10 years later

Renny School was impressive, a testament to the wealth and effort poured into its construction. Though it lacked the grandeur of Roland Academy, it possessed its own charm. The school boasted top-of-the-line learning facilities and exceptional accommodations for students.

The town itself was lively and bustling, with a surprisingly high population for its size. Its appeal stemmed from the unparalleled safety it offered. Unlike other towns that constantly feared attacks from magical beasts or the Dark Guild, Renny Town was heavily guarded, making it one of the safest places to live.

Despite these advantages, Ray's life over the last ten years had been nothing short of miserable. When the knights left him and Gary in Renny Town, the entire kingdom had gone into amber alert—a state of readiness for war. This was likely due to the Shadow Beast they had encountered. However, nothing had happened in the past decade. No attacks from the Shadow Beast, no movements from the Dark Guild. It was as if the world had been holding its breath.

Due to the amber alert, students were placed under constant guard. A strict curfew was enforced, and leaving the town required special permission. Ray had originally planned to venture out and obtain beast crystals, but that plan had been quickly shut down.

Unlike the other students, Ray was assigned a personal tutor who doubled as his guard, shadowing him at all times—except when he used the restroom. He initially thought this was standard, but after speaking with Gary, he learned that only a select few students received this treatment.

Already ostracized due to his red hair, Ray became even more of an outcast because of the special attention he received. The other students resented him, whispering behind his back. The only one who treated him normally was Gary, his sole companion over the years.

Despite the isolation, Ray had gained valuable knowledge from his time at the school.

First, he learned about Ki, a power that knights could cultivate despite lacking magical abilities. Ki allowed them to enhance their physical attributes, sharpen their senses, and perform feats beyond normal human capabilities. Mastering Ki even enabled some to slow the aging process, extending their lifespan for centuries. However, practicing Ki at too young an age could damage the body's internal organs. Because of this, formal Ki training only began at fifteen—a milestone Ray had just reached.

The second and most fascinating subject was beast crystals. Unlike Ray initially believed, humans were well aware of their existence, and they played a crucial role in society. Knights used them to forge powerful weapons and armor, while mages incorporated them into enchantments, alchemy, and staff creation. Beast crystals were even used in technology. Extracting them from magical beasts required manual effort, and their power scaled with the tier of the beast they came from. The stronger the beast, the stronger the crystal, leading to superior equipment.

The last and most perplexing discovery was about his past. Renny School taught about the Red Dragon Sen, but only as a mythical figure tied to their Divine Being. According to legend, the Divine Being had defeated the Red Dragon Sen but was forced into an eternal slumber due to the immense cost of the battle. Though no longer present in a physical form, the Divine Being supposedly continued to issue commands to the kingdom—commands that everyone was expected to obey.

The kingdom's devotion bordered on religious fanaticism. This devotion was also the root of the Dark Guild's formation. One of the kingdom's elders had refused an order from the Divine Being and was subsequently exiled. Since then, he had harbored a grudge, aiming to dismantle the kingdom.

If Ray wanted answers about his past, he would need to confront the Divine Being directly. However, only individuals of the highest rank were granted an audience. Sneaking into the place to gather information had crossed his mind, but the obstacles were insurmountable. The Divine Being resided in Roland Academy, far from Renny Town, and escaping his ever-watchful guard had proven impossible.

Though he had learned much more over the years, these were the key points he had focused on. Now, at fifteen, he was finally free to leave this miserable existence behind.

The kingdom had officially lifted the amber alert, likely because nothing had occurred in the last decade. With his impending transfer to Avrion Academy, Ray would soon have much more freedom.

He packed his belongings from his dorm room and headed to the front of the school, where the knights were scheduled to escort them to Avrion Academy. About fifty students had gathered outside—a significantly smaller number than when they had first arrived. Back then, there had been nearly a hundred. Many had dropped out over the years, unable to bear the separation from their families.

Spotting Gary, Ray joined him, the two of them chatting about the upcoming trials at Avrion Academy and what they were most looking forward to. Their conversation was interrupted by a familiar voice.

"It's been a long time, you two."

Wilfred stood before them.