Almost two months have passed since Cyziel and his friends were able to discover the world beyond the barrier. The days have gone quietly for Cyziel and his friends compared to the first weeks that they arrived here. It might have been due to the early commotions that they caused and their increasing popularity.

Even as Cyziel tried to lay low and focus on his studies, his natural talent was enough for his name to be known. He was already the highest ranking student for the freshmen students. After the initial interclass magic competition, he has never attended any magic class after it but his grade was now rated 100 in magic.

A lot of students have asked about him. This is also true for his temporary classmates during the Earth class exam like Bachus and Agnar. Bachus was extremely pressured because their other classmates are asking him about Cyziel but he also doesn't know. Agnar, on another hand was displeased that he was not the highest graded student on earth based magic anymore. He was even excited that he already reached the level 5 of earth magic. He was extremely motivated after someone else other than him was able to cast a level 4 earth magic in the previous exam.

Many students like Agnar tried to contest about Cyziel's grades but the instructors answered that they personally tested Cyziel and he has a level 6 rankings for three elements of Lightning, Earth and Wind. Additionally, some instructors tried to informally test him with Darkness and he was also able to cast them. The reason for the informal test was that there were no capable instructor for this element in the institute.

Light and Dark are rare elements that even those instructors who have affinity for that that element are at most a level 6. That is why Vera would have been one of the most talked about student if Cyziel didn't exist. Her previous level 6 magic was of the light element and it was rumored that she has already mastered it. Additionally, she passed the level 6 exam for fire magic.

It was actually no different for Cyziel in his combat class. He was only asked to attend for two weeks. After taking a single combat exam, he suddenly stopped coming. It was of no surprise since he exceled in actual combat and immediately aced the exam. He was actually no different with his friends.

Volus and Ortix already seemed strong but it should be noted that Volus focused on his soul while Ortix is actually a thief. The training that Volus had was the need to cultivate his body to store his powerful soul. As for Ortix, his body was honed due to the brutal environment that he had grown up. Still, the biggest factor of all was the world of Daraksta.

It was in that world that the group of friends actually got strong. It tempered their body, mind and soul. Volus was able to fuse with the souls inside him and ascend to a higher form while Ortix was able to activate the tattoos that he stole and totally merge with the new heart that he got. As for Cyziel, his growth was even greater. It might have currently come with a cost but the foreign atmosphere continuously provided him with experience that when paired with his almost unlimited potential, immediately advanced his strength.

As for survival classes, Cyziel naturally exceled because he was a native of this planet. The names of some creatures and plants might not be the same but he would immediately recognize them. No one is exempted from survival exams so he needed to take it but the classes are optional for all so he rarely go to them.

The only class that Cyziel actual go to is the science and technology class. Cyziel do not know a lot of the new technology. Science also greatly interests him. It gave him theories and explanations of how the world interacts with the magic which he could actually use with his magic. For example, he learned a lot of different types of solids, liquids, gases and plasma from different worlds.

With this, he learned of other solids that he could produce with earth essence. He was able to learn of other crystalline structures or metallic objects that he could generate to make more complicated constructs. It was the same for liquids. He was able to generate oil using water essence. He was starting to think that maybe everything around can also be created with magic. He was also starting to think that maybe the name earth, water, wind and lightning magic are not exactly the right term. Even fire seems to not be exactly accurate.

He was so invested in this subject that he perfected most of the exercises and the exams that he had received. Even instructor Echo lost his fear of him when Echo saw how engrossed is Cyziel in learning. Eventually, instructor Echo asked him to transfer to an advanced science and technology class which are only exclusive to some students.

Cyziel was suddenly rarely seen at the institute. He became a mystery. It seemed weird to the other students and those who haven't seen him would have thought that he was just some fictional character that the school was trying to hype to increase the institute's popularity. Unfortunately, those who have seen him have verified that he was real. It doesn't help that Vera, Morgan, Ortix and Volus who are currently ranked 2, 3, 6 and 10 respectively made it clear.

It might seemed like the Instructors were being biased for Cyziel but it was deliberately done. Someone has reported to the higher council in the Styrtan institute about his results and capabilities. These powerful people immediately moved. Cyziel actually got quite a lot of visitors. Just like the Illustra society, he was invited by other groups around the campus. Each one wanted them for themselves. These also lead to the same people not wanting him to be known. With a unanimous decision, they agreed that they should hide him from the public. They ordered the instructors to find a way to let him skip classes which was not actually that hard given Cyziel's performance.

Not known to many are the plans of those people controlling the groups. These people already knew that Cyziel would definitely be transferred to the capital so each of them are planning to have them be the one to give him recommendations as a show of good will. The capital is a mystery for normal people and anyone who could get connections to someone there would be in great luck.

As for people that have issues with him, they are also laying low. They are currently in a turmoil. They don't know if they should fix the conflicts they had with him or they need to assassinate him to remove future problems.

---- Inside a warehouse in Styrtan' village ---

"Pryce! We haven't met recently!" The hooded man greeted the new arrival, looking at the tied up man beside him. "I see that you took care of Gabo."

"Shut up Jako. Just being here with you is already endangering my position." Pryce pushed Gabo towards Jako. "Just take him. I'll be taking my leave!"

Gabo immediately ran behind Jako. As soon as he reached him, four hooded people appeared behind Pryce. They stayed quite a safe distance away from him.

Pryce momentarily looked at his back. "What is the meaning of this Jako? Are you trying to threaten me?"

Stolen novel; please report.

"No! No! My friend. I just want to ask you some things." Jako said. "Come! Sit down!" Jako then looked at one of the hooded man. "Go get him a seat!"

The hooded man then took a chair then placed it beside Pryce but Pryce suddenly moved and he appeared behind the hooded man. He then pulled his sword and pointed it beside the man's neck.

"This is not part of our deal. You won't touch my people and I won't touch yours. That is all we had talked about and now you are trying to interrogate me?" Pryce furiously shouted.

"Calm down. No need to be so agitated. It is not our first time to trade some information. Kill him if that would calm you down but you wouldn't want to do that would you?" Jako sarcastically said.

Pryce grabbed the hood of the man in front of him then threw him away before sheathing his sword.

He sat down on the chair provided for him. "So what do you want to talk about?" Pryce snorted. He was clearly pissed and he didn't plan to hide it.

"I just want to ask about some few people that you might know. Cyziel. Volus. Ortix. Ring a bell?"

"You are making a mistake. Those people are dangerous." Pryce declared, scrutinizing Pryce's reactions. "Don't tell me that your intelligence group didn't know about them?"

"That's not for you to decide. Just tell me what you know!"

Pryce scoffed. "Hmph! You seem to not know who you are dealing with. I refuse. It has nothing to do with me. You already have Gabo! Go ask him instead!"

Gabo shivered and looked away.

"Oh really? Have you forgotten about the Dielif person that you gave us?" Pryce sarcastically chuckled.

Pyrce stood up. "You! So it was you guys that kidnapped him. What did you do with him?"

"Oh come on! Don't pretend that it was not you who gave us the information on where they currently stay, where they go and what work they do."

"That was just general information! You could have found those things if you put some efforts yourselves!" Pryce pulled his sword again and pointed it towards Jako. "Tell me! What did you do with him?"

"Well, It was someone higher than me who wanted to have a specimen of the new race. It was just a coincidence that I have another use for him. I interrogated him about the other guy named Volus. Unfortunately, he didn't want to talk. He even has a pretty good mental and spiritual resistance so I was not able to coerce him. Anyway, he is dead. Even if I didn't kill him then someone else will."

Pryce charge at Jako but Jako pulled his own sword and deflected the attack.

"Do you understand what your people just did?" Pryce shouted as he lowered his sword. "Why did you even need to antagonize them?"

Jako huffed. The hand holding his sword strengthened its grip as his free hand also curled into a fist. "Its not really me. Let's just say that I have a very stupid brother but enough of that! You should understand that you would also be in trouble if this was known."

Pryce sighed. "Fine. What do you want to know?"

"Good! Don't worry. My people would do the work. First. Where do those three currently live?" Jako asked.

"Volus and Ortix still would occasionally stay inside the housings for the Dielif race. As for Cyziel, even my people haven't seen him for more than a month. You are the one who have people inside the institute, you should know it more." Pryce mockingly answered.

"Hmph!" Jako snorted. "I have heard a lot from by stupid brother but I am still not convinced. How do you actually rate their combat abilities."

Pryce chuckled. "I can see that you are also afraid but make no mistake, the rumors you are hearing are true." Pryce then looked at Gabo. "We actually have someone here who have actually experienced fighting with them. Why don't you ask him instead?"

Gabo shuddered, remembering what happened to them under ground. "Its-Its true. They are really strong. They were able to kill Tarak so easily. Contrary to what others theorized, Tarak was killed solely by that guy named Ortix."

"What? He was that strong and my brother kept on provoking him? That little shit." Pryce created a fireball and shot it at one of the random boxes around causing it to explode. "And he expects me to clean up his shit?"

"Heh! There is another way to fight them. You should already know what to do. You just told me that someone higher than you ordered the kidnapping of that Dielif." Pryce smirked.

Jako seemed scared. "I can't do that. If I do that then It would mean that our whole organization would need to be alerted and moved."

"You don't have any choice do you?" After thinking for a while, Pryce was now quite calm. If the whole brigands actually move then he might not really have to do anything.

"Wait! I remember something. There was someone else who wanted those guys dead. They are the one who trapped us inside the cave." Gabo shouted. His shivering stopped and was replaced by anger.

"What? Why haven't you told me that before?" Pryce furiously inquired.

"Did you know who they are?" Jako asked.

"It was a group of students from the institute. They were the one who gave the plans to Tarak on how to catch Cyziel's group."

"Students? Why would Tarak follow them?" Jako shouted. "What could those students do to help us?"

"No. Its not that. I actually took it away from Tarak." Gabo suddenly took out a letter from nowhere. "Here! This is the reason why he chose to follow what was written in it."

Pryce and Jako read the letter. They saw the plan that was listed by Aqola but what was convincing was the few final words.

I am a member of the Society. It just so happens that we have the same enemy.

What followed it was some kind of symbol with golden patterns that created some kind of a sun.

As Jako saw the symbol, He started laughing.

--- Styrtan Institute Private Dormitories ---

"What are you all doing here?" Cyziel asked. "How did you even know where I stay?"

"Don't worry. We made sure not to be seen by anyone." Rika giggled.

"How were you allowed to get in?"

"Hmph! That was easy." Vera snorted. "I also have my own room here."

Ru pouted. "You have not met us for quite a few days. Are you just studying everyday?"

"Oh! Not really. I was also practicing some new magics. Also! I was trying to make some chemical experiments." Cyziel enthusiastically said.

"Nerd!" Ru jested. "Did you forget that I accepted you as my tutor. I will tell my mom to not pay you since you are not teaching me!"

"Wait! You hired Cyziel as a personal tutor?" Rika smirked. "You are really so good!"

"Oh! What have Cyziel taught you? Was his teaching enjoyable?" Jorak quipped.

"Shut up you two!" Ru snorted. "By the way, there are visitors in the institute. They are from another institute in the next city. They are here for sparring. In a month, there would be an interschool competition."

"Oh?" Cyziel lurched his head backwards, seemingly surprised at the information.

"Don't tell you don't know that? Are you not asked to participate?" Vera asked.

"Nope. No one told me that. How about you? Will you participate?" Cyziel asked back.

"Yes. I was told that 5 people from the top 10 of freshmen, intermidis and maximas would be taken to join the competition." Vera shook her head. "Well, I understand why they won't like you to join."

"Come on! Let's see the students from the other school! If you come with us then I won't tell my mother that you are not teaching me!" Ru chuckled.

"Hey! I was teaching you! I thought you some other level 4 spells!" Cyziel argued. "Alright! I will go. I will just change clothes."

Cyziel's groupmates waited for him outside his room. He changed again to one of his favorite modern clothes. Another hooded blazer. Cyziel have quite a collection of these type of clothes. He then wore again the mask that was given to him by Madam Jena.

"What's with that fashion?" Jorak asked.

"What? It looks cool and we are not going to fight." Cyziel answered. Luckily, fashion varies quite a lot in Venturia. The reason is quite obvious. There were different races of humans that contributed to the current available clothing. Even masks are not rare since other people even wear helmets and tiaras.

"Hmm.. I think that's great. Fewer people would be able to recognize you." Vera uttered.

Rika chuckled. "That would only be true for those who are not under Garland. I am pretty sure that some people will recognize him since he would be hanging with us."

"Hey! I am not trying to hide. Its just that the instructors allowed me not to go to class and they gave me lots of things to keep myself being busy." Cyziel protested.

"Hmph! That's what they want you to think and it certainly would be better to hide yourself. Well, I think it is impossible with how talked about you are these days." Vera added.

"Yep. People's eyes would definitely be on you." Jorak warned. "Anyway, if you are fine with it then let's go!"

The group went out of the dormitories, preparing to go to the indoor training area.