Hidden question

"Mr. Rio, are you unaware that three of us are already members of noble families? How do you expect us to become students of some random family? Are you insulting us?" Aizis asked with a casual expression, though a hint of seriousness lingered just beneath the surface.

"How dare you call us a random family! Don't you dare to defy the Neiron family?" a middle-aged man with black hair shouted angrily, His face flushed red with anger.

"Shut up and lower your voice, scum," Maria retorted, releasing a powerful wave of magic pressure.

The intensity of her mana spread across the entire stadium, creating an oppressive atmosphere.

"Please, calm down, everyone. We are not here to fight," Rio said gently.

"Sit down, Maria," Raizel said calmly.

Maria stared at Raizel for a moment before silently sitting down.

"Well, since Mr. Aizis, Ms. Maria, and Mr. Marco have declined the Neiron family's offer, they are officially out of the event. Now, I would like to ask Mr. Edward Raizel for his decision. Since you are not a noble, we do not have complete information about your identity. Therefore, we cannot confirm whether you are of noble blood or not. So, kindly let us know your decision," Rio asked politely.

"I refuse. I do not wish to join any of the noble families as a student," Raizel replied, casual.

The entire stadium erupted in shock. It wasn't surprising for a noble to refuse to join another noble family, but for a non-noble like Raizel to reject such an offer was unheard of. The audience was left wondering about his reasoning.

"I will not be joining the Neiron family. I only participated in this event for a specific reason. I kindly ask that they do not pursue me any further," Raizel stated firmly.

Aizis smiled faintly and stood up, then began to speak.

"My dear fellow nobles, if you believe Raizel will join any noble family, you are mistaken. Regardless of your power and influence, you cannot change the decision he has made. So, I suggest you give up. I know you are eager to claim him after witnessing his overwhelming magic power and battle sense. Unfortunately, none of you will get him for your clan," Aizis said calmly, smiling a bit.

The nobles did not respond. The entire stadium fell silent. One by one, the audience quietly left after the event. After finishing the final formalities at the academy, the group left the premises.

As they walked down the street, Raizel moved forward alongside the others.

"So this was your decision from the beginning. I had a feeling," Maria commented.

Raizel remained silent.

"No matter how high their status is, none of them are worthy of being Raizel's teacher—nor ours. We have simply transcended the level that nobles can reach, so we have no reason to be their disciples," Aizis stated calmly.

As they walked, a sudden flash of light appeared in front of them. Someone had teleported there.

It was a familiar face to Raizel—a very familiar face.

It was his father, Edward Rionel.

"You?" Raizel asked, slightly surprised.

"Yes, it's me," Rionel responded, smiling.

"Uncle Rionel? Why are you here?" Aizis asked in surprise.

"I'm here to invite you all to my home for a celebration," Rionel said with a warm smile.

"Celebration? That sounds pretty interesting," Maria said with a smile, excited.

"Yeah, since we won the event, why don't we celebrate? Let's go," Marco said, smiling.

"Fine," Raizel replied with a sigh.

"Well then, let's go, guys," Rionel said, smiling.

Rionel drew a magic circle that enveloped all of them, and with a flash of purple light, they teleported away.

They appeared in front of Raizel's home—a grand residential building adorned with the artwork of a purple dragon on its front.

"Please, come inside, everyone," Rionel said gently.

One by one, they entered the building, stepping into a quiet and calm room—the entrance hall of the residence.

"Wow, everything looks so expensive. It's much better than any noble house I've visited—no, it's not even comparable. This is amazing," Maria said, her face filled with astonishment. 

"Of course, there's an obvious reason for that.'' Aizis replied.

''You'll find out soon enough," Aizis added with a slight smile.

"Fine, I'll wait for that," Maria said.

They settled into the guest room. Everything around them—the sofa, the table, the showpieces—was luxurious and glowing. The sheer opulence made Marco and Maria wonder: What kind of person could decorate their home like this? The question lingered in their minds.

"So, everyone, how do you feel after such a great performance?" Rionel asked with a smile.

"It wasn't much. You already know that, Uncle Rionel," Aizis said gently.

Rionel laughed awkwardly.

"Of course, it was excellent, but you still have a long way to go. There's no limit to how strong you can become. You just need to believe in yourselves," Rionel said calmly and kindly. 

"That's true, but do you really think we'll surpass someone like you?" Aizis asked with a faint smile.

"Me? I shouldn't be your goal. Your goal should be something beyond our current understanding. You must transcend endlessly, and one day, you'll discover your true selves." 

"Maybe. We're trying our best, but I don't know if it's enough," Aizis replied, her expression downcast.

"Don't worry. As long as you're giving your all, no one can stop you. This is how everyone ascends higher and higher, finding their true selves." 

"Then keep us in your prayers, Uncle Edward Rionel—the strongest Magic Lord and ruler of the realm," Aizis said with a smirk.

Rionel smiled faintly, showing no extra emotion.

Both Marco and Maria were stunned.

"What? The ruler of the realm and the strongest Magic Lord?" Marco exclaimed, his face filled with shock.

"I've heard of him, but he's always been a shadowy figure. They say he's the one who controls everything in the realm," Maria said, equally surprised.

"So, is that the reason for Raizel's decline?" Marco asked.

Rionel glanced at Raizel, who remained expressionless.

"I don't know. But I believe the reason he declined is because I asked him—no, I ordered him—to decline their offer," Rionel replied in a pained tone.

"He takes it as an order. Our pleas, our requests—every word we say is an order to him. He doesn't exist for himself; he exists to fulfill orders," Rionel thought, a tear slipping from his eye. He wiped it away before anyone noticed.

"I did it because he asked me to. I don't need any other reason. He ordered me, so I did it. That's all," Raizel said gently.

"Have you ever done anything on your own, you rotten weapon? You always act on others' orders. I've seen it since the day we met," Maria said harshly.

"Maria, watch your tone. I don't want to be rude to you," Aizis said, glaring at Maria with hostility.

Raizel didn't respond.

"I'm sorry, everyone. I have an errand to attend to. I apologize for not joining the celebration," Rionel said suddenly, He was trying to hide something, but it was clear to them. His eyes could no longer hold back the tears—his expression kept betraying him.

Before anyone could reply, he teleported away.

As soon as he left, Raizel stood up and headed toward his room, located next to the guest room.

"Raizel? What's wrong?" Marco asked, surprised and curious.

Raizel left the room without a word.

"Why is he like that?'' Maria spoke with curiosity, but there was a question hidden in her eyes. She looked confused, surprised—and afraid. Her eyes trembled, revealing a lonely, unfamiliar expression—a mix of sorrow and longing.

I will find it out at any cost," Maria said, confidently. There was a hidden strength and eager in her expression.

Marco and Maria teleported away in a flash of light, leaving the room silent.

"Could any of you face the same conflict Raizel has? Can you even begin to imagine the suffering—the endless pain he's endured? I'll keep that question to myself," Aizis said calmly.

He left the house, walking down the street. As he walked, tears welled up in his eyes, but he wiped them away quickly.

"Don't worry, Raizel. Soon enough, you'll understand the reason behind all of this. You'll find what you lack. You'll see the bright, colorful world hidden beneath the dark fog. I know you'll see it soon.''

''The wars, the destruction, the conflicts—they're keeping the world from becoming flawless. But I believe you'll be the one to turn it into a paradise, free from conflict. Everything you've done in your life is just a step toward creating the true you—a creator of a flawless world. I know you're the one who can do it, Raizel," Aizis said, his voice calm but broken.

As he walked, Aizis vanished into the night.

Night fell, and the moon rose. After dinner, everyone went to bed, including Raizel. But something was troubling him, keeping him awake. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't shake the thought.

"I have to do it as soon as possible. If I don't deal with them now, I can't ensure the safety of the world. I feels like they're preparing to do something. I must take care of them immediately," Raizel thought, his desperation evident. His body trembled as he lay there, unable to sleep.