Early the next morning, sunlight broke through the large glass windows of the academy, reflecting softly on the magnificent stone walls. The magic training hall was now filled with new students, each with a mixed expression of excitement and nervousness. In the center of the hall, Shouta stood with Lydia, Althea, and Helena.

"Alright, students," Professor Eryndel's voice echoed, an elegant woman with long silver hair and piercing blue eyes that radiated authority. "Today's exercise is to control elemental magic in combat. I want each of you to enter the arena and demonstrate what you have learned."

A tall man with short black hair stepped forward, introducing himself as Kael, a new student like Shouta. "I will do it," he said with a confident smile.

Shouta watched Kael carefully. His magic technique looked solid, with the combination of wind and earth elements forming a protective wall while the wind rushed by, hitting the target.

"You think he's good?" Lydia whispered while crossing her arms.

"He has technique, but his attacks are too aggressive," Shouta replied, trying to analyze Kael's weaknesses.

Helena standing next to them gave a small smile. "I'm more interested in seeing your turn, Shouta."

When Shouta's turn came, the hall became a little quieter. Shouta composed herself, raised her hands, and began manipulating the mana around her. With fluid movements, he created a wind blade that floated in the air, striking the magic doll provided. The blade then transformed into a small swirl of flame, burning its target in the blink of an eye.

Professor Eryndel nodded in satisfaction. "Excellent control, Shouta. You have great talent."

However, not all the students shared that admiration. Whispers began to be heard in the corner of the room.

"That lowlife... how can she be that good? She must be hiding something."

Shouta pretended not to hear, but a sense of unease began to settle in her heart.

Afterward, in other classes as well, Shouta began to feel more comfortable. The topics of advanced magic and defense theory were discussed in depth. Other professors praised his hard work, and some students began to recognize his abilities.

A few days passed smoothly. However, rumors began to spread among the students.

"Orven hasn't shown up to class since a few days ago," said one student.

"I heard he was... cursed," whispered another.

"Maybe he's being punished by his family. Didn't he fail the magic test?" someone added sarcastically.

Shouta listened to all the rumors with curiosity, but she decided not to think too much about it.

"Orven is always causing trouble," Lydia said while they were having dinner at the dining hall. "But this is strange. He's never disappeared for this long."

"Who knows? Maybe he's up to something. You know Orven's rumors have been bad for a while," Helena replied in a serious tone.

Althea looked at them with a concerned expression. "That's right. We have to be careful. Sometimes people who are on the verge of despair can do unexpected things."

Shouta nodded slowly. A bad feeling began to creep into him, even though he did not know what would happen.

Several Days Later

On that day, the sky was overcast, giving a slightly gloomy atmosphere at the Astoria Academy of Great Magic. Shouta, Lydia, Althea, and Helena decided to take a walk around the academy's garden after class. The garden was spacious, filled with towering trees, blooming flowers, and gently glowing magical fountain water.

"This place is actually quite peaceful," Helena said with a sigh of relief. "I almost forgot how busy this week's lessons were."

Shouta nodded, his eyes watching the small birds chirping on the branches. "Sometimes taking a break isn't a bad thing."

However, the calm did not last long. From the direction of the shadow of a large tree, a wave of dark power suddenly rushed towards them.

"LOOK OUT!" Lydia shouted, pulling Shouta back.

A small explosion occurred in front of them, causing the ground to split and flowers to shatter. From the thick smoke, a figure they recognized emerged: Orven.

However, there was something strange about him. His skin was pale, his eyes were blood-red, and a dark aura surrounded him. He looked like a shadow of his former self, but much more dangerous.

"Orven?" Althea voiced slowly, clearly shaken.

Orven just chuckled, his voice full of hatred. "You... will all regret it! This world is not fair! And I will show you what suffering is!"

Helena shook her head. "What has happened to you?"

Shouta took a step forward, looking at Orven seriously. "Orven, stop this. You don't have to do all this. We can help-“

"SHUT UP!" Orven cut in, his voice echoing through the air. "No one can help me now!"

Without warning, he launched a magic attack. Waves of darkness attacked them with incredible speed.

"Shouta, we'll report this to the professor!" Lydia exclaimed.

"Hurry up and leave! I'll keep him here!" replied Shouta, raising his hand to create a magic shield.

A blue protective aura appeared around them, protecting Lydia, Helena, and Althea from attacks.

"We can't leave you!" Helena argued, but Shouta gave her a sharp look. "You guys have to leave now! I'll be fine!"

Reluctantly, Lydia pulled Althea and Helena back. "We'll be right back with help!" she said.

As they left, Shouta and Orven's duel prevailed. Shouta focused on Orven, who was now attacking her with full force. Orven's every attack felt wild, uncontrollable, as if he was losing his mind completely.

If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

"Orven, why are you doing this?" Shouta shouted while dodging the ball of darkness thrown at him.

"I no longer care!" Orven retorted, creating a shadow spear that struck the ground hard.

Shouta cast wind magic, stopping the spear before it could hit him. In her heart, she struggled with a heavy decision. If he didn't stop Orven now, more people would be hurt.

"You've changed... You're not like that day," Shouta said, his hands glowing with magical light.

"I don't care what you think of me!" Orven roared, launching a final, larger attack.

Shouta deflected it with a wind shield, then counterattacked with a combination of fire and wind magic. The attack slammed straight into Orven, knocking him backwards.

Finally, Orven fell to his knees, his body shivering. However, he still tried to get up to attack again.

"I'm sorry, Orven..." Shouta whispered, before launching his final attack-an arrow of light that pierced Orven's body.

Orven fell silent, his eyes returning to their original color before slowly closing.

Moments later, Lydia and the others returned with Professor Eryndel. He immediately examined Orven's body, his expression turning serious when he encountered something.

"This..." she said slowly, pulling out a small capsule from Orven's pocket. "This pill... this is no ordinary pill."

Everyone was shocked. Helena covered her mouth with her hand, while Lydia clenched her fist.

"He has been turned into a demon by this pill," Professor Eryndel said in a grim tone. "This is something that has never happened before."

The next day, news of the incident spread throughout the academy. Everyone was talking about how Orven, a noble student, turned into a demon and attacked his comrades.

Shouta, despite having acted to protect everyone, was unable to remove the guilt from her heart. However, Lydia, Althea, and Helena continued to encourage her.

"You had no other choice, Shouta," Lydia said firmly. "You saved us all. Orven is gone... he's not himself anymore."

Shouta nodded slowly, but there was still a shadow on her face.

A few days after the incident, Shouta began to go about her day as usual, though feelings of guilt still haunted her. The academy was still abuzz with rumors about what happened, but the professors made sure security was maintained.

That morning, a servant from the academy came to Shouta's dormitory with a letter sealed with the imperial crest wax.

"A letter for Lord Shouta," the servant said as he handed it over.

Shouta received the letter nervously. Helena, who happened to be there, looked at the letter curiously. "It's from the palace, isn't it? What does it say?"

Shouta broke the seal and read carefully. The letter was an official invitation from the King of Qinlin, Zephyrion, to attend an official gathering at the palace.

"You're invited to the palace? That's a great honor!" said Helena excitedly.

Lydia, who had just arrived, gave a small smile. "I'm not surprised. You've saved so many lives. They must want to honor you."

Two days later, Shouta, Lydia, Althea, and Helena arrived at the Qinlin Imperial palace. The palace was magnificent, with white marble walls and tall towers that glittered in the sunlight. Imperial soldiers stood at attention along the entrance, while gardens filled with exotic flowers dotted the landscape.

"This is amazing," Shouta whispered, mesmerized by the beauty of the palace.

The great hall of the Qinlin Imperial palace was filled with splendor. Crystal chandeliers hung from the high ceiling, emitting a golden glow that illuminated the gleaming white marble floor. The nobles were gathered around a long table decorated with silk fabrics and exotic flowers. In the center of the hall, King Zephyrion sat on a throne, he wore a dark blue robe with gold embroidery, while Duke Varent stood by her side.

Musicians played soft melodies on violins and harps, while the scent of roses filled the air. Servants crossed the hall, carrying trays of drinks that sparkled like jewels in the candlelight.

When Shouta entered the hall with Lydia, Althea, and Helena, attention was immediately drawn to them. Whispers could be heard from the corners of the room, some of which were full of admiration, but some were mixed with skepticism.

"Is that the young man they were talking about?" whispered a nobleman to his friend. "He's just a new student. How could he possibly be able to do all that?"

However, a noblewoman turned her head with an admiring expression. "But he saved the king's daughter and Duke Varent's son. That's no small matter."

Shouta, feeling nervous amidst the attention, tried to remain calm. Lydia patted his shoulder with a small smile. "Don't worry. You've done a wonderful thing. They're just jealous."

As they approached King Zephyrion, the entire hall fell silent. The roar of guests ceased, replaced by a respectful atmosphere.

"Welcome, Shouta," King Zephyrion said, his voice deep and authoritative. "You have shown courage rarely found, even among seasoned adventurers. Today, the Qinlin Empire will give you the honor you deserve."

A servant brought a golden box forward. The king opened the box, taking out a short sword with magic engraved on the blade. A soft blue light shone from the sword, mesmerizing everyone in the room.

"This is the Aetherial Sword, an artifact of the royal family that symbolizes honor and courage. With it, we recognize your service in saving the students of the academy, including my daughter, Althea, and Helena, Duke Varent's daughter."

Shouta knelt respectfully as the King handed the sword to him. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I only did what I had to do."

As Shouta received the sword from the King, he could not ignore the heavy feeling in his chest. This gift was a great honor, but he couldn't forget Orven's broken face. Did he really deserve it?

Zephyrion gave a small smile. "Your humility is proof of a hero's true character."

The others also received gifts no less luxurious than Shouta's.

However, the atmosphere changed when one of the nobles standing on the right side of the hall spoke. "Your Majesty, is it wise to give a family artifact to a lowly adventurer? Isn't that too much?"

The room seemed to freeze. Shouta raised his head, but said nothing. Althea stepped forward with a stern expression.

"Lord Declan," she said, calling out the noble's name. "Shouta saved not only the academy students, but also me and Helena on our way here. If not for him, we might not be standing here today."

Helena added, "We owe him our lives. Do you doubt our own King's judgment?"

Declan visibly stuttered, then backed away red-faced. "Forgive me, Your Majesty. I did not mean to doubt your decision."

Zephyrion gave Declan a cold look before addressing all the guests. "Remember this, courage knows no status. Today, we honor someone who has shown that actions speak louder than blood."

An old noble in a furry coat approached Lord Declan, whispering softly, "This young man is more than what he seems. Do not rush to underestimate him."

Lord Declan instantly froze stiffly in place. The guests, though some looked dissatisfied, began to give a slow applause that eventually filled the hall with a roar.

After the majlis was over, a servant approached Shouta. "His Majesty wishes to speak privately with you in the palace parlor. Please follow me."

Shouta followed the servant, while Lydia, Althea, and Helena decided to wait outside. In the spacious living room, King Zephyrion sat with Duke Varent and another man he recognized as the Prime Minister of the Empire.

"Sit down, Shouta," the King said in a gentle tone.

Shouta sat carefully, feeling a little nervous in the presence of these important figures.

"First of all, I want to thank you for saving Althea and Helena. Not as emperor and duke but as father." The emperor said.

"No problem, it's just a coincidence." Shouta bowed feeling embarrassed.

"Also, we would like to talk about the incident at the academy. We heard that Orven, a noble disciple, had turned into a demon. Is that true?" The emperor continued

Shouta nodded slowly. "Yes, Your Majesty. The professor found a mysterious pill that seems to be the cause of the change."

Duke Varent, Helena's father, was red-faced with anger. "Humans turning into demons... This is something that has never happened in history. Who is responsible for this?"

King Zephyrion looked at the Prime Minister seriously. "We must investigate this in greater depth. Order the army to investigate immediately."

The Prime Minister let out a long sigh. "Your Majesty, this is not the first time reports of demon pills have surfaced. We suspect there has been a secret group working outside our radar for years."

Duke Varent clenched his fists. "If that's true, we must stop them before destruction strikes the empire."

Shouta felt the weight on his heart grow heavier. "I apologize, Your Majesty. I can't save Orven. I have no other choice..."

Duke Varent looked at Shouta with an understanding gaze. "You did what had to be done, young man. If you had not stopped him, many more lives would have been lost. Be proud."

Zephyrion nodded. "What happened was not your fault. We thank you for saving the other students."

Shouta nodded slowly, feeling slightly relieved to hear those words.

The king continued, "However, we must not ignore this threat. We will send our best investigators to find out who is behind this. Our world is already chaotic enough without a new threat like this."

After talking for some time, Shouta finally left the palace parlor with mixed feelings. She had received the award, but her heart was still restless at the thought of what the future would bring. Outside, Lydia, Althea, and Helena were waiting for her with smiles.

"Are you okay?" asked Lydia.

Shouta nodded slowly. "Yeah, it's just that... I feel like this is going to turn into something really big."

Helena smiled. "if there's anything we can do to help you in the future, don't hesitate to let us know."

Shouta nodded slowly. "Thank you. I appreciate it."

In a small room hidden within the academy, a shadowy female individual stood before a workbench filled with potions, magic scrolls, and strange objects that exuded a dark aura. The light of an oil lamp illuminated the gloomy corner of the room, highlighting the long fingers that were spinning a small black pill.

Not long after, a soft knock sounded on the door.

"Come in," the voice said slowly, full of eerie calm.

The door opened, and a burly man with scars on his face stepped inside. He stared at the room with a wary gaze, though he looked like someone used to dealing with danger.

"It's all over," the burly man said. "Orven failed. That boy... Shouta... destroyed him."

The figure in the shadows chuckled. "It's true. Orven was indeed nothing more than an experimental tool. I have already calculated his failure."

"Failure? You gave him the pill to increase his strength, not destroy it."

"The pill worked just as I designed it. Orven was just a stepping stone to something bigger."

The burly man frowned. "But now the academy knows about the pill. They'll start investigating. Are you prepared for the risks?"

The individual stepped out of the shadows, his face partially visible, revealing neatly combed dark hair and a pair of sharp eyes that exuded intelligence and cunning. However, his identity was still kept secret.

"They can investigate to their heart's content. Keep them busy with questions they'll never find answers to. And as long as they are busy, we will keep moving. How is the situation there? Is it ready?"

The burly man narrowed his eyes. "The situation there is very good, already preparing to do as designed. It's just a matter of time. So, what's your next plan?"

The figure raised the black pill in his hand, looking at him with a satisfied look. "Pay attention to Shouta. She is more than she seems. She is something we desperately need. I will not forgive the same failure as in the forest."

The burly man picked up a small scroll from the table, most likely containing secret orders. He nodded briefly before turning to leave the room.

When the door closed, the female individual looked back down at the black pill in her hand, a faint smile gracing her face. Silently, she whispered to herself.

"Shouta... Fate has put you on the wrong path. I will make sure you never reach the end."

To be continued…