Albert The warrior scholar

After finishing yet another bowl of ramen, Hugo leaned back in his seat, satisfied.

Iris smirked at him, clearly pleased with herself, while the rest of the group sighed in resignation.

Ethan stretched. "Alright, we've been running around nonstop for days. We should take this chance to actually relax."

Lena nodded. "Yeah. The Sage said Hugo's training resumes tomorrow, so we might as well enjoy the city while we can."

Darius grinned. "Alright, then—let's split up."

The group agreed.

The girls—Lena, Stella, and Iris—decided to go shopping in the market district.The boys—Hugo, Darius, Nathan, and Ethan—chose to wander the city, taking in the sights.

And so, they parted ways.

The marketplace in Lunaris Sanctum was unlike any other.

Instead of loud merchants and traders shouting over one another, the shops were quiet and orderly, each displaying rare artifacts, enchanted jewelry, and Arcana-infused relics.

Lena, walking ahead, smirked as she noticed the subtle way Stella was looking at things.

Unlike Iris, who remained calm and observant, Stella was clearly searching for something.

Then—she stopped.

Inside a small, glass display case, she saw a pendant.

Half of it was a golden sun, the other a silver moon—blended together into one perfect design.

Stella's eyes widened slightly.

It looked exactly like the one she had given Hugo back in Requiem Republic.

She hesitated.

And that's when Lena struck.

She stepped closer, grinning. "Huh. Interesting."

Stella flinched slightly. "What?"

Lena tilted her head innocently. "Nothing, nothing. Just… you sure seem interested in that pendant. Reminds you of something?"

Stella narrowed her eyes. "Lena…"

Lena chuckled. "Relax, I'm just saying—it's cute. Symbolic. A warrior of the sun and moon… sound familiar?"

Stella's cheeks tinged slightly pink.

Iris, watching from the side, hid a smirk behind her hand.

Stella quickly looked away. "It's just a coincidence."

Lena didn't believe her for a second. "Uh-huh. Sure."

Iris finally spoke, smug as ever. "You should buy it."

Stella groaned.

Lena grinned wider. "Yeah. Give it to a certain someone. Again."

Stella shot them both a glare before turning back to the pendant.

She stared at it for a long moment.

Then—**quietly—**she bought it.

Lena and Iris exchanged knowing glances.

They weren't going to let her forget this.

Meanwhile, Hugo, Darius, Nathan, and Ethan walked through the city's grand plazas, taking in the beautiful architecture and ancient designs.

Then—they stumbled upon something unexpected.

A massive statue stood in the center of one of the courtyards.

It depicted a warrior—a man clad in ornate armor, a book in one hand, a blade resting against his shoulder in the other.

Nathan tilted his head. "Huh. A warrior statue? In a scholar city?"

Ethan nodded. "Yeah, that's weird. I thought this place was all about books and research."

Darius crossed his arms. "So, what? Who's this guy?"

Hugo stepped forward, looking up at the statue.

Then, he spoke.

"That's Albert. The Warrior Scholar."

Nathan blinked. "Who?"

Hugo closed his eyes briefly, as if recalling an old memory.

"He was my master."

The group stared at him.

Ethan's eyes widened slightly. "Wait… you had a master?"

Hugo nodded. "Before I became the Hero of the Eclipse… before the war… Albert trained me."

Nathan looked back at the statue. "So, he was a fighter?"

Hugo exhaled. "Not just a fighter. A genius. He created countless advanced techniques—many of which are still studied today. His teachings shaped the entire foundation of Arcana combat."

Darius whistled. "Damn. Sounds like a legend."

Hugo nodded. "He was."

Then, his expression darkened.

Nathan noticed the shift in his tone. "…What happened to him?"

Hugo's jaw tightened.

"He was killed."

A heavy silence settled over the group.

Ethan's expression hardened. "…By who?"

Hugo's voice was low.

"An Enforcer of the Abyss Empire."

Nathan frowned. "Abyss Empire? That's one of the Five Great Nations, right?"

Hugo nodded. "Yes. Before the Eclipse War, they were one of the dominant factions serving under the Perfect Life Forms. Their Enforcers were their strongest warriors—executioners, assassins, warlords."

Darius crossed his arms. "And one of them killed your master?"

Hugo exhaled. "Yes."

He looked back up at Albert's statue, his expression unreadable.

"…He died protecting knowledge. Defending what he believed in."

Nathan clenched his fists. "So what happened to the Enforcer? Did you get revenge?"

Hugo didn't answer.

Instead, he simply turned away from the statue and continued walking.

Nathan and the others exchanged looks before following him.

Some scars were still too deep to reopen.

As twilight faded into night, Eclipse Zero regrouped at a cozy inn near the city center. The lanterns lining the streets flickered softly, illuminating the ancient buildings in a soothing glow.

The girls were the first to arrive at the inn, Stella still clutching the sun-and-moon pendant tightly, earning another teasing glance from Lena.

"Bought the pendant, huh?" Lena nudged her gently.

Stella's cheeks warmed slightly. "Shut up."

Iris smirked knowingly but said nothing, clearly enjoying Stella's embarrassment.

Moments later, Hugo and the others joined them. Nathan was still full of energy, chatting animatedly about the statue they'd discovered.

"You guys should've seen it!" Nathan said excitedly. "Apparently, the statue is of Hugo's old master—Albert, the Warrior Scholar!"

Lena raised an eyebrow. "Your master?"

Hugo nodded calmly. "He taught me most of what I know about combat and Arcana. He shaped who I am."

Darius leaned back in his chair, impressed. "Guess that explains a few things."

Ethan crossed his arms, thoughtful. "You never mentioned him before."

Hugo's expression softened, just for a moment. "Some memories are harder to talk about."

The group fell quiet, sensing Hugo's shift in mood.

Eventually, Lena stood up, breaking the silence. "We should rest. Tomorrow's going to be rough."

The team agreed quietly and dispersed, heading toward their rooms.

Late at night, the rest of Eclipse Zero was asleep, their breathing quiet and steady.

But Hugo sat at the edge of his bed, eyes fixed on Cosmos resting on the bedside table. He felt tired, yet his mind wouldn't allow him rest.

He couldn't stop thinking of Albert.

Of his final lesson.

The old master's voice echoed clearly in Hugo's mind, despite the thousand years since he last heard it.

"Remember, Hugo—a man only truly dies when the world forgets about him."

Those words had never felt heavier.

Hugo closed his eyes, memories flooding back.

He remembered Albert's final smile, his calm determination in the face of certain death. He remembered the anger, the grief, the helplessness.

But he also remembered Albert's wisdom.

"If the world remembers, then you never truly die."

Hugo opened his eyes, gazing toward the window, moonlight illuminating his tired features.

Quietly, he promised himself again:

I will never let the world forget.

With a deep breath, Hugo finally laid back, allowing himself to rest, knowing tomorrow would demand even more of him.

But for now, at least, he felt at peace.

The room was dim, the pale glow of moonlight filtering gently through the curtains. Hugo was lost in thought when a soft knock at the door interrupted his reflection.

"Come in," he said quietly.

The door creaked open, and Nathan stepped inside, looking hesitant but determined. His gaze quickly met Hugo's, his eyes uncertain yet curious.

"What's wrong?" Hugo asked gently.

Nathan shuffled nervously, then finally sat down at the edge of Hugo's bed, the Arc-Hammer resting on the floor beside him.

"I couldn't sleep," Nathan admitted. "I kept thinking about what you said earlier—about your master, Albert."

Hugo raised an eyebrow, waiting patiently.

Nathan hesitated, looking away briefly. "You...mentioned you struggled, too. Back when you were learning."

Hugo exhaled softly, nodding. "Yeah. I did."

Nathan looked surprised. "But...you're the strongest warrior in history. You're immortal, practically invincible. How could someone like you ever struggle?"

Hugo chuckled softly. "Nathan, no one starts out strong. Especially me."

Nathan stepped closer, genuinely curious. "So, Albert—how did he teach you?"

Hugo smiled slightly, his eyes distant. "He taught me that strength wasn't enough. He made me understand patience, control, and how to accept my own failures."

Nathan's brows knitted. "You...failed?"

Hugo laughed softly. "Constantly. Albert always said that failing was the only way to truly understand success. I was stubborn—hot-headed. It took me a long time to accept it."

Nathan lowered his gaze, gripping his Arc-Hammer nervously. "I always thought strength alone could solve everything. Until you showed up."

Hugo sighed. "I was the same way, once. But Albert taught me that a warrior who only relies on strength is weak. True strength comes from wisdom and control."

Nathan was quiet for a moment. "Do you think I could become like Cedric—or Albert?"

Hugo placed a reassuring hand on Nathan's shoulder. "You're already on your way. Trust yourself, learn from your mistakes, and never forget why you fight."

Nathan finally relaxed, a small smile crossing his face. "Thanks, Hugo."

"Of course," Hugo replied, gently ruffling Nathan's hair.

Nathan nodded, standing slowly. "Goodnight, Hugo."

Hugo smiled faintly. "Goodnight."

Nathan quietly left, closing the door behind him.

Alone again, Hugo stared at the ceiling, Albert's words lingering clearly:

A man only dies when the world forgets him.

Tonight, Hugo remembered—and so did Nathan.

Perhaps that was enough.