Rose had co back to the Silver Class.
After spending almost three long years in the Gold Class, it was like everything she’d built up just vanished overnight—and she found herself right back where she started.
Now, there were seven new Gold Class cadets who’d managed to climb up from Silver, including one who’d been demoted before and sohow managed to fight his way back up again.
And honestly... well, seeing that made sothing sink deep into my chest. I couldn’t pretend I felt safe anymore... well, not with how low my rank had gotten in the Gold Class lately. For the first ti, it hit that I had every reason to start really worrying about where I stood.
I guess it took Rose’s fall to finally make see it clearly. That there really aren’t any guarantees in life. That what I’d been holding onto could disappear, just like that. And realizing that... left feeling strangely hollow. Alone, even.
It didn’t take long before Gabrielle caught wind of the news about Rose being sent back down.
She actually went over and spoke to Rose, telling her there was still a chance—if she just really focused, she could make her way back into Gold Class.
Of course, we all knew that just "putting your mind to it" wasn’t enough on its own. But Gabrielle offered, saying if Rose wanted, she could train her and help her fight her way back.
But Rose shook her head. She told Gabrielle she should focus on her real goal and that was becoming the best student council president the academy had ever seen.
It honestly surprised how mature Rose had gotten.
"Well, it’s not like I ever actually wanted to be a magic knight that badly," Rose said, her voice calm. "So even if I can’t get back into Gold Class, it’s fine. There’s nothing I can do about it now. I’ll just beco an adventurer instead."
"What are you talking about?" Gabrielle snapped. "You literally have a shot to get back into Gold Class and earn the highest title you could ever reach—and you’re just throwing that away to beco an adventurer?"
"Well, yeah. But did I ever say I’d give up?" Rose said, her eyes steady. "I won’t just sit here and rot in Silver Class. I’ll bounce back. I promise."
Gabrielle fell silent after that. And then, when the two of us were walking back to the Gold Dorm, it felt off. It had always been the three of us walking together, but now... it was just and Gabrielle. Rose wasn’t there, and that empty space felt heavier than I expected.
And then Gabrielle spoke.
"How about you, Irene?" she asked, her voice quiet but serious.
"What? What about ?"
"Do you think you’ll be able to graduate from Gold Class with ? Or... do you already have another plan in case it doesn’t work out?"
I didn’t know what to say. That was the kind of question that makes your chest tighten, because you know it’s sothing you don’t want to think about.
"Why are you acting like it’s guaranteed I’ll drop down to Silver Class?" I asked, my voice coming out sharper than I ant.
"It’s not just a possibility anymore," Gabrielle replied, her tone steady. "It’s a reality already. And if you don’t take it seriously now, it’ll be over before you even realize it."
For the first ti in almost three years, sothing in flared up.
It didn’t feel like she was trying to warn ... It felt like she was already sure I was going to fail. Like she’d already written off.
"I don’t like the way you’re saying it, Gabrielle," I said, my voice low.
"What do you an?" she asked, frowning a bit.
"It feels like you’re saying it’s guaranteed I’ll be demoted," I shot back.
"I am saying that, basically," she answered bluntly. "That’s why I want you to take it seriously now—so it doesn’t happen."
"I don’t need you to tell that, Gabrielle," I snapped. "You should know by now it’s obvious I’m taking this seriously."
Gabrielle stopped walking and she just stood there staring at . But I kept moving. For the first ti in years, I walked the rest of the way to the Gold Dormitory completely alone.
***
The months started flying by, faster than I could even keep track. And even though I hadn’t been demoted to Silver Class yet, it wasn’t like I was moving up, either. I could feel it, like I was slowly and steadily slipping back.
Rose hadn’t managed to climb back to Gold Class either. She’d been stuck in Silver for a while now.
And honestly... Well, I think I finally understood why.
It all ca back to what Gabrielle had done and that was the implenting equal opportunities for growth among all cadets.
Because of that, the cadets who’d never really had a chance to show what they could do before finally started to shine. And now, it was taking real effect. People who’d been stuck in Silver for so long were breaking through to higher classes.
But then there were cadets like us.... those who were the ones who’d hit our peak early on, or who’d stopped growing for so reason. No matter how hard we trained, it felt like we couldn’t improve anymore. And slowly, so of those people ended up falling behind.
It looked like Rose might have been one of them. And deep down, I couldn’t shake the fear that I was, too. Because even when I gave it everything, I couldn’t seem to break past where I was stuck.
But I don’t really bla Gabrielle. What she did helped a lot of cadets, and it made the academy stronger overall.
And I really do feel happy it worked.
Even if it ans I might be the one getting left behind... I don’t want to lose the part of that can still feel happy for everyone else.
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