The Headmaster of the Magic Academy of Saint Heines, Jared Valuras

"Freya, shall we begin?"

Upon hearing this, Freya's face turned as red as an apple, and she simply gave a small nod while burying her face in Roel's arms.

After receiving Freya's consent, Roel smiled happily, and without further delay, he gently pressed Freya onto the bed to begin their first lesson on life.

...

In a spacious workspace, a middle-aged man sat at his desk, sifting through a pile of documents.

Despite his age, his face remained handsome and youthful, seemingly untouched by time.

His short, blonde hair contrasted with his striking green eyes, which were captivating in their beauty.

Clad in white mage robes adorned with golden star patterns, he radiated a regal aura—calm yet sharp.

He was Jared Valuras, the leader and headmaster of the Academy of Magic Saint Heines.

As the academy's head, his power was unmatched, making him one of the most formidable figures in the world.

Even Julius, the ruler of the other two human kingdoms, along with the leaders of other races like demons and dragons, showed him proper respect.

With a calm expression and a faint smile, he picked up each document, read it carefully, and signed it.

As headmaster, the ever-growing workload made it difficult for him to get proper rest.

*Knock!*

A knock echoed from the door on the far side of his workspace.

But Jared continued his work, unbothered by the interruption.

"Come in," he ordered nonchalantly.

*Clack!*

The door opened, revealing a beautiful woman with shoulder-length brown hair and glasses resting on her face.

She had a slender figure and was fairly tall for a woman. She wore a bluish-white dress, the standard attire for female teachers at the Academy.

Though designed for uniformity, it fit her well, accentuating her curves in certain areas, such as her chest and hips.

Seeing Jared still buried in his work, she let out a small sigh and stepped inside.

"It's late, and you're still working like this, Headmaster. Aren't you tired?" She asked, displeased.

Jared, in the middle of signing a document, paused and looked up.

"Don't worry, Rose. I'm used to it," he replied casually, a small smile on his lips.

Then, as if she wasn't even there, he returned to his work.

Rose crossed her arms, clearly dissatisfied. She wanted to scold him but ended up holding back her words.

"I'll make some coffee for you."

With that, she walked over to the minibar at the side of the room and began preparing a cup.

Five minutes later, she returned with a tray in hand, carefully placing the coffee on the right side of Jared's desk.

"Drink this to ease your headache," Rose said gently.

Jared paused for a moment before setting down his pen and taking a sip.

The rich blend of bitterness, sweetness, and warmth spread across his tongue before flowing down his throat, instantly refreshing him.

He smiled at Rose. "Thanks for the coffee, Rose. You were destined for me—you always show up when I need you."

His teasing words made Rose's cheeks flush slightly.

Turning her face to the side, she scoffed, "Don't say such things. That's really disgusting."

Despite her apparent disdain, only she knew how happy she truly was.

Jared simply smiled, making no further comment, as if he already understood her feelings.

"So," he said, placing the coffee cup back on the saucer, "what brings you to my workspace this late? Surely, it's not just to make me coffee?"

Rose rolled her eyes in irritation before pulling a letter from her pocket.

She placed it on the desk and said, "This is a letter from Dean Ronald. He's currently accompanying your beloved student in the Arcadia Empire. The contents may concern their condition."

"Oh?" Jared raised an eyebrow in interest before taking the letter and reading it carefully.

In the blink of an eye, his curious expression vanished, replaced by gloom and fury.

*Boom!*

The overwhelming aura of a level 11 mage burst from his body, shaking the entire workspace.

Rose jolted in shock, her eyes widening in horror as she struggled to stay upright.

"Headmaster, what's wrong?" She asked anxiously, struggling to keep her balance against the overwhelming force.

But Jared didn't hear her. His rage surged like a relentless tsunami, threatening to consume everything around him.

Through her growing panic, she watched as Jared abruptly stood up and commanded, "Summon Daniel and Jacob to my workspace immediately!"

Sensing the urgency in his voice, Rose pushed aside her confusion and responded without hesitation, "Understood, Headmaster!"

She had no idea what had triggered his fury, but she was certain of one thing—it had to be related to the letter he had just read.

And whatever was in it, she could only assume it was something terrible concerning Roel, Jared's most cherished student.

For now, she shoved her thoughts aside and hurried out of the room, leaving Jared alone.

As the door closed behind her, Jared's anger gradually faded until it completely dissipated.

He stared at the letter, his face shadowed with distress and sorrow. "So... it has finally begun."

Clenching his fists, he bit his lower lip and murmured, "Roel, you must endure this… This is fate's trial to shape your future…"

...

A/N: Ahem! It's been almost a year since my last update. I got caught up with life and completely forgot about this novel. But now I'm back and will be updating daily. Thank you!