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Chapter 9. Unexpected Visit

  Each m felt like school again for Drifter, though private lessons had now repced the crowded halls of Paxluma Public School.

  Luna Sabriel greeted him as always—bck dress, long bck hair swept to the side, and an unreadable expression.

  During their lessons on modern teologies and vehicles, Drifter observed Luna's unwavering focus. The patien her void passion behind every gesture spoke volumes. Wheaught magic to youudents, rare smiles would grace her features. Her voice would soften, each word carefully chosen as she answered their questions.

  One day, as he walked with Luna, Lor, Sloane, and Reine caught sight of them. "Lucky to be dragged around by a beautiful woman like her," Sloane remarked, leaving Drifter uaiher it was meant as jest or something else.

  She never seemed tired. Whether it was leading his training sessions day after day, dragging him to weekend seminars, or even heading to the research ter on her day off, dressed in that white coat over her bck dress.

  Drifter sighed. He couldn’t tell what drove her.

  Today, they ehe courtyard garden, surrounded by vibrant flora. Drifter g his book: "Operating Automaton" bzed across the page. He approached one of the meical beings, ying his hand on its metallic frame. I want to operate it, he thought, and a holographic s flickered to life beside him.

  The process proved simple - a few s taps, and the mae took over.

  After some time, Luna's Lumina Core chimed. "Sorry, I have to head back to the research ter," she announced, an unusual departure from her typical routine of staying until day's end.

  As the automaton fiending to the garden, Drifter noticed the instructors' unusual behavior. Jaxon, typically id-back, sprinted past with Alina close behind, breathing heavily. Curiosity piqued, he followed.

  At the Academy Wing's entrance, he found Friedrich Rosenthal - tall and anding with his golden hair gleaming in the sunlight. The academy's headmaster, Gideon, stood beside him, silver hair flowing and demeanor posed.

  "What's going on, Gideon?" Friedrich asked evenly.

  "An unpnned visit, Fred," came the headmaster's firm response.

  Then, among the crowd, Drifter spotted her.

  A woman with long, wavy burgundy hair stepped forward, her movements graceful yet anding. The red, white, and bck of her dress exuded an air of power and elegance.

  His breath caught and eyes widened.

  No way… she’s here…

  As the Mina Hildebrand approached, Friedrich straightened up, polite bow.

  "Grandmaster Mina, it’s an honor to see you at the academy. We didn’t expect......" He said.

  Mina raised her hand, palm open, stopping Friedrich mid-sentenbsp;"No need for formalities, Friedrich. I’m not here on official business," she said, her voice calm yet authoritative.

  Students began to gather around her, some jogging over excitedly, others boung ooes. Younger ougged at their friends’ sleeves, while older ones moved quickly, their eyes bright, jostling for a closer spot near Mina. Their voices overpped in an eager chatter.

  "Grandmaster, what will you teach today?" asked a young girl, her eyes sparkling.

  "Thank you for yuida month, Grandmaster," added a boy enthusiastically.

  Mina smiled gently to them. "I’m sorry, not today. Maybe ime, alright?".

  Drifter stood at a distance, his eyes locked on Mina. His mind raced. Why is she here? Is the Grandmasters pnning to take the cube from here?

  But ahought crept in—If I get a ce to speak with her alone, maybe she’ll reveal secrets that only the Grandmasters know.

  He watched as Mina’s sharp eyes sed the crowd, searg. Then, finally, their gazes met.

  "There you are, Drifter" Mina said.

  She moved closer to drifter.

  Huh? What does she want with me? Is she going to interrogate me about the cube again?

  Mina studied him, her expression unreadable.

  "Strange… I feel like I know you," she murmured.

  A sense of utled in Drifter’s chest as she looked directly at him. No way. She couldn’t possibly remember… It’s been 700 years. But up close… she hasn’t ged at all.

  Then, Mina’s eyes lit up with realization.

  "Ah… I remember now. You were always with those violet-haired siblings, weren’t you?"

  Drifter’s eyes widened—he hadn’t expected her to remember.

  "That’s right, Grandmaster," he replied.

  Mina smiled at him. It seemed genuine… but what did it mean? Before he could dwell on it, she turned away, her posture rigid, brimming with authority.

  "But I’m not here to dwell on the past." she said.

  She shifted sharply, her pierg gaze log onto Friedribsp;"I want to see the Cube."

  "Of course. The Cube is in the Research ter." Friedrich voice was steady—but lower than usual.

  Mina moved forward, following Friedrid Headmaster Gideon as they led the way. The students quickly stepped aside, some bowing their heads in respect. Drifter followed behind, his gaze lingering on Mina.

  They arrived at a rge white building. The door slid open with a soft hiss, revealing a sterile interior bathed in bright white light—windowless, ical. Mina, Friedrich, Drifter and Gideon stepped into the elevator. Siletled between them, broken only by the faint hum as the elevator asded.

  At the ter of the Research ter’s main room stood the Bck Cube, held firmly in the grasp of a massive meical cw. A glowing blue diamond-shaped energy barrier surrou,. magisterial soles lihe room, their holographic dispys flickering in steady patterns.

  Drifter’s eyes sed the room. Luna, in her white coat, was focused, tapping on a holographiterface alongside other simirly dressed figures. Some of them paused briefly, their gazes flickering toward Mina, a mix of resped unease in their expressions.

  As Drifter stepped into the room, a sharp pain shot through his head. His vision blurred. Suddenly, distant, fragmented voices erupted in his mind, faint echoes from somewhere beyond reach.

  …em…no…troy…

  His breath hitched. He shut his eyes for a brief moment, his fingers g the edge of his bck coat to steady himself.

  "Luna, what have you found?" Mina asked.

  Luna lifted her head, her expression serious. "I’m sorry, our analysis paring it with other artifacts iabase hasn’t yielded as. We’ve matched it against all dark artifacts from the Cult of Shadronis, but there’s nothing… We’re trying other methods."

  Mina gave a small nod. "And Ragnar’s order to destroy it with Lavium, have you tried it?"

  Luna brought up a rec on the holographisole. The footage showed an automaton carrying the Cube to the Lavia a ruins and pg it on a box-shaped structure made of Lavium, a material radiating deep purple aric blue hues. Despite this, the Cube remained pletely i, showing ion to the material.

  Mi out a small scoff, her gaze cold as it lingered on the rec. "As I expected…"

  "We’ve heightened security sihe Cube arrived. But… Grandmaster, may I ask… what do you know about this artifact?" Friedrich’s asked.

  The room fell into a heavy silence. Mi her gaze fixed on the Cube, her sharp eyes clouded with unreadable thoughts. After a long pause, she finally spoke.

  "Chimia hasn’t discovered anything… But personally, I believe this is something that should here." Her voice was hoarse.

  "I just hope it’s not the same cursed artifact… the ohat drove people mad before." She added.

  "Fortify the academy’s defenses. I will seerans from Varde to assist. This pce must be heavily secured." Mina said, turning to face Friedrich.

  "Uood, Grandmaster." Friedrich replied, bowing politely.

  "But before I leave… here’s something I want to test." Mina said, turning to face Drifter.

  Drifter, Gideon, and Friedrich all furrowed their brows in fusion.

  "Test?" Friedrich asked, his voice ced with suspi.

  Mina’s smile deepened. She turned sharply.

  "A duel. I want to see how strong a warrior from the past truly is." She said.

  Drifter’s eyes wide the request. Was it truly a test of strength… or something else? A test to see if he had been corrupted? His throat tightened, utling within him. He wasn’t sure if he was corrupted or not… especially with the whispers that still haunted his thoughts.

  "If that’s what you wish, Grandmaster," Drifter said.

  "Good. Let’s not waste any time." Mina replied.

  As they left the Research ter, Drifter could hear the syic voinoung their duel, the words reverberating through the air. They made their way to the transparent dome building, the designated duel arena. Soon, the crowd began to gather, and a murmur of excitement filled the air.

  Drifter stood motionless in the ter of the arena, his eyes locked on Mina, who stood on the opposite side. The enthusiastic cheers of the crowd echoed around them, familiar voices ringing out.

  "You’ve got this, Drifter!" cheered Alma Rosenthal.

  "Be careful, Drifter!" added Nadia Fernleaf.

  Drifter turned briefly, giving a small nod in aowledgment.

  Oher side of the arena, a group of instructors observed quietly. Alina and Luna exged brief greetings with faint smiles. Meanwhile, Jaxon, ever casual, waved zily while sp his signature aviatsses.

  Drifter raised his hand in a brief salute to the crowd.

  Then Lor and Sloane approached him, followed by Reine.

  “Hey, don’t lose, alright? I’m betting on you—free lunch if you win!” Lor grinned.

  “Yeah, don’t lose, okay? I’m not gonna bark again,” Sloane added.

  “Be careful… I’m sure you’ve got this,” Reine said softly.

  Drifter nodded and offered them a faint smile iurn.

  “Hey, you three… don’t just stand there! It’s about to start!” Alina shouted.

  Lor and Sloane ughed, tinuing to walk slowly toward the edge of the arena, while Reine quickly moved away, his pace quiing.

  Across from them, Mina smiled, her gaze fixed on the se unfolding.

  As they cleared the area, Drifter materialized his Exaltare, the dark gray sword appearing in his right hand, apanied by bck armor and a flowing cape. Mina stepped forward, two glowing burgundy sigils materializing in her hands, radiating a heavy, oppressive aura.

  A faint, predatory smile curved aina’s lips as she looked at him. "Don’t hold back. Show me what you’re capable of."

  "Uood, Grandmaster." Drifter responded.

  His eyes stayed locked on Mina, the past stirring within him. He could almost hear the crackle of fmes, see her standing in the courtyard of the Mage Association Headquarters, the Paxluma Officer Academy uniform fitting her perfectly. With a single, fluid motion, she had summohe majesti of a quartz phoenix. The crowd had erupted into appuse, even the sages g with resped pride. Now, standing before her once more, that same anding presence felt even more overwhelming, like a force he could barely withstand.

  As the fe blue crystals at the edges of the arena glowed with ahereal hum, the crystal floor beh them began to shift. The ground transformed into a desote wastend, the air thick with tension, preparing for the battle that was about to unfold.

  Mina raised her hand, glowing sigils appearing in the air around her as red quartz shot toward Drifter. He moved swiftly, dodging the attack just as the quartz exploded on the ground, igniting the earth and sending sparks scattering into the air.

  Without pause, Mina unched a volley of green quartz, maniputing the wind to carry them toward Drifter, twisting the fmes beh into a devastating whirlwind.As the fiery tornado bore down on him, Drifter remaieady. With a calm voice, he waved his hand toward the ground.

  "Bde Swarm."

  A storm of glowing blue spectral swords spun rapidly around him, f a tight defensive circle. The fire tornado collided with the swords, sending sharp ks and bursts of light that illumihe arena.

  As the fire tornado faded, Drifter activated his Exalt Shift, telep rapidly to evade Mina’s relentless barrage of red and green quartz, closing the distaween them. But as he neared Mina, she anticipated his movements, her attacks trag his every teleportation, f him to stop and cel his shift.

  A volley of red quartz shot toward him, but Drifter raised his sword, blog the strikes he couldn’t evade. In the brief moment of respite, Mina’s quartz attacks paused. With a swift motion, he tered, unleashing a barrage of Exalt Bolts—blue projectiles firing from his left hand.

  "Erdformer." Mina intoned

  The barren nd shifted drastically as massive stone walls rose to block his path. Drifter’s blue projectiles shattered the stones, sending dust flying and blog his view. Meanwhile, Mina tio throw quartz at him. Explosions, fire, and wind pursued him relentlessly. His natural blue barrier fred as he fought against the mounting pressure of the battlefield.

  “I hope this is just a warm-up, Drifter,” Mina's voice rang out.

  She tinued her assault, ung yellow quartz, while Drifter quickly ordered his spectral sword into a defensive formation near him.

  The quartz exploded in brilliant fshes upon colliding with Drifter’s swords.

  The dazzling light forced his eyes shut momentarily, and in that brief moment, a barrage of bck quartz struck him.

  The resulting explosions unleashed spiraling bergy, mingled with fshes of light, f a vortex that ed everything nearby. The air thundered as fragments of light and debris were sucked into the r dark core. It also pulled at Drifter, causing his armor to fade, the dark gray sword in his hand vanishing along with the spectral bdes—everything dissolving into glowing blue particles. His natural barrier fred to life once more.

  ered, Drifter swiftly reformed his sword, Exaltare, and his bck armor. Without hesitation, he unleashed Exalt Edge. The bde sliced through the air, sending a surge of blue energy straight toward Mina.

  But a glowing Quarzschild—a quartz shield—rose before her, blog the attack. A thunderous explosion shook the air as fragments of the shattered shield scattered in all dires, leaving echoes of power across the arena.

  Before the dust could settle, Mina moved with burgundy sigils swirled around her, coalesg into W?chterfels, a massive bipedal Quartz Guardian. The ground trembled uhe weight of the giant as it stood ready to attack.

  The croed iheir eyes widening at the sight of the t Guardian looming over the battlefield.

  The Guardian swung its massive fist at Drifter, narrowly missing its mark. Before Drifter could recover, the Guardian’s left hand shifted into a sharp spear, thrusting toward him with deadly precisioing swiftly, Drifter materialized his spectral swords, arranging them into a defensive formation. The spear collided with the glowing bdes in a brilliant explosion of light.

  The assault didn’t stop there. The Guardian’s other hand, once a fist, shifted into a colossal bde that came crashing down, aiming to cleave Drifter in two. He dodged skillfully, the bde carving a massive fissure into the nd floor.

  Unfazed, Drifter raised his left hand and fired another barrage of Exalt Bolts. The blue energy smmed into the Guardian’s chest, causing it to stagger slightly, but the massive figure remained unmoved, its unyielding frame holding firm.

  Drifter pressed on, sending his spinning spectral swords toward the Guardian’s joints, targeting the oints in its thick armor. Yet, despite his precise strikes, the Guardian remained unmoved—an unshakable fortress of resilience.

  Meanwhile, Mina moved swiftly, taking advantage of Drifter’s focus on the Guardian. With a wave of her hand, she maniputed the battlefield using Erdformer, shaping the ground into a byrinth of stone and quartz. In moments, t walls cealed her from view.

  But Drifter wasn’t fooled. Bright blue sigils lit up the sky as he casting Exalt Storm. A volley of blue projectiles shot toward Mina, obliterating the byrinth instantly and redug the walls to flying debris with a thunderous crash. The ground trembled as the echoes of destru rang through the arena.

  But even before the dust had settled, Mina terattacked, sending waves of blue and purple quartz streaking toward Drifter.

  Drifter moved swiftly to evade the barrage. But the blue quartz left trails of rapidly freezing i its wake, trapping his surroundings. When the purple quartz struck the ice, violent arcs of purple lightning spread across the arena, enclosing Drifter in their grasp.

  The energy surged through his natural barrier, f him to stagger and colpse to the ground. Pain coursed through his body as he struggled to steady his breath.

  Meanwhile, Mina anded her Guardian forward. The massive Guardian’s arms transformed into giant swords, poised to strike Drifter.

  A resounding boom of blue energy shattered the tense air. From the rising dust, hidden Exalt Storm Sigils fred brilliantly, unleashing a torrent of blue energy beams aimed directly at Mina with tremendous force.

  The collision of blue energy with Mina’s natural barrier sent a shockwave through the battlefield. She called her Guardian back, positioning it before her as a steadfast shield, while casting Quarzschild to form a wall of glowing crystals for additional defehe radiant quartz reflected shards of blue light, scattering them across the arena like a thousand glinting stars.

  Drifter rose once more, his resolve burning brighter than ever. Summoning mlowing sigils, he unleashed a powerful wave of Exalt Storm directly at the Guardian. The blue energy exploded upon impact, sending deep cracks through its thick armor. Seizing the opportunity, Drifter charged forward, his sword slig through the Guardian with relentless precision, shattering it into scattered fragments.

  With the Guardian no longer a threat, Drifter shifted his gaze to Mina. In an instant, he raised his hand, casting an Exalt Barrier—a blue-transparent dome that spun around him. In a fsh of light, he vanished, his form dissolving into blue particles as he activated Exalt Shift, telep directly in front of Mina. Exaltare, his sword, was raised high, its bde glowing with intense blue energy, poised to strike the decisive blow.

  Mied almost immediately. With a graceful motion, she unleashed Felsensturm. The grouh them trembled violently as massive fissures erupted, sending sharp rocks and quartz shards hurtling toward Drifter. The wave of attacks struck his Exalt Barrier with overwhelming force, shattering it into fading fragments of light.But at the same time hidden among the debris of the Erdformer byrinth, dozens of floating swords began to stir. With a swift and, the bdes shot forward at blinding speed. In the blink of an eye, Drifter’s swords struck Mina head-on. The csh of their attacks was deafening, produg a shattering crack that echoed across the arena. Both their natural barriers broke instantly, f the fighters to stagger back, panting heavily. The result was clear—it was a draw. The crowd erupted in cheers, their excitement filling every er of the arena. The spectacle they had just witnessed was incredible, and the draw only heighteheir euphoria.The simution are in a fsh of light, returning to its inal state with the crystal floor restored. The crowd burst into appuse, the tension finally breaking.

  As the crowd began to disperse, Mina walked purposefully toward Drifter, both of them drenched i, Drifter’s breath ing in heavy gasps.

  "An excellent match, Drifter. It’s been a while since I’ve seen an Are Saber—nostalgibsp;Mina said.

  Drifter gave a small nod.

  "Thank you, Grandmaster. You’re as incredible as I remember, Grandmaster." his toeady.

  Mina stepped closer, her gaze sharp.

  "By the way, do you still hear whispers from the Bck Cube?" Mina whispered.

  Cold sweat filled Drifter. Should he lie or tell the truth? What would happen if he spoke holy? A chill ran down his spine.

  "Not anymore," Drifter replied, his voice low as he avoided her gaze.

  Mina studied him closely for a moment, then gave a slow nod.

  "Good. That’s for the best." Her voice was soft but firm.

  "Take care of yourself, Drifter. We might need your strength again soon," Mina said, turning away.

  "Wait... please..." Drifter's voice was strained.

  Mina paused but didn’t turn around.

  "What? Do you want to ask me again for permission to Paxluma? I’m sorry, but the decision ’t be mine alone... all the Grandmasters must agree on that decision," she replied, her voice steady, unwavering.

  Then, slowly, she turned bad moved closer to Drifter.

  "I knew... Paxluma was our home... but..." Mina’s voice was firm.

  "Until then... please... bear with it." Her tone softened.

  With that, Mina walked away, raising her hand toward Friedrid Headmaster Gideon, who followed her. Both men immediately straighteheir right hands toug their chests before dropping in a crisp salute. They stopped in pce as Mina tioward the gate.

  Drifter watched Mina’s retreating figure, the weight of her words and the sadness in her gaze lingering in his mind. But then, something urged Drifter forward.

  Until then... please... bear with it...

  It was a code... that's what it was. The old Elysium phrase... meant to meet in person.

  Without thinking, he broke into a run, chasing after Mina.

  He found her alone, walking through the hallway. She was holding a photo, the edges frayed and torn. As she noticed Drifter, she stopped.

  "Gd you still remember... it." Mina said.

  Drifter moved closer, his eyes falling on the photo. In the image, everyone was ughing together, dressed in the signature uniform of the Officer Academy—white and bck. Mina stood beside an elven girl with long golden hair, both of them in the same attire. The woman beside them was hooded, with a glimpse of long silver hair, pointed ears, and red eyes. Two men were in the picture as well—oh silver hair, slightly longer, and red eyes, while the other had short brown hair and blue eyes. Both wore the uniform of the Elysium soldiers.

  "Sorry I 't say it all in front of others... Take this," Mina said softly, handing him a small regur object.

  "Don’t open it on the ral Zone's Magistral sole. If you’ve already read it, don’t discuss it with others," Mina added.

  The weight of secrecy pressed on Drifter, heavy and unyielding. Mina’s words echoed in his mind, but there was n baow.

  He exhaled slowly, shoulders tense, but his resolve hardening.

  Drifter turned and walked down the hallway, his boots eg in the silence.

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