The four hours passed more swiftly than any of them expected. By the time the Veiled Lantern's shadowy lights dimmed to signal closing hour, the group had returned to the carriages, each a little more rested or full.

Albedo and Lilian returned together, the faintest smile still ghosting over her lips, though she tried to mask it under her usual cool composure.

Albedo said nothing, merely adjusted the new pendant resting against his chest. The crystal of the Echo Tear pulsed faintly with internal light, its resonance syncing with the rhythm of his mana.

Ysvara stood beside the lead carriage, speaking quietly with one of the spectral drivers, her hair fluttering slightly despite the still air. When she saw them approach, she nodded briskly. "You're both just in time. Everyone's aboard. We leave now."

The duo nodded and quickly boarded, finding their seats, and as everyone settled in, the carriages moved off, rolling towards Asthotar City.

"We're trying to arrive by dawn, so just settle in," Ysvara said, and Albedo simply decided to train to kill time, while Elara and Lilian began chatting to each-other.

***

Back in Nocturna, the Demon Capital, the sky was a scene of violent storms and scattered lightning.

In the middle of the Grand Chamber of the Royal Palace, three figures were seated, Kael, Raphaeline and Arannis, who was looking much better than when he was last seen by the students.

"You've changed quite a-lot since we last talked Raph," Kael said as he looked at his daughter, finally getting a chance to talk to her after a very hectic past couple weeks.

Raphaeline smiled faintly, her crimson eyes softening as she looked toward her father. "Change was necessary," she said quietly, "Compared to all the politics back here, Zephyr is quite fun, and you know how I am,"

Kael gave a low chuckle, the sound deep and thunderous. "You sound more like your mother every day. Always chasing what's fun, did you think it was a coincidence she decided to stay back, she wanted another chance to have some fun,"

"She taught me well," Raphaeline replied. "And you taught me to never wait for permission to act."

Kael leaned back in his throne, pride flickering behind his golden eyes. "A lesson you seem to have mastered," he said, voice low. "It's strange, though… seeing my little girl now all grown up,"

"Would you rather I stayed the same?" she teased lightly.

He grinned, fangs glinting. "Never. The world doesn't need the child you were, Raph. It needs the woman you've become."

For a heartbeat, silence settled between them warm, and wordless. Then Raphaeline smiled again, softer this time. "Then I suppose I'll just have to keep making you proud."

"You already have." Kael said, looking to Arannis before the file on his desk, sighing as he grasped it and spoke, "Things are changing too rapidly however,"

"The Abyss has been stirring even earlier than all the premonitions predicted. They're already acting extremely recklessly and attacking the Geniuses of various races," Kael said, as he flipped through the files.

"The Atlanteans told me that their Prince and Princess were attacked recently too, though they warded it off, the Abyss is constantly sending probing attacks, gauging the rate at which they are improving," Kael said.

He turned slightly, the runes etched into his armor flaring briefly.

"It's been the same for us here as well. The Abyss is gauging our strength, the guards along the southern ley-lines already reported twelve attacks this week alone. It's been over a decade since we've lasted had that number," He said.

Raphaeline's eyes flickered faintly with unease, though her expression remained composed.

"I've read the reports. Most of the breaches were small, corrupted wildlife, a few minor cult gatherings, nothing catastrophic."

Kael's lips curved into something between a smirk and a snarl.

"And yet, the 'minor' ones are spreading faster than our Demon Knights can seal them. The Abyss is learning again, adapting. Every time one of our Demon Knights closes a Abyssal rift, another two open elsewhere. It's a coordinated effort to thin our numbers, I've had them be more careful to avoid losing too many Knights,"

Headmaster Arannis broke the silence, as he heard that, "We need a plan to make sure all of the upcoming geniuses are ready for this, a war is coming much sooner than expected, it's already at our doorstep,"

Kael's gaze turned toward him, an unspoken approval beneath his stoic exterior.

"And how do you intend to do that?"

Before Arannis could even respond, Raphaeline spoke, "The Academies need to change. Currently, students only take 1 Active Field Mission a month, 2 at most, and they primarly battle monsters, we need to get them into more battles against the true enemies,"

Kael raised a brow, the faintest hint of amusement in his tone as he responded, "Active missions? You intend to send them into real combat zones daughter?"

"Yes," Raphaeline said without hesitation, "We've coddled them long enough. Only the graduating class used to go to active combat zones, but now, I think we need all students to begin purging Abyssal Worshippers and Cults in various groups at a constant rate. Supervised, of course, but still, they need to get more adept at combat. Aside from the elites of the elites, most are still far too green, and this needs to be a thing throughout ALL Academies, not just our two,"

Arannis frowned faintly, his hands clasped behind his back, "That approach… is bold. But it will be met with resistance throughout basically every Kingdom. Many of the Noble Houses will staunchly object to sending their precious heirs into life threatening missions constantly. How will we accomplish that?"

Raphaeline's tone cooled further, but her words remained composed. "Then they'll adapt. The Abyss won't wait for them to finish their wine. If we go at the current rate, things will go south by time this generation truly reaches the powerhouse level, we need to buy more time for them to grow,"

Kael chuckled, a sound that rumbled through the chamber like an earthquake.

"Spoken like a true Cortezia." He leaned back slightly in his throne of carved bone and gold, his amber eyes gleaming with pride. "You remind me of your mother when she commanded the Crimson Legions. She too believed that strength meant nothing if it wasn't tested in battle."

At the mention of Ysvara, Raphaeline's gaze softened, if only slightly.

"Mother taught me that fear is best conquered through exposure. And with what's coming, fear will be their first enemy."

Arannis, ever the scholar, drew a slow breath.

"Then I shall amend the Academy's schedule accordingly. I'll begin designing revised training curriculums, combat-oriented spellcasting, anti-corruption techniques, and Abyssal suppression rituals. We'll need every department to shift toward practicality, and I'll work to get more active field missions, at least once a week now,"

Kael nodded slowly. "Do it. You have my blessing, and my resources. The Council will complain, but they'll yield once the reports reach them."

Raphaeline inclined her head in acknowledgment, as Kael turned to her, "As for the Human and other Kingdoms, don't worry, while I can't directly influence Zephyr Academy, I'll chat with the Kings and Queens of all the other Races to get them on board, I'm sure they'll all understand,"

"Also, we might need to bring forward the Clash of Champions, we need the Young Geniuses of all the different races meeting and becoming acquaintances sooner rather than later," Raphaeline said, and Kael nodded.

"I'll bring that up too," Kael said with a nod, finally exhaling, the air in the grand chamber heavy with ozone and authority. He glanced between the two of them.

"Then it's settled," Kael said, his tone final. "Arannis, begin drafting the new combat curriculum and mission structure immediately. Raph, head back to the Human Kingdom and speak to your staff and prepare them for the backlash. I'll speak to the Human's first to make it go smoothly. Once the first deployment goes smoothly, the other Academies will follow suit whether they like it or not."

Both bowed slightly in acknowledgment. The faint shimmer of Kael's demonic aura receded, leaving only his golden eyes burning like coals in the dim.

"That will be all for now," he continued. "Go, both of you. Begin the preparations, the sooner this generation starts bleeding, the longer they'll live to fight again."

Arannis inclined his head respectfully before taking his leave, space warping as he vanished beyond the chamber doors.

As the heavy silence returned, Kael's gaze shifted to Raphaeline. His lips curved, just slightly.

"One last thing before you go."

Raphaeline turned to him, one brow arching, "Yes, father?"

Kael's expression darkened just a touch — but there was amusement beneath it. "That student of yours, Albedo. It seems he's been summoned by Lilian's mother. Personally."

For a moment, the silence broke with only the low roll of thunder. Then, slowly, Raphaeline's lips curved into a knowing, mischievous smile.

"Oh, is that so?" she murmured, crimson eyes glinting. "Then I suppose I should grant him… an extra week after the exchange program concludes. He'll need the time."

Kael raised an eyebrow, "You know what that means, don't you?"

Raphaeline's smirk widened just slightly as she turned to leave. "Of course, but he'll handle it somehow,"

Kael chuckled, the sound echoing through the grand chamber as lightning flashed outside the windows.

"Very well, daughter."

Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.