While Aether was busy teasing Stella, who was acting all needy and shy… he just couldn't help himself from taking it even further. Her reactions were too cute, too tempting. anwhile, far away, near the teleportation station of the Aurora Empire—
Step...Step...Step...
Finnian, with heavy, dragging steps, walked slowly toward the entrance, looking like a man heading to his own execution. His eyes were half-lidded, his shoulders drooped, and his breath was shaky. Today… he was finally ready to leave this Empire once and for all.
The people working there paused in their tasks, almost holding their breath. Their eyes silently followed him as he raised his foot to step on the first stair leading to the portal when—
Turn!
"Not again!!" the people groaned in unison, their faces full of frustration, watching Finnian dramatically stop, pivot around, and once again walk back exactly 20 steps before pausing.
Again?
Yes. He had been doing this since last night. Literally. All. Night.
Yup. Ever since he left the Archpriestess... he ca straight here and had been circling back and forth like a heartbroken ghost... hoping... quietly praying in so corner of his heart that the Archpriestess would co and stop him.
But now it was morning.
The sky had brightened. People were starting their day.
And Finnian? He still hadn't left. His heart was crawling toward the point of no return, and his legs trembled just from standing too long.
'Would she really not co?' he wondered, his heart aching. He had waited for hours… hoping she would appear, just once, just for a mont, and say it wasn't his fault.
That all he had done was protect the ones he loved from a dangerous man.
That she… still loved him.
"Archpriestess..." Finnian whispered under his breath, eyes slowly lifting toward the direction of the Main Temple, his face filled with longing, desperation, and a flickering hope. His gaze then dropped to the path beneath his feet… maybe she'd appear right there, running toward him, arms open.
But no one ca.
Finnian's lips trembled. His whole chest felt tight.
"Sir... if you're not leaving, please clear the area... people are starting to gather," one of the workers said, irritation lacing their voice.
Since Finnian was an Apostle—and also frustratingly handso—the entire crowd had paused to stare at him. Those who were supposed to leave, or even those entering through the teleportation gate, all stood frozen in place, gawking at him like a celebrity in slow motion.
At night, it was fine. Barely anyone ca through then.
But now? It was peak hour.
And this sad, beautiful man was holding up the entire line.
Of course, even being an Apostle didn't an you could block the way and ss around without consequences. The workers were getting visibly annoyed, especially knowing if the Archpriestess found out they were letting him stall here for hours, they'd be the ones in trouble.
Finnian glared instinctively at the worker, who stepped back in fear. But then Finnian blinked, surprised at his own reaction. "I'm sorry," he muttered in a low voice. His eyes dropped. He turned to the softly shimring portal and bit his lip. "I... I... need to go... to the... Hmm... Zephyra Empire?" His voice cracked as he shook his head, clearly confused and conflicted.
Then he finally moved, stepping onto the stairs with slow, dragging feet.
The workers' lips twitched watching the ridiculous scene—but they kept silent.
Finnian moved forward… slowly. Like, really slowly.
One fra per second.
Maybe even slower?
It was painful to watch... Honestly, if Aether had seen him like this, even he would be shocked by how seriously Finnian committed to being dramatic.
And yet… no matter how slow he moved, how long he waited… no one ca.
With that painful realization digging into his chest, he took the final step into the portal… or at least he thought he did—
"Wait!"
His entire body jerked. His eyes widened, filling with sudden tears, and his lips quivered into a hopeful smile.
That voice!
Could it be!?
"Archpriestess!!" he shouted, spinning around like a man reborn.
But… it was just so random woman yelling at her husband to hurry up.... even though she was the one who ca late.
Anyway,
Finnian stood frozen. His eyes, full of love and hope a mont ago, now flooded with silent heartbreak... closing his trembling eyes.
A couple was hugging. Kissing. Laughing.
Not him.
Not her.
Finnian nearly collapsed right there. His lips trembled harder.
Why?
Mother!!!
One of the onlookers, a grumpy father clearly annoyed that his young daughter was staring dreamily at the dramatic Apostle, had finally had enough.
"Just go already, sir!" the man grunted and shoved Finnian from behind.
Thud!
Finnian tripped forward as the portal shimred and swallowed him whole.
Teleportation Station – Aerionis Zephyra Empire
The portal rippled like a soft curtain in the wind—then suddenly exploded with a loud pop as if burping out emotional baggage in the shape of a golden-haired man.
Thud… Spin… Crash!
Finnian didn't just step out—he was ejected, flying out like a clumsy missile.
"Gyaaahhhh—!!"
He scread mid-air, arms flailing, legs kicking, clothes flapping as he sorsaulted. For a second, it looked like he might land flat on the ground, but fate had a crueller plan.
Smack!
Instead, he crash-landed on sothing—or rather—soone.
"Eeek!!!"
A soft, warm body yelped under him as they both tumbled into a heap. Her limbs flailed as the two of them rolled once… twice… before finally stopping in a tangled, awkward, and deeply.... compromising position?
Finnian groaned, dizzy, his face buried sowhere warm… way too warm.
'Huh...? What... is this...?'
He shifted his fingers slightly, trying to push himself up—only to pause.
Soft.
So soft.
He blinked, realising his hand was gripping sothing round.
Delicate... Squishy... But snugly held.
His whole body stiffened.
His palm twitched.
Wait.
Wait.
His eyes opened slowly, and before he even focused his vision, he could feel the blood rushing to his ears.... His heart raced.
Then he saw her.
A yellowish twin-tailed-haired girl, eyes wide and trembling, face flushed an explosive red. She stared at him like he was so kind of demon who had just cursed her entire bloodline.
Finnian blinked. His gaze slowly dropped.
To his palm.
His entire soul scread.
…Cupping her boob like a prized fruit.
"B-Bo-Bo-Bo—!!" Finnian's face exploded red as he realized he was holding her boob.
He panicked. His fingers twitched. He tried to pull his hand back—
Slap!!!
Her palm smacked across his face with a sound so crisp it echoed through the station.
"Pervert!!!"
Finnian's body jerked sideways, stunned, eyes spinning.
The workers nearby flinched at the impact. One of them muttered under his breath, "That's one hell of a welco."
*****
anwhile, in the sa Zephyra Empire—
The Sovereign Arcanum Academy, once a proud symbol of magical excellence, now lay in ruins. The proud buildings that once pierced the skies stood shattered and broken, the ground littered with debris.
Teams of workers moved tirelessly to clear the wreckage, piece by piece. Even though the Chosen had already helped with the heavy lifting, the sheer volu of destruction—from the academy itself to the tallic towers and surrounding strong tallic buildings—was overwhelming.
Couldn't the Principal just use her powers to clean all this up?
Yes. It was possible. More than that, it would be efficient.
However, the academy still possessed valuable materials—equipnt, enchanted tools, and even rare books—many of which had survived, tucked safely beneath the rubble. If she used pure magical force, there was a risk of destroying what remained.
Cost-efficiency mattered.
Rather than wasting millions of Zenith repairing or replacing delicate items, she chose a more asured approach: hiring people to assist with the clearing for only a few thousand Zenith.
Slow, yes—but the most sensible option left.
Under the shattered remains of the academy—
The Origin Pillars.
"How's the situation down there?" the Principal asked, her voice stern as she stepped inside the hidden underground chamber.
Delphine turned toward her, her face serious and slightly pale. "Principal... it's getting harder to keep them restrained," she muttered, eyes locked onto the once-buried Origin Pillars that now slowly pushed their way up from the ground.
Their bases were tangled in thick, black Mother Roots, pulsing faintly like veins under skin. A strange, deep hum lingered in the air.
Delphine and a handful of representative professors stood at intervals around the space, channelling power together to maintain the barrier they had created.
The Principal's eyes narrowed. The Origin Pillars were encased in multiple magical dos—layer upon layer of barriers, each stretched tight and straining from the pressure of the rising stone columns.
"Why don't we just let them surface?" one professor asked, panting and clearly exhausted. Sweat dripped from his brow as his knees wobbled slightly. "Holding them back for days like this... It's too much. Maybe it's not wise to resist them?"
The Principal shook her head. "Don't forget," she said firmly, "the world knows only of the Arcane... not the Mother. If word of this gets out, it could cause panic, chaos, and worse. And these stones—"
She gestured to the ancient pillars pushing up from below.
"—they're ant to remain underground and hidden from dangerous eyes, not rise above and announce itself."
She sighed, rubbing her temples. "Just hold on a little longer. I've already started constructing a containnt structure above this sector. Once it's built, we'll have a secure way to isolate them."
The exhausted professors groaned in unison. Even Delphine, who normally stayed composed, let out a weary breath. Her arms trembled slightly from channeling energy for too long.
She muttered under her breath, "I miss my hubby..."
The Principal didn't respond but gave her a sidelong glance of sympathy.
Her eyes turned back to the Origin Pillars. They were rising—but not in a wild, chaotic spin like the Ebon Stones. No, this was just lifting... almost like they were being summoned.
But why?
There were no records of this happening before.
'Is this… a good sign?' she wondered, her lips tightening.
Was it awakening?
Or… was it a warning?
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