At that moment, deep inside a grand, dimly lit mansion, Kihyun's patience finally snapped.
In one swift motion, he sent everything on his ornate desk crashing to the floor—papers, books, and delicate ornaments shattering on impact. His voice, filled with barely contained fury, echoed through the vast room. "Those useless fools! They failed to kill the heirs of the clans, and they couldn't even capture Dong Hae!"
The frustration burned inside him, feeding a deep-seated disgust that twisted his features into a scowl. His mind flickered back to Byung, the man he had once relied on, but now considered nothing more than a failure. "I should have never trusted that trash," he muttered under his breath, venom dripping from every word.
Turning to the butler, who stood silently in the corner, Kihyun's voice was cold and commanding. "I should've expected nothing from Byung. He's worthless."
The butler bowed respectfully, not daring to meet Kihyun's gaze.
After a moment, Kihyun took a deep breath, steadying himself before issuing his next order. "Increase the bounty on Dong Hae's head. Double it. No—triple it. The moment he steps foot outside that academy, I want him dead. Do you understand?"
His words sent a shiver down the spines of his subordinates, who stood in the room with him, their fear palpable. Though they trembled, they quickly nodded and responded in unison, "Yes, sir!"
As they hurried to carry out his orders, Kihyun's thoughts drifted back to the events that had brought him here. He clenched his fists as memories flooded his mind—how the king had once imprisoned him, how his family had died during his absence. He could still remember the exact moment he learned of their deaths, the burning hatred that had consumed him since that day. It had been the king's fault, along with the clans who had refused to understand his research. They had mocked him, treated him like a madman, all because they couldn't comprehend his vision: to turn ordinary people into Awakened.
Now, it was his turn to make them suffer. The King, Joon, would soon know the agony of losing a child. And after him, the clans would fall, one by one, until they too experienced the same unbearable pain.
A sinister smile tugged at Kihyun's lips as he savored the thought. With a dark gleam in his eyes, he called out to the shadow that had silently entered the room. "Take this research to Guardian Mina. She will be most... intrigued by it."
The man, though visibly uneasy at the mention of Mina, nodded and moved to fulfill Kihyun's command without question.
Elsewhere, in the calm of his private quarters, Jaemin was lying on his bed, recovering from the wounds he had sustained during the recent attack. His body was still sore, but his mind was restless, thoughts swirling in his head. Just then, he sensed a presence in the room. Without turning, he recognized one of his father's shadows lingering nearby.
"What's the message?" Jaemin asked, his voice calm but laced with curiosity.
The shadow didn't hesitate. "Master has instructed you to watch over a new student. His name is Ethan."
Jaemin raised an eyebrow at the name. He couldn't shake the strange feeling that surfaced again—he had heard that name earlier. Then it hit him. The boy who had fought fiercely to defend his friend... his name had been Ethan.
Jaemin paused, his mind racing as he pieced it together. "Why does my father want me to look after him?"
The shadow remained emotionless, responding simply, "I do not know."
Dismissed with a wave of Jaemin's hand, the shadow disappeared into the darkness. Alone again, Jaemin couldn't help but wonder. What was it about this Ethan that made his father, a man who rarely took personal interest in anything, want to protect him?
Unknown to Jaemin, his father was hiding a secret that would shake his very core—Ethan was his brother's son, alive all this time, concealed to keep him safe from enemies who would stop at nothing to destroy their bloodline.
Meanwhile, Ethan, deep in a peaceful slumber, was unaware of the whispers around him. He could faintly hear voices—Oliver and Shadow, the two figures who never left his side, were chatting near his bed.
"I think he'll wake up soon," said Oliver, excitement evident in his tone.
Shadow, more cautious, sighed in relief but remained concerned. "Yes, but he needs to be more careful with his power. He nearly overdid it. If he doesn't find a proper master soon, we won't be able to help him as much as we want."
Ethan's eyelids fluttered open slowly, and with a groggy voice, he muttered, "Could you two be a bit quieter? Someone's trying to sleep here…"
The second they heard him speak, Oliver and Shadow practically jumped on top of him, their faces lighting up with joy. "Master! You're finally awake!" they shouted in unison.
Ethan laughed weakly, surprised but glad to see them so happy. As they peppered him with questions, he soon found out that he had been unconscious for four days. In that time, Jinwoo, Seojin, Professor Jaemin, and even Dong Hae had all come by to check on him, worried that he wasn't waking up.
Catching up on everything that had happened, Ethan felt a wave of relief. The attackers had been dealt with, and the academy was safe again. For now, at least, the danger had passed.
As Ethan continued to chat with his companions, the sound of footsteps in the hallway made him turn toward the door. Seojin slowly stepped into the room, trying not to disturb him, but the moment Seojin saw Ethan sitting up, he couldn't contain himself.
"Ethan! You're awake!" Seojin cried, rushing over and throwing his arms around his friend.
"Easy, Seojin!" Ethan chuckled, though he winced a little from the sudden pain. Seeing Seojin's overwhelming joy made him smile.
Just then, Dong Hae walked into the room, smirking as he saw the two of them hugging. "Looks like you two have a pretty close relationship, huh?"
Seojin immediately let go of Ethan, his face flushed with embarrassment. "Shut up, Dong Hae! Just because you're a prince doesn't mean I can't beat you up!"
Dong Hae burst out laughing at that, his grin widening. "I'd like to see you try."
Watching them banter back and forth, Ethan couldn't help but laugh along. As the three of them continued to tease one another, the tension in the room melted away, replaced by a sense of camaraderie.
Without realizing it, something new began to take shape between them. Through shared hardships and laughter, a bond was forming—a friendship that none of them expected, but one that would soon become unbreakable. They were bound not just by circumstance, but by a growing connection that neither Ethan, Seojin, nor Dong Hae fully understood yet. It was the beginning of something meaningful, a friendship that would shape their futures in ways they couldn't yet imagine.
A few weeks had passed since the incident, and things seemed to have returned to normal at the academy. The buzzing excitement of daily life resumed as students rushed between their classes and training sessions, honing their abilities. Ethan and Seojin fell into a routine, attending their lessons together, sharpening their skills, and sharing meals in the busy cafeteria. Occasionally, they would run into Dong Hae, though their interactions with him had become more strained.
Today was no different. Ethan and Seojin were seated at their usual table, trays of food in front of them, chatting about the morning's sparring session. The cafeteria was filled with the noise of clattering dishes and animated conversations. As they ate, Ethan spotted Dong Hae across the room, entering with his usual quiet presence. The prince's long, dark hair was tied back in a sleek ponytail, and he moved with a grace that seemed almost unnatural, his every step deliberate and measured.
Ethan's face brightened, and he waved at Dong Hae, hoping to rekindle the warmth they had shared in the infirmary weeks earlier. Seojin followed suit, lifting his hand in a half-hearted greeting. Dong Hae, however, showed no sign of recognition. His expression remained unreadable as he collected his tray of food and, without even glancing their way, headed toward a far corner of the cafeteria, where he sat with only his servant for company.
Ethan's hand lowered slowly, a pang of sadness spreading through him. He glanced over at Seojin, his brow furrowed in confusion. "Why is he acting like that?" he asked, the hurt evident in his voice.
Seojin, in the middle of stuffing his mouth with food, shrugged. "I dunno," he mumbled, struggling to chew. "He's been acting weird since the attack."
Ethan paused, thinking back to the day Dong Hae had visited him in the infirmary. "But he was so kind to us that day," Ethan said, his voice tinged with disbelief. "He visited me, brought me food, even sat and talked with me for a while. It doesn't make any sense that he'd just... ignore us now."
Seojin wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, glancing over at Dong Hae, who was silently eating with his servant. He leaned in slightly and muttered, "Well, the thing about Dong Hae is... he's complicated. He's royalty, remember? He doesn't exactly know how to make friends." Seojin's tone was light, but his eyes were serious. "Maybe he's distancing himself on purpose. He probably doesn't want to get too close to anyone."
Ethan's shoulders slumped slightly as he stared at his half-eaten meal. "That doesn't make it any easier," he muttered. He couldn't shake the feeling that something deeper was going on with Dong Hae, something that neither he nor Seojin fully understood.
Trying to lift the mood, Seojin decided to change the subject. "Hey, let's not worry about him right now. Today's the big day, remember?"
Ethan looked up, confused. "Big day?"
"Yeah," Seojin said, sounding a little surprised. "Today's the day an instructor chooses us. You don't have anyone in mind?"
Ethan frowned, pausing mid-bite. "An instructor chooses us? How does that work?"
Seojin nearly choked on his food, staring at Ethan like he'd just said something outrageous. "How do you not know this?" he asked, incredulous. "You've been here for a while now!"
Ethan shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "I've only been here a month, Seojin. You know that. Before that, I didn't even know I had powers."
Seojin sighed, feeling a bit guilty for forgetting how new Ethan was to all this. He leaned back in his chair, setting down his fork as he prepared to explain. "Okay, so here's how it works. In your first year at the academy, you focus on training your abilities and weapons, right? That's what we've been doing. But by the second year, things get serious. We start getting assigned missions."
"Missions?" Ethan interrupted, his brow furrowed. "What kind of missions?"
Seojin waved a hand dismissively. "I'll get to that. Just listen. So, in your second year, you're expected to use what you've learned in real-world situations—missions. You know, tasks where you can prove your strength, intelligence, and teamwork. It's basically a test to see how well you've developed."
Ethan listened intently, trying to absorb all the new information."And by the third year," Seojin continued, "you get to decide if you want to join a clan or work independently. The whole academy is built around this system. It's like a funnel, pushing you toward either finding a clan to support you or becoming a solo operative if you're confident enough in your abilities."
Ethan blinked in confusion. "Wait, but what about the instructors? What do they have to do with any of this?"
Seojin sighed dramatically, leaning forward again. "Okay, so you know how we've been training with basic weapons, right? Swords, bows, daggers, that kind of stuff. Well, these weapons can either absorb your power or have their own powers infused into them, which makes us 'awakened' ones stronger. But not everyone's compatible with every weapon."
Ethan nodded, trying to follow.
"You don't just choose a weapon," Seojin explained. "The weapon chooses you. Based on your affinity—how well you match with a weapon—an instructor is assigned to you. That instructor will be like your master or mentor. They'll teach you how to use your powers and your weapon, and they'll act as your guardian."
"Guardian?" Ethan repeated, still trying to make sense of it.
Seojin nodded. "Yeah. A guardian is someone who's responsible for you. If anyone messes with you, it's like they're offending your guardian. And if your instructor is part of a clan, it's like they're challenging the entire clan. It's a big deal."
Ethan's eyes widened in realization. "So, the instructor isn't just a teacher... they're kind of like a protector too."
"Exactly," Seojin confirmed, going back to his food. "But here's the catch—not everyone gets chosen by a weapon. It all depends on your talent. Some people don't match with any weapon, and they have to keep training until they find something that works for them."
Ethan processed this quietly, feeling the weight of what Seojin had just told him. The academy was far more complex than he'd initially realized. It wasn't just about honing powers—it was about finding your place, your path, and your allies in a world that was increasingly dangerous. And the bond with an instructor, with a guardian, was crucial in navigating that world.
But there was something else lingering in Seojin's mind, something he hadn't told Ethan. There were special weapons at the academy—ancient weapons, each with its own personality and powers. These weapons had been passed down through the centuries, each one a relic of a powerful clan. They were temperamental and arrogant, refusing to serve any master unless they deemed them worthy.
Seojin had heard the stories of these weapons as a child. It was said that only a handful of people throughout history had been chosen by them, and those who had were often destined for greatness—or disaster. For the past 20 years, no one had been chosen by one of these legendary weapons, and many believed that the weapons had gone dormant, or that they had simply decided that no one in this generation was worthy of wielding them.
Seojin glanced at Ethan, wondering if he should tell him about the ancient weapons. But then he decided against it. After all, the chances of one of those weapons choosing someone now were practically zero. There was no point in getting Ethan's hopes up. And besides, Seojin figured, they had enough to worry about with their regular training.
For now, it was better to focus on the basics—surviving the academy, mastering their abilities, and finding an instructor who would guide them through the challenges ahead.
Ethan continued to eat in silence, his mind swirling with thoughts about what Seojin had just explained. There was so much more to this world than he had ever imagined, and the weight of it all was starting to settle on his shoulders. But despite the confusion and uncertainty, there was also a sense of excitement. He was on the brink of something new, something bigger than himself.
— Bab baru akan segera rilis — Tulis ulasan
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