“Is everyone ready?” the Principal inquired, her gaze sweeping over the Elite class students assembled before her.
“Yes, Principal!!” Their voices rang out in unison.
They stood poised near the Teleportation Station, a structure both ancient and awe-inspiring, its towering arches gleami—
‘We’ve already seen this a hundred times,’ Victor thought to himself, ‘Maybe not a hundred but still….’ casting a disinterested glance around at the students, all brimming with enthusiasm to enter the Pyra Fulgur Empire.
“What are you looking for?” Kira asked, noticing his distracted demeanour as she stood beside him.
Victor shifted his focus to Kira…. He had asked Celestia to investigate her thoroughly, and surprisingly, everything checked out. Her family existed, there were records of her, and everything was perfectly documented. No discrepancies, no points of suspicion. It was as if her existence was flawless, perfectly aligned with this reality.
‘Then why is she Kira… not Kyra?’ Victor frowned, still unsettled by the fact that her soul had been replaced in this reality, ‘Is she truly different?’ His thoughts lingered on her, making a mental note to keep an eye on her.
Finally, he answered flatly, “Nothing.”
Before Kira could press further, the Principal’s voice cut through the chatter, “Come on, everyone, let’s move! Form a line!”
One by one, the students began entering the teleportation portal, their excitement palpable. Jack, walking behind Victor, leaned in and whispered, “Good luck, man. Try not to make a scene,” with a grin before joining the line.
Victor watched Jack’s back as he disappeared into the portal. His turn had finally come.
“Victor, what are you waiting for?” the Principal called, her brow arched as she noticed him lingering behind.
Victor glanced back, his eyes landing on Delphine, who was waving at him. Without a word, he walked toward her, stopping just before her.
“Aet—Victor?” Delphine raised her eyebrows, her expression a mixture of curiosity and surprise.
Victor stared at her for a moment, “I won’t lose this time… I’ll do whatever it takes… I will… succeed,” he murmured, his voice low and dangerous, his eyes glowing faintly.
Then, without warning, he leaned down and kissed her.
Delphine’s eyes widened in shock, ‘W-What is he doing in front of everyone?!’ Her thoughts screamed, but as she glanced around, she realized none of the staff at the Teleportation Station seemed to notice.
A barrier had been erected around them, shielding the scene from prying eyes.
Victor pulled away, his lips brushing against hers one last time before he whispered warmly, “Don’t be lonely without me, okay?”
[+4000 AP]
Delphine’s face flushed a deep crimson. “I-I won’t feel lonely, you idiot! What are you doing in broad daylight?!” she snapped, trying to sound furious, but her cheeks betrayed her.
Victor smirked. “I can do more if you want… later, when it’s night~”
[+4000 AP]
Her heart skipped a beat, and she immediately shoved him away, “Y-You!!” she stammered, too flustered to form a proper response.
Victor’s grin widened, but just as he turned to walk away, he paused, glancing back at her with a teasing glint in his eyes, “Once I come back… should we start planning the wedding? Maybe invite your sister-in-law?”
[+4000 AP]
[+4000 AP]
[+4000 AP]
[+4000 AP]
[+4000 AP]
Delphine’s face turned an even deeper shade of red, “YOU BASTARD!!” she yelled, summoning an ice spear into her hand, her embarrassment fueling her rage.
Victor chuckled as he dodged her strike and waved playfully. “See you soon~” he called before bolting toward the portal.
The Principal watched him with a blank expression, her lips twitching in annoyance, “Do you have any idea what could’ve happened if I hadn’t created that barrier in time, you brat?” she snapped, clearly exasperated, though there was something else in her tone—an jealous?
Not sure!
Victor shrugged, smiling cheekily. “I knew you’d do it. That’s why I didn’t worry,” he replied with a wink, which only irritated the Principal further. She glanced at Delphine, whose face was still flushed, then snorted before entering the portal herself.
Victor chuckled softly, “Looks like someone’s jealous~” he mumbled, turning to blow Delphine a playful kiss before disappearing into the portal.
Delphine gritted her teeth, mortified and frustrated. “Argh! I shouldn’t have told him I like him… Now he’s really pushing his luck!” she muttered under her breath, though deep down, she couldn’t deny how much she enjoyed his teasing.
She sighed, watching as they disappeared, “Well… I hope you come back safely… b-b-boy-boyfriend,” she whispered, her cheeks burning as the word escaped her lips.
But then a sudden thought struck her, and she froze, “Wait, are we really boyfriend and girlfriend?” she mumbled to herself, her mind racing. Just as she was about to delve deeper into that thought, her vision blurred.
Everything went dark!
Delphine gasped, her body stiffening as her ability activated out of nowhere. Her surroundings shifted into a black, motionless void, devoid of life.
A chilling stillness settled over the place, and then she heard it.
“La~La~LaLa~La~La~LaLaLa~”
The haunting melody echoed through the emptiness, gentle yet filled with danger. Her heart pounded in her chest as two crystal-blue eyes slowly opened in the dark.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Fireworks exploded in the night sky, lighting up the dark space with brilliant flashes of colour and sound, each one more intense than the last.
Delphine’s vision snapped back to reality, and she stumbled, gasping for breath, her skin slick with cold sweat. “W-What the hell was that?” she muttered, her heart racing.
She knew that voice, that song—it belonged to Aether… The same song that she heard when she saw him after a long time… Her hands trembled as she stared at the spot where Victor had vanished. “What in the world is he planning now?” she whispered, her expression torn between shock and intrigue.
Meanwhile, in the Pyra Fulgur Empire…
The towering Dragon Emperor stood before Victor.
Just like their previous encounter, the Dragon Emperor made a grand entrance—his aura radiating power and dominance. He hugged his son, Leon, in a display of affection, while the rest of the others knelt before him, except Victor. Your next journey awaits at empire
However, this time, there was no immediate threat from the Emperor.
Something was different.
[+1 Affection]
“I like you… Victor,” the Dragon Emperor said with an unsettling grin, his voice rich with authority.
Victor arched a brow at the sudden shift, “Well, I can’t say I feel the same, Arkanis Dragonheart,” he replied coolly, emphasizing the Emperor’s name.
A stunned silence gasps echoing everywhere, Students and soldiers alike stared in disbelief, their jaws dropping at Victor’s audacity.
Veins bulged on Arkanis’s forehead, a flicker of anger passing through his ocean-blue eyes.
Leon glared at Victor, his eyes narrowing dangerously, “How dare you address my father—the mighty Dragon Emperor—by his na–” But before he could continue, Arkanis raised a hand, motioning for him to stop.
“F-Father?” Leon looked taken aback.
Arkanis, still focused on Victor, said nothing for a moment, he already heard from Kim, so he knew what kind of man was Victor.
Arkanis didn’t want to push things further. He had plans—important ones. And for those plans to succeed, he needed Victor’s cooperation.
The descendant of the Origin Emperor was crucial and only Victor knew!
So,
With a half-smile, Arkanis turned his gaze toward the Principal, who watched the exchange with mild amusement. “Looks like you’ve found yourself an interesting disciple, Sovereign,” he remarked.
[+3000 AP]
The Principal shrugged, her face wearing a smug expression. “I tend to attract the best,” she replied, her tone dripping with satisfaction.
Soon, the group boarded the dragon carriage, as they flew toward the palace high above the Empire. The ride was smooth, and everything seemed to unfold just as it had before.
However,
Inside the costly carriage where only the Dragon Emperor and the Principal sat,
“Mind telling me what exactly changed your mind?” Her tone was sharp, curiosity mixed with suspicion, “First, you threatened one of your own representatives to get us here, and now you’ve suddenly had a change of heart? What’s your angle?”
Arkanis leaned back, taking a deep breath before answering. “Let’s just say… circumstances shifted. I have a more pressing matter to focus on,” he said vaguely, his voice careful and guarded.
The Principal’s frown deepened. “A pressing matter? What situation could have come up so suddenly?” She pressed.
Arkanis merely shrugged, his expression unreadable. “That is our Empire’s business.”
“I see…” The Principal nodded but then her gaze hardened, a dangerous edge creeping into her voice as she spoke slowly, “I warn you, brat, lay a hand on my disciple… and I’ll remind you of the past you’ve so ‘conveniently’ forgotten.”
Trrrr!
The dragon pulling the carriage roared in distress, struggling under a sudden, immense weight that seemed to press down on it from nowhere, forcing it into a steep descent.
The Dragon Emperor’s blood ran cold, his instincts screaming at him to flee. He clenched his teeth, blood seeping from his lips as he forced out, “You haven’t changed at all, Isa…”
…..
…..
Soon after, the group reached the towering black castle perched atop Peak Mountain. Everything was just as Victor remembered—the same dark stone walls, the same welcome, and even the same smug speech from Leon lecturing them about the grandeur of their home.
But something was off.
“Interesting…” Victor murmured as he entered a room that was far different from last time.
Instead of the throne room, they were taken to a large conference-like chamber.
The Dragon Emperor entered, now clad in opulent robes adorned with golden patterns, he moved to the centre of the grand table where everyone was seated, “I am pleased to welcome the chosen ones of this era,” he began, his voice booming with authority, “Now, tell me what you seek here.”
Victor leaned back in his chair, stared at him.
