[My brothers and sisters, the day you have long awaited has finally arrived! It is the day of your graduation from Versalkin Academy—you hold your future in your own hands. You are students of Versalkin Academy, and in a few short hours, you will become individuals seeking your own place in this vast world.]
[You are filled with excitement, and you know what path you intend to follow in life. Some of you will become professors here at Versalkin Academy, while others will join sects and clans worthy of your presence.]
[Still others will pursue their dreams of exploring the world, seeking fame and glory on their own, facing the harsh reality of the world we live in. Whatever you choose to do, the decision is yours alone, and you must bear the consequences yourselves. Remember my words well.]
[Your time at Versalkin Academy has come to an end; you must now prepare for what lies ahead. Finally, I congratulate all the students who managed to graduate after four years of struggle and perseverance—ensuring they weren't expelled—as well as the professors who stood by us throughout this journey. Versalkin Academy takes pride in those who once dwelt within its walls, and it bids farewell to those departing with a heart heavy with the sorrow of parting.]
Frederick took a deep breath as he gazed out at the crowd, who were applauding fervently—though, deep down, they had no desire to do so; they were merely compelled to. It would be an insult to an important figure—a move that would entail dire consequences, and one that no one wished to entangle themselves in.
Frederick offered a faint smile, reflecting on the status and power he had attained—a level where, with the exception of a select few, no one dared to slight him. He returned to his seat, accompanied by his followers, Yi Fan and Zi Mingtao.
They paid no heed to the whispers of students and professors that rippled through the hall once more, following a silence that had lasted several minutes.
"Wow, Frederick is truly magnificent, isn't he? His ability to stir a crowd and bend them to his will is simply extraordinary."
"You're right—he's such a charming, handsome man. And yet, he's fixated on a girl who couldn't care less whether he exists or not: Jia Guilford. Isn't that just awful? What a fool—to let such a blessing go to waste."
"But I heard she's involved with Yuta Caseral from the Elite Class—the very one who was honored just two hours ago. Honestly, they're a perfect match; it's as if each is simply in love with their own reflection."
A girl's expression shifted to one of pure astonishment. She turned her gaze toward where Yuta Caseral was sitting, revealing a young man with long, white hair, light crimson eyes, and lips as red as cherries. He was so strikingly attractive that, by comparison, even Frederick looked entirely ordinary. "It seems she just tossed aside some bread and headed toward the buffet. I suppose I can't blame her—fame, beauty, power, talent, and status! She's incredibly fortunate. If I could get just one hug from him, I'd be more than satisfied."
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"He's a truly terrifying figure with immense influence within Fersalkin Academy. It seems he chose to stay here of his own accord, just to enjoy the resources and the authority he holds over the students across all four class tiers."
"Thank goodness the ceremony is almost over. I want to get out of this hellhole this very second. Life at Fersalkin Academy is like living in heaven and hell simultaneously—the slightest mishap could get a student expelled. It's all so tiresome, isn't it?"
"You're right. But if it weren't for the immense benefits of graduating from Fersalkin Academy—and the access to such invaluable resources—I would have left this place a long time ago."
They turned their gaze toward Soliver, who was in the midst of honoring Ye Fan, Zi Mingtao, and Frederick Renlick.
Everyone waited for the ceremony to conclude. It was widely understood that they had been singled out for this recognition because of their roles on the Student Council: Frederick Renlick served as the president, while Ye Fan and Zi Mingtao were his vice-presidents.
Yet, no one dared to state this outright. Accusing the Versalkin Academy of bias—even if such an accusation were true—would create complex problems that the accusers themselves would be unable to resolve, should they choose to dwell on the notion.
Frederick, however, remained indifferent to their gazes. To him, what mattered most were the resources and prestige gained from being named the top student for four consecutive years at the world's most elite academy—an institution renowned for its exceptionally rigorous curriculum.
As for the words and looks directed his way, they held little significance; these people were neither his friends nor his acquaintances. Even if some possessed influence—hailing from prominent sects or clans—why would he seek them out, when he could align himself with the greatest clans and sects of all? The same applied to the professors at the Versalkin Academy.
As they returned to their seats amidst the thunderous applause of students and faculty, Frederick Renlick cast a cold, piercing glance toward Yuta, before shifting his gaze to Jia—his expression softening into a faint smile. Jia, however, responded with complete indifference.
Having no interest in pursuing any romantic entanglements—certainly not with someone like Frederick or Yuta—she closed her eyes, attempting to rest until the conclusion of a ceremony she found utterly absurd.
Yet, she could not help but contemplate what lay ahead. Their journey would include several stops: the city of Yuhr Spek, the Market of Mysteries, and finally the city of Berhais, where they would remain for a few days before the start of the Summer Festival. The interval between the start of the break and the beginning of the festival provided ample time for various unexpected events to unfold—though this did not necessarily mean she would encounter them.
If a challenge promised to strengthen her, she would face it; if it threatened to weaken her, she would steer clear. There was no merit in risking her life for the sake of glory—she certainly had no intention of emulating Emperor "Bright Sun" Zhao Yong, who had courted adversity solely to reap personal renown—or, as some might call it, mere posturing.
Elsewhere, Academy Director Soliver surveyed those present with a calm gaze, though, deep down, he hoped they would soon depart from Furselkin Academy—allowing everyone a chance to finally rest after six grueling months of exhaustion and intense strain.
[We have reached the end of this year's ceremony honoring our outstanding students. As I mentioned earlier, there are students from other specializations whom I could not honor here; rest assured, you will receive what you deserve—you will find it waiting for you in your rooms. Please accept my apologies for this oversight.]
[I wish you all a pleasant end-of-year break. I hope you make the most of this time—especially those of you selected for the 'Masters' Class,' who will be heading to the Khaldin Celestial Academy.]
[The next five months will be dedicated to preparation, followed by three months of preparatory lessons at the start of the coming year, ensuring you are well-acquainted with the place that will be your home for the next ten full months.]
With that, Soliver departed, signaling the conclusion of both the end-of-year celebration and the honors ceremony. The students, however, remained in their seats in complete silence—there was simply nothing for them to chat about.
This state of affairs persisted for over half an hour. Eventually, the students and faculty began to file out of the ceremonial hall in groups of 251—though the total count kept shifting by twenty—until, after some time, the hall was finally empty.
Jiya and Yuta Caseral remained seated side-by-side. Jiya cast a look of deep distrust his way.
Yuta responded with a faint smile, gently patting her on the head. She was momentarily flustered, though her expression soon returned to its usual state.
She brushed his hand away; She felt an unbearable pain, the result of an electric shock coursing through her entire body.
Glaring at him, she spoke in a sharp, irritated tone: "Yuta Caseral, do not overstep your boundaries. Next time, your hand will be severed from your body."
Yuta feigned surprise, then gently pinched her cheek once more. The electric shock surged through her, causing agony far more intense than her words had implied—though Yuta's own hands trembled from the pain he, too, was enduring.
Yet, that provocative smile remained fixed on his face, fueling a desire in Jia to kill him right then and there.
Yuta looked at her with a strange, inscrutable gaze—devoid of love, hatred, or any of the emotions one typically feels toward another person—and said:
"Well, don't worry, my dear Jia. Once you know the truth, there will be virtually no boundaries left between us."
Jia narrowed her eyes, trying to decipher the meaning behind his cryptic remark, before deciding to leave the banquet hall immediately without another word.
As she exited, she encountered Zi Mingtao standing before the hall doors. She continued walking, but he reached out, attempting to take her hand.
The moment he sought to touch her, he sensed an indescribable, murderous intent radiating from her, forcing him to pull his hand back in frustration. *How can she allow Yuta to touch her—even if she does threaten him—yet greet my attempt with such raw, lethal intent?* This was a question that troubled him deeply. He had loved her even before she joined the academy, but she had rejected him back then. Now, he found it difficult to ask her out again, especially since Frederick also harbored feelings for her.
Nevertheless, he had no intention of letting her slip through his fingers after all these years of waiting. The holiday had seemed like the perfect opportunity, but that plan fell through, as she was set to travel to the city of Prahais with Yuta.
Speaking in a tone thick with intense annoyance and fury, he struck the wall with such force that a massive crater appeared:
"How infuriating! It's maddening! How could some scoundrel be better than me?"
He cast a glare toward Yuta, who returned the look with a mocking expression—only fueling his irritation further—before Yuta's face shifted into a cold, impassive mask.
Xi Mingtao let out a loud shout, his aura leaking from his body:
"You... you..."
He couldn't finish his sentence, however; a chilling killing intent began to radiate from Yuta Casiral as he stepped forward.
Overcome by a sudden, overwhelming surge of fear, Xi Mingtao instinctively stumbled several steps backward.
In an instant, Yuta appeared right before him, seizing him by the throat with such crushing strength that he could barely breathe. Yuta pulled him close, until their faces were only centimeters apart. He spoke in a tone that blended seriousness with an unquestionable authority:
"Listen to me, Zi Mingtao—and tell your leader, Frederick Renlick, this: if he tries to touch or meddle with what belongs to me, I will kill you. I don't care when or how; the point is, if you keep acting like a fool, you will lose your life."
"This is your final warning—and a warning to anyone else who dares to lay hands on things they have no business touching."
With that, Yuta tossed him several meters, landing him right at the feet of Frederick, who stared back with a cold, malevolent gaze.
Frederick, however, was not so dim-witted as to miss the fact that the connection between Yuta and Jia went far deeper than a simple romance between a young man and a woman; there were several signs that pointed to something far more complex.
He hoisted the unconscious Zi Mingtao onto his shoulder, his eyes fixed on Yuta with a calculating look.
As he turned to leave, he remarked:
"Yuta Casiral—I don't know who you are, and I have no desire to find out. But you would do well to stop acting with such reckless insanity. What you just did is enough for people to call you a madman, rather than a 'cold star in the sky.'"
He walked away without waiting for a reply. Yuta watched him go for a few moments, his expression unreadable, before speaking with a mocking tone:
"And what's the problem if people call me a madman? In the end, they're just names and labels—they change nothing, serving only to waste my time as I'm forced to listen to their nonsense." He then left the scene, a faint smile playing on his lips. He was well aware of the individuals watching him from a few meters away, yet he chose to ignore them.
After all, he knew exactly who they were: followers of the Scorpion Organization—specifically, those belonging to the Black and White Scorpion factions.
They wouldn't dare take any action against him; he was, in their eyes, a precious "experiment" of the Black and White Scorpions. Killing him would mean wasting 500 years of his life—a outcome he would prevent at any cost.
He continued his stroll through the Ferselkin Academy—after all, it was his final day there.
The following day, July 1st, 675, at 8:30 AM, all the companions gathered at the gates of Ferselkin Academy.
They were waiting for the carriages that would take them back to their respective hometowns, where they would spend the holidays and pursue their personal goals.
"Hahahaha! Who would have thought I'd be spending the entire end-of-year break with Lucy Kethali at her estate? Hahahaha! It's actually quite funny when you think about it," Previka remarked with a mocking laugh, glancing toward Lucy, who returned the look with clear annoyance.
Yorichi, Grey, Beatrice, and Armin watched the exchange with puzzled expressions, then scanned the area, looking for Yuta—who had yet to arrive.
"I heard that Tom, Seok, and a girl named Hinataku are heading to the Mount Hua Sect with Jian Yi. Since when did Jian Yi and Seok become friends?" Grey asked, looking toward Yorichi and Beatrice, as they had spent a good deal of time talking with Seok over the past few days.
Yorichi's face showed clear confusion in response to Grey's comment, while Beatrice remained indifferent; she was far more focused on her own plans for the summer break than on what the others might be doing. Yorichi spoke, his tone laced with surprise as he looked toward them:
"I recall that girl, Hinatako. Based on what I observed last night at the awards ceremony, I suspect she's his lover—or at least has known him for a long time, judging by the way she treats him. Still, I never expected her to accompany Jian to the Mount Hua Sect."
"Especially considering that Jian Yi doesn't trust Si-wook. He's not someone to be taken lightly; since he hails from another world, there's absolutely no record of his past—it's impossible to uncover anything about it."
Ultimately, they decided to let it go. After all, their primary goal is to grow stronger themselves, not to keep tabs on how others might be doing the same. It did seem rather implausible, though—for two people who had barely exchanged a word to end up spending the holiday together at the other's home.
Just then, Yuta—accompanied by Jiya—headed in their direction. Lucy and Prefica both shot him a look of clear annoyance.
They chose to act as if nothing were amiss; after all, there was no rule preventing him from speaking with women associated with others.
Moreover, it didn't appear that Yuta and Jiya had any romantic interest in one another, which brought a sense of relief. Even so, that didn't entirely rule out the possibility of jealousy—especially with the upcoming journey to the city of Berhais. Yuta spoke, breaking the silence that had gripped the place. His tone was calm—so calm, in fact, that both Giya and Beatrice looked at him with a subtle, unspoken surprise; they had not expected such words to come from his lips:
"Six months have passed since we began studying together in the same class. We've shared our burdens and hardships—from the attempt to conquer the Furslikin Academy in those early days, to the Furslikin Academy competition, the magic tournament, and later, our experiences on Gigwa Island and in the city of Yusbikers. Though those days were difficult, we overcame them together as a team."
"Yurichi, Grey, Beatrice, Previka, Armin, Lucy—it has been an honor to be your classmate and friend during my first year at the Furslikin Academy. I truly hope we remain united as one when we head to the Khalidien Celestial Academy next year."
Expressions of being moved appeared on the faces of Grey, Yurichi, Lucy, Armin, and Previka, while a subtle sense of doubt and caution flickered in the eyes of Beatrice and Giya.
At the same time, however, none of them—Grey, Yurichi, Lucy, Armin, or Previka—were naive enough to be swayed by Yuta's flattery. Having spent time with him both inside and outside the academy, they knew well that his flattery could just as easily mask malicious intent as it could genuine goodwill.
Moreover, considering everything they had learned about Yuta over the past six months, they realized he was not the sort of person who could be trusted completely. Yet, they remained by his side for the sake of their own interests—just as he, in turn, remained with them for his own. Armin spoke happily, gazing toward the academy—a look of both nostalgia and awe in his eyes—as he prepared to leave the place where he had spent a total of ten months: one month before the academic year began, followed by six months as a student.
"Mr. Yuta Caseral is right. We've been through so much together. Everything has truly changed; before I came to the academy, my hair wasn't a blend of deep red and fiery crimson reaching down to my waist, and my eyes weren't a blazing, golden hue. I've undergone such a transformation—from a mere human into a hybrid of dragon and phoenix."
Previka chimed in, her tone laced with playful sarcasm as she ruffled his hair:
"Between you, Yuta, and Giya, you haven't just changed on the inside—you've changed in every literal sense."
Though their words might have sounded absurd, they sparked a deeper line of questioning. The physical transformations of Yuta and Armin made sense, given their non-human heritage—Yuta possessing the traits of an angel, a dragon, a demon, and a Saiyan, while Armin carried the blood of a dragon and a phoenix. They were well aware of these origins, with the exception of Yuta's Saiyan lineage.
What remained truly baffling, however, was Giya's transformation, which mirrored Yuta's own. It was a mystery no one could unravel—not even Giya herself. All she knew was that she had lost consciousness after exhausting her mental energy, only to wake up—in a way that defied all logic—to find herself completely transformed. She turned her gaze toward Previka, who was smiling faintly as she looked back at her. In the quiet of her own mind, she thought:
"There are so many dangerous people in this world—the kind you'd never even know existed until the moment they stab you in the back. The original Previka—what a vile, wretched, and despicable wretch you are."