspected relation to former student" immediately piqued Antennor’s interest. He muttered under his breath, his voice low and measured, "Jonathas..."

He leaned back in his chair, his hand running along his jaw as his mind worked through the implications. Katherine, the peculiar girl with a background that seemed to slip between the cracks of history, had already caused enough intrigue with her unexpected talents and connections. But this—this added another layer. Her resemblance to her brother, Jonathas, the prodigious student who had once walked these halls, was too striking to ignore.

Jonathas had been a legend in his own right, a man whose genius was unrivaled in the academy. Yet despite his brilliance, he had remained distant from the magical community—his lack of magical ability despite his genius in other areas had raised eyebrows. His expertise had introduced new technologies and ideas that had sparked admiration—and envy—in equal measure. Many had tried to follow in his footsteps, but few had succeeded. Antennor himself had been one of Jonathas’ mentors for a time, but they had eventually parted ways due to differing visions of what true knowledge should be. Jonathas had always had grand ideas about the world, but his focus on the practical, the logical, had eventually led to clashes with those who believed magic should take precedence.

But now, with the sighting of his sister, the situation had changed. Antennor’s mind raced through possibilities. If Katherine truly was Jonathas’ sister, that could explain some of her unique qualities—her intellect, her uncanny ability to grasp concepts that most students struggled with, and her mysterious ability to blend both the magical and non-magical concepts. Perhaps, like her brother, she wasn’t entirely bound by the traditional rules of magic. But what did it mean for her future, and the future of this world?

There was something unsettling about the report’s mention of multiple people having a similar appearance to Katherine and Jonathas. Was it a coincidence, or something more? A hidden connection? And if so, how far did it go? Antennor wasn’t one to be easily swayed by rumors or speculation, but this seemed worth watching.

He leaned forward, eyes narrowing as he scribbled a few notes onto the report.

"Monitor her carefully," he muttered, his voice steady but tinged with an edge of concern. "We can’t afford for her to vanish like the others. Keep an eye on both of them. If she’s anything like her brother, she’ll make waves—and we need to know where that leads."

He folded the report and placed it back in its envelope, sealing it with the same wax and insignia as before. The decision was made. He would keep an eye on Katherine, though he had little doubt that her presence would eventually stir things up. And when it did, Antennor wanted to be ready.

His fingers tapped the edge of the desk rhythmically, his thoughts turning inward. "The world is changing. The next generation is always unpredictable... and perhaps that’s just what we need."

With that, Antennor turned to the pile of papers on his desk and continued his work, but his mind remained fixed on the girl with red hair and green eyes—and the future that seemed to be quietly unfolding before her.