Soon, one by one, students exited the ga, so able to awaken their Origin Weapons like Jack, just as in the previous tiline. Others, like Ashara Nightfire, erged with a newfound sense of clarity and serenity, carrying a quiet strength they hadn’t before. Everything went perfectly; no one lost their life this ti around!
Except, of course, for a few dramatic monts.
"Just you wait, she’s mine!" Kai shouted, his face blazing with fury as he tightened his grip on Vesperine’s hand.
"She saved my life… I owe her everything, and I won’t hold back in giving it to her," Leon responded smoothly, amusent lighting his expression as he held Vesperine’s other hand with rivalry expression.
Nyx Shadowfall and Ashara exchanged bewildered glances, both unsure whether to laugh or intervene.
anwhile, Aria and Selene had their arms draped around Lia’s shoulders. Lia looked like a trapped, terrified rabbit, caught between two intense won whose intentions weren’t entirely clear.... were they going to hug her, or.... kill her?
"I would have thought at least one person would be here to welco us back," Kira comnted dryly, her gaze sweeping the area as she noted the absence of both the Principal and the Dragon Emperor. "Seems strange, doesn’t it?"
"Anyway... is everyone back?" Nyx asked, her eyes moving over each mber of the group, assessing.
Everyone looked older and more grown-up, their expressions and stances more mature than before. They weren’t sure how many years had passed in the ga, but ti had marked them all.
"Hmmm... it seems there might be a few missing—" Before Kai could finish, Raven, Thalia, and Helena appeared, accompanied by a tall, stern-looking woman in a sharp black suit.
Brows furrowed all around, and Aria and Selene exchanged sighed glances.
"Who are you?" Finnian asked sharply, his frown deepening as he noticed the woman holding an unconscious Helena. "And what did you do to her?"
The woman, Celestia, ignored him, her eyes sweeping over the gathered crowd, quickly noting Aqualina’s absence. ’I have to inform Aether of this,’ she thought, her brow creasing in concern.
"I asked you, what did you do to her?" Finnian’s voice hardened as he stepped forward, and Kai and Leon mirrored his stance, their expressions darkening.
Just as tensions rose, Thalia interjected, "She saved us." Her voice was weary as she glared at the boys. "Please, not now. Let’s not create any more chaos."
The boys exchanged surprised glances but reluctantly stepped back, visibly taken aback. "Saved you?" Finnian asked, curiosity mixed with confusion. "From who?"
Celestia exchanged a quick glance with Selene, who nodded. Gently, she passed unconscious Helena into Selene’s arms, her expression softening slightly.
Relieved, Lia exhaled and was about to slip away when Aria caught her arm with a warm but sly smile. "And where do you think you’re going, little rabbit?" she teased, pulling Lia closer, and making her tremble slightly in fear.
Celestia took one last, lingering look at everyone before disappearing silently into her shadows, lting away.
"Oh?" The group was montarily taken aback by her abrupt exit.
But then—
"Wait. Where’s Aqualina?" Kai suddenly asked, his brows furrowing with concern.
Silence fell over the group. Kai’s face grew tense, a hint of dread creeping into his expression. "D-Don’t tell she… she…—" He struggled to finish, his mind racing through the worst possibilities.
Raven stared at the group before "She won the trial," she said.
The news surprised everyone, Kai especially. His jaw dropped, and he stared at Raven, astonished.
Thalia added, "Unfortunately, we don’t know where she is right now, but she did win the trial."
A murmur of relief and pain rippled through the group as they took this in. With a mutual understanding.... they lost!
Then they decided to leave the summit area.
As they made their way to the upper level, they noticed a grand carriage waiting for them.
Leon smiled with evident satisfaction, certain his father hadn’t forgotten him.
"I know you’re all tired, hungry, and ready to rest, but don’t worry. Once we arrive at my ho, I’ll make sure you’re all treated to a grand feast!" Leon announced, his gaze landing on Vesperine, who blushed deeply and looked down, her cheeks rosy. Kai gave an annoyed snort, muttering under his breath.
But—
"Hold on... what’s going on here?" Leon mumbled, sensing sothing was off as they approached the castle.
As the group got closer, they noticed the townsfolk staring at them, their gazes intense, lingering particularly on Leon.
People were bustling around the castle, working with an urgency that seed odd, as if preparing for sothing they weren’t quite ready to explain.
Leon caught one of the servants by the arm and asked, "What exactly is happening here?"
The servant’s eyes widened, and she quickly lowered her head. "Please forgive , my lord, but you and your company are expected first in the Throne Room. The new Emperor is awaiting your arrival," she murmured, bowing deeply before hurriedly scurrying away.
Leon blinked, taking in her words. "New Emperor?" he echoed, glancing at the others.
Everyone frowned.... Sothing about the situation felt off.
anwhile, back in the Throne Room…
"I don’t think it’s wise to open our economy to the outside world," one of the older nobles argued, a deep frown etched into his lined face.
"Co now, old man. Do you truly think our closed economy has done anything for our growth?" another noble retorted, rolling his eyes.
They were debating the Emperor’s controversial new proposal to open their secrecy Empire to outside trade—a bold shift in policy that had stirred heated argunts.
Their Empire, secluded and fiercely guarded for generations, had maintained strict rules forbidding the flow of goods and information. But now… the new Emperor was adamant about change.
"General Drakhairs," one noble addressed, casting a scrutinizing look at him, "since you rose from the common level, I’m curious—what’s your opinion on this economic reform?"
Drakhairs fixed his gaze on the assembled nobles, his eyes cold and sharp. "To be perfectly clear, our economy has been stagnant. The lower classes are struggling just to survive with what little resources they can access, all due to this ongoing deficit."
"Deficit?" another noble scoffed, cutting him off. "We have resources in abundance! What about the mountains—"
Drakhairs’s expression darkened, and he glared at the noble with barely contained fury. "Resources, you say? Yes, we have mountains—mountains filled with Arcanium, stone, and dirt! Do you expect us to eat those damn mountains, you fool?"
A tense silence fell over the room. The nobles shifted uncomfortably, so of them lowering their heads.
Drakhairs cleared his throat, visibly reigning in his temper. Bowing his head toward the throne, he murmured, "Forgive my outburst, Sir!"
Victor leaned back in his seat, his expression unreadable, though his crystal-blue eyes flashed with a dangerous light.
Drakhairs took a calming breath and continued, "Our resources are limited to Arcanium and a few rare minerals. But what about our food supply? The outskirts of our Empire have faced famine for years. I’ve sent notice after notice to the castle, yet none of you saw fit to respond to my pleas." His voice tightened with frustration as he gritted his teeth.
A few nobles lowered their heads further, visibly shaken.
Suddenly, Victor’s calm voice echoed through the tension.
"You see, I don’t care what happened before." His tone was deadly, his eyes sweeping over each noble with chilling precision. "However, from here on out, if any of you dare betray, deceive, or do anything that threatens or this Empire… I swear," Victor leaned forward, his eyes flickering with a nacing purple glow, "I will personally hunt you down and slaughter you. You and every last mber of your family, old and young alike.... Don’t expect rcy."
A shiver ran through the room. The nobles flinched, feeling an unnatural heat prickling at their skin, as if Victor’s words were searing into their very souls.
One thing was clear... It seed Victor was even more ruthless than Arkanis.
Victor observed their reaction with an inward smile of satisfaction and then spoke, louder, "I’ve listened to all your argunts and deliberated thoroughly on this matter." He paused, letting the tension linger for a mont, though his inner thoughts were far from confident, ’I don’t understand a damn thing about this!’ he cursed inwardly, masking his unease.
What did they expect of him anyway?
For him to transform into a competent Emperor overnight?
He was an ordinary man with a few talents; ruling an empire had never been part of his plans!
Truthfully, he had far more important interests on seducing.... which was way more important than ruling so Empire!
Victor smiled, his tone deceptively calm. "We will open our economy to the outside world. Trade with other empires will begin imdiately," he announced. Internally, he thought, ’I will soon beco filthy rich’s rich… hehehe.’
The nobles exchanged uncertain glances but, seeing the Emperor’s resolve, nodded in reluctant agreent.
Suddenly—
Thud!
The massive Throne Room doors burst open.
"What is going on here?" Leon demanded, striding into the room, his eyes wide with surprise. Behind him, the rest of the students entered, each wearing an equally astonished expression.
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