“Wake up, dear... it's time for breakfast.”

  A familiar, gentle voice echoed uedly. Drifter's eyes flickered open, greeted by the sight of a modern room with a dark gray palette. M light seeped through the window, casting long shadows across the floor.

  He g the Lumina Core on his wrist—07:07.

  It had been so long... When was the st time I heard that voice?

  Rising from bed, he got ready for the day. Once seated on the sofa in the living room, his thoughts drifted.

  What should I do now? The Are work... It’s definitely a public database, and it’s sored by the Order or the gover. How is it possible that Paxluma is only mentioned as the capital of the Elysium Kingdom?

  The library... Would there be books that could help?

  He let out a quiet sigh. Not a single soul in this world knew him. No oo turn to, no oo talk to.

  Whehought of Alma and Nadia, their faces appeared in his mind.

  Even with them, the words never came. A heaviness settled in his chest, an invisible weight that pressed down whenever he tried to speak.

  His gaze fell on the blue crystal resting oable. Faint ughter echoed in his mind—the ughter of a man and a woman, both with violet hair.

  His fingers closed around the crystal, slipping it into the pocket of his suit. Then, without another word, he stood up and stepped outside.

  The outdoor walkway stretched before him, lined with greenery. His steps echoed in the silehe world around him seeming distant. Faces and voices blurred, as if he were invisible to them, lost in his own thoughts.

  How much longer will I be here? Is the Grandmaster truly focused on closing the final Abyssal Bread researg the cube for it? Or will they use the cube for their own gain? Or worse, have they beore ied in pying with poolitics?

  As he reached the courtyard, his gaze fell on a white statue of a female elf, poised in a rally stah a banner and spear.

  If the First Grandmaster were still here... she would have rallied without hesitation, taking Paxluma time and time again, always with a neroach.

  A wave of sadness washed over Drifter as he remembered her. The memories of those battles surged back—the endless struggles to seal the Abyssal Breaches across Vesteria. The battle cries, the writhing tendrils, the crag magic—he could still hear them eg in his mind. He could almost taste the victory, the pride of sealing the Abyssal Breach. His fiightened around his palm, the echoes of triumph still too distant.

  As he thought of the First Grandmaster, his mind drifted to Mina, always by her side, her closest panion. Had she ged over time? Had she lost that fighting spirit, now only ag as a ruler?

  I just hope Mina is still the same...

  Suddenly, he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned.

  "Hey, Drifter! Fancy seeing you here again!"

  It was Alma Rosenthal, her pink hair shimmering in the sunlight. She waved cheerfully, her smile as radiant as the m light.

  Beside her, Nadia Fernleaf adjusted the strap of her bag, her fingers fidgeting nervously.

  Drifter approached them.“Alma, Nadia, good to see you,” he said, his voice calm, yet warm.

  Nadia’s eyes darted quickly toward Drifter before l back to the ground.“Good to see you too,” she replied softly.

  Suddenly, a shout broke the moment.

  “Hey!!! So, you’re the warrior from the past?”

  Drifter turned slowly, his sharp gaze log onto a figure.

  A young man with a grin, fiery red hair catg the sunlight, strode toward them, the s on his jacket jangling with each step.

  Drifter stood silent, studying the young man carefully.What does he want with me? I don’t know him.

  Alma murmured under her breath, barely audible, “Oh no... it’s Lor.”

  Meanwhile, Nadia froze, her hands gripping the strap of her bag so tightly her knuckles turned white.

  “You a the duel grounds. Four o’clock. Let’s see if the past is still worth respeg,” Lor said with a smirk.

  The word "duel" felt strange in Drifter's mind—sharp, heavy with old memories. It hadn't been spoken in years, not sihe first time he materialized and wielded his sword. His fiwitched at his side, curling into a loose fist. He met Lor's gaze, unwavering, as if defeating him was his life's mission. Drifter sighed, his lips barely moving.

  "I'll be there," he said.

  Lor’s smirk deepened in satisfa.

  “Good. Don’t be te,” he said before turning sharply, his s king with every step as he walked away.

  As the tension faded, Alma let out a heavy sigh.

  “He’s always like this,” she said, her voice weary, eyes filled with . “Don’t do it, Drifter. He’s nothing but trouble.”

  Drifter simply met her gaze and nodded briefly.

  “Sorry, but I’ve already agreed,” he replied.

  Nadia looked uneasy, her eyes darted nervously. “I… I don’t think this is a good idea,” she murmured.

  “Let’s just hope Alina doesn’t find out about this,” Alma said, her tohick with worry.

  Nadia gave a small nod, her unease reflected on her face.

  As Drifter nodded politely to them and they waved goodbye, he made his way toward the library. On his way, he noticed the trio he had saved earlier, sitting together at a desk beh a tree in front of the library. A tall, slender young man with bck hair approached them, his loud voice cutting through the air as he spoke, though Drifter couldn't reize the petite blonde figure behind him, their delicate features ambiguous—birl, he couldn’t tell.

  “Alright, let’s make this more iing. “If Lor wins, you’re treating us to lunch for a whole month. Every day.” the bck-haired young man said, his grin widening.

  In front of him, the trio watched, Alyssa, the girl with the red ponytail, crossing her arms over her chest.

  “And if he loses?” she asked, a faintly mog smile curling her lips. “We all know Lor’s more reckless than he is smart.”

  The bck-haired young man ughed loudly, his eyes gleaming with iious excitement. “If Lor loses, we’ll all bark like dogs. Tomorrow m, right in the courtyard. A full show.”

  A wave of ughter rippled through the group.

  Bryan, the tall young man with dark brown hair, nudged Erick, the oh wavy brown hair, with his elbow, a wide grin spreading across his face.

  “You in?” he teased, his eyes glinting with mischief.

  “Yeah, sounds like fun,” Erick replied eagerly.

  Alyssa rolled her eyes dramatically, but a faint smile tugged at the ers of her lips.“Fine, I’m in. Win or lose, whatever,” she said ftly.

  “I… I don’t think this is a good idea,” the blonde figure murmured.

  “Rex... It’s all in good fun,” the bck-haired young man said, shrugging. “And hey, free food if Lor wins.”

  As Drifter passed by, Alyssa, Erick, and Bryan gave a slight nod of respect.

  When he reached the library, he sifted through the shelves until he found a book on artifacts and Paxluma. It offered little more than what he already knew—no signifit details about the bck cube or what had bee of Paxluma after the failed operation, just as Friedrid Luna had said. Gng at the Lumina Core on his wrist—15:47—he closed the book ahe library.

  As he walked, the evening light bathed the path, guiding him to the transparent dome. Ihe arena was surrounded by rows of chairs, the crystal flleamih the seated crowd. Fe blue crystals stood at each er, casting ahereal glow. In the ter of the arena, Lor stood, arms crossed.

  As Drifter stepped forward, murmurs faded into silence, and all eyes turo him.

  Drifter felt the weight of the crowd’s gaze. A flush crept up his neck, his pace faltering for a moment. The silence pressed in, his heartbeat eg in his ears. But he shook off the feeling, straightened his back, and tinued walking with purpose toward the ter.

  As he reached it, Lor stepped forward.

  “The rules are simple, old man. Break the Evocyte barrier first, and you wihe energy’s capped—no one’s dying here.” Lor said, his tohick with mockery.

  Drifter nodded slowly, his expression steady. “Thank you for expining.”

  Lor grinned. “Take it easy, old man. Hope your back doesn’t give out halfway.” his voice sharp.

  Lor returo his side of the arena, a smirk still lingering on his lips. Drifter, oher hand, materialized his bck armor, the cloak flowing smoothly. His dark gray sword, Exaltare, appeared in his grip.

  “No armor?” Drifter asked evenly.

  Lor ughed, his shoulders rexing. “Armor? Don’t . Nothing’s gonna touch me anyway.”

  Suddenly, the crystals at the edges of the arena fred brightly, emitting a strange, loud hum. The crystal floor and the enviro around them shifted abruptly, transf into a vast meadow. The audience vanished, leaving only the two batants.

  Duel Start—a syic voice echoed in Drifter's ears.

  In an instant, Lor vanished into shifting shadows, his form dissolving into dark mist that zipped across the battlefield. Drifter remaiill, his sharp eyes trag the mist with precisioilted sword slightly, preparing to intercept the first strike.

  Lor reappeared behind him, dark energy swirling around his fist as he unched a surprise attack. The blow ected, f Drifter back a step, but before he could respond, Lor disappeared again into the shadows.

  A Close bat Sorcerer? Iing, Drifter thought, steadying his stance.

  This time, as the mist swirled around him, Drifter moved decisively, cutting off Lor’s approach. His sword cshed against Lor’s dark energy with a resounding impact, sparks of blue and purple scattering like colliding stars. The shockushed Lor backward, but he quickly shifted tactics.

  Lor raised his hand and unleashed his Ebon Barrage, a storm of dark energy bsts hurtling toward Drifter. With graceful precision, Drifter evaded each projectile, sidestepping effortlessly.

  "Quick, aren’t you, old man," Lor taunted, his breaths slightly heavier, though his fidence remained unwavering.

  Closing the distance, Lor attacked again—a relentless barrage of dark elemental strikes. Jab. Punch. Uppercut. His movements were fierce, but Drifter moved with effortless precision, sidestepping, parrying, and defleg each blow with his sword. Every defle sent ripples of radiant light scattering across the arena.

  As Lor’s rhythm began to falter, Drifter seized the opening. With a single, fluid motioivated Bde Swarm. Dozens of glowing spectral bdes materialized around him, spinning in a mesmerizing formation before ung forward. The onsught struck from all dires, f Lor to retreat, his fidence visibly wavering.

  Gritting his teeth, Lor shed out, trying to punch the spectral swords, but they slipped past his strikes like ghosts. He fired a bst of dark energy, but the swords twisted and weaved through the air, avoiding the attack with eerie precision. Then, one by ohey retaliated—each bde striking at his back, f him further on the defensive.

  "Damn swords...!" Lor growled under his breath.

  The crowd erupted into cheers, the thunderous appuse shaking the arena as the battle escated.

  But the assault didn’t stop. The spectral swords tiheir relentless pursuit, striking faster, f him into a er.

  Then, Lor’s eyes burned with defiance. His body trembled, dark energy crag around him, pulsing wildly. Taking a deep breath, he activated Unleashed Fury. Shadows ignited around him, swirling into a storm of raw power. Veins across his arms glowed like living darkness, his movements being a blur—too fast for the swords to track.

  A savage grin spread across his face.

  "You’re done for!" Lor roared, his voice eg through the arena.

  He surged forward, faster than before, closing the gap in an instant. Like a hurrie, he unleashed Lor’s Special—a whirlwind of explosive punches, each strike tearing through the air with enough force to shatter stone. Shockwaves rippled outward, the sheer pressure sending deafening bsts eg across the arena.

  Drifter stood firm. The first impact was like a tidal wave, smming against him with incredible force, but he didn’t waver.

  With a calm, practiced motion, he raised his left hand.

  A radiant blue barrier fred to life around him—Exalt Barrier.

  Lor’s fist crashed into the glowing shield, the force dispersing in aion of blue light.

  For a moment, Drifter studied Lor through the shimmering energy, watg as surprise flickered across his oppo’s face. Lor froze, eyes wide, his breath hitg as his teeth ched in frustration.

  Without hesitation, Drifter activated Exalt Shift, his body dissolving into shimmering blue particles before reappearing instantly at Lor’s side. A flurry of sshes followed—Lor’s purple barrier flickered with each strike, blue streaks cutting through the air. His body jerked uhe relentless assault, uo defend himself.

  Then—shatter. The sound of breaking gss sighe colpse of his natural barrier. The force sent him crashing backward, motionless on the ground.

  "Duel over... Winner... Drifter..." a syic voice decred.

  The crowd erupted into cheers.

  As the simution faded, the ravaged green battlefield slowly morphed bato the pristine, crystal-paved grounds of the academy.

  Drifter’s gaze fell on Lor, still sprawled on the ground, his bck armor and sword, Exaltare, disiing into faint blue particles.

  Stepping closer, Drifter k beside him, a hand without hesitation.

  "You fought well for someone so young. A good match." His voice was calm.

  Lor hesitated briefly, his hand h uainly. Then, with a steadying breath, he csped Drifter's hand, his grip firm despite the tremble of exhaustion.

  Lor managed a weak smile. "Yeah… I lost. Fair and square." his voice hoarse but ced with faint humor.

  Drifter nodded slightly, his eyes sing the arena. The crowd began to disperse, though the echoes of ughter still lingered in the air. In the distahe tall young man with bck hair and the petite blonde figure hurried over.

  “Lor, are you okay?” the blonde figure asked, voice ced with .

  “Total failure, huh?” the tall, bck-haired young man remarked with a hint of amusement.

  The trio—Alyssa, Bryan, and Erick—approached, ughter in tow.

  “Looks like someone’s barking tomorrow,” Bryan chimed in with a grin, earning a satisfied nod from Alyssa.

  “Better practiake it ving,” Alyssa added, her arms crossed as she ehe moment.

  Drifter turo Lor again, a faint smile tugging at the er of his lips.

  “You… I didn’t expect a sorcerer to fight like that,” Drifter said.

  Lor looked up at him, his tired smile softening with a hint of siy. “Man, you're way too formal. Loosen up a bit. Still… gotta admit, you're impressive.”

  Drifter chuckled softly, the sound barely audible. When he spoke again, his tone carried a warmer fidenbsp;“o rush. You’ll get stronger. It’s just a matter of time.”

  Suddenly, a sharp voice cut through the air.

  “Who authorized this duel?”

  Drifter turned, his gaze nding on troag figures.

  One was a woman with feline ears, her short blue bobbed hair framing a stern expression. She wore a sharp bd-white corset and jacket, her steps firm and anding.

  Beside her stood another woman, her long bck hair casg elegantly beh a teal coat and bck gown. Her presence exuded a calm authority, and the sound of their footsteps resonated across the field, sending a ripple of panic through the students.

  "Oh no… it’s Alina! Run!" Sloane’s panicked voice rang out before he vanished into the scattering crowd, Reine and Lor sprinting after him, their breaths quid uneven.

  Drifter’s attention, however, remained fixed on the blue-haired woman now standing before the arena. Her sharp blue eyes narrowed, her gaze pierg with suspi and scrutiny.

  "Who are you?" Alina Walsh demanded, her voice firm and anding.

  Before Drifter could ahe bck-haired woman beside her spoke up, her tone low.

  "He’s the ohey’ve been talking about. The man from the past."

  Drifter turned his gaze to her, and a sudden familiarity struck him. Luna Sabriel. Her preseirred a memory from the day he first arrived in this era.

  Finally, Drifter spoke, his voice soft, carrying an unmistakable note of genuine apology.

  “I’m sorry… I didn’t know the rules here. I’m Drifter… my apologies.”

  With that, Drifter politely excused himself.

  “Excuse me...” he said, before turning to leave.

  Alina and Luna heir gaze following him as he walked away. Alina crossed her arms, and as Drifter turned his back, he could still hear the faint murmur of their versation.

  As he made his way he courtyard, a faint sound caught his attention.

  "Psst... e here..."

  Drifter stopped and sed the area, his eyes narrowing as he sought the source of the voice. His gaze nded on Lor, grinning widely, the tall young man with bck hair, standio the petite blonde figure. They were perched on the baly of what seemed to be an old building.

  Without hesitation, Drifter approached them.

  “I’m Lor,” he said proudly, pointing to himself.

  Lor theured toward the tall young man beside him. “And this guy here is Sloane. We’re, uh, the troublemakers around here.”

  Drifter’s eyes took in Sloane’s appearaall, slender, with slightly messy bck hair. He wore a dark green short-sleeved coat reen t-shirt, the skull motif on it giving off a rugged vibe.

  "Let’s just say things are never b when we’re around." Sloane added with mock seriousness.

  Lor chuckled, then paused, his grin widening as his gaze flicked to back, where blonde figure stood."And… then…" he murmured, the unfinished sentence hanging in the air.

  Drifter shifted his gaze, stopping at the figure, who stood slightly behind the group. Smaller in stature, with delicate facial features, smooth skin, aly kept medium-length blonde hair that shimmered uhe light.

  Without a sed thought, Drifter asked "And… who is she?"

  Instantly, Lor and Sloane burst into ughter. The blonde figure’s face turned an even deeper shade of red.

  "I’m not—" the blonde figure started, his voice strained and barely audible.

  "What do you think? She’s pretty, right?" Lor said with a grin.

  "I’m Reine, and I’m a guy, alright? Got it?" he snapped, his voice sharp and defensive.

  Drifter froze, realizing his mistake. He raised a hand slightly in a simple gesture of apology.

  "Ah… my apologies. I see that now," he said.

  Lor burst into ughter again, while Sloane leaned back against the wall, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.

  "Don’t worry about it, Drifter. Happens all the time. Especially after his sister gets... creative," Sloane said, smirking.

  Rei out a long sigh, his posture shrinking further. His already flushed faow seemed to match the color of the evening sky.

  "You should’ve seen him at st year’s e event. Full makeup, dress, everything. Truly… transformative," Sloane added with a sly wink.

  Lor was nearly doubled over with ughter, tears streaming down his face as he grabbed Reine’s shoulder to steady himself.

  "ime, we’ll make sure Drifter gets an invite. He has to see it to believe it!" he gasped between ughs.

  Reine groaned, casting a tired gre at both Lor and Sloane. Drifter watched it all—the teasing, the ughter, and the unspoken warmth underh. It wasn’t mean-spirited; it was the kind of camaraderie that only came from a deep bond.

  For a moment, Drifter paused, his steps slowing as a faint ache tugged at his chest. The ughter echoed in his mind, pulling him back to a time long past.

  He could almost hear it again—soft and familiar—like the voices of a man with medium violet hair and a woman with long violet hair. They had ughed together oanding side by side. The memory lingered, warm and bittersweet, before Drifter gave a slight nod.

  "Alright, I’ll be on my way now. Take care. It was good meeting you," he said before turning to leave.

  "Don’t be a stranger! We’re always ready for more fun!" Lor called after him with a grin.

  Drifter didn’t stop, but he turned his head slightly, a faint smile on his lips. His small nod was his only reply before he tinued walking, leaving the group behind.

  As he moved farther away, the smile slowly faded, repced by memories of standing in darkness. Dark lightning crackled across the heavens, while the ground trembled with the csh of steel and vibrant magics against a swarm of small bck creatures.

  Nearby, a man with medium violet hair and wide eyes stared in horror. A long-haired woman with violet hair held her hands aloft in a futile gesture.

  I hope they make it through that battle... they deserve some peace.