On the top floor of the academy building, Damian Kade stood on the balcony, overlooking the training arena, now back in use. Below, a group of students was practicing protective magic.
His eyes narrowed slightly. His gaze deepened.
"A lot has changed," he said softly.
Liam appeared shortly after, carrying two cups of hot tea.
He stood beside Damian and handed one to him.
"But we… are still here," Liam said.
Damian accepted the tea and looked at his friend.
He smiled slightly.
And for a moment, amidst all the events, all the changes, all the challenges that awaited, they were just two schoolchildren, still standing together.
Still alive. Still fighting. Still moving forward.
The academy's main hallway was quiet that afternoon. The sound of shoes echoed softly on the stone floor, punctuated by the soft light from the tall windows.
Liam walked quickly, his eyes sweeping around. He was looking for someone, someone he had only heard of for a few weeks, but who had already made a big impression on the students and instructors.
It didn't take long before he spotted him.
A student stood at the end of the hallway. Bright blonde hair, a neat uniform, and a gait far too calm for an ordinary person.
Sylas Vaelthorne.
Liam quickly approached, then stopped at a respectful distance.
"Excuse me... Sylas, do you remember me?" he asked respectfully.
Sylas turned his head, briefly but attentively. "Of course, Liam, we fought together back then."
Liam bowed slightly. "Master Damian wishes to meet you, if you don't mind. I'm sorry, I must use the proper address because you..."
Sylas raised a hand, gently interrupting Liam.
A faint smile appeared on his face. "Just call me Sylas. I'm a student here, not a prince."
Liam was silent for a moment.
Finally, Liam nodded slowly.
"Okay, Sylas."
Damian stood in the academy's backyard, relaxing. The training ground was quiet. From the path, footsteps could be heard approaching.
Sylas Vaelthorne emerged from behind a tree, his hands in his pockets. His gaze was calm, yet sharp. His aura was serene... but clearly not just any student.
He stopped in front of Damian.
"You were looking for me?" he asked curtly.
Damian immediately bowed deeply.
"Thank you."
Sylas raised an eyebrow. "...For what?"
Damian looked up. His eyes were sincere.
"For protecting... my sister," Damian said, pointing behind him.
Liam, who was standing a short distance away, immediately flinched. "Master Damian! I'm not..."
"Shut up, Liam," Damian interrupted, his tone soft but firm. "You're my friend. Not anyone's assistant. In fact, I consider you my family."
Liam opened his mouth for a moment, then closed it. He finally smiled slightly.
Sylas stared at Damian for a moment longer, this time with an unreadable expression.
Finally, he extended his hand.
"I was just doing my job," he said flatly.
Damian shook his hand again.
"Then... let's eat together in the cafeteria."
Sylas shook his head slowly. "Maybe another time. I still have some business to attend to."
Damian nodded with a smile. "Okay. But later, don't forget my invitation."
They parted with a light nod, not as strangers, but not quite friends. There was something familiar... though inexplicable.
Sylas's steps slowly drifted away, while Damian and Liam stood still, staring at the new figure who might be the key to their future.
It was a quiet night on the Zephyrus.
A star-filled sky hung outside the upstairs bedroom window. A gentle night breeze blew, carrying the scent of leaves and a cool breeze.
Damian Kade sat in a chair near his bedroom window, his legs folded across the chair. On his lap, Setsu'ryū was wrapped in a cloth, but it still radiated a faint chill.
He stared up at the sky.
"Sixty percent…" he muttered. "And it feels… only a fraction of what I can do."
He sighed softly. "But… my body isn't strong enough yet. My mana is depleting too quickly. I need to train harder."
Behind him, Liam sat on his own bed. He swirled a small bottle of herbal tea, occasionally glancing at Damian.
"Master Damian… during the holidays, will you come back to Frostvale?"
Damian nodded slowly. "Yes. I… miss you. My family… mom, dad…"
Liam also stared up at the sky from the large window in their bedroom.
"I miss my mom too. And... I miss home. And Kade's family."
Damian turned his head slowly. His gaze was warm.
"Liam... my home is your home too."
There were no more words after that.
Just silence. The atmosphere was calm and comforting after everything that had happened.
The journey to the future was still long.
But for tonight... they felt safe.
Far from Zephyrus Academy, there was a dark, lonely room in an unknown location.
The wooden walls were rough, covered in scratches, strange symbols, and unexplained stains. In the center of the wall, a long knife was stuck through a crumpled newspaper.
The newspaper carried a blurry photo: Damian and his friends standing in front of the Zephyrus school gates. The headline was striking:
"Zephyrus Students Foil Evil Plot – Are They Legend-Level Candidates?"
The dim light from an oil lamp illuminated the bottom of the board. In front of it stood a mysterious figure—his body shrouded in shadow. His face was invisible. But from the darkness, a small smile played at the corner of his lips.
"Velgrin you idiot," he said softly.
His voice was calm. Not angry. But full of disappointment.
"I thought you were stronger than that."
He stepped closer, one hand touching the stuck newspaper.
"I thought... you could be more than just a distraction."
His footsteps echoed softly as he turned, walking toward the narrow window in the corner of the room. Through the gap in the wood, only the dark night could be seen.
And then he said,
"Then... it's our turn." The voice sank into silence.
And this world... was about to enter its next chapter.
Silence fell over the night.
A gentle breeze rustled the leaves along the stone path. The dim moonlight illuminated the trees, which curved into a natural passageway leading to a large, black iron gate.
And there, right in front of the Zephyrus Academy gate, a figure stood still.
His hair was messy, blowing in the wind. His clothes were different, unlike the Zephyrus student uniform or any other royal attire. But what was most striking was his gaze, calm, sharp, as if he knew this place... as if he had waited a long time to arrive here.
He gazed at the majestic building towering in the distance, piercing the night, standing proudly in the center of the valley.
A faint smile appeared on his face. Slowly. Surely.
"Zephyrus... I'm coming."
And then, the night was calm again.
But the world had begun to change.