The graduates who had gone to the Spirit Sanctuary for the Inter-Academy Ranking War took a full month traveling, so the graduation ceremony was always held one month after the official start of the new term.
And today was the day the graduates returned.
But on their return, the atmosphere was far from celebratory.
The reason was obvious.
Fusion Academy, which should have made history this year by overturning the Inter-Academy Ranking War, had instead collapsed at the very brink of victory.
The root cause, as rumors said, was Alester abandoning the team without notice.
From almost certain victory, they fell back to dead last. The crash from heaven to hell left many students, especially the graduates, blaming Alester as the culprit of defeat.
Leaving the Spirit Sanctuary without permission, losing by default in a critical Duel, violating the rules, and abandoning his teammates.
Yet what they didn't know was… if Alester hadn't gone to the Royal Capital, the Empire's second Inferno Tempest strike would have caused irreparable tragedy. Miles and Kaima would never have boarded the Empire's warship.
Regardless, Alester didn't care.
He never cared what others thought, nor about the Academy's reputation—Madman or genius, Alester Crowley only cared about what interested him.
If not for a certain girl, he probably wouldn't have attended the graduation at all.
"It's been a while. I wonder how she is now."
On the carriage ride back, Alester was unusually nervous.
The so-called once-in-a-century genius was now as restless as a boy.
It had been a long time since anyone stirred such interest in Alester, who lived only for Duel Monster summoning magic.
That was at the start of last year, when third-year began.
While studying how to transmute an entire Academy, Alester happened upon a first-year girl.
Well, "happened" wasn't accurate. He was crouched in a tree, and the girl never noticed him, only chatting curiously with her friend.
"Ren-chan, this is the legendary Duel Academy? It's huge!"
"Depends on what you compare it to. Sure is bigger than your Lukao hometown, Little Ai~"
At first, it was only her pure emerald eyes that caught his attention.
White hair and green eyes—rare even across Livorden—and very cute.
Anyhow, if it were only cuteness, he'd have looked once and left. What truly caught him was what she said next.
"So mean, Ren-chan! Once I become a strong Duelist, I'll restore glory to the Carlos family!"
"Yes, yes, I know your determination, Little Ai. But first, summon a high-Level monster. With only Level 1 and 2 summons, you'll never be strong."
Alester's pupils quaked.
Only Level 1 and 2 monsters?
At her age, ready to enter Fusion Academy, she should not still be limited to low-Level summons.
Normally, after age 13, a Duelist's Spirit Eyes grew in power, making it nearly impossible to summon low-Level monsters unless by Deck design.
By 15, the Duelist's summoning framework was fixed. Summoning a Level 1 then was as hard as summoning a Level 10.
To most, summoning only low-Levels marked weakness. "Trash monsters."
Even so, that was prejudice. Those blind to the truth spoke so.
Alester, different from birth, called a genius, had studied summoning since childhood.
At 15, his genius and focus opened the Gate of Truth.
For an instant, infinite summoning knowledge poured in.
He saw the structure of Duel Monsters, the planes of summoning, and—most importantly—the true forms of monsters atop the peak.
That glimpse changed him forever.
Like everyone, he once thought higher Level meant stronger.
Albeit what he saw shocked him.
Atop the Gate of Truth stood not only 12-star terrors… Low-Level monsters—especially Level 1 and 2—occupied the summit.
Strong Decks packed with low-Level monsters—this fact could overturn the Duelist world.
Despite that, no one would believe him.
So he told no one.
The key was, he had never met anyone who, after 15, could still summon low-Level monsters.
Perhaps truth itself placed limits, preventing Duelists from reaching the peak.
"Could it be real?"
To confirm, Alester observed her secretly.
Every weekly summoning, he checked.
Sure enough… Aisha Carlos never disappointed.
In three months, 12 weekly summons: ten Level 1, two Level 2. Breaking Fusion Academy's record low, ranking last in credits.
"Aisha Yuna Carlos… this girl can reach the Truth!"
When everyone else called her dead last, only Alester praised her.
However, after three months, all third-years had to go to the Spirit Sanctuary for the Ranking War.
Even though he skipped the exchange study for her, Alester had to leave. Plus, the Sanctuary held things he had to see. This chance came only once.
So, fate made them miss each other.
He decided to wait until graduation, when he'd return, and she'd have grown more.
Then he'd truly meet her.
But now that he had returned, he never imagined, the girl who could only summon low-Level monsters was now…
Fusion Academy's strongest.
She defeated the invincible Wicked God.
She was the hero who saved the Royal Capital.
The only one alive granted the title of Royal Duel Knight.
She even controlled an Egyptian God Card—[The Winged Dragon of Ra].
Was this the same person?
Could low-Level monsters achieve this?
Or had she already surpassed his expectations, touching the Truth and summoning peak monsters?
Alester searched the Academy for her at once.
And found her—lying in the grass, smiling brilliantly as if talking with someone unseen.
Hanging from her chest—the Millennium Puzzle.
"No… I was beaten to it!"
His emotions were a storm.
Alester knew well what the Millennium Puzzle meant.
The Item that could exchange soul and body.
Its existence explained how she had grown so much in just one year.
"Why… why wasn't it me first…"
Even with all his knowledge and genius, Alester was only 17. In love, he was still just a boy.
Devoted only to her, he had carried the Spirit Sanctuary war on his shoulders, never swayed by other girls.
Even Viel the sly loli had called him a rare good man.
All of it, so he could return, tell her the truth, and walk together on the path of summoning.
Yet, the result? For the first time in his life, Alester tasted heartbreak.
To most, he was just a stalker with a crush. Not heartbreak at all.
"Damn it. I'll never be a good man again. I'll just be a scumbag!"
Genius to the left, madman to the right. His extremes were why they called Alester both.
...
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