Prelude to Inter-Academy Festival II

Time moved swiftly, and before I knew it, the day had arrived: the Inter-Academy Festival of Mythos Academy.

More than 1,500 students from the top academies around the world were making their way to Mythos Academy—more than the number of students we had here to begin with. The sheer scale of the event was staggering, but Mythos Academy, with its title as the number one academy in the world, was more than prepared.

The island the academy sat on was massive, sprawling across a well-developed landscape that could easily accommodate the influx of students. Facilities had been built to ensure that the guests from Frostspire, Gravehold, Starcrest, Serpentstone, and Slatemark academies would be housed comfortably. Each academy was bringing its best, and the anticipation hung thick in the air.

But it wasn't just the students that made this event significant. Each academy was sending an Immortal-ranker tied to their forces, bringing the total number of Immortal-rankers on the island to six. And overseeing it all was the Martial King, the sole Radiant-ranker, whose presence alone ensured that order would be maintained.

With this level of protection, it was almost impossible for any accidents or disruptions to occur. The island was practically a fortress, guarded by the world's most powerful individuals. Even the smallest disturbance would be quelled in an instant.

Jack Blazespout and the other elites would be arriving soon, and I knew that the real test was about to begin. Of all the academies, Slatemark was the closest contender to Mythos Academy, while Starcrest Academy ranked just below. However, those two academies alone held individuals capable of posing a real threat to the star-studded Class A of Mythos Academy's second years.

The eastern continent had always produced exceptional talents, often surpassing other regions in the early stages of development. Their reluctance to send heirs to Mythos Academy made Starcrest Academy stronger than Slatemark on many occasions, even if it didn't hold the same political weight.

This year, Starcrest Academy had particularly formidable geniuses. The thought made me frown. There were key individuals whose fates I needed to intervene in, to prevent the tragedies I knew would unfold.

One such individual was the Gu Clan heir, who would eventually rise to become the third greatest fire mage in the world, trailing only behind Jack Blazespout and Ian Viserion. Her power would be immense, and stopping her growth wasn't an option, but her future alignment was something I had to consider carefully.

But more important was another girl.

The prodigy who wielded a sword with such brilliance that her raw swordsmanship talent surpassed even Lucifer's. She was destined for greatness—if she survived. In the original novel, her life was cut short by Jack's schemes, her brilliance snuffed out before she could fully rise to her potential. She was the young lady of the Moyong family, a powerful Murim family, albeit the weakest of the five great families. Despite this, her talent was undeniable.

Moyong Seol-ah.

In the novel, her death had shaken the world. The Moyong family's loss was devastating, and the talent she represented was irreplaceable. She had been seen as a threat too great for Jack to ignore, and his machinations led to her untimely end.

But this time, things would be different. Jack wouldn't be able to move as freely, not with the heightened security and the presence of multiple Immortal-rankers and the Martial King himself. However, that didn't mean I could afford to be complacent. I couldn't let events simply unfold, assuming that increased security alone would be enough to prevent the future I knew.

I wouldn't allow talents like her to be extinguished by someone as ruthless as Jack. I had to be ready—not just for the festival, but for the subtle moves and schemes that would surely play out behind the scenes.

As I stood there, my gaze fixed on the horizon, my resolve solidified. This time, I would intervene. I wasn't going to let the future unfold the way I knew it would. I couldn't afford to.

If I continued to interfere with key events like these, Earth could potentially see as many as twenty-five Radiant-rankers defending us against the black mana species—especially the demons. Right now, we only had eleven friendly Radiant-rank powers. Twelve, if Luna counted, despite her power still being sealed.

'I don't know if the headmaster is still stuck or if the plot has changed,' I mused, uncertain about his fate. Since I couldn't be sure, I didn't count him among our ranks.

Even so, our numbers weren't strong enough.

Each of the five cults that operated on Earth was led by a Radiant-ranker, and they were all hostile toward any mana beings. The black mana races that lived on Earth had a similar number of Radiant-rankers as us when combined with the cults, which was why neither side had fully overrun the other.

But the demons... they were a different story. They likely had far more Radiant-rankers in their ranks, and even those who had surpassed that level entirely.

That's why it was vital for me to save talents like Kyra, just as I had done with Kali back in my first year. Every one of them mattered in this fight for Earth's survival.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Elara leaned against the window of the high-tech, sleek bus transporting the students of Slatemark Academy toward the warp gate that would take them to Mythos Academy. The hum of the bus and the distant chatter of students filled the air, but her mind was elsewhere.

"Haa," she sighed, thinking back to her father's overprotective speech before she left. He had insisted on going over every detail about her trip to Mythos Academy, as if she hadn't heard it all a dozen times before.

Of course, Archduke Astoria would still be able to communicate with her through her phone, but even then, it felt like he could never quite let go. His protectiveness was a bit much in Elara's eyes.

That's why being away—at least a little bit—was a relief. Mythos Academy was the closest she'd ever get to being out of his reach, even if, as the daughter of an archduke, there really was no place in the world entirely free from his influence.

"Sighing already, Elara?" Naomi asked, leaning in closer to her with a teasing smile. "Come on, we're going to Mythos Academy!"

Elara couldn't help but smile at Naomi's excitement. "Yeah, yeah, I know. It's just...my father can be a bit much sometimes."

Naomi rolled her eyes dramatically. "Please, you're lucky. I wouldn't mind my family being that concerned about me. At least it shows he cares!"

Elara chuckled softly. "I guess so. But sometimes, it's nice to have a little breathing room."

Naomi nudged her playfully. "Well, you'll get plenty of that at Mythos. This is our chance to make a real impression! Just think of the people we're going to meet."

Elara nodded, though her thoughts drifted once again. She knew the Inter-Academy Festival was an opportunity for more than just networking or making a name for herself. She would be crossing paths with some of the most powerful and influential students from all over the world, and that brought its own set of challenges.

Still, the excitement in Naomi's voice was contagious. Elara straightened up in her seat, trying to shake off her father's lingering concerns.

"You're right," she said with a small smile. "Let's make the most of it."

They had met many of the prominent students from the other academies during the grand birthday events of the princesses, but this was different. Staying at another academy for a week-long festival, full of interaction and competition, would be a completely new experience.

But just as Elara's mind wandered with innocent curiosity, Naomi's sudden squeal broke through her thoughts.

"I can't wait to see the princes again!" Naomi gushed, her excitement clear.

From the outside, Naomi Draven appeared composed, almost cold, as expected from the daughter of a count. But in reality—a side only a few, like Elara, ever saw—she was energetic and playful, her demeanor shifting entirely when she let her guard down.

Not that Elara minded. She appreciated Naomi's true self.

"Oh, and you've heard about the incident, right?" Naomi asked, lowering her voice. The playful tone in her voice gave way to something more serious, and Elara's brows furrowed slightly.

Of course, she had heard of it. The infamous incident.

The demon fall at Mythos Academy when Drake Namgung and Luke Orden—both sons of influential families—succumbed to demonic temptation and attempted to harm the three princesses. It had been Arthur Nightingale who stopped them.

Arthur's name was already well-known in powerful circles, especially since he was ranked second in Mythos Academy and had shared the first dance with all three princesses at various events. But this incident had raised his status even further.

Drake Namgung, a rising genius from the Namgung family, had been considered more talented than his older brother. Two years older than Arthur, he had also gained power from black mana, yet even that wasn't enough. Arthur had defeated him in combat, though it came at a great cost—Arthur fell into a one-month coma afterward.

The feat had been remarkable. Drake was no ordinary opponent. His talent, his boosted powers, and his prestigious family name all pointed to a destined rise in influence. And yet, Arthur had stopped him. The three princesses themselves publicly acknowledged that Arthur alone deserved the honor for what he had done.

What surprised Elara most, though, was the lack of recognition. Despite Arthur's heroic efforts, there had been no award, no official acknowledgment of his victory—at least, none that the public knew about. Was it because of the rigid rank system? Perhaps. But it still didn't sit right with her.

"Why do you think he wasn't recognized for it?" Elara asked, her voice reflecting her lingering confusion.

Naomi shrugged, her smile fading slightly. "Who knows? Politics, probably. But people in the know—like us—already recognize him for what he did."

Elara nodded thoughtfully, though something still tugged at her. Arthur's actions deserved more than whispers among the elite. They deserved acknowledgment.