Chapter 425

“This initial school term certainly had its fair share of drama.”

“No doubt about it. Things were far more tumultuous during this first term compared to last year’s.”

Responding to Chloe’s soft comment, Chen Sia offered a slight grin and gave an understanding nod.

At that moment, the entire student body of Lumerne had assembled on the vast grounds of the Grand Parade Ground, Erek.

The concluding ceremony had just wrapped up, officially bringing the academic term to a close.

The young mages and warriors were handed out grades and assessments reflecting their dedication over the past few months.

Unsurprisingly, the individual capturing the most attention at this final gathering was the representative for the freshman class.

“So, he actually managed to claim the title of class representative after all, didn’t he?”

Having overcome Aina in the semi-final round, Luke went on to face and conquer Habiden in the final match, ultimately locking down the position of class representative.

It was an incredible feat, pulled off right in the middle of the grand summit.

By engineering an unbelievable turnaround that practically no one foresaw, Luke was instantly catapulted into the spotlight as a rising hero candidate on the global stage.

“It feels like Luke has matured quite a bit since taking on the responsibilities of class representative, don’t you think?”

Hearing Chen Sia’s observation, Chloe shifted her gaze toward the section where the first-year students had gathered.

Luke and Juan were locked in conversation.

Before long, Habiden, Sasha, and Betty drifted over to join their group, keeping the discussion going.

It wasn’t long, however, before Juan and Habiden appeared to be raising their voices in a heated dispute, leaving Luke stranded in the middle looking thoroughly exhausted.

“He doesn’t look mature at all.”

Chloe gave her head a firm shake and redirected her attention toward another part of the field.

Over there, Celia and Aina were caught up in a quiet chat.

‘It looks like they’ve managed to mend fences.’

As a top-tier honor student, Celia possessed a natural knack for looking after her peers.

Because of this, Celia had done everything in her power to act as a dependable upperclassman and guide for Aina.

Even so, Chloe was well aware from her talks with Celia that friction had existed between the two girls throughout the entire first term.

Their fragile bond had seemingly shattered completely during the high-stakes final exam tournament.

Yet, following her semi-final showdown against Luke, Aina had taken the initiative to approach Celia once more, allowing their friendship to heal.

‘That’s a relief.’

Knowing how deeply Celia had fretted over Aina, Chloe gave a small, satisfied nod.

“Your Highness! I shall remain by your side and serve you until your return to Shan!”

Right at that second, Jane bounded up to Chen Sia, her eyes gleaming with absolute devotion.

“Jane, I’ve asked you repeatedly to address me as your senior while we’re on academy grounds.”

“Now that the closing ceremony has officially concluded, my status as a student is temporarily suspended! I am free to immediately resume my primary obligation of protecting Princess Sia.”

With that dramatic declaration, Jane ripped off her academy uniform.

Dozens of pairs of eyes instantly tracked the uniform jacket and pleated skirt as they drifted through the air.

“How on earth did you pull that off? Was that a spell?”

Chloe questioned, blinking in sheer bewilderment.

Beneath her standard school attire, Jane was already fully dressed in the traditional garb of the Eastern Continent.

It seemed impossible to conceal the flowing, elaborate garments of the Shan Empire under a basic academy uniform.

“It isn’t sorcery. For a dedicated servant of the Shan royalty, mastering the art of rapid wardrobe changes is merely a foundational requirement.”

Jane offered a smug little smirk.

“And who exactly gave you permission to go tossing your school uniform around like trash?”

“Eek!”

Her triumphant mood vanished instantly as a chilling voice echoed from right behind her.

“Step lively, El Jane.”

Having tried entirely too hard to create a theatrical moment, Jane found herself getting dragged away by Hallind.

All around the grounds, other first and second-year students who had participated in the mentor-mentee initiative were mingling and laughing, clearly having forged genuine bonds over the course of the term.

Among the crowd, quite a few freshmen were visibly weeping.

“I am so incredibly sorry, Senior. This is all my fault… sob…”

“Don’t be silly. My marks were poor enough that I would have faced expulsion regardless of your performance. If anything, your hard work is the sole reason I managed to hang on until the second term. I only regret that I couldn’t guide you better.”

A significant number of freshmen and sophomores were preparing to depart Lumerne for good.

In certain pairs, only the first-year managed to survive, while in other instances, both mentor and mentee found themselves expelled simultaneously.

There were pairs who refused to even look at one another, and others who wept openly, sharing their mutual heartbreak.

“No matter how many times I see it, I just can’t grow accustomed to this sight.”

Chloe’s expression turned downcast and somber.

A fair number of individuals from Glory had also received expulsion notices during this round.

“It’s simply the nature of this place. Lumerne is designed to filter out those who aren’t ready, leaving only those who can endure. Even so, aren’t we all ultimately striving toward the same grand objective? Our current tracks might be splitting, but I am certain our paths will cross again down the line.”

Hearing Chen Sia’s comforting perspective, Chloe nodded her agreement.

“Senior Chloe! What are your plans now that the end-of-term ceremony is finished?”

Betty, who happened to be Chloe’s assigned mentee, bounced over to inquire.

“I’m planning to head to a small gathering with my roommates.”

“In that case, once my own classmates wrap up our celebration, would it be alright if I dropped by to visit you?”

“Of course.”

“Fantastic!”

Betty beamed, her face lighting up with pure joy.

Throughout the parade ground, other underclassmen and upperclassmen were busy coordinating schedules with their respective partners.

Standing a short distance away, Lily, the representative for the third-year class, observed the bustling scene and sighed softly.

“I really envy the underclassmen. Their mentor-mentee connections seem so incredibly tight-knit.”

“My, my, are you suggesting that you and I aren’t just as close?”

Elena giggled, playfully twisting Lily’s hair into a braid while flashing a radiant smile.

To that, Lily responded with a thoroughly depressed tone.

“Senior Elena, you don’t treat me like a friend, you treat me like an amusement.”

“Oh, goodness, how could you accuse me of such a thing?”

Elena widened her eyes in mock innocence, all while continuing to twist and twirl Lily’s hair.

“I really wanted to stop by and wish the junior students in the Summoning Department a wonderful vacation.”

Lily held quite a bit of popularity as a senior figure within the Summoning Department.

“Yet, those ungrateful first and second-years haven’t bothered to come over and say goodbye to you, have they?”

‘I’m fairly certain they’re avoiding us because you terrify them, not because of anything I did.’

Lily pouted, keeping the thought strictly to herself.

She knew all too well that if the notoriously short-tempered Elena caught wind of that sentiment, she would relentlessly hound Lily all the way back to her family home.

Leo stared down intently at the palm of his hand.

He could detect a faint, unfamiliar energy vibrating within him—a trace of divine power.

‘There’s no mistake about it; my reservoir of divine power has expanded.’

This change had occurred following his brutal clash with the manifestation of Hel Kaiser.

The sacred energy Leo commanded had noticeably grown.

Granted, it was still a minuscule amount in the grand scheme of things.

“What do you think triggered this development?”

In response to Mel’s inquiry, Leo let his mind drift back to the exact moment he felt the divine energy surge.

“It happened precisely when I locked down and suppressed the catastrophic embers unleashed by the Necromancer King.”

“Does that mean Lord Leo’s specific energy acts as a direct countermeasure to Erebus?”

“Precisely.”

This particular force, which Lisinas had once designated as ‘Purity,’ stood as the solitary counter-attribute capable of neutralizing the unquenchable blazes of Erebus.

Utilizing this precise energy, Leo had managed to subdue Erebus in the past.

“However, during my previous lifetime, my capabilities were limited to merely snuffing out the flames of Erebus.”

Mel spent a moment mulling over Leo’s explanation before offering her thoughts.

“The deity, Pibua, explicitly characterized Erebus as a horrific entity on par with a divine being, correct?”

“That is correct.”

“And the entity noted that if the gods represent the manifestation of light, then Erebus embodies the core of darkness.”

“He did say that.”

“If that’s the case, wouldn’t it stand to reason that the divine entities and the fountainhead of primordial malice share a common ancestry?”

“Are you suggesting my power successfully cleansed the catastrophic embers?”

“Yes, exactly.”

Leo fell into a silent reverie as he weighed Mel’s hypothesis.

“The concept isn’t entirely alien to me. However, five millennia ago, I lacked the capacity to either cleanse or absorb the essence of Erebus.”

“Could it be possible, then, that the blaze unleashed by the Necromancer King wasn’t the genuine spark of calamity?”

“It was the exact same fire that reduced the realm to ash, consumed my dearest companions, and ultimately claimed my own life.”

Leo shook his head firmly.

“There is absolutely no way I would misidentify that essence.”

“Then perhaps we are looking at a manifestation of awakening?”

“An awakening?”

“Yes, it seems highly probable. After all, Ard managed to re-trigger the latent traits of Lord Arion, didn’t she?”

Though it had only manifested on a single occasion, Ard had successfully forced other beastkin into their primal beast forms using her piercing howl.

It was one of the grand wonders Arion had desperately yearned to achieve.

Through a moment of awakening, Ard had unlocked entirely new horizons for her inherent traits.

“Ha ha ha.”

“What finds you in such a cheerful mood?”

“It’s just refreshing to realize there are still paths available for me to grow more powerful.”

Leo let out a genuine chuckle.

“Myself, Lisinas, Luna, and Dweno… every single one of us genuinely believed we had maxed out our potential and reached the absolute limit of our respective paths.”

Naturally, none of them had ever ceased their training or stopped striving.

Yet, by the time they embarked on their final campaign.

Leo, along with Lisinas, Luna, and Dweno, had developed into entities that bordered on absolute flawless perfection, both in sheer destructive capacity and mental fortitude.

“That makes perfect sense. One would have to occupy the absolute apex of power to even dream of subduing an entity like Erebus.”

Mel nodded in agreement, but then she paused, tilting her head in confusion.

“But what about Lord Arion?”

He had explicitly named Leo, Lisinas, Luna, and Dweno, yet Arion had been conspicuously left out of that specific tier.

Prompted by Mel’s question, Leo rested his chin against his hand, his gaze turning distant.

“Arion possessed a fundamental vulnerability.”

“Lord Arion was flawed? But public perception holds that the Hero stands as the most formidable combatant in recorded history.”

Mel observed Leo’s melancholy smile, her expression shifting to one of mild astonishment.

Regardless of historical nuance, the Hero Arion was universally revered as the ultimate warrior.

“That holds true. If we are strictly measuring raw destructive output, he reigned supreme. Even taking his naturally cautious, borderline cowardly disposition into account, that reality remains absolute.”

“In that case, what was the nature of Lord Arion’s vulnerability?”

“His psychological fortitude.”

Leo’s expression tightened with lingering sorrow.

“When we set out on that final crusade, every member of our vanguard was fully prepared, save for Arion.”

“Prepared for what, exactly?”

“Prepared to meet our ends.”

“……”

“And equally prepared to watch one another fall.”

Mel lapsed into a respectful silence, observing Leo as he delivered such a devastating reality with absolute composure.

“We understood that our final expedition was essentially a suicide mission. Make no mistake, not a single one of us entertained the thought of throwing in the towel, but we harbored no illusions about making it back alive.”

Because of this grim reality, the Legendary Heroes pressed forward with the unshakeable resolve to keep moving, even if it meant leaving behind a comrade whose life they valued above their own.

“Arion, however, while entirely at peace with sacrificing his own existence, simply lacked the psychological resilience to stand by and watch the rest of us perish.”

It was that exact emotional burden that drove Arion to throw himself into harm’s way ahead of everyone else.

“Had he not taken that leap, the one destined to fall in that moment… would have been Dweno, who was holding down our front line.”

“……”

“Arion was the baby of our group, after all.”

Among the Legendary Heroes, he was the sole individual born deep within the Age of Calamity—a youth who had spent his entire life without ever witnessing a clear blue sky or the radiance of an unclouded night sky.

In many respects, his upbringing mirrored Elsy’s.

“Do you believe the final chapter would have turned out differently if Lord Arion had possessed that same ruthless resolve?”

“The ultimate conclusion would have remained unchanged.”

Leo offered a heavy, sorrowful sigh.

“Yet, every single one of us carried the weight of regret. We leaned entirely too heavily on his innate valor. In hindsight, we constantly wondered if we should have offered him comfort as older siblings, rather than treating him strictly as a peer and a fellow soldier.”

His mind flashed back to the memory of Arion, cursing his own helplessness before closing his eyes for the last time.

“So that is the hidden history of what transpired.”

Mel remarked, her voice dropping to a somber whisper.

After letting the silence hang for a moment, Mel intentionally pivoted the conversation to a lighter topic.

“If you’ve successfully managed to cleanse the catastrophic embers using divine energy, does that mean you’ll be able to harness that power in the near future?”

“It’s difficult to say. Since that specific flavor of energy was never intended to be wielded by the mortal heritages of the Material Realm, I currently lack the fundamental intuition required to control it.”

The divine essence that Pibua had previously funneled to him via the Folium came pre-packaged with the deity’s conscious direction.

This current spark of divine power, however, was fundamentally different.

It was raw, unaligned energy, entirely devoid of any external consciousness or intent.

“What is our next course of action regarding it?”

“The appropriate opportunity to wield it will present itself in due time.”

Leo pushed himself up from his seat.

“I should probably make my exit. If I delay any further, the others are going to start pestering me relentlessly.”

“Understood. Please enjoy your evening.”

Mel offered a warm smile and a polite bow.

“By the way, how are the preparations coming along for the guest list I submitted?”

“Everything is moving smoothly. I anticipate having the formal invitations dispatched in about a week’s time.”

“Excellent. I appreciate your hard work.”

With those final parting words, Leo stepped out of Mel’s private office.

Once she had seen Leo out, Mel wandered over to a storage corner of her office and retrieved a large rolled-up sign.

It was a promotional banner designed to greet the participants who would be arriving for the specialized training initiative scheduled over the upcoming holiday break.

[Welcome to the Training Camp.]

Mel tilted her head sideways, reviewing the tidy, precise lettering of the greeting.

‘It feels a bit too ordinary.’

Considering the reality of what was to come, it was absolute fact that this particular program would be an agonizing, mind-boggling ordeal that defied normal imagination.

Displaying such a standard, mundane greeting for an intensive program of this caliber felt entirely unfitting.

Mel racked her brain for a brief moment, but it wasn’t long before her face lit up with a mischievous grin and she clapped her hands together in realization.

She immediately set about altering the text on the banner.

‘This ought to be more than enough to instill a healthy sense of dread in the children, wouldn’t you say?’

[Welcome to Hell.]

Using a thick stroke of crimson ink, she completely blocked out the words “Training Camp” and personally scrawled the word “Hell” across the material.

Mel stepped back to admire her handiwork and gave a firm, satisfied nod, thoroughly pleased with the adjustment.