“Hmm…”
“hhhhhh…”
“oohhhhhh…”
Raven, Thalia, and Emberlyn stared at the rough sketch Aether had drawn. The image depicted a flat surface supported by numerous thrusters and then they looked at the thing before them a towering stone slab entwined with ancient, gnarled roots. The slab appeared to be rotating slowly, its movement almost hypnotic.
Trrrrrr!
Aether had brought them to this site to understand the situation.
“You see,” Aether began, gesturing toward the massive rotating slab, “according to the Dora—ahem Sovereign, I mean—this thing here is connected to the Mother Root. She believes it’s pulling the other empires toward each other because they’re all linked by these roots.”
Raven’s face paled as she absorbed his words. “So… if we don’t do something, it’s only a matter of time before all the empires collide?”
“Exactly,” Aether confirmed, his tone grim. He exhaled softly, brushing a hand through his hair. “That’s why I’m trying to create this design. It’s our best shot at preventing a disaster.”
Emberlyn frowned thoughtfully. “Couldn’t the Sovereign simply sever the roots to stop the connection?”
Aether shook his head. “No. Those roots belong to that bitc—uh, I mean, the Goddess Mother. Even Sovereign doesn’t have the power to cut them.”
Emberlyn nodded slowly, though she cast him a curious glance, unsure if she had misheard the odd slip in his words.
Thalia crossed her arms, her brow furrowed. “And what makes you think this ‘thruster’ thing will work? What if it just drags everything along with it instead?”
Aether’s gaze turned contemplative, the gears in his mind clearly turning… He didn’t think that possibility!
Raven placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, “We won’t know unless we try,” she said softly. “Let’s build it first, observe what happens, and then decide what to do next.”
Aether nodded at her encouragement. Thalia clicked her tongue in frustration but said nothing further. The group turned to scan their surroundings, the strange yet mesmerizing sight of the slab and its roots captivating them.
“Shall we head back?” Aether asked finally, his voice breaking the silence.
The trio nodded, but Raven was the first to leap into his embrace, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck.
Aether chuckled, his gaze shifting to Thalia, who hesitated before begrudgingly hugging him from his right side, her face flushed a deep crimson. Then his eyes fell on Emberlyn, who stood frozen, clearly hesitating.
“There’s no need to hesitate,” Aether said gently, his voice filled with warmth.
Emberlyn’s expression softened, and with a deep breath, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms tentatively around his left side. Aether’s arms closed around them both, holding them securely.
Raven snuggled closer into his chest, her contented sigh filling the air. Meanwhile, both Emberlyn and Thalia blushed furiously, their discomfort palpable yet strangely endearing.
[+4000 AP]
[+6000 AP]
In an instant, they vanished from the site, reappearing back in the Empire’s grand hall.
…..
….
Meanwhile, back at the Academy…
The Principal stood tall, her piercing gaze sweeping over the gathered elite students and their attendants. They stood in neat rows before her, their postures stiff with anticipation.
Her eyes lingered on Jack Sparrow, Kaelen Darkfang, and Nyx Shadowfall—each of them radiating newfound power, their Origin Weapons now awakened.
“Not bad…” she murmured under her breath, though inwardly, she was astounded, ‘Five chosen ones?’ This had never happened in the Academy’s history.
What’s more, She could feel the aura of everyone’s progress—they were nearing level 50, a remarkable feat for students.
‘It was indeed a good idea to take them to the summit’ She nodded inwardly.
Finally, she addressed them, “You’ve all worked hard, and I acknowledge the challenges you’ve faced during this trial. I’ve decided to consider this as your practical exam assessment,” she announced. “You may return home and rest for the next month.”
The students’ faces lit up with relief and joy.
But then the Principal’s lips curled into a mischievous grin. “However…”
The room fell silent, the tension palpable.
“There will be a written test starting tomorrow!”
“Huh?”
“What?! But I haven’t studied at all!”
“I need at least a week of rest! Please!”
The students’ protests echoed through the hall, their voices rising in a chaotic chorus.
The Principal sighed, shaking her head. “Let me finish, you brats!” she snapped, glaring at them until the room quieted. “You can take the written test any time within the next month.”
A collective sigh of relief swept through the students. Many began plotting to take the test toward the end of the month, eager to enjoy their break first.
But the Principal wasn’t finished. Her grin widened, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “However, those who choose to take the test tomorrow… will be rewarded with two months of holiday.”
The hall went completely silent.
And then—
“YAYYYYY!”
Cheers erupted, the students’ excitement filling the air as they scrambled to make plans, their exhaustion momentarily forgotten.
The Principal smiled faintly as she finished addressing the students. As she stepped into the corridor, Delphine appeared, her expression grim.
“They say Victor killed Arkanis Dragonheart and has taken over his empire.”
The Principal stopped in her tracks, blinking in surprise. “Say what?”
Delphine’s face mirrored her own shock. The news had rattled her when she first heard it, and recounting it now felt no less surreal.
The Principal’s lips curled into an amused smirk before her expression turned serious. “An Emperor now, huh?” she murmured before shaking her head.
“What about the archives I asked you to check?”
Delphine’s face hardened as she straightened. “I did, Principal. But… there’s nothing—no records, no mentions, not even a passing reference to a stone slab or anything remotely similar.”
The Principal’s brows knit together in frustration. “Not a single record?” She pushed open the door to her office, motioning for Delphine to follow.
Once inside, she dropped onto the sofa with a heavy sigh, rubbing her temples. “How am I supposed to figure this out if there’s no starting point?” she muttered. Looking up, she noticed Delphine wearing a faintly worried expression.
Unable to resist, she smirked. “What’s this? Worrying about your Emperor, are we?”
Delphine flinched, her cheeks turning a deep red. She opened her mouth to deny it but hesitated. After all, the Principal had caught them kissing—there was no point pretending anymore.
“Y-Yes,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper, her face burning.
The Principal raised an amused brow but then turned her gaze toward the window, her tone softening. “Me… too…”
“Hm?” Delphine looked up, puzzled.
The Principal’s eyes widened, her cheeks flushing as she coughed awkwardly. “I mean, I’m worried about what that guy’s up to! He’s always playing around with something!”
Delphine nodded, though her brows furrowed slightly, sensing the Principal’s slip.
The Principal, eager to change the topic, stammered, “H-Have you noticed anything strange about the monsters lately?”
But before Delphine could respond, there was a knock at the door.
Knock, knock
“Come in!”
Alaric stepped into the room, his tall frame and calm demeanour as if nothing happened to him. He bowed slightly before presenting a scroll filled with strange symbols.
“Principal, I cannot decipher this,” he said, his voice tinged with disappointment. “These letters… I’ve never seen them before. Even our oldest records of ancient texts don’t match. I believe they might predate even the oldest writings we know.”
The Principal’s eyes widened. “Older than the ancient texts?”
Delphine, standing nearby, raised a brow in surprise.
Alaric hesitated before adding, “If I may ask, Principal, where did you find these letters?”
Instead of answering, she countered with a question of her own. “What about Elanthariel’s Archive? The High-Elves’ records? Surely, they’d have something.”
Alaric’s expression darkened. “It’s possible,” he admitted, “but…”
“But?” the Principal pressed, her frown deepening but then she realized, “Ah, right! You are dethroned… I am sorry!”
Alaric bit his lips as veins appeared on his forehead, ‘Those elders soon face their consequences especially those two bitches… I will skin them alive!’ he thought furiously as he barely held his killing intent.
“Even if I asked?” The Principal asked curiously.
Alaric’s jaw tightened, and the frustration in his voice was evident. “No, Only those of royal blood are allowed entry, and Maelona oversees them now. The only other person with the right to enter is… Aria.”
The Principal clicked her tongue in annoyance, ‘Fuck your rules and restrictions…’ she thought and said,
“Fine,” she said with a dismissive wave. “I’ll ask her to look into it.”
As Alaric and Delphine bowed and exited, the Principal leaned back against the sofa, letting out a frustrated sigh. Her gaze drifted toward the sky outside, her thoughts wandering.
Sky…. sky… sky…
The sky reminded her of something—or someone. She remembered Aether holding a humongous mountain against that monstrous elephant, his unyielding resolve etched in her memory.
Her heart skipped a beat, and heat crept up her cheeks.
SLAP!!
She slapped herself hard enough to draw blood from her lip.
“I can’t believe this,” she muttered angrily. “Falling for that playboy… damn you, Isadora!” Her voice quivered with frustration and embarrassment. She wiped the blood from her lip, her expression hardening. “If he knew—”
Her face turned an even deeper shade of red. She already struggled to hold him. If Aether ever discovered her feelings, she knew exactly what he’d do. He wouldn’t hesitate to tease her even further… mercilessly, and worse…
“No matter what,” she said firmly, her voice steely, “I won’t tell this to a single soul.”
Little did she know, the storm of emotions she was suppressing would soon overwhelm her… when he arrived.
500(600(650)…) PS=1(1(1)…)Ex/ 50(100(120)..) GT=1(2(2)…)Ex
