Seconds earlier—

Step Step Step

Seven young men and women strode swiftly through the academy streets, their footsteps echoing in unison. They longed to run, to break into a sprint fueled by urgency and anticipation—but the rigid laws of the academy forbade such conduct. Even so, their pace was fast enough to draw glances from every passerby.

Among the hundreds of students crowding the pathways, the seven stood out effortlessly. There was something unmistakable about them, something that made them different. Even if one were to look down from a tower high above, one's gaze would land on them first, drawn as though by an unseen force. The atmosphere surrounding them was heavy, charged with a strange kind of energy. They didn't look like students at all—no, each bore the calm authority and confidence of someone who had already faced the chaos of war. If not for their academy uniforms, one might have mistaken them for instructors, or perhaps even sovereigns who had ruled countless realms through centuries of conquest.

"It's been almost two full months since Professor Robin made his first appearance in the academy," one of the students said seriously, breaking the silence. "Where on earth have you been, Vanir? Don't tell me you spent all that time trying to bring your father here?"

"Voda," replied the tall, broad-shouldered young man at the front, his tone rough with fatigue, "you, of all people, know how fierce the internal struggles in my family are. It's a miracle I managed to bring him at all." His voice carried the weight of frustration and battle-worn pain, as though every word reminded him of a wound that had yet to heal.

"Alright, enough talking about the past," said a lively teenage girl, her tone bright and filled with barely contained excitement. "The important thing is that we've finally gathered here—with our guardians—and that means I can meet the Professor again." She clasped her hands together, her eyes sparkling with nostalgia. "I wonder if he still looks as handsome as I remember~"

"Hey! You're talking loud enough for the entire corridor to hear you," another girl chuckled, trying to stifle her laughter.

"Shut it! What's wrong with what I said? He is unbelievably handsome for a human!"

"Enough already," Merina snapped lightly, pointing a finger at the two girls. "If Professor Robin hears you, he'll make sure we all get punished again."

A boy behind her smirked. "Honestly? I wouldn't mind. Every time he punishes us, we come out stronger."

"Same here," another said with a proud grin. "Pain builds power, right?"

"Anyway," Merina exhaled, rolling her shoulders, "we're here. The guards said the Professor hasn't left the academy in weeks, so he should still be inside his quarters in the academic building... I just hope he still remembers us after all this time."

Knock Knock

Rrrr-click

Merina rapped twice on the door, then slowly pushed it open. But the moment she did, her expression froze—her brows furrowing sharply. "Excuse me... what's going on here? Isn't this supposed to be Professor Robin Burton's academic hall?"

The other six followed her gaze, confusion written all over their faces. It had been over a century and a half since they'd last set foot in this place. It was supposed to be silent, empty, perhaps even sacred. Yet now the grand hall was alive—filled with thousands of students, their chatter like a wave of noise crashing through the air. And there, standing confidently where their Professor once lectured, was a woman.

"What... what is happening here?" Vanir demanded, stepping forward protectively until he stood before his group. "Who are you? And where is Professor Robin? Do you people really think you can just take over his academic building simply because he's been away for a while?"

BAM! A loud thud shook the front of the room as one of the seated students slammed his palm against the desk. "Who do you think you are?! I've never seen you around this academy before."

"Yeah, what's this? Is anyone just allowed to barge into Substitute Teacher Morgana's lectures now?"

"Teacher! Allow us to throw them out!"

Nearly six thousand students, who had just been deeply engrossed in their substitute teacher's graceful, warm, and insightful lecture, suddenly erupted into chaos the moment the seven intruders appeared at the door. The harmonious rhythm of the class shattered in an instant, and waves of murmurs spread like wildfire through the enormous lecture hall.

"Who do you think you're ordering around?" Vanir stepped forward again, the air around him vibrating as faint motes of light began forming across his skin. One after another, the shimmering nodes of his battle armor lit up until they covered his entire body like a layer of molten steel. "I alone will cleanse this entire hall—in the name of Professor Robin!" His voice boomed through the hall like thunder, echoing with unwavering loyalty.

"Wait." Morgana raised both of her hands, her calm but commanding tone slicing through the noise like a blade. The students immediately fell into tense silence, their gazes flickering between the seven and their teacher. Morgana's lips curved into a faint, almost playful smile as she studied the new arrivals. "You're asking about Professor Robin… does that mean you came here for him?"

"Yes," Merina stepped forward, her voice cold and steady, her gaze locked directly with Morgana's. "We are Professor Robin's students, and we demand to know what's happening here—in his academy building."

"Teacher!" a voice called from the back, half curious, half mocking. A boy stood, pointing toward the seven. "I know them! They were part of the original class that used to belong to this building, the clown assembly! They disappeared decades ago—this must be their first time returning!"

"Yeah, that's right!" another student laughed loudly. "They only attended a few of Professor Robin's lectures before vanishing. They're from that ancient generation that got beaten half to death every time they dared to face him! Hahaha!"

"Poor guys, they never got to meet our elegant teacher."

"Come on, sit down, gramps! You can learn how a real professor teaches!"

"Nonsense!" the seven bellowed in unison, their voices like overlapping battle horns shaking the very air.

Voda stepped forward and roared, "There is no teacher after Professor Robin! No one sits in this hall without his permission!" His words crashed like lightning, striking the pride of the students around him.

"..." Morgana raised an eyebrow, watching with intrigue. She had heard stories—plenty of them—about His Majesty's time as an instructor: the fear, the breakdowns, the complaints. But to see seven individuals who hadn't seen him in centuries stand defiant against six thousand students for his sake? That was something entirely different. There was something powerful here—a devotion born not of fear, but of faith. What kind of man inspired this?

Still... this was the perfect opportunity to learn something about His Majesty's mysterious past.

Clap! Morgana's palms met sharply, the sound ringing through the massive chamber. "Alright, alright, enough," she said, smiling gently as her voice carried over the quieting crowd. Then she turned to the seven. "In truth, Professor Robin is here in the academy. He's currently in a closed training retreat. From what I sense... he should be finishing today. So, how about we pass the time with a few friendly activities until he emerges?"

Behind that calm smile, Morgana already knew the truth. The section of the academy where His Majesty was bathing in his arming chamber had been sealed with a powerful barrier—to muffle the agonized roars that accompanied every stage of his strengthening process. But now, the screams had stopped. She could feel it—the faint ripple of his presence as he moved, dressing in clean robes. His return was near.

"Activities?" Vanir narrowed his eyes, suspicion heavy in his voice. "What kind of activities are we talking about?"

"Let's have a little student battle," Morgana proposed, her tone brightening with theatrical enthusiasm. "Professor Robin's former students versus my new ones. A little test of skill. What do you say, everyone?"

The room erupted again.

"I volunteer to start!"

"Ha! Teacher Morgana's class holds the top hundred ranks every year. Any one of us could crush those seven fossils alone!"

"Haha! This is going to be far more entertaining than I expected!"

"..." Merina turned to her six companions, her face deadly serious. Then she gave a slow nod. "We apologize in advance for any injuries that may occur today," she said, her tone like steel. "And for the record—this wasn't our idea."

"..." Morgana smiled faintly, understanding perfectly. The girl's tone wasn't bravado—it was a warning. Of course, Morgana had no intention of letting her students kill them, but she wasn't worried either.

After all, Morgana had personally fed her students with the deepest secrets of the soul arts, nurturing them as if sculpting royal heirs. She had shared techniques that had taken her thousands of years to perfect—methods of controlling soul borrowings and enhancing soul resonance. Each of her disciples was a genius among geniuses; some had already ascended to the realm of Great Soul Masters.

If they defeated the seven of Robin's old students, Morgana would finally have something to boast of before His Majesty—proof that her efforts were invaluable, that she wasn't just another teacher filling time while he remained distant and untouchable.

Because ever since she discovered that Robin himself was a Royal Soul Master, one who had surpassed even her own level... a quiet, unspoken fear had nested in her heart. A fear that he no longer needed her.

And so, this battle... would be her proof she still has an edge in something, even if it's just teaching!

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