The next day.
Aeon resumed his usual routine. After classes, he headed directly to his lab, this time accompanied by Sara. Professor Orlando, along with his two other assistants, Visal Cronix (a second-year student) and Jennifer Morrise (a third-year student), were already waiting.
"Oh, you've arrived!" Orlando exclaimed, a welcoming smile on his face. "I was just waiting for you kids. Time truly flies, doesn't it? It's already been three months, and the first semester exams are in just a week. I'm truly sorry that because of my research, both of you are dedicating so much of your time to me. Especially you, Kayle, as you're working with four professors simultaneously. It must be incredibly hard for you."
"No, Professor," Kayle replied, a respectful smile. "I'm genuinely glad I've had the chance to contribute to your research. As for my studies, Silvia and my classmates share their notes, so I can still prepare for the exams."
"Oh, that's excellent to hear!" Orlando said, relieved. "But since exams are approaching, you really should focus on preparing for them. After your exams, when you get a few days' holiday, we can resume our research."
"There's no need, sir," Kayle insisted. "I can continue to help you with the research even during the exams. The Grand Continental Research Symposium is this year, isn't it? I know you've been working towards it for years."
"You know about the Grand Continental Research Symposium?" Orlando's eyes widened in surprise, then a wistful expression crossed his face. "Well, you're right, I have been working towards it. When I first introduced my research to them five years ago, they dismissed it as nonsense, too abstract, and far too dangerous. But I didn't give up."
Professor Orlando's groundbreaking research was known as Elemantal Thread Weaving.
It was a delicate and exceedingly dangerous endeavor: to develop a method where multiple elemental mana threads could be woven together in real-time, forming complex composite spells. Spells that combined fire and wind, or lightning and water, without requiring intricate dual-casting rituals. In theory, this meant faster casting, the creation of truly hybrid magic, and spells that could adapt mid-flight based on the caster's intent. The primary challenge, however, was preventing these interwoven threads from destabilizing and catastrophically backfiring.
"Well, this is no easy research he's attempting," Aeon thought to himself. "He's trying to create hybrid magic that allows a caster to fuse two compatible elements without casting dual spells. For me, it's simple since I perceive mana from an entirely different perspective. But the real challenge here is creating a mana pattern that won't backfire onto the caster. Whenever a mage casts a spell, a mana pattern first forms, and then the spell manifests from it. These patterns are intricate designs containing numerous 'factor points,' and connecting these points correctly completes the pattern. For ordinary people, these patterns might look like beautiful designs, but for mages, creating them is a life-risking process. What Orlando is doing is incredibly dangerous. Just one mistake could cause the entire firepower of the spell to backfire, potentially taking the caster's life."
Aeon continued his internal monologue. "This is a common thread I've found across every world I've visited. In every world, mana is perceived as something that flows like water, a thread, or an energy that sustains life. And circles, mana hearts, or stars are simply containers that store mana from the atmosphere. For me, however, it's completely different. When I first began to understand mana, I also used similar methods, but my encounter with the advanced technology and Science in Star X changed everything. I began to truly understand mana on a fundamental level and discarded all my previous methods, working instead on my own theory. This is how I created the Mana Atom Theory. Now, I don't need any incantations or intricate patterns for casting magic. I simply change the molecular structure of the mana and cast the magic in milliseconds. I can release lightning directly through my palm—my incredibly powerful attack, 'Heavenly Thunder'. I'm so proud of myself."
As Aeon silently lauded his own hard work, Sara and Orlando watched him, smiling, and Orlando patted his shoulder gently.
"Professor, do you think he's completely lost it?" Sara asked, a hint of concern in her voice, though she was trying to hide a smile. "He's been behaving like this for months."
"Well, Professor," Jennifer added, "your research can certainly make anyone lose their mind."
"Yeah, Professor," Visal agreed. "It's not an easy task to create a new pattern, and your research depends entirely on him. It must have been very tough for him."
"I think so too," Orlando nodded, his gaze softening as he looked at Kayle. "He's just a seventeen-year-old kid, like you sara, and he still wants to continue the research even during exams. I can't thank him enough for his hard work."
And just like that, they continued their research, the air thick with the hum of magical theory and the quiet dedication of the students. And Two hours left.
During their time working together, Kayle and Sara had become good friends. Sara was always quick to help Kayle, even covering his academy-related responsibilities.
"Ouch!"
Sara exclaimed, feigning a twisted ankle, and conveniently tumbled right into Kayle's arms, her face landing softly on his chest. Such "stunts" weren't uncommon; she often found subtle ways to touch, hug, or simply get closer to Kayle.
"Are you okay, Sara?" Kayle asked, genuinely concerned, carefully steadying her. "If you're not feeling well, you can take some rest."
"No, Kayle, I just twisted my ankle," Sara replied, keeping her face pressed against his chest a moment longer than necessary. "It's nothing more."
"Okay, if you say so," Kayle said, gently helping her regain her balance.
"What a handsome face," Sara thought, her cheeks flushing. "Like something sculpted from stone in a scripture. His chest muscles are so big. I just want to keep hugging him forever and embrace myself in his big arms. I wonder what he's hiding inside his shirt... his abs...I want to pull his shirt." Her face burned even brighter.
Just then, Olivia swept into the room.
"Hey, Orlando!" she called out, oblivious to the subtle drama. "It's already past two o'clock. It's time for my research. Quickly, empty the room. Go to your personal lab with your assistants."
"Ohh, it's already two o'clock," Orlando murmured, checking his wrist. "I completely forgot about the time. Two hours for one professor is such a short time. I can't even properly work on the glyphs and factor points."
"We can't do anything about it," Olivia said with a shrug. "He has to work with four professors at once. That's why he's even missing his classes."
"Yeah, I guess there's nothing for it," Orlando sighed.
Then, he and his assistants gathered their materials and exited the hall, making way for Olivia's team.
Silvia got closed to the kayle and whispered.
"What were you doing?" she demanded in a low voice. "Hugging her? Embracing her like that?"
Kayle blinked, stunned. "What? I wasn't hugging anyone. She twisted her ankle and nearly fell. I just caught her to keep her from hitting the ground. That's all. There's nothing between us."
Silvia leaned closer, whispering angrily,
"Yeah, I saw just how you were trying to help. I told you I didn't like her being around you. But you insisted, 'She's changed,' and now you're spending more time with her than with me."
Kayle sighed. "What do you mean, I don't give you time? After research, I come to your dorm and stay with you until midnight. What more do you want—me to sleep there?"
"What's the problem with that?" she snapped softly. "My bed's big enough. We can sleep comfortably."
"Silvia," he said firmly, whispering. "We're in an academy. If your maid catches me staying overnight, I'll get banned from leaving my dorm. And again, there's nothing going on between me and Sara."
"Hmph." Silvia turned away slightly. "Liar. I saw it with my own eyes."
Kayle sighed again, internally panicking. He knew he was already knee-deep in a mess—and now Silvia was dragging him deeper. He had to think fast. Something, anything to calm her down.
He leaned in closer, lowering his voice so only she could hear. "How could I possibly like Sara… when I've already been marked with a confirmation seal?"
Silvia's eyes went wide. Her face flushed deep red—like a ripened strawberry.
"Y-Y-You… It's good that you know," she stammered, quickly averting her gaze.
Kayle pulled back, looking away with an inward groan.
> I can't believe I just said that. I want to dig a hole and bury myself in it. I'm never saying that again.
Before the awkwardness could deepen further, Professor Olivia clapped her hands, drawing attention.
"Alright, enough," she said with a smirk. "Back to work! Our research has progressed significantly over the last three months. Let's pick up where we left off."
Professor Olivia's Research: Pyro-synergetic Core Fusion.
Olivia's project revolved around a revolutionary fire-element enhancement process called Pyro-Synergetic Core Fusion. She aimed to design a new form of mana heart augmentation—one that significantly increased both the efficiency and output of fire-attribute spells.
The core theory involved integrating volatile fire mana with an external energy matrix, constructed from finely carved Redflare Crystals. These crystals acted as energy regulators. If the integration was successful, it would enable a mage's core to regenerate faster and produce high-temperature flames with minimal mana loss—without risking internal burnout.
But Olivia's real breakthrough wasn't just power.
Her goal was to create a reactive mana buffer system—a safeguard that would automatically adjust the flow of energy in real time, preventing core overheating and mana circuit damage. If perfected, this technology would change the face of magical dueling, forging, and enchantment.
She turned to Kayle with a confident smile.
"Kayle, since you helped me stabilize the Redflare matrix last week, today we'll test the reaction at 80% mana saturation. I want to measure how close we can get to full ignition before triggering the combustion delay."
Silvia, Emma (second-year), and Alice Trix (third-year) moved into place, preparing the catalyst arrays around the main formation.
They worked all the time and their allocated time also end.
Just then, the lab door opened again. Professor Lucy entered, accompanied by Mariya, Katty Lonen (a second-year and Lucy's younger sister), and Mike Reeves (a sharp-eyed third-year).
"How's the research going, Olivia?" Lucy asked, approaching the central array.
Olivia beamed. "Surprisingly well. Thanks to Kayle and Silvia, we've made rapid progress. If this pace continues, I believe we can make it to the Grand Continental Research Symposium. And Kayle—he's been remarkable. He even offered to continue assisting us through exam week."
Lucy turned to Kayle with wide eyes. "Seriously? That's very noble of you. But don't neglect your exams. You know how difficult Vanessa Academy's evaluations are."
Kayle smiled, calm as ever. "No need to worry, ma'am. I'm ranked third in both theoretical and practicals. I've already prepared. I'll keep working with all of you till the very end."
Lucy's eyes lit up. "Aww, you're so sweet. Thank you, Kayle!" she said and promptly hugged him.
"Oh please, I'm not going to be left out." Olivia grinned and joined in, wrapping him in a brief but affectionate hug.
Kayle, trapped between two professors, turned slightly toward Silvia. She was glaring—expression unreadable—and he subtly stepped away, sliding toward the formation setup.
"Professor… should we begin our work?" Mariya asked.
Olivia and Lucy nodded, and the lab shifted back into its working rhythm.
Professor Lucy's Research: Sonic wind Echo Tracing.
Over in the third quadrant of the massive lab, Professor Lucy had been leading her own groundbreaking research—Sonic Wind Echo Tracing.
Her objective was to engineer a mana-based echolocation system using the principles of wind magic. Not for combat, but for reconnaissance and rescue missions. By controlling specific frequencies of wind and sound, she theorized that a mage could "see" with sound—similar to a bat's sonar. The system would map terrain, identify threats, and locate survivors in collapsed buildings or dark caverns.
But the most remarkable aspect was its secondary function.
Kayle thought,
> This… this is like my detection skill, but more refined. She's using wind as a carrier for a low-frequency signal—like magical sonar. If successful, this spell wouldn't just let someone see through walls… it could send encrypted messages directly into someone's ear without others hearing it. Whispered words, even in the middle of a crowd. The military and intelligence applications are insane.
However, there were still issues. The prototype glyphs Lucy had designed couldn't sustain pulse feedback beyond ten meters. The moment they crossed that range, the returning echo destabilized, causing interference in the caster's mana field.
"Kayle," Lucy called, handing him a rolled scroll. "Let's try binding a dual-layer wind glyph today. Your unique mana calibration might give us a cleaner, more stable pulse."
"Understood," Kayle said, taking the scroll.
Katty, Mike, and Mariya were already at the secondary emitter arrays, fine-tuning the signal relays and mapping the synchronization crystals.
As Aeon continued assisting Professor Lucy with her Sonic Wind Echo Tracing experiment, the hours slipped by like fleeting gusts of wind. Before he knew it, their two-hour session had ended, and the heavy doors of the lab opened once again.
Professor Mark stepped in, flanked by his assistants: Figgy, a sharp-eyed first-year student ranked within the top fifty; Harry Rood, a second-year with a calm, analytical presence; and Brandon Xopicca, a third-year prodigy and the eldest son of the Xopicca family head—one of Atheliya's five great clans.
"Hey, Lucy," Mark said with a slight wave. "It's already six o'clock. My turn."
Lucy blinked in disbelief and glanced at the glowing mana clock on the wall. "What? Already? I completely lost track of time. Again."
She sighed heavily. "Two hours is way too short. I didn't even get the chance to properly redesign the glyph arrays. At this rate, I'll be working on this research for years."
"Don't be so gloomy, Lucy," Mark said with a reassuring smile. "Because of Kayle, we've already made more progress in three months than we expected in a year."
Lucy nodded, glancing at Kayle with warmth. "You're right… This poor kid has been working nonstop for six hours—without a single break. And he's been doing this every day for the past three months."
"I've noticed that too," Mark added, folding his arms. "And the strange thing is, he never seems fatigued. It's like he's made of steel. He said he's from a countryside village, right? Maybe folks out there are just built different."
As if on cue, Professors Olivia and Orlando entered through the side door, looking slightly puzzled.
"Olivia? Orlando?" Lucy raised a brow. "What are you two doing here?"
"We came because Kayle asked us to," Olivia said, holding a curious expression.
"Yeah," Orlando added, "he said to be here at six sharp."
Kayle stepped forward, wiping his hands on a cloth and giving the group a polite nod.
"Good evening, Professors."
"Evening," Orlando replied. "So, what's going on? Why did you ask us all to gather?"
Kayle took a calm breath and addressed all four professors at once. "As you all know, I can currently give only two hours per day to each of your projects. But I've been thinking—after the exams, instead of continuing with these separate schedules, we could all work together."
He gestured toward the massive hall around them. "That's why I divided this lab into four quadrants. Each section is designated for one of your research fields. After the exams, we'll work here, in one place. I'll assist each of you simultaneously."
There was a moment of stunned silence.
"You're saying… you'll assist us at the same time?" Orlando asked in disbelief. "Kayle, that would mean running back and forth between all four labs constantly."
"I understand, Professor," Kayle replied calmly. "But the Grand Continental Research Symposium is being held this year. In June. That gives us only six months. If we don't push forward now, we'll miss our chance—and the next one won't come for another three years."
He paused. "And during my fourth year, I'll be away for my field assignment. I might not be here at all. This is our only window."
The weight of his words settled over the room.
Each professor glanced at the other, reflecting in silence.
Mark was the first to speak. "Kayle… are you absolutely sure about this? It'll be incredibly taxing."
"Yes, sir. I'm prepared."
Orlando stepped forward, his voice softer now. "Kayle, I… I don't even know what to say. You've done more for our research than we could ever ask. This is our work, yet you're giving everything you have to support it. I can't express how much that means to me."
"Truly," Olivia added. "Thank you, Kayle. From the bottom of my heart."
"Same here," Mark said, nodding. "Thank you, Kayle."
Professor Lucy, with her usual flair, smiled warmly and walked up to him. "You're the best, my sweetheart," she said—and without hesitation, pulled him into a hug.
Kayle's eyes widened. "P-Professor Lucy… that's really not—"
"Shh." She squeezed him gently. "Let me thank you properly. No one's ever done something like this for us. You're kindhearted, Kayle. Too kind."
Watching Professor Lucy embrace Kayle, the other three professors—Orlando, Olivia, and Mark—stepped forward without hesitation and joined in, circling around him in a group hug.
"P-Professor… please, there's no need for this. I'm okay, really…" Kayle said, clearly flustered by the sudden wave of affection.
But Orlando placed a firm hand on his back and smiled.
"No, kid. You've done more for us than any student could have. Sacrificing your time, your rest—even your studies—for our research. You're a kind-hearted boy, Kayle."
Mark added warmly, "And don't you ever change that. You've got a gift—not just in magic, but in the way you bring people together. A rare kind of talent."
Hearing such sincere, heartfelt words from his professors, something inside Kayle stirred. His usual composure softened, and without hesitation, he returned the embrace—closing his arms around them all.
He had traveled through dozens of worlds, bearing the name of a different character each time. Fought wars, saved cities, rewrote destinies. He had made friends and comrades, even trusted allies. But moments like this—moments of simple, genuine warmth—were few and far between.
In the center of the hug, Kayle stood still. His eyes shimmered with faint tears, not of sorrow, but something else entirely.
Something he had missed.
This is… what warmth feels like.
He didn't cry. But for the first time in a long while, he felt the quiet ache of being human.
Lucy smiled through the hug. "Alright. So it's settled. After the exams, we'll begin working together. In one place, one lab, one vision."
"Agreed," said Orlando.
"Yes. Let's do it," Olivia chimed in.
"I'm in," Mark nodded.
---
And just like that, time moved like the wind, slipping past in a blur of scrolls, circuits, and sleepless nights.
Kayle and Silvia's first semester came to a close.
After the exams, true to their agreement, the four professors consolidated their research into the massive hall Kayle had divided into quadrants. Every holiday, every spare moment, was spent pushing the boundaries of magic and knowledge.
For days on end, they worked up to 12 hours straight. When the academy reopened, that number dropped to 8—but the progress never slowed. The passion was shared. The vision unified. And at the heart of it all—Kayle.
By the time May arrived, the first year of Kayle and Silvia's journey had come to an end. Their names were already whispered through the halls of the academy—not just as top students, but as key contributors to revolutionary research.
The Grand continental Research Symposium was just a month away. Everyone worked tirelessly for the entire month.
Then came the day they had all been waiting for.
---
June 14th, 1622 — Year of the Creation Calendar
The Grand Continental Research Symposium
Professor Olivia, Professor Orlando, Professor Mark, and Professor Lucy stood together, dressed in the official robes of Atheliya's scholars. Accompanying them were Kayle, Silvia, Sara, Mariya, Figgy, and the upper-year assistants—each carrying bound volumes of their work, enchanted prototypes, and demonstration glyphs.
Together, they arrived in the Cronos Empire's radiant capital—Biros, a city where mana flowed like breath itself, where knowledge shaped politics, and where only the greatest minds in the continent dared to compete.
Standing before the enormous obsidian gates of the Symposium's central building, with banners of every empire and kingdom fluttering above them, Kayle looked up.
The structure loomed like a monument to ambition. Behind it were the continent's most elite mages, scholars, artificers, and researchers—assembled from every known domain of magic and arcane science.
Aeon narrowed his eyes, the corners of his lips lifting in a slight smile.
"Biros… here I am.
It's time for the next phase of my plan."
And with that, he stepped forward, toward a stage that would not only change the world of magic—
But etch his name into its very foundation.