Evolving Infinitely: SSS-Ranked Talent Awakening.

Elora gave them a small smile, her weak form still evident.

"I will not be much of a burden," she assured them. "Your brother has helped me, and I will do what I can to repay him."

I looked at my siblings and then turned to Elora. "I'm going to need you to watch over them while I'm gone. My missions take me away often, and I can't always be here. I trust you to make sure they're safe."

Elora nodded. "You have my word. As long as I am here, I will protect them."

"Good," I said, feeling relieved. "But for now, you need to focus on recovering your strength. Stay here, rest, and I'll help you with your recovery as much as I can. I'll find some Arcane stones to speed things up."

Elora looked grateful but still hesitant. She knew it wasn't easy to find the resources needed for her recovery.

But I had already made up my mind.

I would do whatever it took to help her, not just because I needed her strength, but because she had become a part of my small family now.

As the night fell, Elora a settled into her new temporary home, while I sat outside, deep in thought.

I had taken on a lot of responsibility, but I knew it was the right thing to do.

My next steps were clear: help Elora recover and continue preparing for the challenges ahead.

The weight of the unknown loomed over me, but for now, I found comfort in the small victories my family was safe, and with Liora's help, they would remain so.

The second semester had begun, and I, now rested and more focused, walked into the academy grounds with renewed energy.

After my time in the Hoseki, my skills were sharper, and my stats had improved, giving me a deeper sense of confidence.

I had also formed a contract with the last survivor of the Divine Custodians, and though she was recovering at my home, I couldn't shake the feeling that her existence would soon bring significant changes in my life.

Today, however, my focus was back on the academy. As I stepped into the familiar halls, Professor Fiona summoned me to the office.

"Levi, I have a task for you," Professor Fiona said, seated behind a mountain of papers.

I stood in front of the desk, awaiting instructions.

"In a few days, some nobles and wealthy students will be coming for a special test. They help the academy meet its annual budget. Your role is to help manage the situation by overseeing their arrival and making sure everything goes smoothly."

My face remained neutral, but inwardly, he felt a wave of unease.

Nobles. I wasn't fond of dealing with them, especially after my previous encounters. My conflict with Dazzai Thornhill still lingered in my memory.

However, I understood the importance of maintaining the academy's reputation, so I nodded.

"Understood, Professor," i replied, already bracing myself for what lay ahead.

As I left the office, I spotted Zeddack Quickman waiting for me in the courtyard.

Zed, my friend and training partner, was lounging under the shade of a tree, looking as casual as ever.

Upon seeing me, he stood up and approached me with a grin.

"So, what's the mission this time? Fighting another boss? Or are we going to hunt down some rare monsters?" Zed asked, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.

I shook my head. "No, nothing exciting like that. I've been tasked with helping the academy manage some incoming nobles and wealthy students for a special test."

Zed's smile faded slightly, and he groaned. "Nobles, huh? That sounds... unpleasant. You're going to be surrounded by a bunch of snobby kids who think they own the place."

I smirked. "Yeah, tell me about it. But it's an order, so I'll manage."

Zed sighed and shook his head. "Well, if you need backup, you know where to find me. I'm not letting you face those vultures alone."

I chuckled softly in response. "I appreciate it. But let's hope it won't be too much of a problem."

As we continued walking, another familiar voice called out from behind them. "Hey, Levi! Zeddack!"

It was Valeria, one of my friends from way back when I was still at my old town and among the infamous border cleanup group.

She was a talented Healer specializing in healing magic, and her fiery personality matched her combat style.

She jogged up to us with a cheerful smile, her reddish-brown hair bouncing as she moved.

"What's up?" she asked, falling in step beside us.

"Levi here has been assigned the oh-so-fun task of dealing with the new batch of noble kids," Zed replied with a smirk.

Valeria raised an eyebrow. "Nobles? Well, that sounds like a drag. Are they as arrogant as the rumors say?"

"Probably worse," I muttered.

Valeria rolled her eyes. "Great. Just what we need more stuck-up brats walking around like they own the academy. You'd think their families' money would buy them some humility, but no."

Zed laughed. "Humility? With nobles? That's a foreign concept to them."

We continued chatting, discussing our training schedules and how we had each grown since the first semester.

The trio reminisced about our past missions, including my recent encounters in the Hoseki gate.

Zed, as usual, seemed eager to dive back into more battles, while Valeria voiced her concerns about the ever-growing challenges we would face as we grew stronger.

"I wonder how much more intense the academy will get this semester," Valeria mused. "I heard we're supposed to take on even more dangerous missions."

"Wouldn't surprise me," I said. "We've already seen things most students haven't. But that's the point, right? To push us beyond our limits."

Zed smirked. "Well, bring it on. I'm ready."

As the day went on, we spent time in the training grounds, honing our skills.

I practiced my precision with my Spacial Manipulation control and phantom steps, while Zed worked on refining his sword techniques.

Valeria focused on combining different healing spells, creating complex magic that impressed even the instructors.