The journey back felt longer than it should've been
No one talked much.
Even Rauk.
Even the others who usually complained or joked to kill time.
Now—
Nothing.
Just the sound of footsteps against dirt.
Branches brushing against armor.
And the occasional glance back.
Toward the forest.
As if something might still be watching.
Takemi walked near the middle of the group this time.
Not leading.
Not lagging.
Just… there.
Alive.
Barely.
His body still ached with every step.
His shoulder throbbed.
His head felt heavy.
But none of that bothered him as much as—
The silence inside his own head.
No voice.
No presence.
The hero was gone.
No one talked much.
Even Rauk.
Even the others who usually complained or joked to kill time.
Now—
Nothing.
Just the sound of footsteps against dirt.
Branches brushing against armor.
And the occasional glance back.
Toward the forest.
As if something might still be watching.
Takemi walked near the middle of the group this time.
Not leading.
Not lagging.
Just… there.
Alive.
Barely.
His body still ached with every step.
His shoulder throbbed.
His head felt heavy.
But none of that bothered him as much as—
The silence inside his own head.
No voice.
No presence.
The hero was gone.
"Listen carefully."
The instructor's voice cut through the silence.
Everyone looked up.
They had reached the outer boundary of the expedition zone.
Safety.
At least officially.
He turned to face them.
His expression was calm—
But firmer than before.
"What happened in that forest…"
A pause.
"…Does not leave this group."
That got reactions.
"What?" one student said.
"But—sir—"
"This is not a suggestion," the instructor continued.
His tone sharper now.
"It is an order."
Silence fell again.
Heavy.
Rauk frowned.
"…We just fought something that could wipe us out, and we're supposed to just pretend it didn't happen?"
The instructor didn't flinch.
"Yes."
"…Until the academy decides otherwise."
"Listen carefully."
The instructor's voice cut through the silence.
Everyone looked up.
They had reached the outer boundary of the expedition zone.
Safety.
At least officially.
He turned to face them.
His expression was calm—
But firmer than before.
"What happened in that forest…"
A pause.
"…Does not leave this group."
That got reactions.
"What?" one student said.
"But—sir—"
"This is not a suggestion," the instructor continued.
His tone sharper now.
"It is an order."
Silence fell again.
Heavy.
Rauk frowned.
"…We just fought something that could wipe us out, and we're supposed to just pretend it didn't happen?"
The instructor didn't flinch.
"Yes."
"…Until the academy decides otherwise."
By the time the academy gates came into view—
The sun was already dipping low.
The familiar stone walls stood tall.
Safe.
Structured.
Normal.
And yet—
Everything felt different.
Students moved about as usual.
Talking.
Laughing.
Training.
Unaware.
Completely unaware.
Rauk let out a small breath.
"…Feels weird."
Takemi nodded.
"…Yeah."
Like they stepped into a different world.
One that hadn't caught up yet.
They were immediately directed to the medical wing.
No arguments.
No delays.
Takemi sat on a bed while a healer examined his shoulder.
"…You're lucky," she said.
"…Another inch deeper and this would've been worse."
Takemi let out a dry laugh.
"Feels pretty bad already."
She didn't smile.
"…You'll live."
Fair enough.
Across the room, Lira was having her mana checked.
Rauk had bandages wrapped around his arm.
No one came out of that fight untouched.
They were immediately directed to the medical wing.
No arguments.
No delays.
Takemi sat on a bed while a healer examined his shoulder.
"…You're lucky," she said.
"…Another inch deeper and this would've been worse."
Takemi let out a dry laugh.
"Feels pretty bad already."
She didn't smile.
"…You'll live."
Fair enough.
Across the room, Lira was having her mana checked.
Rauk had bandages wrapped around his arm.
No one came out of that fight untouched.
As Takemi stepped out of the room later—
He noticed something.
People were looking at him.
Not openly.
Not obviously.
But enough.
Whispers.
Glances.
"…What?" he muttered.
Rauk noticed too.
"…You caused a scene back there, remember?"
Takemi scratched his head.
"…Yeah, but not like I meant to."
Lira joined them.
"…Word spreads fast in the academy."
She paused.
"…Especially when someone defeats something they shouldn't."
Takemi sighed.
"…Great."
That evening—
The instructor stood before a closed room.
Inside:
Senior faculty.
A few figures Takemi didn't recognize.
The door remained shut.
But even from the outside—
The atmosphere was tense.
Rauk leaned against the wall.
"…Think they're gonna believe him?"
Lira shook her head slightly.
"…They'll believe parts of it."
Takemi crossed his arms.
"…And ignore the rest."
No one disagreed.
Later that night—
Takemi sat alone.
Same spot as usual.
Quiet corner.
Away from the noise.
He held the handle again.
Stared at it.
"…Five years."
Still didn't feel real.
But now—
It felt closer.
He clenched his fist slightly.
"…Guess I can't stay like this."
A pause.
Then—
"…Not if I want to protect them."
The words came out naturally.
Without hesitation.
That alone felt different.
Inside the closed room—
A voice spoke.
"…You're certain of what you saw?"
The instructor didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
Silence followed.
Then another voice—
Older.
Colder.
"…Then this is no longer an internal matter."
A pause.
"…We will escalate this."
In a distant place—
Far from the forest.
Far from the academy.
Something stirred.
A faint pulse of dark energy.
Barely noticeable.
But spreading.
Slowly.
Quietly.
Unseen.