The next morning arrived faster than Bruce expected.

He blinked awake to the faint warmth of sunlight leaking through the curtains and the soft, rumbling purr of Ash curled against his neck like a living scarf. The tiny dragon cub nuzzled him the second he stirred, wings fluttering in lazy morning stretches.

Bruce rubbed its head gently. "Hungry already, huh?"

Ash chirped in agreement, rubbing its cheek against his jaw.

From the kitchen, Lucy's voice floated down the hallway. "Bruce? Breakfast is ready! And… I have something to tell you!"

He stepped out of his room, Ash clinging to him like a fluffy scarf with an attitude. When he reached the dining area, Lucy greeted him with a proud smile that lifted something deep inside his chest.

She said gently, "Good morning. And… I forgot to tell you last night, I managed to get Lily registered into the Awakening Academy. Her grade school approved the transfer."

Bruce sat up, surprised but pleased. "That's good. Really good."

"It starts today," Lucy added. "But I know you're planning to raid a dungeon, so don't worry."

"I'll take her." Bruce stood, already reaching for his jacket.

Lucy blinked. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah," he said simply. "I want to."

After all, it had been a while since he spoiled Lily properly… and Ash was overdue for a full meal too. Dungeons were perfect for that.

Lily rushed out of her room already dressed, hair tied in two uneven little pigtails she definitely attempted herself. When she saw Bruce putting on his boots, she gasped dramatically.

"Big Brother!!! You're taking me today?!"

Bruce nodded. "Of course."

Lily's entire face lit up like a sunrise. Bruce prepared and soon it was time to move

Ash hopped up from Bruce's shoulder, flipped once in the air, then settled back into its usual nest around Bruce's neck, wrapping itself possessively as if claiming the spot before Lily could steal it.

"That's my place, Ash!" Lily complained with a pout.

Ash widened its eyes innocently and curled tighter, refusing to move.

Bruce chuckled. "You both can stay close, just don't fight."

Lily puffed her cheeks, but she took his hand anyway. "I was just joking, big brother, I wanted to see how much Ash loved that spot."

"Ok"

Walking to the academy, Lily swung Bruce's hand back and forth, humming happily. Every few seconds she glanced up at him with those ridiculously sparkling eyes.

"Big Brother… what do you want to do after this?"

Bruce hesitated for a beat.

The debt collectors. The relatives. The wolves dressed as kin.

His smile thinned slightly. "I want to deal with some bad people."

Lily blinked. "Are they super bad?"

"Very."

She nodded seriously, like a small general preparing to send him into battle. "Then… I wish you the best luck dealing with those super bad people." She squeezed his hand tighter. "And I wish you luck in everything you do today too."

Her voice softened into something shy and sweet. "Thank you for taking me to the academy… I love going with you…"

Bruce ruffled her hair, gently fixing the messy pigtail. "It's nothing. You're my sister."

Ash chirped proudly, as if agreeing.

Lily giggled and reached up to poke Ash's tiny horn. "And you too! Thank you for coming!"

Ash puffed its chest out, wings fluttering like it was being praised for completing a legendary mission.

They reached the Awakening Academy gates shortly after. The building was exactly as Bruce remembered it, or rather, as he'd been told it was. Because despite having technically graduated and awakened here… he remembered nothing from before his awakening ceremony.

Not the instructors. Not the halls. Not the life he supposedly lived inside these walls.

The instructors standing near the gate recognized him instantly.

"Is that,?"

"Wait, that's the boy from weeks ago right…"

"Bruce Ackerman?"

"Yes he's from the last batch of awakened students of this academy..."

"Is this S-Ranked Suppression I feel for him?" One of them frowned...

"Are you listening to yourself right now, he just awakened it's impossible for him to reach S-Rank so fast..."

"You're right, it must be a fluke..."

"Sigh it's always surprising how much students change after awakening, look at him, looking so handsome and mature and almost unrecognizable."

They whispered with excitement and confusion, some even stepping forward as if to greet him.

Bruce didn't slow down.

He didn't recognize a single one of them.

His expression remained blankly polite, unreadable, as he walked Lily to her class sign-in area.

"Big Brother…" She raised her little pinky. "Promise you'll come pick me up?"

Bruce hooked his pinky with hers without hesitation. "Promise."

Her smile stretched wide enough to light the entire academy entrance.

"Bye, Big Brother!" Lily said, bouncing on her toes. "Go deal with the bad guys! Be careful! And buy Ash a biiiiig meal later!"

Ash chirped loudly in agreement.

Bruce gave her one last head-pat. "Go. Study well."

Lily saluted him seriously, then tripped over her own feet, caught herself, and laughed as she ran inside. She waved at him until she almost tripped, then hurried inside.

Bruce watched her go until she disappeared behind the double doors.

The moment she was out of sight, his entire demeanor shifted.

Calmer. Colder. Focus sharp as steel.

He turned toward the city's central district.

It was time to visit the Order of the Knights.

Time to clear every last debt forced on his family.

And with the amount of money he carried right now… he could pay it effortlessly.

He walked forward, Ash perched proudly around his neck like a tiny guardian.

Today would be the start of setting everything right.

Bruce moved through the city with quiet purpose, Ash curled comfortably around his neck, tail swaying behind him like a living banner. Lily's smile lingered in his chest, warm and innocent — a reminder of why this mattered. Why everything mattered.

But the warmth faded the moment he turned toward the Northern Administrative District.

The Order of Knights.

The building rose like a carved monolith, steel banners fluttering along its walls, each bearing the emblem of the Crown: a sword piercing a sun. Cold armor glinted everywhere. Knights trained in the courtyard, their movements sharp and disciplined.

Bruce's heart was as calm as still waters as his gaze landed on them

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