Chapter 59: The Rankings

On the third evening of Helheim’s entrance examination, the observation hall overlooking Grauwald was considerably louder than usual.

A dozen instructors stood around a broad stone table, studying the names appearing across its polished surface.

Beyond the tall windows, the mountain range stretched beneath the setting sun, its distant peaks disappearing into banks of mist.

Somewhere among those mountains, hundreds of ten-year-old applicants were still hunting, fighting, hiding, or trying to keep the points they had already earned.

Here, however, the instructors could finally see how the competition was developing.

Dietrich Falk stood at the head of the table with his arms folded. The examination overseer had spent much of the afternoon reviewing reports from the concealed observers stationed throughout Grauwald.

Injuries had increased since the first night, and several applicants had already been eliminated after requesting rescue. None of that surprised him.

What interested him was the remarkable concentration of high scores among a handful of children.

"Bring up the provisional standings," Dietrich instructed, and the instructor beside the table pressed two fingers against a circular inscription carved into its edge.

Lines of pale light spread across the stone. Names appeared one after another, accompanied by affiliations and point totals.

The table’s formation received its information from the examination tokens issued during registration.

Each token could register the inscription on a black examination marker or the signature of a Common Rank Demonic Core. ℯℯ𝑙.

Registered markers became invalid for further scoring, while cores had to be retained for verification at the finish. Unregistered prizes could still be traded or stolen, exactly as the rules permitted.

"First place, Cassian Di Grandel. Sixty-four points," the instructor announced, glancing toward Dietrich. "His group has been exceptionally productive. They’ve brought down multiple Common Rank Demonic Beasts, and he has registered the largest individual share."

A grey-haired instructor named Volker leaned closer. "He’s directing other applicants while maintaining that score? That’s impressive. Organizing a hunting party usually costs the leader time."

"Cassian doesn’t waste much," Dietrich replied. "His observers report that he assigns positions before contact and changes the formation without confusion. The others follow because his decisions keep working."

The second name appeared beneath Cassian’s.

"Odin Wargrave Von Grandel. Fifty-eight points," the instructor continued. "He has been hunting independently. The northern observers recorded substantial damage to the terrain around his last two encounters."

Volker rubbed his chin. "Wargrave’s boy. I watched part of his morning fight. He carries that spear as though it belongs in his hands, and his lightning is no ordinary trick."

"Neither is his judgment," Dietrich said. "He knows when to pursue and when to conserve strength. Destruction is easy to notice. Discipline is harder."

Third place belonged to Tristan Eisenwald Var Grandel, with fifty-five points.

One instructor reported that Tristan had crossed two hunting territories without joining another applicant, returning with enough markers and cores to climb steadily throughout the day.

Another mentioned the clean remains of a Demonic Beast found near a ravine, although no observer had witnessed the killing blow.

Then the fourth name appeared.

"Sigurd Di Grandel. Forty-nine points."

Several instructors exchanged glances. Volker studied the total before looking at Dietrich. "Only fourth? I expected him closer to the top after what happened in the western clearing."

"He spent time testing something instead of collecting points," Dietrich answered. "His latest engagements were decisive, but he could have finished them sooner. The score reflects his choices, not a measurement of his strength."

Volker nodded slowly. "So the top four aren’t necessarily ordered by who would defeat whom."

"Of course not," Dietrich replied, tapping the table. "This is an entrance examination. We reward results under the examination rules. Anyone confusing a point total with a combat ranking hasn’t understood what we’re testing."

Fifth place appeared next: Astrid Drachenmark Var Grandel, forty-six points. Her observers described a relentless hunter who refused assistance and had driven off two applicants attempting to seize her markers.

Sixth was Konrad Di Grandel, forty-four points, prompting a low chuckle from an instructor who had reviewed the incident in the forest valley.

"That one is trouble," the instructor said, shaking his head. "Five applicants surrounded him, and he let them finish their threats before drawing his sword. He took twenty-three markers from them without inflicting a serious injury."

Volker frowned. "Twenty-three? Then why is his total only forty-four?"

"He had registered the rest earlier. Those five were carrying unregistered markers," the instructor explained. "They intended to rob him and ended up financing his climb instead."

Dietrich allowed himself a brief smile. "Konrad has been concealing his ability. Our observers agree he used far less than he could have."

The seventh entry illuminated the table.

Kong Zhen. Forty-two points. Affiliation: Independent applicant.

For the first time that evening, the hall fell quiet.

Volker stared at the name. "Kong Zhen? Which branch is that?"

"It isn’t a branch," the registrar answered, checking the admission records beside him. "No vassal house either. He entered through the open recommendation route and passed the eligibility assessment. His registration lists no noble affiliation."

"Then who the hell is Kong Zhen?" Volker demanded.

A younger instructor at the far end of the table burst into laughter. "I’ve seen him! The one with the staff and the hair that looks like he lost a fight with a thunderstorm."

Several heads turned toward him.

"He’s been wandering between hunting grounds, fighting whatever catches his attention," the instructor continued, grinning. "He smashed an armored ape’s skull with a wooden staff, then complained because the beast wasn’t carrying a marker. Yesterday he defeated three marked Ferocious Beasts. He didn’t even bother collecting the unmarked ones."

Volker looked from the speaker to the table. "You’re telling me an unaffiliated boy with a wooden staff is seventh among this year’s applicants?"

"That’s precisely what the numbers say," Dietrich answered. "And unlike some of the children above him, he has no hunting party or family network helping him locate prey."

The registrar cleared his throat. "His recommendation came from a retired examiner. The letter was unusually short. It said, ’Let the boy take the test. You’ll understand.’"

That earned another round of laughter, although several instructors were now studying Kong’s name with unmistakable interest.

Eighth place belonged to Isolde Di Grandel, forty points. Volker initially questioned the total, having heard reports of the large camp operating under her direction.

Dietrich explained that Isolde had spent considerable effort organizing scouts, distributing supplies, and protecting injured applicants.

Her personal share remained respectable, but much of the camp’s success had been distributed among its members rather than credited to her.

"Ninth, Alaric Blutkron Var Grandel. Thirty-eight points," the registrar continued. "Tenth, Matthias Di Grandel. Thirty-six."

"Matthias is another misleading score," a woman near the windows remarked. "He spent an extraordinary amount of time fighting one Demonic Beast when he could have killed it much earlier. He was studying its attacks. By the end, it couldn’t touch him."

Volker exhaled and looked across the complete list. Four Main Line descendants, three Great Branch heirs, one High Vassal heir, and a boy nobody in the room had heard of before this examination.

Every name represented a child who had already achieved results that would have embarrassed older students.

"Where is Helena Di Grandel?" he asked.

"Outside the top ten," the registrar replied. "She abandoned a wounded Demonic Beast to evacuate four injured applicants. Then she stayed with them until they reached safer ground. She’s sacrificed most of today."

Volker’s expression softened. "That won’t help her win the Crown."

"No," Dietrich agreed. "But remember it when we assess conduct. A school that only recognizes points will eventually produce warriors who care about nothing else."

The overseer studied the illuminated names for another moment. These standings would remain inside the observation hall; the applicants had no reason to know who was leading.

There were still days left, and a single successful hunt could overturn several positions.

"Continue observing," Dietrich ordered. "No interference unless the rules require it. I want accurate reports on how they make decisions, not merely what they kill."

The instructors dispersed toward their assigned stations, leaving the provisional rankings glowing across the stone.

Cassian stood first, with Odin and Tristan close behind. Sigurd occupied fourth, and the unfamiliar name of Kong Zhen sat among heirs whose families had spent generations preparing children for Helheim.

Dietrich remained at the table. He had overseen examinations before, but rarely had so many candidates demonstrated such frightening potential at the same age.

The final standings were impossible to predict, and that uncertainty pleased him more than any commanding lead. Even the applicants currently outside the top ten could rise overnight.

A Demonic Core was worth ten points, and several children had yet to register everything they carried. Nothing on the table was remotely settled yet.

Outside, darkness settled over Grauwald.

Somewhere beneath it, the children on that list continued hunting, unaware that their names had already given Helheim’s instructors plenty to discuss.