At the center of Astrong Academy, which had been one hundred percent repaired and improved, with some highlights in the student rooms and the new training fields, the three professors of Class S were finishing preparing something. Some lamps were spread around the place, but that was not the most important part; it was simply extra decoration on top of what they were doing.
"How are things going, Siena?"
"This is already the fifth time you've asked in just three minutes, Professor Zenaria."
"Of course I should be worried. This day has to be perfect both for my daughter and son-in-law and for my students."
At last, the Solcren Ferreira family had accepted Serenya as a daughter-in-law, so now she could say it out loud without worrying about the other noble families who were keeping an eye on Enrico. Virelle snorted at what she thought was just someone wanting to show that her family would now be even stronger than it already was.
'This fellow professor of mine is very arrogant to say that in front of me.'
Each of them used their own magic to enhance a specific item they would give to theirs. This item could normally increase their mana amount by five percent, but with the improvements they were making, it would increase it by eight percent.
"It's a shame it can only be used once."
"Well, that's how things work in our world, Professor Siena."
They would also use it themselves, since this item could grant an improvement to up to thirty-five people. Of course, the one who would also receive this enhancement was the director of Astrong Academy, who would come to take the students to the graduation, and an elf whom Elaris asked to be added.
'That council president is quite clever. She took advantage of having a bit of the academy's power together with the director to increase the power of her allies she would take to the Elves' dimension.'
With the item ready, they saw that small core of a special level-three Ranvil embedded in a rounded piece of metal that formed several circles around itself.
"They're arriving. Let's welcome them."
Footsteps began to echo through the central corridors of the academy, first a few, then many, until they became a constant flow of voices restrained by anticipation. The soft glow of the magical lamps reflected on the polished floor, revealing how much Astrong had changed since the beginning of that cycle.
Zenaria took a deep breath, adjusting her posture. For a moment, the professor was not the mage who had once been cruel even to her own daughter; now she was simply a mother watching her daughter's time, which could have slipped through her fingers if she had continued like that.
"She grew up so fast."
She whispered to herself as she saw her daughter enter first, as if she were the leader, even though she was below the three aberrations in power. Siena cast a sideways glance, a half-smile forming.
"That's your fault. You never went easy on anyone, especially your daughter."
"Don't rub that in my face."
Virelle crossed her arms, feeling the resonance of the core pulsing in her hand. The energy was stable, perfect. A silent gift that she herself had hunted days earlier when she decided to give them something for graduation. Enrico would have his own gift, but it would be given during his training.
'They'd better be satisfied with this. I had to kill several Ranvil ranks to find something interesting.'
Turning her gaze to the door already opened by Serenya, the Class S students advanced together, some maintaining firm posture, others trying to hide their emotions. Enrico walked right behind his leader, his gaze attentive, but there was something different in his expression, a small trace of exhaustion that made Virelle narrow her eyes.
'I'll ask him later.'
Serenya, at the front, looked proud, but inside she held her own anxiety with dignity, aware of the weight of that moment. Feeling a touch on her shoulder, she saw Enrico with a small smile that made her set that anxiety aside.
"Very good, subordinate. I will reward you later."
"I will accept that reward with pleasure."
"Stop flirting in front of others."
Elian, behind the two of them, had his arms crossed. He felt that he hadn't done much since Enrico arrived, so he was upset with himself for not having followed him on adventures.
"Elian, I still haven't forgotten those socks at Christmas, I just didn't have time to—"
"Stop that sentence immediately, Enrico."
As Enrico raised his arms as if he were going to hug Elian, the latter seemed to want to avoid it hesitantly, which left Serenya very jealous, biting her nails.
'Damn Elian, how dare the seventh act like that in front of me.'
"Welcome, students."
Virelle stepped forward, the sharp sound of her heels echoing through the central courtyard. Her gaze swept across every face in Class S, without softness, without concessions. When she spoke, her voice did not need to be loud to impose silence, just as it always had during those three years.
"First, let me warn you: Astrong Academy did not train heroes; it trained survivors. Up to this point, you fought under rules, protection, and limits. From now on, none of that exists for you."
Some students swallowed hard, except, of course, for the three aberrations, who were quite calm, along with those who had already reached circles six and five.
"The world out there will test you to the breaking point. And when you break… only those who learned here will put themselves back together. If you think you've reached the top, know this: you are still at the beginning of the climb."
Seeing that her students lost their fearful expressions when they saw the confidence of the strongest, Virelle took half a step back, satisfied.
"I will not see you as students again. Next time, you will be allies… or corpses. And I hope you choose well… even those who are weak must always reach higher levels."
Her words were harsh and certainly caused a weight to begin enveloping that place, but all of them knew she was right. That was how their lives would be out there, and as she said, even the weak could choose what they would become; it only depended on themselves.
Before the weight of her words settled further, a different presence tore through the environment with force, and a portal opened in the middle, with Hao emerging first, smiling in a rare way.
"Harsh as always, Virelle. Still, congratulations on the speech, and congratulations to you as well, my students."
"I wasn't harsh. I'm simply warning them not to die quickly."
"Your concern for your students is touching, Virelle."
"Quiet, old man."
As the two argued, beside him an elf with silvery hair stepped forward in silence. Her light-green eyes briefly crossed with Elaris's; she nodded calmly, making a sign not to get too close. With another nod, the elf looked at Enrico and Valença, who would be her companions in some time to take back the Elves' dimension for the royal family.
"Now it's time for your gift, so that you can survive in a better way, my students."
Virelle took out the item and explained what it did. The students' eyes shone with admiration, especially the more excited ones like Kai, Grakka, and Kaela, who were just short of shouting to announce to the whole city how excited they were. When the item was activated, it took only a few seconds for them to feel the effects. Enrico looked at his hand as he saw his mana amount increase.
[1911 congratulations]
'That's just a little above average. I still need to grow more.'
[Yes, you do, but it's better for you to enjoy today to get rid of that remaining bad feeling from two days ago.]
'You're right… today I'll erase it completely.'
Outside the academy, the courtyard had turned into a large space for celebration. Long tables filled the garden, covered with hot dishes, colorful sweets, and sparkling drinks that released small magical sparks when served. Laughter mixed with soft music, while the Class S students finally left that lingering tension behind.
Parents and relatives moved among them, touching shoulders, patting heads, offering quiet praise and emotional looks. There were discreet tears, broad smiles, and raised glasses in celebration.
Under the open sky, without speeches or formalities, the graduation became simply a moment to have fun or relax, for that day could be their last day of enjoyment, and Hao knew it.
'The evil gods… I truly want to protect the smiles of these young people.'
Hao watched everyone with the affectionate gaze of an old man. His eyes turned toward the one who was undoubtedly the academy's best student. Enrico was surrounded by girls and his friends in a dispute over who would ask him for some tips, duels, or simply his romance. With a sigh, he looked up.
'I… need to protect these smiles.'