Soon—
due to the appearance of the Retainers and the destruction caused during the battle—
the academy officially decided to end the Nexus Festival early in order to repair the damages done to the campus.
I had been unconscious for over a week.
And during that single week—
a lot had changed.
The fourth years had finally graduated from the academy.
And now—
my classmates and I had officially advanced into our second year.
But that was not the only thing that happened.
During my battle against Samuel—
Leon and Emma had eventually found Roy.
Or rather—
what remained of him.
Roy.
The vice guild leader of Saviant.
Killed by Xeno—
the Retainer of Death.
That single event completely shattered Elena.
Roy was not simply another guild member to her.
He was her younger brother.
Someone she treasured deeply.
And finding his body in that state—
completely broke her.
The once calm Sword Saintess had nearly lost control entirely afterward.
Meanwhile—
I quietly stood outside the balcony of my dorm room.
The cold winds brushed past me as I silently gazed toward the skies above Nexus Academy.
Then slowly—
my eyes drifted toward my own reflection within the glass beside me.
And honestly—
I barely recognized myself anymore.
My appearance had changed drastically.
The softness that once existed on my face had become even more delicate now.
My skin looked pale and almost fragile.
The muscle throughout my body had thinned considerably.
Yet despite looking weaker—
I could feel something terrifying sleeping underneath my skin.
Then—
my hand slowly moved toward my hair.
The black strands I once had were now mixed together with white.
Not fully black.
Not fully white.
Both colors existed together naturally.
And finally—
my eyes.
The cold crimson eyes I once possessed—
had disappeared completely.
Now—
they were pure gold.
Golden eyes quietly stared back at me through the reflection.
Unfamiliar.
Ancient.
Almost inhuman.
I looked like a completely different person now.
Another thing that honestly bothered me—
was Astarax.
Since the incident—
the dragon hadn't spoken to me even once.
No sarcastic remarks.
No mocking.
Nothing.
Complete silence.
I slowly touched my chest while letting out a small sigh.
Something definitely felt wrong.
Did my synchronization affect her somehow?
Or perhaps—
did she see something during those memories?
Still—
I eventually smiled faintly to myself.
She's the Dragon of Chaos.
Astarax was probably one of the most terrifying beings I had ever met.
Worrying about her honestly felt ridiculous.
Soon—
I left the dorm building and began walking through the academy grounds quietly.
The damages from the Nexus Festival were still being repaired.
Large parts of the tournament arena remained destroyed while countless workers and mages continued reconstructing the shattered structures.
Most of the students had already left for vacation.
After all—
the second year classes would only begin two months later.
The academy itself felt strangely empty now.
Cold winds brushed past me quietly as I continued walking.
Then—
my eyes noticed two familiar figures standing near the training grounds.
Silver.
And Tristan.
The blue-haired mage stood beside him while carrying several books beneath his arm.
Mhm.
Tristan never participated in the Nexus Festival at all.
Instead—
he spent almost the entire month training day and night.
Honestly—
that sounded exactly like him.
"Yo."
The moment my voice reached them—
both of them froze slightly.
Then slowly—
their eyes turned toward me.
And immediately—
their expressions became uncomfortable.
Almost shocked.
I blinked seeing their reaction.
"…Haah."
I rubbed the back of my head awkwardly afterward.
"I haven't changed that much… right?"
Soon—
the three of us decided to head toward one of the cafés near the academy to talk.
The atmosphere felt strangely calm now compared to the chaos from before.
Students occasionally walked through the academy grounds while reconstruction magic continued repairing parts of the destroyed buildings nearby.
Silver was the first to speak after we sat down.
"So… it seems like you've healed?"
I leaned back slightly in the chair before nodding.
"Yeah."
"My strength should mostly be back by now."
Tristan quietly adjusted his glasses while looking at me carefully.
Meanwhile—
Silver suddenly smirked faintly.
"Samuel was crowned champion of the Nexus Festival."
"Do you feel bitter about it?"
For a moment—
I stayed silent.
Inside my mind—
the final moments of the battle replayed once again.
Twilight.
That final attack could have genuinely killed Samuel.
I had completely lost control during those final seconds.
Because of that—
I was immediately deemed disqualified.
And Samuel Crimson was crowned as the official champion instead.
But honestly—
was I bitter?
No.
Not even slightly.
A small smile appeared on my face.
"That fight…"
"…was probably the most fun I've ever had."
Silver blinked slightly hearing that response.
Meanwhile—
Tristan leaned forward next.
"That final attack…"
"What the hell even was that?"
I smiled faintly afterward.
"It's called Twilight."
Slowly—
I twisted my fingers slightly.
And instantly—
a faint mixture of black and white mana appeared around my fingertips.
Darkness and light intertwined together unnaturally.
Even Silver's expression became serious seeing it again.
"I'm still not entirely sure how I created it myself."
Silence filled the table briefly afterward.
Then—
I spoke again.
"Yelena, Zephyr, and the prince already left the academy."
"So did Samuel and Selena."
I sighed afterward.
"As for Alyssa Croft…"
"…I honestly have no idea where she disappeared to."
Then—
my eyes slowly shifted toward Silver.
"What about you?"
"Are you heading back to the Saviant Guild?"
Silver quietly looked at me for a moment.
But before he could answer—
I smiled faintly and glanced toward the skies outside the café window.
"No."
The winds outside brushed quietly against the academy grounds.
And slowly—
I spoke the words that would begin everything.
"I'll be heading to the Astryx Empire."
...
After my conversation with those two—
I quietly headed toward the Headmistress's office.
The academy halls felt strangely empty now due to the vacation period.
Only a few professors and workers remained throughout the campus repairing the damages caused during the Nexus Festival.
Soon—
after passing through her secretary—
I stopped in front of the office door before knocking lightly.
"Come in."
A small smile appeared on my face.
She already knew it was me.
I slowly entered the office afterward.
"Good morning, Master."
Aurelia glanced up from the documents on her desk before smiling faintly.
Her beautiful void-like eyes quietly met mine.
"You seem to have finally woken up."
Then—
those abyss-like eyes carefully observed me.
"And…"
"…you seem quite different now."
I smiled awkwardly afterward.
"Yes."
"Indeed."
For a moment—
silence filled the office.
Then suddenly—
Aurelia's eyes narrowed slightly.
"That battle against Samuel…"
"I thought I told you what happens if you overuse Space too much."
Her tone carried genuine concern beneath the irritation.
I smiled faintly seeing that expression.
"You don't need to worry anymore."
"I won't be using Space for a long time."
"…Haah."
Aurelia leaned back slightly afterward.
"I see."
Then—
my expression turned serious.
"I heard three Retainers appeared after my battle?"
Aurelia's face immediately became colder.
"Yes."
"The Sixth Retainer, Xeno."
"The Fifth Retainer, Nephius."
Then—
she paused slightly before continuing.
"And the Second Retainer…"
"…Moon."
My eyes widened instantly.
"Even the Second Retainer appeared?"
Aurelia slowly nodded.
"Yes."
"That man…"
Space itself distorted faintly around her fingers unconsciously.
"…is someone I have a bit of history with."
Her void-like eyes darkened slightly afterward.
"He is known as the Retainer of Time."
Silence filled the office briefly.
Then slowly—
I nodded.
"…I see."
"Rio…"
Aurelia's voice suddenly became quieter.
"I didn't want to bring this up but…"
Her void-like eyes carefully observed me.
"During the battle…"
"…Moon said something about making you the First Retainer once again."
The atmosphere inside the office instantly became heavier.
"Do you know anything about that?"
I forced a slightly confused expression onto my face.
But internally—
my thoughts were in complete chaos.
First Retainer.
Even hearing those words still made my chest feel cold.
Yet despite that—
I calmly shook my head.
"No."
"I don't know anything about it, Master."
Aurelia silently stared directly into my eyes afterward.
Those void-like eyes felt as though they could see through everything.
For a brief moment—
silence filled the office.
Then finally—
she leaned back slightly.
"…I see."
Though honestly—
it didn't feel like she fully believed me.
Still—
she didn't push further.
"Very well."
Aurelia rested her chin lightly against her hand afterward.
"I'm assuming you didn't come here for no reason."
"You seem like you want something."
I slowly nodded.
"I plan to head toward the Astryx Empire during the vacation."
The moment those words left my mouth—
Aurelia's eyes narrowed immediately.
"The Astryx Empire is currently at war with Verilian."
"And you want to go there?"
Her gaze sharpened.
"Why?"
A faint smile slowly appeared on my face.
Then—
I finally answered.
"My full name…"
"…is Rio Valen."
Silence.
"I'm a member of the Valen Family from the Astryx Empire."
For the first time since entering the office—
Aurelia genuinely looked surprised.
Then slowly—
understanding appeared within her expression.
"…I see."
A small sigh escaped her afterward.
"To think…"
"…the child of the Sword of Astryx ended up becoming my disciple."
Soon—
she opened one of the drawers beside her desk before pulling out a small sealed note.
"Take this."
I blinked slightly before taking it from her.
"And head toward Ashgrave."
"What's this?"
"It's a confirmation note stating that you are indeed my disciple."
"Show it to a woman named Nicole once you arrive at the port."
"She'll help you enter Astryx safely."
A small smile appeared on my face afterward.
"Thank you, Master."
Aurelia slowly stood up from her chair.
Then—
she walked toward me quietly.
Before I could react—
her hand gently ruffled my hair.
The coldness within her void-like eyes softened slightly.
"Be careful, child."
For a brief moment—
I simply stood there quietly.
Then slowly—
I smiled.
"Yes."
My next stop was the Saviant Guild located within Lumere.
After several hours of travel—
I finally arrived.
The massive guild tower stood proudly within the center of the city while countless adventurers moved throughout the surrounding streets.
Soon—
I stepped inside the guild headquarters.
The atmosphere immediately felt heavier than usual.
Then—
I noticed Lyra standing near the entrance.
A faint smile appeared on her face after seeing me return.
Yet—
there was also a serious expression hidden underneath it.
Honestly—
I already knew why.
I looked toward her quietly.
"Is she up there?"
Lyra slowly nodded.
"Yes."
Silence followed afterward.
Then—
I quietly followed her through the guild tower.
The higher we climbed—
the heavier the atmosphere became.
And before even reaching the Guild Master's office—
I could already sense several familiar presences inside the room.
Soon—
Lyra stopped before the door.
I slowly pushed it open.
The moment I entered—
everyone's eyes turned toward me.
Ogram.
Leon.
Emma.
All three of them held serious expressions.
No one spoke.
No one smiled.
The room itself felt suffocatingly silent.
But eventually—
my gaze shifted toward Elena.
And the moment I saw her—
I froze slightly.
Her eyes looked damp.
Red.
As though she had been crying for a long time.
The usual sharpness within her expression was gone.
Instead—
only exhaustion and anger remained.
An overwhelming killing intent quietly lingered throughout the room.
And honestly—
I understood why.
Roy was not simply another guild member.
To them—
he was family.
Someone they fought beside for years.
Someone they trusted with their lives.
And in the end—
he died alone.
Killed brutally without anyone being there to save him.
That reality alone was enough to break anyone.
Silence filled the office for several moments afterward.
Then slowly—
I spoke.
"I'm back, Guild Master."
Elena's eyes slowly softened the moment they landed on me.
"Rio…"
"You're back."
Then—
her gaze carefully observed my changed appearance.
"And…"
"…you've changed quite a lot."
I smiled faintly afterward.
"Yeah."
Then slowly—
my expression turned serious.
"And…"
"I'm sorry about your little brother."
For a moment—
silence filled the room.
Then unexpectedly—
Elena smiled.
A small.
Painful smile.
"It's fine."
"Roy's death is disheartening…"
"…but I know he'll find peace."
Slowly—
she rose from her seat before walking toward the large window overlooking Lumere's night sky.
Moonlight illuminated her silver hair quietly.
Then—
she suddenly spoke again.
"You know, Rio?"
"I was never a noble."
Everyone inside the room remained silent listening to her.
"I was born a commoner."
"My mother died giving birth to Roy."
Her hand slowly tightened slightly.
"Our father was a drunkard."
"He abused us whenever he got the chance."
The atmosphere inside the room instantly darkened.
"Back then…"
"…I used to think about ending everything."
"Maybe another life would've been better."
The moment those words left her mouth—
Leon and Emma's expressions darkened instantly.
Even Ogram quietly clenched his fists.
But then—
Elena smiled faintly again.
"But Roy…"
"…he gave me a reason to live."
Her voice became softer afterward.
"I wanted to create a world where my little brother could live peacefully."
Silence.
Then—
the pressure inside the room suddenly exploded.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
The mirrors throughout the office began shaking violently while overwhelming killing intent engulfed the entire guild tower.
Elena slowly turned around.
And within her hand—
appeared her named weapon.
Hoshizora.
The sword radiated terrifying icy mana throughout the room.
Her crimson eyes no longer held sadness now.
Only rage remained.
"He is dead."
Her voice echoed coldly throughout the office.
Then—
she spoke once more.
"To that Retainer…"
"I will kill Xeno."
The killing intent intensified violently.
"That…"
"…will become Saviant's main objective from this day onward."
A small smile slowly appeared on my face seeing her resolve.
Then—
I stepped forward quietly.
SHIIIIIIIIING—
I pulled out Nocturne Veil.
The very weapon Elena herself had gifted me during my mission.
Then—
I pressed the black blade directly into the ground beside me.
BOOM.
The room fell silent afterward.
And slowly—
I looked directly at Elena.
"As a member of Saviant…"
"…I'll help you kill him."