Compared to the hell he had experienced over the past few days, the Academy grounds seemed almost too quiet.
A gentle breeze passed through the trees. Students who had no idea what had happened in the fallen city walked along the paved paths, and the sound of ordinary conversations flowed through the air.
But the number of students was very low. Much lower than it had been a week ago. And that was completely obvious.
With just one look, it was clear that the vast majority of students had gone to the Ruined Realm.
Lian walked through the grounds in silence. A few people recognized him. A few people looked at him.
Even two students whispered something in each other’s ears.
He didn’t need to guess what they were talking about. The news had spread much faster than he expected.
But for now, he didn’t pay attention to it. Though becoming the center of attention again, this time for a good reason and admiration, felt strange.
A few years ago, he had also been the center of attention. But because as a Vonhelm, he had failed in his awakening and had become a laughingstock.
He reviewed Selina’s message again. The Academy cafe was right here.
He opened the cafe door, and the sound of a small bell echoed in the space. Nearby, he could see his friends.
And almost at that moment, four people turned toward him. Marcus, Liana, Claire, and Selina.
For a few seconds, no one spoke.
Then suddenly, Marcus stood up from his seat and came toward him with his usual energy. Before Lian could react, his hand landed firmly on his shoulder.
"Finally found you."
The sound of the impact practically echoed through the entire cafe.
"I think you’re trying to break my shoulder." Lian frowned.
"Just making sure you’re real." Marcus laughed.
At that moment, Liana occupied the seat next to Lian without the slightest hesitation, as if it had been reserved for her.
"Finally, the hero arrives."
"I haven’t even sat down yet. Why did you change seats?" Lian just looked at her.
"Unimportant details." Liana answered coolly.
Claire was sitting on the other side of the table. When her eyes met Lian’s, she smiled. Not that polite smile, but a real and genuine one.
Perhaps for the first time since he had known her.
Lian paused for a moment. He noticed the change. And this small change spoke louder than a hundred sentences.
"Where is Cassian?" He then asked quietly.
"He said he couldn’t come and had to attend another Student Council meeting." Selina answered, causing everyone to sigh.
After a few minutes of ordering drinks, a short silence fell over the table.
Finally, it was Marcus who broke it.
"Well... I think I should say something."
Lian raised an eyebrow, but he could guess where this conversation was going.
Marcus took a deep breath.
"If it weren’t for you, we’d be dead right now." His voice was serious, unlike usual. Gratitude could be heard in his tone.
"I definitely would have died." Liana also nodded, then added with a smile. Deep in her eyes, gratitude could be seen.
Much more than what she said with words, she was grateful. She owed her life to Lian, and even she herself knew this wasn’t a debt she could easily repay.
"And it would be a real shame for such a girl to die."
"Here we go again." Marcus immediately said.
"Shut up." Liana answered without looking at him.
And just as Marcus was about to say something, Claire said quietly.
"I thought I was going to die. I felt a fear I had never felt before. I thought this was my end... but you saved me. Thank you, really."
Lian slowly let out his breath. Having such beauties thank him like this... well, that was also an achievement, right?
He nodded and accepted their thanks, which made a smile appear on their faces.
The atmosphere between them had completely changed. They were no longer just teammates. That shared hell had built something between them that was hard to describe with words.
A few minutes later, Liana rested her elbow on the table and leaned a little closer to Lian. Too close.
"By the way, we still haven’t settled my life debt. How about I pay with my body?"
Marcus immediately slammed his head on the table.
"Here we go again..."
"Shut up." Liana answered without even looking at him.
Selina hid her laugh. This time, she also said nothing. Claire also gave a small smile.
"Not necessary. If you want, you can pay for my living expenses for the next ten years. How about that?" Lian said with a smile.
"Ah~ Would you really ask such a thing from a girl as pretty as me?" Liana puffed out her cheeks and pretended to look upset.
"Anyway, how are you all feeling now?" He also changed the subject.
Everyone fell silent for a moment. Then he continued.
"Do you remember anything?"
Marcus was the first to answer, thinking for a few moments.
"No, honestly... it was like I was asleep."
"A very long sleep. Kind of like I didn’t even realize time was passing." Liana also nodded.
"I don’t remember anything. The last thing I remember is before we were captured." Claire was the last to speak.
Lian tapped on the table slowly. The same result he had expected.
Whatever the white-eyed man’s spell was, it was truly powerful. It had practically erased their consciousness.
After a few minutes of conversation, he asked another question.
"What are your plans now?"
Marcus answered almost without thinking.
"The Ruined Realm."
Liana immediately said.
"Me too."
Selina also nodded.
"I’m going too."
Everyone looked at Claire. She was the only one who hadn’t said anything. The girl was silent for a few seconds, thinking, then said quietly.
"I’m going to rest for now. Those events... were too much for me."
No one said anything. No one objected. No one called her weak. Because everyone knew what they had been through.
The events that happened were a bad and new experience for all of them. An experience where they had come to the brink of death, so close that they might not be here right now.
"You’re right." Marcus said quietly. Then the looks turned to Lian.
"What about you?" Liana asked.
"I have a few things to do. After that, I’ll go to the Ruined Realm too." Lian took a sip of his drink and then added.
"Just be careful there. I won’t be there to save you."
For a moment, silence fell. Then everyone laughed. Marcus said with confidence.
"This time, we’ll save you."
"Exactly. You can’t always play the hero." Liana immediately added.
Even Claire smiled.
Lian just shrugged. His behavior clearly said he didn’t believe even one percent of that statement.
That made the laughter at the table even louder. Time passed faster than they expected.
As the sun slowly set, the group began to say goodbye.
Marcus left first. Then Claire. Selina also stood up a few minutes later and left to pay the bill. Today, everyone was her guest.
Finally, only Liana remained. She also stood up, as if unsure, but in the end, she leaned down and very suddenly, gently kissed Lian on the cheek.
"Take care of yourself, hero." She said quietly.
And before Lian could even find a chance to respond, she turned around and ran away from there with a face as red as a tomato.
As if she didn’t dare to stay and just wanted to run away from shame and embarrassment.
"She always plays the role of a girl with lots of experience with men." Lian just watched her path for a few seconds and chuckled.
Liana acted as if she had hundreds of boyfriends, but in reality, it was clear she had never even had a normal boyfriend in her entire life... let alone a romantic relationship.
He stood up and also left the cafe. The evening air had become cooler. The orange light of the sun had fallen on the Academy buildings.
He walked in silence.
Maybe it wouldn’t be bad to visit Seraphina. But just as he was thinking about it, a voice stopped him.
"Lian Vonhelm?"
His steps stopped, and he turned around slowly.
A middle-aged man in Academy professor attire stood a few meters away. His face was not familiar to Lian. But his smile seemed too friendly, and that was enough for alarm bells to go off in his mind.
"Yes?"
"I didn’t expect the talentless child of the Vonhelm family to turn out to be such a genius." The man stepped forward and said with the same smile on his face.
Lian said nothing. He just looked at him.
The man reached into his pocket and pulled out a black card. A card with the emblem of a silver dragon engraved on it.
Powerful mana emanated from it. A symbol that every Awakened in the country would recognize.
The man raised the card and said with an arrogant tone.
"What do you think about joining the Silver Dragon Guild?"