Joseph reached the school campus, immediately confronted by multiple banners promoting army recruitment.
"Nearly 90 per cent of the Penraven army was lost in the last conflict. The victory belongs to the new government, not to the people. This drastic reduction in academic time for boys, compelling them toward military service, is a direct consequence." He mentally noted the grim context.
A familiar sound comes from his back. "Hey, Joseph."
He rushes up to Joseph. He comes to him, panting slightly and tells him, "Everyone's sombre about Anni today. Try not to bring up yesterday's incident."
"I understood," Joseph replies simply.
"I wish I could forget it myself", Joseph thought in his mind.
They enter the classroom, which is holding an atmosphere of profound sadness. Most desks are empty; those present maintain a mournful silence, some are quietly praying for Anni.
Joseph settles into his desk, and his gaze drifts toward the window.
On the pavement below, his eyes fix on the Principal engaged in a strained, insistent conversation with a group of army officers.
Joseph opened the window just enough to catch their words.
"Commander, I know this is a government order, but I implore you to understand the situation," the Principal is requesting, his voice low.
"Our students are deeply shaken by yesterday's tragedy. They have witnessed a suicide; she is one of our best students. They are not mentally resilient enough to process any form of military recruitment advertisement right now."
The Army Commander scoffs. "Do not fret, Principal. The government will soon mandate compulsory army service for all 16-year-old boys. This is just a formality."
"And will those boys be deployed to the front line?" the Principal asks, his tone tight with fear and concern for the students.
"Undeniably, if a war-like situation comes," the Commander states cruelly.
"And as for the girl, tell her parents to cease her education immediately. We require men to serve the nation, not weak, useless insects."
Johan, upon hearing this, slammed his fist down on the desk in anger.
"I will never join them. They are not serving this country—they are consuming it. I never leave my family to such duress," he swears internally.
The classroom door opens. Miss Lara, their teacher, enters. Her voice is noticeably sad from yesterday's incident. The students stand up and wish her, "Good morning, Miss Lara."
"Good morning, you all," she returns the greeting. "Anni is fine, she can talk now."
Students felt a wave of palpable relief.
"Is Martha coming today?" Miss Lara asks them.
One of the students stands up and replies, "She was scared by yesterday's incident. That's why she didn't come today."
"Today's classes are postponed, and we are going to the auditorium for a government announcement. After that, we go to see Anni in the hospital," the teacher tells them.
All the students start moving toward the auditorium. But Joseph separates from them and goes to the library instead.
Nobody is in the vast library. But he finds one student of his class, Theo, already there, quietly reading a large, leather-bound book. Joseph goes to a nearby shelf and takes a book.
Theo murmurs to himself, loud enough for Joseph to hear: "I think I'm not the only one who cares about his family rather than bravery and glory."
Joseph looks up. "Your accent is not common in Penraven. Are you from Deuchasland?"
Theo raises his eyes from the page, slightly surprised. "How do you know this?"
"My mother lived five years in Deuchasland. She sometimes uses this accent," Joseph replies.
"Oh, I see," Theo says, returning to his reading.
Joseph glances at the book Theo holds. It is an ancient text, filled with complex diagrams and arcane symbols. Joseph, the analyser, begins a mental assessment of the situation: "I guess he worships the Lord of Knowledge world. If he knows that I am that Lord, what will be his reaction?"
Theo instantly looks at him, his eyes locking onto Joseph's. A deadly seriousness replaces his calm demeanour, and anger flickers in his gaze.
He snaps his finger. "Anagnostis!"
The world dissolves. Suddenly, the surroundings change violently. Joseph is no longer standing in the library. He stands on flat, endless seawater. There is no ground beneath him, just a tranquil blue ocean surface, yet he does not sink. The sky is an unsettling, brilliant white void.
Joseph witnesses another unbelievable world. He finds himself in a dimension—a mindscape, completely isolated from reality. He looks at Theo, who stands opposite him on the water, radiating lethal focus.
"What were you thinking in your mind?" Theo demands, his voice echoing in the void. "What do you mean that you are the Knowledge Lord?"
In the chilling, silent space of the Deep Blue Dimension.
"Theo, wait, wait, I am not who you think I am," Joseph pleads, the shock and fear bubbling up inside him.
Theo looks at him with a lethal anger. "I listened clearly to what you were thinking. I can read your mind. You are the lord who killed my master, my only family."
He raises his hand and utters a command, his voice echoing with ancient authority: "Rise as a sword."
A tight ball of seawater rises from the depths, glistening and sharp. Theo squeezes it in his fist, and the water instantly compresses, forging itself into a gleaming, deadly sword.
In a fraction of a second, Theo closes the distance between them, moving too fast for Joseph to react. He delivers a brutal slash. The water-sword cuts clean through Joseph's right hand and grazes his ear. Blood, dark and surreal in this dimension, rains from his arm.