For Arthur, the past month had been like a battle woven in silence.
Every morning before sunrise, he would rise and head to the abandoned quarry north of the city. There were no spectators, no overseers—only the echo of stone, the whisper of wind, and the sound of his own breath.
He began with Tempest Step.
In the early days, when he tried to quicken his steps, his muscles burned with pain, and his knees trembled as he pushed his body further.By the tenth day, sparks began to flash beneath his feet as he ran.By the end of the month, when he vanished in one place and appeared in another, he realized he was truly moving like lightning.
Mind Resonance, however, was more of a mental struggle.
At first, when he closed his eyes, he heard only meaningless murmurs.In the following weeks, he began to distinguish the vibration of a tiny insect slipping between the rocks, and the mana breaths of distant passersby.In the final days, during meditation, it felt as if the air around him had turned into a map—he could perceive the flow of everything.
His body's muscles had strengthened, and his mind's focus had sharpened. This single month had carried Arthur far beyond the limits of an ordinary warrior.
A month later, when Arthur stopped by the Galxicus Guild in the early morning, he found unusual commotion inside. Guild members were gathered around the tables, speaking heatedly. Tense whispers filled the hall.
Garrick was the first to speak, his voice booming:
"Chaos has erupted at the Academy! That boy Elijah… has been killed!"
Arthur froze mid-step. Without bothering to hide his expression, he approached the crowd.
"Elijah, you said?"
Liana stood with her arms crossed, her face twisted.
"Yes. But the issue isn't just a student's death. Rumor has it Elijah made a pact with a demon. His power was far beyond that of a normal student. Amanda fought him in a duel… and in the end, Elijah died."
A young guild member cut in excitedly, waving a newspaper in his hand.
"It's written here! The administration tried to cover it up, but they couldn't. Elijah used demonic power, and Amanda had no choice but to kill him to save her own life."
Arthur took the paper, his eyes scanning the lines swiftly:
"Tragedy at Lock Academy: Student Amanda kills classmate Elijah. Witnesses claim Elijah was using unknown dark powers. The Academy administration has launched an investigation."
Arthur slowly placed the paper back on the table. While the murmurs in the guild hall continued, he remained silent. His face carried a faint, unreadable expression, but his eyes shone with a sharp light.
"So… Amanda," he whispered.
Garrick took a deep breath:
"One student killing another… and one who made a pact with a demon, no less. This will shake not just the Academy, but the peace of the entire continent."
Liana nodded, worry etched on her face.
"If it's true that Elijah made a deal with a demon… then darker things must be happening inside the Academy. Who knows how many others may have chosen the same path?"
A young guild member whispered fearfully:
"What if this is only the beginning? What if more students fall into the hands of demons?"
Arthur stayed silent, but his eyes swept across the crowd. Fear and suspicion marked the faces of the guild members. This was exactly why Ren being there alone unsettled him.
That evening, Arthur returned home. The air in the house carried the peace of daily routines. Nola was playing with her little toys, Samantha was busy in the kitchen with the scent of warm food, and Ronald sat deep in thought in his chair.
When Arthur stepped through the door, Nola rushed to him with joy and threw her arms around his neck. He stroked his sister's hair with a faint smile, though the weight of his decision lingered hidden on his face.
As they gathered around the dinner table, Ronald turned to him.
"Arthur, you look different today. Did something happen?"
Arthur paused briefly before speaking in a calm voice:
"Father, Mother… I'll need to be away from home for a while to train. I have to push myself further. It could take weeks, maybe months."
Samantha frowned slightly.
"Leaving again? If only we could at least know where you'll be…"
Arthur shook his head.
"Don't worry. I'll be in a safe place. But this is a journey I must take alone."
Seeing the determination in his son's eyes, Ronald quietly bowed his head. In that moment, he swallowed his questions; Arthur's words were not a choice, but a decree.
Nola pouted and puffed her cheeks.
"Come back quickly, big brother… promise?"
Arthur gently touched her forehead.
"Promise, my little star."
That night, when everyone retreated to their rooms, Arthur remained alone at his desk. Silently, he drew out the Lock Academy seal from his pocket. The reddish runes glowed faintly. He clenched it tightly in his palm, his eyes gleaming with a cold light.
"Tomorrow… behind the mask, with my new identity, I will enter. No matter what, no one must know."
The seal's vibrations echoed in the darkness of the room. Arthur knew: this step was now irreversible.