"Everyone, get ready. We're about to enter Aetheris Academy's territory," Lucas shouted, commanding the entire force that looked like ants before him.
With coordinated movements and flawless formations, they made their way into the Academy one by one, creeping through the still-thick fog in utter silence.
They entered a large cave, moving along a narrow path that led through massive rocks. Just ahead, the Academy's main building came into view, signaling that they were close.
Lucas, like a king, issued commands, executed decisions, and stripped every soldier of their freedom—they followed his directions with blank expressions.
"Hey! Keep walking, idiot," Lucas barked at someone who had paused to look up, startling the man into continuing forward.
How could they move through the fog?
---
Wein Arcveil
"The fog will likely clear out from the Academy in two to three days," said Aria, and the look on everyone's face was the same—relief.
There was no more haunting feeling lingering around them, and at last, it seemed like it was all coming to an end. Glen, still lying on the table, asked directly:
"How could this fog just vanish so suddenly?" It was a question students were never supposed to ask, and yet the conversation began.
Even with her extraordinary intelligence, Aria didn't know the exact reason, nor did she have an answer. Wein and Loraine had just been listening the whole time.
A few knocks. "Excuse me!" A gentle voice pierced through the large door just seconds before she asked, "Is Wein Arcveil here?"
Immediately, all eyes turned to Wein and quickly moved him toward the door. Loraine, who was closest, walked over to open it.
A few seconds passed before the door opened. Wein was already prepared, standing about two meters away, staring at a girl with long green hair neatly tied up.
Wearing glasses and a school uniform, Wein looked a little confused and wondered who this person was—but it didn't matter. She went straight to the point.
"Director Claudia and Miss Arcveil would like to meet with you," said the girl softly—someone who had never appeared in the registry books.
She looked like a genius scholar of the Academy, but she wore a badge from Drakvaris dormitory—so she was here? But why had Wein never seen her before?
"Oh... Alright," he said, stepping forward through the door, leaving his friends behind. Loraine remained by the open door, watching.
A portal appeared before the two of them, red in color with rippling waves spreading across its surface. They immediately stepped through.
It didn't take long before he was teleported. The moment his body stepped out of the portal, he arrived in a grand room—not too big, but certainly not small.
Golden decorations adorned the edges of the ceiling, alongside silver-framed pictures hung on elegant brown walls.
Right in front of him, just past a large window, there was a work chair and desk. Closer to him, two sofas faced each other, and between them stood a majestic chair.
On the left sofa from Wein's point of view, two girls were seated. The one closest to him had shoulder-length blue hair, and beside her sat a woman with black hair and sharp red eyes, with a beautiful face. They looked at Wein.
"Welcome, Wein Arcveil," said Director Claudia, sitting in the special chair, raising a cup of tea toward him and gesturing for him to sit.
Wein gave a slight bow before taking the sofa opposite the two women. A few moments passed in silence before Director Claudia finally spoke.
"Wein, these two are members of Gladius. Introduce yourself to them," she said playfully, and instinctively, Wein stood a bit and extended his hand, following her instructions.
"I am Wein Arcveil. It's an honor to meet you," he said to the woman with blue hair. She smiled before replying:
"I'm Akylaa Doreion. Pleased to meet you."
Next, he extended his hand to the girl beside Akylaa. In less than a second, and with incredible speed, she shook his hand.
"I'm Wein Arcveil, pleasu—" He couldn't finish his sentence.
"I'm Elaina Arcveil. I've missed you so much, Wein!" She squeezed his hand tighter, grinning widely as she looked at her brother.
"Sis? Elaina?" he muttered.
Elaina released Wein's hand after holding it for a while. At last, Wein could sit down again, though Elaina's smile remained wide.
The green-haired girl with the proportionate face and striking beauty—she wasn't here, even after Wein had tried to find her several times.
"Wein, you weren't brought here just to be introduced to your sister, but because of something that will impact the Kingdom of Sperum," said Director Claudia.
Wein still sat frozen, his mind racing to recall Director Claudia's name before finally matching it—'Claudia Doreion'—and realizing the blue-haired woman before him had the same surname.
"Wein!"
"Oh… what is it?" he asked, like a student just waking up in class.
Elaina wore a serious expression for a moment before speaking.
"A series of mysterious attacks has occurred more than three times in the CyFil Empire and the Dwarvest Republic."
"This proves that Vernisius is no longer just an untamed forest—but a civilization untouched by us until now."
She paused, inhaling deeply before exhaling slowly. Elaina continued:
"How accurate is this information? Several pieces of foreign military equipment were found, bearing a new kingdom's crest—Vernisius."
The emergence of Vernisius was deeply perplexing, especially since all three nations were still struggling to fend off the fog, and Vernisius had taken the opportunity to strike nearby cities.
"So…"
"We need innovation from you, nothing more," Akylaa Doreion added, just as a knock echoed through the door during the most critical part of the discussion—just like before.
This couldn't be real. They were members of Gladius, and even the Academy Director was asking a 16-year-old boy for innovation? Whatever Elaina had said about him… it felt like too much.
The sound of a splash and the glow of a portal appeared on Wein's left—the same place he had entered from. Then, a scientist stepped out with tired eyes.
Behind him followed the green-haired girl from earlier. Wein and the others watched as he bowed halfway to Director Claudia and the Gladius members before locking eyes with Wein.
"You're the one named Wein Arcveil?" he asked.
---
Lucas Lordmurt
Everything was in place, and everyone stood in formation. Hundreds of soldiers gathered inside the cave, relying on just one campfire.
"Is everyone accounted for?" Lucas made sure. He didn't want a single person leaving and ruining the plan he had so carefully prepared.
"Yes, Your Grace," someone answered in fear. It sounded disgusting, but the man held Lucas in such high reverence.