As they passed through the hallways, the buzz of excited voices surrounded them. Si-Woo’s eyes swept over the crowd, catching glimpses of the joy he knew they wouldn’t have. He took a deep breath, his expression remaining stoic, refusing to let the memories pull him under.

The parent-student conference was already in full swing by the time Si-Woo and Ha-Yoon entered the large hall. The noise of conversations and laughter filled the air, and every now and then, a child would excitedly point out something to their parents. Si-Woo clenched his jaw slightly but remained composed, a quiet, protective presence at Ha-Yoon’s side.

They walked through the sea of families, the siblings keeping their heads high despite the emptiness they felt. Ha-Yoon, always more outgoing, leaned toward Si-Woo and whispered, “Do you think it’ll be weird without anyone with us?”

Before Si-Woo could answer, a deep but familiar voice called from behind them.

“There you are! I’ve been looking for my children everywhere.”

Si-Woo and Ha-Yoon turned around, surprised to see a plump, ordinary-looking man with a slightly crooked mustache and modest clothing. The man adjusted a small device on his collar, and with a faint click, his voice shifted into a tone they immediately recognized: it was King Morey, though expertly disguised.

Ha-Yoon’s eyes widened in surprise, then she grinned, struggling to keep a straight face.

“King— I mean, um...” she stumbled, barely stifling a laugh.

“Mr. Vostel,” King Morey said smoothly, giving her a wink. “I’ll be standing in for your parents today.”

Si-Woo couldn’t help but feel a sense of comfort, nodding with gratitude. Though surreal, the king’s presence brought a sense of security he hadn’t anticipated.

As they walked up to Mrs. Larkin, their Hoken language arts teacher, she greeted them warmly, her eyes shifting to King Morey with polite curiosity.

“Ah, Si-Woo, Ha-Yoon!” she began. Then, noticing King Morey, she added, “And you are…?”

King Morey gave a slight bow. “Mr. Vostel, ma’am,” he replied, deepening his voice in a comical attempt to stay in character. “Pleased to make your acquaintance. I’ve heard much about your...exemplary language instruction from my children.”

Mrs. Larkin blinked, visibly puzzled by his unusual look but nodded politely. “It’s wonderful to meet you, Mr. Vostel,” she replied, clearly uncertain but choosing to move forward. She then began discussing Si-Woo and Ha-Yoon’s progress in her class, giving glowing reports on their language skills. King Morey nodded along, occasionally chiming in with comments like, “Ah, yes, their Hoken pronunciation is impeccable at home.”

As they moved from one teacher to the next, the scene repeated: each teacher praised Si-Woo and Ha-Yoon’s progress while King Morey—always as “Mr. Vostel”—nodded thoughtfully and occasionally made absurd comments. Ha-Yoon had to fake a cough to stifle her laughter when one teacher complimented him on raising "such accomplished children."

Finally, they reached the last station, where Si-Woo paused, spotting Minho across the hall with Mai. Unlike King Morey’s comical disguise, Minho had used serein cosmetics for a subtle transformation. Si-Woo and Ha-Yoon only recognized him because Mai stood beside him.

“Si-Woo,” Ha-Yoon whispered, nudging him. “That’s Minho, right?”

Si-Woo nodded, smirking. “Yeah, he’s using an alias too. Let’s see how this plays out.”

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Minho—going by “Mr. Alen”—gave them a polite nod. “Ah, good evening,” he said, eyeing King Morey’s eccentric look. “I see the children have a...dedicated parent figure with them tonight.”

King Morey puffed up proudly. “Indeed, Mr. Alen,” he replied in his booming “Mr. Vostel” voice. “We do what we must for our children.”

Mai leaned toward Ha-Yoon, whispering with a wink, “Good thing you have ‘Mr. Vostel’ here to help.”

The evening concluded with more lighthearted exchanges. As they exited under the full moon, Si-Woo felt a bit lighter. Ha-Yoon gave his hand a gentle squeeze, and they shared a smile. With the support of those around them, they would face whatever came next together.

...

One morning, As they walked through the bustling hallways of the academy, the excitement in the air was palpable. Students buzzed with the latest news about the newly established Rankers family, their voices blending into a chorus of dreams and aspirations.

"Did you hear? The Rankers are looking for new recruits!" one student exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

Ha-Yoon’s curiosity piqued. "I can’t believe there’s actually a family dedicated to exploring the anomalies. That sounds amazing!"

Si-Woo glanced over at her, a hint of concern etched on his face. "But it’s dangerous, Ha-Yoon. The Adventurers go into dungeons and face all sorts of threats. It's not just a game."

Ha-Yoon rolled her eyes playfully. "I know, but think of all the treasures they could find! What if we could join them someday?"

At that moment, Mai caught up with them, a bright smile on her face. "Hey! Are you two talking about the Rankers? Everyone's buzzing about them!"

"Yeah," Si-Woo replied, his tone serious. "But I think it’s risky. What if someone gets hurt? There’s a lot we don’t know about these anomalies."

Mai nodded thoughtfully. "It is risky, but think about the adventure! Plus, if they’re recruiting, it means they need capable people. It could be a chance for us to make a real difference."

Ha-Yoon’s eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. "I want to explore the dungeons and find hidden treasures! And maybe we can uncover secrets about our parents!"

Si-Woo softened at the mention of their parents. "I just want to make sure we’re ready before jumping into something like that."

Mai smiled reassuringly. "We can train together. If we decide to pursue it, we'll be prepared. Besides, with Minho's training, we can handle a lot more than we think."

As they walked, the trio shared their dreams, laughter echoing through the hallways. Unbeknownst to them, the seeds of adventure were beginning to take root in their hearts.

...

Later, As the students gathered in the dojo hall, the atmosphere buzzed with anticipation. The wooden floors gleamed under the bright lights, and the smell of sweat and determination hung in the air. Master Choi, a muscular fae man with striking red hair and fiery red eyes, stood at the front, exuding authority.

“Welcome to Introductory to Martial Arts!” Master Choi bellowed, his voice echoing off the dojo’s walls. “Today, you will each select a weapon for sparring. You can use Serein in your spars, but you cannot imbue it into your weapon in any shape or form. Understood?”

The students nodded, excitement bubbling through them as they approached the weapon rack. Si-Woo scanned the choices and felt drawn to a sleek dagger, its dull blade glimmering under the dojo lights. It resembled the soul weapon King Morey had gifted him, Eternity.

On the other side of the room, Sol swaggered over to the rack and picked up a hefty sword, the weapon almost as tall as he was. A smug grin spread across his face as he glanced at Si-Woo, but little did he know they would be paired together again.

Mai and Ha-Yoon watched from the sidelines, each holding their chosen weapons. Ha-Yoon had picked a pair of spade wolf claws, and Mai wielded a staff that sparkled with potential.

Before the match began, Si-Woo took a deep breath. He placed the hilt of the dagger between his jaws, clenching it tightly to help him focus. The sight drew laughter from some of the students, but Si-Woo paid them no mind. He was determined to prepare himself for what was to come.

Master Choi called the class to attention, announcing the pairs for sparring. When he said, “Sol and Si-Woo! You’re up!” the dojo fell silent, all eyes on them.

Si-Woo felt his stomach churn as he stepped onto the mat, his heart pounding in rhythm with the anticipation of the onlookers. This wouldn’t be the first time they had been paired together; Sol had won 90 percent of their previous matches, with the other 10 percent resulting in draws. “Ready to get embarrassed again?” Sol taunted, raising his sword high, unaware of Si-Woo’s growing determination.

“I’m not afraid of you,” Si-Woo mumbled, trying to keep his voice steady despite the anxiety bubbling within him. He tightened his grip on the dagger, focusing on the techniques he’d practiced with Minho. Master Choi observed them, his eyes narrowed. “Begin!”