The air inside the infirmary grew heavy again. Concern shadowed every face; no one spoke. The hum of healing mana seemed louder than before.
Shaumin finally broke the silence with a nervous chuckle.
"Man… these seniors could be monsters in disguise. Are all the upperclassmen in this academy that strong?"
Scarlett gave a faint, knowing smile.
"Yeah, Shaumin. That's why they're seniors— They belong to the Scholar Batch, the highest batch of disciples. They've walked the same path you're just beginning."
She looked around at the group, her tone turning slightly teasing yet edged with seriousness.
"Now that you all know about them, tell me… do you still think you could've defeated one of them on your own?"
The question hit harder than expected. Everyone fell silent, their earlier confidence fading.
After a moment, Sabastian sighed and spoke, his voice low but honest.
"The Elite Five of Silver Heaven Academy… I knew they were strong, but not this strong. Their power levels are insane. Honestly, we probably couldn't even take on one of them. Our spiritual powers barely reaches 700 and 900. Even combined, we might not hit 3,000. We wouldn't stand a chance against even one of them."
He turned toward Shaun, hoping for some reassurance.
"Hey, Shaun… what do you think?"
But Shaun didn't respond. His eyes were distant, lost somewhere between awe and disbelief, mind still reeling from everything he'd heard.
Scarlett noticed and crossed her arms lightly.
"Why bother asking him? I'll tell you instead. To have enmity with any of those five is to invite death. And there's one more thing you should know—something even more shocking."
Everyone looked at her expectantly. Her words fell like thunder. Then, her tone darkened as she added,
"Princess Nina, Vince Dragonblade, and Aiden Flamesaber… these three aren't just prodigies. They're heirs of the Supreme Mages bloodlines."
The revelation struck like lightning.
"What?! Are you serious?" Shaumin and Sabastian shouted in unison. Natasha's jaw dropped.
Scarlett smirked faintly at their reaction.
"Surprised? But it's the truth. Their grandfathers are among the Three Supreme Mages—the strongest beings in the entire Silver Heaven Region."
Her eyes glimmered with quiet awe as she spoke their names while counting her fingers.
"Princess Nina is the great-granddaughter of Lord Gabriel Heavenstar, the Supreme Magus of the Heavenstar lineage.
Vince Dragonblade is the grandson of Lord Drake Dragonblade, the Supreme Magus who commands the mightiest army in the Silver Heaven Imperial Army.
And Aiden Flamesaber… he's the grandson of Lord Pryce Flamesaber, the Flame Monarch of the Silver Heavens."
A heavy silence fell once more.
"You know what that means, don't you?" Scarlett said softly. "It means it's highly possible they were trained directly under their grandfathers. That's the secret behind their overwhelming strength."
She looked at them all, her tone now final and resolute.
"So there you have it—the truth behind Silver Heaven's Elite Five: Kevin Fairywind, Garland Hetmyer, Vince Dragonblade, Akshay Himaira, and Aiden Flamesaber. Each of them born from power… and destined to stand above the rest. The five pillars of this generation."
Everyone sat frozen, the weight of those names echoing in their minds. The gap between them and the legends above had never felt so vast.
The faint light from the window glimmered across their faces—hope, fear, and resolve mingling in their eyes. The more they learned about this academy, the clearer it became… their journey had only just begun.
***********
Everyone sat frozen, their minds still reeling from Scarlett's revelation. The excitement that once filled the room had vanished, replaced by a heavy silence.
The truth about the Elite Five and Princess Nina's lineage loomed over them like a shadowed mountain.
Shaun's brow furrowed. Something still gnawed at him.
"Scarlett," he said, breaking the silence, "there's something I still don't understand. Vince threatened me to stay away from Princess Nina… and he called her his fiancée. What was that all about? How could Princess Nina be engaged to him?"
Scarlett folded her hands, her tone steady but solemn.
"As you know, the former Emperor of the Silver Heaven Region was Lord David Heavenstar. After his death, there were no male descendants left to inherit the throne. His grandfather, Lord Gabriel Heavenstar—the Supreme Magus of Light—is still alive, but he's far too old to rule."
Shaun frowned. "But what about Princess Nina? She's his descendant. Shouldn't she be the next to claim the throne?"
Before Scarlett could answer, Natasha spoke sharply, her voice edged with realism.
"Shaun, we're living in a world ruled by men. No matter how talented a woman is, she can't inherit a throne. That's the bitter truth."
Shaumin nodded thoughtfully. "That's true, Shaun. My father once told me that when an Emperor dies without a male heir, the remaining noble houses hold a Test of Strength to decide the next ruling bloodline."
"You're absolutely right," Scarlett confirmed. "That's the tradition. The five royal families choose their strongest heirs to battle in a ceremonial tournament, and the victor's family earns the right to rule. But in this case… things went differently."
She paused, her gaze distant.
"Lord David Heavenstar was deeply respected across the Silver Heaven Region. Out of reverence, the four remaining royal families decided not to contest the throne. Instead, they agreed to let his descendant—Lady Nina—decide the future of the empire herself… by choosing her groom."
Natasha's eyes narrowed. "So that's how Vince got involved."
Scarlett nodded. "Exactly. Things changed when Princess Nina announced her intention to marry Vince Dragonblade, her childhood friend—and the son of Lord Robert Dragonblade, the Emperor's closest ally. Nina also appointed Lord Robert as Temporary Emperor, to oversee the realm until she reached her legal age of sixteen."
She sighed softly. "If Nina truly marries Vince, the Dragonblade family will inherit the throne. And it makes sense—Lord Robert is one of the most powerful figures in the region, and the head of the Alchemy Association, which controls the production of elixirs, potions, and medicines throughout Silver Heaven."
Sabastian's eyes widened. "But how could someone as graceful and intelligent as Princess Nina choose a guy like Vince? Doesn't she know how cruel he is?"
Scarlett shook her head. "Who knows? Maybe she does know, but still accepted the engagement because she had no choice. In the royal families, marriages are often decided when children are still young—binding them to their families' political alliances before they even understand what love means."
Her voice softened, almost pitying.
"After Emperor David's death, Lord Robert became the guardian of both Princess Nina and her mother. Vince, meanwhile, has been obsessed with Nina since childhood. Some say his love is genuine. Others say it's ambition disguised as affection."
Natasha scoffed, crossing her arms.
"Or maybe it's just like I said before—these royals never act without a selfish motive. Don't forget, after Lord David's death, the Heavenstar family lost much of its influence. This marriage could be nothing more than a deal to keep their status alive. Vince gets power, Nina gets protection. A convenient arrangement."
Scarlett huffed, her foaming aura faintly burning. "If you ask me, both of them are using each other. And Vince—ugh, I wouldn't go near him even if he were the last man in Silver Heaven."
Natasha chuckled quietly, though her eyes were sad. "You might be right, Natasha. In this world, no one at the top stays pure for long."
But Shaun didn't agree. His eyes lowered, his thoughts drifting to Nina's kind smile and the fear in her eyes when Vince struck him.
No… he thought. She didn't seem like someone scheming for power. There's something else—something she's not saying.
He clenched his fists beneath the sheets.
Whatever the truth was behind Princess Nina's engagement… Shaun could feel it deep in his soul — she wasn't doing it of her own will.
**********
Scarlett noticed Shaun's distant gaze — the way his brows furrowed, his fists tightening as if holding onto something unseen.
She sighed softly, stepped closer, and placed a reassuring hand over his.
"Shaun," she said, her voice firm but gentle, "I know what's going through your mind right now. You're thinking about Princess Nina, aren't you?"
Shaun glanced up in surprise, but Scarlett's eyes were unwavering.
"I can see it in your eyes," she continued. "You want to reach out to her — to be her friend, maybe even help her. But take my advice… stay away from her. I'm serious. If you get close to Princess Nina, you'll only draw Vince's wrath — and trust me, you don't want to be on his bad side."
Her tone grew sharper, almost warning.
"And if you're even thinking about provoking any of the Elite Five, abandon that idea right now. They're far beyond your level — power, influence, everything. If you value your peace, focus on your studies and your growth. Live a quiet, steady life here and graduate without unnecessary trouble."
Natasha, who had been quietly listening, nodded in agreement.
"Scarlett's right, Shaun. We should stay far away from those people. They're dangerous — especially that girl."
Shaun looked between them, understanding the concern behind their words. Their care was genuine — he could feel it. But deep inside, another feeling stirred — a stubborn flame that refused to go out.
He clenched his fists, eyes firm.
"I know you're both worried about me, and I appreciate it… I really do. But I can't just turn my back on someone who might be in trouble. I don't believe Princess Nina's truly happy with this engagement. She needs help — and I can't ignore that."
Scarlett blinked in disbelief.
"Are you insane?" she exclaimed. "Didn't you hear a single word I said? Vince will crush you if you even look her way!"
Natasha's voice rose next, her tone a mix of anger and fear.
"Shaun, are you even listening to Scarlett? You'll put your own life at risk if you get involved with that girl!"
Shaun opened his mouth to speak, but Natasha didn't let him. She grabbed his hand, eyes flashing with emotion.
"No buts, Shaun. Promise me — right now. Under any circumstances, you will not get close to Princess Nina."
Her grip trembled slightly, her voice cracking. "Please. Promise me."
Shaun looked at her — the worry in her dark eyes, the desperate tremor in her voice. He couldn't bear to see her like this.
Finally, he sighed and nodded.
"All right… fine. You win. I promise. I'll stay away from Princess Nina… no matter what."
Natasha exhaled in relief, loosening her grip. A faint smile touched her lips, though her eyes still held unease.
"Good. That's all I needed to hear."
Shaun smiled weakly in return, but deep inside, his heart was restless.
He had made the promise — but something inside him whispered that fate would never let him keep it.
**********