One year Later
John was still locked inside the Vector Chamber.
No light spilled out.The door remained sealed.
Agnes stepped into the basement, approaching the massive doors of the Vector Chamber. She entered the access code and opened it from the outside. The heavy mechanisms disengaged with a low hum as the doors parted.
She stepped inside—and paused.
He looked… the same.
Still lean. Still pale. His black hair had grown a little longer, tied loosely at the back. His frame remained narrow, almost fragile-looking beneath the simple black clothes he wore.
It looked as though he had just finished a simulated battle.
Agnes took a careful step closer."…Master John," she whispered.
John blinked once, as if adjusting to the world again. Then he sighed.
"Agnes, you can't call it isolated training if you barge in every two weeks."
Her throat tightened, but she straightened and took on a serious expression."Young Master, the Academy will begin in a few days."
Footsteps echoed behind her.
Lara arrived from the corridor.
She smiled sheepishly. "John… it's been a long time."
John rubbed his forehead with a tired sigh."Long time? Seriously? You and Thalia have been barging in here every two weeks for the past year."
She crossed the distance in seconds and pulled him into a fierce embrace, her fingers digging into his shoulders.
"Still," she muttered into his collar, "two weeks is too long. So—did you finish the training?"
John gently broke the hug.
"Yeah. Somewhat," he said. "Still have a long way to go."
A small voice cut through the moment.
"Brother?"
John turned.
Thalia stood at the entrance of the chamber, frozen in place, clutching a stuffed animal to her chest. Her eyes widened.
"…You're done?"
John smiled immediately. "Yes."
Her face lit up."So you can play with me now?"
John sighed softly. "You know I still have to go to the Academy."
Thalia frowned. "Alright. I'll wait."
John chuckled. "Someone's grown up."
She pouted. "Yeah. I did. I'm grown up. I'm fourteen."
Lara sighed. "Alright. Let's get you something to eat."
John nodded, and together they left the basement.
It was morning.
Agnes and a few maids prepared breakfast, setting dishes across the large dining table. Soon, everyone was seated as food was served.
Cassian entered from behind.
"…You finished," he said.
John looked up. "Yeah."
Cassian studied him sidelong."The Academy letter arrived last week."
John's lips twitched. "Of course it did."
"Enrollment begins in three days," Cassian added.
John sighed and cut into the steak on his plate.
The mood gradually lightened as they ate, laughed, and caught up.
After a while, John asked, "So… did anything happen while I was in the chamber?"
Lara pondered for a moment."The Malidros Continent has fallen."
John paused mid-motion."…What do you mean, it's fallen?"
"Their artificial intelligence project backfired," Lara explained. "One of their AI creations went rogue."
She sighed. "The rest of the continents only found out six months ago. Apparently, Malidros was taken over years before that."
Cassian spoke next."It's not considered a threat yet." He looked at John. "The AI doesn't seem interested in expanding further. It agreed to a peace arrangement. Negotiations are ongoing for the remaining survivors."
Lara cleared her throat and changed the subject."So, John… what element did you awaken?"
John smiled. "Fire."
Lara stared at him in shock."Fire? How? I was sure it'd be Shadow—just like your father."
"Yeah," John said calmly. "The awakening was easy. Everything after that wasn't."
Lara sighed. "Creating a concept for your element is hard. We all went through it."
John nodded. "I guess you're right."
Soon after, breakfast ended.
As John headed back toward his room, Lara called out to him.
He turned. "What is it?"
She smirked. "Follow me."
They walked into the living room, where a large rectangular wooden box rested on the table.
Lara gestured for him to open it.
John stepped forward and lifted the lid.
The hinges creaked softly, the sound echoing in the quiet room.
Inside, nestled against dark felt, lay a katana.
Sleek.Black.Unassuming.
It was slightly longer than standard—just enough to notice. Not ceremonial. Not flashy. Its design was restrained, almost modest.
John stared at it longer than necessary.
"…So this is it."
He reached in and wrapped his fingers around the sheath. The moment he lifted it, he felt it—the balance. Natural. Intimate. The weight rested perfectly in his hand.
"Your grandfather used it before you," Lara said from behind. "He sent it when he heard you went into isolated training."
John nodded and stored the sword inside the dimensional rune etched into his arm.
Lara then handed him an envelope—the Academy invitation.
John opened it.
You have been accepted into Aethercore Academy.
It listed the rules, location, and the date of the entrance ceremony.
Next, Lara handed him another box.
Inside was the academy uniform—black, cleanly tailored.
She smirked. "Your privileged ass is directly admitted into Class A. Enjoy."
John sighed and headed back to his room.
A few days passed.
John spent the time with his family, enjoying their company while he could.
Then, it was time.
The Academy was located in Lunaris City, on the far side of the continent.
Lara raised her hand, forming a portal out of thin air.
John bid farewell to his family and stepped through.