Aeren didn't care about Thaddeus and looked at his mother.
"Mother, let's sit somewhere. This place has too many nuisances."
Aeren was directly referring to Thaddeus. His mother noticed the reactions around them and nodded.
"Yes, let's go."
Aeren, Ellie, and Viviana followed Empress Hyliana to the VIP room reserved for the royal family, leaving some maids and butlers behind for the remaining awakenings. A few guards accompanied them.
Nil watched them go and sighed in relief that she hadn't been bullied today. Yesterday, Aeren had tormented her from morning to night.
She was terrified of him. She had to do something about the bullying, or Aeren would eventually kill her.
She was lost in thought when purple light blazed again inside the magic tower hall, filling everyone with awe...
Jarek had aura surrounding his body with three elements—water, fire, and wind—swirling around him. But this wasn't the end.
Boom...
The purple light shattered and fell like snow as a new color was born. The limits of humanity had been broken again...
The scene left everyone in the hall breathless as they witnessed this miracle of the new generation.
Everyone in the tower—commoners, nobles, and even royalty—felt a deep peace wash over them as they watched this unprecedented awakening.
This was the dawn of a new era...
Pin-drop silence filled the entire tower...
No one remembered Ellie anymore. All eyes were fixed on Jarek, who hadn't yet opened his eyes. A fourth and final element emerged from the new light—Earth.
After all four elements merged, a color never before seen was revealed to the people of the Vorthis Empire...
Everyone stared at the new gray light emanating from Jarek. Finally, he opened his eyes, surveyed his surroundings, and watched as his four elements and aura swirled around his body before being absorbed.
After absorbing all the power, his strength increased tenfold. Jarek smiled, feeling the incredible new power coursing through him.
He lifted his head and gazed at the new color, his smile widening as he admired the beauty of gray. He savored the moment, then noticed the absolute silence around him.
Ignoring the stunned crowd, he began walking toward Nil, who was still lost in thoughts of escape. She knew nothing about his extraordinary awakening—only that the stage granted power and physical enhancement.
Jarek had expected to find her like this and approached directly.
All eyes in the hall followed his movement.
Reaching her, Jarek smiled while Thaddeus watched from afar and sighed.
"Hello, Lady Nil."
Nil snapped from her thoughts at his gentle tone. She stared at his silver hair and striking black eyes with her confused blue ones. She even glanced left and right, doubting that someone so handsome was addressing her. After confirming he was indeed speaking to her...
"Yes, Sir Jarek."
Jarek found her adorable and thought, She's so cute...
After a moment's silence, he said, "Lady Nil, you can just call me Jarek."
Nil felt nervous and noticed everyone watching her. Her eyes found Aeren, who observed with his usual expressionless face, though his presence irritated her.
"Sir Jarek, please don't joke. People might misunderstand."
Jarek nodded, continuing to watch her. He'd noticed her glances at Aeren and understood she was being forced into this situation.
He didn't press further.
Silence stretched across the Magic Tower Hall as everyone watched their exchange, occasionally glancing at Aeren for his reaction—but found none.
In the VIP room, Viviana was about to stand beside the Empress, but Aeren stopped her with a subtle gesture that went unnoticed.
Empress Hyliana's eyes turned to Aeren. He shook his head, signaling not to interfere. She settled back into her seat.
"Lady Nil, I want you to leave the royal family and come with me."
His declaration shocked Nil and everyone present. After witnessing his unprecedented awakening, they understood he might have the power to challenge the royal family—though he was still just a child.
Aeren stood and announced to the hall, "Forget it, Jarek. You'll regret this."
Nil saw her chance—finally, a way to escape Aeren's torment.
Jarek turned to Aeren with a confident smile. "HAHAHA, get lost, Aeren. If you think I'm scared of you or your family, you're mistaken. If you believe you have the power to keep her from me, why don't we duel?"
Aeren watched him silently for several minutes, then returned to his seat without responding.
Seeing this, Jarek—who had never understood Aeren—turned back to Nil. "See, Lady Nil? He's just a coward."
"Kill her!" Ellie's voice rang out.
The other maids and butlers heard the command and immediately moved to attack Nil.
Jarek shielded her. "Back off!" He faced the butlers and guards trying to kill her. Without his protection, she would have died.
Empress Hyliana and Aeren watched the chaos, then turned to Ellie, who had given orders without permission. The Empress rose, her presence striking fear into everyone. Thaddeus prepared to flee with his son.
"Stop! All of you, leave her alone."
Empress Hyliana's voice echoed through the hall, shocking everyone with her decision. She glared at Ellie.
"Ellie, why did you give orders without my consent? Do you think you're the Empress?"
Her cold tone made Ellie tremble. Magical pressure bore down on her, and she could barely remain standing.
"Jarek... called Brother... Aeren... a coward... so I felt... angry... I can't... kill Jarek... so..."
Ellie could barely speak. After hearing her explanation, the Empress released her.
"Never act without my consent again, Ellie."
"Huff... huff..." Ellie gasped, drenched in sweat and struggling to breathe.
Everyone witnessed the royal family's drama and remembered the true authority they'd momentarily forgotten.
Jarek watched the display with relief, then turned to Nil. She stood frozen in shock—she'd never been so close to death.
"Are you alright?"
She was too stunned to hear him. He touched her shoulder gently. "Are you okay?"
Nil looked up at his concerned face and nodded. "Yes, thank you."
She glanced at Aeren and saw him smiling. Breaking free from her fear, she looked at the people she'd considered friends—the same ones who'd just tried to kill her without hesitation.
This betrayal shocked her more than anything else. She'd thought of them as friends, yet they'd attacked her instantly on command.
Watching this unfold, she understood one crucial truth:
"Only I can help myself."