Soft golden sunlight streamed through the tall glass windows, illuminating the vast hall where Leo stood in silence. Calling it a "house" felt like an understatement.
The polished marble floors reflected everything like a mirror, while the walls were decorated with intricate golden carvings. Massive chandeliers hung high above, sparkling as if someone had stolen stars from the sky and trapped them there. Every corner of the mansion carried an overwhelming sense of power, wealth, and authority.
Leo exhaled slowly.
"This really is a different world…"
The sound of footsteps echoed behind him.
"Sir Leo."
Leo turned around. Valeria's butler stood there, as composed and elegant as ever.
"Lady Valeria has requested your presence. The carriage is ready."
Leo gave a slight nod, and soon he was on his way.
The carriage came to a halt near the academy grounds.
Leo stepped out—
—and the weight of reality struck him instantly.
Tents.
Dozens of them.
Students moved slowly between them, some wrapped in bandages, others staring blankly into the distance. The air carried exhaustion… and grief.
Behind them stood the academy.
Or rather, what remained of it.
Shattered walls. Cracked pillars. Towers reduced to broken stone.
A symbol of pride… now reduced to ruin.
The aftermath of the Ogre King's attack.
Leo's fists clenched.
"…Damn it."
Gradually, students gathered in the open field. Murmurs spread everywhere.
Then—
Silence.
Valeria stepped forward.
For a moment, she simply looked at everyone. At the injured students, the frightened faces, the destroyed academy behind them.
Then she spoke.
"I am relieved that no one suffered fatal injuries."
Some students let out quiet breaths, but the tension remained.
Then suddenly—
Valeria bowed deeply.
The crowd froze.
Eyes widened. Conversations stopped mid-sentence.
Even Leo was caught off guard. He never imagined Valeria would lower herself like this.
While still bowed, she continued.
"I will take responsibility for all of this."
Her voice was calm, but guilt was impossible to miss.
"This happened because I failed in my duty to protect you all."
She slowly straightened back to a standing position.
Her expression was calm… but her eyes burned with resolve.
"The academy will be rebuilt."
"And this time, I will do everything within my power to ensure your safety."
The students remained silent. Some looked moved. Some still carried anger. Others simply looked lost.
Then Valeria delivered her final order.
"Until the academy is restored, all students are to return to their homes."
"When everything is ready, each of you will receive a letter to rejoin."
Without another word, she turned and walked away.
The silence lingered for several seconds.
Then the camp came alive again. Students began gathering their belongings, folding tents, and saying hurried goodbyes before leaving one by one.
Leo remained where he was.
His eyes were fixed on the ruined academy.
"Next time… I won't let this happen."
He tightened his fists.
A hand landed on his shoulder.
Ray.
"I know what you're thinking."
Leo said nothing.
Ray stood beside him, looking at the same broken building.
"Next time… we'll be ready."
Leo gave a small nod.
But in his eyes, only anger remained—and it had grown even stronger.
Then Maya approached from behind.
"You removed your bandages?" she asked.
Leo glanced at her.
"The pain is gone now."
He then turned to Ray.
"Where are the others?"
Ray shrugged.
"They already left."
Leo immediately grabbed Ray by the shoulders and shook him.
"When?! I didn't even get to say goodbye!"
Ray laughed.
"You would've noticed if you weren't busy sleeping."
Leo stared at him with an annoyed look.
Then he asked,
"So when are you going home?"
The moment the word home was mentioned, Ray's expression darkened.
"I don't like going back there."
Maya looked at him.
"Why?"
Ray clenched his teeth, irritation flashing across his face.
Leo immediately understood and changed the subject.
"So where do we go now?"
Ray looked toward Maya.
"You're heading home too, right?"
Maya hesitated.
"Yes… but it would take a long time to get there."
Leo cut in before she could continue.
"She's staying with me."
The moment he said that, Maya's heart began racing again.
She lowered her eyes, unable to say anything.
Ray raised an eyebrow.
"So where exactly are we going?"
Leo thought for a moment.
Then a small grin appeared on his face.
"I know the perfect place."
By evening, the three of them stood deep inside a forest.
The trees here were ancient and towering, their twisted branches blocking most of the fading sunlight. The deeper they walked, the darker it became. Thick roots crawled across the ground like sleeping serpents, while cold mist drifted between the trunks.
The forest was unnaturally quiet.
No birds. No insects. No wind.
It felt less like a place of nature… and more like a place the world itself avoided.
Maya instinctively moved closer to Leo.
"Why does this place feel so creepy…?" she whispered.
Ray looked around nervously.
"Forget creepy. This place feels cursed."
Leo, however, walked forward casually as if he knew every step of the path.
After several minutes, they reached a clearing.
At the center stood a wooden house.
It was old, built from dark timber, with a slanted roof covered in moss. Smoke rose lazily from a crooked chimney. Weapons, broken training dummies, and chopped logs were scattered around the yard. Several sword marks could be seen carved into nearby trees.
The place looked less like a home… and more like a battlefield someone had decided to live in.
"This is it," Leo said.
Ray stared.
"You brought us to a haunted cabin?"
Leo ignored him and marched to the front door.
Then, without hesitation—
BANG!
He kicked the door open.
"I'm back!"
He stepped inside, while Ray and Maya quickly followed.
The interior was surprisingly warm. A fireplace burned in one corner, shelves were stacked with books and strange tools, and the scent of food still lingered in the air.
Then a voice came from the side room.
"Why are you back so soon?"
Steven stepped into view.
Tall, broad-shouldered, with messy hair and sharp eyes, he carried himself like a warrior who had never truly retired. Even standing casually, there was something dangerous about him.
Ray instantly recognized that this was no ordinary man.
He leaned toward Leo and whispered,
"What is this guy to you?"
Leo answered casually,
"This old man is my master."
A second of silence passed.
"Old man?" Steven repeated.
The next moment—
THUD!
Steven's kick landed directly on Leo's face.
"I am still young!"
And just like that, the two immediately started fighting in the middle of the room.
Ray and Maya stood frozen.
"…What kind of relationship is this?" Ray muttered.
During the chaos, Steven suddenly noticed Maya.
"Who's the girl?"
Leo blocked another strike.
"That's a long story."
"Then tell the short version!" Steven shouted.
But Leo ignored him completely.
"Where's my sister?"
Without waiting for an answer, he rushed deeper into the house.
He threw open a room door—
And froze.
Inside, his little sister was happily playing on the floor with another girl.
Leo's expression changed instantly.
"What is she doing here?"
Ray and Maya arrived behind him and looked inside as well.
Both of them were stunned.
Ray spoke first, his voice low with disbelief.
"…Skye? The girl from the 6th Division squad?"