Over a year has passed since.

I am currently 26 years old, and it has been over 10 years since I returned to the past.

Although the exact date that marked this 10 year anniversary was uneventful, I did celebrate my birthday rather spectacularly.

All of my friends were in attendance. I even got letters and well wishes from the likes of King Claudius, Crown Prince Claus, and believe it or not, the two other Princes.

I believe they have already accepted their fates, but are still looking to enter my good favors.

Klein, Seraphina, Seth, Uncle Damon, Leon, Anna, and all my other close colleagues and acquaintances all organized and celebrated my birthday party with me.

It was a truly pleasant moment, but that was several months ago.

The Royal Academy has met some changes, too. I am still the Dean of Discipline & Conduct, but seeing as my contract with the Academy will soon end, I don't imagine that will last for much longer.

It's mid December, almost January.

The winter is deep and bitter, and the cold keeps swirling mercilessly around the world.

As I stay in a guest room, I can't help but keep my eyes awake as my eyes go through the notes of previous kings and the documentations of their lives, which I have grown obsessed with as of late.

I've become quite a bookworm.

As for where I am and why I am in a guestroom… It's quite lovely news.

I, as well as a few close associates, are currently at Randalorion University. Not for the Annual Retreat, which has already passed, but for a far more spectacular occasion, at least in my eyes.

Klein Mornantte's graduation ceremony.

That's right!

Klein actually did it!

He passed the academic hurdle, and starting tomorrow, he will be revered as a Grand Scholar.

This is also a secret that he has only revealed to me due to our close friendship, but he also intends to propose to Seraphina tomorrow.

Pretty exciting, I know.

Young love truly is a pleasure to witness.

Actually, Seraphina has also confided in me on the matter of marriage, and she has sort of gotten impatient with Klein.

She wishes to marry as soon as possible.

So I guess the outcome is clear.

I should be happy for them.

In fact, I am.

But I can't help but reflect on myself… and my life.

I ask myself: what about me?

Although the tides of life have swept me in all kinds of directions, and I have stumbled on far too many things that have altered the trajectory of my life, I have not for once grown distracted from my main objective.

I haven't forgotten.

—I wish to save my family and friends.

This entire journey is all towards that goal, and I am yet to give up on it.

Now, although I came here for Klein's graduation, I also had someone else in mind when it comes to this University.

Regulus Heathcliff.

As I feared, his suspicions involving me have deepened, but instead of shrinking back in fear, his intent on forming close relationships with me has only increased.

But I can use this to my benefit.

Regulus will be leaving for Dustinville soon, and he has promised to help me with my University application there.

We're supposed to meet within this week to talk about the details.

After all, I am yet to decide on my Major and Minor in terms of Departments.

To be honest… I believe History and Paranormal Studies will be my pick respectively, considering my recent obsession with these two.

And it is not unfounded either.

After leaving the Academy, I have decided not to return straight to the Academy but to take a detour. I will be paying a visit to my old Master, Sir Jerome Sirius.

I'd like to have a conversation with him and glean from his experience on some matters. I know this is strange, but I would also like for him to tell me about his times with my father.

I've grown nostalgic as of late.

Must be due to all the historical books I have been reading lately.

However, most importantly, I wish to have him introduce me to his niece—Lady Beatrice of Dustinville.

This is my first time visiting a Large-sized Kingdom, or any other Kingdom for that matter. Since I'll be heading there in a couple of months, it would be good to have a Knight on my side.

Lady Beatrice is known for her fierce nature.

She is a free spirit but a strict warrior; one whose valor is well-known in the Randalorion Kingdom despite her debut being in Dustinville.

I never imagined I would ever meet her, but it would be an honor.

Although things have turned out this way, I too am a Knight, after all.

Oh well…

I'm getting sleepy.

I should sleep now so I can wake up early tomorrow. After Klein's Graduation Ceremony, we're definitely going to celebrate in an after-party, which is where he plans to propose in front of everyone.

After that, it'll be another round of celebration.

I should brace myself.

******

Yup!

Just as I expected—It's quite a busy day!

First, we attended an excruciatingly long five hour Graduation Ceremony. I have come to realize how boring graduation ceremonies are when you aren't one of the graduants.

The Royal Academy's ceremony is one thing, but this University is even worse.

All the formalities are too time consuming, and they barely add anything of value to the event.

But this is all customary.

I can't exactly complain about such matters.

As a Leviathan, I think I've gotten more particular about my time and how I spend it.

However, this is Klein's special day.

I need not be so irritable.

After five hours, Klein obtains his certification for his over two years of effort and officially steps into a higher realm of Academia.

He becomes a Grand Scholar.

Have I mentioned just how prestigious this position is? It's literally the highest level one can obtain in the Randalorion Kingdom.

Only Supreme Scholars are higher than Grand Scholars, but you can't get such a degree in a Mid-sized Kingdom like the Randalorion Kingdom.

In the same vein, you can't get a Grand Scholar degree in a Small-sized Kingdom.

I'm quite happy for my friend, Klein.

He started off as a Senior Professor whom I respected as a student, and now he has become one of my closest friends.

How peculiar.

Life truly works in mysterious ways.

We relax a little after the ceremony, before eventually celebrating the event with an afterparty.

And, of course—

"Seraphina Lindester, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

—Klein proposes.

The world turns silent.

Everyone vanishes, and it seems as though only those two exist in that frame of time.

I watch the entire scene purposefully.

Klein's uneasy breathing.

Seraphina's teary eyes, her blushing face, and how her hands clasp together with glee before screaming.

"I will! Oh, I will, Klein!"

I smile at the whole thing, taking a sip of my wine and nodding.

This is how it should be!

The passion… the youthful exuberance!

I feel a surge of excitement.

And a tinge of pain.

'In my past life, I didn't get engaged in such a way. Instead, it was a formal arrangement between families.' My thoughts flow as I think about everything in silence.

Right now, the wife I had in my past life is living in her family abode. She won't have to worry about me showing up on her doorstep.

I never cared for her in my past life, and I certainly do not in this one.

What I desire is something like Klein has with Seraphina.

—True love.

But finding such is rare.

I did find that with Dahlia, and I thought I would find it in Ciel, too.

But, oh well.

Speaking of Ciel, I allowed her to return to the Vey'lithar Sanctuary on her own. She's been with me for quite some time, so she deserves some time with her people.

Plus, I need her to help me set up a few things.

After all, I'll be visiting that place soon.

********

"So, what do you think?" I ask Klein as the two of us stand outside the party hall, having our brief moment of solitude.

"Now that you're a Grand Scholar, many new career paths are open to you… and that includes becoming the Headmaster of the Royal Academy."

Indeed!

This is yet another objective of mine.

I wish for Klein to succeed the old man, Count Blake Winchester, and become the new Head of the Academy.

Speaking of the Count, he was supposed to retire last year, but after what happened with the Excursion, he decided to hold onto his position for another year until things stabilized.

I'm glad he did.

It has bought me enough time to make this arrangement possible.

With my current reach in the Kingdom, it is certainly something I can make happen.

Of course, there will be dissenters.

The old heads will be especially furious, but what exactly can they do? If Count Blake Winchester gives his blessing and the Royal Family is in support, everyone will naturally get in line.

Duke Ravenwood is on the Royal Faction's side, so that is a plus.

I have also been weakening the Noble Faction's power for the past year, so all they can do is offer weak resistance by appealing to all kinds of persuasive methods.

As for Klein himself, I believe he is more than qualified for that role.

He has a sufficient background in education, and he is very brilliant. He graduated with a First Class and has never scored lower than a B on any Course in his life.

He is an Academic Monster, a juggernaut in the field.

He also has a passion for teaching.

I have seen it.

"I don't know, Javier. Don't you think it's too early? There'll also be a lot of pushback…" Klein smiles wryly, titling his glasses while speaking.

I laugh aloud, swirling the wine in my glass.

So careful… It is so like him.

But he has no reason to worry—I am on his side.

"What if there weren't any obstacles? I mean, the rules don't even stop relationships between the Headmaster and a Professor, which means you and Seraphina could be married and you'd have no problem with your position. Wouldn't it be lovely if you both worked close to each other?"

"Well… That's true."

There's, of course, the matter of votes among the Professors—particularly the Senior ones.

But everyone knows it's just a battle of numbers and influence. Once I bring the Royal Faction on board, all the Professors under that umbrella will get in line.

It's rather unorthodox, having such a young man lead the Royal Academy, but I am quite familiar with such things.

Stagnant water is bound to get rotten.

Unorthodox is good.

It helps to shake things up every once in a while, which fosters progress.

"Let me think about it for a little while, Javier."

I smile and nod. "Sure."

In the end, it doesn't matter how highly I think of Klein and how much I want him to have this job.

It is his choice to make.

We all have our own lives to live, and so we must choose what to do with it.

All are entitled to that right, at the very least.

"Feel free to take your time."

*********

Over two weeks have passed since the graduation/proposal day.

I met with Regulus and sorted some details with him, and I also met Sir Jerome for a letter of introduction.

He cooperated, as I expected.

Everything is moving smoothly, and I couldn't be more relieved.

The new year will roll around in a few days, and although my contract with the Royal Academy should be coming to an end then, I might stay as a staff to look over things until it's time to head to Dustinville.

But that doesn't really bother me as much.

Everything is stable.

There are very little to no loose ends.

The Dark Guild has been quiet for some time, and business is going well. I haven't gotten all of my Grade 5 Special Resources yet, but I have received a few.

They're enough to satisfy my needs in the immediate future.

Speaking of the immediate future, there is something else I haven't mentioned yet.

My first Apotheosis… I will be having it soon.

I'm a little anxious.

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