"!" Brennon's eyes widened, a chill shooting down his spine at the absolute certainty in Nael's voice. But the fear was immediately drowned in a torrent of self-directed fury. 'He scared me? ME?' And he couldn't even react — he, an Awakened with an Epic combat class, had been utterly overpowered and humiliated by a Common Class in the blink of an eye!
A golden essence, the signature of the Sun Knight class, began to flicker around him, fueled by his rage and shame.
"I wouldn't recommend that," Nael said, his voice still low, but now carrying a note of final warning. "Unless you want to face the consequences."
The words pierced through Brennon's fury. The last shred of his rationality screamed at him: using an offensive skill within the city limits was strictly prohibited. The city guards would show no mercy, and there were too many eyes around them.
He was utterly cornered.
To fight was to invite severe punishment and public disgrace. Swallowing the bitterest pill of his life, the golden aura around him sputtered and died. He forced his body to go limp, the fight draining out of him.
"Alright," he muttered, the word tasting like ash.
Nael removed his boot and took a step back, his posture relaxed but his gaze still wary. "There was no connection between us before," he stated calmly. "So let's keep it that way in the future too."
Without another word or a backward glance, Nael turned and continued his walk, melting into the flow of foot traffic as if the entire violent confrontation had been nothing more than a minor inconvenience.
'...'
Brennon remained on the ground, the cold of the cobblestones seeping into his clothes, along with the bitter truth of his own inadequacy.
"Tch." He clicked his tongue in irritation and pushed himself up in a single, jerky motion, dusting off his clothes with angry, slapping motions.
"What are you looking at?" he scoffed at the lingering onlookers, his face a mask of bruised pride. He strode away, his shoulders tense, muttering under his breath the only words that could soothe his shattered ego.
"This isn't the end, Nael. I promise."
_______ ___ _
The Next Day - City Gates.
The morning sun cast long shadows from the high walls of Aethelgard. A lively crowd was gathered near the main gate, a mix of tearful families and excited graduates seeing their children off. A little distance away from the main throng, two figures stood somewhat apart, observing the scene.
"Isn't it... difficult?" Rania asked as she adjusted her spectacles.
Nael, standing beside her, raised his brows. "What is?"
"Watching such a scene." She gestured subtly toward where Mira was locked in a tight, emotional embrace with her parents. Her mother was dabbing at her eyes, while her father held them both, his expression a mixture of pride and sorrow.
Nael chuckled softly, the sound devoid of any real humor. "No. Honestly, I've long gotten used to it."
"...I see," Rania murmured, a flicker of something unreadable in her blue eyes. "My apologies. I did not mean to offend."
"Don't worry," he said, his tone still light. "I'm used to that, too."
Rania froze for a second, then tilted her head in genuine confusion. But Nael offered no further explanation, his face a calm mask.
Just then, Mira broke away from her family, giving them one last, wobbly wave before hurrying over to join Nael and Rania, her steps quick as if afraid to look back. She blinked rapidly, trying to compose herself.
From a distance, her family waved one final time as the trio turned toward a waiting, sleek carriage emblazoned with the nebula crest. The sleek carriage hummed to life, lifting smoothly off the ground. Inside, all three of them turned to look out the large window, watching the city walls and the crowd of well-wishers begin to shrink.
Just as the scene started to blur, Nael thought he heard his name, carried faintly on the wind. He squinted, his eyes scanning the distant crowd. Then he saw them — two familiar figures pushing their way to the front, jumping and waving. It was Kael and Lia. A moment later, two older figures emerged behind them, placing reassuring hands on the children's shoulders. Old Man Hemlock and Aunty Mila had come too.
A soft, unconscious smile touched Nael's lips. He had already said his goodbyes to them last night over a heartfelt dinner. Yet, they had still woken up early to see him off one last time. He raised a hand, pressing it against the cool glass of the window in a silent, final wave and nod of acknowledgment.
In a matter of minutes, the carriage accelerated, the landscape beginning to streak by. The grand city of Aethelgard swiftly diminished into a mere silhouette on the horizon, and the people became tiny, indistinguishable specks before vanishing entirely.
"So," Rania said, her voice breaking the reflective silence inside the cabin. "How do you feel? This is your first time leaving the city, is it not?"
Mira, who had been quietly watching her home disappear, took a deep breath. "Honestly, I... I am scared," she admitted. "But... I also really want to see what happens next. I want to pursue my dreams."
Nael watched the last vestiges of the familiar landscape give way to entirely new terrain. "Pretty much the same," he said.
In truth, this wasn't his first time leaving Aethelgard; he had been to neighboring towns and cities before. But going completely, with no plans to return for a very long time, was a profound first. The feeling was a strange cocktail of trepidation and thrilling anticipation.
"That's good." Rania gave a satisfied nod. "Hold onto that determination till the end," she said, her tone shifting from contemplative to businesslike. "Because we will be starting your practical training as soon as we reach our first destination. And since we have some free time, let's use it to test your academic foundation and general knowledge. Is that acceptable?"
Both Nael and Mira nodded, the somber mood of departure giving way to a new sense of purpose.
"Hmm... Alright," Rania continued, pulling a small, sleek data-slate from her storage. "Then tell me the topics or subjects you feel most confident in, and we'll begin with those. This will help me gauge where to focus our theoretical studies." She looked between them expectantly, her stylus poised over the screen. "Who would like to start?"
"Me," Nael volunteered.
Rania's eyebrows lifted slightly in interest. "Go ahead."
"Let's talk about Dungeon Ecology," he proposed while looking between Rania and Mira. "I also suggest we have a debate on it. That way, everyone can participate and we can cover more ground."
A genuine smile of approval touched Rania's lips. She clearly enjoyed this kind of intellectual exercise.
"Oh, I like that idea. A debate it is." She made a note on her slate. "Very well. Nael, since you proposed the topic, you may present the opening argument. What specific aspect would you like to debate?"
"...The catalysts for monster evolution in dungeons," Nael stated clearly.
Rania's smile widened, a glint of understanding in her eyes. Beside her, a similar look of comprehension dawned on Mira's face. They both realized Nael's underlying purpose in an instant; he wasn't just choosing a random academic topic. He wanted to dissect and understand the very nature of Unique monsters, driven by his recent, near-fatal encounter with the Gloom Predator. This was his way of turning a personal trauma into a strategic lesson.
"Alright," Rania said, her voice carrying a new layer of respect. "Let's start it then."