By morning, the entire academy knew something had happened.
Not the truth.
Never the truth.
But enough.
Kael noticed it immediately the moment he stepped into the upper transit district alongside Lyra the next day. Conversations stopped subtly as students passed nearby while academy projections displayed emergency restoration notices across several damaged sectors.
Platform Three remained sealed.
Multiple upper districts were restricted.
Combat evaluations had been suspended indefinitely.
And somehow—
That only made rumors spread faster.
Aren walked beside them carrying breakfast again while speaking with absolute confidence despite clearly knowing nothing.
"I'm telling you," he declared dramatically, "the academy definitely fought some kind of hidden ancient weapon."
"That theory is somehow less insane than reality," Lyra replied quietly.
Draven glanced toward several nearby students whispering openly now.
"…They're saying an unstable entity escaped during the evaluation."
"Technically true," Kael admitted.
"They're also saying upper instructors destroyed half the district fighting it," Draven continued.
"…Also technically true."
Aren pointed triumphantly. "See? We survived historical events."
"You nearly cried during the battle," Lyra reminded him.
"That was tactical emotional expression."
"No."
The atmosphere around the upper academy felt strange now.
Not fearful exactly.
Uneasy.
Students moved more carefully through the districts while additional instructors patrolled major transit sectors openly, and throughout the academy:
- restoration teams repaired damaged structures,
- stabilization mages reinforced barrier systems,
- artificers inspected ancient foundations beneath multiple towers.
The academy was recovering.
But it no longer looked untouchable.
Because for one terrifying night—
Everyone saw it bleed.
As the group crossed one of the elevated bridges overlooking the central districts below, Kael noticed another important change immediately.
More nobles.
Not fewer.
Despite the catastrophe yesterday, several noble delegations remained inside the academy rather than leaving.
Political interest had only increased.
A pair of elven officials discussed something quietly near the transit sector while military observers moved between restricted academy districts accompanied by upper instructors.
And every now and then—
Someone looked toward Kael slightly too long.
The rumors had already started connecting to him.
Not completely.
But enough.
Lyra noticed too.
"…You're being watched more openly now."
Aren looked around dramatically. "…I don't like political observation."
"You dislike everything involving responsibility."
"That is because responsibility attacks happiness."
Before the conversation could continue further, an academy projection activated overhead across the upper transit district.
[Official Academy Notice]
All nearby students looked upward immediately.
The projection displayed the academy insignia before lines of silver text appeared beneath it.
[Yesterday's instability event has been contained.]
[Platform District Three remains temporarily inaccessible.]
[All students are instructed to avoid restricted sectors.]
[Combat evaluations postponed pending structural restoration.]
A pause.
Then the final line appeared.
[Further information remains classified.]
The entire transit bridge erupted into whispers instantly afterward.
Because nothing spread rumors faster than the word:
classified.
Aren sighed deeply. "…Fantastic. Now everyone is going to invent conspiracy theories."
"They already are," Lyra replied.
Correct.
Kael overheard several immediately while students passed nearby:
- secret military experiments,
- hidden lower districts,
- unstable creatures beneath the academy,
- upper instructors suppressing information.
Ironically—
Some theories were disturbingly close to reality.
Then suddenly—
The crowd around the transit sector shifted subtly.
Students stepped aside instinctively.
A noble delegation approached.
The third princess of Valerion crossed the elevated bridge calmly alongside General Caelan and several royal attendants, her white-and-gold attire standing out sharply against the gray academy morning surrounding them.
And immediately—
The atmosphere tightened around Kael's group.
Because the delegation was approaching directly toward them.
Aren whispered weakly:
"…Please tell me royalty is not becoming part of our daily routine."
"No," Lyra answered.
"…I cannot."
The princess eventually stopped before Kael while the surrounding students pretended very badly not to stare openly.
General Caelan observed the group silently beside her.
Sharp as always.
The princess looked toward Kael calmly.
"How are you feeling?"
Direct.
No political games.
Kael answered honestly.
"…Better."
Her gaze shifted briefly toward the faint mark still visible beneath the back of his glove.
"…And the synchronization?"
Even hearing that word again made the atmosphere colder.
Kael shook his head once. "…Quiet."
General Caelan finally spoke.
"For now."
Not comforting.
The surrounding students nearby looked deeply confused now because the conversation clearly carried implications nobody else understood.
Aren looked emotionally exhausted already. "…I hate mysterious conversations."
The princess almost smiled slightly before looking back toward Kael.
"The academy council will likely speak with you soon."
Kael frowned slightly. "…About the gate?"
Several nearby students visibly reacted to that word immediately.
Too late.
Aren looked horrified. "…WE ARE SAYING GATE OPENLY NOW?"
General Caelan's eyes narrowed slightly toward the surrounding students overhearing them.
Instant silence spread across the bridge.
The military pressure radiating from him alone was enough to make nearby students suddenly remember urgent responsibilities elsewhere.
Very quickly.
The princess sighed softly afterward.
"…Perhaps not here."
"Reasonable," Kael admitted.
Then something unexpected happened.
The princess looked toward Lyra briefly.
Then toward Aren and Draven.
And finally said quietly:
"You helped stabilize him."
Not accusation.
Observation.
Lyra answered carefully. "…We stayed together."
The princess nodded slowly.
"…Good."
General Caelan's gaze sharpened slightly after that exchange.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Because apparently—
The fact Kael resisted synchronization while surrounded by people he trusted mattered significantly.
The previous bearers truly must have faced isolation.
The princess eventually stepped aside afterward.
But before leaving, she looked toward Kael one final time.
"The gate will not remain silent forever."
A pause.
"So prepare yourself before it speaks again."
Then the royal delegation continued across the upper transit bridge beneath countless staring students.
Silence lingered afterward.
Aren finally spoke first.
"…I would like everyone to understand that our lives became catastrophically complicated."
"That happened awhile ago," Draven replied.
"…True."
The group eventually continued toward the upper academic sectors while whispers spread endlessly around them now.
Some students recognized Kael openly.
Others only noticed the royal delegation speaking directly with him.
And a few upper-year students watched him with clear suspicion.
The academy would never return completely to normal after yesterday.
Not for him.
As they entered one of the upper academy courtyards connected to the Integration Hall, Kael noticed several restoration teams still working across damaged structures nearby while instructors discussed restricted reports around floating projection screens.
And then—
He saw Elaris.
The silver-haired upper student stood near the outer training sectors speaking quietly with another instructor before his eyes shifted toward Kael across the courtyard.
Silence.
Then Elaris dismissed the instructor beside him and walked forward calmly.
Aren immediately muttered:
"…Why does every terrifyingly talented person know him personally now?"
"Because fate hates us," Lyra answered.
Fair.
Elaris eventually stopped before the group, silver eyes studying Kael carefully.
"…You survived."
Kael blinked once. "…That sounds mildly disappointing."
"For you?" Elaris replied calmly.
"A little."
Aren looked personally offended. "…Why do strong people communicate like emotionally damaged swords?"
Nobody answered.
Elaris ignored the conversation entirely while his gaze shifted briefly toward the faint mark beneath Kael's glove.
"…So the rumors are true."
Kael's eyes narrowed slightly. "…Which rumors?"
"That you stood at the center of the instability."
Not wrong.
Not entirely right either.
Elaris studied him for another second before speaking again.
"The upper academy is changing now."
A pause.
"And you're somehow connected to the reason."
The statement lingered quietly.
Because honestly—
It was true.
Then unexpectedly, Elaris looked toward Kael with something almost resembling approval.
"…Good."
Kael frowned slightly. "…Good?"
"The academy became stagnant."
A faint silence followed.
"Now it will adapt again."
Interesting answer.
Before Kael could respond further, another academy notification activated overhead across the courtyard.
[Mandatory Upper Division Assembly]
[Attendance Required]
[Further instructions forthcoming.]
The surrounding students immediately reacted.
Upper division assembly?
Mandatory?
Rare.
Very rare.
Draven's expression sharpened slightly. "…The academy is responding politically now."
Correct.
Because mandatory assemblies after restricted catastrophes usually meant:
- structural changes,
- emergency protocols,
- new academy directives.
Or all three.
Aren sighed toward the sky dramatically.
"…Can we please go one week without historical incidents?"
"No," Lyra answered immediately.
"…Tragic."
As the students throughout the courtyard began moving toward the central upper assembly sectors, Kael glanced once more toward the distant sealed district surrounding Platform Three far across the academy skyline.
The gate remained silent.
But somehow—
That silence no longer felt permanent.
And deep beneath the endless towers of the academy—
Something ancient was still waiting for him to listen again.