Several hours later, the four students finally arrived at the Central Academy.
The heavy gates opened, and teachers rushed toward them at once.
“Where were you?” “What happened?” “Why are you all injured?” Kael raised a hand.
“Everyone, calm down.” The director himself soon appeared, his expression turning serious the moment he saw the students.
“You’re finally back.” Raizen met his eyes.
“The mission is complete.” The director studied them one by one.
Selene.
Darian.
Kael.
Then Raizen — his gaze lingering there for several seconds.
“You encountered something unexpected.” Raizen nodded.
“A powerful swordsman was waiting for us.” The director’s expression shifted.
“A swordsman?” Kael stepped forward.
“He was extremely strong.” Darian nodded.
“We couldn’t defeat him individually.” “Even the three of us had difficulty,” Selene added.
The director’s gaze settled on Raizen.
“And you?” Raizen was quiet for a moment.
“I helped Kael.” Kael grinned.
“He’s telling the truth.” The director nodded slowly.
“You all performed well.” He looked over the three students.
“The Elite Trio.” Then his eyes returned to Raizen.
“And you, Raizen…” Raizen held his gaze.
“You have improved considerably.” “Thank you, Director.” The director’s mouth curved into a smile.
“You should all be proud.” The students said nothing, and for a brief moment, everything felt peaceful.
The mission was over.
They had returned home.
But Raizen knew that something had changed.
He glanced down at his hand — he could still feel the swordsmanship he had copied, already woven into him.
And he knew this would not be the last ability he would take for his own.
Several Days Later Life slowly returned to normal at the academy.
Classes resumed.
Students trained.
Teachers continued their lessons.
Raizen kept practicing, but his training had changed — he no longer focused only on his shadow.
Every day, every night, he ran through the movements he had copied from the swordsman, and his technique improved rapidly.
Kaira noticed.
“You’re getting much better with that sword.” “I’ve been practicing,” Raizen said.
Zayden smiled.
“You’re becoming stronger.” “That’s the goal,” Raizen said, glancing toward the academy.
“Then we’ll become stronger too,” Kaira said, smiling.
Raizen didn’t answer.
He tipped his head back toward the sky, his expression drifting somewhere distant.
He didn’t know what the future held.
But he knew one thing: he would never return to the weakness of his past.
Five Years Later Time passed.
Five years went by, and the young students of the Central Academy slowly became warriors.
The children who had once entered the academy with dreams became powerful mages.
Raizen kept training.
Kaira kept fighting beside him.
Zayden kept following him.
The academy itself kept changing — new students arrived, new teachers appeared, new generations began their own stories.
And among those who had once been students, four names eventually became known throughout Étheria.
The Great Mages.
At only twenty years old, Raizen had become one of them.
Kael, Darian, and Selene had reached the same legendary rank — all four had attained a level few could even imagine.
Raizen had gained power.
He had gained knowledge.
He had gained abilities.
And somewhere deep inside him, a darkness was beginning to grow.
Raizen stood alone beneath the night sky, his shadow stretched long across the ground.
He studied it for a moment.
Then a faint smile crossed his face.
“I’m still not strong enough.” The shadow moved.
Raizen turned away.
He didn’t know it yet — but the peaceful days of his youth were coming to an end, and the world of Étheria was about to change forever.
To Be Continued…
— Kurotsuki