SYSTEM ASCENSION

Somehow, the sun was already coming down before the trip returned to the fortress. Kael was still out cold, hunched over Elias’s back.

As soon as they went in, the maidens directed them towards the dinning, where a feast was taking place.

Apparently, the leading family came over, and the professors were present too.

The door opened and they stepped in.

All eyes turned except three. Quil, Mona and Coco who weren’t eating but nagging at Quil.

”Elias! Over here!” Mimi waved.

He glanced at her and moved his eyes.

Tyler’s eyes narrowed. ”Oh? What’s up with the vitality of the one behind you? It’s different.”

Lord Joe was already standing up. ”Is that Kael?”

All eyes moved to the person Elias was carrying.

Elias walked to Lord Joe and dumped his son on him.

”He underwent some kind of change.” Lord Tell muttered.

”And upgrade in ability perhaps?” Rowen shrugged.

”He’s really pretty though.” Lady Hinger said.

”Yeah. He looks like a young lady.” Lady Anny nodded.

Lord Joe was confused. ”Wait! What happened to him? He looks...”

”Different. Yeah.” Claude spoke. ”He’s Kael though.”

He glanced at the students. ”Weren’t you all shivering in pain this morning?”

A hand tapped his shoulder. ”I gave them medicine.”

Claude glanced back. ”Your highness.”

”However, it’s temporary.” Sienna continued. ”To heal them, we have to gather a huge amount of various ingredients. That’s why I’m taking everyone to veil tomorrow.”

”Veil?!” They chorused.

”Veil academy?!”

”Good idea right? Most of the ingredients are in the school.” She smiled.

”Woaaaahhhh!” The children began to cheer.

She watched them for a moment, before quietly adding. ”The first years are on par with Jordan.”

”...”

Their excitement died down.

They remembered how the prince had casually knocked them unconscious. Suddenly, going to veil didn’t seem like a good idea anymore.

”Is Jordan a first year student?” Fayera asked.

”Yes. He is,” she smiled. ”He’s only fifteen.”

”Fifteen?!”

Tiana waved at Elias. ”Over here!” She tapped a seat.

He walked over, at the same time, going past Ume. She flinched as he went by.

So far, everyone has ignored her since they came here. On top of that, her father went missing. At this point, a direct confrontation will do her more good than the silent treatment.

She was slowly breaking down.

Elias sat beside Tiana. She immediately caught his neck and pulled him down to her height.

”I have something to tell you.” She whispered in his ear.

”What?”

”From now on, you’re not my god-brother anymore, but now my brother-in-law.”

Elias raised his head.

”You like Jor—”

”Shut up!” She lunged at him and tackled him into the ground. ”You don’t shut up, do you! Be sensitive a little bit! Idiot! Bag of potatoes!”

Mimi bit her lip and faced her food. Apparently, she wasn’t the only one feeling this way. Bora was glaring at the scene, while Rolarza just glanced between the two girls.

”Now, now,” Rowen suddenly clapped. ”Any more noise will lead to a list of expelled students.”

*Absolute silence...*

”Good.” He smiled.

They all were in silence afterwards, and returned to their individual rooms. A few of them chose to train in the yard, while the rest passed the night snuggling their pillows.

NEXT MORNING.

The students were even more despirited, than the previous day. This was the day they were supposed to visit Veil, the biggest academy in this world.

They didn’t feel like seniors at all, for Jordan had left a hollow space that couldn’t be filled with ego.

They were all directed to a portal hidden among the mountain. Especially for this trip, the leading family didn’t bother themselves with the need to follow, instead they struck behind, and just enjoyed the bliss the world has to offer.

Sienna was the leader here.

A professor counted all the students. After excluding a few of the student council members who also ditched the trip, Tyler and Quil were missing.

She began to look around.

”Has anyone seen student 51, Quil? And his highness?”

”They were not interested.” Anya was the one who replied.

The professor didn’t mind it. She was determined to make the best of this trip, and wasting time searching for students was simply not going to cut it for her.

”Let’s go!”

One by one, the students disappeared into the portal, while the ones behind watched it swallow them.

”Do you know why they decided to ditch the trip?” Lane asked.

”Best me?” Coco shrugged. She glanced back one more time, before frowning and going in.

From a far distance, two pairs of white eyes watched the students enter one after the other. As soon as the last professor walked in, the portal swirled shut.

Kael blinked.

He was suspended in the air, giant wings flapping slowly, commanding the wind around him. His hair shrouded his face, revealing only a small part of his clueless eyes.

”They are gone.”

He glanced at the person beside him.

Mona.

He wasn’t in his dragon form, but not in the humanoid form either, but sitting comfortably between.

Three massive horns curled on his head, and half his body was covered in scales, catching the sunlight. His tail was out too.

”Let us return.”

Kael dropped first. He let the wings lose function and fell several feets, then when he was closed to the ground, he halted midair, and landed with a simple tap of his barefoot in the middle of a forest clearing.

Mona dropped beside him, creating a soundwave that shook the forest. The dragon immediately underwent a full transformation, horns growing longer. His clothes shredded as his body expanded. Muscles rippled, giving ways to fur. Claws burst forth and scratched the ground.

Then, the dragon collapsed on the shot.

Its goal was to sleep.

Kael stared at it without a single expression on his face.

”It’s only been a day Elias dropped you, but you’re not afraid of heights again,” Claude walked into the forest, accompanied by Quil. ”I guess the wings were a big plus.”

”Elias did what?” Davon walked in from another angle, accompanied by Fayera.

”I figured Elias would do something like that.” Tiana walked into the forest clearing, still wearing her night gown. She yawned softly. ”Is that why you’re cold all of a sudden? I’m sure Elias had a plan to catch you.”

”I doubt it.” Tyler walked in behind her.

”What are you saying! Elias is not heartless.” She glanced at Elias who was approaching from behind.

”Elias!” She ran to him. ”Good morning.”

”What?” He walked past her.

”The others are saying you didn’t have a plan to catch Kael, I told them.”

”I didn’t have a plan to catch him.”