In a secluded training room nestled within Cleave Hall, the sh of weaponry filled the air.


    The pristine white de, enveloped in a bluish-white aura, made a symphony of sounds as it sliced through the air. In response, the axe''s edge emanated a fiery, red aura, a destructive force reminiscent of hell itself.


    Boom!


    Explosions reverberated within the confines of the training room as the twobatants engaged in a fierce battle.


    The sh of des echoed loudly, their movements so swift and precise that they seemed to blur, making it nearly impossible for the naked eye to keep up.


    The room was an arena where sword and axe met in a dazzling disy of skill and power.


    Each movement was a dance, a choreography of strikes and parries, as thebatants sought to outmaneuver and overpower each other in this relentless sparring session.


    "Hey, take this seriously, junior!" admonished a red-haired student, her fiery axe gleaming in vibrant hues that mirrored the color of her hair.


    The amount of destructive energy and searing heat emanating from her fiery aurapressed the air around her, causing everything within a two-meter radius to melt under the sheer intensity.


    With a speed that transformed her into a streak of light, she lunged forward, striking with all her might against the seemingly unfazed swordsman standing before her.


    The sh of their weapons sent sparks flying, and the air crackled with the intensity of their duel.


    The red-haired student was determined to test the mettle of her opponent, pushing them to their limits in this challenging sparring session.


    Boom!


    "Tsk!"


    "You invited me here, and you''re acting like this. What''s wrong with you, man?" Evadne''s annoyance was evident, her fiery red hair practically ame as her fiery aura wrapped around it.


    She stared at the fallen Tristan on the ground, his eyes and mind seemingly lost in something.


    Despite appearing burnt and bearing a deep cut across his chest, he continued to gaze nkly at the ceiling with no trace of emotion.


    "You''re even ignoring me now? Tsk… Hey! Cousin, take care of your vegetable" she said to Alex, who was observing from the sidelines.


    Pointing behind Tristan, she made her way to the door, throwing herrge axe into the air with precision. Itnded just to the side of Tristan''s face as she exited the room.


    "Yes, sis!" Alex replied with a mix of worry and frustration. He stood at the side of the training room, observing the ongoing sh between Evadne and the seemingly detached Tristan.


    Despite a week passing since their unsessful attempts to locate Louise and the mysterious disappearance of Adrian, the situation showed no signs of improvement.


    Tristany on the ground, burnt and wounded; his eyes vacant as if lost in another realm.


    The cut across his chest remained unhealed, a visible reminder of their failures.


    The news about Adrian''s whereabouts continued to elude them, and Aria''s responses were repetitive, offering no substantial information.


    The atmosphere in the training room was tense, filled with a sense of helplessness.


    Alex couldn''t shake the feeling that they were missing crucial details, but every avenue they explored seemed to lead to dead ends.


    Despite the time spent together, the bond between Alex, Tristan, and Aria seemed to be unraveling.


    The pain of Aria''s indifference cut deep, leaving Alex sighing in resignation. It became evident that Aria never considered them true friends.


    The trio had shared experiences, faced challenges together, and built what they believed to be a connection.


    However, Aria''s distant gaze and cold demeanor shattered those perceptions. The hurt lingered as they grappled with the realization that, to Aria, they were seemingly inconsequential.


    Alex gazed at the fallen Tristan, still lost in a dazed state and coughing up blood. Attempting to lighten the mood.


    Alex jokingly asked, "You alright, buddy?" However, Tristan remained unresponsive, prompting Alex to sigh and stomp on Tristan''s head, causing cracks to form as his head sank into the already battered ground from Evadne''s earlier attack.


    As Tristan finally showed signs of awakening, Alex questioned, "Awake now?" The golden light enveloping Tristan began to heal all his wounds, burns, and any traces of pain, leaving himpletely restored.


    Observing Tristan''s miraculous healing, Alex couldn''t help butment on the usefulness of his holy powers. He spected on the potential consequences if the Holy Kingdom discovered the true extent of Tristan''s abilities, suggesting they might try to lock him up as a saint.


    With a chuckle, Alex added, "Though, with your personality, you''d technically be a saint."


    Tristan, now on his feet, looked at Alex and muttered, "I''m sorry..." The weight of his words hung in the air, leaving an unspoken tension between the two friends.


    Alex sighed as he observed the state of his friend, feeling a profound sense of pity. Despite Alex contemting giving up on the search for Louise, Tristan''s determination remained unwavering.


    His pure feeling for her remained unchanged.


    However, that determination began to wane, especially after more than a week had passed since her mysterious disappearance, he didn''t want to think about it but negative thoughts lingered his broken mind.


    The words his master told him made a long time ago began to resurface.


    "You look like the type to go down hard, so be careful of the kind and caring girls there, ok?" She said while gently patting Tristan''s head.


    "What do you mean by that master? are the girls at the academy as strong as you?"


    Smack!


    His head got smacked.


    "Do you really think there''s anyone stronger than me?"


    "No?"


    "Then you got your answer…. Anyway, I don''t know when but you''ll realize what I mean soon enough"


    Tristan chuckled slightly reminiscing about his master''s words.


    ''I get it now master''


    The absence of any trace of Louise leaving the school led to two usible scenarios: either she perished in the incident, and her body was incinerated along with the explosion, or someone in a position of authority deliberately concealed her whereabouts.


    Initially, suspicions fell on Adrian, considering he vanished simultaneously with Louise. The uncertainty surrounding their disappearances only deepened the mystery.


    ording to the official report provided by his teacher, Adrian''s absence was attributed to personal matters at his estate.


    As the son of a Duke, not just any Duke but the formidable leader of the imperial knights—the most powerful and strongest knight of the empire—it wasn''t umon for him to be entangled in family issues.


    This exnation aligned with what Aria consistently conveyed, emphasizing that Adrian was back at their home handling personal affairs.


    While Alex harbored genuine fondness for Louise and maintained a close friendship with her, his sentiments and thoughts paled inparison to the depth of Tristan''s emotions for her.


    Tristan''s feelings were evident in the way he gazed at and interacted with Louise during their brief time together.


    However, Louise seemed oblivious to Tristan''s sentiments, unable to grasp the depth of his emotions for her.


    Tristan, facing the added challenge of Louise''s apparent interest in his best friend Adrian, grappled with his feelings.


    The nuances of his personality dictated a more reserved approach, avoiding actions that might strain his friendship with Louise.


    Instead, hemitted himself to the idea of being a steadfast and supportive presence in her life, finding sce in the notion of contributing to her happiness.


    Despite harboring a silent desire for Louise to reciprocate the dreamy looks she often directed at Adrian, Tristan epted the current state of affairs.


    The mystery surrounding Louise''s sudden disappearance posed a formidable obstacle to any aspirations he might have had.


    Rumors circted within the student body, specting on Louise''s fate, with some even suggesting the grim possibility of her demise.


    However, these conjectures were short-lived as any discussion rted to the incident at district hall faced strict suppression.


    Higher authorities initiated thorough investigations, rendering the schoolmunity incapable of openly addressing the events.


    The severity of the matterpelled students to maintain silence, veiling the entire ordeal in a shroud of secrecy.


    The atmosphere within the school became tense, as the unspoken fear of the unknown permeated every corner of the institution.


    "Cheer up, buddy," Alex said with a hearty smack on Tristan''s back, apanied by his infectious, warm smile.


    Tristan responded with a subdued, "Yeah..."


    Exiting the training room, the two friends made their way back to Estelle Hall. To their surprise, upon leaving Cleave Hall, they were greeted by the sight of the sun already setting. Lost in their thoughts and concerns, they had inadvertently allowed time to slip away in the training hall.


    Returning to Lucian Hall, they noticed a regal-looking carriage parked in front of the entrance. Despite encountering many carriages before, this one stood out as one of the most luxurious they had ever seen. The unfamiliar g and insignia adorning the carriage piqued their curiosity, sparking a shared sense of intrigue as they approached the mysterious vehicle.


    As Tristan and Alex drew nearer, their eyes widened in shock at the unexpected sight.


    There, on the other side of the luxurious carriage, stood the person they had been searching for over a week—Adrian.


    Aria embraced him with an intensity that spoke of long-awaited reunion?


    But the way she hugged him, with those affectionate eyes and slightly blushing cheeks, suggested a different narrative.


    ''What''s going on?'' Alex thought suspiciously.


    "I''ve missed you!" Aria eximed; her excitement unabated.


    "Calm down, Aria. People might see us and—"


    Adrian''s attempt to temper Aria''s exuberance halted as he noticed the two stunned onlookers.


    Meeting Tristan and Alex''s astonished gaze, he mustered a troubled smile and greeted them.


    "H-hello, Tristan, Alex! Long time no see?"