Night had already fallen over the academy.
After the demon attack, the chaos slowly began to settle.
Teachers and guards were still moving around the grounds, inspecting the damage.
Students had been ordered back to their dormitories.
The battle was over.
But not everything had returned to normal.
---
Five figures walked quietly through the academy corridor.
Their footsteps echoed through the empty hallway.
TAP… TAP… TAP…
Iren walked ahead.
Behind him were Kael, Riven, Sylven, and Lyra.
No one spoke.
The silence between them was heavy.
---
Kael finally stopped walking.
"…We need to talk."
His calm voice broke the silence.
---
Riven crossed his arms.
"Yeah."
"There are a few things we need answers for."
---
Sylven nodded slightly.
Lyra simply watched Iren.
Her gaze was steady.
---
Without another word, they headed toward the central hall.
Soon they reached the large wooden doors.
Kael pushed them open.
CREEEEAK
The doors slowly swung apart.
---
The hall was empty.
Moonlight streamed through the tall windows, casting pale shadows across the floor.
---
Kael walked inside.
"…Sit."
His voice echoed lightly.
---
They gathered around the long table.
Riven leaned back in his chair.
Sylven sat quietly beside him.
Lyra rested her hands on the table.
Iren sat across from them.
---
Silence filled the room.
---
Riven exhaled slowly.
"…Alright."
"Let's get straight to the point."
---
Kael folded his arms.
"…Yesterday's battle."
---
Sylven continued calmly.
"There are things we don't understand."
---
Riven leaned forward.
"And you're going to explain them."
---
Iren remained silent.
His eyes rested quietly on the table.
---
Lyra stood up.
Her chair slid slightly.
SCRAPE
---
She walked slowly toward Iren.
Her expression was calm.
But her eyes were sharp.
---
"…Iren."
She spoke quietly.
"Then tell us something first."
---
Everyone looked toward her.
---
Lyra continued.
"…Why did you lie to us?"
---
Iren slowly lifted his gaze.
But he didn't answer.
---
Lyra spoke again.
"You told us before…"
"…that you went to your master for some work."
---
Riven nodded.
"Yeah, you left the academy for that."
---
Lyra's voice remained steady.
"But you also said something else."
---
She looked directly at him.
"…You said your master is no more."
---
The hall went completely silent.
---
Kael blinked.
"…Wait."
---
Riven straightened slightly.
"…Hold on."
---
Sylven frowned.
"…What?"
---
Kael looked at Iren.
"…You said that?"
---
Riven scratched his head.
"Then how did you go to your master…"
"…if he's not even alive?"
---
Sylven spoke quietly.
"…Something doesn't add up."
---
All eyes turned toward Iren.
---
Lyra stepped closer.
"…So tell us."
"Why did you leave the academy?"
"…And for what reason?"
---
Silence.
---
Iren said nothing.
---
Riven sighed in frustration.
"…You're really not going to answer?"
---
Kael's expression became serious.
"…Iren."
"We're not your enemies."
---
Sylven added quietly.
"…We're your team."
---
Still—
No reply.
---
Lyra took one final step forward.
Her voice became softer.
But sharper.
---
"…Then tell us something else."
---
She looked straight into his eyes.
"…Who really is your master?"
---
The question echoed through the silent hall.
---
Everyone waited.
---
But Iren didn't speak.
He simply lowered his gaze again.
---
The tension in the room grew heavier.
Seconds passed.
No one moved.
---
Then—
A calm voice suddenly echoed from the doorway.
---
"…He isn't answering."
"…Because he is restricted."
---
Everyone froze.
---
Slowly—
They turned toward the entrance.
---
A tall figure stood in the doorway.
Moonlight from the corridor illuminated his silhouette.
His long coat moved slightly in the wind.
---
Kael's eyes widened.
"…Headmaster?"
---
Riven straightened instantly.
Sylven stiffened.
Lyra looked surprised.
---
Standing at the doorway—
Was the headmaster of the academy.
---
Aldaric.
---
And it seemed—
He had heard everything.
---
He stepped inside.
TAP… TAP…
His footsteps echoed softly across the silent hall.
The atmosphere in the room shifted instantly.
---
He stopped beside the table.
His calm eyes moved across the students.
Then finally rested on Iren.
For a brief second—
Something like understanding passed through his gaze.
---
Kael spoke first.
"…Headmaster."
"If you know something…"
"…please tell us."
---
Aldaric nodded slowly.
"…Very well."
He looked toward Iren.
"I believe the time has come."
---
Iren suddenly spoke.
"…But—Sir…"
---
Before he could continue—
Aldaric gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
TAP
---
His voice remained calm.
"…Your master restricted you."
"…Not me."
---
Iren froze slightly.
Then slowly lowered his gaze.
He didn't say anything more.
---
The others exchanged confused glances.
The mystery around Iren only grew deeper.
---
Aldaric slowly raised his hand.
"Allow me to explain."
---
Suddenly—
A book appeared in the air beside him.
FWOOOM
A thick ancient tome materialized.
Its cover looked old… almost sacred.
The surface was engraved with unfamiliar symbols.
The pages slowly opened by themselves.
FLIP… FLIP…
---
Strange glowing diagrams appeared across the pages.
Complex circles.
Ancient symbols.
Chains and seals.
The faint light from the pages illuminated the entire table.
---
Riven leaned forward.
"…What is that?"
---
Aldaric gestured toward the floating pages.
"These are records… from ancient times."
---
The diagrams shifted.
Lines of energy formed across the page.
Seven figures appeared within the symbols.
---
Aldaric began explaining.
"Long ago…"
"There existed seven sages."
"The greatest beings to ever wield magic."
---
The diagrams changed.
Five of the figures stood together.
Two others stood opposite them.
Dark energy surrounded them.
The atmosphere in the hall grew heavier.
---
Aldaric continued.
"But two of those sages strayed from their path."
"They sought power… beyond balance."
---
The glowing diagram shifted again.
Chains and sealing symbols wrapped around the two figures.
---
"So the remaining five sages joined their strength…"
"…and sealed them away."
---
Silence filled the hall.
Everyone watched the floating pages in fascination.
The ancient history felt almost unreal.
---
Aldaric turned another page.
FLIP
Five glowing symbols appeared.
Each symbol represented an element.
The symbols rotated slowly in the air.
---
"Above all forms of magic…"
"…exist five legendary elemental powers."
---
The symbols began glowing brighter.
---
"Fire."
"Water."
"Earth."
"Wind."
"Thunder."
---
The elemental symbols pulsed softly.
The air itself seemed to vibrate.
---
Sylven spoke quietly.
"…Legendary elements…"
---
Riven frowned.
"…So those actually exist?"
---
Aldaric nodded.
"Yes."
"And each element has a guardian."
---
The page changed again.
Two massive figures appeared in the diagrams.
One surrounded by raging flames.
One surrounded by endless waves.
---
Aldaric continued.
"These guardians are known as the Bodyguards of the Rings."
"They test those who seek the power."
---
Kael looked toward Iren.
"…Trials."
---
Aldaric nodded slightly.
"Yes."
---
Then he said something unexpected.
"…I was once chosen for one of those trials."
---
Everyone looked at him in shock.
---
Riven blinked.
"…Wait—what?"
---
Aldaric smiled faintly.
"Many years ago…"
"I was once destined by the same master who guides Iren."
---
Sylven asked quietly.
"…Then what happened?"
---
Aldaric answered calmly.
"I failed."
---
The room fell silent again.
Even the air felt heavier.
---
He turned the page.
FLIP
The flaming guardian appeared clearly.
A towering warrior made of fire.
Flames raged across its armor.
---
"I fought the guardian of the Fire Ring."
"…Ignivar."
---
Lyra's eyes widened slightly.
---
Aldaric continued.
"But I was defeated."
---
He turned toward Iren.
"But he was not."
---
Everyone's gaze shifted to Iren.
---
Aldaric pointed at Iren's right hand.
Two rings rested there.
One faintly glowing red.
The other shining with a soft blue light.
---
"That young man fought the same guardian…"
"…and won."
---
Riven whispered.
"…No way…"
---
Aldaric spoke calmly.
"As a reward…"
"…Ignivar granted him the Fire Ring."
---
The fire ring flickered gently.
FWOOM
A small spark of flame appeared… then vanished.
---
Aldaric turned another page.
FLIP
A massive serpent-like guardian appeared in the diagram.
Its enormous body surrounded by endless water.
---
"When Iren left the academy…"
"He did not go to meet his master."
---
Everyone listened carefully.
---
"He went for his next trial."
---
Lyra spoke quietly.
"…The water trial."
---
Aldaric nodded.
"Yes."
---
"He faced the guardian of the Water Ring."
"…Nerithis."
---
The name echoed quietly in the hall.
---
"But just like before…"
"…he succeeded."
---
Aldaric looked toward Iren's second ring.
The blue gem reflected the moonlight.
---
"As his reward…"
"…he received the Water Ring."
---
Silence followed.
A long silence.
The truth had finally been revealed.
---
Kael slowly exhaled.
"…So that's why…"
---
Riven rubbed his head.
"…You fought monsters like that…"
"…and never said anything."
---
Sylven looked at Iren quietly.
"…You carried all that alone."
---
But there was still one question left.
---
Lyra finally asked it.
"…Headmaster."
"…Who is his master?"
---
Aldaric closed the floating book.
THUD
The glowing pages vanished instantly.
The hall returned to darkness and moonlight.
---
Aldaric answered slowly.
"The one who guides him…"
"…was also my master."
---
Everyone waited.
The tension in the room rose again.
---
Then Aldaric revealed the name.
---
"…The legendary Sage of Fire."
---
His voice echoed through the hall.
---
"Aetherion."
---
Silence.
Complete silence.
---
Kael slowly looked toward Iren.
Riven stared at him in disbelief.
Sylven lowered his eyes.
Lyra watched him quietly.
---
At that moment—
Everything finally made sense.
---
Why Iren trained harder than anyone.
Why he pushed himself beyond exhaustion.
Why he carried such a quiet determination.
---
Because the burden he carried…
Was far greater than any of them imagined.
---
Sylven spoke first.
"…You should have told us."
---
Riven sighed.
"…Seriously, man."
"You were carrying all that alone?"
---
Kael stood up.
He placed a hand on Iren's shoulder.
---
"…You're an idiot."
---
Iren blinked slightly.
---
Kael continued.
"…You're not alone."
---
Lyra smiled faintly.
"…You never were."
---
Riven leaned back in his chair.
"Yeah."
"If you're going to fight legendary monsters…"
"…you'd better bring your team next time."
---
For the first time that night—
The heavy atmosphere finally eased.
---
And Iren realized something.
The burden he carried alone for so long…
Was no longer his alone.
---
The five of them sat there quietly.
Under the moonlight.
No longer just classmates.
But something more.
---
Teammates.
---