The massive gates of the Vorhelm clan were slowly getting smaller behind Lian.
The stone walls that for hundreds of years had been a symbol of power for one of the largest clans in the world, no longer mattered to him.
For the first time he felt he had truly left that place, his previous departure was not by his own choice, he had no choice but to leave this place.
He had practically been rejected and exiled, at that time it was really hard for him, but now? Now everything was different, now he could finally leave this place with a feeling of peace and without any regret.
And the situation had now reversed, this time it was the Vorhelm clan that regretted it, something he did not think would happen even a month ago.
As he was heading to the city’s transportation center, he felt several powerful and familiar presences behind him.
His steps stopped, when he turned around, he saw a group of people from the Pendragon clan.
Aurelia was standing among them, Seris was a few steps behind, and several powerful guards were accompanying them.
On the surface it seemed they were also leaving the Vorhelm territory.
But Lian easily noticed that Aurelia had stopped intentionally, they should have left this place by now, it was clear they were waiting for something, as if waiting for an opportunity to talk.
And seeing them coming toward him, he realized his guess was completely correct.
"I wanted to talk to you one more time before you leave." Aurelia came forward with the same calm and friendly smile as always.
"Of course." Lian nodded politely, he had not seen any bad treatment from the Pendragon clan, who should be considered his enemies, until now, showing a little respect and modesty was not bad.
Aurelia looked at him for a few moments and then her smile deepened.
"Honestly, I was very happy to see a genius like you, it has been a long time since anyone has made Seris this excited."
She looked toward the silver-haired girl, almost immediately Seris turned her head to the other side, as if she had not heard such a thing at all.
This very reaction made Aurelia laugh.
"See? This is exactly what she does when she is embarrassed."
Seris immediately frowned, gave a quick look at Aurelia, but did not answer, this silence itself was the best confirmation.
Aurelia turned to Lian again and this time her tone became a little more serious.
"If you ever get the chance... definitely visit the Pendragon territory too, I am sure you will be welcomed there."
Lian thought for a few seconds and then shrugged.
"Maybe in the future." It was neither acceptance nor rejection, just a cautious answer, because the country under the Pendragons’ control was an extremely powerful country.
There was a high chance he would want to visit there in the future, and being welcomed there by them would be a very good thing.
Apparently that was enough for Aurelia, the woman smiled with satisfaction, then took out her phone and asked.
"What is your phone number?"
"My phone number?" Lian was a little surprised and laughed quietly, then he gave his phone number to her and the woman called him briefly so his phone would have her number too.
"If you ever need help, or have a request that falls within the Pendragon clan’s domain, you can contact me."
Lian paused for a moment, it seemed like a simple offer, but in reality such a thing was very valuable.
One of the leaders of the Pendragon clan was directly giving him her personal contact.
Without any middleman, without any limits, he did not even have a way to contact Seris herself yet, but he had directly gotten the phone number of one of the high-level figures?
But considering everything he had done, maybe he should not be too surprised, it was even expected, and he should probably expect more numbers too.
"Thank you."
Aurelia just smiled, a few minutes later the Pendragon clan people continued on their way.
Seris only looked at him for a moment as she passed, she said nothing, but that brief look was enough.
Then they also moved away.
Lian watched them for a while, until they were completely out of sight.
"This woman is too interested in me." He then thought quietly in his mind.
He was sure Aurelia was thinking about recruiting him for the Pendragon clan, but then he realized it was not just the Pendragons.
Guilds, clans, military organizations and even governments, anyone who had seen his power had probably become interested in him.
It was not like all the powers of the world were at this ceremony, the Vorhelms also had many enemies who were not invited, hostile forces.
For example, the current president of the country, that man did not have a good relationship with the Vorhelms at all, he thought they had too much power in the country and directly and indirectly affected the country’s politics, and for that reason they should be limited.
But while the Vorhelms’ relationship with the president and his government was bad, the Vorhelms had a very good relationship with the country’s congress and the national awakened organization.
But this made him a little curious to know how a man who was against the Vorhelms had come to power in this country, really how was such a thing possible? He had no doubt that there was foreign interference and probably some of the Vorhelms’ most powerful enemies had intervened.
But he felt there might be more secrets behind it, anyway he had no information to reason with.
Anyway, fortunately the news of his victory had not spread yet, most of the people present at the ceremony were from the upper classes of society, people who usually spread news with a delay.
But Lian knew this situation was not permanent, sooner or later his name would spread across the continent, for now he was completely known at the national level.
He had a small fame at the continental and world level too, but it was extremely limited, at least for now, and after that nothing would be like before.
He took a deep breath and continued his path toward the transportation station, after arriving he paid the required fee like before and went toward the origin portal.
The portal’s light surrounded his body, space bent, the world blurred for a moment, and a few seconds later he appeared in the capital again.
The city was the same, the streets, the towers, the lights, everything was familiar, after all the strange events of the Vorhelm clan, the capital felt like home.
When he entered the academy, he soon noticed a strange change.
The academy was emptier, much emptier, although it was night, it was not the time when everyone went to sleep, but rather the time when they came out to chat and talk with their friends.
But the areas that were always crowded now seemed half empty.
Even the sound of students had decreased, it did not take more than a few seconds for him to understand the reason.
The Ruined Realms had opened, almost all the serious talents of the academy had already entered them, in fact most of the strong students had no reason to stay in the academy anymore.
And after a few days, now finally the weaker students had also gone.
Lian actually knew from the messages he had received that Cassian and Seraphina had also gone to the Ruined Realm.
Lian nodded, all the people he had gotten used to were now somewhere else.
It was as if the world had moved on without him, but tomorrow he himself would return to that world too, so there was no reason to worry or feel sad.
Before going to the dormitory, he changed his path and went toward Professor Aldric’s office.
He knocked on the door and entered a few seconds later.
Aldric was sitting behind his desk, as usual dealing with his work, and when he saw Lian he just raised an eyebrow slightly.
"You are back?"
"Yeah."
Aldric looked at him for a few moments, but unlike what was expected, he did not ask any questions about the ceremony, no questions about the Vorhelm clan, he just said.
"So I no longer have to worry about being threatened by the Vorhelms for not expelling you?"
"No." A small smile appeared on Lian’s face.
Eldric nodded.
"Good." Then he returned to his work, as if that one answer was enough for him.
And the truth was, this was exactly the behavior expected from him.
Lian did not add anything either, he just said goodbye and left the office.
When he entered the dormitory, a strange silence filled the place, the room was almost the same as he remembered.
The bed, the desk, the window, everything was in its place, after a long time he did nothing, he fell on the bed and stared at the ceiling.
Tomorrow he would enter the Ruined Realm again, after being away for two or three weeks, finally the time had come to return.
His eyes slowly closed, Lian fell asleep without worry... but tomorrow... everything would start all over again.