Chapter 239: Back to the Academy
"I heard that the upper classes are coming to the academy today."
"What upper classes? The ones who left for the World Tournament four years ago?"
"No one has returned from the tournament in the last year. This is quite an unexpected event, but it has been overlooked due to the increasing wars with the Hunters. Now, they're coming back in planes from who knows where. Something big is happening, something way beyond us."
A few first-years were talking about this inside the Red Lightning Academy. The end of the year was approaching, so they would soon be second years.
When the Supreme Commander died, Michael couldn't leave the army alone and took command. Now, he was the Supreme Commander. With him in charge, the Hunters couldn't act without considering the consequences.
As a result, however, the Red Lightning Academy was once again in danger of losing its power. Gray had become the director, so the academy was not seen as weak. But he was recovering from his injuries after being severely wounded in his last fight with Era. That's why he hardly ever appeared. He didn't give advice to anyone either. He didn't have any personal students either.
Four and a half years ago, the Red Lightning Academy was at its peak. Their first-year students were real monsters, surpassing those of other academies. Back then, Kai had even managed to defeat Zaheer in the center of the Red Lightning Academy. The difference in power between then and now was enormous.
For example, one of the students discussing this topic today has the talent to reach the center of the Blue Lightning. The others were at the beginning of the Blue Lightning. Clearly, they were far more advanced than the first-year students from four years ago.
At first, they thought all of these words were lies. After all, how could someone defeat an opponent in the middle of the Red Lightning just one year after gaining their powers? This changed when Kai's two siblings graduated from the academy in their third year. It had only been a few months since then, and that crazy guy with a sword at his waist had also graduated with those two siblings. They were all in the third year and had already graduated. According to the fifth-years, the other geniuses in the first year were just as talented as them. Kai was said to be even more talented.
Those three were stars they could never hope to reach, and people as strong as them—even stronger because they were a year ahead—would come. They were eagerly awaiting their arrival.
At that moment, nearly 500 people appeared at the entrance of the Red Lightning Academy. They appeared so quickly that some of the Guardians at the entrance only noticed them a few seconds later. The Guardians were surprised and cautious but noticed that some of the young people looked familiar. After all, many of these people had been in the fourth grade just four years ago. Though their appearances had changed somewhat, the older Guardians recognized them.
"So, the World Tournament is over, huh? Where are the others?"
"They're dead."
Jack uttered a single word and moved into the academy. The others looked just as cold and savage as he did. None of them looked like they had good intentions. Each of them was covered in bloodstained clothes. They had no clean clothes to wear. The blood of their dead friends and hunters covered them completely. The Guardians were optimistic, so they noticed this late. At first, many Guardians thought the blood was just the color of their clothing.
In fact, some of the Guardians' grandchildren or sons had also gone to that tournament. The Guardians weren't weak. Some of them simply noticed Jack and the others arriving too late. After all, some of these Guardians were at the second step. Jack and his companions were carrying injured people and weren't trying to arrive at full speed. Those at the second step could easily see them. However, those who had only taken half a step into the second step could not see them.
"We're splitting up here. We're back now. Do what you want. I'll make sure they hold a memorial service soon."
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After Jack spoke, he left. He was with Little Tiger, Melony, Milah, Jace, and Emma. No one spoke. Of the six who had set out on the journey, only four were returning. Little Tiger didn't count, of course.
Initially, over 50,000 people from the Red Lightning Academy had participated in the World Tournament. Now, only about 500 were returning. Clearly, the survival rate was less than one percent.
Some houses were now completely empty. In others, only one person remained. Jack and his three companions returning seemed wonderful.
But it wasn't wonderful at all. Losing even one person meant enduring constant pain.
"You're back. How about you tell us what happened?"
At that moment, a man with black hair appeared before them. He radiated a sharp, dominant aura. He was none other than their former teacher, Sword Lord Dera. He had advanced to the second step. As Sword Lord, he was stronger than others at his level.
This time, Jack didn't say anything. Truthfully, he was too exhausted. The moment Jace opened his mouth, he suppressed Dera's aura.
"They're all dead. That's what happened. You didn't send us help, and you didn't see us."
As Jace and the others passed by Dera, someone from the Second Step suppressed his aura. Dera heard the whisper of death in his ear.
"You will pay the price for this."
When Jace and the others returned home, no one said a word. Everyone went to their rooms. The men's and women's quarters were separate. Jace and Jack were alone in their rooms.
They had taken their clothes to the Skylands. They couldn't change. All they could do was enter the room, sit on the bed, and look around. Everything felt empty and meaningless. They couldn't think of anything they wanted to do. They just wanted to lie down and sleep, but it was impossible to sleep peacefully in these bloodstained clothes.
"Did you notice, Jack..."
Jace said, looking out the window and hiding his face from Jack. He probably did this so Jack wouldn't see his expression. But Jack could see the tears falling from his face. After everything that had happened, there was no point in holding back his emotions. They could have made it to the second step right then. He wanted to cry. He wanted to cry because they had experienced war. He wanted to go home and go to school. He wished he could live a peaceful life for a hundred years instead of living this long. Even though Jack wasn't looking, he knew Jace felt the same way. He clenched his fists. He heard Jace's sad voice. His emotions echoed in his trembling voice.
"...This room is very quiet now."
***
There wasn't much noise coming from the other room. Little Tiger was sitting on Emma's bed. Milah had gone outside and Melony and Lena were taking a bath. They had clothes to wear. Milah had already gone to find something to wear. Now Emma was just sitting on her bed, petting Little Tiger, listening to Melony's crying coming from the bathroom.
"Hmmm, hmmm!"
As Emma stroked Little Tiger's head, he nudged her hand and brought it to the ring-shaped pendant around his neck.
Emma looked at Little Tiger's expression, then spoke.
"Is there something you need to give me in this?"
She held the ring around Little Tiger's neck and pulled a letter out of it. Besides Little Tiger's food sources, this letter was the only thing inside the ring. It was easy for Emma to understand. It had "For Emma" written on it. How could she not understand?
Sitting on the bed, she opened the letter and began to read.
'Emma, if you're reading this letter, then you've returned to the academy and nothing unexpected has happened. I didn't want to write this letter because it shows how desperate I am, but I want to be sure I'm coming home. Unfortunately, reality keeps contradicting me, and only one possibility comes to mind.'
'I saw something, and I feel that my mind will become more open as time passes. Emma, from the beginning, our love was never real. I never truly loved you, and you never truly loved me. We were just two strangers who fell in love with appearances. I saw you in my dream. I wasn't there, but you didn't seem sad at all. You're not to blame for this. You don't have to love anyone. Forget me, Emma. Don't worry about me coming back from wherever I'm going, or anything else related to me. I know what happened to me. I saw it.'
' I hope we can remain friends when we meet again. With the hope that we will meet again in this world... '
' An old friend you forgot. '
When Emma finished reading the letter, the door opened, and Milah entered with a few pairs of clothes. She hadn't been fooled by the words spoken to her on the way. She was wearing a bloodstained dress. What else could she expect? She didn't want to deal with the weak.
When Milah entered the room, Emma raised her head and turned to face her, a curious expression on her face.
"Emma, are you crying?"
Emma brought her hand to her eye and felt the wetness. She didn't feel like she was crying at all. It was as if her body was moving on its own. Her voice was cold, not at all like someone who was crying. But the tears flowing from her eyes were real. She was surprised and curious. Why had her eyes started crying after seeing this letter? She asked herself.
"Why am I crying?"
Years later, Emma slowly began to remember Kai. Every single memory. Even when she thought she remembered everything, it didn't occur to her that there was something she had forgotten.
She couldn't remember her love for Kai.