Then Archery is my path

August 28, 3108

The list of admitted students was finally published. I began skimming through it:

1 - Nerion Frostvein

2 - Astrel Cindercrest

...

5 - Elysia Luxford

...

9 - Lunaris Duskthorn

The top rank is likely Astrel's new goal. Elysia is from the general family of the Angel Warriors clan, and she was the one who entered the testing room with Lunaris,"I thought.

But my name was nowhere to be found on the first few pages. Only when I reached the very last page did I finally spot it. It took a lot of effort to get to this point.

601 - Kail Vaylith

It doesn't matter what rank I got. I'll improve it as I go. The most important thing is that I was admitted.

By September 1st, pairings would begin. By then, all students were required to pay the tuition fee. Along with a confirmation of the transfer, students were to report to the academy dormitory to receive their living arrangements for the duration of their studies.

I messaged Rebeca:

|Kail|

I was admitted to Altgrad. Why did Astrel come for the admission test?

|Rebeca|

Congratulations. I'll send the transfer confirmation from an anonymous account. Right now, there's a significant confrontation between the Cindercrest and GlaciarDominion clans. At the last moment, it was decided the resolution would be settled through the new generation's abilities to avoid causing widespread damage.

|Kail|

I'll try to avoid contact with him, but from what I've observed, he seems focused on his new "sacrifice."

|Rebeca|

Good luck.

That evening, I received the transfer confirmation. With my backpack and suitcase already packed—holding little more than the essentials—I was ready for Altgrad.

August 29, 3108

Early in the morning, I arrived once more at the academy. The entrance seemed unchanged, but the map I followed now led to a different route. It pointed to two separate buildings this time, possibly reflecting the start of new arrangements.

Because I had arrived early, the sidewalks were not yet crowded with students. The campus felt quiet, almost serene.

And then, from behind me, I heard someone's voice...

"—AAA! Puhh!"

Turning around to see the commotion, I found myself staring at a miraculously beautiful girl with long white hair. Her blouse was on the ground, and three suitcases were scattered across different parts of the sidewalk.

"Lia?"

Although she looked a little different, there was no mistaking the girl who had unexpectedly saved my mental state years ago, just when I was ready to shut myself off from the world.

She raised her head, her blue eyes catching the sunlight like the ocean at sunrise. Her gaze analyzed me carefully before her eyes widened as if she'd just discovered something monumental.

"Kail???!! How? Why? Are you alive?"

Why would she think I was dead? Theoretically, the identity of "Kail" admitted to that medical institution was declared dead—but that was just for the Cindercrest clan's records. Why would Lia believe it?

I walked over to her and extended my hand to help her up. Her face remained locked in absolute astonishment.

"As you can see, I'm alive. I take it you were admitted this year as well?"

At my words, she seemed to snap out of her trance. Her expression became calmer as she took my hand, got up, and headed toward her scattered suitcases—though her face now carried a hint of suspicion.

"Are you really Kail?"

"Don't I look like him?"

"Honestly, I'm not sure. Maybe the face is similar, but definitely not the body," she muttered, clearly scrutinizing me.

In the past, we were about the same height, but now she barely reached my chest.

"Well, five years have passed," I replied, "or do you want me to remind you how you used to harass me?"

Her ears turned noticeably red at my remark, confirming her embarrassment.

"IT'S NOTHING LIKE THAT!" she blurted out before quickly changing the topic. "The doctor told me you'd died. Can you please explain how you came back to life?"

As she grabbed two of her suitcases, I picked up the third to help. She immediately took a step back, clearly startled by the gesture, and walked toward the sidewalk on the right.

"Mmm, let's just assume I came back to life. But you're heading the wrong way—you need to go left," I pointed out casually.

She stopped, raised her head to check the map on the screen, then turned around with an awkward expression and started heading in the correct direction.

"Then why didn't you answer my messages?"

"First of all," I said with a raised brow, "I never gave you my contact information."

At that, I noticed a slight tremor run through her, like someone caught in the act of a crime.

"The doctor gave it to me," Lia said, her tone slightly defensive.

"He didn't even have it," I countered. "Just admit you were the one who took it when I left my watch in the rehabilitation room."

"You wanted to give me your contact but didn't have the courage to do it directly," she retorted with a sly grin.

A small tremor passed through my body, but since she was walking ahead of me, I doubted she noticed.

Not wanting to linger on the topic any longer, I added, "The area where I was training didn't allow signals to pass. That's why I threw away my old watch. It doesn't matter anymore. How do you feel?"

"Perfectly fine," she said with a hint of pride. "Since I finished treatment, I haven't had any issues. What about you? From what I see, you recovered well."

I'd like to ask her about residual aether techniques, I thought, but now isn't the time or place for that.

"Yes," I replied aloud. "Everything is fine now. I had to change and modify a lot, but in the end, I managed."

"Really?" she asked with curiosity. "And what did you change?"

"Now I'm an archer. What are you focused on?"

"Control of elements. Science and manifestation aren't for me," she answered with confidence.

"And how's that going?"

"HOHOHO! Watch out, you're speaking to the best first-year student!"

"Wow, impressive," I said with a playful smile.

By this time, we'd reached the entrance to the ManaDomain faculty. I set her suitcase on the ground.

"It was nice to see you again," I said, preparing to leave. "I'll head to my dorm now."

"Wait!"

She tapped her watch, and I received a notification to add her as a contact.

"This time, don't enter areas without a signal," she said, her expression softening.

I accepted the request with a smirk.

"I promise nothing," I said.

The dormitory for my college was a massive 30-story building, stretching long with well-organized hallways.

At the reception, an elderly lady processed my electronic documents and handed me a simple key labeled Floor 1, Room 20.

"The last room on the first floor... Says a lot about my social status," I muttered to myself.

When I arrived at the door and inserted the key, the lock clicked open without me even turning it.

Inside, the room was thick with dust, clearly untouched for some time. A simple bed, a table, a wardrobe, and a small window in the center of the far wall furnished the space. The bathroom contained a basic shower, a toilet, and a broken mirror, likely from a hard impact.

At least it's livable, I thought.

I placed my bag and suitcase in the cleanest part of the wardrobe and opened the window. Finding a piece of cloth in the bathroom, I started cleaning.

After two hours of effort, the room was passable. Its white walls and minimal furniture gave the feeling of a psychiatric ward, but it was well-lit, which was a small comfort.

I approached the window, from where I could see the penthouse of the ManaDomain faculty dormitory.

Maybe one day I'll be able to be on the same level as you.