Shion Lan heard Shi Yun Lan calling him, so he shifted his consciousness to the Vein Domain and found him there.
"What is it this time?!" Shion asked.
Shi Yun Lan replied seriously, "We've landed ourselves in quite a lot of trouble."
Shion was stunned by that statement, but Shi Yun Lan continued without giving him time to speak.
"A lot of mistakes happened because of me—but they were necessary for our survival."
"What is it? Get to the point!"
Shi Yun Lan closed his eyes.
"My existence has been exposed."
"…."
Shion froze. Shi Yun Lan was his greatest secret—something that must never come to light.
Seeing the worry on Shion's face, Shi Yun Lan said, "I have a solution. But you need to understand a few things first."
"Then tell me!"
"Deny knowing me."
"How?! They clearly saw that energy coming from my body!"
"Don't worry. The one who will defend you is that old Transcendent-Level man."
Shion blinked in shock.
"The old man? You mean the academy director?!"
"Is there anyone else?" Shi Yun Lan said casually.
Shion asked, "How did the director find out about us?"
"Because I used my art and stopped him from advancing at that time. You were inside the Recorded Past and unconscious. Since I was the only one controlling your body, I blocked him. I doubt he would've given us time to explain."
He continued, "They'll ask you about the Radiant Star. The years Shiu Won Lan mentioned don't match the current era. I have something that will align with that. Just follow my instructions."
Shion fell silent before saying, "What about telling me everything you've done?"
Shi Yun Lan did not object.
"As for Shiu Won Lan… my future versions in the veins told me he was my beloved and only disciple. He also practiced the Art of Stars."
Shion was shocked.
"Did you make me use the Art of Stars when I refused to learn the Art of Annihilation?!"
"Of course not!" Shi Yun Lan denied firmly. "Even I was surprised you learned that art. And you two don't use the same path. He was the Black Star; you are the Stellar Summet. He sought intimidation—you seek security. His techniques rely on suppression; yours rely on achievement. There is no resemblance between you."
Shion recalled Shiu Won Lan's techniques—they truly bore no similarity.
He asked with doubts,
"What happened to him? I don't think you intended to raise someone like that."
Shi Yun Lan's gaze darkened.
"He was corrupted by a Transcendent-Level evil spirit. Through it, he learned about Transcendent-tier artifacts and caused all this chaos."
Shion asked, "How did I defeat him? At most, I can face Fourth Level. The Crows was an exception since it was a beast, and I knew everything about it."
Shi Yun Lan replied, "(Death of Stars). That forbidden technique we created was the reason. I resonate with the number of stars you possess. I unleashed it on Shiu Won Lan—not on you. Since he was in the body at the time, I could target only him."
Shion then asked another question.
"Why was Shiu Won Lan so terrified of you? No matter how dreadful your art is, no one fears someone that much from a mere encounter."
Shi Yun Lan answered calmly:
"Because I neither let him die nor let him live. I severed his limbs. I threw his right arm into a toxic abyss, his left into an active volcano. His right leg into a frozen wasteland, and pierced his left with countless needles. With spells, I made him feel every bit of that pain in his brain—while his torso and head were elsewhere, facing thousands of vengeful spirits tormenting him."
Shion was horrified.
"What did he do to deserve that?!"
"He slaughtered an entire kingdom."
"…."
Seeing Shi Yun Lan unwilling to elaborate, Shion changed the topic. They discussed many matters. Shi Yun Lan answered only what Shion needed to know and gave him an escape plan if things worsen.
After a long conversation, Shion opened his eyes.
Two familiar faces greeted him.
"Baro Ferrer? Fiore Tai?"
"How are you, sir?!"
"Sir Lan! Are you alright?!"
Their concern was evident.
Shion looked around.
"Where's Sol?"
He didn't find her in the room and thought grumpily,
'Wasn't she the one who brought me on that mission? Won't she at least check on me?'
Baro replied, "She's being investigated at the royal palace."
"What?!"
Shion was shocked.
At that moment, Star Instructor Ryan Shine entered.
"Since you're awake, you'll be summoned to the royal palace as well. In the end, you carried someone who suppressed everyone in that mission. It's a serious matter."
He stepped closer.
"Even if I failed you as a teacher, I won't abandon you now. Is there anything you want to say? Anything that must remain hidden?"
Shion remembered Shi Yun Lan's instructions.
"There's nothing to hide. I'll go once I recover and explain everything to His Majesty."
Ryan studied him carefully—his expression never wavered, contrary to expectation.
"I'm glad you're fine."
He left.
Shion leaned back.
Thinking of the fifteen years of the recorded past,
'I never saw Sol Heart in Solan Neumann's memories as she claimed—only her aunt. Why did she lie?'
Many possibilities ran through his mind and a horrible possibility struck his head,
'Could it be she never tried to remove that curse? Maybe she isn't cursed at all… maybe something else emits that ominous aura. Was she trying to tame that spirit?!'
But he shook his head, "But that can't be true—Solan saved her. And she seemed to know her well. Could they have met in the three years I never saw?"
A headache struck him—this time not because of Shi Yun Lan but because of thinking.
...
The director Tim Ayr was walking in the corridors of the academy but his shape was transparent as he thought, 'My time will go off. I should reach the room'.
He walked until he reached his office and got in but another Tim Ayr was sitting in the office reading a book and uninterested in his clone. The transparent clone moved to the disk as he held a watch and set up it. In the same moment he disappeared so there's only one Tim in the office but he stopped reading and moved to set on the chair of the disk.
"Let's see what happened", as he murdered, the clock hands went backwards and Tim's eye begin to watch everything.
...
After Baro and Fury left, night fell. The sky glittered with stars.
'Now… as planned.'
Shion closed his eyes and released a vast surge of star aura.
The attending doctor sensed it and rushed in, knife in hand.
"You little brat! I don't mind killing you this time! …What are you doing?"
Shion's eyes glowed unusually bright.
He quickly improvised.
"I'm contacting my master through (Stellar Communication). Using the stars, I can reach him. With what happened and the summons ahead, I need information first."
He sat by the window, staring at the stars. The doctor watched closely.
Shion's expression tightened—then the star aura faded.
"I'm sorry for keeping you awake. And thank you for watching over me."
He yawned and fell into deep sleep.
The next day, he completed his treatment. The doctor admired his body once again—not a single scar remained.
Perfect.
Shion returned to his wing, preparing for the next day—when he would stand before King Jord Joul.
A knock sounded.
Opening the door, he found Sol Heart smiling.
"Come in."
His calm demeanor surprised her.
"How are you, Shion? I'm sorry I couldn't visit. The King and the Griffon Family head were interrogating me."
Shion asked directly,
"When did you meet Solan?"
She didn't expect that question—but answered without hesitation.
"When I was sixteen. I wasn't with her before."
"There must be a reason."
"My aunt was Solan's wet nurse. We were from the same village. But I never dared approach her—she was a future family head, and I was common-born. My curse is real. I tried to remove it and met Solan after that incident. Do you want to know more about it?"
Shion shook his head.
"If talking about it hurts you, I'd rather not hear it."
Sol bowed gratefully, eyes misty.
"Thank you, Shi— I mean, Lord Lan."
But Shion thought neutrally,
'I'll learn more later. I don't fully trust her anymore.'
Suddenly Sol asked eagerly,
"But did you see her?"
"See who?"
"Solan Neumann! I've heard about her beauty when she was alive. I only saw her spirit—but you were with her and saw her true appearance. What did she look like?!"
Fifteen years of memories flashed through Shion's mind—from birth to the end of the Recorded Past.
'Solan had been breathtakingly beautiful—even compared to the women of Shi Yun Lan's world.'
Without realizing it, Shion smiled softly.
"Pure beauty. If not for vengeance, she would've remained gentle… perhaps playing among the natural spirits as she used to."
"Was she truly that beautiful?!"
Before he could answer, Kin Light and Glass Sano arrived, having come to check on him.
"Shion, how are you now?"
"Still alive?"
Both of them spoke in the same time, they were injured in the fight but they looked full recovered.
They too had heard about Solan.
Glass asked, "So, I heard you have met Solan Neumann. Tell us how she was."
Kin added, "She cared about you the most. Though you are the one who saved her, but I smell some special treatment for you. Won't you tell us?!" A wide smile spread on his face.
"..."
Shion thought,
'Didn't you come to check on me? How did you end up eavesdropping?'
He welcomed them anyway, then said dreamily,
"In the midst of death, life was born. From corruption came purity. While everyone's eyes were ghostly and cold with blue glow, hers held the beauty of azure skies and the charm of green meadows. The horizon and earth met within her eyes—radiating calm and peace. Her white silk-like hair never tangled. Her skin was soft and tender like a child's innocence. Red cherry lips, small and delicate. A round face like a bright moon in the night. A white dress wrapped around her, and spirits played around her without fear."
Kin and Glass were stunned.
"I didn't expect you to be so literaturist," Glass said.
Shion changed the subject.
"Were you summoned as well?"
"Yes," Kin replied. "We're witnesses. But don't worry. I think things will be fine for you."
Glass nodded.
After chatting, they left. Once Sol Hart departed, Kin asked Lily quietly,
"Did you see anything?"
"No. That person is gone."
Glass asked Yossi Sano about Shiu Won Lan.
Yossi replied the same:
"That bastard is completely finished."