Yezlyn's voice trembled slightly as she continued, her eyes distant, as if she could still see the ruins before her.
Yezlyn: "After the fall of the dragon, we slowly began to recover… but peace was only an illusion. Three years ago, it happened again—this time, in the Zerath Empire."
The room fell silent. The faint hum of mana could be felt around Duke Darius, but no one dared interrupt her.
Yezlyn: "Everything turned into chaos. They call it now the Year of Destruction. Two of the Paradox appeared that day—the Ninth Seat, the Lich King Verlin, and the Third Seat, Rebecca. A hundred thousand people died, even King Zemuel of Zerath himself."
Her voice weakened. Her eyes dulled, filled with grief and exhaustion.
Yezlyn: "King Zemuel stood his ground, leading his knights to fight the undead army head-on until reinforcements from the nearby empires arrived. Valtherion and Azarin both sent their strongest… but by then, the capital was already burning."
She drew a shaky breath.
Yezlyn: "At that time, I was in my laboratory—studying ancient seals, unaware of the nightmare unfolding. Then, one of my professors burst through the door, her face pale as death. She told me everything—how Minji had brought her seniors and even Hyunwoo along with otherworlders to support the Zerath Empire. They went as reinforcements… to protect the capital."
Her hands trembled slightly as she continued.
Yezlyn: "But when we finally arrived—it was already too late. Most of the students from Myrren Academy had fallen… along with her closest senior, Vanel, who sacrificed her life to protect Minji."
Haru's chest tightened. His mind replayed the image Yezlyn painted.
Yezlyn: "Amid the wreckage, we found Minji… standing alone in the middle of the battlefield. Her robes drenched in blood, her eyes empty—she looked like a ghost. And then, it happened."
Yezlyn's tone grew heavy, reverent even.
Yezlyn: "Her magic erupted—cold and absolute. The entire field froze within seconds. Corpses, monsters, undead—everything turned to ice. That was the moment she awakened her true ability… the S-Rank power known as Death Freeze."
Sera gasped softly, her hand covering her mouth.
Yezlyn: "After that… we joined the battle—the remaining forces of Azarin and Valtherion. Duke Darius, Yusen, the Two Saints, and I—we fought side by side against the Lich King Verlin and the Third Seat, Rebecca. Their power was beyond imagination. Every spell they cast could level a city."
Her eyes dimmed further as she whispered,
Yezlyn: "We lost too many. The land itself became cursed from the battle.
A moment of silence passed.
Yezlyn: "Minji survived… but at a terrible cost. Her mana core nearly shattered. For months, she couldn't even speak. She carries the guilt of everyone who died that day."
Yezlyn: "The battle against the two Seats was… brutal."
Her voice grew heavy as she recalled the memory. "They were stronger than anything we've ever faced. We managed to destroy the wings and one arm of the Lich King Verlin, and we left Rebecca— the Third Seat— gravely injured, nearly at death's door. But in the end… they escaped."
She paused, her tone darkening. "One of my surviving students said she saw someone helping Rebecca flee. It was Hyunwoo himself."
The room fell silent. Everyone's expression shifted. Even Duke Darius' aura flickered faintly, red light filling the dim chamber.
Yezlyn: "Because of that… every empire is now searching for him. They believe he's sided with the Paradox."
Her gaze locked onto Haru. "So now, Haru— I'll ask you this once."
The air grew heavy, her mana leaking faintly. Her eyes sharpened like blades of ice.
Yezlyn: "Are you… also with him?"
Haru stayed quiet. The weight of her killing intent pressed down on him, but he didn't flinch. Slowly, he lowered his head.
Haru: "I came here with them."
His voice was low, calm, but there was a tremor beneath it— not of fear, but of anger.
Haru: "We lived together for months. Fought side by side. When they decided to enroll at Myrren Academy, I didn't stop them— they had magic, potential. So I chose another path. I became an adventurer."
He raised his gaze, his expression now cold and empty.
Haru: "Out there, I faced one of the Ten Seats myself. All of my companions died."
The air inside the room shifted—chilling, suffocating. Even Yezlyn felt the weight of his aura as the temperature dropped. Frost formed along the walls.
Haru (coldly): "So now tell me… where are they?"
The silence that followed was sharp as a blade.
Yezlyn's lips parted, but only a few words came out.
Yezlyn: "Our last report… placed them near the ruins of the Temple of Zerath. That was months ago."
Haru didn't reply. He turned around, his cloak brushing the ground as he walked toward the door.
Sera: "Haru— wait—"
But he didn't stop. He pushed the door open, the cold wind rushing in from the corridor. Without a glance back, he left the room, his figure disappearing into the dark hallway.
The sound of the door closing echoed like a judgment.