After the lesson ended, a heavy silence descended on the hall. The calm did not last long; The hall door suddenly opened, and one of the guards entered the academy with steady steps, wearing his official suit emblazoned with the golden academy logo. He submitted submissively before the teacher and said in a clear, formal voice:
"Principal requests that Student Saruto arrive immediately… to the Upper Training Hall."
The whispers in the class quickened, and the students exchanged glances. Rain leaned back, putting his hands behind his head with a wide smile, saying, "Here's the long-awaited date... Show us what you've got, Saruto."
Saruto got up from his seat without hesitation. He had a calm countenance. He just smiled a little and replied with calm confidence: "Okay… I will."
He left the class, his quick steps echoing down the long corridor leading to the senior examination hall. It was a long corridor, lit by dim torches. When he reached the door, he opened it.
A cold current of air swept over him, as if he was breathing from another era. He stood in front of a huge hall, the floor of which was intertwined with magic circles, glowing dimly as if they were hearts beating under the stone.
At the far end stood Director Reagan, wearing his black robe. His gray eyes shined with steel. Saruto took a step forward and said in a hushed tone, "Am I… going to fight you, Director?"
The corner of the director's lips rose with a slight smile that held a thousand secrets: "Wasn't it clear? Yes… I am your opponent."
A director raised his hand, and in an instant energy gathered in the air like dark clouds before a storm. "Get ready, Saruto. I won't go easy on you," the manager said.
Saruto leaned down, and a black aura formed as if the night had woken up behind him. He smiled with an edge of sarcasm and said: "As if I asked you to be lenient."
The first blow came from the director, as fast as lightning cutting across the sky. He exchanged blows with Saruto. Until the air split in half.
Every collision between them was like a sound of thunder. Deep inside, Void's voice rang out: "This old man… is not someone to be taken lightly."
Saruto closed his eyes for a moment, then energy shot through his body like a tide coursing through his veins. He gathered the darkness in his hand to release it, but the director disappeared in front of him in a flash. He appeared behind him. He kicked him with such force that he hit the stone wall and a cloud of dust fell around him. However, Saruto's voice came out from the fog, laughing: "Did you think a blow like that would take me down… Director?"
Rush again. And the blows continued between them. The ground cracked under their feet, and the walls shook. Little by little, Saruto began to take control of the fight, and the director retreated step by step due to successive attacks.
But when the director raised his right hand, a dark ax formed in the air, shining with terrifying sharpness. Saruto's eyes widened: "Dark energy? Are you… from the Luin family?"
The director laughed as if confessing a hidden secret: "Yes, Saruto. I was part of it...before I was exiled."
Saruto's eyebrow rose in sincere astonishment: "Banished? How and why?"
The silence of the hall rose, and the director began to speak, and his voice seemed larger than the place itself, as if he was narrating chapters of a life that crossed the centuries.
He narrated that he was more than two thousand years old. About being a general of the Luwin family. About his standing against the decision of the founder, Dylas III, when he wanted to invade the allied kingdom of the dragons, at a time when it was weak due to wars. How did rumors spread about him intending to turn against the founder? The army was divided, and loyalty almost disintegrated. He was accused of treason...and almost executed.
But at the last moment, the founder commuted the sentence:
Negation.
And forget.
And erase a name from history.
He disappeared from the world, and lived silently, wandering between kingdoms with a body that was beginning to be eaten away by disease. There the dream of an academy that would bring people together instead of war was born. A project that stops the bloodshed and causes competition between the children of the kingdoms.
The founder agreed to support him, and the academy was built. No one knew the origin of the director so that trust between the kingdoms would not be shaken.
But the disease returned. Only a few months remain until his death. When Delas learned about his illness, he told him about a secret project that keeps the mind alive and sacrifices the body. I suggested that he accept this process, because he was afraid that someone would head the academy after me and ruin it.
The director agreed immediately, and the operation was completed. The director's brain was buried in the deepest place in the academy, and spells were placed on his brain to increase his dark energy. As for the body standing in front of Saruto... it is nothing but a copy made of shadow energy that he collects in using his mind.
When the story was over, Saruto bowed in respect. The conversation was heavier than any blow he had received today. Void muttered in astonishment: "I never imagined that this old man would be… a legend walking through the ages."
Saruto raised his hand, burning with shadow energy, and said in a steady voice: "Thank you for what you have said. My respect for you has doubled… but the test is not over yet."
The principal raised his axe, while Saruto formed his swords. The two attacks combined. They exchanged blows until the clash exhausted them, then the manager retreated a little and canceled his axe formation. He said, "You've mastered the Edo skill today, haven't you, Saruto... Let's settle the matter with one final blow. Whoever is left standing wins."
The energy paths in their bodies turned into turbulent rivers gathering in their fists. Everything around them vanished, leaving only light, shadows, and the sound of rushing blood.
They disappeared. Then they appeared in front of each other at the same moment. The final impact is like a planet exploding. The walls of the hall shook. Students all over the academy felt the shock beneath their feet. The place was filled with dust, and then everything gradually calmed down.
The two stood up. No one fell. The manager smiled and said with a calm, almost confessional tone: "Tie then. Welcome back… Saruto."
As soon as the words reached his ears, Saruto collapsed sitting on the ground, laughing between tired breaths. He passed the exam. He's finally back at the academy.