The air still felt heavy with disbelief, as if the shadow of the colossal dragon lingered in everyone's memory. But John walked back into the academy building with the same calm expression as always, his footsteps steady, his hands loosely clasped behind his back.
With him were Peter's group, Coulson and his team, Natasha, and the newly arrived Nyx—the dragon who now stood in the form of a beautiful woman.
Everyone else was gone. John had already sent the Avengers and the rest of their allies back to Earth. As for what, only the Avengers knew themselves. Coulson and Natasha also knew what the mission was. It was too important to be spoken aloud.
That mission, John had said, would determine Earth's future. If it was successful, then never again would Earth face the threat of internal destruction. The planet would finally be united, strong, and safe from within.
The thought alone gave Coulson goosebumps. All of it made him realize the weight of what was happening.
When they returned to the grand hall, everyone quietly took their seats. Peter's group clustered together, eyes flicking from John to Nyx, still unsure what to make of her. Coulson's team sat as well, still whispering faintly among themselves, shaken by what they had seen.
Only Nyx did not sit.
She stood beside John like a loyal guardian, her tall form casting a shadow across his chair. Her amethyst eyes remained fixed on him, alert to anyone who moved even slightly. She looked less like a woman and more like a beast protecting its treasure.
John tried, at first, to persuade her. He gestured lightly to an empty chair near him.
"Nyx, you can sit. There's no need to stand here."
But she shook her head firmly, refusing to move.
"I will not sit while you are seated, Master. My place is here."
Her voice was calm, but her posture was unyielding. After a moment, John sighed softly, the corners of his lips twitching upward in helplessness.
"Very well," he murmured, giving up.
With that, he shifted his attention back to the room. His calm eyes swept across Peter's group first.
"For the next six months," John began, his voice carrying a steady weight, "your focus will be on discipline, training, and learning the foundations of magic. Natasha will be your instructor. You will learn meditation, runes, and mana control under her. Combat training will come later, when your foundation is firm."
Peter nodded quickly, determination shining in his young face. Skye looked relieved but also nervous, while Jemma and Fitz exchanged excited glances, whispering about experiments they might combine with magic.
John turned to Coulson's team next.
"The same goes for you," he said simply. "Learn the fundamentals. Adapt. Grow. You'll be living and training alongside Peter's group. Treat each other as comrades."
The two groups exchanged glances, still unsure of each other but slowly beginning to accept the idea.
"Go," John added with a small nod. "Return to your accommodations. You can choose the accommodation yourself and rest well. Tomorrow your lessons begin."
With murmurs of acknowledgment, Peter's group and Coulson's team stood and quietly left the hall, heading back to the accommodation area. The heavy doors closed behind them, leaving only four people inside.
John, Coulson, Natasha and Nyx, who still stood beside her master like an unmovable wall.
The hall fell into a deep silence.
John turned his gaze toward Coulson. His expression softened slightly, as though he were speaking to an old friend.
"Coulson," he said, "when the academy begins, you will take the position as principal."
Coulson helplessly nodded, even though he didn't want this position. What could he do about it?
John nodded once. "Until then, you must become stronger. Not as an agent, but as a wizard. Use this time well. And if you encounter something you cannot understand, consult Natasha. She will guide you."
"…I understand," Coulson said finally, nodding his head slightly.
John gave him a small smile before turning to Natasha.
"You," he said firmly, "will train the newcomers. Watch over them, guide them, and keep order within the academy. They will look to you as their mentor."
Natasha's lips curved faintly. "I can do that."
John's gaze lingered on her a moment longer. John knew that if anyone could accomplish this work beautifully it would be her.
After that he lowered his voice, just enough for her to catch the seriousness in it.
"I will be leaving for a few months."
He didn't specify where. He didn't explain why.
Natasha didn't ask. She simply nodded. She knew John well enough by now to understand that if he hadn't said more, it was because the matter was beyond explanation—or too dangerous to share.
"Leave it to me," she said simply.
John's shoulders relaxed slightly. He had always appreciated Natasha's ability to understand without pressing for details.
After sending Coulson and Natasha off to prepare for their roles, the hall became quieter still. Now only John and Nyx remained.
For a long moment, John studied her. She stood close, her presence radiating both warmth and danger, her eyes never leaving him.
What should he do with her?
Should he leave her here, watching over Stardust City? She was strong enough to deter any enemy, her very presence a shield for the people. But he knew Nyx too well. If he left without her, she would not sit quietly. She would go around and cause more chaos.
Or should he take her with him?
He sighed inwardly. There was really only one answer.
"Come with me," John said softly.
Nyx's eyes widened for a moment before softening with warmth. A small, almost childish smile tugged at her lips as she nodded eagerly.
Without wasting more time, John extended his hand. Nyx placed hers into it without hesitation, her grip firm and filled with trust.
Closing his eyes, John reached into his spiritual sea. There, glowing faintly, rested the rune he had once carved—the rune of Touya's world (T-World). He pressed his will into it.
A brilliant light engulfed the hall. The stone walls, the tall pillars, the empty chairs—all of it vanished from their sight in an instant.
When John and Nyx opened their eyes again, the air was different.
The smell of moss, the distant call of unseen birds, the rustling of leaves. A forest surrounded them, dense and ancient. Shafts of golden light broke through the canopy, painting the ruins of old stone structures with a soft glow.
They were standing in the middle of what had once been a proud city. Crumbled towers leaned against one another, half-buried under vines. Broken archways stood like silent sentinels. The wind carried whispers of a forgotten age.
John exhaled slowly. His eyes scanned the ruins with quiet recognition.
"The old capital," he murmured. "Right where I left this world."
Nyx stood beside him, silent for once, her sharp gaze sweeping across the ruins as if sensing threats. But John's focus was elsewhere—on the memories of this place.
This is the place where he promised Yumina and Alsie that he would come back one day for them.
John felt like a life had passed. He wasn't even sure if they still remembered him. Slowly a soft smile appeared on his face.
"I am back."
(Hello my dear readers,
I sincerely thank you all from the bottom of my heart. I know very well that my story is not perfect, that it has many flaws. Yet, it is your kind suggestions, your comments, and your heartfelt reviews that give me the strength to move forward. To be honest, without your support, this novel might have remained unfinished long ago.
As long as you keep reading, I will never stop writing. Even if I cannot give you a new chapter every single day, I promise that I will still bring you 3 to 4 chapters every week.
I also want to share something with you. In the upcoming chapters, the names of the different worlds will be presented in this manner—
Touya's World — (T-World)
Eccaruss World — (E-World)
And in the future, you will see more worlds introduced in the same way.
Your support is my greatest inspiration.)