—A Funeral, A Friend, A Fracture in the System—
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Days pass too quickly.
People change.
Memories fade.
And life—well, life moves on whether we're ready or not.
That's how I've come to view the world around me. Like a train without brakes, rushing past every feeling, moment, and heartbeat. Today felt no different—yet, beneath that speeding haze, the weight of grief held everything still. The air was thick. The mood was unpleasant would be a cruel understatement.
It was devastating.
It was Mr. Kain's funeral.
I didn't want to be here.
I didn't want to feel anything.
Yet, here I was—standing near the great Fire Place of Astra Academy, a ceremonial ground reserved only for the greatest souls. And today… it was Kain's turn to become ash and memory.
I didn't want to be here, honestly. I didn't want to see this. But Felix practically dragged me from the dorm.
And now, as I watched the crowd—students, teachers, prefects, even the mysterious Holy Ones—I regretted ever listening to him.
I stayed away from them all, isolating myself under the ancient silverwood tree that overlooked the burning hearth. The massive ceremonial fire blazed in the center, roaring in crimson and gold, a flame infused with magic that cleansed the soul for its journey into the Divine Realm. Unlike other funerals, this wasn't one of quiet sobs and gentle farewells.
This was sacred.
Ancient.
Powerful.
The Holy Ones—dressed in their traditional white and cobalt robes, eyes glowing faintly with celestial aura—stepped forth in pairs, forming a circle around the fire. Each of them raised their hands in sync, chanting in a language lost to time. Their magic swirled like ribbons of light in the sky, creating an image of Kain's crest—a soaring falcon with eyes of violet fire.
Then came the Prefects, each wearing black trimmed with the color of their class—D, C, B, A—each class stepped forward and bowed, forming a chain of unity across the ceremonial grounds.
They did something unexpected.
Each prefect took a small silver knife and carved a symbol of Kain's clan—the Veta mark—on a white ribbon, tying it to the ancient memory tree beside the flame. A gesture of eternal remembrance.
Even the teachers looked visibly moved.
Professor Elandra, usually cold and calculated, wept silently.
Master Grellin stood with clenched fists, tears threatening to slip from his sharp eyes.
The Principal, cold as ever in his posture, didn't show a tear, but I noticed his grip on the obsidian railing tremble.The Principal, cold as ever in his posture, didn't show a tear, but I noticed his grip on the obsidian railing tremble.
I exhaled heavily. This wasn't just a funeral. This was the kingdom's way of mourning a legend.
"Paul! Paul!"
My name rang out like an echo breaking through fog.
I turned and saw Felix, running toward me
his arms wobbling with a plate of food. The guy never changes.
The moment I saw him smiling, I had to ask, "Is your body that healthy for you to be running?"
Felix laughed as he reached me, panting a bit but still grinning. "Oh yes, I'm okay now. And besides, stop worrying about me—I'm strong, remember? Now here, take this and eat. You know we didn't eat anything before coming here."
He handed me a plate, and I couldn't lie—I was hungry.
The food was warm, fresh, and simple.
A traditional mourning meal: Sola bread, soft and dark from fire-baking, spiced with crimsonroot herbs; Kyron stew, thick and filled with slow-cooked Vellon meat; and a small bowl of Eryl petals, known to calm the nerves during moments of loss.
I took a bite, and the warmth comforted me more than I'd admit.
Felix sat beside me, brushing leaves from his robe. "It seems the court case has been postponed due to Mr. Kain's funeral. Well, that's good news. Now we have time for a comeback and to win the case."
I paused and looked at him. "What makes you so sure we'll win?"
Felix's smile didn't fade. "Because I trust my teammates. They'd do anything to make Kain innocent."
I raised an eyebrow. "Is this Holy One, Mr. Kain, that respected?"
Felix turned and stared at me in disbelief.
"Wait… you mean… you don't know who Mr. Kain is?"
I shrugged. "Yeah. Kain's a member of the Holy Ones. Anything special about that?"
Felix leaned back and clutched his head. "Anything special?! You say it like he's just a shopkeeper or a scroll boy!"
Then he leaned toward me, lowering his voice.
"Listen, Kain wasn't just a Holy One. He's from the Veta Clan—one of the most respected and fearsome bloodlines in the entire kingdom. The Veta are known for their elemental prowess—especially in wind and soul magic. They were instrumental in the War of Falling Stars two decades ago. They don't just produce warriors. They produce leaders."
He continued, faster, his voice like a flowing river of awe.
"Kain was called the Silent Tempest. You know why? Because when he fights, you don't even see him move. He once took down an entire band of Silver Kingdom assassins alone. Alone, Paul. And here's the kicker—his great uncle? He's part of the Amazing Five."
"The Amazing Five?" I asked.
Felix blinked. "Oh gods... You're hopeless."
I scratched the back of my neck, confused. "Never heard of them. Who the hell are they?"
Felix groaned. "You've been in this academy how long again?"
He didn't even get to answer when a deep, calm voice sliced through the air.
"Paul. I never expected to see you here."
I turned.
Felix froze like a statue.
It was Liorion
Elegant. Dangerous. Silent like a panther before a strike. His uniform, while still formal, was modified with intricate symbols and marks of rank. A top-tier holy one—and one of the most feared minds in Astra.
Felix muttered, "I'll… I'll leave you two alone," and disappeared, clearly shaken.
Liorion stopped in front of me, hands behind his back. "So, are you coming up with a plan for the upcoming court hearing?"
I had a feeling he'd ask that.
"I never intended to plan on winning," I said coolly.
Liorion narrowed his eyes. "Hmm… so you weren't planning on winning? Or do you just not have the strategy to challenge the school system? I don't understand why Class E is obsessed with this case. Why don't you accept defeat? Let the school expel you all for your offenses and move on."
That was cold.
But expected from him.
I replied, "So the school system never favored us. If that's the case, then Class E has every right to win—to prove their place in this academy."
Liorion gave a small, dismissive laugh. "Do you really think winning a court case will elevate your class's status?"
He stepped closer, his tone low and razor-sharp.
"There are storms headed your way, Paul. Obstacles designed specifically to shatter you all. And if—if—you manage to resist them, then maybe I'll start noticing your class. But until then…" He turned his back slightly, pausing. "Be careful with your next steps. The wrong move can cost everything."
His words weren't just a warning.
They felt like a prediction.
Maybe even a plea.
I asked, "Was Mr. Kain important to you?"
Liorion paused, then looked over his shoulder. "That's a surprising question."
He faced the fire. "Kain was my friend. We didn't always agree. Sometimes, we were rivals. But I respected him. He was… a leader. A man of honor. The kind of person you meet once in a generation."
Before I could respond, someone called him from afar.
He turned to me again. "We'll speak later, Paul."
Then he walked into the crowd and disappeared like mist in the sun.
I stood alone again… until someone tapped my shoulder.
I turned. It was Zeek, one of the D-Class prefects. His eyes—focused. Obsessed. Like he'd stared too long into truth.
"How are things going?" I asked.
Zeek replied grimly, "It seems like what you told me is really happening. And when I dug deeper… there's a lot going on in this school."
I stared at him. "What are the things?"
He hesitated, then whispered, "Amaria. The prefect. She's a black sheep among us. She's a spy—from the Silver Kingdom. And there's another group… a secret one forming inside the school. Their leaders? Mostly from the Holy Ones and top-tier prefects."
I smiled.
Pieces were falling together.
"So the spy group and this secret faction are working together," I said. "And Kain's death… it looks like a distraction."
Zeek's eyes widened. "Wait… Are you saying the Silver spies killed Kain?"
I paused, then responded slowly, "Maybe."
He leaned closer. "So… Lucia was innocent after all?"
I shook my head. "He might not be the killer. But he's planning something."
Zeek nodded. "And about your case—I've set the groundwork. Everything is ready."
"Thank you," I said. "Looks like I owe you one."
Zeek smiled. "yeah, you owe me Alot."
He left.
But then I saw it.
From the shadows of the forest nearby—
A figure. Watching us.
Unmoving. Cold. Waiting.
They know.
I sighed and looked to the sky.
Now Zeek's life is at risk.
And we were running out of time.
This year… is the turning point of everything.
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[End of Chapter 25]
To be continued...