At dawn, a great caravan of mage soldiers and knights advanced toward the Academy, their banners waving in the wind as the thunder of hooves echoed like a drum of war. The Erkham family had sent three thousand soldiers—both knights and mages; the Bourlance and Douglas families contributed a thousand each; while the remaining ten noble families provided five hundred men apiece. In total, ten thousand trained souls marched with a single purpose: to uncover what had caused the incident and ensure that the demonic cult had not taken root within the Cymopelia Forest.
Upon arrival, the scene was desolate. The rubble of collapsed buildings lay scattered across the ground, silent witnesses to the magnitude of the disaster. Class A, once a majestic building full of life, now lay in ruins, its shattered walls and broken windows reflecting the sunlight like fragments of a shattered memory.
Sofía advanced at the head of the Douglas troops, mounted on Tunder, a black steed that seemed to absorb the surrounding light. Her imposing presence and steady gaze set her apart from the rest, a beacon of determination amid the devastation.
At her side, Lusian rode with equal resolve, observing every corner with quiet vigilance. The concern on his face was evident, yet his composure remained intact, as though his very presence served as a shield against the destruction.
"Master Magnus," Sofía said, her voice firm yet gentle at once, "you look… terrible. Why not take a few days to rest?"
Magnus, the Academy's headmaster, appeared gaunt and exhausted, but he lifted his head with respect.
"Duchess, it is an honor to see you," he replied in a faint voice. "Have you come to help me correct my mistakes?"
Sofía shook her head softly.
"Do not blame yourself. This was the work of the demonic cult."
"Even so, I feel it is my responsibility," Magnus replied. "I should have protected them. It is unjust that the young must face death while we elders can only watch, powerless."
Sofía frowned, trying to contain her unease.
"I heard there was no way to stop it. A massive monster appeared… can you describe it?"
Magnus closed his eyes, as if reliving the horror.
"It was a reptile, six meters tall and thirteen long, dark green. It came out of the forest chasing other monsters. It approached the wall and… we used every spell we could imagine. Nothing worked. Trying to attack it was a mistake. It felt threatened and unleashed a beam of light from its mouth… it destroyed the wall in a single strike. Many warriors and mages vanished in an instant. Fortunately, it fed on the surrounding monsters and withdrew. Without the wall, the other monsters invaded the Academy as they fled from it."
Sofía swallowed, analyzing every word.
"Did no element affect it?"
"Nothing," Magnus confirmed. "Not even the combined strength of mages and warriors. It was an absolute, destructive force."
Lusian listened carefully, recalling his experience from the game. The creature was practically invincible: a light-attribute Omega-level magical lizard, resistant to all elements and capable of annihilating anything within the forest. Only a precise strike with dark magic, delivered at a specific point and at the exact right moment, could harm it. Otherwise, even the forest's monsters—experts in dark magic—were overwhelmed by its power.
If that beast appeared in reality as it did in the game, Lusian thought, there would be no chance of victory. It would be a complete massacre.
A young woman, skillfully infiltrated among the Bourlance troops, moved with caution. She had tied up her hair and wore full armor, never removing her helmet. From a distance, she watched Magnus as he spoke with the duchess and her son. She noticed her uncle's injuries and longed to approach him, to encourage him—but she knew that if she were discovered, she would be prevented from continuing the mission. Prudence was now her greatest ally.
The exploration was coordinated with military precision. Ten groups of one thousand men each were assigned to venture into the forest and fulfill specific tasks: to uncover what had caused the monster stampede, ensure that the demonic cult had no hidden refuge within, and finally locate the magical beast responsible for the chaos.
Sofía approached Lusian with a serious expression, making the importance of the situation clear.
"Lusian, I want you to remain by my side at all times," she said firmly. "Do not venture off alone during this expedition. This is not like the tournaments we've practiced at home. We are entering the deepest parts of the forest, where powerful monsters dwell and the danger is extreme. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Mother," Lusian replied seriously, though a spark of excitement shone in his eyes. "I promise to be careful. I'm here to help, and I don't want you to worry about me."
Sofía gave a slight smile, though her gaze did not soften the warning behind it.
"Keep a close eye on that young man," she said, pointing at Albert. "I will make sure he doesn't cause trouble. You can trust me to keep you safe—forget about everything else."
"Yes, my lady," Albert replied respectfully.
With a coordinated movement, the groups began to enter the forest, aware that they would spend several days there, with no guarantee of returning. Each step felt heavier, each shadow seemed to hide a secret, and the silence of the forest became a constant reminder that danger lurked in every corner.
At the Douglas mansion, a man delivered a letter addressed to Caleb along with a gift. When Caleb received it, his joy was complete—it was a confession letter from Isabella Armett. In the letter, Isabella requested a private meeting in a secluded place. Caleb replied and handed his response to the messenger, who was still waiting.
Leopoldo walked through the capital's streets beside his nephew, his gaze fixed on the ancient walls and towering spires that dominated the horizon. His expression was stern, filled with a pride he could not hide.
"Uncle, don't worry," Leonardo said, a hint of restrained anger in his voice. "One day we'll take revenge on that insolent brat. Just because he has his family's backing, he thinks he can do whatever he wants."
Leopoldo turned his head, observing the young man with a mixture of pride and warning.
"So he offended you as well?" he asked. "Did your father say nothing to him?"
"My father has a rivalry with that family," Leonardo replied. "He filed a complaint, but they said it was part of Academy activities. That there was no disrespect toward the royal family, since everyone is treated equally there."
Leopoldo frowned.
"Your family is far too tolerant. If this happened in the Empire, it would never be allowed. Always remember—you carry the emperor's blood in your veins. And when you face an Epsilon-class warrior, someone like Lusian, you must stand firm without hesitation."
Leonardo raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"An Epsilon-class warrior? You mean Lusian, uncle?"
"Yes," Leopoldo answered gravely. "It's no secret, though in this kingdom the most prestigious families tend to keep their magical affinity hidden. They want an advantage in battle."
"If Lusian is Epsilon…" Leonardo murmured. "Now I understand why he's so strong."
Leopoldo nodded, the air around him heavy with warning and reluctant respect for the young warrior who had achieved what few could: defy the power of nobility and the weight of blood.
"It's ridiculous," Leopoldo said at last, "to hide such things from the royal family. That, Leonardo… should be considered treason."