Al walked out of the dining room like someone who had just escaped an interrogation chamber.
The moment his bedroom door shut behind him, he let out a quiet sigh and collapsed onto his soft bed.
"Finally, it was over…"
"Pointless family drama," he murmured, pulling the blanket over himself.
Sleep.
That was the one thing he looked forward to today.
The simplest, yet most meaningful thing.
But then—
GRUARRR... GRUARRRR...
His phone vibrated on the nightstand, accompanied by a custom ringtone: rumbling thunder—reserved only for specific people.
Al opened his eyes slowly. No irritation, just slight reluctance.
He reached for the phone, looked at the caller ID, and smiled.
He answered.
"Master," came a woman's voice from the other side. Soft. Firm. With a hint of playfulness hidden behind formal tones.
"I'm leaving for Indorosia tonight."
Al paused, then gave a small smile.
"All right," he replied briefly. "Safe flight."
Click.
The call ended.
But on the other side of the world, things were just beginning to move.
---
Elsewhere…
Uni-states of Ameria
A towering skyscraper stood proudly in the heart of Neo York's business district.
On its top floor, inside a sleek modern office with glass walls overlooking the skyline, a young woman stood with her back to the massive window.
Her long, glossy black hair cascaded down her back. Her figure—though wrapped in a formal black suit—couldn't hide the striking curves that far surpassed even Nayala's.
But that wasn't what stood out.
Not her body.
It was her aura.
Graceful. Commanding. Captivating. Yet... dangerous.
Her face was still partially shadowed by the evening light filtering in.
But a smile began to form—soft, and full of longing.
She stared at the now-dark phone, then turned her gaze to the dusky sky beyond the glass.
"Soon, we'll meet again, Master..." she whispered. "I've missed you."
She held her phone tighter, as if hugging something she deeply cherished.
On the holographic display beside her desk, a company logo floated clearly: ALASIA GROUP.
The screen then switched to a quarterly financial report. The company—partially private—showed growth charts surpassing Wapple and Lesla.
With a single flick of her finger, she closed the display.
"I'll bring gifts… and a few things Master likes. And after that… I want to hear all about your fiancée."
Her smile changed slightly—still gentle, but with a sharp edge.
Soft… but unmistakably piercing.
---
Back to Al…
He let out a quiet sigh and muttered under his breath,
"One by one, they return… The world will begin moving again."
And this time, he smiled.
But it wasn't the smile of an ordinary man.
It was the smile of a sleeping king—one who knew that his queen had begun to return to his side.
He then laid down on his small bed, planning to continue his morning nap while the air was still refreshingly cool.
With a small exhale, he closed his eyes.
Before long, he drifted into the first stage of NREM sleep.
His heartbeat and body temperature slowed, his brain activity dulled, and though a faint trace of awareness remained, his body felt completely relaxed.
Unfortunately, that peace and relaxation led him somewhere unexpected.
For a brief moment—just a flicker—his mind visualized two overlapping spaces: a vast white void, and another filled with shadows and blazing flames.
He jolted awake immediately.
"What was that?!" he muttered in alarm.
He rubbed his reddened eyes and wiped the sleep off his face, but no matter how he tried, he couldn't figure out what had just happened.
He exhaled deeply.
"I guess it was just a dream," he murmured. "But even if it was just for a second… why did it feel so real?"
"Because it was real." A voice suddenly echoed inside his mind—unfamiliar, coming from nowhere.
Al flinched hard and leapt backward.
"What's that?! Who are you?!" he shouted, instantly activating his detection skill and sharpening his magical sensitivity.
"Show yourself! Whoever you are—come out!"
His eyes glowed faintly red.
But nothing.
No presence. No fluctuation of energy. Nothing visible.
A tinge of unease welled up in his chest, forcing him to stand still and keep watch on his surroundings.
That vision—
That voice—
They weren't illusions. He didn't just see them; he felt them. It was as if something deep inside him was connected to that. Yet, he couldn't tell what it was.
Ten minutes passed. Twenty. Even half an hour.
Still, nothing.
His anxiety gradually faded, allowing his mind to clear.
"What's happening to my body…? First, my magic was neutralized. Then that strange feeling whenever I saw my parents in a bad state. And now this…?" he whispered.
Then something clicked in his mind. His eyes widened.
"Wait—don't tell me that was…"
He quickly pulled out an old, worn-out book from his dimensional storage. It wasn't large, but it radiated an air of secrecy—like it held answers meant to stay hidden.
He flipped through the pages, searching for a specific entry.
And when he finally found it—
"Just as I thought. I'm getting close to it," he muttered, relief and excitement mixing on his face.
The page was filled with strange symbols—not any human language—but beneath each line were handwritten notes, translations written by someone unknown.
At the top, the title read:'Chapter of Imagery.'
He turned a few more pages until he reached a section called 'Imagery Realm.'
It described a phenomenon experienced by individuals who had achieved harmony between their soul and body.
Those who reached that state could enter an imaginative realm where their moral and instinctual selves would take form—forms they could perceive and interact with.
"So it's true… that must've been my Imagery Realm. Now that I'm this close to reaching the Grandmaster level, my soul and body synchronization must be nearly complete. Everything fits the description," he analyzed aloud.
"Now the only thing left is figuring out how to access it again."
He flipped further, but there was no mention of how to reenter the Imagery Realm.
"Huff… I've spent ages trying to reach this stage, and now that I finally experienced it, there's no guide on how to get back in. Seriously annoying," he grumbled.
"Still, this is good news. At least among us, I've already taken the first step. This will be a huge advantage for me—and my people."
He exhaled again and stored the book back into his dimensional storage.
Then, lying down once more, he murmured,
"Alright then… let's try getting back there."
With that thought, he closed his eyes, hoping sleep would take him to that realm again.
Unfortunately, his body simply slipped into a deep, dreamless sleep—without even a trace of success.
---
Heat.
That was the first thing Al felt when he woke up that early afternoon.
His plan to re-enter the Imagery Realm had ended with nothing but a deep, dreamless sleep—only to be woken up by the stifling heat.
No results, just sweat soaking his entire body.
Sunlight streamed through the small window, turning the room into something like a steam chamber.
It was the end of March.
Dry season had begun in Indorosia, and Eastern Indorosia was one of the hottest regions—hot enough to make any normal person curse every five minutes.
Unlike the luxurious rooms of the other Virellano family members in the main house, Al's room was in a small building outside.
No AC. Just a fan that barely stirred the hot air, much less effective than relying on natural wind that appeared on its own, uncontrollable.
Especially if he had to use his dimensional space. Just as air could flow in there, so could the heat—and naturally, it would feel even more suffocating.
"I think, I still need more time before I can enter that realm again," he murmured.
"For now, I'd better focus on dealing with this damn heat."
He then tried to cast a cooling spell, a fresh, cold breeze blowing from his hands onto his body. But not even a minute had passed before it faded on its own.
"Haah… That's it? I really am not that skilled with cooling-type magic. Guess I need to study it more in depth," he muttered.
"But… do I have to rely on magic for everything? Won't that ruin my humanity?"
He could only sigh.
"Besides, that kind of magic isn't really practical. The energy cost is too high, the effect too minimal, and it's hard to control. One wrong move and my heart and blood vessels could freeze."
In the end, Al adjusted his mindset to stop forcing every aspect of his life to be simplified by magical energy.
He felt that if everything could be solved by magic, he would forget what it meant to be human—far from his goal and mission to live as a normal human.
He got up and chose a more human approach. He removed his shirt and walked straight into the small outdoor bathroom.
---
After the shower…
His body felt refreshed, but the day was still scorching.
Al had just put on a white t-shirt and light pants when his phone rang. A standard ringtone. Unknown number.
He almost ignored it. But curiosity won.
"Yes?"
"Al! It's me, Rina. Vice captain of Dojo Palaka. Remember?"
"…Rina? Dojo Palaka… is that some kind of food?"
"Hey. Don't mock my dojo." Rina snapped angrily
"Eh. What can I say? I don't even understand what you're talking about." Al replied lazily.
"Ughh. Forget it! It's me—someone from your school, same grade, the one who helped you against Rudi's thugs back then. Don't pretend you forgot."
Al let out a slow sigh. The girl's voice was far too energetic for this scorching midday.
"Ah, it's you. I remember. What's up? By the way, how did you get my number?"
"What's so hard about getting your number? Student data is available in academics, right? Anyway… Can you help me today? We're preparing for School Festival. You're free today, aren't you? I'll wait at school," Rina explained.
"Ah… you got it from there. Didn't expect you to be more resourceful than my own family," Al said, referring to Edward, who couldn't get any info about him.
"Anyway. If it's about that, I'll pass… I'm too drained. Don't feel like moving. The sun's like a frying pan." he added.
"Don't be like that! This is important, Al! There aren't many boys handling this, you know—"
"Why me all of a sudden? I don't think we're close enough for you to ask for help."
"Hishh… exactly because we're not close, that's why I came to ask you. Later we can get to know each other better, okay?"
"Hmph... No, thanks." Al replied flatly.
"Al… If your excuse is the hot weather, the committee room is on the 3rd floor. We've got a big AC and a fridge full of cold drinks. You won't feel hot there."
But something felt odd in her mind.
"Wait… don't you have AC at home? Why you complaining about the weather?" She wondered why an elite kid would complain about the heat.
Rina thought someone from a wealthy family should have AC at home—yet Al was the one complaining about being hot right now.
Meanwhile, Al's lips curved slightly—a lazy, characteristic smile appearing.
"Yeah… there's AC… but not for me. And… did you say there are cold drinks?"
"Not for you? Hmph. Anyway, yup, there are plenty of cold drinks here… and cold watermelon," Rina added.
"Really?"
"Of course."
And somehow, the decision was made instantly.
"Okay. I'll come. What time?"
"Woah. Only willing to come when there's a reward, huh? After all those excuses—hot weather, not being close, and whatever. Hmph… fine, I'll wait as soon as possible," Rina grumbled.
"Huh? Who said we're not close? You must've misheard, Rina. We're super close, right? Hehe. Fine. I'll be there in 30 minutes." Al replied.
And with a bright grin, Al hung up, prepared, and set off.
Meanwhile, on the other end, Rina could only stare blankly, then soon laughed. Amused by the conversation.
"Hehe… what a guy," she muttered.
---
30 Minutes Later...
Al wore casual clothes, backpack slung over his shoulder.
His steps were lazy, but steady.
He took a taxi to school—he couldn't borrow the family car anyway.
When he arrived at Hazandeen International High School, the school wasn't too crowded, but the administration building was bustling with activity.
Several students could be seen walking around, some wearing loose casual clothes, others still looking stylish but modest.
They were busy making preparations, including large banners for the upcoming School Festival—a week-long competition of sports, arts, science, and technology—prominently displayed along the main pathway.
On the third floor, in a large room with a digital whiteboard and the school's emblem on the wall, Rina sat hugging a bottle of cold water.
When she saw Al enter, she immediately stood up.
"Finally, the most mysterious guy in our grade shows up."
Al grabbed a bottle from the fridge without saying a word.
He sat in a corner, leaned back, and calmly opened it.
"So… we're in the same grade?" he asked innocently, sipping the refreshing drink.
"Of course… we're in the same grade. Don't you know me?" Rina replied, thinking she was quite famous.
"Huff… and another narcissist who thinks the whole world knows her," Al teased, face fresh and calm.
"Hishh… you," Rina grumbled in annoyance.
"Okay, okay. Now I know you. So, what do you want me to do here? Let's get it done quickly."
"What's the rush?" Rina replied.
"We'd better finish it quickly, Rina. My cold watermelon is waiting," he said, pointing at the watermelon that somehow looked especially beautiful that day.
Rina was quite pleased with that response.
"Good. That's the spirit!" Rina said. "But I have to introduce you to the others first."
She turned around and eagerly introduced Al to the School Festival Organizing Team—mostly juniors and morning-class students who had barely, if ever, seen Al before.
Most looked at him with curious expressions.
Some nodded politely.
Others started whispering after hearing his full name.
Until one person who knew that name finally spoke up…
"Wait, isn't he that orphan… who got into Hazandeen with a scholarship from the Alasia Foundation?"
"Orphan?... Yet he acts so chill."
"So he's not from an elite family?"
"I didn't know this school even offered scholarships to non-elites."
"If Rudi never mentioned it, I probably wouldn't have known either."
"Rudi doesn't like non-elite kids, right?"
"Yup. There used to be some scholarship kids, but they all quit because of Rudi's interventions—somehow. Leaving only one student named Al. So this is him."
The whispers, audible enough to spread, gradually shifted toward unpleasant information.
But Al didn't really care. To him, they were just clueless kids, with no impact on his life.
Rina fell silent for a moment, slightly shocked.
So Al isn't elite… no wonder Rudi bothered him. And that means the incident back then had nothing to do with this boy? cause there's no way he could hire fighters that strong, she analyzed silently.
Huff… I even thought he had real connections to the Virellano family. Seems it was just a joke back then.
It was the first time she heard about Al's background from the school's social perspective. Hearing those unpleasant rumors made her a little uncomfortable and afraid that Al might be offended.
But when she glanced at him to see his reaction, what she found was…
Al's signature lazy smile.
"Sorry, kids… for shattering your wild assumptions and gossip." Al said flatly.
"But I'm a rich kid, probably richer than you, so end that conversation. I'm not some celebrity to gossip about to my face. Now, let's get this done,"
He responded to the whispers with a tone too serious to be a joke, but too odd to offend anyone.
Instead of taking him seriously, the whole room burst into laughter—some mocking, some confused.
Rina let out a short sigh, smiling wryly.
At least Al wasn't angry or losing his temper. Not to mention, the fact that they were technically elites—if Al got angry and challenged them, it would've been disastrous.
What a relief.
On some level, for some reason, she found Al attractive. Amusing in his own way. Honest, without any exaggerated expressions.
Soon, they seemed to grow bored with their antics. And following Rina's command, they began carrying out their tasks.
---
Though lazy at first, Al quickly showed his abilities once he started working.
With a single instruction, he reorganized the booth layout and decorations with high efficiency—far better than the original plan created over months of committee meetings.
Even Rina, holding command, seemed useless there.
For some reason, everyone appeared hypnotized by Al's ideas, designs, and work ethic. It was as if Al had become the one in charge, as though the young man was naturally accustomed to leading a group of humans efficiently.
He didn't just finish his own tasks quickly and accurately. He also helped other committee members who were struggling—lifting, organizing, even small tasks like cutting and pasting.
Several female student blushed shyly at Al's charisma.
And what they were working on was almost completed in just over two hours, leaving only minor touches that other committee members could handle.
Feeling relieved, Al sat down on the sofa and immediately targeted the refreshing watermelon with sharp eyes and decisive movements, like a predator stalking its prey.
Rina gawked.
"You… are you a genius or what?"
"Just normal. If I work fast, I can rest faster," Al replied, chewing casually.
Rina burst out laughing.
She couldn't deny it—Al made this hot afternoon feel a bit lighter.
But not everyone shared that feeling.
Jogo, a senior from the martial arts club and Rina's old friend, observed them with sharp eyes.
Rina's closeness to Al clearly made him uneasy.
Still, the day ended peacefully… for everyone, including Al—who finally got to enjoy cold watermelon, soda, and an air-conditioned room.
And while chewing a small slice of tart, Al's cheeks puffed out slightly.
His usually blank expression turned into something… innocent.
Even cute, according to some of the female committee members whispering among themselves:
"He's... kinda cute when he eats."
"Uwahhh, so adorable."
"Can I pinch his cheeks?"
Those who had scoffed at him earlier were now completely impressed. Both by the efficiency and quality of his work, and by the hidden charm beneath his otherwise ordinary appearance.
They just didn't know the horrors that lurked behind that innocent-looking face.
---