After that, Athan quickly left the forest. One sleeve of his shirt was completely torn, and burn marks scorched the fabric. He didn't think he could just walk into the academy looking like this, so he decided to sneak in. At first, he considered teleporting straight into his room—but then he hesitated.
What if someone else is there? he thought. Could be Baldwin… or Lee. Or even Lucas.
So, instead of risking it, Athan teleported to a nearby market district just outside the academy. The moment he arrived, he heard the pounding of heavy footsteps approaching.
They're fast! he thought. The explosion just happened moments ago. And they've already gathered knights and reached this far?
Without wasting time, Athan teleported again—this time high into the sky, where the clouds seemed close enough to touch.
"Let's see... Oh crap, I went a little higher than I meant to," Athan muttered, floating amid the wind. "Oh well. Time to head back."
He teleported again—back to the marketplace.
That's when an idea struck him. If I teleport under the bed instead of into the room, I can scout it first. If someone's there, I'll stay hidden and wait.
So that's what he did. In the next moment, Athan blinked into his room and materialized beneath his bed. Slowly, he reached out, feeling for legs.
And sure enough, he saw a familiar pair.
"Oh, Athan, you're back," Baldwin's voice came from above. "Though I have to ask… why under the bed? Shouldn't you be on the bed?"
Athan crawled out sheepishly. "Ah, you caught me. As expected of the Demon King."
Baldwin raised a brow. "So? What kind of adventure did you get yourself into? Seems like you inherited my luck."
"Your luck?" Athan asked, brushing dust from his torn clothes. "What do you mean I inherited your luck?"
"Wherever I go, trouble follows," Baldwin said with a smirk. "The only place I'm safe is in my palace."
Athan gave a dry laugh. "Yeah, sure. And that's why you left your palace because of a man-made pandemic. Now we're stuck in another world thanks to it. So yep, looks like I got my fair share of your cursed luck."
He chuckled, tugging his burnt shirt over his head.
Baldwin crossed his arms. "So? Are you going to tell me what actually happened out there?"
"I will," Athan said. "But first… can I get a clean shirt and pants?"
"Ow! Again?" Baldwin groaned. "I don't have any left!"
"Fine," Athan said with mock disappointment. "Then I won't tell you anything. But if you give me a set of clothes… I might reconsider."
"Alright, deal." Baldwin sighed. His shadow rippled, and a fresh set of clothes emerged, dropping neatly onto the bed.
"We're happy to make business with you, Baldwin," Athan joked, grabbing the clothes. As he changed, he began recounting everything—from the moment he left the academy to his encounter with Abraham, including every gritty detail.
Baldwin listened quietly.
"That's a lot," he finally said. "What was his name again?"
"Abraham," Athan replied.
"Well then," Baldwin said, standing. "This afternoon, we're visiting the library. It'll be a good chance to learn more about this world."
"Sounds good," Athan said. "But… are you sure there's even a library here?"
"There is," Baldwin nodded. "And I've got permission to enter it. It's on the fifth floor underground."
Athan blinked. "Wait—underground? This academy has an underground?"
"Yes. Ten floors total. Seven are underground, three are above ground," Baldwin explained.
"Well then," Athan said, grinning. "Let's head there this afternoon."
And with that, the two decided to rest for a while—because soon enough, their brains would be doing all the heavy lifting.
That afternoon, the atmosphere remained tense across the academy. No one was allowed to leave the premises, and whispers of the earlier incident still hung in the air. But by lunchtime, things had slowly returned to a state of calm.
After their meal, Lee escorted Baldwin and Athan to the Grand Underground Library—a place hidden beneath the academy, shrouded in mystery.
A mechanical lift stood at the entrance, its frame forged from polished steel and enchanted gears. Through the transparent walls of the lift, they could see the vast underground levels as they descended.
As they went lower, a breathtaking sight unfolded before them.
The Grand Library stretched farther than the eye could see—more than a thousand towering bookshelves filled with tomes of all shapes and ages. Each bookshelf had attached stair-ladders, and some books looked so ancient their titles had long since faded from their spines.
When the lift touched down, Lee stepped out first. He placed a hand on his chest and gave a courteous, low bow.
"Alright, gentlemen. You may explore, but only if you follow the rules," Lee said with a polite smile.
"What are the rules?" Athan asked.
"Please keep your voices low while inside the library," Lee replied.
Baldwin gave a firm nod. "We'll keep that in mind."
"Very well. I shall take my leave, then. I trust you remember how to operate the lift?"
Athan smirked. "Of course. We saw how you used it. Don't worry—we'll manage."
"Excellent. I'll see you both at dinner," Lee said, bowing once more before ascending the lift and vanishing from view.
Baldwin and Athan turned their attention to the sprawling library. Their plan was simple: explore first, read later.
"This place is the size of a small town," Athan marveled, gazing around in awe. "And these bookshelves… they're as tall as houses. Look at those stairs!"
"It feels like we've stepped into the remnants of an ancient civilization," Baldwin added. "Calling those ladders wouldn't do them justice—they're full stairways built just to reach books."
Athan pointed ahead. "See that? Some of the stair landings have desks built into them."
The deeper they walked, the dimmer the light became. Eventually, they reached an area where the enchanted ceiling lights no longer glowed, leaving only the vague outlines of bookshelves looming in the darkness like skeletal towers in an abandoned city. then suddenly—Baldwin froze.
He turned sharply to his left, eyes wide, and without a word, bolted forward.
"Baldwin! What happened?!" Athan called out.
"Follow me!" Baldwin shouted over his shoulder. he didn't stop running.
Something had caught his eye—deep within the darkness, a flicker of light. And just before that… he'd heard something. A sound. A whisper? A hum? He wasn't sure, but it had been enough to stir his instincts.
Athan didn't hesitate. He sprinted after Baldwin into the heart of the shadows.
Outside the library, Lucas received a letter stamped with the dark side's seal. His hands trembled as he broke it open and unfolded the message.
"After careful deliberation regarding the letter from the Four Kings, we have decided to halt the current war. In fifteen days, our ambassador will arrive at the capital. Until then, we declare a ceasefire between the Dark and Light sides. Signed—Darkness itself."
Lucas folded the letter slowly, then let out a long sigh of relief.
"Knights!" he called.
The door opened, and several knights entered, bowing. "You summoned us, Lord Commander?"
"Send word to the capital—tell them the dark side has proposed a ceasefire. Their ambassador will arrive in fifteen days," Lucas instructed.
One knight nodded and swiftly departed.
"You," Lucas said, pointing to another, "increase the number of knights stationed at the city gate. If you see anything even slightly suspicious, inform me immediately. And before you leave the academy, find Lee and tell him I've summoned him."
With another respectful bow, the second knight exited.
Left alone, Lucas stared at the folded letter on his desk.
Why would the dark side suddenly seek peace? Is this truly a ceasefire... or a trap?
He stood up and walked toward the window, his gaze lifting to the afternoon sky. The sunlight painted the clouds in soft hues of gold and amber—a fleeting calm after the storm within him.
Ever since Baldwin and Athan arrived, nothing had felt normal. Was it just his instincts… or were those two truly something more? Lucas thought to himself.