Kaelus slowly pushed himself up from the bed, feeling the profound emptiness of his mana core. He was fully in his true human form, a youth of fifteen years, his skin pale and his silver hair short. Erice rushed closer, her eyes wide with amazement that the imposing figure from the banquet was actually a boy her own age. Kaelus blushed deeply under her intense scrutiny.
Baron Marcus watched the exchange. "Are you really Kaelus, the adventurer we honored?"
Suddenly, Wizen, Marcus's assistant, appeared in the doorway, holding a sealed scroll. "Baron, the Mage Emperor sent an urgent letter—an update on the Eastern Territory mission."
Marcus instantly grabbed the letter. As he scanned the contents, his face went slack with shock. He handed the scroll to Kaelus. "You have to see this, Kaelus."
Kaelus took the scroll. The letter, though long, contained the chilling truth he already suspected. He focused on the critical details:
"...the mission was a success, the barrier reactivated, but there were casualties.... We mourn the loss of the heroes of Terra:
S-Rank Adventurer: Kaelan Bulkhead (Initial 7-Star Mage)
S-Rank Adventurer: Grund Stonebeard (Initial 7-Star Mage)
S-Rank Adventurer: Jian Stormheart (Initial 7-Star Mage)
SSS-Rank Adventurer: Kaelus Wyndhelm (Mid 8-Star Mage)
Also, the next attack will commence in fifteen years. All noble houses need to be prepared. All prospects at age sixteen, noble or not, must be sent to the Aethelgard Academy. The Magic Court will provide the best environment for young mages to train. This is for the preparation for the incoming invasion in the next fifteen years."
Kaelus's vision blurred with tears as he read the names of his fallen comrades. He knew he had self-destructed his core, but someone else—WhiteTrash—had somewhat survived the blast and finished off the others. The Mage Emperor had successfully made the dead Phalanx members the heroes of Terra, and crucially, the letter contained no hint of the truth or discrimination.
Marcus gently patted his shoulder. "Wizen, leave the room. Close the door when you leave."
"I will send a letter to the Magic Court," Marcus declared, moving toward the writing desk. "I will report that you are alive, Mr. Kaelus."
Kaelus grabbed the Baron's arm. "Don't do that, Baron Marcus. I just found out that I am still weak in front of the real threat of this world. I need to train more, and start from the basic."
Erice, still staring at him, spoke softly. "Kaelus, why don't you join me in Aethelgard Academy? You seem to be as young as I am, so—"
Marcus cut her off, his eyes widening with suspicion. "What are you planning, Mr. Kaelus? I can provide anything you need here. Also, is there a reason why you are looking like this and not like you did at the banquet hall?"
Kaelus knew he had to tell the truth, or at least, the version of the truth that was now public knowledge among the leaders. "Sorry, Baron Marcus. My real name is Aelius Wyndhelm." He channeled a small surge of Wind mana, projecting the holographic image of the young silver-and-green dragon. "I am the son of the late Esphira Wyndhelm, the Wind Dragon Guardian of the Dragon Cave."
Marcus and Erice stared in profound shock.
"Also, Baron Marcus, I need to send another letter to the Mage Emperor," Aelius requested.
Erice and Aelius left the guest room while Baron Marcus prepared to write Aelius's confidential message to the Mage Emperor.
Erice, still shy, walked beside Aelius. "So, Mr. Kaelus, are you going to attend the Aethelgard Academy with me?"
"Yes, to do that," Aelius replied, giving her a genuine, albeit nervous, smile. "I will carry a new name: Aelius Nakamura."
"Nakamura? What a unique family name is that, Mr. Aelius?" Erice asked.
"Lady Erice, please don't be so respectful to me. We are the same age," Aelius insisted, blushing slightly.
Erice paused, her eyes widening again, then lowered her voice and blushed deeply. "Then call me Erice too, Aelius."
"E-Erice?" Aelius stammered, flustered.
Baron Marcus cleared his throat loudly as he returned, holding the sealed message. "Ehem. Mr. Kaelus, I sent your letter to the Mage Emperor."
Erice, flustered, and Aelius, shyly smiling, thanked him.
In the Grand Mage Tower, Mage Emperor Ian Emrys Skyrune sat heavily on his elevated throne, an unusual cloud of weariness and sadness hanging over him following the grim reports from the Eastern Territory.
Morthos, his advisor and Speaker of the Court, appeared at his side, carrying a stack of sealed scrolls—the replies from the various noble houses and territory leaders following the summit.
"Morthos," Ian sighed, waving a dismissive hand. "You know there's nothing important in those scrolls. Why are you keeping sending them to me? The reports from the borders are the only thing that matters."
"With all due respect, Mage Emperor," Morthos replied formally, "but even if these scrolls contain nothing but political posturing, it is still your duty to read them."
"Morthos, the next letter you send to those pigs, take note: if it's not important, do not send a reply," Ian grumbled, his voice lacking its usual thunder.
"That is for the next letter, Your Majesty. But for now, you have to read all of this." Morthos, in a rare display of exasperation, gently slammed the scrolls onto the Emperor's desk.
Ian sighed, resigned, and began tearing open the scrolls one by one, tossing the unimportant messages aside after a single glance. Morthos meticulously gathered the discarded papers.
Ian tossed another scroll. Morthos bent to pick it up, then stopped. He noticed the Emperor had frozen. Ian's face, a moment ago weary, was now etched with profound shock. He immediately stood up from his throne, a sudden burst of energy making him laugh—a high, joyous, unprofessional sound.
"What happened, Mage Emperor?" Morthos asked, bewildered by the sudden shift in mood.
Ian held out the scroll, his hands trembling slightly. "Read this yourself, Morthos."
Morthos took the scroll, recognizing the seal of the House of Aurumglow. He scanned the contents rapidly, his composure failing. "WHAT??!!"
The astonishment on Ian's face settled into a mischievous, delighted smile.
"So he is alive, that brat," Ian chuckled.
Morthos, still processing the impossible content of the message, read the key sections aloud:
"Mage Emperor, this is Kaelus. I am now staying at the House of Aurumglow. I am shocked and sad at what happened with my party member. I guess my sacrifice is in vain, as I didn't really kill the leader of the Players. But as Sylva reported to you, the barrier are reactivated with the help of another dragon. If you happened to be visiting him, please invite me also as I want to know also my roots and I think, that lava dragon has the answer. Also. don't reveal my existence to others. I know I will meet them soon, but for now, I need to be more stronger in order to fight the threat in our continent. Lastly, I will attend the Aethelgard Academy with my new name Aelius Nakamura."
Ian Emrys Skyrune threw his head back and laughed, the sound echoing through the tower. The last Wind Dragon was alive. The war was still coming, but the champion of Terra was ready to train.