— Return to the Academy
The teleportation gate hummed faintly, its runes glowing as the last groups of students disappeared into light. Their chatter faded, leaving only silence and the lingering scent of mana in the air.
Now, only they remained — Aria, Ruby, Marcus, Lucas, Kaelith, Sylphie, Ryan, and Eren — along with Irene and Veronica. They waited near the gate, eyes searching the tree line.
Aria's foot tapped impatiently. "He better not think he can just disappear—"
Before she could finish, a figure emerged from between the trees.
It was Nex. His white curls caught the morning sun, his golden eye gleaming faintly beneath the shadow of his headphones. He had changed into a clean academy uniform, neat and unmarked, as if the blood and torn flesh of last night had never existed. His steps were light, steady — too steady for someone who had stood against a monster none of them dared to face.
The group fell silent.
Lucas, usually the first to shout, simply let out a relieved laugh. "Finally! Thought you were gonna make us drag you back."
Marcus's sharp eyes lingered on Nex's face — on the golden eye — but he said nothing.
Ruby's hand flexed at her side, torn between asking and holding her tongue. She had seen warriors return broken, but Nex's smile looked… untouched, almost unshaken.
Sylphie lowered her gaze, whispering softly, "He looks… different."
Ryan, innocent as always, broke the silence with a cheerful grin. "Told you Nex is good! See? He came back."
Nex stopped before them, his smile polite, almost gentle. He gave a small nod — a quiet acknowledgment of their concern — and said only:
"Sorry. Kept you waiting."
Veronica's blue eyes flickered briefly, studying him as if she could peel away the mask he wore, but she didn't press. Irene's expression softened just a little, though she too refrained from asking. Both teachers understood the weight of silence.
The golden eye caught the morning light, brighter than it should have been, and for a heartbeat, none of them could look away.
Then Irene gestured toward the gate. "Let's go. The Academy awaits."
And together, they stepped into the glow — but every heart carried the same unspoken thought: What happened to Nex Calder in Verdant's Expanse?
________________________________________
Return to Nova Academy
The teleportation gate flared once more, and the world shifted.
In an instant, the charred forests of Verdant were gone — replaced by gleaming white marble floors, silver panels of reinforced mana-steel, and the faint hum of arcane circuits lining the walls. Nova Academy's teleportation hall stretched high above them, crystalline domes letting in rays of filtered morning light. The scent of clean air and sterilized wards replaced the metallic tang of blood and ash.
Students who had returned earlier were already lined up along the polished corridor, medical drones hovering as healers and professors examined each of them for hidden injuries or mana scarring. Despite the Academy's modern equipment, the atmosphere was tense. Too many faces were pale, too many uniforms stained.
And at the end of the hall stood Vice Principal Orien.
His dark robes carried faint patterns of mana circuitry, marking him as both scholar and mage, but his eyes carried none of his usual stern sharpness. As Irene, Veronica, and the last group emerged, Orien stepped forward — and bowed.
A ripple of shock moved through the students. The Vice Principal of Nova Academy, bowing to them.
"I owe you an apology," Orien said, voice steady but low. "For sending you into Verdant without foreseeing the scale of this threat… and for the lives that were lost under my watch."
Even the proudest students couldn't find words. The memory of seven A-rank guards falling still weighed heavy.
Aria's hand clenched at her side. Lucas's usual smile faltered. Ruby looked down, guilt flashing in her eyes. Kaelith and Marcus exchanged quiet glances.
Only Nex stood calm, his golden eye reflecting the bright crystal lights above.
Orien straightened, his gaze sweeping over them, then pausing ever so slightly on Nex before moving on. "The Academy will not let this pass as if it were nothing. Investigations will be carried out. Until then, your priority is recovery."
He turned to Irene and Veronica, his expression softening just slightly. "I'm grateful for both of you."
The teleportation hall was silent except for the faint hum of machinery, every student lost in their own thoughts.
Nex, standing at the back, adjusted his headphones, his lips curling into the faintest smile as if nothing could break him. But behind that golden eye, a memory lingered — of small hands reaching for him, of laughter fading into light, of a ribbon tied around his wrist.
And he walked forward with the others, blending into the pristine halls of Nova as though Verdant's horrors had never t
Vice Principal Orien's gaze swept across the gathered students, the hum of mana conduits around the hall echoing his words.
"I know that no apology can erase what happened in Verdant," he said, his tone carrying both authority and quiet regret. "But Nova Academy will not let despair linger on the hearts of its students. In two days, the First-Year Enrollment Ceremony will be held as planned — with greater grandeur than ever before."
Whispers broke out instantly. The Enrollment Ceremony.
It wasn't just a formality. In Nova Academy, it was the greatest celebration for new students — a declaration of their entry into the ranks of mages and warriors. Unlike ranking tests, the ceremony wasn't about titles or hierarchy. It was a celebration of survival, unity, and the promise of the future. Second-years and professors would also attend, along with representatives from the academy council.
Orien's lips softened into a rare smile.
"This time, we will honor not just your enrollment, but your courage. The ceremony will stand as both remembrance and hope."
The hall shifted. Heavy silence gave way to murmurs of excitement. Some students clenched their fists in determination, others smiled in relief at the thought of celebration. Even those with shadows in their eyes felt a flicker of anticipation.
---
Rankers' Dorm (First-Year Gathering)
Later that evening, the Rankers' Dorm pulsed with life. Unlike the neat order of normal dorms, this one had its own vibrancy: crystal lights flickering against sleek black walls, floating mana orbs casting playful shadows, and couches arranged in a circle where students could gather like family.
Lucas's room had become the heart of it tonight.
The cheerful boy had thrown his door open without hesitation, calling everyone in. His energy never seemed to wane, and as the others arrived, laughter began to replace the lingering memories of Verdant.
Sylphie was the first to rush forward — her blonde hair catching the artificial glow as she practically tackled Lucas in a hug.
"You heard Vice Principal Orien, right?! The ceremony's going to be huge!" she exclaimed, her eyes shining.
Lucas laughed, rubbing the back of his neck as if embarrassed by the sudden hug. "I know, I know! Calm down, Sylphie—you're gonna squeeze me to death!"
Ruby and Marcus entered next, taking seats together on the left couch. Ruby, with her usual fiery presence, leaned back with her arms crossed, though her lips curved into a rare smile. Marcus, darker and quieter, simply rested his chin on his hand, watching the room with a contemplative look.
Aria strode in, her crimson hair glinting faintly. She sat near Ruby but remained oddly silent, her gaze drifting toward Sylphie and Lucas with a faint shadow crossing her eyes.
Kaelith slipped in after, his composed demeanor intact, though his eyes flicked around the lively group as if measuring the atmosphere before taking a seat opposite Marcus.
And then Ryan entered.
The chatter softened for just a moment when the boy stepped in, his simple steps and absentminded expression carrying an innocence that felt almost out of place in Nova's sharpened halls. His presence wasn't loud, but it was genuine. He made his way to the circle, and when Lucas waved him over, Ryan smiled quietly and sat among them.
The dorm filled with warmth.
Conversations overlapped — Sylphie bubbling about how the academy's entire auditorium would be decorated with banners, Lucas swearing he'd sneak some snacks from the dining hall, Ruby rolling her eyes at the idea, and Marcus dryly pointing out that Lucas would be caught instantly.
Ryan listened more than he spoke, but when the topic turned toward Nex — the golden-eyed boy who hadn't come to the dorm — he lifted his head.
"Nex ," Ryan said simply, his words cutting through the noise. His expression was unguarded, innocent, almost childlike in its sincerity. "He's… our friend."
For a moment, nobody knew what to say.
Kaelith glanced away, thoughtful. Ruby's jaw softened. Lucas's cheerful grin dimmed into something more serious. Sylphie held Lucas's sleeve a little tighter. Aria looked down, her expression unreadable.
And yet, one by one, they nodded.
They didn't know where Nex had been in Verdant. They didn't know why his eye now gleamed golden, or how he returned bloodied yet unbroken. But Ryan's simple truth was enough to remind them: he was theirs.