The Research Hall was silent, save for the faint hum of mana-stabilizing crystals and the rhythmic ticking of a clock that seemed to be counting down the final seconds of my life in this kingdom. I sat across from Suzuna Hikari, the information she had shared settling into my mind like stones falling into an abyss. This world was a masterpiece of organization, a hierarchy built on the rigid measurement of one's soul.

  ?(Thinking...) So, this was the framework. My rank was an undefined variable in an equation of billions. I knew that if I could master the Black Mana coiling within my marrow, the "Legendary" tier wouldn't just be a goal; it would be a starting point. I could already feel the potential to rival someone like Akaria, but the method mattered less than the result. I had to establish my presence in this world, not as a student, but as a sovereign of the Void.

  ?"So, Nico," Suzuna said, her voice breaking the silence. "I've given you the map of the ranks. Is there anything else you'd like to uncover before you close your books?"

  ?"Yes, Professor," I said, leaning forward. "You spoke of Azral Sul. Tell me of his characteristics. What makes a being reach the Star Rank and hold the Three Kingdoms in his palm?"

  ?Suzuna's expression turned solemn, and she adjusted her spectacles. "Information on the Sovereign is restricted, even for faculty. But I can tell you what the archives whisper. Azral Sul is the ruler of the Grand Empire of Light. Under his absolute discipline, he governs the Independent Elven Kingdom, the peaceful Kingdom of Arcadia, and the Heavenly Star Kingdom."

  ?She paused, her eyes clouded with a hint of wariness. "He is a figure of terrifying mystery. He almost never appears in the light of day; his generals handle the administrative and military burdens of the three realms. However, the Elven Kingdom maintains a degree of autonomy. Because of a treaty signed in an age of blood, they possess immense privileges and political power. This is the source of the elven arrogance you've encountered—they truly view themselves as the supreme race, the chosen wardens of the Sovereign's light."

  ?"I understand now," I remarked. "Grotaro Natalia's haughtiness isn't just a personality flaw; it's a national policy."

  ?Suzuna offered a thin, tired smile. "Precisely. Natalia embodies their worst traits. She once nearly executed a human student over a minor insult, and it took the intervention of Zorua Machiavelli, General Akaria's deputy, to stop her. No matter how much pride the Elves carry, they are always monitored by the Black Spear squad. Akaria's unit exists to ensure that even the 'superior race' doesn't tip the balance of the Empire into chaos."

  ?She reached into a drawer and pulled out a heavy, leather-bound volume. Its cover was etched with silver ley lines that pulsed faintly.

  ?"Take this, Nico. It is a compilation of my personal research—data on the Grand Empire of Light and fragments of information regarding the empires that lie beyond the Forbidden Seas. It will be a compass for your journey."

  ?I accepted the book, feeling the weight of the knowledge within. "I accept this with gratitude, Professor. I suspect I will find half my answers in these pages and the other half in the dust of the road."

  ?"You're welcome, Nico," Suzuna said. Then, the atmosphere in the room changed. The temperature seemed to drop, and she looked at me with a cold, piercing intensity that suggested she was no longer seeing a student, but an anomaly. "I wish you luck... but before you vanish, I have a question. One you might find intrusive."

  ?"Go ahead," I said, my voice remaining flat. "I owe you for the honesty you've shown me."

  ?"Nico Sigmund," she began, her words measured and sharp. "Are you truly human? Or are you a creature wearing a skin that doesn't belong to it? My research into your patterns last night revealed something chilling. Your behavior, your lack of basic biological impulses, and your insane challenge to Akaria... none of it fits the profile of a human, or even an elf. What is your true identity?"

  ?I sat in the silence, a faint, hollow smile playing on my lips. (Heh... so there was no avoiding the scholar's intuition.)

  ?"Listen closely, Professor Suzuna," I said, my voice gaining a resonant, metallic edge. "You've done me a great service. But my truth has been clear from the start. If I knew exactly who I was, I would not have come to this Academy. I woke up in a desolate desert with no memory of a mother, a home, or a name. Am I an amnesiac man, or a being forged by the Void for a purpose I have yet to grasp? I am searching for that essence myself."

  ?I leaned in, and for a moment, the crimson paths on my neck flared with a low light.

  ?"Believe me, Suzuna, if I let you into my dreams, you would not like the architecture of my mind. I fight my own questions every second of every hour. Perhaps I didn't come here by choice; perhaps a High Being from the Great Void sent me here to act as a Correction. Soon, I will know my identity, and you will know it too—it will be a realization so absolute that your eyes will widen in pure disbelief. I am not here for good or evil; I am here for the truth of myself."

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  ?I stood up, the chair scraping against the floor. "Do me one last favor. Let this conversation remain a locked door. Whoever arrives at the truth first shall hold the key."

  ?"Ni... Nico! Wait!"

  ?But I was already gone, my silhouette vanishing into the shadows of the hallway before she could even stand up. Suzuna stood in the center of the room, her hand over her heart, feeling a lingering pressure in the air that made it difficult to breathe.

  ?"What did he just say?" she whispered to the empty room. "I hope... I truly hope you aren't the persona I fear you are, Nico. I hope you become a man of ambition, not a harbinger of the Void. Good luck... I have a feeling the world is about to change because of you."

  ?Finally, I was leaving.

  ?To my regret, I couldn't say goodbye to Melina. I didn't understand the sudden shift in her demeanor—the way she avoided my gaze as if I were a plague. Perhaps she had experienced a shock I didn't witness, or perhaps she, like Suzuna, had caught a glimpse of the 'Nothingness' behind my eyes. I wished her success. I hoped she would find the strength she so desperately craved.

  ?Farewell, Academy. Farewell, Charles. And to the scouts—Joey, Shozo, Bahti, and Nelson—you were the first humans to show me that life in this world had a flavor. To reach the highest levels, I had to distance myself from the comforts of Arcadia. My current form was failing; the human skin was a thin veil that was starting to tear under the pressure of my true nature. Time was a luxury I no longer possessed.

  ?[One and a half months later]

  ?The hallways of the Academy felt emptier than they had in years. Melina walked with restless, anxious steps, her books clutched tightly to her chest.

  ?(What is this feeling that has been haunting me?) she wondered, her mind racing. (It's been over a month... and I haven't seen his shadow in the library or the cafeteria. Nico... could something have happened?)

  ?She stopped in front of his dormitory door, her heart hammering against her ribs. (Dammit, Melina! Just check on him. Tell him you were worried, then go back to your training. He won't suspect a thing. He's probably just in another coma.)

  ?She took a deep breath and knocked softly. "Nico? Are you in there? It's me, Melina. If you're alright, just... just say something so I can leave. Or let me in."

  ?Silence.

  ?She knocked again, harder this time. "Nico? Are you asleep again? This isn't funny!"

  ?The silence that followed was heavy and cold. Panic began to claw at her throat. "Nico! I'm coming in!"

  ?She pushed the door open. The room was immaculate. The bed was made, the desk was cleared of papers, and the air was frigid. It was a room that hadn't been lived in for weeks.

  ?"Nico? Where are you? You're not here..."

  ?Dread washed over her. She ran to the cafeteria, her eyes searching every table. Nothing. She sprinted to the library, her breath coming in ragged gasps. "Charles! Have you seen Nico?"

  ?The librarian didn't even look up from his ledger. "The boy? Haven't seen him in weeks. Thought he finally decided to stop bothering my books."

  ?Melina's heart raced as she stumbled out of the library and nearly collided with someone in the hallway.

  ?"What are you doing up at this hour, Melina?"

  ?She spun around to see Professor Suzuna standing there, her arms crossed, her expression a mix of surprise and profound pity.

  ?"Professor! I'm looking for Nico. I can't find him anywhere. Do you know where he's training?"

  ?Suzuna sighed, a bitter, sad smile touching her lips. "Oh, Melina... you really are behind on the news. Nico Sigmund left the Academy nearly a month ago. In fact, he has left the Kingdom of Arcadia entirely."

  ?The world seemed to tilt. Melina's books slipped from her hands, crashing to the floor. "What? That... that can't be true. He wouldn't just leave. Not like that."

  ?Her strength failed her, and she sank to her knees on the cold marble. Tears began to blur her vision, hot and stinging. "He left... without saying a word. Without a goodbye."

  ?Then, a memory hit her like a physical blow. The day in the hallway when he had called out to her. The day she had walked past him, her heart filled with a stupid, prideful need to be 'independent.'

  ?"He called my name," she sobbed, her voice breaking. "He wanted to tell me something... he was trying to say goodbye, and I was so focused on my own pathetic ego that I ignored him! I was such a fool! Such a stupid, arrogant fool!"

  ?Suzuna knelt beside her, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Wait, Melina... don't do this to yourself. Why are you crying so hard?"

  ?"Because he's gone, Professor! And the last thing I gave him was silence! I wanted to become strong so I could stand by his side with pride... and instead, I drove him away!"

  ?"Calm down, Melina," Suzuna whispered, her own eyes misting over. "Nico didn't leave because of you. He left for his own reasons—goals and ambitions that this kingdom couldn't fulfill. He is a man who walks a path we can't even see."

  ?Melina looked up, her eyes red and her face pale. "Do you think I was too harsh? Do you think he was angry with me?"

  ?Suzuna patted her shoulder. "I knew Nico in a way few did. He had a strange kind of kindness. He likely realized how hard you were training and didn't want his presence—or his departure—to distract you from your growth. He isn't angry. He is simply... gone. But if you work, if you truly develop your skills and break through your limits, I am certain your paths will cross again. And when that day comes, you will be able to stand beside him as an equal."

  ?Melina wiped her tears with the back of her hand, a new, sharp resolve flickering in her eyes. "You're right. I can't stay on the floor crying. I have to work. I have to push myself until I am someone he can't ignore."

  ?"Yes," Suzuna said, helping her up. "That is the only way. Now, go to your room and rest. Tomorrow, your real training begins. I promise you—I will help you grow stronger, and I will do it quickly."

  ?"Thank you, Professor Suzuna."

  ?"It's no problem, Melina. We both have a reason to see him again."

  ?As they walked down the quiet hallway, the wind from the open window carried the scent of the desert—the place where it all began, and the place where the Void was now returning.

  [End of Chapter 7]