Life in the Mount Hua Sect was remarkably peaceful, a tranquility that I appreciated as Seraphina's guest. Her status as the princess of this sect afforded me certain privileges and protections, even though her influence had been somewhat curtailed by her brother, Sun. Nonetheless, she commanded great respect here.

Mount Hua Sect was situated in the Eastern continent, one of the few regions in the world, aside from the Central continent, not under constant threat from invasive species. Historically, the species that posed a significant danger to them were the vampires, believed to have been eradicated by the Kagu family ancestor 160 years ago.

However, I knew the truth. The Vampire Monarch still lived, his long lifespan extending even beyond that of humans and elves. Vampires, in general, can live for several centuries, and despite the grievous existential injury the Monarch suffered, which prevented his full recovery even after 160 years, he remained a lingering threat.

Existential injuries are unique in their severity, impacting a being's very soul. For instance, if such an injury occurred to someone's arm, simply cutting off the arm and replacing it wouldn't suffice for recovery. Only those who reached the rank or higher could inflict such injuries, and even then, it was no easy feat.

The absence of threats from invasive species had allowed the sects and families in the Eastern continent to flourish, making them stronger and slightly tipping the balance of power. This growth created friction between the Eastern and Central continents, as both regions, free from attacks, continued to amass strength and harbored ambitions of expansion.

In contrast, the other regions, while strong, were continually preoccupied with defending against constant threats, which curbed their expansionist desires. The constant battles against invasive species kept them focused inward, ensuring they remained powerful but with little inclination to seek new territories.

Thinking about it now, Seraphina's mother is an elf. As I glanced at the silver-haired girl next to me, I noticed her slightly pointy ears, a subtle reminder of her mixed heritage. Many characters in the <> were mixed race, not purely human. This explained Sera's high affinity for ice magic, inherited from her powerful ice-wielding mother.

"I'm curious," I said, turning to her. "Where's your mother, Sera?"

"She's in the West, helping out against the orcs and ogres," Seraphina replied, looking up from her notebook and tucking a lock of her silver hair behind her ear.

Since the Central and Eastern continents didn't face any invasive species, they were expected to send significant reinforcements to other parts of the world to help deal with their threats.

'As expected, the situation around the world is quite peaceful right now,' I thought, my brows furrowing.

The threats from other species weren't very significant at the moment. This was evident from how easily the Kings roamed around, not overly concerned about a major push. Technological advancements had led to the establishment of defensive lines that were far more effective than before.

'A few centuries ago, most mages would spend their time on the frontlines, keeping the invasive species at bay,' I thought, skimming through a history book in front of me.

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Seraphina and I were currently buried under the copious amounts of homework Mythos Academy had assigned us over the extended winter break. The additional self-study required to catch up made the upcoming mid-year exams genuinely challenging. I scratched the back of my head as I recalled the scores released by the Academy online.

At Mythos Academy, we had seven theory subjects: mana theory, world history, world geography, linguistics and literature, beast analysis, political science, and general science. Once students reached their fourth year, they could specialize in more specific subjects.

The grading system ranged from A to F. I consistently received A's in every subject, as did most of the top students.

In terms of scores, I achieved a perfect 100 in mana theory, world history, world geography, and beast analysis. I narrowly missed perfect scores in linguistics and literature, political science, and general science.

From conversations with my friends, it became apparent that almost every top student had at least one perfect score. Then there was Rachel, who managed perfect scores in all subjects.

'There's no way I can take the seat of valedictorian from her,' I thought, shaking my head.

Seraphina also scored very high, with three perfect scores and over 90 in the other four subjects, placing her just slightly behind me overall. Academically, I ranked fourth in our year, which showed how trivial mid-terms were for us. However, the mid-year exams were a different ball game altogether, with a likely massive spike in difficulty.

The quiet room filled with the sounds of pages turning and pens scratching on paper. The window beside us framed a serene view of Mount Hua's snowy landscape, the white peaks contrasting sharply with the vibrant garden below.

"What rank are you aiming for in the mid-years, Arthur?" Seraphina broke the silence, her voice slicing through the quiet room.

Rank was purely determined by fighting ability. The practical exams for mid-years were much less exciting but more accurate than the mid-terms, as they directly determined the rankings.

"Rank 2," I replied confidently.

That was my goal. I couldn't take Rank 1 from Lucifer at this point, but Rank 2, held by Ren, was within my grasp.

Ren was strong—crazy strong—but with the power of Lucent Harmony and after mastering the Illusion Sword, I believed I could surpass him.

"That's an exciting goal," Seraphina said, a small smile playing on her lips. "I will probably end up getting demoted then."

This was expected. Seraphina was talented, but so were all the others. The only reason I managed to push past them was because of the pill I got, thanks to how the author wrote <>, and the intense training I put myself through.

But that was just the start. The training I planned for the summer break would be incomparably difficult.

Seraphina silently looked at me, causing me to feel shy and turn my gaze away. However, her eyes never left my face.

"Arthur," Seraphina called, pulling my attention from my notes. Her ice-blue eyes met my darker blue ones, and I could see a mix of curiosity and uncertainty in her gaze.

"I don't understand this," she said softly, leaning in closer. Her breath was warm on my face, and I could see every detail of her features up close.

I didn't flinch or pull away.

This wasn't like my interactions with Cecilia; this was different, deeper.

"It's called friendship, Sera," I said with a gentle smile, placing my hand over hers. Her eyes widened slightly before she let out a small, surprised laugh.

"So, friendship feels this warm?" she asked, her hand wrapping around mine hesitantly, as if testing the sensation.

"It does," I nodded, feeling the weight of her past struggles. Seraphina needed someone to rely on, someone who would be there no matter what.

"How strange," she mused, her voice barely above a whisper. "Giving someone the power to hurt you and hoping they don't."

"That's a bit cynical," I chuckled softly. "But it's true. Only when you give someone the power to hurt you do you also give them the power to help you."

"Interesting," she said thoughtfully, her eyes reflecting a newfound understanding. Then, she released my hand and stood up. "I'll begin training now. See you later, Arthur."

As she walked away, her silver hair swaying gently with each step, I felt a renewed sense of purpose. This bond, fragile yet powerful, was something that would strengthen us both.

I watched her disappear down the hallway, her presence lingering even after she was gone.