The next morning, Solan Neumann reached the room and thought,
' It was tense last night, I hope everything is good today. '
But at the moment she got in, she noticed the atmosphere within the team was tense and heavy. Violet Night maintained her usual calm expression, but for some reason, a gloomy aura surrounded her. Princess Jina Joul was extremely nervous—wanting to say something, yet unable to meet the eyes of either Violet or Shion Lan. As for Shion, he seemed distant, lost in deep thought.
When Solan noticed the shift in mood, she approached Shion.
"What's going on? Why is the atmosphere so cold?"
Shion replied,
"First, we need to fix the relationship between Violet and the Second Princess. And we'll also need a plan to begin the investigation… but I haven't reached a conclusion yet."
Violet let out a quiet breath and said,
"Shion, what should we do?"
Shion answered calmly,
"Do whatever you want, Lady Night—you're the team leader. But as for me, I won't stop… and I won't drag the Night family into this." He said that indifferently as the internal motions didn't act but the glow within his eyes said another story of the will and insistence.
Violet closed her eyes briefly feeling of safety beside Shion before saying,
"Fine. I'll hand over leadership of the team to you. Let's see the result you're aiming for."
Shion thought for a moment, then said,
"I think I have an idea… but it will be somewhat dangerous."
"How dangerous is it?.."
Solan asked as the worry appeared on her face but Shion reassured her,
"It's not about safety but it's about the relationships between the the noble families."
On the moment she heard that there's no danger on his life, Solan got relieved.
The girls immediately focused on him as he began explaining.
...
Inside her office, Kedna Kito was reviewing student reports alongside an academy instructor assigned to evaluation.
"Thank you for coming to our humble province," Kedna said. "But why didn't—"
The instructor cut her off,
"Lady Kito, the request to summon another instructor wasn't approved by the headmaster. I'm here as a replacement for another instructor, so let's proceed."
Kedna smiled faintly, then pointed to a document.
"Tell me, instructor… what do you think of Shion Lan?"
The instructor stopped looking at the files and got another one. He looked at Violet's team report and recalled the headmaster's words:
"Keep an eye on Shion. Protect him no matter what."
He didn't understand the meaning behind it, but replied,
"Based on the reports, his team is like the others—no real progress yet."
Kedna tilted her head slightly.
"I meant his personality."
The instructor shook his head.
"I don't know much about him. But the Star Instructor Ryan Shine has taken him as a personal student."
Kedna fell into thought.
' Ryan Shine… the one who left the family due to so-called 'unethical disagreements'… perhaps this boy is similar to him. '
Suddenly, a loud voice echoed from outside grabbing her attention,
"What do you mean?! Why won't you believe me?!"
Everyone stepped out to see what was happening.
Shion was arguing fiercely with Violet.
"Stop your nonsense, Lord Lan!" Violet snapped. "Just focus on finding the kidnapper!"
"So I'm supposed to follow this stupidity?!" Shion shot back angrily.
Jina stepped in,
"Shion! You've been recognized for your achievements, but this has gone too far!"
At that moment, Solan arrived as if unaware of the situation.
"What's going on?!"
Naturally, she stood beside Shion.
Violet said sharply,
"Why don't you tell her what you said earlier, Shion?"
After confirming everyone had gathered, Shion spoke in a cold tone,
"I suspect a forbidden ritual is involved… and we need to find who's controlling the kidnapper."
The group subtly observed everyone's reactions.
At the same time, Solan's spirits spread quietly across the area, monitoring everyone—this was their plan to expose those involved.
Shion was acting as the bait.
Some dismissed it.
Some mocked it.
Others didn't care.
But a few faces—especially Kedna—showed clear shock and unease.
Shion smiled coldly inwardly, though his face remained serious.
Solan added,
"But Shion… aren't you exaggerating? The royal investigators would've discovered something like this."
At that moment, an outsider interrupted—
Shun Ranus.
"Don't overestimate him, ladies. This boy has always been chasing fame—even if it's built on lies…"
The girls looked at him with disgust.
Violet released a dark aura.
"This concerns my team. Who do you think you are, sticking your nose into it?"
Shun fell silent.
Jina added coldly,
"If my brother allows you to interfere in his affairs without respect, that's your issue—not ours. Stay out of it."
Solan followed bluntly,
"No one asked for your opinion. Why are you still standing here?"
Shun's gaze shifted toward Solan—she was the only commoner, making her an easy target.
"Little filthy ####! Who do you think you are?!! Talking to me like that?! I will —"
But Shion stepped forward, his voice icy,
"Shun… cross the line, and my sword won't recognize you."
He drew his new blade slightly, then added casually,
"Well, it's new… so it really doesn't know you."
At that moment, Kedna's voice rang out,
"Lord Lan! I don't care what's happening, but do not create a scene here—or it will affect your grades!"
Solan discreetly signaled Violet.
Violet smiled faintly and approached Shion.
"Shion… let it go. I won't act like this anymore."
Shion exhaled coldly.
"I don't care. I'll investigate alone—and prove that whoever handled this case is a complete idiot."
Without another word, he left the palace.
Jina thought quickly,
' Sol will monitor with her spirits… Violet will follow Shion… and I'll keep an eye on Kedna while pretending to review the case… '
The team split up.
The instructor watched silently.
' Well… this is about to get interesting. '
"I'll report this to the headmaster," he said. "Would you like to send a message?"
Kedna nodded.
"I hope it arrives safely."
Once outside, the instructor murmured,
"Ryan… your student is quite something." As he didn't know anything about Shion, he thought he was Ryan's student.
He took a step—
"(Shadow Step)"
—and vanished into the shadows.
...
Meanwhile, Shion wandered through the streets, gathering rumors while waiting.
His investigation was so thorough that even Violet, watching from afar, muttered,
"He's going too deep into this…"
Suddenly—movement.
Both of them sensed it.
Shion dashed through side streets and alleys until he reached an empty area.
"Come out," he said coldly.
A masked man appeared, drawing a blade.
"So… someone figured it out and wants to reach my lady."
He had brown hair and green eyes—just like Mel Tri.
Shion smirked.
"And how did you know I was searching for your 'lady'?"
"You should've hidden your questions better," the man replied. "That's how I found you so quickly."
Shion feigned confusion.
"Which part gave me away?"
The man hesitated—then snapped,
"You shouldn't have believed those rumors!"
He lunged forward using a sword technique.
Shion dodged easily.
"That's strange," he said. "I never mentioned rumors. So how did you know?"
Realizing his mistake, the attacker tried to finish things quickly.
"You have to die!!"
Shion smiled faintly.
"Your acting is so vulgar. I think I'll subdue you… before we sit down for tea."
At that moment, a warning came from within.
Shi Yun Lan,
"There's another observer."
"Enemy?" Shion asked.
"No. Same energy as that girl… darkness attribute."
Shion thought briefly.
' Night family… I shouldn't act rashly. '
He concentrated his sensations as he saw the man rushing to him so he activated his technique—
"(Stellar Summet Art: Path of Stellar River)
His body split between fire and water energy, infused with stellar aura. The right hand had the fire and the left had the water grabbing the the sword handle so the the two elements ran through the sword. His blade flowed like a river, the sharp edge got heated with flames.
The technique was made to use every weak spot and get through it like the water that never stops and the slashes to attack and weaken the other styles of fights.
The attacker swung his sword filled with the aura of the weapon to cut his chest but the body of the sword of Shion blocked the attack effortlessly as if something fell on the water making the attack weak. Shion moved the sword horizontally with sparks of the flames pushing the attacker away who looked at Shion with disbelief as he was like Mel Tri, five halo stars but reached the fourth level.
But he tried to cut his head to be blocked again followed by a counterattack.
Shion didn't stop and advanced again with silver aura around as an eternal stellar river that wouldn't stop till it swallows his target.
"No... No way!!"
Attack after attack, technique after technique but Shion recieving every one quietly and reacted so violently.
The attacker's techniques were crushed effortlessly.
He realized he stood no chance—and tried to retreat.
But then—
A female voice cut in,
"Where do you think you're going?"
Violet entered the fight.
Her whip lashed out—
"(Dark Binding Rope)"
The attacker was restrained instantly.
"Shion! It was so beautiful before! What is this?!!", Violet couldn't hold her admiration but the attacker realised he was manipulated.
He stared in shock.
Shion said ignoring her,
"Violet, someone with your energy is watching us."
She froze.
Shion noticed that so he made the man lise his consciousness and approached her,
"Do you know the one who's observing us?"
Violet nodded,
"…Uncle Asin Night!"
Shion looked at her and thought of the corrupted branch of the Night family.
"He's a Star Instructor—like Ryan Shine," she explained quickly. "He must be overseeing the exam."
Shion asked seriously,
"Is he connected to the corruption branch of your family?"
Violet hesitated.
"…Yes. But he's not involved in their actions."
"Whose son is he?"
She lowered her voice.
"…The eldest son of the head of that branch."
Shion closed his eyes briefly, then said,
"We interrogate the kidnapper… and kill him, just as he intended to do. And you won't tell the instructor what we're doing. Understood?"
"Ok!..oh??....What?!!"