The drama ended, yet many students remained rooted in place.
Their gazes lingered on the three figures that stood indifferently, as if none of the current events related to them.
When Sylvia joined them, filling the last piece, several students fully recalled the rumors about Aramith’s group.
A group of three who caused trouble with the support of their teacher, and the illusion that the Rector was their best supporter.
This was definitely the sa group everyone had been talking about, yet the image before them painted a different picture that contrasted greatly with the stories they’d been hearing.
The three stood together quietly, unconcerned by the attention they attracted. The strange calmness around them created a sense of distance that made them difficult to approach.
Looking at them now, they found it harder to connect them to the rumors circulating throughout the academy.
Hearing the rumors made them expect a brute or vagabond with his goons, yet they looked gentle as a calm, untouched lake in winter.
The warden eventually dispersed the crowd before leading the group deeper into the cultivation grounds.
As the students dispersed, a new rumor travelled along.
A few decided to believe the previous rumors, thinking this was an act, and others decided to remain neutral until they confird all the questions in their minds.
Now, as a different version of Aramith started to circulate, complexities were bound to grow.
As the group travelled deeper, fewer students appeared.
So students looked on in confusion, surprise, and curiosity, yet none of them approached them or stopped them.
Aramith was the first to notice the small changes that occurred with every step they took.
Youm density grew, and he felt his energy stabilizing. The constant leaking had stopped, which filled him with relief.
The warden’s expression beca more serious as they moved on, and finally, at the end of the passage, they stood before a pair of black gates hundreds of ters tall.
Looking up from below, the doors seed to pierce the heavens themselves.
Their surface didn’t resemble any form of tal, wood, or stone. They looked like polished obsidian, yet looked foreign at the sa ti. Faint veins of silver flowed beneath the surface like frozen lightning.
Ancient symbols covered the doors, shifting slightly whenever one stared at them for too long. A strange sense of oppression shrouded the door, and the warden felt a slight nervousness.
This was the first ti he was going to open these doors for anyone to enter, and the ecstasy he felt couldn’t be described simply.
He swallowed before turning to Aramith, taking a step back. "Present your ring," he said stiffly.
Aramith stepped forward and raised his ring to the doors.
The mont the black ring appeared, the symbols on the door pulsed like a heartbeat.
The doors trembled slightly, and a low rumbling of thunder rolled around them.
The warden gaped dumbfoundedly. He stared at the doors, and several veins of what seed to be lightning spread across the doors.
The marks glowed slightly, then turned from white to silver. From then, the light pulsed again, slowly shifting from silver to gold, which then turned back to white before fading.
The doors cracked before slowly opening. A mist flowed out, along with an aggressive amount of Youm.
When it burst out, the warden’s face beca pale.
This is too much!
He felt a sudden increase in his strength and couldn’t imagine the effect of stepping through the doors.
Aramith felt the invasive youm around him, pressing against him from every direction.
It felt strong, but not uncomfortable. Instead, it cald him. His pupils darkened slightly as he felt the Youm thick like water around him, eager to fuse with him.
He readily accepted it.
Scales fluttered lightly around Mozrael’s arms like goosebumps, flipping once then sinking back into her skin. She could feel Agaboz within her, slightly agitated. The ancient dragon could feel the Youm strongly.
A small thump sounded beside them, and they turned to Sylvia, who clutched her chest, breathing heavily.
Sweat beaded her face, and she looked drained of all blood and energy.
Mozrael quickly rushed to support her, and Aramith stepped closer as well.
"What’s wrong?" Aramith asked.
"Are you sick?" mozrael asked as well.
Sylvia gripped Mozrael’s arm tightly, then shook her head.
"I..." she breathed heavily, then inhaled sharply. "I can’t take it...too much Youm."
The warden quickly ca to his senses and rushed over to Sylvia.
"What’s going on?" Aramith frowned, asking the warden.
The warden felt sothing dangerous from Aramith. THis kid isn’t normal...
For such a kid to make him feel so troubled internally from just a question, he couldn’t understand clearly.
Aramith waited patiently, and though he looked calm, there was worry in his eyes.
He couldn’t understand what was happening to Sylvia, and it troubled him.
He glanced at her pale face, then turned to the warden.
The warden checked on Sylvia before frowning slightly.
"She’s unable to take in this much Youm, it’s too dense for her level. I need to take her to rest, then she can cultivate in the inner grounds.
Aramith finally understood. He and Mozrael were not your average person, so what they could handle, others wouldn’t be able to.
"You should go in, I’ll take her back," the warden said resolutely. "Let’s go," he said to Sylvia as they turned around to leave the aggressive energy.
Aramith noticed the worry on Mozrael’s face as she looked at the departing duo, and he couldn’t help but feel heavy in his heart, thinking of Lia and Kesha.
He stepped forward, hesitating slightly, before gently placing a hand on Mozrael’s head, brushing her hair.
"She’ll be fine," Aramith said gently.
Mozrael froze for a second before smiling. She nodded quietly, then turned around to look at Aramith.
He smiled back, just a small smile, but it was enough to ease Mozrael completely.
"Let’s go. We need to get stronger."
It was only after he started to leave that the warden suddenly felt a chill.
He turned around and looked at the two who had just stepped into the core cultivation grounds.
He looked so frightened, his hands shook.
"How aberrant."
He couldn’t believe it. Even he wasn’t able to remain calm in the presence of such dense Youm. It was so aggressive, he could only remain standing because he’d consciously rejected the Youm to stay safe; if not, he would have passed out like Sylvia.
His expression beca complicated.
What were those rumors about Aramith being so weakling, too? A weakling who could go cultivate in such a place?
Weak your ass!
He wept silently, comparing himself to the new students. Am I that much trash that new students can accomplish greater things?
If this was called weakness, then he wasn’t sure what that made him.
He knew he wouldn’t be able to cultivate in there, even if he was given the chance, yet those two walked in without any hesitation, and without any sense of discomfort.
He swore in his heart that he would never believe rumors, no matter who told him.
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