Party

As Asher slept peacefully.

Eldric sat behind his desk in the Headmaster's office, fingers loosely interlocked, his expression calm yet unreadable.

Standing before him was a man who bore an uncanny resemblance to him, almost like a younger reflection. He was Alfred, his only son.

Alfred was the Head Professor of Aetherium Academy, a powerful four-star Immortal. His abilities were renowned throughout the academy.

"What made you so interested in that child? He didn't seem particularly special," Alfred asked, a faint crease of confusion appearing between his brows.

Eldric's lips curved into a subtle smile. "It's only natural you wouldn't understand. You still perceive the world through human senses."

Alfred frowned slightly. "And what exactly are human senses supposed to mean?"

Eldric leaned back in his chair, his gaze drifting toward the window as though recalling memories buried deep within his past.

"Did you think I spent a century among beasts without learning anything from them?"

His voice remained steady, carrying a quiet depth. "Humans take natural mana, impose their will upon it, claim it as their own, and store it within their cores."

"They do this to strengthen their cultivation. But the beasts of the Grimwood Continent, particularly those at Master rank and above, are different."

"They do not conquer mana. They understand it. They merge with nature itself. That is why their recovery is so absurdly fast."

Eldric's voice softened, becoming almost profound. "And those at the Immortal and Saint ranks… they are no longer merely beings within the world."

"They become a part of it. They can sense things that humans cannot even begin to comprehend."

A brief silence followed before Eldric continued. "One such Saint-rank beast taught me a similar method—one that surpasses humans, yet still falls short of true beasts."

Alfred exhaled, his patience beginning to thin. "So what exactly did you sense with this technique of yours?"

Eldric's gaze returned to him, sharp and unwavering. "That is not something you need to know."

A faint smile touched his lips again. "Just remember this—the boy is special."

Alfred held his father's gaze for another moment before looking away. He knew better than to press further. Eldric would not speak unless he wished to.

He turned toward the door, intending to leave.

"Who is currently in charge of Class S for the first years?" Eldric suddenly asked.

"Grandmaster Arwin," Alfred replied, glancing back at his father with mild confusion.

"Replace him. Assign Elisa instead."

Alfred stopped.

Elisa was a Peak Grandmaster, a prodigy who had mastered both fire and wind to the Master realm.

Placing someone like her in charge of first-years seemed excessive. However, Alfred remembered who had been placed in Class S this year.

Understanding slowly dawned within him.

"...Understood," he said before leaving the room.

The door closed softly behind him.

For several moments, silence lingered throughout the office.

Then Eldric's expression darkened. The faint smile disappeared, replaced by something far more serious.

"I suppose… it's time I fulfill my end of the deal," he murmured.

Meanwhile, inside Asher's room, two hours had passed since he awakened.

He had already unpacked everything and was now preparing himself for the academy's freshers' party.

By the time Asher finished getting ready, the clock had already reached 8:50 PM.

He stepped outside his room and glanced down the empty corridor.

"Looks like everyone's already there."

After nearly ten minutes of walking, Asher finally reached the venue.

The hall looked completely unrecognizable.

What was normally a formal gathering space had been transformed into something almost dreamlike.

Golden lights cascaded from the high ceiling like falling stars, bathing the hall in a warm, inviting glow.

The polished floors reflected every flicker of movement, while velvet curtains framed the tall windows and swayed gently in the night breeze.

Strings of fairy lights traced the window edges, adding a soft, enchanting charm to the atmosphere.

At the center, the dance floor pulsed with life.

Freshers had gathered into small, hesitant groups. Some appeared nervous, while others were already eager to enjoy themselves.

Gradually, they surrendered themselves to the rhythm of the music. Laughter rose and fell like waves, blending with the music and countless conversations.

Along one side of the hall, long tables displayed an impressive variety of food and drinks.

The rich aroma drifting through the air tempted even the most reserved students.

Nearby, seniors mingled comfortably with the newcomers, welcoming them, sharing jokes, and occasionally teasing them enough to break the tension.

Yet, at the heart of it all, three figures stood apart from everyone else.

They were the academy's top three rankers.

Leon Zevark stood with effortless confidence, dressed in a crisp black shirt and well-fitted dark trousers.

His sleeves were rolled slightly, giving him a relaxed appearance. A simple watch adorned his wrist, while his neatly styled hair completed his look.

There was nothing particularly extravagant about Leon's appearance. Yet somehow, he naturally stood out among everyone else.

Not far from him stood Princess Celestine.

Her blonde hair cascaded in soft waves, while her bright blue eyes immediately captured attention.

She wore an elegant icy-blue gown delicately embroidered with silver. The dress flowed gracefully to the floor, with a sheer cape trailing behind her.

A simple tiara rested upon her head, completing her unmistakably regal aura.

And then there was Aria Velmora.

Her silver hair was smooth as moonlight, while her crimson eyes remained sharp and unreadable.

Her deep-red dress shimmered subtly beneath the golden lights, its elegance complemented by simple silver jewelry.

Something about Aria made her impossible to ignore.

She was quiet, yet intense, drawing attention without making any effort whatsoever.

Naturally, the entire hall seemed to revolve around those three figures.

Asher, however, couldn't have cared less.

Suppressing his presence as much as possible, he quietly slipped away toward the food section.

At least the food wouldn't disappoint him.

By around 10:30 PM, Asher had completely lost interest in the party.

Without saying a word to anyone, he quietly left the hall.

The cool night air greeted him as he made his way toward the academy garden.

The surroundings were quiet and peaceful.

Exactly the way Asher preferred them.

The garden lay still beneath the moonlight, bathed in a soft silver glow.

Flowers shimmered faintly beneath the night sky, their fragrance drifting lazily through the cool air.

Leaves rustled gently in the breeze, while fireflies flickered throughout the garden like scattered stars.

The entire place possessed an almost surreal sense of calm.

Asher eventually lay down on the grass and closed his eyes.

Then, he began cultivating.

For Asher, cultivation was as natural as breathing.

However, he never cultivated while walking around in front of other people.

For most cultivators, cultivation required meditation. They focused on mana, cleansing it of nature's will before storing it inside their cores.

Recovery was considerably simpler.

Mana would naturally return to the body over time, allowing cultivators to restore their strength gradually.

But Asher was different.

He never needed to process mana at all.

To him, mana had never felt as though it possessed a will in the first place.

Because of that, his recovery speed was abnormally fast.

There was only one limitation.

Asher couldn't use external mana to form spells.

Still, that limitation didn't matter much to him.

He remained in the garden, silently cultivating beneath the moonlit sky. Hours passed without interruption.

Eventually, darkness gave way to the first light of dawn.

By 6 AM, Asher finally stopped cultivating.

He returned to his room shortly afterward.

Classes would begin at 8 AM.

Asher glanced toward the clock before preparing himself for the day ahead.