"First love?!"
The word hit the room like a localized shockwave. Even Quinn Graves, who had been content to lurk in the shadows, practically tripped over his own feet as he scrambled into the light. The idea that a stoic powerhouse like Caelum Ashford shared a romantic history with a frost queen like Serena Sutton was the last thing anyone expected.
Ethan Lyle’s expression shifted from confusion to something more amused. He’d sensed the friction between them—that jagged, uncomfortable energy—but he’d assumed they were just old rivals.
"Wait, isn't a first love supposed to be... I don't know, a 'White Moonlight' type of situation?" Ethan asked, his voice trailing off as he took in Caelum’s weary face. "You two look like you’re ready to trade killing blows, not memories."
Caelum sighed, a heavy, rattling sound. He pulled off his glasses and massaged the bridge of his nose, looking every bit the exhausted veteran. "It’s a long story. Back then, I was just another green kid entering the academy. We met by chance, sparks flew, and before I knew it, we were a couple."
He paused, a wry, bitter smile touching his lips. "The honeymoon phase was great. But Serena... she had a way of dealing with conflict. Or rather, not dealing with it. She’d bottle everything up and bury me in a cold war the moment things got difficult."
Caelum leaned back, staring at the ceiling. "We had a fight. A bad one. She deleted my contact info, blocked me on every channel, and refused to even look at me. I took the hint. I thought we were done. We moved on. Or so I thought."
"And then?" Quinn leaned in, eyes wide.
"Six years passed. Maybe seven," Caelum said, his voice dropping an octave. "Out of nowhere, I get a message from her. One sentence: 'The cold war has gone on long enough; do you know what you did wrong yet? If you apologize, I’ll consider taking you back.'"
The room went deathly silent.
"She’d stayed single that entire time," Caelum continued, his face a mask of disbelief. "She thought we were just having a very long argument."
Nira Ashford stared at her father, her jaw slack. In her memory, Caelum was the man who remained unshakable regardless of the crisis. To see him this exasperated was a first.
"So, Lord Ashford," Quinn whispered, his gossip-mode fully engaged. "What did you say back?"
Caelum’s eyes flicked toward his daughter. "I told her I couldn't talk right then. Nira had just been born, and I was busy changing a diaper."
Ethan: "..."
Quinn: "..."
Nira: "..."
The silence that followed was thick enough to cut with a blade. On one hand, Serena’s dedication—remaining 'pure' for seven years—was borderline legendary. On the other hand, the sheer lunacy of expecting a man to realize he was in a seven-year-long "argument" was staggering.
It explained everything. Serena didn't just hate Ethan because he was a Forbidden Incantator; she hated him because he was Caelum’s student. To her, Ethan was a walking reminder of the man who had "moved on" while she was still waiting for an apology.
"Enough about the past," Caelum said, sliding his glasses back into place. His posture straightened, the fleeting vulnerability vanishing behind a wall of composure. He turned to Nira. "Nira, with your talent, you belong at Sovereign Academy. Don't let my history with Serena cloud your judgment. It is, without question, the pinnacle of education in The Daxia Dominion."
Nira nodded dutifully. "I understand, Father."
"As for you, Ethan," Caelum said, his tone turning somber. "Your best path now lies with Xia Imperial Academy."
Nira glanced at Ethan, a flash of pity in her eyes. He had beaten her, yes. He had claimed the title of Grand Champion of Verdant City. But as she saw it, he had already hit his ceiling. He was burning his future for a moment of glory. Once she entered the Sovereign Academy, the gap between them would widen into a chasm.
She still couldn't forgive his behavior during The Grand Trial. Seeing him turn tail and leave her to face the Dragonblood Colossus alone... it was the act of a coward.
Her mind drifted to Ashveil. That was a real man. Why hadn't he appeared at the trial? Had he moved to another city? A spark of anticipation lit up her eyes. Someone as elite as Ashveil would undoubtedly be at Sovereign Academy. Perhaps their paths would finally cross there.
"It’s fine, Professor," Ethan said, shrugging. "The Xia Academy works for me. I’ve spent my life in The Hollow; anything with a roof and three meals a day is an upgrade."
"Get your things ready, then," Caelum said. "The recruiters will be here shortly."
As if on cue, the wooden gate to the courtyard creaked open. Serena Sutton marched in, Gareth Voss trailing behind her like a loyal hound. Given the story they had just heard, Ethan and the others struggled to keep their expressions neutral.
Serena didn't notice. She walked straight to Nira, pulling a gilded invitation from a sleek leather folio. A rare, genuine smile touched her lips. "Nira Ashford, on behalf of Sovereign Academy, I am officially inviting you to join our ranks. We expect great things from you."
"Thank you, Dean Sutton," Nira replied, taking the envelope. She let the light catch the gold embossing, making sure it stayed well within Ethan’s line of sight. It was a petty victory, but a victory nonetheless. She had what he could never have.
"We’re done here," Serena said, her voice turning frigid as she pointedly ignored Caelum’s existence. She turned on her heel.
Gareth Voss paused before following, catching Ethan’s eye. He dragged a thumb across his throat in a slow, deliberate threat before vanishing after his dean.
Ethan didn't blink. He just narrowed his eyes, committing the face to memory.
No sooner had they left than the quiet courtyard was swamped. Victor Gao, the Principal of Verdant High, led a small army of reporters and camera crews through the gate. At the front of the pack was a man who radiated authority—Elder Crane, the City Lord of Verdant City.
"Ethan Lyle! Come here, boy!" Victor Gao called out, gesturing frantically. "This is our City Lord, Elder Crane. He's here for the official presentation."
"Ethan Lyle," Elder Crane said, stepping forward with a practiced, politician's smile. He extended a massive hand. "The Grand Champion. You carry yourself with the poise of a true warrior."
The cameras flashed, capturing the moment for the evening news. Ethan, however, just looked confused. He leaned toward his principal. "What’s all this about, Principal Gao?"
"The rewards, you idiot!" Gao hissed. "The City Lord is here to hand over the Grand Champion’s bounty. There’s five million credits on the line!"
The confusion on Ethan’s face evaporated instantly, replaced by a grin so bright it rivaled the camera flashes. He grabbed Elder Crane’s hand and shook it with newfound vigor.
"Lord Crane! A pleasure, a true pleasure! I’ve heard so much about your legendary leadership. Truly, meeting you is the highlight of my year!"
Elder Crane’s smile faltered for a fraction of a second. His instincts told him that if he hadn't mentioned the money, the boy wouldn't have given him the time of day.
Nearby, the reporter Vera Lu stepped into the frame, her voice honey-sweet as she addressed the lens. "Viewers, we are witnessing a historic moment as City Lord Crane personally congratulates our champion. The hope of Verdant City rests on this young man’s shoulders..."
Ethan played along, flashing a polite, "heroic" smile for the cameras while whispering under his breath to the City Lord. "So, about that five million... is it a wire transfer or cash? I don't actually have a bank account yet."
Elder Crane coughed into his hand. "Rest assured, Ethan, the city isn't going to stiff you."
"You have to understand, Lord Crane," Ethan said, his voice dripping with mock-sincerity. "I’ve spent sixteen years in the slums. I’m 'scared-of-being-poor' poor. If I can't feel the weight of the credits, my heart just won't be at peace."
The City Lord sighed. "Lu, let’s skip the fluff. Move straight to the presentation."
Vera Lu nodded, and the ceremony shifted gears. Three assistants in formal attire stepped forward, carrying velvet-lined trays.
"The first reward: Five million credits in official city funds," Elder Crane announced, handing Ethan a massive, ceremonial novelty check for the cameras before discreetly sliding him a high-security debit card.
"The second: An Epic-tier Scroll of Chosen Mastery."
The crowd gasped. An Epic-tier skill scroll was a king’s ransom. It allowed a user to manifest a high-level skill tailored specifically to their class. Ethan took it with a polite nod, though internally, he was grimacing. As a Forbidden Incantator, standardized skill scrolls were useless to him. He’d have better luck using it as high-grade toilet paper. Still, it would fetch a fortune on the black market.
"And finally," Elder Crane said, his voice turning serious as he presented a jagged, obsidian token. "Entry into the Grand Champion Rift."
"Holy sht," Quinn Graves muttered from the sidelines. "The Rift? The one with the buff?"
"Exactly," Elder Crane explained. "The Grand Champion Rift is a unique anomaly. Anyone who enters is granted the Undying Constitution. For the duration of the Rift, you cannot die. It is a place of pure, unadulterated growth."
"Wait," Quinn asked, "if you can't die, why not just stay in there until you're Level 99?"
"Because the Aberrants inside are limited," Caelum Ashford interjected, stepping forward. "The Rift takes a full year to recharge its mana density. Once the monsters are gone, the Rift closes. But for someone like Ethan, it is the perfect training ground."
Ethan’s grip tightened on the token. A place where he could unleash his forbidden spells without the fear of a stray hit ending his life? It was exactly what he needed.
"Ethan," Elder Crane said, clapping him on the shoulder. "Bring back the title of National Grand Champion. Make Verdant City a name that people fear again."
"National Grand Champion?" Ethan asked. "Is there a prize for that too?"
"The highest-level person to emerge from the Rift across all territories takes the title," Crane said. "As for the prize... honestly, nobody knows. Verdant City has never produced one. But I can guarantee it makes my five million look like pocket change."
"Consider it done," Ethan said, his eyes burning with greed.
Later that evening, Caelum called Ethan into his private study.
"Ethan, a word of warning. The Undying Constitution in the Rift prevents physical death, but it does not pause your biological clock. Do not use spells that cost lifespan. The Rift will save your soul, but it won't give you back the years you burn."
Ethan nodded. "I figured as much. Infinite life isn't the same as infinite time."
"Good. And one more thing," Caelum said, looking out the window at the darkening sky. "Once you're out of the Rift, come back to Verdant City immediately. Things are moving faster than I anticipated. People are starting to look for the Gate of Revelation."
"Understood, Professor." Ethan instinctively touched his stomach, where the mysterious key remained hidden within his soul-space.
The next morning, the Rift Gate Array at the heart of the city thrummed to life. Teleportation was a luxury reserved for the Awakened and the ultra-wealthy; for most, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
As Ethan stepped into the light, the world shattered into a thousand jagged shards of color. The sensation of weightlessness was nauseating, like being pulled through a straw. When the world finally stitched itself back together, the air felt different—thicker, colder, and smelling of ozone and ancient dust.
Ethan blinked, looking up.
He wasn't in the quiet, green outskirts of Verdant City anymore. Before him rose a wall so massive it seemed to pierce the heavens, a slab of reinforced steel and stone that stretched as far as the eye could see. High above, banners bearing the image of a snarling dragon snapped in the wind.
Beyond the wall, a literal ocean of Aberrants seethed and roared, a tide of claws and teeth held back only by the sheer scale of the fortifications.
The raw, primal energy of a frontier fortress hit Ethan like a physical blow. This was the world beyond the safety of the interior. This was where the real war was fought.
"Ethan Lyle? Grand Champion of Verdant City?"
A soft voice broke his trance. He turned to find a woman in a crisp military uniform waiting by the arrival pad.
"Welcome to Abyssport," she said, gesturing toward a processing station. "Let’s get you registered. The other champions are already waiting."