The day after the encounter at the hostel gate, Prince Lloyd marched into the administration office with a predatory confidence. He demanded a re-evaluation of his status, claiming his power had surged overnight. Though the officials were puzzled—Lloyd had only recently been reviewed—they cooperated with the royal heir.
The room fell into a stunned silence as the crystalline scanners flared. The numbers didn't lie: 1,212.
The administration declared him a true prodigy, the first of his age to officially reach B-Rank (as Leon's true stats remained unrecorded and unofficial). For the next few years, Lloyd walked the halls with his head held high, the undisputed "King" of his class, unaware that his glory was a gift from the boy he once tried to kill.
Three Years Later
Graduation Day
Three years vanished in a blur of training and academic growth. The former C-Rank class had matured, with every member successfully reaching B-Rank. The graduation ceremony was held in the Great Hall, where a massive enchanted screen was prepared to display the final rankings for the entire kingdom to see.
As the students underwent their final testing, the screen flickered to life, ranking the graduates from highest to lowest:
Lloyd Tempest 2110
Leon von Vinci 2000
Ron buress 1356
Seth Cornell 1218
Connel van Luis 1199
Rey Luguard 1178
Lea Roddick 1145
Mac Vonell 1095
Kendris Solvet 1068
Lisa Debrey 1045
Glean Forkstale 1033
Clein Dobre 1030
The administration whispered amongst themselves. Leon's score of exactly 2,000 was suspicious; it was too "clean," looking more like a manual entry than a natural growth curve. Given that he had fought an A-Rank to a stalemate years prior, his stats should have been significantly higher. However, because the machines had never malfunctioned in the school's history, they accepted the result without a formal review.
The Star of the Kingdom
Despite the Prince's high score, he was not the talk of the Academy. All eyes were fixed on the Main Board, which displayed the results of the upperclassmen.
Claire von Vinci had done the impossible. She was the first teenager in history to achieve S-Rank status before graduation. Her stats didn't just break the record; they shattered it.
Claire von Vinci stats was 99,200 while the Previous Record Holder was 58,580 who was rumored to be the mysterious Head of Administration.
The achievement was so massive that it reached the ears of the King himself. A teenager with the power of a small army was a strategic asset the Crown could not ignore. The King declared a week of festivities and a grand royal feast, inviting every noble in the land to witness the "Goddess of the Vinci Family."
Claire was no longer just Leon's sister; she was the most famous person in the kingdom, a beacon of power that overshadowed even the royal bloodline.
The Royal Palace of the Capital was a symphony of clinking crystal and boisterous laughter. Noblemen and high-ranking mages filled the halls, celebrating a shift in the kingdom's power hierarchy. At the heart of the celebration sat Dris von Vinci, whose excitement was palpable. His children were flourishing, and today, the Vinci name was destined for glory.
King Xerxes stood, raising a golden chalice to quiet the room. "As you all know, we celebrate a historic achievement. In a kingdom that prides itself on its S-Ranks and Legends, such growth is our lifeblood. By the laws of our ancestors, any student who shatters the prodigy record elevates their house."
The King's gaze fell upon Dris. "I hereby promote the House of von Vinci to the rank of Duke. Furthermore," the King turned his attention to Claire, "Miss Claire, your power is a blessing. I ask if you would be interested in joining the Royal Family by marrying one of my elder sons."
The room plunged into a suffocating silence. The King had three sons
Prince Aaron, 22 years and the eldest, Heir to the Throne, an S-Rank Captain with the skill of Immortality. Prince Julian, 20 years and the second son, a master A-Rank Healer and lastly Prince Lloyd who was the youngest, whom the kingdom still viewed as a rising B-Rank.
Dris von Vinci's heart soared—his daughter could be Queen. But Claire's voice was steady and devoid of hesitation.
"My apologies, My Lord," Claire began, bowing with perfect etiquette. "But I have no intention of marrying yet, nor do I have interest in the Princes. My heart is set on reaching the pinnacle of power to protect my family and this kingdom. I must decline your offer."
A collective gasp rippled through the hall. To refuse the Crown was unthinkable for most, yet Claire had discarded the opportunity like a common stone. Dris felt a flash of disappointment, his dreams of a royal alliance crumbling, but he quickly suppressed it. His children's happiness had always been his true North Star.
King Xerxes laughed, the sound booming against the stone walls. "Very well! I shall let fate decide your path, then. Let the feast continue!"
Seeking an escape from the stifling heat of the ballroom, Claire stepped out onto the castle balcony. The cool night air was a relief until a tall, imposing figure stepped out of the shadows.
"Hi, Miss Claire," the man said. She recognized him from the noble tables inside, but his aura was unlike anyone she had ever met.
"Who are you?" she asked calmly.
"Forgive my manners. I am the Head of School Administration, Ren Henderson," he replied with a sharp smile.
Claire's eyes widened. "Wait... you are the Legendary Rank in charge of the Academy?"
"That would be me, my dear. I am the Sky God, Ren."
Claire bowed deeply, her voice laced with genuine awe. "It is an honor, Sir. I have been inspired by your records my entire life. I hope to reach your level one day."
Ren watched her, his expression calculating yet encouraging. "I am equally impressed by you. You have caught my interest, Claire. I want to see how far you can go with a guide—a teacher to help you reach heights you cannot yet imagine."
"Do you mean...?" Claire whispered in disbelief.
"I want to be your tutor. What do you say?"
"Absolutely! I would be honored to be your student," Claire replied, her excitement nearly overflowing. "I want to learn everything... I want to create a Soul Palace of my own one day."
Ren handed her a sealed envelope. "Meet me at the location inside tomorrow at noon. It is a place far from distractions and external influence. However," he added, his voice dropping to a serious tone, "keep this a secret. It would be improper for the Head Administrator to be seen favoring a single student. This remains between us."
"I promise, Sir. I won't let you down," Claire vowed, bowing once more as the Sky God vanished into the night.
The holidays had only just begun following graduation, but Claire refused to waste a single moment. Slipping away from the watchful eyes of the servants, she sneaked out of the Vinci mansion and began the trek toward the coordinates Ren had provided.
It was a grueling, long-distance journey that led her deep into a desolate stretch of the forest, miles away from the comforts of her father's estate. However, the exhaustion of the walk vanished the moment she broke through the treeline and saw him—the Sky God, sitting calmly by the edge of a roaring waterfall.
"Master, I made it!" she called out, rushing toward him with a radiant smile. "I've been so excited for this. Tell me, what are we going to learn first?"
Ren remained seated, his back to her, but a dark smirk played across his features. His voice, when he finally spoke, was as cold as the mountain water crashing beside them.
"You're about to find out."