The morning sun washed over the Airien Academy like a silent blessing, highlighting every ridge, every floating mountain peak, every glimmer of the academy's ancient stones. Jack had just finished his meditation, still tasting the lingering aftershock of internal confrontation, when footsteps echoed against the courtyard. At first, they were indistinct—but growing clearer, heavier, familiar yet alien.
Henry was the first to notice. "Uh… Jack… do you hear that?" His sparks flickered nervously across his fingertips, as if reacting to something unseen.
Jack's eyes narrowed. "I think… yeah. Someone's coming."
From the shadows of the courtyard, a figure stepped into view. Twin hammers swung casually over his shoulders, but the aura radiating from him was not one of threat—it was calm, composed, almost regal.
"Klexis…" Jack whispered, voice tinged with disbelief.
The son of Traxis, once lost to the pull of the Corruption Force, now stood before them. His presence radiated self-assurance, a tangible proof of redemption and self-actualization. Jack's Analysis Eyes shimmered faintly, scanning, confirming what his instincts already screamed: Klexis had changed.
Henry's mouth hung open. "No way… he—he's… different!"
Kennedy was leaning against a nearby pillar, jaw slack, still processing. "Wait… wait… the Prince of Devia… he… he actually went through a character arc without us noticing?" His laughter was incredulous, nervous, but genuine.
Ian's hand instinctively went to the hilt of his sword—but paused. No Deviant aura. None. Only the faint hum of disciplined Avia, balanced, refined. His stance softened slightly, but eyes remained alert.
Sonia's emotions danced across the spectrum, shifting from awe to caution, green of curiosity to purple of uncertainty. Yyvone floated forward, golden threads cascading around her, silent yet unmistakably moved.
Osei gave a slow nod, respect plain in his posture.
Jack's smile widened—this time unconstrained, pure excitement shining through. "Analysis Eyes… confirms it. Redemption… and incredible self-actualization. You've… really done it, haven't you?"
Klexis tilted his head, a half-smile tugging at his lips. "What, you're not gonna say anything else?"
Jack laughed, electricity humming faintly at his fingertips. "I… I mean… you've changed. And we never got to see it… before."
Kennedy, still chuckling, clapped his hands together. "Looks like even Devia's prince has already leveled up without us noticing. Huh. Guess we're slacking, folks."
Ian stepped forward, smirking despite himself. "Y'know, I'll never forgive you for that head smash. I can still feel it, heh. That was… impressive, though."
Klexis rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Oops. Sorry about that. My mind wasn't… right at the time."
Yyvone's eyes sparkled, like a child witnessing a miracle. "I saw it, you know. Your confusion… your uncertainty. I knew you'd find yourself eventually."
Jack tilted his head, a small frown forming. "How… what happened? How did you…?"
Klexis exhaled slowly, twin hammers resting heavier on his shoulders. "I couldn't take it anymore. I thought freedom came with the Corruption Force, then I went to Devia… but none of them ever made me whole. I had to make the hard choice myself."
Charles, thoughtful as always, spoke softly. "You had to leave your father behind… and face the consequences."
Ian nodded, a grin breaking through his stoicism. "Yeah… that's gotta be rough. You're not alone in the whole 'daddy issues' department. Mine's… dead. Hahaha."
Laughter bubbled through the group, brief, light, a momentary reprieve from the weight of their powers and pasts.
Klexis continued, voice steadier now, almost warm. "I also made friends along the way…"
Footsteps echoed again—one familiar, one unknown.
Tarren's figure emerged first, hands waving casually. "Yeah, that's right. I also left Devia for… a better reason."
Jack's eyes widened, mouth opening like a child seeing the first snowfall. "Oh my gosh… you did it… didn't you?"
Tarren grinned, gesturing toward Klexis. "Yep. Even Devia couldn't fix me. Took a brave guy to help me turn my life around."
Jack's attention shifted to the other figure, Noan. His Analysis Eyes shimmered, scanning for faint traces of inner clarity. A balance. Precision. Self-awareness unshakable.
"Mmm… you're… interesting," Jack admitted softly.
Noan smirked. "I don't need to brag. Yep. That's me."
Jack leaned slightly closer, intrigued. "I'm almost jealous… that's a lot of… self-awareness."
Noan chuckled, nodding toward Jack. "You too, though. I can sense a struggling aura… wrapped in clarity. You're not the only one figuring things out."
Jack's grin faltered just slightly. "I get that a lot… tell that to… ahem… Jair."
Klexis interjected, casual but firm. "Oh him? When I left, he and the others tried stopping me. But I had already decided. They were my friends too, y'know. I didn't leave them behind lightly."
Yyvone stepped forward, concern softening her features. "How's… Jason?"
Klexis smiled faintly. "He's fine. Still blazing as usual. Still thinks about you, Yyvone."
Her blush was instantaneous, deep, almost painfully cute.
Sonia, teasing mercilessly, piped up. "Aww… someone's feeling things…"
Yyvone jabbed her lightly in retaliation. "I'm NOT—"
Laughter erupted through the courtyard, carrying over the floating mountains, bouncing off the hanging peaks, harmonizing with the wind that rippled through their Avia.
Jack, eyes bright, turned to Klexis. "So… everything you've been through… your redemption, your self-realization… it's real. I can see it, feel it."
Klexis nodded, expression softening. "It took leaving everything familiar behind. Pain, confusion, mistakes… and learning to accept them all. That's how I found clarity. That's how I found myself."
Henry, who had been quietly observing, sparks flickering gently along his arm, chuckled. "Man… you're basically an entire lesson in self-awareness walking around."
Charles, smirking, added, "And here I thought our training was intense… now we have to deal with living examples of evolution."
Osei, finally speaking, gave a respectful nod. "Instincts don't lie. I feel it… the growth, the struggle. I'll follow your lead."
Ian's grip on his sword loosened, a rare smile tugging his lips. "Alright… I'll admit, I respect this. Hard-earned, raw growth."
Jack, flicking a spark across his fingers, laughed softly. "Guess we've got a lot to learn… from each other… and ourselves."
Klexis lifted his hammers slightly, the light catching their edges. "Training is coming. You've touched the Ascended, but there's more. The inner realms, Avian arts… mastery isn't just about power. It's about clarity, self-acceptance, and knowing your limits without being bound by them."
Yyvone's golden threads shimmered, resonating with the energy around her. "Sounds… like we're about to level up… in more ways than one."
Sonia, still teasing, leaned back and crossed her arms. "As long as nobody smashes my head, we'll survive."
Klexis tilted his head with a half-smile. "That depends on whether you see the strikes coming… or if your inner self lets them through."
Jack's grin widened, sparks leaping freely between his fingers. "Bring it on. I'm ready."
Henry, standing beside him, gave a small nod. "Same here. But… just so you know, not all lessons are fun. Some hurt like hell."
Klexis' eyes softened, scanning each student in turn. "Then take heart. Growth always comes with pain. But it's worth it… if you want to see the world—and yourself—truly."
And with that, Klexis, Tarren, and Noan stood tall, three figures of tempered light and shadow, ready to guide, challenge, and inspire.
Jack looked at his friends, determination blazing in his eyes. "Alright… let's do this. Inner realms, Avia, whatever comes next… we face it together."
Sonia, Yyvone, Ian, Charles, Kennedy, Henry, and Osei all nodded. They had faced nightmares before. They had conquered doubt. And now… the real training began.
Above them, the morning sun gleamed over Airien Academy. Its light seemed brighter, charged with potential, as if acknowledging the reborn warriors below. And in that quiet, electric moment, every heartbeat, every spark, every whisper of wind carried a promise: they were no longer just students. They were Ascended.
And Ascended, they would change everything.