We talked for more minutes and started to walk toward the Academy.


    We arrived at the academy and spent a few minutes crossing the campus before entering our ssroom building.


    But the second we stepped inside the ssroom, it felt as though every eye in the room swivelled toward us – specifically, toward me.


    "What''s this?" I murmured under my breath.


    Sunny smiled and shrugged, whispering an answer barely loud enough for me to hear.


    "Well, you are popr now."


    I frowned at the Sunny. Yes, I know that I became popr after Silva City Massacor but not enough that everyone started giving me a look.


    "Also, everyone knew that you are a disciple of Yato."


    And the next word of Sunny, I stopped in my tracks, my eyes widened in shock.


    How? And Why?


    I turned my head toward Sunny and whispered in a low voice "How everyone about this? I didn''t tell anyone, and also why didn''t you tell me earlier? Now feeling very awkward."


    Sunny chuckled at my behaviour and said, " Why didn''t I feel you before? It''s because I wanted to see the look on your face, bro..."


    I rolled my eyes at Sunny''s mischievous grin, resisting the urge to give him a yful shove. "You''re impossible, Sunny," I muttered, though a small smile tugged at the corners of my lips.


    "Also, it was Isabe who said that you were Yato''s disciple when the two-week break was over."


    I see, it was Isabe...


    I guess I can''t do anything about it now, it''s not like I was trying to hide the fact that I was a Yato disciple.


    At that moment a sudden thought entered my head.


    ''Isabe must exin what happened fully...right?''


    Then that means big misunderstandings are going on right now.


    After all, Isabe never once took action for someone else but she did for me.


    That means their probably a misunderstanding going on in the academy.


    Like how close we are.


    ''Ah, ...Shit.''


    Feeling a mix of frustration and confusion, I sank into my seat, my mind swirling with questions and doubts. The sudden revtion that Isabe had disclosed my connection to Yato without my knowledge only added to my growing sense of unease.


    Sunny, sensing my inner turmoil, nudged me gently with his elbow. "Hey, don''t stress about it too much, okay? Whatever Isabe said, I''m sure she had her reasons."


    I nodded, though the knot of anxiety in my stomach refused to loosen. Isabe''s actions had caught mepletely off guard, and I couldn''t shake the feeling that there was more to the story than she was letting on.


    Let''s forget it, it''s not like there is anything I can do now.


    Everyone murmured for a while, gossiping while covertly staring at us. I didn''t mind, and Sunny certainly liked the attention.


    Since we arrived a little early, we had nothing else to do but watch cadets enter the ss one after another as we chatted.


    Not long after, I saw Evelyn and Lyra stepping through the door.


    When Evelyn noticed me, her eyes widened. She stopped talking to Lyra about whatever topic they were discussing and waved at me.


    As I waved back, both of them approached us.


    "You''re back!" Evelyn said, getting near our seats.


    "Yeah," I smiled, rubbing the back of my neck. "I''m back."


    For a moment it seems everything in the world turned silent as we both stare at each other.


    I''m sure that she has lots of questions to ask me.


    But I don''t have an answer for any of that.


    There is a gap in my memory and I know that someone seals those memories away but I don''t know that someone Is.


    As Evelyn''s gaze lingered on me, I could sense the curiosity and concern swirling in her eyes. It was as if she wanted to ask a million questions all at once but didn''t know where to start.


    "Hey, Lucas," Lyra chimed in, breaking the momentary silence. "Good to see you back. How was your break?"


    I nced at Lyra, grateful for the interruption. "It was... eventful," I replied with a half-hearted chuckle. "But it''s good to be back."


    Evelyn nodded, her expression softening with understanding. "Yeah, I heard about how you were training on Western Mountain Range, Must''ve been rough."


    I shrugged, not wanting to dwell on the memories of that chaotic night. "Yeah, it was," I admitted. "But I''m just d it''s over now."


    Lyra nodded in agreement, her eyes filled with sympathy. "Well, at least you''re back in one piece," she said, her voice tinged with relief.


    Evelyn leaned closer, her curiosity getting the better of her. "So, what exactly happened up there?" she asked, her tone gentle yet insistent. "You disappeared without a word, and no one knew where you went."


    I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. After all, there were still gaps in my memory, and I didn''t have all the answers myself.


    "It''s...plicated," I began, choosing my words carefully. "On my way to Academy, Master suddenly grabbed me and said that we have to go on a training trip and well...rest you already knew guys.


    Sunny, ever the supportive friend, chimed in with a reassuring smile. "But hey, he''s back now, and that''s all that matters, right?"


    Evelyn and Lyra exchanged a knowing nce before nodding in agreement. "Of course," Evelyn said, her tone gentle yet understanding. "We''re just d to see you safe and sound."


    I smiled gratefully at their words, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders.


    As the conversation shifted to lighter topics, the tension in the air dissipated, reced by an easy camaraderie that I had missed during my time away.


    But even as weughed and joked together, a nagging sense of unease lingered at the back of my mind.


    For now, though, I pushed those thoughts aside, choosing to focus on the present moment and thepany of friends who had stood by me through thick and thin.


    As we continued our conversation, the ssroom door swung open.


    Instantly, a crushing pressure flooded in that hit me by surprise. My eyes widened as I looked at the door and saw Adrian stepping into the room.


    He looked... battered and worn.


    His uniform was impable but his hair was tousled, and baggy dark circles were visible under his abyss-like eyes.


    He was hunching and walking with a slight limp but his presence was sharper than ever, reminiscent of a newly forged sword.


    I turned to Evelyn and Lyra. "What in the world happened to him?"


    "He... has been pushing himself intensely during his training," Lyra answered.


    Well, of course! It was evident! He must have reached the [D] rank by now! As if he wasn''t already enough of a monster!


    Sensing my gaze on him, Adrian furrowed his brow and swiftly turned to meet my stare.


    His eyes widened as soon as he caught sight of me.


    Adrian''s gaze locked onto mine, and for a moment, the world seemed to fall away around us. His expression was unreadable, a mix of surprise, curiosity, and something else I couldn''t quite ce.


    As our eyes met, I felt a strange sensation wash over me, a tingling awareness that seemed to hum with energy. It was as if there was an invisible thread connecting us, drawing us together in an unspoken understanding.


    But before I could dwell on the feeling any longer, Adrian''s expression shifted, his usual stoic demeanour settling back into ce like a mask.


    Without a word, he nodded in acknowledgement before turning away, his attention refocusing on the front of the ssroom.


    I couldn''t help but feel a pang of curiosity and concern at Adrian''s sudden appearance and the intensity of his gaze. There was something different about him, something... off.


    But before I could dwell on it any further, Lillian entered the ssroom, effectively ending all conversation.


    nk!


    Entering the ssroom, Lillian made her way towards the podium.


    Instantly the whole room fell silent. The pressure that emanated from her body caused everyone to stop whatever they were doing.


    Arriving in front of the podium, Lillian staked a few papers on the table before clicking her tongue and dismissing them.


    Sighing, Lillian looked at the ssroom and spoke.


    "Alright, it''s time to get started ss."


    The room fell into a hushed anticipation as Lillian''smanding presence filled the space. I couldn''t help but feel a sense of nervous energy crackling in the air, unsure of what to expect from the ss.


    Lillian''s gaze swept over the room, her piercing eyes seeming to scrutinize every one of us. It was as if she could see straight through our masks and into the depths of our souls.


    As Lillian''s gaze passed over me, I couldn''t shake the feeling of being under a microscope. Her intense scrutiny made me acutely aware of my shorings and uncertainties.


    I couldn''t help but wonder what she saw when she looked at me – did she see a capable warrior ready to face any challenge, or did she see the doubts and insecurities that gued my every step?