They both thought the same thing when their hands touched:
"She's strong."
"He's strong."
Amos followed Stellar as she led him to their next class.The silence between them grew long, until Stellar broke it.
"You said you were a Void user, right?"
"I did," Amos replied.
Her voice was calm, almost devoid of emotion.
"Did you know that Void and Existence are the two rarest types of psychic energy?"
Amos was clearly intrigued, both by her tone and the strength he had felt earlier when they touched.
"I knew about Void, but not about Existence."
Before he could ask more, Stellar stopped in front of a door. Amos did the same. She opened it.
"here we are."
Stellar entered, and Amos followed.He was immediately struck by how different the room was from the ones back on Earth.It was massive, with a wide open space in the center where the teacher stood. Around it, desks were arranged in a circular fashion, like in a university lecture hall, giving everyone a clear view of the center. The number of students present was impossible to count at a glance.
As they headed for an empty seat, the teacher turned toward Amos with an arrogant voice.
"Hey you. You show up late to my class and don't even bother to apologize?"
Amos stopped. Stellar did too, though she knew this didn't really concern her.Amos answered, trying to keep his tone calm and polite.
"Apologies, I was held up in the Headmistress's office."
The professor, visibly annoyed, dropped the hazing attempt as soon as Amos mentioned the headmistress.
"Tsk. Sit down. You won't be so lucky next time."
Amos sat beside Stellar.
"I really have a knack for drawing attention," he thought, slightly annoyed.
Then a familiar voice called out to his right. He turned and saw Anna, sitting next to him.
"Looks like we're in the same class."
Surprised, he answered with a smile.
"Yeah… was I that late?"
Anna sighed.
"Nah. He just wanted to mess with you. Class hasn't even started."
The teacher clapped loudly, silencing the class as the sound echoed through the room.
"Alright, let's begin. I'm your Energy Practice teacher, Edward Sting. I'll be handling this course for the year."
He walked slowly, his path tracing circles as he spoke.
"I'm a War user and also an A-rank Hunter."
Murmurs spread among the students.
"An A-rank?"
"He must be insanely strong…"
"I wonder how many nests he's cleared."
Amos, unfamiliar with the term "Hunter," turned to Anna.
"What does he mean by A-rank Hunter?"
Anna looked just as confused.
"No idea."
Then Stellar, whom Amos had almost forgotten and Anna hadn't noticed at all, answered in her usual too-calm tone. Her voice sent a chill down their spines.
"Hunters are psychic energy users who clear what are called 'Nests'—areas infested with hostile psychic beasts. Most are found in caves, but special ones appear in structured dungeons. At the end of each Nest resides the Nest Master—the most powerful beast inside. Hunters are classified into seven categories: E, D, C, B, A, S, and SS. The classification depends on the intensity of energy in their core."
Anna and Amos listened carefully. Anna extended her hand toward Stellar.
"Thanks for the explanation. I'm Anna, Grace user."
Stellar shook it politely.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Stellar, Existence user."
Anna's eyes widened as she leaned towards her.
"Existence? So you can control all elements?"
Stellar answered, slightly uncomfortable with Anna's closeness.
"Uh… yes, but—"
The teacher cut in, clearly irritated.
"You three, since you're so chatty, why don't you come here and show us what you're worth?"
Before Amos or Anna could react, Stellar stood up without hesitation. Confident, she walked toward the center.
The teacher smirked, amused.
"Well, if it isn't Stellar Eralith, sister of the former Guardian of Existence."
Gasps filled the room. Anna looked shocked, and Amos understood something.
"So that's where her immense strength comes from… But… if her sister was the previous Guardian of Existence, she must have been killed when the traitors hid on Earth…"
He was right. Stellar clenched her fists at the mention of her sister, but kept her face composed.She stopped a few steps from the teacher, keeping proper duel distance.
"I'm waiting for you."Her voice remained calm, but with a hint of defiance.
The teacher grinned, summoning twin daggers, and rushed at her.Stellar raised her arms and flames encircled him, she used life energy.He spun, creating a gust of wind strong enough to blow the flames out instantly.But Stellar was already behind him, holding a blade formed by War energy.
She attacked.The teacher barely blocked it with a materialized shield.But when the blade struck, Stellar vanished, it was a Grace illusion.
She reappeared behind him, still cloaked by the illusion, already mid-attack.But the teacher grinned, spinning around with a gun in his hand, having swapped it for his dagger.
"Knew you'd try something like that."
He fired.The bullet was unavoidable, and clearly lethal.Stellar's face paled. She had no time to dodge.
But just before it hit her, a shimmering black figure outlined in violet appeared before her—then vanished.Amos stood there, his hand catching the bullet and destroying it.His eyes were pitch black, veins dark around them, a threatening aura radiating through the room.No one dared move.
"I think that's enough, Professor."
His voice was cold and menacing.The teacher stepped back instinctively, overwhelmed.
"How… How can an A-rank Hunter like me feel so small in front of this kid…?"
The professor scoffed.
"Whatever. It wasn't going to hit her anyway. Get back to your seats."
Amos let his energy fade. His eyes returned to normal.
Behind him, Stellar stood, embarrassed, looking down.Amos turned and offered his hand with a warm smile.
"You alright? Can you walk?"
Seeing his face, and remembering how he saved her, Stellar blushed.
"Y-Yes! I'm fine!"
She hurried away, cheeks bright red, heart pounding.
Amos scratched the back of his head, puzzled.
"What's with her? Did I say something wrong?"
He sat back between Anna and Stellar.Anna, still shaken, turned to him.
"What was that? How did you teleport like that?"
"I think it's another aspect of the Void, the void of space, maybe. It lets me move wherever I want. But I'm not sure. It just happened when I saw the bullet coming at Stellar."
Anna frowned.
"Wait, so there are different types of Void?"
Before Amos could answer, Stellar, having calmed down, replied for him.
"There are. Mine is Elemental Void. I can summon fire, water, and air in Void form… but I'm not that good with it yet, not compared to other energy types I used."
Amos nodded in agreement.Anna sank into her seat with a pout.
"I get it. Your powers are both overpoweres"
Amos chuckled. So did Stellar.
Anna, pretending to be annoyed, straightened up dramatically.
"Pff. Let's focus before that grumpy professor loses it again."
The class ended.
The three left the room together but realized they had different classes next.Amos had no idea where he was supposed to go.
"Hey, uh… do either of you know where I can get my schedule?"
Stellar answered:
"They usually give it to you at registration."
Anna added, "Since we were registered by Leah's parents, the schedules were given to her, and she passed them to all of us… except you, I guess. She must've forgotten."
Amos sighed.
"Great. I'll go find her. See you two later."
Anna waved.
"Later!"
Stellar looked down, watching him leave from the corner of her eye, cheeks slightly pink.Anna noticed and nudged her with her elbow.
"Am I dreaming, or are you falling for the dark knight?"
Stellar flinched, flustered.
"N-No! Not at all! He's just… different from the others."
Anna smirked.
"Guess that whole mysterious vibe works."
Stellar, voice soft and hesitant, murmured:
"…Maybe…"
Anna's eyes widened in surprise at the confession.Stellar already seemed to regret it.
Amos walked through the academy halls, hoping to find Leah.The corridors were packed with students heading to their next class.
"It's going to be hard to find her in this crowd."
Then he spotted her.But she wasn't alone, three boys were surrounding her, clearly nobles.
"Don't be shy. Come with me," the leader said, pinning her to the wall.
Leah looked away, voice shaking.
"Please… I already said no. Stop…"
Amos, enraged, approached.
"Don't worry, princess. We'll treat you real nice," the noble sneered.
But before Amos could step in, Leah acted.
"I warned you," she muttered.
She snapped her fingers—his hair caught fire.The noble panicked and ran, shouting to his friends.
"What are you waiting for?! Put it out!"
They dragged him away toward the bathrooms.
"You'll regret this, stupid witch!"
Amos arrived, an amused grin on his face.
"Looks like the princess knows how to fight."
Leah turned to him, a bit arrogant.
"Impressive, huh?"
End of Chapter 15