Chapter 22 - The Truth Behind the Coma
Chirp… chirp…
Somewhere far beyond the civilized world…
A cold breeze swept across a vast mountain range.
Snow covered everything.
The mountains.
The valleys.
The trees.
As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but endless white.
No signs of civilization.
No roads.
No lights.
No people.
Only the occasional cry of a lonely bird echoed through the frozen wilderness.
And hidden within those mountains stood a cave.
From the outside, it appeared small and insignificant.
But appearances were deceiving.
The cave stretched deep into the mountain, far larger than its entrance suggested.
Its interior was so dark that even sunlight failed to penetrate its depths.
For those who lived here, darkness was not something to fear.
It was home.
And this place had remained hidden from the outside world for years.
The place was
<<<< Unknown >>>>
Thud… thud…
Footsteps echoed through the darkness.
A man hurried through the narrow passage, his breathing slightly heavy.
There was tension in his expression.
And anticipation.
Thud…
He finally reached a large metal door.
He pushed it open.
Beyond it was a spacious chamber.
At the center of the room sat a lone figure.
The man rested casually in a chair, his head supported by one arm.
He wore a perfectly tailored black suit.
His face was completely concealed behind a dark mask.
He didn't move when the door opened.
Only his eyes shifted.
They slowly turned toward the approaching man.
The man stopped immediately.
Huff… huff…
"My Liege."
He dropped to one knee and placed a hand against his chest.
The masked figure stared at him silently.
"Hmm."
His voice was calm.
"What is it?"
John lowered his head.
"We received the records concerning that boy."
A brief pause.
"He secured tenth place in Aurelian's entrance examination and has been assigned to Group A."
The masked man's eyes narrowed slightly.
John continued.
"He's officially been accepted into Aurelian High."
"And?"
"He is currently waiting for his mission details."
John hesitated before continuing.
"However, there's a problem."
The masked man said nothing.
"Aurelian confiscated all of the students' personal devices before they entered the academy."
John's expression tightened.
"That means we currently have no way to contact him directly or send him the mission details."
Silence filled the room.
The masked man slowly shifted in his chair.
Then..
"I expected nothing less from that boy."
There was a faint trace of satisfaction in his voice.
"I knew he was a rare talent when I first saw him."
John remained silent.
Seven years.
It had been seven years since the organization had first taken an interest in Jay.
The masked man continued.
"As for the mission…"
He paused.
"We still haven't obtained the information we need."
John nodded.
"Yes, My Liege."
"Then leave him alone for now."
The masked man's voice remained calm.
"When we confirm the details, we'll find another way to send them to him."
John bowed his head.
"Understood."
He hesitated.
"Is there anything else?"
The masked man looked toward him.
John thought for a moment before speaking.
"As expected, Aurelian's staff have become suspicious of him."
His expression grew slightly more serious.
"They conducted a thorough background investigation."
The masked man slowly raised one hand.
Snap.
His fingers clicked.
"And?"
"Did they find anything?"
John shook his head.
"Nothing, My Liege."
For a moment, silence
Then..
"Hahahaha…"
The masked man suddenly laughed.
The sound echoed through the chamber.
"Do they really think they're that great?"
His voice became colder.
"Omnipotent."
A faint chuckle escaped him.
"Idiots."
He leaned back into his chair.
"We've been fabricating that boy's identity ever since the Master brought him to us."
His eyes gleamed beneath the mask.
"They could investigate for a hundred years and still find nothing."
John smiled faintly.
"Indeed, My Liege."
The masked man said nothing more.
His gaze remained fixed on the darkness ahead.
Stella
Across the continent, enormous screens displayed the newly released Aurelian rankings.
Crowds had gathered everywhere.
Families.
Friends.
Teachers.
Entire communities.
Everyone wanted to see which young talents had earned the right to enter Aurelian High.
The Valen household was among those celebrating.
When the name appeared at the very top—
1. Aric Valen
Cheers erupted.
The members of the Valen family raised their heads proudly.
Serius Valen stood before the screen with a satisfied smile.
The elders around him looked equally pleased.
Their heir had done exactly what they had expected.
He had risen above everyone else.
Years of training.
Countless lessons.
Relentless expectations.
Everything had finally produced results.
"Our heir has taken the first position."
One of the elders smiled proudly.
"The Valen name will be remembered."
Serius remained silent for a moment.
Then a proud smile appeared on his face.
Aric had done well.
Very well.
But deep down, he knew this was only the beginning.
Aurelian wasn't the destination.
It was the stage upon which Aric would begin rewriting history.
And the Valen family intended to watch him do it.
Glacia
Far to the north, another region celebrated.
Snow-covered cities illuminated the night as people gathered around massive screens.
When the second position appeared
2. Neva Frost
Cheers erupted throughout the region.
The people of Glacia celebrated their princess with pride.
Families whose children had also secured places at Aurelian celebrated alongside them.
Some laughed.
Some cried.
Others simply stood before the screens in disbelief.
Among them was Neva's father.
He watched his daughter's name silently.
His expression remained composed.
But deep within his eyes was unmistakable pride.
You did well, child.
Evangeline
Unlike the cold landscapes of Glacia, Evangeline was filled with life.
Vast forests stretched across the region.
Animals moved freely among the trees, while lively towns echoed with laughter and celebration.
The news had spread quickly.
Two of their prodigies had not only entered Aurelian
They had both secured positions within the top ten.
5. Moriko Everlyn
9. Rey Everlyn
The entire region erupted in celebration.
Chants of their names echoed through the streets.
Large gatherings formed in towns and villages.
Food was prepared.
Music filled the air.
Families celebrated together.
At the center of one such gathering stood two people.
Evaarah and Raymond.
The parents of Rey and Moriko.
Raymond watched the screen proudly.
"Our children have shown the strength of the Everlyn family."
Evaarah smiled.
"They really did."
But her expression soon softened.
"I just hope they're safe."
She looked toward the screen.
"I hope their journey doesn't change them."
Raymond wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"They're our children."
He smiled confidently.
"Whatever happens, they'll find their way."
Evaarah leaned against him.
For tonight, at least, there was nothing to worry about.
Tonight was a night of celebration.
And finally—
Ociana.
The city of warmth and joy.
The streets were filled with people discussing the newly announced rankings.
Some families celebrated the success of their children.
Others quietly comforted those whose children had failed to qualify.
There was disappointment.
There was sadness.
But there was also pride.
For the students who had succeeded, Aurelian represented a new beginning.
For those who had failed, it was the end of one dream—but not necessarily the end of their journey.
Across Ociana, people watched the names on the screens.
They talked about the prodigies.
The heirs.
The top-ranked students.
The two commoners who had somehow broken Aurelian's fifty-seven-year tradition.
Reha.
And..
Jay.
One had listed at eighty-sixth.
The other had listed at tenth.
Two names that had already begun attracting attention.
Two names that would soon become known far beyond Aurelian.
And while the world celebrated their achievements…
Far away, hidden beneath the frozen mountains
the people who knew the truth remained silent.