At Karath Academy, a Star Master specializing in healing magic—who also possessed an aura imbued with the element of purification—was seated before a student whose body was wrapped in countless bandages from head to toe. He recalled what his colleague, Ryan Shine, had told him:
"He used a forbidden technique and ended up like this. I want you to treat him."
The healer looked up at the ceiling, wanting to curse.
"Damn them all! They go off to fight, reach the point between life and death, and then expect me to heal them. They should just die already!"
At that moment, the student lying on the bed woke up. With his pale silver eyes, he looked around without being able to move his head, then gazed at the healer before him.
"Excuse me… but where am I?"
The healer looked at him in shock and disbelief, then spoke:
"You are in Karath Academy's infirmary. You were brought here after being injured in the battle against the Dark Crows."
The student looked confused, but soon realization dawned on him as he remembered what had happened.
"What happened to me?!"
The healer sighed.
"Student Shion Lan, I heard you were on a mission from the director. Despite how dangerous it already was, you succeeded. Yet instead of returning, you chose to stay and participate in the battle, following the director's orders…"
The healer stared at him sharply and said,
"Do you know that because of reckless fools like you, I'm forced to keep you alive, or else I'll be severely punished? And all of this is because of your stupidity!"
Shion smiled awkwardly and replied,
"Well, I wasn't injured in the head, so you don't need to remind me of that. I just want to know what happened after we won the battle."
"You used a forbidden technique, didn't you?"
"Yes?"
"All of your wounds reopened at once. You suffered severe bleeding, acute mental damage, and bodily deterioration due to repeatedly using circles and stars without rest. Frankly, I think it's a miracle you're alive at all. Once you recover, I don't want to see your face ever again. Do you understand?!"
"Yes, sir."
The healer extended his hand. A pure aura flowed from his fingers, and with healing magic he pressed several points on Shion's body, easing his pain slightly. This process was repeated more than twenty times that day. By nightfall, the bandages were removed from Shion's body, leaving him completely healed.
Wiping his sweat, the healer spoke:
"There's bad news."
Shion looked at him while examining his body. The healer continued,
"Because of that technique you used, you won't be able to use aura or magic for half a month. And when you regain your strength, it will be weaker than before."
Shion sat down, absorbing the information. The healer went on,
"There are also some issues with your soul. You won't be able to use the inheritance for a while until you recover." And said coldly "From now on, don't do anything stupid again—or I'll be the one who kills you next time."
"Yes, sir."
Shion left the room, trying to communicate with Shi Yun Lan. He closed his eyes briefly, then opened them with a smile.
'It seems that since Shi Yun Lan doesn't belong to this world, he isn't affected by my soul at all. Even so, we're connected in some way.'
He didn't dwell on the details and left the infirmary, where he was greeted by Baro Ferrer, Fiore Tai, and Sol Hart.
"Shion! Are you alright?!"
"Sir!"
"We heard you were in terrible condition."
They gathered around him, checking on him anxiously. Shion smiled.
"I'm fine. I just won't be able to use my power for half a month."
After reassuring themselves, they all noticed something strange. Sol spoke up,
"Umm… Shion? What happened to your face?"
"Is something wrong?"
"I mean… did you become more handsome, or am I imagining it?"
"Well, that's a compliment coming from you."
Shion thought to himself,
' I suppose this is because the Stellar Body reached the second level.'
Baro spoke,
"Indeed, sir, you look different this time!"
"Yes, no one would believe you were just in a battle," Fiore added.
Sol suddenly asked,
"This is a bit strange. Everyone said you were on the brink of death—so how are you walking around so easily now?"
"I was treated by a Star Master who specializes in healing magic."
"But that's still incredibly fast."
"Don't you want to see me well?"
"That's not what I meant!"
Shion whispered to her,
"I'm sorry your mission will be delayed because of me."
"Hmmm? Don't worry. Just recover, and everything will be fine."
Despite her words, she felt sadness and disappointment. Shion said,
"I'll go with you after two weeks."
"No—wait a full month. You need to be in your best condition. Please… I want you to be safe, because I won't be if I don't complete this mission."
Shion felt something unsettling in her words. She seemed to notice.
"Don't mind what I said."
Shion nodded, feeling worried about her.
From inside the infirmary, the healer looked at Shion in confusion when Ryan Shine entered.
"Hey! Where is Shion?"
"He left," the healer replied calmly.
Ryan was furious.
"What?! How could you let him leave without making sure he's truly fine?!"
"His health is better than yours and mine combined when we were his age."
Ryan stared at him in disbelief.
"We're talking about Shion Lan—his injuries were worse than death itself. I know your skills are great, but not to that extent. Please call him back here, or I'll face severe consequences from King Jord Joul—and you know how he can be cruel."
After Ryan finished pleading, the healer replied coldly,
"Are you done?"
He looked at Ryan and said,
"As I told you before, his condition is better than yours and mine combined when we were his age. He's already in his room."
"Really?!"
The healer didn't answer directly.
"I also find it strange. That boy's body can accept and use anything. He benefited from both aura and magic alike. And that other boy—Baro Ferrer—his physique was strange as well. It reacted to both light and darkness. I've heard of unusual constitutions, but I've never seen anything like those two."
"Then don't think anything of it."
"What do you mean?"
"The king will personally reward Shion Lan, and the director will place him in the Noble Division. He'll hold a high status. I don't think you like trouble."
"Unfortunately, I was planning to conduct some experiments on them."
"That trick won't work on me again. I was punished once because of a false report."
"Well, I truly did want to conduct experiments. As I said, that boy's body accepted everything and brought it under his control, while the other was influenced by both light and darkness. I only wanted to uncover their secrets."
"Shion Lan will be my student, and Baro will be my student as well. Both are under my protection. You are forbidden from approaching them."
Seeing that Ryan wasn't swayed, the healer finally gave in.
"Get out of here. I don't want to see your face."
"Is that how you tell patients to stay healthy? You need to learn manners."
"I left such things to nobles like you."
...
Inside a golden carriage drawn by massive horses sat the Second Princess, Jina Joul, accompanied by a royal guard. Sitting across from them was the star of the coming event—Shion Lan.
She was extremely excited and happy when she heard the news.
"When will we reach the palace?"
"Very soon, Your Highness."
Jina's heart pounded as she looked at Shion, who had become even more handsome and captivating. When she heard what had happened to him, her heart nearly drowned in fear, and she wanted to visit him at any cost. But now he was completely healed.
As Shion looked out the window, golden sunlight fell upon his face, making him seem like a mythical figure from ancient novels.
Shion looked at her, and her breath caught for a moment. He smiled.
"Your Highness, we've arrived."
Jina became aware of her surroundings. The royal palace walls stood before them—gray stone coated in white paint, adorned with gold. The guard turned to see Shion's astonished face, but instead found only a look of calm appraisal, as if he were evaluating the place.
"What's wrong with this guy?"
Shion ignored the guard's gaze and thought,
'This palace looks magnificent and powerful, but it can't compare to the Black Shi family's palace. That one carried an ancient sense of awe, grandeur, and pride—something people could only gaze upon from afar.'
On one of the balconies, the First Prince, Jaiden Joul, watched his sister and Shion walking together. He ground his teeth.
"Those damned bastards!"
He gripped the railing, trembling with rage.
'Last night, when I tried to fight the fifth-level Dark Crow with Shun Ranus, I thought it had truly weakened since Shion Lan was fighting it—a person with only two stars and two circles, whose combat power barely reached the fourth level. Yet for some reason, once Shion was out of the picture, the crow transformed from a corpse about to be beheaded into a ferocious monster!
Since I was supporting from the rear, I didn't suffer severe injuries, but Shun Ranus ended up in a miserable state. Father received the reports of this battle—and only one name was mentioned: Shion Lan!'
And remembered the achievements of Shion,
'The one who killed a ninth-level threatening heir! The one who provided us with detailed information about the Dark Crows! The one whose power reached almost the fourth level despite being only in the second year, with merely two stars and two circles! The one who fought deep within enemy lines and threw them into chaos single-handedly! The one who killed hundreds of Dark Crows, more than a hundred of them at the fourth level! And the one who confronted a fifth-level crow alone, fighting it face to face long enough to regain control of the situation with his strange art and forbidden technique!'
After the Second Princess parted ways with Shion—who was received by the servants—Jaiden headed inside, rubbing his temple in frustration.
'Father now wants to meet that boy more than anyone else. This opportunity slipped away from Shun Ranus, meaning I lost this round. And Father decided to punish me when he saw that my actions didn't meet expectations. I'll be removed from the spotlight until the second half of the academic year!'
He clenched his teeth harder, the grinding sound echoing as he thought,
'And now my sister wants Shion by her side. Even though he rejects her, he was friendlier this time. And she has Baro Ferrer and Fiore Tai. It seems Shion won't drift far from her—and she'll claim him in the end!....'
"No!"
The First Prince clenched his fist so tightly that blood seeped out. He took a deep breath.
"I must not anticipate bad outcomes. Let's see what the king does first—then we'll decide. I may not be at the academy, but I can still do a lot as a prince. I also have people other than Shun Ranos to cultivate as my future pillars. It's still too early for everything. I won't lose now! I may lose a round—but I won't lose everything!"
Taking a deep breath and said calmly with a furious tone,"I am Jaiden Joul!"