I sighed quietly as memories of the battle with Lucivar resurfaced again.
No—
even calling it a battle felt shameful.
I hadn't been able to do anything against him.
Couldn't react.
Couldn't resist.
Couldn't even move.
I slowly glanced down at my hands.
Then—
another memory surfaced.
Samuel.
The Nexus Festival.
The attack I had used against him.
"…Twilight."
I narrowed my eyes slightly.
At the time—
I hadn't even fully understood how I used it.
It was instinctive.
Like my body moved before my mind could comprehend it.
I slowly clenched my hand.
During the fight with Lucivar…
If I had used Twilight against him…
Would I have at least managed to damage him?
Silence.
Then I sighed again.
"…No."
Meanwhile—
behind me—
Lumine had already woken up.
The little girl quietly crawled across the couch before sneaking toward me while trying to suppress her giggles.
Completely unaware—
I remained lost in thought.
Twilight…
What exactly was that technique?
How do i use it again.
The moment before Lumine jumped—
Without even turning around—
I grabbed her by the back of her shirt midair.
Lumine froze instantly.
"…Ah."
I lifted her slightly while staring at her blankly.
Then—
flick.
"OW—"
She held her forehead immediately while puffing her cheeks angrily.
I sighed while setting her back down.
"No…"
"Even Twilight wouldn't have been enough against him."
Lumine suddenly noticed the small black cat sleeping beside me.
Astarax remained curled up quietly with her tail lazily flicking now and then.
Ever since waking up from her slumber—
the chaos dragon had started appearing outside my spirit space more often.
Though most of the time—
she just slept.
Lumine's silver eyes sparkled immediately.
"Cat."
The moment she tried reaching toward her—
Astarax instantly hissed.
[SHHHH—!]
Lumine jumped slightly in surprise before immediately trying to chase her anyway.
"Ahaah!"
Astarax leapt off the couch instantly while glaring at the little girl with complete irritation.
[Annoying creature…]
I sighed quietly while patting Lumine's head as she continued chasing the furious black cat around the room.
my thoughts slowly drifted elsewhere.
I had already remained inside Astryx Empire for almost a month now.
Originally—
this entire trip was only supposed to last two months.
Yet with everything happening now…
Would I even return to Verilian within a year?
My mana circuits were shattered.
I was about to infiltrate Mythralis Academy under a fake identity.
Life truly became strange.
Soon—
the room doors opened quietly.
Jasmine stepped inside before immediately noticing the chaos unfolding.
Lumine chased Astarax around the couch while the black cat hissed angrily every few seconds.
I remained completely lost in thought.
Jasmine coughed awkwardly.
"…Rio."
I glanced toward her.
"Azrith is calling for you."
"…Oh."
I slowly stood up afterward.
"Okay."
...
I slowly entered Azrith's office once again.
The massive room remained illuminated by the distant neon lights of Noctara outside the window.
And as usual—
Azrith sat behind the desk with that same annoying smirk on his face.
"I hope you're ready for today?"
I sighed quietly.
"…Yeah."
Azrith casually tossed something toward me afterward.
"Take this."
I caught the object instinctively.
An amulet.
Dark silver in color with strange blue symbols engraved across its surface.
"This is?"
"A disguise artifact."
"Similar to the one you used before."
"But unlike that cheap version…"
Azrith smirked slightly.
"This one won't break."
"And unless someone is at SS Rank…"
"…nobody will detect it."
My eyes narrowed slightly.
"I see."
"Go ahead."
"Try it."
I slowly wore the amulet afterward.
The moment mana flowed through it—
my body suddenly shifted.
My silver hair rapidly darkened while shortening slightly.
Even the structure of my face subtly changed.
"…Huh?"
I immediately glanced toward the reflection in the window nearby.
A black-haired boy stared back at me.
Still handsome unfortunately.
Though my golden eyes remained unchanged.
I frowned slightly.
"Wouldn't this still stand out?"
Azrith laughed softly.
"Haha."
"Well you're entering Mythralis Academy."
"The standards there are absurdly high."
"If I disguised you as some average-looking person…"
"…they'd become suspicious instead."
Fair point.
Azrith slowly stood afterward.
Then—
his expression became slightly more serious.
"Now listen carefully."
"Currently the Headmaster of Mythralis Academy is away."
"So he won't be a problem."
"But…"
"…the Vice Headmaster is another story."
"Christopher Nova."
The name alone carried pressure.
"Luckily…"
"I contacted him beforehand."
"And he agreed to let 'Zio Norken' enter the academy."
Azrith smirked afterward.
"Of course…"
"…he has absolutely no idea who you really are."
He slowly walked closer.
"But just in case…"
"…never lose that amulet."
"And never mention Verilian Empire inside Mythralis."
The atmosphere around him slightly darkened afterward.
"If your identity is exposed…"
"…even I won't be able to help you."
Silence filled the office briefly.
Then I nodded slowly.
"…Understood."
"Now then…"
Azrith waved his hand lazily.
"Go take whatever you need."
"There's a storage room on the other side of the house."
I nodded slightly.
"I see."
Then something came to mind.
"Do you have a named weapon in there?"
"I broke mine."
Azrith blinked once.
"…Huh."
Then without hesitation—
he casually threw something toward me.
I instinctively caught it.
My eyes widened slightly.
A golden katana rested within my hands.
The sheath itself looked absurdly extravagant.
Golden dragon engravings spiraled across the blade while faint crimson patterns glowed near the guard.
The weapon radiated overwhelming quality.
And honestly—
it looked flashy as hell.
"…What is this?"
Azrith leaned back lazily.
"It's called Ryūsoku."
"That sword was once wielded by Joseph Bologne."
"A legendary warrior from the Dark Era."
My eyes narrowed slightly.
Azrith continued casually.
"Back then…"
"…the blade was known as Dragon's Breath."
I slowly glanced toward the katana again.
The moment my fingers touched the hilt—
a strange heat traveled through the blade briefly.
Like the weapon itself was alive.
Azrith shrugged afterward.
"I have no use for it anymore."
"Take it."
Silence filled the room briefly.
Then slowly—
I unsheathed the katana slightly.
SHIIING.
A crimson-gold edge reflected against my golden eyes.
The blade was beautiful.
Far beyond ordinary named weapons.
Even while damaged—
Nocturne never carried this kind of overwhelming presence.
"…Why give me something this valuable?"
Azrith smirked again.
"Like i told you before Rio, you are worth investing in."
"…Of course."
I sighed quietly while fully gripping the sheath afterward.
Ryūsoku.
A sword from the Dark Era.
And now—
it belonged to me.
...
After packing everything—
I was finally ready to depart for Mythralis Academy.
The cold winds of Noctara blew softly outside the mansion while the city lights illuminated the night endlessly.
Jasmine and Lumine stood near the entrance watching me silently.
I glanced toward Jasmine first.
"We probably won't meet again for a few wee—"
I stopped midway.
No.
Honestly—
I wasn't even sure how long it would take.
Jasmine seemed to understand immediately.
"It's fine."
She smiled faintly afterward.
"As long as we meet again eventually…"
"…that's enough for me."
I quietly stared at her for a moment.
When we first met—
I felt absolutely nothing toward her.
She was just another stranger.
Sure—
she was a queen.
But titles meant nothing to me.
Yet now—
seeing those eyes filled with genuine concern directed toward me…
…it felt strange.
"Just promise me…"
"…you won't do anything reckless over there."
I smiled slightly hearing that.
Yeah.
I'll try.
Then—
my gaze slowly lowered.
Lumine hugged my leg tightly while trying her hardest not to cry.
"…Lumine."
The little girl probably didn't fully understand what was happening.
But instinctively—
she knew I was leaving for a long time.
Her silver eyes trembled slightly while holding onto me tighter.
I sighed softly before crouching down.
Then slowly—
I patted her silver hair gently.
"It's fine."
I raised my hand afterward.
A fist bump.
Lumine tilted her head immediately in confusion.
Clearly she didn't understand.
I smiled slightly.
"I promise."
"…I'll come back."
Lumine quietly stared at my hand for a few seconds.
Then slowly—
hesitantly—
she raised her tiny fist.
Tap.
Her small fist bumped against mine gently.
And strangely enough—
that simple moment felt heavier than any promise I had made before.
During that small moment—
I quietly came to a conclusion.
Lumine was not a weapon.
Azrith might see her differently.
The world might eventually fear her.
Maybe one day kingdoms would tremble hearing her name.
But to me—
she was just Lumine.
A little girl forced into a cruel fate she never chose herself.
My eyes slowly softened as I looked at her tiny fist pressed against mine.
I'd make sure…
…she would never have to suffer again.
Not like before.
Not inside that chamber.
Not as some experiment.
Not as a tool.
A strange feeling settled inside my chest afterward.
Warm.
Unfamiliar.
Because whether in this life—
or my previous one—
…I had never had a little sister before.
...
I soon entered the flying vehicle waiting outside the mansion.
The sleek black craft hovered silently above the ground while blue mana engines glowed beneath it.
Just before the doors closed—
Azrith stepped forward.
Jasmine and Lumine had already gone back inside.
Now only the two of us remained.
Azrith kept his usual relaxed smirk while his hands rested inside his pockets.
"You are quite the expensive investment, Rio."
His blue eyes narrowed slightly beneath the mask.
"So make sure you fix those circuits during your time at the academy."
I quietly looked at him.
Then slowly—
Azrith turned around.
But before leaving—
he spoke one final time.
"Currently…"
"…you're really useless to me."
His voice remained casual.
Yet strangely cold.
"And I hate losses."
Azrith glanced sideways slightly afterward.
"So make sure…"
"…you remain worth my interest."
Then he simply walked away.
The vehicle doors slowly closed afterward.
As the flying craft ascended into the skies above Noctara—
I quietly stared out the window.
Ever since meeting Azrith—
I had already understood one thing.
He wasn't my ally.
But at the same time—
he wasn't my enemy either.
At least…
not right now.