Shion left the academy, his mind heavy with questions. The only answer he had been given was: "The order came from the high officials."
That alone was far from enough to settle his thoughts. He walked slowly, lost in thought. "Who would allow someone like me to advance without even taking the exam? Director Tim, the Time Mage, a man of nine circles… he's known for being strict. There's no way he would overlook something like this."
He recalled what he knew of time magic, and thanks to his memories of Shi Yun Lan's world, he understood its depth. "Director Tim can exist in any moment, at any time. Nothing escapes him. If he turned a blind eye, it must be for reasons of his own… but then, who made this happen?"
Then another possibility struck him: "Maybe it's not about me at all. Maybe it's about someone else. If I'm right… it must be the work of the First Prince!"
The First Prince and the Second Princess were locked in a struggle for the position of crown heir. If the prince could paint his sister as unworthy of the throne, his support would only grow. Yet the thought wasn't fully convincing; after all, the princess had already acted against Shion in the past, when he was still despicable. After much reflection, he found no solid reason, so he chose to let the matter rest.
When he returned home, his mother, Lindy, and Sol were preparing dinner. He entered with a smile and declared:
– "I've made it to the second year! We can celebrate!"
They were surprised by his early return, but Shion's attention quickly shifted to Sol. He noticed something odd about her face—as if part of her cheek was melting away. Concerned, he asked:
– "Your face… isn't it… melting?"
Startled, Sol quickly covered her cheek, embarrassed.
– "It's just some makeup. Don't think too much about it."
But Shion wasn't convinced. Before being cast out of his family, he had gained plenty of experience with cosmetics, and he knew this was no ordinary makeup. Still, since Sol didn't want to speak, he chose silence.
Later, after he left, Lindy sat beside Sol and asked seriously:
– "Do you think he can reach the old palace without being harmed?"
Sol lowered her eyes.
– "I don't know… but he endured the ominous aura that leaks from me. He even noticed when my face nearly dissolved."
Her cheeks flushed with shame at the memory, but Lindy pressed on:
– "Then we must add this to the academy's tasks. Keep him close, so he doesn't sense anything wrong. We can't waste time."
Sol's voice grew heavy.
– "I only… feel pity for him."
But Lindy's tone sharpened.
– "If we don't act quickly, we may lose our lives by year's end… all because of your mother."
The kitchen was filled with the aroma of fresh bread and spices mingling with the warmth of simmering stew. Tiny tongues of flame danced beneath the copper pots, their glow reflecting on the family's faces and casting a touch of comfort and serenity over the room. The house felt like a small island of peace in the vast sea of secrets and schemes that surrounded Shion from every side. And yet, there was still a faint glimmer of unease in his eyes, as though he could not allow himself to fully enjoy even a single quiet moment.
Meanwhile, within the royal palace, the First Prince, Jaiden Joul, sat behind his desk, a report on Shion in his hand. His golden hair gleamed in the candlelight as his blue eyes narrowed. He tapped his finger on the desk, muttering:
– "The boy realized he's being watched… so he stopped practicing the Star King and settled for useless tricks."
A sly grin curved his lips.
– "I helped him pass the exam, ensured his promotion… and when the time comes, he will owe me."
He knew the director's presence forced him to act cautiously, so he kept his involvement hidden. Yet his mind was already racing with future moves as he paced across the room.
Jaiden Joul sat in his spacious chamber, eyes fixed on the report before him as thoughts churned in his mind. This is my chance… If I can use Shion at the right moment, I'll gain a card no one else holds. Princess Jena tries to play the role of the virtuous heir, but if her support crumbles, I'll be the undisputed successor.
He tapped his fingers against the table in a restless rhythm before rising to pace the room. But I must tread carefully… Headmaster Tim is not easily deceived, and if he learns that I am manipulating the academy's students, he could block my every move. Timing is everything. Shion owes me now, and sooner or later… he'll be forced to pay the price.
And in another distant chamber of the palace, the Second Princess, Jina Joul, flipped through her own reports, her brow furrowed, her heart clouded with confusion. Something unseen was unfolding, and she could sense it.
Even though they were together in the library, not a single fight broke out between Kin and Shion. To Jina, this was beyond strange. The scoundrel who had once tried to approach his fiancée through disgraceful means now showed not a hint of hostility. Questions swirled in her mind: Since when does Shion even go to libraries? Wasn't he nothing more than a worthless brat, doing nothing useful at all? What is this sudden transformation in his character?
Nothing made sense, and Shion Lan became her new source of headaches. What unsettled her more was that he seemed to be backed by her brother—surely it was he who helped him pass the test. Kin's behavior only deepened her confusion. He had always been openly hostile toward Shion, yet now, despite being in the same place, not a single conflict erupted. I need to see this person again… and reassess him properly.
Meanwhile, Shion was supervising Baro's training. The boy had brought his mastery of the Spear of Light technique to a decent level, prompting Shion to say:
"You should sit down and meditate now. Focus on condensing your aura and forming your first star. You've got ten days until the entrance exam."
"Yes, sir."
Shion sighed in exasperation. No matter how much he tried to dissuade him, Baro still insisted on calling him sir. He let it slide and turned back to his own training. For days, he pushed himself to master the Raindrop technique without relying on magic. Five relentless days passed until, at last, he succeeded.
"Finally! Now I just need to form my aura star… then I'll try fusing the Water element with the Star Path."
But before he could sink deeper into thought, a sudden surge of energy caught his attention.
As the aura surged through Baro's body, it felt as if his very blood had caught fire. Pure energy gathered within his chest, condensing into a single point, glowing brighter and brighter until it shone like a tiny jewel. In that instant, it was as though the entire cosmos was breathing with him, every movement of his spear resonating with the stars above.
A silent light burst from within, unseen by eyes yet felt by every cell of his body, and then it solidified, declaring the birth of his first star. Baro trembled—not from exhaustion, but from the intoxicating ecstasy of crossing a threshold he had never touched before.
Shion turned and saw Baro, who had successfully formed his first star through the Light Spear technique. Shion walked over, smiling faintly.
"Congratulations on your first star. With training, this technique alone can carry you to three stars. Don't worry—if I come across better techniques, I'll pass them to you."
Baro bowed deeply, gratitude shining in his eyes. Shion continued:
"From tomorrow until the exam, you'll spar with me every day. I need to sharpen your combat skills, so prepare yourself."
"Yes, sir!"
That night, Shion sat by the river in quiet reflection and whispered "This boy is truly gifted. He managed to form his first star before me… though I can comfort myself with having a stronger circle."
His repeated visits to the library had also paid off. He discovered that each magic circle added a unique property or law to one's spells, and that some rare circles could even cast spells of higher tiers. Such circles were difficult to develop further, but Shion found them perfectly suited to him. Whispering a few words, he conjured a Water Bomb using only his first circle, without any aura at all. Satisfaction washed over him as he closed his eyes again.
In the days that followed, he trained Baro mercilessly. His voice thundered across the field:
"That thrust is pathetic—again!"
"Is this how you wield a spear? Then smash your head against that tree instead!"
Baro gave it his all, but no matter what he tried, Shion crushed him in every duel. He fought without magic, without even a star of his own, and yet he overwhelmed him. Instead of discouraging him, Baro's admiration for his master only grew.
Every strike of his spear was effortlessly countered by Shion's simple movements, crushing his attacks before they could even land. Sweat poured down his face, his breath came in ragged gasps, and every muscle in his body screamed with pain—yet the light in his eyes refused to fade. Why… why can't I catch up to him? He gave me the technique, taught me the basics, and still he overwhelms me so easily…
For a fleeting moment, Baro felt all his effort collapsing, convinced he would never pass the admission test. But deep within his frustration, another feeling took root: a profound awe toward his teacher, and a burning desire to grow stronger, no matter how many years of hardship it would take.
Finally, on the eve of the exam, Shion called an end to the training.
"Today you rest. Clear your mind for tomorrow. There are only ten spots available, and you must claim one of them. It sounds simple, but in truth, it will be brutal. So rest well—tomorrow is your battlefield."
"Yes, sir!"
As Baro was about to leave, he hesitated before asking:
"Um… sir, would you come tomorrow to watch my exam?"
The request surprised Shion, but he quickly realized—he was already Baro's teacher. He nodded in acceptance, which lit up the boy's face with joy. Alone again by the riverside, Shion stared at the training ground they had carved out together. The scars of every strike remained etched into trees and earth alike. I've been harsh on him, maybe because of my memories with Shi Yun Lan. But he's grown stronger because of it. Tomorrow will be his moment.
Closing his eyes, he focused inward. Aura flowed fiercely through every corner of his body, flooding into his magic circle. He began condensing and compressing the energy, weaving it together with the Raindrop technique. Time passed, until suddenly a burst of power erupted from him. His eyes snapped open.
"Finally… my first star is complete!"