Winter Break I

With the Inter-Academy Festival behind us and winter break drawing close, I was looking forward to a quieter end to the term. However, big news arrived instead.

After classes, Vice Headmaster Valerie summoned me to her office. I greeted her with a warm smile, "Hello, Master."

"Arthur, take a seat," she said, her usual calm composure softened with a welcoming smile. I settled into the plush leather chair, and she wasted no time.

"We have news," she began, and I braced myself, half-expecting yet another discussion about the endless stream of headlines buzzing online. Luckily, it wasn't that.

"The Slatemark Imperial Family has decided to commend and reward you for your efforts in subduing White-rank demon contractor Luke Orden and Integration-rank contractor Drake Namgung," she explained, watching for my reaction.

I blinked, feeling a ripple of surprise before a grin broke through. A Medal for Merit—and well-deserved rewards for saving three princesses. An Integration-rank demon contractor posed no small threat, especially when royals were involved.

'Took them long enough,' I thought, reclining into the chair.

"They've selected three rewards in your honor," Valerie continued, handing me a sleek tablet. "But should these not suit you, there's room to request alternatives. They wanted you to consider carefully before the formal announcement."

I scanned the tablet, and a spark of excitement flickered to life as I absorbed the details. It seemed I'd been given the rare chance to truly shape this recognition on my own terms.

My eyes widened, a grin tugging at the corners of my mouth. These rewards were beyond what I'd anticipated.

The first: the Eclipse Blade, an Ancient-Grade artifact capable of handling all elemental types. A weapon of immense versatility, it would be a powerful addition to my arsenal. They clearly weren't concerned with binding it to me, trusting my ability to wield such an artifact. 

Then there was access to the Chamber of Shadows—a secluded, unparalleled isolation chamber, rumoured to have been designed by none other than Julius Slatemark himself. Its reputation was legendary, a place where many had broken past the Wall to achieve Ascendant-rank. Even high-ranking individuals rarely gained access, and now I had six full months to train within its depths.

Finally, there was money—enough that I wouldn't need to rely on my future knowledge to secure resources for Noctalis. This was wealth on a scale I could use to lay the groundwork for my ambitions without sacrificing secrecy or taking unnecessary risks.

These rewards offered more than just a show of respect. They were tools, each one perfectly suited to the path I was carving out.

Out of all the rewards, I knew the second would be invaluable—the Chamber of Shadows could very well hold the key to forming my Sword Heart once I reached the Wall in about two years.

"Are you satisfied?" Valerie asked, folding her arms, her tone playful.

I nodded. "Couldn't have chosen better myself."

"A sword, an isolation chamber, and wealth," she teased, a glint of amusement in her eye. "Only fitting for the Academy's resident royal heartthrob."

I winced, meeting her gaze with narrowed, accusatory eyes. "Please, don't encourage the rumors."

Her grin widened. "Smoke always comes from fire, Arthur."

'Not when the fire's just a girl thanking me for saving her life!' I thought, though I knew that wasn't all there was to it.

Then her expression shifted, a spark of curiosity lighting her eyes. "One more thing—how did you manage to manifest astral energy, even in its incomplete form? Astral energy isn't something I've seen any non Ascendant-ranker use, I don't think nobody has in fact. Individuals with two Gifts did exist before you and Lucifer, back in the days of Julius Slatemark, but pseudo-astral energy? That's something new entirely."

I took a breath. "I made my sword resonate," I admitted. Trusting Valerie von Lampez was a given—she'd trained me rigorously before last year's Sovereign's Tournament, helped me craft my Grade 6 art, and pushed me to a level where even Ren Kagu couldn't match me and Lucifer had to unlock his second Gift to beat me.

Her eyes widened in astonishment, studying me with a blend of disbelief and intrigue. "Sword Resonance? But… you're still so far from the Wall. How on earth did you manage it?"

Despite the incredulity in her tone, she wasn't wrong. The Wall was a distant milestone, and my resonance was, truthfully, a product of chance rather than skill.

"Luck, mostly," I said with a faint smile, the irony not lost on me. 'Seems I'm the one with plot armor now,' I mused. 'Funny how that didn't kick in when Lucifer just happened to unlock his second Gift.'

Valerie's expression softened into a knowing smile, as if she'd guessed the wheels turning in my mind. "Luck or not, the feat remains. Resonating your sword at beginning of Integration-rank—well, Arthur, even the Wall won't stand so high when the time comes."

"Maybe so," I replied, a faint warmth in her words settling over me. But I knew better than to lean on luck alone. Scaling the Wall would take more than happenstance.

Valerie leaned back, still studying me, a look of rare approval crossing her face. "If you're starting with resonance now… it makes me wonder how far you'll actually go. But no more heavy talk for today. Go enjoy what's left of the semester." She winked. "Even the strongest need a break from the serious now and then."

As I stepped out of the room, I found Seraphina waiting just outside. She looked up, her usual stoic expression softening into a bright smile the moment she saw me. The sight was striking, her silver hair catching the light like threads of moonlit silk, her ice-blue eyes gleaming with a warmth she so rarely showed.

'Breathtaking,' I thought, nearly stopping in my tracks.

She was half-elven, her heritage reflected in her slightly pointed ears and the ethereal quality that surrounded her like a veil. Seraphina had always been beautiful, an ice queen with a steady, unbreakable gaze. But here she was, her smile melting that icy exterior, her entire face aglow. 

"I didn't expect to see you here, Sera," I greeted, unable to keep a hint of warmth from my voice. She practically radiated joy, a side of her I rarely saw. I wanted to know the person behind that light, the one who was so much more than the cool composure she wore in front of others. 

"Arthur," she said, her tone brimming with a rare happiness. Her usual guarded tone slipped for a moment as she let out a soft laugh, glancing at me with a spark of excitement that felt like shared, unspoken understanding.

As we walked and talked, her laughter echoed down the hallway, and for a moment, it was just the two of us, wrapped in a quiet warmth that transcended the grandeur of Mythos Academy.

Yet, the thought lingered at the edge of my mind. I had to find out how I'd come into this world—why I'd been brought here. Only then, perhaps, could I even consider a future with any of the people who'd made this life feel so real.