Geroth stood by the window with hands clasped behind his back. From the third floor, students filed out the main building and into the courtyard, scurrying around like a disturbed anthill.

It filled Geroth with great joy to see so many fresh faces, all filled with hope and dreams of becoming something great. So much talent that had yet to be cultivated. All were potential gems in the making. Alongside the Explorer Guild and the academies spread throughout the Lethos Empire, the future seemed to be a bright one.

He looked forward to the days ahead, watching these young talents grow and achieve greatness. Perhaps one would become a renowned alchemist and discover a new recipe, or a powerful sorcerer able to shift the very weather itself, or maybe even form a family great enough to be considered part of the Great Lineages. Better yet, a royal knight fit to serve and protect not only the imperial throne, but the empire as a whole. Only Sthito knows what kind of troubles were brewing.

"A lot has changed, hasn't it?" the headmaster's voice spoke.

Geroth glanced sideways. Headmaster Freschlain sat on his chair behind a desk stacked with books and papers: enrollment forms for the first-years. With hands as quick as a lesser hound, the headmaster signed his name and stamped the paper. He set it aside, then pulled out another one from the top of the stack.

Where they were at currently was the headmaster's office, a circular room with a domed roof. A large mural was painted, depicting that of the Karti Tree—or in laymen terms, the tree of mana—that appeared in the Sorcerer Plane. A woman draped in flowy, white robes with her head covered in a veil floated over its branches, her hands cupped as if gifting the Karti Tree a drop of water. Her eyes were closed, her expression peaceful. Geroth had never seen a mural so beautiful. Though his eye for artwork was untrained, he could still see the individual strokes the painter made to create such a magnificent piece. A piece fitting for a deity.

It had been decades since Geroth entered the headmaster's office. There were a lot more shelves than furniture. Every nook was filled with thick books, almost as much as there was dust in the corners. He wondered if Freschlain even bothered cleaning this place. The man focused most of his attention on not only his studies, but the students that wandered his halls.

"It certainly has," Geroth replied, turning his gaze back outside. "The last time I visited was thirty years ago. The academy is much bigger than I imagined. This is nothing to the stories my son has told me."

"Yes, your son Grant, right? He's a remarkable individual, both in terms of his character and abilities. Incredibly talented and dedicated, might I add. He has a wonderful rapport with his peers and has never been involved in any conflicts. He reminds me of you when I used to be an instructor myself, except his choice of arms are a bit different."

Geroth chuckled and remarked, "It seems like he's putting in an extraordinary amount of effort into his studies. Regarding his choice of sword and shield, I can't blame him. An Augmentation Sorcerer's body serves as its own shield. The more powerful our mana, the more resilient our bodies become. Unfortunately, the unblessed and other specializations lack the same advantage."

"Which is why your son uses a shield to safeguard those around him," Freshclain finished.

"And for that, I am proud of the man my son has become. Someday, it will be him that stands in my shoes; a royal knight fit to protect the Lethos Empire from the dangers that are brewing over the horizon. I fear that day will arrive sooner than I anticipated."

Headmaster Freschlain paused his hands and glanced up from his work. "These recent events are indeed worrisome. Fortunately, the extent of the damage was not too severe. His Majesty mentioned that a cigar was the cause of the fire; am I correct in understanding that?"

The look on Freschlain's narrowed face told Geroth everything he needed to know. He had known the headmaster since attending the academy. The man was incredibly perceptive, even without the need to use his mana. Well into his olden years, he was still as sharp as he was in his younger days.

"There are many things His Majesty and the royal knights keep from the general public," Geroth explained. "Not because we find it entertaining, but because doing so will only create unnecessary panic. Your face tells me you already know what I am about to say, Freschlain."

"You know me too well, Instructor Geroth. I'll cut to the chase. The capital was attacked, wasn't it? Every sorcerer near the adept level has experienced the surge of mana and can distinguish between a rune activation and a sorcerer's release of their own mana. Are the Beastfolk involved in this?"

"No," Geroth shook his head. "The empire's troops are still stationed at the High Plateau, watching the Beastfolk Kingdom's movements. At the moment, no outright fighting has occurred at the border. But, I can say that it is not them who are behind the attack. This is a matter His Majesty has entrusted the royal knights to resolve. We have already identified the culprits responsible: Scourge."

Headmaster Freschlain leaned back in his chair, resting his hands on the table. He frowned, his forehead wrinkling. "Scourge? I have never heard of this group before."

"That is not a surprise, for they are a secretive organization. Not much is known about them. In fact, it was just recently that the royal knights had become aware of their existence, thanks to my son's friends. They are a cunning bunch, and we can assume they have connections far and wide. That organization deals with merchants, like Doyle, and contain capable sorcerers in their ranks. For a rune of that size and magnitude to fly under our noses until it was too late..."

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Geroth closed his eyes and sighed. It was a mistake. He and the other knights failed to see what was happening in the royal capital. It was even shameful to admit how a pair of children had done a better job than the entire order had. To discover tunnels right under the capital and fighting battles that should be handed off to the adults. It filled Geroth with both admiration and a sense of inadequacy on his part. By Sthito's grace, his son and friends were alright, but that did not alleviate the shame and disappointment in the slightest.

"His Majesty has issued an order for the royal knights to conduct an investigation on Scourge. Currently, Captain Kalavan is diligently searching Lethos for any indications or leads. His task involves discreetly probing high-profile individuals and questioning suspicious merchants who might have connections to Scourge. He is known for his meticulousness."

"Nessa, on the other hand, is tasked with coordinating her information network to gather extensive intelligence. This includes studying crime patterns and collecting the latest gossip. Heade, meanwhile, has been assigned to confidentially meet with other branch leaders of the Explorer Guild. They will cooperate in monitoring various towns and cities for any signs of suspicious activities. Othelia is to stay in the capital and keep a watchful eye."

"What of yourself?" Headmaster Freschlain questioned. "For years, I have requested you to be an instructor at my academy, but you always refused. Why is that?"

Geroth eyes softened as he pried his gaze away from Freschlain, eyeing the students outside. "I am to perform my duties here in the academy and watch over two students: Igneal and Tyrus. Those two have the most run-ins with Scourge, and there is a high possibility that they might be targeted for how much they know."

"Are you suggesting Scourge has infiltrated the academy?"

"There is a possibility that someone, perhaps all, in that warehouse, had some connection to Scourge, given the scribed rune. We can't be certain how long Scourge has been active, waiting for the right moment to reveal themselves. We need to be cautious, Freschlain. Our ongoing issues with the Beastfolk already demand a significant portion of our attention, and now this Scourge has effortlessly infiltrated the royal capital. I'm sure you understand the gravity of the situation we find ourselves in."

Freschlain nodded, his lips curving downward. "If that is what the royal knights have concluded, then who am I to disagree? I will closely monitor the instructors for any suspicious activities. I am sure you will do the same."

"I appreciate your cooperation, Freschlain. While I am inexperienced in regards to teaching, I will put my utmost efforts into raising these young talents to be the greatest sorcerers they can be. I swear on my life and honor as a royal knight."

"I would expect nothing less. Please be mindful that these are children you will be teaching, not soldiers. Their bodies might be capable, but their hearts are still young. Be careful not to burden them too much, especially in the first week. The high altitude may have taken a toll on their bodies, and it is my hope that they can adapt to the change as soon as possible."

"Bah. An Augmentation Sorcerer should be prepared to endure some hardships. I'll need to whip these young men and women into shape. Best to reap the advantages of training in high altitudes instead of settling for mediocrity. Struggle and difficulties create the strongest individuals."

"That is a very harsh perspective, Instructor Geroth," the headmaster said with a sigh. "Please go easy on the first-years."

"I will be lenient as long as they show me they mean business. I'm not some heartless monster that will have them suffer needlessly. Slack off or show little interest and I will give them an earful."

Geroth fondly reminisced about his time at the academy, recalling the strict nature of the instructors. While some were kind, the majority were rather tough. In particular, he remembered Instructor Braun frequently tapping him on the head with wooden swords whenever he struggled to grasp a concept. Now, it was Geroth's chance to share his knowledge and demonstrate to the students what is expected of them in the future.

Naturally, he would begin his lessons in Augmentation Mastery with a gentle approach. It would be wise to avoid overwhelming them in the initial weeks. However, after a month, it would be necessary for them to adapt to his training regimen. This timeframe would allow them sufficient time to acclimate to the altitude and grasp the fundamentals of augmentation.

Teaching the first-year students, particularly that young boy, was something Geroth eagerly expected. Though it was merely a gut feeling, he had a firm belief that Tyrus would enroll in the courses with a focus on physicality. It would be the first time he'd witness first-hand the capabilities of a Demi-human, and one that was a black tiger at that.

Rarely has anyone seen a black tiger in battle before. The ones that had passed long ago, recounting their experiences in writing. Able to rain down bolts of lightning from the skies themselves while carrying the toughness and strengths of a beast, black tigers were a force to be reckoned with. They were considered the apex race among the Beastfolk, and for good reason.

Geroth was just itching to find out more about the black tigers and their limitations through Tyrus. What he would learn might come in handy if he or the other royal knights were sent to battle against a black tiger. And that was if the Beastfolk made the first move.

Geroth can still fondly remember his battle against the black tiger in the Wasteful Wetlands. Trading blows against a sword melded with shadows and weaving through spears of darkness. The thrill of a fight was exhilarating, and one he hadn't experienced in a long while. Perhaps he would soon have the opportunity to do so again. This time, he would finish the job and not leave a threat to the Lethos Empire still drawing breath.

"Instructor Geroth?"

"Oh," Geroth said, snapping out of his stupor. He turned to face Freschlain, a bit embarrassed that he was caught in his own fantasies. "Apologies for that. I was reminiscing about a battle."

The headmaster got up from his seat and walked over to Geroth, joining him by the window. They both gazed out at a group of students who were mingling about, either chatting with each other on the benches or making their way back to their dormitories.

For a moment, Geroth was thrust back to a time where he was just like those students, eagerly sharing his experiences in classes and challenging the top ranked student in the combat department. Each time, he was defeated, but it never discouraged him. In fact, it fueled him even further to succeed. A man who has never known victory meant he never put in the effort required to seize it. It was a saying Instructor Braun often shared during the latter parts of his academy days.

Scourge, the conflict with the Beastfolk Kingdom, traitors... There were many challenges and troubles on the horizon. Geroth could only hope that these problems would be solved immediately, but that would be an impossible request. These issues would take time to resolve, and a lot of it. Until then, all he could do was prepare to handle what the future might bring. Whatever news Crown Prince Saldeon brings from the High Plateau, whatever discoveries Captain Kalavan and Nessa find, whatever Heade reports... Geroth would have his role to play, and he would do it as well as he could.