The Fourth

That morning, the atmosphere at Zephyrus Academy felt different. It wasn't because of the weather or the noise of the students, but rather, there was something that made Damian uncomfortable, like there was a big problem waiting.

Damian, Liam, Elric, and Lucien were sitting under a tree in the school garden, which was their favorite place because the wind was cool and far from the gossip of Zephyrus Academy students.

Elric was still busy chewing two sandwiches in his mouth when he turned around and asked Damian, "Do you seriously still feel that Nero isn't the culprit?"

Damian stared at the students in front of him, who were practicing magic in the academy garden, thinking about Elric's question.

"Yeah. I mean… he's scary, but not the type who would endanger other people's lives, let alone become a kidnapper. Moreover, the one who was kidnapped wasn't an ordinary student, the one who was kidnapped was Kyle Ardent. I think Kyle's strength is no less strong than Nero's, but it seems that the one who kidnapped Kyle is someone who is much stronger than all of us."

Besides Damian, Lucien remained calm as usual. "From the way he fights and his personality, it seems like he prefers to solve problems directly, not through kidnapping. Just look at when he came straight to Damian to fight at school during break time."

Liam, with that alert expression, was cleaning his magic revolver. "But the evidence and witnesses all point to Nero. We can't just ignore the facts, Mr. Damian."

Damian took a deep breath and exhaled. "That's why I said, I feel like he's not the culprit… not that I'm 100 percent sure that he's not the culprit. There's still a chance that he is the culprit, but I just didn't think Nero could kidnap Kyle that easily, and I also don't think Nero is that type of person."

Elric chewed harder and said after swallowing his food. "That's a small difference, Damian. It's all clear that Nero was the one who did the kidnapping, because one type of Affinity can only be possessed by one person in this world. Unless the person who has that power is dead, it's possible that the power can be possessed by someone else."

Their silence was broken as footsteps approached, light but audible. Nero came from behind them and sat down next to Lucien, making the other students in the school yard tense until some began to leave the school yard slowly.

Without saying anything, Nero took a piece of Elric's sandwich. "I'm hungry," he said simply, then began to eat.

Lucien glanced at Damian. Elric flashed a small smile. Liam started to put his revolver into his waist holster, clearly uncomfortable, but remained silent.

Damian looked at Nero, his voice calm, "It's okay, just eat. We haven't finished determining who Kyle's kidnapper really is."

Nero stopped chewing. His eyes stared at Damian for a few seconds, then he nodded slowly, as if agreeing not to accuse him directly, and preferring to wait until the real facts were revealed.

Professor Limbert sat on a chair in the principal's office, his sharp eyes scrutinizing the report that Elric and Lucien had just submitted. He looked at every detail of the report carefully, illuminated by the sunlight from outside his window.

"The shadow disappeared without a trace… There is only one person in this academy who is capable of doing such a thing," Professor Limbert muttered softly, confused and unable to accept the fact.

Instructor Drein stood up from his chair, his face shocked at the possibility of the perpetrator other than Nero. "Could it be that he is the perpetrator? But the news said that the person is dead, but there are also those who say that he is still alive and has been seen somewhere."

Professor Limbert held the paper until his hands shook in shock, holding back the doubts that disturbed his mind. He stared at Instructor Drein with a serious face, his tone slightly panicked but still audible. "There's no way he is dead. But other than Nero, the only one who can perform the shadow affinity ability is him, and if he is really the one who carried out this kidnapping, then the threat we face is much more dangerous. Because that means that person is still alive and has made big plans for the Painting…"

Damian dreamed that he was in the room where the ancient painting was kept, then he touched the painting, and the painting emitted a white light like the time when he touched it for the first time.

Suddenly, a very clear voice was heard,

"Damian Kade, you have a very great destiny. This painting is only a small part of the problems that will await you in the future. You have a strong soul, therefore, you have the greatest destiny compared to your other 5 friends. Hone your strength, because you will need it in the future to protect the people that you love."

At the end of the voice, Damian saw slowly that the shadow from under his feet began to move towards the painting and began to spread to all parts of the painting, until all parts of the painting were covered by the shadow. Instantly, the painting disappeared from in front of him, along with the shadow. After that, the shadow from below him strangled his neck, and Damian then screamed and woke up from his dream.

Damian coughed when he woke up, then he took a deep breath. He sat on the edge of the bed, his hands shaking, wiping the sweat on his forehead.

Slowly, he regulated his breathing until his heartbeat calmed down a bit. The rising sun's light began to seep through the curtains, illuminating his dorm room.

"I have to get stronger," Damian muttered.

"Did that dream mean something big was about to start?" Damian muttered again.

A mysterious figure stood in front of a mirror in a dark room. In the reflection of the mirror, there were photos of Damian, Nero, and Elric, as if their images had been taken secretly. The figure said, "I didn't expect to be able to defeat and prove that I am stronger than three of the six people chosen by the ancient painting, but I still hope that the fourth will appear." He raised his hand, giving an order, "Keep an eye on them, but don't act yet. Because it's not the time for us to act yet."

A soft laugh filled the room as the figure lowered his head and said, "Let them feel that they are the ones who will change the fate of this world. Only then will I show them who is stronger, and I will only prove the falsity of the gods."

After that, his laughter became louder and he began to shout as if convincing himself, "The ancient painting is wrong, wrong, wrong… You should have pointed to me, because only I am worthy of changing the fate of this world."

Then he laughed loudly, and darkness began to cover the room again.

That morning in the classroom, the atmosphere was a bit tense as Instructor Drein began the lesson. "Okay, students," his voice was firm, "starting today, some of you will receive further assignments based on your respective performances."

Some students cheered enthusiastically, while others looked panicked. Damian just lowered his head, his eyes scanning the notes in front of him. Beside him, Liam immediately took notes quickly.

"Instructor Drein, Master Damian must be in," Liam replied. "I have prepared additional study strategies."

Damian grimaced slightly. He turned to Liam and joked, "Sometimes I regret having you as a partner."

Liam stared at him expressionlessly, then replied casually, "But you can't live without me either."

Damian laughed softly. Indeed, he couldn't deny the truth.

After the last bell rang, Elric packed his books faster than the other students. Damian still looked pensive, his fingers tapping the table.

"Elric, come here," he said softly as they left the classroom.

Elric came to Damian's desk and said, "Why, is there a problem?"

Damian replied, "Wait until the other students leave the classroom."

"Okay," Elric replied.

After the classroom was empty and only the two of them were left, because Liam was asked by Damian to buy him food. Damian started talking to Elric,

"I'm still thinking about my dream last night… the voice said I have the greatest destiny compared to your five friends. So does that mean my five friends are you, and our friends, right?" Damian said.

Elric stopped and looked at his best friend. "You mean, maybe it's not just the two of us who can trigger the mural reaction? But our other friends can too?"

"Yes, that's what I mean, but Nero can also activate the ancient painting, and he's not one of our friends who went to isekai. So this theory doesn't seem 100% likely to work. Well, I'm just curious, who knows, maybe Lucien can make the painting react. Because he's strong and one of us." Damian replied seriously.

Elric stood up from where he was sitting at Damian's table. "Your thinking makes sense, but if Lucien succeeds, that means 4 out of 6 can make the painting react, while our friends still have 1….2….3…., there are 3 more since there are six of us. That means there's one of the six of us who won't make the painting react, but I think it's a bit strange. What I'm thinking is, what if Nero is one of us?" Damian answered with a stiff face and was about to cry, "Yeah, that's it for me, I just thought about it again, and if he's one of us, he must really hate me. I was thinking earlier… why don't we invite Lucien to join the night training? But never mind, I'm not ready to face Nero's problem, if it really happens."

Elric smiled mischievously. "Okay, then we'll invite Lucien. I think the reason we're going to tell Lucien is that we need one more person for sparring practice. Lucien is strong, so it's logical that we suggest him to Professor Limbert."

Damian answered with an annoyed face at Elric, "Yeah…. well let's invite Lucien, I'm ready to accept the bitter reality if Nero is one of us, I'm ready to prostrate myself," while overthinking.

"Don't overthink, just take it easy. Don't think about Nero's problem yet." Said Elric.

Suddenly, Lucien walked past their classroom, and Damian immediately stood up and ran to pull Lucien's hand, who had just passed in front of their class. "Lucien... Professor Limbert said that the night training is short of people, so let's just invite you, since you're strong. How about it?"

Lucien was surprised for a moment, then lowered his head. "Night training? If I refuse, won't you guys get mad?"

Elric shrugged, pretending to be offended. "I'll be hurt if you don't come."

Lucien held back a smile. "Okay, I'll come."

At Night, in the Training Arena

The night training arena was lit by the magic lights and the moonlight. Professor Limbert stood with his arms crossed, his face looking tired. Damian, Elric, and Lucien were already ready, with swords and shields.

Professor Limbert looked at Damian and Elric and took a deep breath. "You guys aren't tired, are you? I told you that night training is only for the chosen ones, and you brought Lucien?"

Damian spoke while looking down, "Sorry, Professor Limbert. We thought… he could help with the sparring."

Elric spoke with a proud smile, "Yes, Professor, he's strong, he can make the training more exciting."

Professor Limbert shook his head, tidying up his hair that was starting to get messy, "Exciting? This isn't a playground for you guys! I almost fainted watching you two."

Then the three-way sparring began, and Nero was told to take a break by Professor Limbert, because he had previously practiced dueling with Professor Limbert.

The three-way sparring process began, with Professor Limbert watching seriously. Damian, Elric, and Lucien were already in position. Suddenly, the ground beneath their feet shook.

Professor Limbert frowned. "Stop! Everyone, return to your respective rooms!"

Damian and Elric smiled and looked at each other, knowing what they had done. Professor Limbert reprimanded Damian and Elric, "Did you bring Lucien here on purpose for the Painting experiment?"

They tried to defend themselves, "Professor, we thought he…"

"There's no excuse," Professor Limbert interrupted firmly. "You two will be given extra punishment this morning."

In the corner of the arena, Nero shook his head as he leaned against the wall, yawning softly. "I'm tired of watching their stupid behavior," he muttered softly, then he walked towards the exit.

Damian and Elric could only scratch their heads, resigned to accepting their punishment. Lucien and Elric took a leisurely walk after their night training. Elric broke the silence, "Yo, did you feel the vibrations earlier?"

Lucien nodded seriously. "Yes. It seems like something strange happened, and earlier, about the painting, Professor Limbert also told me that the painting reacted to me."

Elric replied, "Yes, the painting should have reacted to you according to my guess with Damian, but it's strange if it even vibrates the ground of the training arena."

They then looked at each other, realizing that a bigger mystery had just begun.

After that, Lucien suddenly asked while narrowing his eyes, "Ohhh so you really tested me with that painting?"

Elric then answered in fear, "Yes, that's right." Then they looked at each other, and Elric suddenly ran away, and Lucien chased after Elric while trying to finish him off.