Shrouded in rage, emotion, and towering ego, Cedric unleashes a massive fireball, hurtling it at high speed toward Liam and the three patrol soldiers.
Immediately, the stance is set, Liam's left palm moves forward, forming a transparent shield as a strong barrier when the fireball strikes. The explosion spreads around without touching Liam and the three juniors enclosed within the shield.
Cedric is shocked to see his attack effortlessly blocked. Liam's figure, still staring sharply at him from behind the smoke of the lingering explosion, suddenly vanishes in a flash of light and, in the blink of an eye, is already right in front of Cedric.
Before Cedric can utter a word from the sheer shock, Liam's right palm strikes his chest with great force, hurling Cedric far backward until his back slams hard against a large tree.
"Aagh!"
Cedric collapses to the ground, coughing and gasping in pain as he endures the agony. Liam, with calm movements, returns to a stable standing position.
The juniors immediately cheer with excitement, as if gaining the energy to rise.
"Feel that!"
"Don't underestimate our senior!"
Cedric tries to stand, his expression filled with astonishment and questions.
"Why can't I see his arrival? Can he teleport or control time?"
Liam steps toward Cedric.
"Cedric Dryas, that's your name?"
"Tch!" Cedric replies irritably, still slightly hunched as he clutches his aching chest.
Liam tries to recall, "Hmm, Dryas isn't a noble family name, which means you're a commoner …."
"Spout whatever you want!" Cedric snaps heatedly.
"… with an extraordinary power of fire," Liam continues. "I'm praising you."
Cedric falls silent in frustration.
"What's your problem with the Grand Master?" Liam probes further. "I am a disciple trained directly by the Grand Master, so I need to know of any threat against my teacher."
Cedric averts his gaze. Though irritated, he feels compelled to answer the question of someone who has so easily defeated him.
"He refused to take me as his disciple."
Liam raises his eyebrows, growing more curious. "You've met the Grand Master? There's no way the Grand Master would refuse a talented young man like you as his disciple."
Those words make Cedric fall silent again, as if he has a reason he doesn't wish to reveal.
"Do you want me to help you meet the Grand Master and speak with him directly?"
"Don't do it, senior!" the three patrol juniors immediately object. "He'll use that chance to burn the academy!"
Liam responds calmly, "Not if he's with me. I'll cut off his hands before his flames even appear."
Cedric shudders, a chill running down his spine. He feels the person before him isn't joking with such a threat.
"Tch, don't act like you're being kind. I can handle my own problems!"
"But the trouble you've caused here is reason enough for me to drag you to Carrion Prison."
Anxiety begins to grip Cedric, realizing he won't be allowed to leave so easily. The three patrol juniors cheer over Cedric's fate of ending up in prison. Their childishness always shows when they're with Liam.
But Liam continues his words.
"Unless you accept my offer."
Not only Cedric, but the three juniors also fall silent in curiosity, waiting for Liam's explanation.
"Your power and control over fire are excellent, and you're still young—you have plenty of time to raise it to an even higher level. Whatever the reason the Grand Master refused to take you as his disciple, wouldn't it be a waste to throw away all your talent just to burn the academy and grow old in prison?"
Cedric's face twists in disgust. "What do you care? People like you never understand the suffering of others and can only judge with blind eyes."
"Stop being dramatic—it doesn't suit someone like you, who has surely attacked many innocent people just to satisfy your own ego."
Cedric feels cornered again by Liam's words.
"This is my last offer—think clearly. I need an aide to accompany me on my journey to Argoust. You can take that position. Forget your desire to burn the academy and use your power for something better."
Cedric rises with a face full of suppressed resentment, knowing his abilities mean nothing when faced with Liam. His pride is wounded, for instead of being respected, he is offered a job by the very person who defeated him as easily as turning a hand.
"You just want to make yourself look wise—offering a job to your enemy, trying to lead him onto the right path. Damn it all, that's only for your own satisfaction, isn't it?!"
Once again, Cedric summons his flaming sword.
"I'd rather die defending my pride!!"
"Hah …." Liam sighs in irritation, his patience gone.
BRAAK!
Cedric's face is slammed against a tree, pressed hard by Liam's palm, this time filled with fury. The fire youth groans in pain, struggling helplessly under Liam's crushing grip.
"Where is that pride you wanted to defend? Killing someone like you is just waste of time. Do you really choose to rot in prison with this stubborn head of yours?!"
"Aaaaagh!" Cedric screams in greater pain as Liam's hand presses harder on his head.
The three juniors shudder in fear. "Senior Liam is truly terrifying when he's angry."
Liam releases his hand, and Cedric collapses to the ground, his head dazed.
"No more arguments—if you don't follow my lead, I'll send you to Carrion Prison." Liam's final warning.
Cedric remains curled on the ground, clutching his unsteady head. Seeing the young man's condition, Liam lets out a heavy sigh.
"It would have been better if you were willing to meet the Grand Master directly."
That way, Liam could return to the academy and have the chance to watch Vichel's match. He still wanted to see her. But now he is disappointed, for he must immediately leave, taking the fire-wielding youth away from the academy.
Liam turns to the juniors.
"Consider the matter here settled—there's no need to report anything to the Grand Master. I'll return to Argoust with him."
"Eh, senior is leaving just like that? We were planning to hold a farewell party for you, at least during lunch."
"No need to waste time. I'm only moving places, not moving to another realm—we can still meet again."
"Th-then, Senior Liam …"
At once, the juniors line up neatly and salute Liam.
"Thank you so much for your dedication and guidance all this time, Senior! We are truly grateful and have learned so many things from you!"
Liam smiles gently.
"You are an admirable young generation."
"Don't act old, senior. We're only a year apart."
"Ah, right."
The air around them suddenly ripples with a strange vibration and begins to darken.
Liam and the three juniors immediately take a defensive stance.
"This kind of vibration… it can only be…!"
A blackish-red dimensional portal appears, floating not far from where Liam and the juniors stand.
"A Houl Portal! Why at a time like this?!"
Houl is the name given by the people of Arkha continent to the dark creatures from another dimension that often appear suddenly to attack humans. These creatures emerge through randomly formed portals, and only the elemental powers of mages can destroy both the houl and their portals.
It is said that the houl first appeared after the battle between Demanthes and Y'tzyar, leading the people of Arkha to suspect that houl are beings sent by Demanthes from another dimension.