It was the graduation day of one of the most legendary classes in the academy's history, and the ceremony had attracted prestigious figures from all over the world.
Guests gathered in rows of seats, whispering among themselves while exchanging curious glances at the graduates, who stood aligned in the center of the courtyard.
Among them, a few names stood out as true prodigies—young individuals who had achieved remarkable feats even before graduating.
Arthur, tall and strong, exuded the leadership for which he was already renowned.
Seraphina, standing beside him, held the posture of an indomitable warrior, her red hair tied in a ponytail that gave her an air of fierce determination.
Derek displayed a carefree, confident smile—the trademark of someone fully aware of the weight of his name and legacy.
Luna, meanwhile, wore a beaming smile, observing everything and greeting everyone around her.
Finally, Kai seemed the most at ease, almost wild in demeanor, radiating a natural confidence that matched his reputation as an impetuous warrior.
Arthur was the first to break the silence among them, his stance firm and tone measured.
"Finally, we're here," he remarked with a faint smile.
Kai let out a laugh, crossing his arms.
"Who would've thought we'd see so many familiar faces just to watch us dressed like this," he said, glancing at their formal attire.
"I thought you'd be the first to skip the ceremony, Kai."
"Hm? Believe it or not, I actually enjoy events like this," Kai replied.
"Haha, you?" Derek teased him with a smirk.
"But it doesn't matter. Today, everyone's eyes are on me—the 'prodigious Derek.'"
Luna let out a soft sigh, drawing the group's attention as she smiled gently.
"Is that your greatest motivation, Derek? To be noticed?" she asked, her tone kind yet sharp, eliciting a chuckle from Seraphina, who hadn't seemed to enjoy the atmosphere until that moment.
The spectators watched the group with admiration and recognition.
They were the children of great families, the promising talents expected to lead the world to a new era of glory.
Each of them seemed destined to carry a piece of the world's future on their shoulders.
Yet, beside this group of young prodigies, one figure stood apart.
He was there, silent, his distant gaze taking in the scene without truly being a part of it.
Unlike the others, there was no aura of heroism or grandeur in his demeanor.
He was almost invisible beside them, and yet, there wasn't a single person in the courtyard who hadn't noticed the strange, shadowy presence of the boy with crimson eyes and an inscrutable expression.
In the guest seats, two figures whispered about him, intrigued.
"That's Evan, isn't it?" murmured one observer, trying to conceal his curious stare.
"He's not like the others," replied the second in a lower tone.
"He doesn't come from a renowned family, and I've never heard of any great achievement from him. I have no idea how he got into Spectra."
"If I'm not mistaken, he's a scholarship student."
"What? Really? Someone like him graduated with this class?"
"Shh, quiet! The headmistress is here. You know she doesn't tolerate that kind of talk."
Elsewhere, a member of the "Aureus Guild," who had come specifically to observe the day's key figures, commented on the group.
"So, what do you think of them?"
A man with long, dark hair answered absentmindedly, his gaze fixed on the graduates.
"He doesn't shine like the others, but he's… peculiar. It's hard to understand what's going through his mind. He seems to be in another world, doesn't he?"
"What? What are you talking about, leader?"
"Oh… haha, nothing much."
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"Fuuuh…"
In the silence of my room, I sat in front of my computer, immersed in the words I was typing.
The graduation of the characters I had created and shaped over months felt more vivid than ever.
On the screen, Arthur, Seraphina, Derek, Luna, Kai, and other important characters gathered in a scene I could almost see.
In my mind, each of them seemed so real—like old friends or fascinating strangers whose lives I had the privilege of glimpsing.
Sigh, I breathed, glancing again at the description of Evan.
He would be a character I planned to delve into deeply in the future.
Unlike the others, he didn't have their achievements or immediate brilliance, but he would be a figure of great importance.
I knew that some readers who liked him might end up hating me for what I intended to do, but since it would feel authentic, it would be worth it.
As I typed the final sentence about him, I felt a slight chill—a strange sensation.
Shaking my head, I smiled.
"It's just my imagination," I said, closing the file.
'These are the characters of my novel,' I thought to myself, satisfied as I saved the file.
'And this is the universe they will never leave…'
I shut the laptop, already preparing to rest.
After that day, I was left with one certainty and one doubt.
The certainty that this was a universe they would never leave.
And the doubt… whether they really were just characters in my novel.