Ilaria watched Ion's back as he disappeared around the corner of the corridor after leaving the training ground, then her gaze returned to her students.
She saw them enthusiastically discussing the battle that had taken place, unable to contain their excitement; it had been both surprising and shocking to them, while Cyril was circulating mana to stop his bleeding.
Then she called out to them:
"Alright students, gather now so we can discuss the battle that took place."
Then she said with a mischievous smile:
"Well then, who would kindly tell us how the new student bullied Cyril in the first part of the battle?"
Cyril shouted, his face turning red with embarrassment:
"Professor!!"
The students couldn't help but laugh, even Rin let out a muffled laugh as she watched the scene.
Then Ilaria followed up with a serious face after some laughter:
"Alright students, you've already seen the battle, and I'm sure you'll benefit from integrating it with your combat experience... and it also gives you a glimpse of the new students. Ion is just one monster among them. There are dozens like him. If you don't put in at least double the effort, you'll be bullied just like Cyril."
Seriousness covered the students' faces as they listened to their professor, and they could only recall the shocking battle, and that Ion was just one person using aura only... so what about other monsters?
But when they heard the last part, they suddenly turned to Cyril, who was blushing in embarrassment and wishing he could find a hole to hide in. But this time, no one actually laughed when they saw Cyril's shoulder.
The seriousness on their faces deepened.
This academy is not just an ordinary academy where you can slack off and graduate, no... here, only the fittest survive. If you don't put in effort, you will be surpassed by others, and if they surpass you, your fate will be nothing but expulsion from the academy.
If it were another academy, they might not have cared, but "Arkan" Academy is very special.
Although it lies within the borders of the Astra Empire, the empire has no real authority over it. Perhaps the professors come from noble families of the empire, but the academy's dean is a mysterious person, said to originate from outside the eastern continent itself, and his power rivals that of the emperor.
In fact, the academy itself was not built by the empire; it seems to be merely a collaboration of powers stronger than the Astra Empire, which rules the entire eastern continent. It's not only "Arkan" Academy, but also three other academies located within Astra's territory.
But who truly stands behind these four academies? No one knows.
The academy does not care about your lineage here, only competence, even if you are from commoners.
Therefore, there is no discrimination against commoners, because everyone — from nobles to commoners — are geniuses beyond the norm. And no one knows when someone might awaken and soar above others and repay those who wronged them twofold.
But to say there is no corruption?
That was impossible.
In the hidden alleys within the academy, even nobles are subjected to bullying, not for amusement, but to suppress the potential of individuals who might threaten others' positions.
And in some cases, it goes as far as threats... or even killing, especially when void gates are opened to other worlds to conduct exams.
In summary: "Arkan" Academy possesses resources that even the Astra Empire itself does not have, most notably the "Lake of Heaven and Earth Blessing," and the ability to open other worlds to conduct student exams, while at the same time searching for treasures within those worlds.
Who the hell would choose to be expelled and join lesser academies just because they were lazy?
---
**Pov Ion**
I heard some laughter from second-year students after I left, I didn't know whether they were laughing at me or at Cyril.
But I concluded that the second possibility was more likely.
As I walked through empty corridors, I couldn't help but feel a bit of exhilaration and excitement when I thought about the battle.
I didn't enter the battle just because I wanted to fight, there was a more important reason: testing myself.
After retrieving my spirit, I initially felt that my aura was somewhat scattered, and this would weaken me, because the source of my strength is precise control over aura by stimulating it with blood energy as a channel to my spiritual power. Therefore, the stronger my spiritual power, the greater my control.
But that is merely a saying... while people forget the importance of mental strength.
It is the most important thing in everything.
If your mental strength is chaotic for any reason, and you cannot control it, then your control over aura or mana will weaken significantly, and your attack power, defense, and reactions may drop to more than half.
A smile formed on my lips as I remembered the person who taught me this... and even refined my mind to unimaginable levels.
I muttered:
"My master..."
A pale face appeared in my mind, with short dark blue hair reaching the shoulders, and deep violet eyes... or rather, only one eye.
Her left eye was blind, and a deep scar extended from the middle of her cheek, passing through her eye to the middle of her forehead.
A face that was always frowning, but her eyes hid endless kindness and warmth as she watched my progress during training.
She was harsh... merciless when it came to my training. My body shivered as I remembered some of her training sessions.
Then I remembered her condition before I left.
During two years of training, I saw her weaken day by day, and sometimes lose consciousness.
And when I told her I would stay to take care of her and not go to the academy, she beat me severely in a way I could never forget, and forced me to leave, leaving her alone in that hut in the forest... after we reached an agreement.
It has already been a month and a half... I don't know how she is now.
I thought about that while my hand tightened around a small necklace resembling a hexagonal crystal...
Inside it was a thread of my master's soul. If a day came when the crystal darkened, that would mean her condition had begun to worsen.
That was my condition... otherwise I would have never left her.
I let out a quiet sigh, then noticed that the corridor had suddenly become lively, filled with students and their noise.
"It seems the afternoon period has already ended."
I noticed several gazes directed at me silently.
Different feelings...
Curiosity, caution, respect... and even reverence.
But... there was also disdain.
I understand them all, even the disdain... especially the disdain.
Because after only half a month, the "Lake of Heaven and Earth Blessing" will be activated for the new students, and when they obtain the Heaven and Earth Runes, it will only be a matter of time before they surpass me... if I don't find a way to improve myself.
I have seen from Alfred's memories what my life was like...
A fall from the peak, and even incompetent people surpassed me.
I was barely clinging to the middle of the late "B" class, barely during the first semester.
I don't know my final fate, nor what happened to me. I only recovered fragmented memories, and the rest are merging rapidly... I can sort them, but not in a noisy place like this.
Suddenly, I heard a familiar voice calling:
"Big brother!"
I turned my gaze toward the voice, and couldn't help but smile gently when I saw its owner.
Yellow eyes, and light purple hair reaching slightly below the shoulders, tied into two braids hanging over her shoulders.
Alice Olivan,
the second princess of the Olivan Kingdom.
She hurried toward me, but when she saw my face, concern spread across her features:
"What happened big brother? Why is your face so pale like this?!"
I quickly answered to reassure her:
"I fought a battle with one of the second-year students."
But instead of calming down, the concern disappeared and was replaced by anger, and she raised her voice slightly:
"Just yesterday you suddenly lost consciousness, and when you wake up you go fight?! Won't you let this body rest a little?!"
She said that while delivering a strong hit to my lower leg with the tip of her shoe.
I couldn't help but let out a muffled groan from the sharp pain.
"Alright Alice, I'm really sorry... okay? It wasn't a meaningless fight, it was something important to me."
When she heard my apology, her expression finally softened.
I can't blame her... she has known me since childhood, and how I used to push my body to its limits almost every day.
Suddenly, she looked at my head, specifically at a noticeable bump.
She tilted her head and asked curiously:
"Umm... and what is this strange bump? I don't think you're the type to get hit from behind."
I answered flatly, scratching my head:
"I provoked a beautiful devil..."
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