The silence of the room finally brought something Remiel had not felt in a long time.
Rest.
---
His body lay still, but his mind…
continued to move.
---
Fragments of the battle surfaced and faded.
The professor.
The storm.
The limits.
---
— Still not enough…
---
He murmured internally.
---
But unlike before—
there was no instability.
---
The energy within him…
had calmed.
---
Controlled.
---
One hour was not enough to fully recover.
But—
it was enough to stabilize.
---
And for now—
that was enough.
---
His eyes slowly closed.
---
And for the first time since awakening—
Remiel slept.
---
---
When he opened his eyes again—
---
The light had changed.
---
Morning.
---
The sky of the Aether Continent glowed softly beyond the window.
Floating islands drifted in the distance.
---
Remiel sat up.
---
His body responded better now.
No tremors.
No instability.
---
— Better.
---
Simple.
---
He stood.
---
Steady.
---
But still—
far from complete.
---
— Less than ten percent…
---
He looked at his hand briefly.
---
— And it already draws too much attention.
---
He lowered it.
---
— I need to be more careful.
---
---
Knock. Knock.
---
A soft sound echoed at the door.
---
— Come in.
---
The door opened.
---
Laylah stepped inside.
---
Her gaze quickly scanned him.
---
Analyzing.
---
— You didn't pass out.
---
Direct.
---
Remiel remained silent.
---
— That's a good sign.
---
She stepped further in.
---
— How are you?
---
— Better.
---
Short answer.
---
Laylah nodded.
---
— Good.
---
A brief pause.
---
— Then let's go.
---
Remiel looked at her.
---
— Go?
---
— The results.
---
She said as if it were obvious.
---
— Don't tell me you forgot.
---
Silence.
---
Remiel turned slightly.
---
— No.
---
A lie.
---
Laylah sighed.
---
— Seriously…
---
But didn't press further.
---
— The list should be out by now.
---
A pause.
---
— If you passed.
---
She crossed her arms.
---
— Which you probably did.
---
Remiel walked toward the door.
---
— Let's see.
---
---
The corridors of the Academy were crowded.
---
Voices.
Tension.
Excitement.
---
New candidates moved in every direction.
---
Some turned their gaze toward Remiel.
---
Whispers followed.
---
— It's him…
— The one who fought the professor…
— That guy…
---
Remiel ignored them.
---
Laylah did the same.
---
— You drew too much attention.
---
She commented.
---
— It was inevitable.
---
Calm.
---
— You could've held back more.
---
— It wasn't necessary.
---
Laylah raised an eyebrow.
---
— Now it is.
---
Silence.
---
They continued walking—
until they reached a massive translucent panel.
---
A crowd had gathered.
---
— It's out!
— The results!
---
Names filled the surface.
---
Divided into sections.
---
Approved.
Rejected.
Rankings.
---
Remiel stopped.
---
His eyes scanned the list.
---
Calm.
Precise.
---
Laylah looked as well.
---
— You're there.
---
She pointed slightly.
---
Remiel followed her gaze.
---
[ Remiel — Approved ]
---
Silence.
---
No surprise.
---
— As expected.
---
Laylah said.
---
— You passed even after that fight.
---
Remiel said nothing.
---
But continued observing.
---
— Interesting…
---
He murmured.
---
— What?
---
— The evaluation system.
---
A pause.
---
— It's not based only on victory.
---
Laylah smiled faintly.
---
— Of course not.
---
— They evaluate potential.
---
She crossed her arms.
---
— And you…
---
A pause.
---
— have too much of it.
---
Silence.
---
Remiel turned away from the panel.
---
— What now?
---
— Now…
---
Laylah shifted slightly.
---
— dormitory.
---
Simple.
---
— You need real rest.
---
Remiel didn't disagree.
---
---
They moved toward the residential area.
---
The atmosphere changed.
---
Quieter.
---
More refined.
---
Buildings aligned perfectly.
---
— Dorms are separated by level.
---
Laylah explained.
---
— And performance.
---
— Not random then.
---
— Nothing here is.
---
They stopped in front of a building.
---
— You should be here.
---
She said.
---
— Top accepted students.
---
Remiel observed.
---
— And you?
---
She shrugged.
---
— Top 10 area.
---
A faint smile.
---
— Not easy to access.
---
Silence.
---
Remiel nodded.
---
— Makes sense.
---
Laylah turned to leave—
but paused.
---
— Remiel.
---
He looked at her.
---
— Rest.
---
A pause.
---
— You'll need it.
---
— I know.
---
She nodded.
---
And left.
---
---
Remiel entered the building.
---
The corridors were silent.
---
Organized.
---
He found his room.
---
Opened the door.
---
Simple.
Functional.
---
He stepped inside.
Closed it.
---
Silence.
---
He walked to the window.
---
The Aether Continent stretched beyond.
---
Floating islands.
Mist.
Distance.
---
— This world…
---
He murmured.
---
— hasn't changed.
---
A pause.
---
— Not completely.
---
His eyes narrowed slightly.
---
— Something is moving.
---
Silence.
---
— Something bigger.
---
---
The night passed.
---
---
Morning arrived.
---
The Academy was alive.
---
Students filled the corridors.
---
Energy everywhere.
---
Remiel walked calmly.
---
Observing.
---
Until—
---
— Remiel.
---
Laylah again.
---
She stood near a large hall.
---
— First class.
---
Direct.
---
— Thought you'd get lost.
---
— I found my way.
---
Calm.
---
She smirked slightly.
---
— Of course you did.
---
They entered.
---
---
The classroom was massive.
---
Structured like an amphitheater.
---
Students were already seated.
---
But something stood out.
---
Sections.
---
Marked clearly.
---
F.
E.
D.
C.
B.
A.
S.
---
— Classes.
---
Laylah said.
---
— From lowest to highest.
---
— F to S.
---
Remiel nodded.
---
— Simple structure.
---
— Not really.
---
She replied.
---
— It's not fixed.
---
Silence.
---
— You can rise.
— Or fall.
---
A pause.
---
— Based on performance.
---
Remiel analyzed.
---
— And you?
---
She shrugged.
---
— S.
---
— Top 10.
---
No surprise.
---
Remiel was directed—
---
Class B.
---
Murmurs spread.
---
— Straight to B?
— Who is he?
— Must be strong…
---
He ignored them.
---
Sat down.
---
Silence.
---
Moments later—
---
A professor entered.
---
Presence firm.
---
Authority natural.
---
— Welcome to the Academy of Destiny.
---
His voice echoed.
---
Instant silence.
---
— Today marks the true beginning of your path.
---
A pause.
---
— Here—
---
His gaze swept across the room.
---
— talent alone is not enough.
---
Silence.
---
— Discipline.
— Control.
— Evolution.
---
— These determine who rises…
---
A faint pressure filled the room.
---
— and who falls.
---
He turned slightly.
---
— The classes you see—
---
He gestured.
---
— are not permanent.
---
Murmurs spread.
---
— Everyone has the chance to rise.
---
A pause.
---
— Even to Class S.
---
His gaze hardened.
---
— But it won't be easy.
---
Silence.
---
— Most of you…
---
A pause.
---
— will fail.
---
The weight settled over the room.
---
---
Remiel remained still.
---
Listening.
---
---
The professor continued.
---
— Now…
---
He shifted tone.
---
— You must understand the world you live in.
---
A pause.
---
— The system of the Eternals.
---
Silence.
---
— The four strongest beings of the Aether Continent.
---
Laylah crossed her arms slightly.
---
— Those who have surpassed normal human limits.
---
A pause.
---
— One of them is here.
---
Murmurs erupted.
---
— In the Imperial City.
---
Another finger raised.
---
— The other three…
---
Silence.
---
— are scattered across the continent.
---
Tension rose.
---
— They are not merely students.
---
A pause.
---
— They are existences close to divinity.
---
---
Remiel's gaze deepened.
---
---
— This leads us to the core system.
---
The professor said.
---
— The Wheel of Divinity.
---
Absolute silence.
---
— All of you exist within it.
---
— Sequence 10…
— to Sequence 1.
---
A subtle pressure filled the air.
---
— The lower the number—
---
— the closer to divinity.
---
---
He raised his hand.
---
— From Sequence 4 onward—
---
A pause.
---
— you are no longer ordinary humans.
---
Silence.
---
— Sequence 4: Demigod.
---
Students held their breath.
---
— Sequence 3: Angel.
---
The air grew heavier.
---
— Sequence 2: God.
---
Silence.
---
— And Sequence 1…
---
A long pause.
---
— Origin.
---
The word itself felt heavy.
---
— The essence of the Path.
---
---
He began to walk slowly.
---
— Each Path carries its own identity.
---
— Names.
— Power.
— Authority.
---
He stopped.
---
— Example.
---
A spark of lightning appeared.
---
— Path of Lightning.
---
⚡
---
— Sequence 3: Angel of Thunder.
---
The air vibrated.
---
— Sequence 2: God of Thunder.
---
Pressure increased.
---
— Sequence 1…
---
Silence.
---
— Origin of Thunder.
---
The energy faded.
---
— Or…
---
He added.
---
— Origin of Lightning.
---
A pause.
---
— Names may differ.
---
— Essence does not.
---
---
Remiel watched.
---
Eyes deeper now.
---
— So this is the peak…
---
He thought.
---
A pause.
---
— Or just the beginning.
---
---
Laylah glanced at him.
---
As if she sensed something.
---
But said nothing.
---
---
The professor returned to the center.
---
— This is your world now.
---
Silence.
---
— And only the strong…
---
A pause.
---
— will continue forward.
---
---
The class ended.
---
But the weight of those words—
---
remained.
---
---
Remiel stood.
---
Calm.
---
But different.
---
His thoughts—
---
clearer.
---
More focused.
---
— Sequence 1…
---
He murmured internally.
---
— Origin.
---
A faint sensation stirred.
---
Distant.
Ancient.
---
Familiar.
---
---
For the first time—
---
Remiel was not thinking only about recovering his power.
---
But—
---
about how far it truly went.
---
---
The path ahead—
---
was far greater than it seemed.