Comparing the Stellar Dawn light Academy to the Sacred Covenant Academy- even just a century ago-was almost laughable. Back then, the differences seed almost like a cruel joke. And today, it remained a joke... but for
completely reversed reasons, a bitter irony that gnawed at anyone who looked closely.
The teaching thods were vastly different.
The caliber and renown of the instructors.
The number of students.
The quality and diversity of those students, which had never before been concentrated in a single academy.
The astronomical costs of enrollnt.
The imnse respect and recognition they commanded from every cosmic power, from the smallest elental guilds to the highest interstellar authorities...
As an educational institution, the Sacred Covenant Academy exceeded expectations in every conceivable aspect. There was no debate-no academy could match it.
And when it ca to the Peacekeeping Army, the comparison beca even more striking: the quality of its troops, the staggering number of successful operations achieved over the years, the massive military support it enjoyed from all sectoral forces, and the unnervingly large number of Royal Soul Masters erging as affiliates of the academy during its recent war against the Plague-all of it tipped the scales decisively in its favor. Among them, the battalion under the command of the Royal Soul Master Adrian alone was enough to inspire both awe and apprehension.
In terms of peacekeeping power, whether considering infantry infrastructure or the sheer overwhelming force represented by the Soul Masters themselves, every tric pointed unmistakably toward the Sacred Covenant Academy.
The only point that gave the Stellar Dawn light Academy even a tenuous claim to comparison was the presence of Althera herself-and alongside her, her deputy, the Guardian, whose strategic mind and loyalty were beyond question. But the raw, overwhelming power that she had just sensed emanating from Robin had shattered any notion of parity. Even these legendary figures were no longer sufficient to place the academies on equal footing.
Now, the Sacred Covenant Academy possessed soone of almost unmatched strength backing it-soone whose presence alone shifted the balance of power across the sector. Robin.
As Althera replayed this ntal reel at dizzying speed, examining every detail and weighing every implication, her gaze softened, and she exhaled with a long, steady breath. It was as though she had aged millions of years in that single mont, carrying the weight of centuries on her shoulders. Her expression bore the gravity of countless battles, strategic failures, and victories alike—yet. also a resigned acceptance of the overwhelming reality before her.
"What's with that expression?" Robin asked, raising a single eyebrow, curiosity mingled with amusent.
"If you don't wish to receive the rewards in the form of soul borrowings, that's perfectly fine. You are free to choose."
""
Althera's eyes lingered on Robin for several long, silent seconds.
Not a single word passed her lips. Any statent she could make now would have sounded humiliating, unnecessary, or self-justifying.
The only words she might have managed, had she dared, were:
I do not need those rewards. Cancel them.
But she could not say it.
Not if she wished to maintain the integrity and strength of her Peacekeeping Army, which depended on the flow of resources and authority she could not afford to disrupt.
"...?" Robin tilted his head slightly, puzzled by her silence, before changing the subject.
"Anyway, what brings you here? Is there sothing I can assist you with?"
"...I received reports that a major figure released an overwhelmingly terrifying presence in the Guard residences," Althera explained carefully, "and that a significant number of students lost consciousness. Through the Planetary Spirit, I imdiately recognized the source... and it was you. I ca to see what had occurred in person. Is everything under control now?"
"Oh, yes, yes... my apologies for the disturbance," Robin said, scratching the back of his head with a sheepish smile. "I admit it was a failure of self-control. I will make sure the academy is appropriately compensated. Perhaps a free shipnt of soul borrowings next ti... does that sound reasonable?"
Then he raised his voice, commanding:
"Confirm that order with Morgana, Leonid."
"Understood," a Shadow Sword replied from the upper level, nodding in acknowledgnt.
Althera's mood sank further.
"...Thank you," she said quietly, exhaling through her nose.
"Was it truly necessary to release such a deadly killing intent? I will have to
report back and explain the incident to the students."
"Oh, tell them I saw a rat and panicked..." Robin said dismissively, waving his
hands.
"Who cares? Invent whatever story you like and I will walk along."
He stood, stretching slightly.
"Actually, I was just about to leave anyway."
"You're heading back to the academy building?" Althera asked, her voice laced
with curiosity.
"No-outside," Robin replied, grinning widely.
"I want to test sothing. And it would be a sha to destroy your beautiful
academy if I failed."
"....?!" Althera's eyes widened, her jaw practically dropping in shock at Robin's unexpected reply.
"Where exactly are you going?!" Richard's voice rose sharply as he sprang to his feet, tension radiating off him. "We haven't even finished our conversation yet!! There's still so much to say!!"
"We'll continue it along the way," Robin replied calmly, his hand resting on the back of his son's head in a rare, gentle gesture. "Consider this a little field trip with Papa. It will give us ti together to deepen our bond, don't you think?" Without pausing for a response, he lifted his head and spoke with a commanding tone. "Co along. I might need all of you during this trip."
"Understood!" a unified voice called from above, followed almost imdiately by the sound of hurried footsteps descending the stairs. Excitent and anticipation filled the air-finally, a chance to leave the confines of the academy and stretch their legs, to breathe fresh air after years of walls and ceilings. Althera felt sothing slip past her-a sense of urgency, a mont she couldn't afford to ignore. She stepped forward decisively, her voice sharp and commanding: "I want to co with you!"
"Huh?" Robin blinked, clearly taken aback for a fraction of a second. "This is just
a field experint, a controlled test of sothing I created. I want to see the outco firsthand, and there's a very high chance it will fail. What could you possibly do there? How could you contribute?" He shook his head slowly, the faintest smirk tugging at his lips. "Don't waste your ti ddling in the trivial pursuits of a small researcher like ."
"I'll co with you!!" Althera repeated, her voice firr, sharper, filled with unwavering resolve. "I know secrets about you-secrets that perhaps even your children are unaware of. What is there to fear if I accompany you and witness it for myself? What could possibly go wrong with there?" "...Ugh." Robin rubbed his forehead gently, as though trying to erase a sudden headache, then clapped his hands decisively, making the sound echo through the room. "Fine! Alright! You may co along. But hear this-on this outing, I am the leader, not you. If I say right, you go right; left, you go left. Do we understand each other? What I am about to attempt may shock you, perhaps even put us in danger. I do not intend to explain every step or justify every
action I take."
"No problem, I will remain silent." Althera's response was instant, her agreent firm and resolute. She had seen him take the universe's strongest creature and restore it to his forr peak of power-what could possibly be more shocking than witnessing that firsthand?
"Good. Let's move!" Robin started toward the door leading out of the guardhouse. This would be the first ti he left the academy with the freedom of choice, as if he were heading to retrieve Jabba.
"Wait, Your Majesty!" Leonid's voice called out from behind, urgent and slightly strained. "You still have a visitor, as I ntioned before. Perhaps you should deal with him first, right here, before leaving."
"Ah, yes. Right." Robin halted and turned, curiosity mixed with mild annoyance. "Exactly who are we speaking of? I did not sense anyone with you upstairs...
could it be-"
Robin's words caught in his throat, his eyes widening as he took in the scene
behind him.
An old man, his face carved with deep wrinkles, knelt on the ground-not in
fear or respect, but because he simply could not stand. Robin's trained eyes imdiately picked out the sealing nail embedded in the center of his chest. Leonid had been forced to drag him down the stairs by the collar, carefully,
step by step.
The old man's eyes were slightly open, his breaths shallow but steady, showing he was conscious, aware... yet he didn't look at Robin. He made no sound. His entire being seed to wish invisibility, a desperate desire to remain unseen, unnoticed, erased from existence at that very mont.
But Robin saw him clearly, sharply, without a single doubt... and studied him with ticulous attention, every detail, every subtle movent. He analyzed the old man slowly, deliberately, absorbing the information with an almost
predatory focus. Then Robin's expression softened, shifting from initial surprise to a rare sense of relief. A small, almost imperceptible smile crept onto his face.
"...Let guess... the old dog head from the Truth Chamber?"
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