Kai arrived at the training field, expecting to find Enrico there. After everything that had happened, he imagined that his friend would be taking out his frustration on training exercises, just as Kai himself usually did. However, after searching for a few moments, he realized that nobody was there.
'He's not here... I should let the others know. Maybe they've already managed to find him.'
Before leaving, his gaze turned toward a wooden training dummy positioned some distance away. Kai stood still for a few seconds, but soon decided to take advantage of the opportunity to relieve some of the tension he had been accumulating over the past few days. He drew his sword and began concentrating his magic into the blade. His goal was to combine his two affinities into a single attack, something he had been trying to perfect for some time.
"Light of the Sea!"
As soon as he swung his sword, the accumulated energy collapsed and exploded in his own hand. The impact was so sudden that Kai lost his balance and was thrown backward, crashing into the wall of the training field.
Another failed attempt. The combination of his two magics was still far from working the way he wanted.
"For you, it might be better to leave this attempt for when you reach a higher Circle. The difference between you and those who can combine magic even at the lowest Circles is that your two affinities possess far greater power."
Kai turned around upon hearing that voice and found Enrico leaning against the wall, casually waving at him. Upon recognizing him, he let out a long sigh of relief. He had finally found his friend, and better yet, before the others managed to locate him. Apparently, their rivalry really did live up to the title of best rivals.
"You should go look for those noisy girls. They were really worried."
"I know. I'll talk to them after speaking with you, because there's something important I need to tell you."
"Something important? What is it?"
Enrico reached into his pocket and pulled out a small folded piece of paper. After opening it, he held it out toward Kai, revealing a map with a red marking in an area located between the castle and the academy.
"In a few days, a true dungeon will appear in this location. I want you to take my companions and the girls there. You'll receive good rewards if you manage to explore it."
Kai studied the map for a few moments before looking back at Enrico.
"Why are you giving this to me? And why are you talking as though you won't be coming with us? Is something happening that's preventing you from joining us?"
Enrico pointed his thumb toward his own chest.
"Yes. I'm going to undergo training that will take me to a new level. Since I don't want you all to fall behind while I'm busy, I decided to give you this location."
Upon hearing that, Kai let out a small laugh, pleased to see that Enrico seemed well enough to already be thinking about starting another training session. The two continued talking for a few more moments, until Enrico took the opportunity to mention some spells Kai still needed to learn.
"Well, it's time for me to find someone else. I need to go."
"Already? It was nice talking to you. Why don't you stay a little longer?"
"Let's just say I don't have that much time. I'll be starting this training today."
Kai was a little disappointed that he wouldn't be able to talk with him for much longer. However, since Enrico was about to begin a new training session, he decided not to insist and instead take the opportunity to continue practicing himself.
"All right. See you later."
"... Maybe that 'later' will take a while, but yes, we'll see each other again."
Before Kai could ask what Enrico meant by those words, he simply said goodbye with a wave and left the training field. Even with his body still covered in injuries, he walked calmly, as though there were no reason to worry about his condition.
His next destination was the dormitory. After some time, he arrived, sent a message letting them know he was there, and settled into a chair while he waited. It wasn't long before familiar voices began coming from the other side of the door.
"Master, where were you?"
"You worried me, my Ketsumei. Besides, we deserve an explanation."
"Why did you leave without telling us? I almost died of worry, darling!"
Aoi, Yumeha, and Rina were standing at the entrance, clearly displeased with his sudden disappearance. Valença, Serenya, and Seraphina also approached, showing concern for his physical condition. The six of them examined the bandages covering much of his body, trying to assess how badly he was still injured.
"You don't need to worry so much. I just went to pay my respects to the victims."
Serenya maintained a serious expression upon hearing his answer.
"I understand, Subordinate. But you could have told us beforehand. I would have liked to visit the cemetery again as well."
From Serenya's expression, Enrico realized that she was deeply disappointed in herself. It was possible that she still blamed herself for suggesting that they split up during the battle, a decision she might have considered responsible for her inability to protect those who had lost their lives.
"Don't worry. I'll visit that place many more times in the future. I just needed to see them..."
Serenya lowered her head slightly and sat beside him without adding anything else. She seemed lost in her own thoughts, reflecting on how she could become stronger. After all, she didn't want to lose Elian and, above all, Enrico in the same way she had lost Caelan.
Valença moved a little closer, showing that she was willing to listen to him.
"We're here for you, Enrico. You can trust us and talk about your feelings whenever you need to."
Yumeha also agreed, approaching him.
"Yes! We're your companions for life, so you can trust us completely."
A small smile appeared on Enrico's face. Upon hearing those words, he felt a pleasant warmth in his chest, but unfortunately, this wasn't the time to let himself be carried away by such feelings.
"Thank you, everyone. But I'd like to talk to you about how we can become stronger."
The girls exchanged glances, initially a little confused. However, when they remembered what had happened in Vesparello, their expressions changed. They all showed renewed determination and nodded to Enrico. They didn't want to go through another tragedy like that, much less see him suffer again because he had been unable to protect the people who mattered to him.
Thirty minutes later, Enrico began looking for his other companions, making sure to visit every one of them. When he found Danyana and Grakka, he told them about a special dungeon that would appear at the end of the year and would be capable of increasing their maximum abilities.
To Elaris, he mentioned a small World Tree that he had "seen" during his visit to the family, which could increase the progress percentage of a pure elf. As for the three girls he had started training some time earlier—Kaela, Sisaka, and Erina—he shared a training plan specially prepared for them.
He also visited Elowyn and Lan's team, taking the opportunity to make a few sharp remarks and offer some advice without raising too much suspicion.
[Elowyn seems to want you to join her.]
'If she wants that, she'll have to wait. At least for the next two years, I won't be seeing her.'
Elowyn had offered several advantages to convince him to join her, including great wealth and access to other places where he could grow stronger. Enrico replied that he would think about the offer, which seemed to surprise her. However, honestly, he didn't want to worry about that at the moment. She simply didn't insist on the matter of Vaen because she could wait a while for him to calm down.
Along the way, he also spoke with Virelle and shared some information about future events that would take place over the next two years. These were details that would only be mentioned after Kai left the Infernal Academy arc.
Virelle listened attentively, and when he finished, she showed some concern.
"I'll speak with the king immediately. So, wait a little, Enrico. And I hope you get plenty of rest, because as soon as you recover, I'll start training you even harder."
"Of course, ma'am. I'll be waiting."
Angela, who had been massaging Enrico's back during their conversation, also had to stop when she was called to accompany Virelle. Before leaving, however, she promised that she would continue the massage that evening.
Later, Enrico looked for Elian, but realized that he was locked in his dormitory and was probably sleeping. Since he didn't want to disturb him, he decided to write a letter and slip it under the door before leaving.
Next, he found the three vampires. He took the opportunity to thank them for protecting his companions during the invasion and also offered them some of his blood.
'Let's see... Now that I've thanked my three vampire servants and also visited Velka in prison, who else do I need to visit?'
[... It seems there won't be enough time.]
Enrico let out a sigh as he noticed a purple barrier beginning to form around Astrong Academy. The girls, Kai, Elian—who was holding the new letters containing the training plans he had received in his dormitory—the vampires, and even Virelle were surprised by the phenomenon.
"One-Time Pact."
[In exchange for only Enrico participating in the Infernal Academy, increasing his chances of dying, everyone else will be left outside the academy, in a safe zone beyond the barrier's boundaries.]
Enrico watched the barrier take shape for a few moments before smiling faintly.
"Well, with this, I guess I'll have to work even harder."
As he walked toward the academy, his companions noticed a red magic circle appearing beneath his feet. They immediately became worried, especially when they recognized Enrico's magic within the circle. Without wasting any time, they began running toward him, trying to reach him before something happened.
"Have you seen Enrico? I've been looking for him everywhere!"
"Damn it! Why did he disappear again?"
"He'll see! I'm going to punish him for worrying his leader!"
The girls and the others continued searching until they finally spotted Enrico entering the academy's special training room. However, when they realized that everyone was still standing on the magic circle except for him, their concern grew even greater.
Valença, Serenya, and Yumeha were the closest to reaching him.
"Enrico!"
"What are you doing, Subordinate?"
"Master!"
Before any of them could approach, Enrico turned around and gave them a small smile. He even winked at them, as though nothing extraordinary was happening.
"Sorry, everyone. But I'd like to ask you all for something... Get stronger."
The next instant, everyone standing before him disappeared without leaving a trace.
They had been transferred to another location, exactly where Hao had just arrived. The Director was surprised to see his students suddenly appear before him. The six girls, however, wasted no time trying to understand the situation. As soon as they realized what had happened, they began desperately searching for a way to return inside the barrier.
Victoria and Lira, who were also present, immediately noticed that Enrico wasn't among them.
"What happened?"
"Director, help us open the barrier! Enrico is inside!"
"What? Move aside!"
Enrico watched from a distance as the transformation took place around him. The entire region was being converted into a different dimension, resembling a snow-covered forest, while Astrong Academy remained behind him.
Scratching the back of his head, he let out a long sigh.
"I think they'll want to kill me when I get out of here."
[Well, you'll deserve it if that happens.]
Enrico climbed up to one of the windows and looked outside. Several Nartheis were beginning to appear out there. It wasn't just a small group, but an entire army of creatures that could kill him at any moment.
"Well, it's time to begin my training."
[You should have spoken with your family too. After all, they sent a message saying they were in the city waiting for you.]
He let out a small snort.
"Well, they'll have to wait a little longer. Besides, now that I'm someone special to them, they can forgive me for making them wait."
[I just hope you don't die, please. Otherwise, the Constellations will lose their entertainment.]
"Why don't you all go to hell?"
With a small smile on his lips, although sadness was still noticeable in his expression, Enrico prepared to begin his training. His gaze swept across the vast academy grounds, now transformed into a territory covered in snow and filled with thousands of Nartheis. The purple barrier surrounding the entire area kept him trapped there, with no possibility of escape. Among all those enemies, however, there was an area where the concentration of Nartheis was lower. That was where he intended to go.
'During these two years, I'll surpass every record for Circle evolution. That's a promise.'
Enrico closed his eyes for a brief moment. Memories of the deaths of Chalés, Tolen, Val'Drakar, Grark, and Caelan passed through his mind. Each one remained engraved in his memory, along with the promise he had made to Tolen. He had no intention of forgetting it, much less allowing those losses to be in vain.
When he opened his eyes again, he launched himself toward the region he had chosen, beginning his descent into the transformed dimension.
'I will become stronger... Much, much stronger.'