As soon as he saw Tyrin, Damian broke into a wide smile and raised his hand to greet him.
— Man, it’s so good to see you! My sister wouldn’t stop talking about you… I couldn’t take it anymore! HAHAHA!
Despite his excitement, the exhaustion on his face was obvious. His dark circles were deep, and Cassandra didn’t look any different. Her face was marked with worry, and her red eyes hinted that she had been crying.
— You didn’t have to say it like that! — Cassandra grumbled before punching her brother’s shoulder a few times. Even so, she didn’t actually scold him. Her mind was preoccupied with something else: Tyrin’s condition. She had seen with her own eyes how he had left—and, more importantly, how many people had gone with him. Something about it didn’t make sense.
Tyrin raised his hand, cutting the two of them off.
— You two, knock it off. I’m glad you’re both okay. How was the battle where you were?
He knew that Damian and Cassandra had gone alongside Professor Custer and nearly forty students. It was a considerable number of fighters, which made him think they had been relatively safe.
Cassandra let out a deep sigh, as if finally releasing a heavy burden.
— We were sent to the largest moon in the region, Drokavas-1. Defending anything in that hellhole was practically impossible. In the end, we were completely surrounded. If General Charon and the Headmistress hadn’t shown up… — She shuddered slightly. — We’d definitely be dead.
Damian crossed his arms and nodded, as if recalling the scene.
— You know… General Charon gave me a terrible first impression when he killed that noble with a single slap. But later… I realized he’s not that bad. Besides, man… He has one of the strongest pets I’ve ever seen! Huge and covered in tentacles! How the hell am I supposed to surpass someone like that? — he grumbled, running a hand through his hair.
From this conversation, Tyrin realized that his friends had also faced their share of challenges. During the battle on Drokavas-1, five Arconfon Elite had appeared. The Headmistress, without even summoning her pet for backup, had killed four of them the moment they emerged.
Cassandra clenched her fists and lowered her head.
— But in the end… It didn’t matter. Something even more powerful showed up. Made us run with our tails between our legs. — Her gaze darkened. — Nothing that happened there made sense. And honestly… We can’t keep destroying entire planets every time this happens.
The conversation carried on until dinner. Tyrin wanted to know every detail of what they had seen and done. He wanted to gain insights on how to improve. And now, more than ever, he threw himself into his studies.
He needed knowledge. He needed strength.
The training sessions with Gertrudes were brutal. It seemed like she had no filter at all and pushed him to his absolute limit. Fortunately, thanks to his status, he was able to recover in time for the next fight. And so, a week passed.
Then, something caught his attention.
A massive spaceship hovered over Planet Vanaheim.
In the spacious room, Gertrudes and Tyrin watched as the colossal ship descended from the sky. He already knew what it meant, but he asked anyway:
— So… This is the new batch?
Gertrudes crossed her arms, staring intently at the ship.
— Yes. I imagine the Empire’s planets weren’t too happy about this. But given everything that’s happened, this measure was necessary. Explaining the problem wasn’t difficult. — She sighed. — Things are going to get hectic around here… I hope I get more students this time. Mom was furious when Dad found out I only have two students… — She rolled her eyes. — Not that you’re a bad student… But their expectations were that I’d be something more… As if I even wanted that.
Unfortunately, no new students enrolled in her class.
Later, in the library, Tyrin found his teacher sitting in a corner, looking dejected. He knew the reason, but he couldn’t afford to waste time. He needed to learn. Knowledge and strength were the only things he could pursue.
— Professor, classes start today… Did you forget?
Gertrudes didn’t even take her eyes off the window.
— Of course, of course… Wait for me in the classroom. I’ll be there soon. I’m just… enjoying the view.
Tyrin narrowed his eyes.
— Professor… You’re staring at the dormitory for the culinary class students.
Gertrudes’ expression soured instantly.
— Are you telling me my class is more boring than theirs?! How the hell did they manage to get twenty students this year?!
— Hmmmm… — Tyrin averted his gaze, pretending not to have heard. — Anyway, I’ll be waiting in the classroom.
He bolted out of the room before he was forced to deal with the growing gloom that had settled there.
Upon arriving at the classroom, he was met with an unexpected surprise.
She was there.
— Miss Luci…? — He blinked, stunned. He hadn’t expected to see her again.
Luci looked exhausted. The dark circles under her eyes were deep, and her expression carried a somber air. But at the same time… her eyes were different.
Determined.
As if she had made an unshakable decision.
She slowly parted her lips.
— I thought…
Tyrin swallowed hard.
— That I wouldn’t see you again…?
Luci clenched her fists.
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— I’m not so weak as to give up.
Her eyes burned with intensity.
— I want to become strong. It’s not my time yet.
The silence between Tyrin and Luci after this brief exchange seemed to stretch on for an eternity. He wasn’t used to spending so much time alone with someone who spoke so little, and the girl’s determined gaze only made the atmosphere feel even more awkward. But before the tension could escalate further, the classroom door burst open.
— My dear students, look at this! — Gertrudes entered with an excited leap, as if she were celebrating something. — We have a new student! Come on in, dear, don’t be shy.
Tyrin turned to the door, curious. The moment he saw who was entering, his eyes widened.
He knew her.
— Nice to meet you, everyone. My name is Emilia Dracont. It’s a pleasure to be here. — The young woman with wavy hair smiled confidently, as if her presence there was the most natural thing in the world.
Gertrudes cleared her throat before continuing:
— Unfortunately, Emilia’s class was canceled indefinitely, so she’ll be joining this group to fill out her schedule.
The new student gave a slight smile, but it quickly turned into a scornful frown.
— That useless teacher… He couldn’t even kill two Aracnofon Elites and died a pathetic death.
The room fell silent. Tyrin noticed Gertrudes’ face turning red with anger almost instantly, but upon realizing she was being watched by him and Luci, she softened her expression, took a deep breath, and spoke.
— Listen, Emilia… Jubei was an excellent teacher. And, I must say, a great colleague. According to what my father told me, he fought to save all of you. Even with a class that was clearly at a disadvantage, he managed to take down one of the Elites and still took the other with him. — Her eyes narrowed. — I don’t think that’s a sensible way to speak about him… Even I would struggle against two.
Emilia seemed to consider this for a moment but then shrugged.
— My apologies, professor… They spoke so highly of you that I didn’t think you could lose against two. — She smirked slightly, as if testing Gertrudes. — My father would have easily defeated four.
Gertrudes’ smile became strained. It was evident she was holding herself back from snapping.
— The Dracont family has always been known for overestimating themselves. I think it’s best we end this discussion here. — Her voice was ice-cold. — Take your seat… Please.
Luci and Tyrin exchanged glances. Gertrudes was angry. Extremely angry. But Emilia either didn’t notice or simply didn’t care. She walked calmly to a chair near Luci and sat down. Luci, on the other hand, looked like she wanted to disappear.
The class continued, and for the first time in a long while, there were plenty of questions and answers. But all of them came from Emilia.
— Alright, everyone. Let’s wrap up here. — Gertrudes clapped her hands, signaling the end of the lesson. — I want you all to read the battle report that was just printed and is available in the library.
Before Emilia could ask anything, Gertrudes turned to her.
— And before you ask, Emilia, it’s near your room. Second door.
Tyrin felt a chill run down his spine. Emilia would be staying in the same dormitory as Luci. But considering that Luci was rarely in the dorm, it would probably just be him, Emilia, and Gertrudes sharing the space.
He had no intention of starting a conversation with Emilia. Definitely not. So, the moment class ended, he rushed straight to the library.
There, he found the reports released by the Empire. He wanted answers. He needed to understand what had really happened.
Opening the documents, he saw the same summary as always:
"Powerful beyond measure. Extremely aggressive. Mindless, but with leaders behind them."
Nothing new.
But then, his eyes caught something different—a report sent by General Vander.
Tyrin knew that man. He had been at the luncheon before the planetary descent. Tall, imposing, with striking features. Even larger than Gertrudes. And, from what Tyrin knew, a member of the Elite Five.
He started reading.
*"The planet Alpha Drokavas was beautiful. I know this because I visited it 200 years ago. But now… it’s devastated.
The creatures were not strong to me, but their numbers were absurd. A true embodiment of mediocrity: not powerful enough to challenge me, yet too numerous for me to handle alone.
They rained from the sky in twisted, nightmarish castles, settling in every strategic city and nation. They did not act randomly. They knew exactly where to strike. And they did so with enviable efficiency.
There was no battle. There was a massacre. Humans died like ants.
By the end of the first day, we managed to invade one of the castles. But we quickly realized… The problem wasn’t what was coming out of them. It was what never did.
We found a creature similar to the Elites… but twice the size. Incredibly strong. It called itself ‘The Gatekeeper.’
I had to retreat. Because if the Gatekeeper was this powerful… I can only imagine how terrifying the one it was guarding must be.
This planet… cannot be saved."*
Tyrin closed his eyes for a moment.
95%.
That was the mortality rate for those who descended onto Alpha Drokavas. An absurd number. It was that planet that had sent the death toll skyrocketing.
And it made sense.
If he had seen firsthand the destruction caused by a single Aracnofon Elite, then what about five, twenty, fifty?
Abandoning that planet… was starting to make sense.
Time passed without him noticing. It was nearly nightfall when Gertrudes appeared in the library.
She looked… exhausted. Her face was grim, and her expression carried an unusual level of irritation.
Tyrin didn’t need to ask. He already knew why.
— My God… That girl is insufferable! — Gertrudes ran a hand down her face, clearly drained. — Now I finally understand how hard it is to be a teacher.
Tyrin looked up from the report.
— Emilia didn’t leave your side for a second, huh?
Gertrudes let out a heavy sigh.
— If I had a credit for every time she said ‘my father this’ or ‘my father that’, I would’ve bought a planet by now.
Tyrin chuckled quietly but quickly grew serious.
— Well, I just finished the report… — He turned the pages toward Gertrudes. — And, yeah, I have a few questions.
He pointed to a specific section.
— The Gatekeeper. Who or what was it protecting?
Gertrudes remained silent for a moment.
Then, her gaze sharpened.
— That’s a question I would ask myself, but unfortunately, it seems like no one knows the answer.
Tyrin hesitated for a moment before breaking the silence.
— Gertrudes, I have another question. Do you have any specific books on the Dracont family?
She raised an eyebrow, and a mischievous smile appeared at the corner of her lips.
— You have some interesting taste, huh? Between the two, I’d say you should go for Luci. Much more pleasant… and at least she has some sense.
Tyrin rolled his eyes.
— This has nothing to do with Emilia. It’s just that… the colony where my pet was selected is controlled by her family.
Gertrudes was silent for a second, then her expression shifted to something more serious.
— Ah, I see. Now that makes sense. — She placed a hand on her chin, thoughtful. — Wait here. I have the perfect book for you.
She stepped away and returned a few minutes later, carrying a heavy, ancient tome. Its cover was worn and darkened by time. The symbols written on it weren’t in any common language. There was something sinister about those pages.
Tyrin took the book carefully.
— What is this?
Gertrudes smirked.
— A book about the culture of the most poisonous planet in the known universe.
Tyrin furrowed his brows.
— Poison…?
— Exactly. If you want to understand the Dracont family, you need to understand where they came from. — She pointed to the book. — This contains the history of that planet. It won’t be an easy read, but it will definitely give you some insight into their family.
He looked at the cover again. Just holding it already felt… wrong. Like he was meddling with something he shouldn’t.
But at the same time… he needed to know.
— Thank you, professor. I’ll start reading right away.
Gertrudes nodded and stepped away, returning to her own book.
Tyrin sat at an isolated table in the library, took a deep breath, and opened the book.
What was he about to discover?