On their route to the academy, inside the carriage, Drakmor had taken his physical form, sitting across from Lee. His crimson eyes glowed faintly as he spoke.
"Have you seen Kaelen lately?" he asked, his tone casual but laced with curiosity. "Or has he stopped appearing?"
Lee leaned against the window, watching the passing scenery. "I saw him today," he admitted. "But… it was bizarre."
Drakmor raised an eyebrow. "Bizarre?"
"Yeah. Different from before."
"Like JoJo's Bizarre Adventure?"
Lee shot him a blank stare.
Drakmor smirked. "Kidding."
"That never happened," the narrator suddenly interjects. "The author just wanted to make that up."
Moving on.
Lee exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "This time, we didn't speak. We just… looked at each other. And yet, I felt like I knew what he was thinking. No words were needed. It was like I understood him completely."
Drakmor tilted his head. "And?"
"And… it felt like I knew who I was too. Not just him—myself."
A beat of silence passed before Drakmor's voice dropped lower. "Who you were? Don't you remember who you were before all this?"
Lee hesitated. His grip tightened on his sleeve. "...I don't. But in that moment, it was different. I wasn't thinking about my past. All I knew—deep in my bones—was that I didn't belong to this world."
Drakmor studied him carefully. His expression unreadable.
"...Interesting," he murmured, leaning back.
The carriage rocked gently as they continued down the road, the conversation lingering between them like a shadow.
As they arrived at the towering gates of the capital, a group of knights stood watch, carefully inspecting each carriage that passed through. One of the armored guards stepped forward, his sharp gaze assessing them.
"Halt. State your identity."
Lee reached into his pocket, fingers brushing against cold metal before pulling out a finely crafted insignia. The Virell family crest gleamed under the sunlight—a temporary pass, borrowed for the sake of entry.
The knight's eyes widened the moment he saw it. Straightening his posture, he stepped back and bowed deeply.
"We are honored to welcome the esteemed Virell bloodline to our humble capital," he declared with reverence.
With a swift gesture, the heavy gates creaked open, allowing their carriage to pass.
As they entered, the doors behind them groaned shut, sealing them within the heart of the empire.
The capital was vast, a sprawling city enclosed by towering walls. Its beauty was undeniable—grand buildings lined the streets, each showcasing the wealth and power of the empire. At the city's heart stood the castle, an enormous structure so wide and imposing that it alone spoke of the kingdom's riches.
The streets were alive with activity. It was a bustling Wednesday afternoon, and the plaza was packed with merchants shouting their wares—fresh fruits, fabrics, trinkets, and rare goods from distant lands. The scent of baked bread and sizzling meat filled the air, blending with the hum of conversation and the clatter of hooves against cobblestone.
As their carriage moved steadily toward the academy, Lee suddenly tensed. A sharp pulse of mana rippled through the air—an irregular amount, far beyond what was permitted within the capital's boundaries.
Drakmor reacted as well, his form flickering with awareness.
Without hesitation, Lee swung open the carriage door and leaped out, his feet hitting the ground as he sprinted toward the source.
The disturbance led him into a narrow alleyway, shadowed from the bright afternoon sun.
There, he saw her.
A girl in the academy's uniform, backed against a wall, her black hair disheveled, her red eyes filled with defiance. Surrounding her were five students, their faces twisted in amusement and cruelty.
Lee understood immediately.
He knew why they were attacking her.
Black hair. Red eyes.
The infamous traits of the Witch, Kamille—the woman who once waged war against humanity. Any girl who bore this appearance was treated as if she carried the Witch's cursed blood.
And right now, she was their prey.
As Lee debated whether to intervene, a sudden surge of blood magic shot through the alley. The girl had struck first, lashing out at her attackers with controlled yet powerful spells. Her attacks weren't lethal, but they were enough—two of the students collapsed, groaning in pain, leaving only three still standing.
The remaining bullies, now furious, summoned their own magic, their hands glowing as they prepared to retaliate.
Lee didn't wait.
A suffocating wave of mana erupted from him, a bloodlust so intense it stopped them dead in their tracks. Their bodies trembled, breaths hitching as an overwhelming fear seized them.
The alley fell silent.
With his voice low and firm, Lee commanded, "Scram."
Not daring to question him, the three students hastily grabbed their fallen friends. One of them, shaking from the pressure, shot a glare at the girl before spitting out, "You're lucky. Next time, we'll kill you."
Then, they fled.
The girl, still on edge, turned to leave as well. But before she could take a step, Lee reached out, blocking her path.
"I'm going to the academy. I can take you there if you want," he offered.
She hesitated. Fear flickered in her crimson eyes—not from her bullies, but from him. The mana he had just unleashed still lingered in the air, suffocating and raw.
After a moment, she gave a small nod.
Without another word, he led her back to his carriage. As they climbed inside, Drakmor, still in his physical form, leaned back with an amused smirk.
"So let me get this straight," he drawled. "You jumped out of the carriage because of a suspicious mana surge… and came back with a girl? You stupid flirter."
Lee shot him an annoyed glare. "You damn scythe, she was being attacked by academy students. I only helped her out."
Drakmor chuckled, eyes gleaming. "Sure, sure. But I hate to break it to you—she seems even more scared of you now, after what you just pulled, Kaelen."
"I'm sorry, but it was the only way to stop them without hurting anyone," Lee said, his tone calm but firm.
The girl exhaled sharply before flashing him a small, amused smile. "Yes, I get that. But your bloodlust could probably make a normal person drop dead from a heart attack. Imagine what it was like for me—a 6th-circle mage—having to endure that."
Lee blinked, feeling a bit embarrassed. "I… I didn't realize it was that bad."
She chuckled softly at his reaction, then glanced out the carriage window.
"So, what's your name?" he asked.
She hesitated. "My name… hmm…"
"Oh, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
"It's not that," she muttered, gripping the hem of her sleeve. "It's just… my name is Kamille."
As she said it, she averted her gaze, as if expecting disgust or fear from him.
Lee, however, only smiled. "That's a beautiful name."
Kamille's red eyes widened slightly. She turned back to him, her expression conflicted. "But… it's the name of the witch—the one who once brought destruction to this world. And I have her appearance. Everything about me is cursed!"
Lee tilted his head. "Hmm… why should I care?" he said simply. "I don't know much about this witch. I don't know what she did to the world. And more importantly—you're not her, right? So why does it matter? You're you, not The Witch Kamille."
Kamille stared at him, stunned. A faint blush crept onto her cheeks as she quickly turned away.
"…Idiot," she mumbled under her breath.
Finally, the carriage arrived at the academy's gates. As the grand doors creaked open, the lush academy garden stretched before them, its vibrant flowers and towering trees painting a picture of elegance.
As they entered, Lee turned to Drakmor. "I'll call you when I need you," he said.
Drakmor nodded before vanishing.
Kamille, still processing what she had just seen, turned to Lee, eyes wide in shock. "Was Drakmor… a Higher Spirit?"
Lee raised a brow. "Huh? Higher Spirit? That idiot?" He scoffed. "Nah, he's just a weapon with an ego."
Her eyes widened even further. "A weapon with an ego? But those are incredibly rare! They're highly valued because of their power, but yours can even take a physical form? That means…" She hesitated before continuing, "...it was crafted by one of the greatest artisans in the world."
Lee waved a hand dismissively as he stepped out of the carriage. "Don't think too much about it. He's just a stupid weapon, anyway."
Kamille watched him in disbelief before sighing and following.
Now standing before the academy's grand entrance, they took a deep breath before stepping inside.
The hall was filled with students, all gathered in nervous anticipation. Some stood in groups, chatting excitedly, while others observed their surroundings with wary eyes.
Then, the room fell silent.
A powerful presence filled the space as the Academy Director strode in, his robe flowing behind him like a shadow.
With a confident smile, he addressed them.
"Welcome, students. It is an honor to have the future of this kingdom standing before me at our prestigious academy."
Then, without warning, he released his mana—a crushing force spreading across the hall like an invisible wave.
"Now," he said, his voice sharp and commanding.
"Be ready for your first challenge."