The Heavenly Hero Returns

Chapter 14: The Elite Class Expedition

Part 1: The Announcement of the Expedition

The lecture hall of the magic knight academy was abuzz with murmurs and whispered speculations. The elite class had been gathered—thirty of the most exceptional first-years, the academy's supposed finest. However, the room's energy felt divided, as it always did. Nobles huddled with nobles, knight-borns kept their distance, and the handful of first-generation commoners were all but ignored.

At the front of the hall, Grandmaster Wolfram von Eisenwald stood with his arms crossed, his presence enough to silence the chatter. Lady Isabeau de Montclair, the instructor of magic theory, stood beside him, her sharp violet gaze sweeping over the class. A few of the students straightened their postures under her scrutinizing eyes.

"The time has come for your first true trial," Wolfram announced. His deep voice carried through the hall with ease. "A practical combat mission: a monster subjugation in the eastern wildlands."

At once, the murmurs returned, but this time with a restrained excitement.

"The monsters are not expected to be formidable," Lady Isabeau continued, her voice smooth but indifferent. "Your true test is teamwork. Lone wolves will not survive."

Her words were pointed, though she did not look at anyone in particular.

Jessica Moran was seated in the back, silent as usual. She already knew where this was going. They were going to shove her into a team, despite the fact that no one wanted her there.

"The mission will be conducted in teams of five," Wolfram stated. "Teams have been predetermined based on prior assessments."

That was enough to set some of the more entitled students off.

"Predetermined?" Lucien von Hohenfeld scoffed, his red eyes narrowing. "What, pray tell, is the criteria for such an assignment?"

Lucien was a golden-haired Marquess' son, widely considered the top of their year. His presence alone was enough to draw attention.

"Skill distribution and compatibility," Lady Isabeau answered curtly.

"And yet you expect us to work with the likes of… that?"

A few students followed Lucien's gaze, which inevitably landed on Jessica.

Jessica did not react.

"You mean the magic cripple?" One of the noble girls, Lisette du Chastillon, spoke with mock pity. "I understand charity work, but must we waste a team slot?"

Jessica had long since grown accustomed to their jeers. She did not expect them to accept her.

"You are to work with your assigned teams," Wolfram said coolly, though there was an edge to his tone. "If you cannot handle this, perhaps you are unfit for the elite class."

That shut them up.

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Part 2: The Teams and The Obnoxious Baron's Daughter

When the team assignments were given, Jessica was predictably placed in a group of students who wanted nothing to do with her.

Her assigned team consisted of:

• Edgar von Riefenstahl – A serious knight-born with wind magic, skilled but rigid.

• Selene d'Avril – A noble prodigy, skilled in ice magic, but arrogant.

• Damien Bellerose – A fire magic user from a Viscount's family, who only respected strength.

• Rufus Kriegsmann – A brute with earth magic, all muscle and no subtlety.

• Jessica Moran – The "dead weight."

Jessica's mere presence seemed to infuriate them.

"This is a joke," Selene muttered, folding her arms. "If we fail because of her—"

"You won't fail because of me," Jessica cut in, her voice even. "You'll fail because you're incompetent."

That earned her several glares.

"You think you're clever, gutter rat?" Damien sneered.

Jessica merely tilted her head, her refined posture subtly off-putting. Despite her lowly status, she did not slouch or cower. Her gestures were precise, her speech articulate. Yet, it was not the noble etiquette they recognized—it was older, stranger.

Even among the aristocrats, something about her mannerisms unsettled them.

"You speak well for a magic cripple," Edgar noted, though his tone was not mocking—just observant.

"She plays at being noble," Selene said with distaste. "It's pathetic."

Jessica did not react. She merely inclined her head ever so slightly, a motion reminiscent of an archaic courtly acknowledgment—not a bow, but something else entirely.

It irritated them more than if she had snapped back.

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Part 3: The Instructor's Perspective

As the students prepared for the expedition, Lady Isabeau de Montclair observed from a distance. Beside her, Instructor Reynard Falkenrath, the combat instructor, crossed his arms.

"You let them rile her up," Reynard mused.

"I did nothing," Isabeau replied. "They chose their own reactions."

Reynard smirked. "She unsettles them. And not just because she's a magic cripple."

Isabeau's gaze followed Jessica.

"I've seen many noble houses," she murmured. "And many forms of etiquette. Hers is… not one of them."

Reynard raised an eyebrow. "What are you suggesting?"

Isabeau did not answer. Instead, she turned away.

"We will see how she fares," she said.

Part 4: Departing for the Mission

The students were outfitted and sent to the eastern wildlands. The terrain was rough, a mix of forests and rocky outcrops. The instructors would observe from afar, intervening only if absolutely necessary.

Jessica carried her newly acquired rapier, a royal-grade weapon gifted by Princess Seraphina—though the princess had only given it to her to shut her up after days of complaining about her previous, too-heavy sword.

It was a fine weapon. Too fine for someone of Jessica's standing. That alone made the others suspicious.

"A gutter rat wielding a royal sword," Selene muttered. "Disgraceful."

Jessica ignored them.

The hunt began.

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Part 5: The First Encounter

The first wave of monsters was weak, as expected.

Low-class gnarwolves, twisted canine-like beasts with unnaturally elongated limbs and glowing red eyes. They were fast, but not strong.

The students engaged. Jessica held back, observing.

She needed to gauge their abilities.

Selene's ice magic was sharp, but lacked adaptability.

Damien's fire magic was powerful, but wasted energy.

Edgar was precise, but too predictable.

Rufus was pure brute force.

Jessica could have ended the fight in seconds, but she knew better than to stand out.

Instead, she moved subtly, using her absurd reflexes to sidestep attacks, letting the others do the work while she barely lifted her blade.

Yet, even that was enough to be obnoxious.

"Are you even doing anything?" Damien snapped after they finished.

"I'm conserving energy," Jessica replied evenly.

Selene scoffed. "Or you're just useless."

Jessica smiled. "Perhaps."

They moved deeper into the wildlands.

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Part 6: The Hidden Threat

Unknown to them, something was watching.

The instructors had underestimated the situation. The weak monsters were only scouts.

Something far worse lurked ahead.

And soon, everything would fall apart.