Our vacation had ended, and school lessons returned to normal.
Day by day, we filled our time with activities and school programs. Whenever there was nothing scheduled, I always went to visit Yue like I usually did.
Fyna had gotten busy helping the senior students who would graduate soon.
Vyne and Efan spent their free time playing basketball with other students.
And Resa, she always stuck close to Efan wherever he went, and sometimes helped other classmates whenever needed.
Right now, we were gathered in the cafeteria, having lunch together like we always did.
"So, how was your vacation?" I asked.
"It was fun," Resa answered.
"Just normal," Efan replied, sounding indifferent.
"As for Vyne, we don't even need to ask — I already know he'll say it was great."
I glanced at him knowingly.
Vyne froze, and his face turned red.
"Are you sick, Vyne? Your face is flushed," Fyna asked.
"Ah! No, no! I'm fine!" he said in a panic.
Resa and I burst out laughing as we stared at Vyne.
We spent the rest of lunch telling stories and teasing each other.
Then—
"Ahem. There's something I want to tell you all," Efan suddenly said.
"What is it?" asked Fyna.
"When I went home yesterday, my sister told me about a case that happened at the Central Guardian School."
Efan's older sister is our senior, Elfany Silfender.
She's nineteen now, currently studying at the Central school.
In the Guardian system, once a student turns nineteen, they're sent to a study track based on their abilities and chosen path.
The smart and gifted students go to the Central Guardian School.
They learn advanced knowledge and prepare for roles that require intelligence — teachers, scholars, scientists, and so on.
The strong and brave students go to the Northern Guardian School.
There, they train deeper in combat and martial skills — preparing to become enforcers of justice.
And finally, students who fall outside those two categories study here, at the Southern Guardian School.
Here, we're taught skills that fit into society—like farming, trade, craftsmanship, and practical professions.
"So what happened?" Vyne asked.
"It's not a new incident, actually. It happened nine years ago. But I think you all should hear it."
He leaned forward a little, lowering his voice.
"My sister overheard a teacher speaking with the guardian in charge of the library. They said that nine years ago, a student had already achieved a 'soul union' and was scheduled to begin training on how to use their 'union power' during practice class."
"But while everyone was concentrating on their own 'union power', suddenly—"
"A blinding light burst out from that student."
It was so bright that no one could see anything.
And when the light finally faded—
several students had already collapsed, some injured.
No one knew what happened.
But a few students who successfully managed to use their union power that day said —
something attacked them within that light, and they somehow manage to block it.
They believed that attack came from that same student.
Because when everything cleared up…
he was the only one still standing.
Unharmed.
Right at the center of the destruction he caused.
Efan finished the story, and silence fell among us.
"…So what happened to him? Was he punished for hurting everyone?" I asked.
"I don't know," Efan replied.
"My sister said the student was confined together with his guardian. For some reason."
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End of Chapter 9