"Some victories are meant to be celebrated. Others are meant to be kept in the dark."
Beneath the Academy – A Silent Agreement
The air was still heavy with the fading remnants of ancient power as Joshua and Lee Sung En stepped away from the now-dormant Guardian's chamber.
The doors behind them had sealed shut, locking away the forgotten ruins once more.
Joshua twirled one of his new daggers between his fingers, watching as it seamlessly shifted between light and shadow.
A weapon unlike anything he had ever wielded before.
Beside him, Sung En exhaled, brushing some dust off her sleeves. Her violet eyes flickered toward him, unreadable.
"…We're keeping this a secret, right?"
Joshua chuckled, slipping the dagger into his palm before making it vanish entirely.
The system had confirmed it—he could now summon and dismiss his new weapons at will.
No need for a sheath. No need to carry them. They would appear whenever he willed them to.
"Convenient."
He turned toward Sung En with a smirk. "You read my mind, Princess."
Sung En huffed, but there was no resistance in her expression.
For all her sharp words, she trusted him.
And just like that, an unspoken agreement was made.
What happened in the ruins would remain between them.
Walking Her Back – A Night of Teasing and Thanks
The academy was quiet as they emerged from the underground, the campus bathed in the soft glow of the moon.
Most students were already asleep, unaware of the battle that had just taken place beneath their feet.
Joshua and Sung En walked side by side, neither in a rush to return to their rooms.
The cool night air carried a sense of finality, as if sealing the events of the past few hours as something belonging only to them.
Joshua stretched his arms behind his head. "Not bad for a first date, huh?"
Sung En froze mid-step.
"…What?"
Joshua grinned. "A secret adventure, a life-or-death battle, and a little bonding time? Sounds like a date to me."
Sung En glared at him. "Don't flatter yourself."
Joshua laughed, easily keeping pace beside her.
"You're blushing, Princess."
"I am not—"
"Not denying it either."
Sung En huffed, quickening her pace.
Joshua let her walk ahead for a second before speaking again—this time, in a softer tone.
"…Thanks for having my back in there."
Sung En paused.
She turned slightly, just enough for him to see her expression shift.
For a moment, there was no teasing, no banter. Just… something quiet and sincere in her gaze.
"…You're welcome."
Joshua smiled.
"Goodnight, Sung En."
Sung En hesitated for only a second before replying—
"…Goodnight, Joshua."
Then, without another word, she stepped into the noble dormitory, leaving Joshua standing outside with an amused grin.
He waited until the doors fully closed before turning away, his mind already racing through the events of the night.
"I've gotten stronger. But this is just the beginning."
With that thought, he headed back toward his own dorm, his new daggers appearing in his hands for a brief moment before vanishing into thin air.
Tomorrow would be interesting.
The Next Morning – Whispers & Changes
The academy halls buzzed with life as students gathered for their morning training sessions.
Joshua strolled in casually, his uniform crisp, his posture relaxed.
But there was a difference.
Something subtle.
The way he moved. The way he carried himself. Lighter. Sharper. More refined.
Even Wei Cheng, who had been waiting outside the training hall, noticed immediately.
"Alright," Wei said, eyeing Joshua up and down. "Something's different about you."
Joshua smirked. "New haircut?"
"Cut the crap," Wei scoffed. "You're walking like someone who just unlocked a hidden power-up in a video game."
Joshua chuckled, stretching his arms. "Maybe I did."
Wei narrowed his eyes. "Wait… don't tell me you actually trained last night?"
Joshua grinned. "What else would I be doing at night?"
Wei stared at him.
"…You never train at night."
Joshua just winked. "Maybe I'm turning over a new leaf."
Wei crossed his arms, unconvinced. "Alright, spill it. What happened?"
Joshua smirked.
"I guess you'll just have to wait and see."
Academy Grounds – A New Challenge Approaches
As Joshua and Wei made their way toward the training fields, a sudden announcement echoed through the academy's communication system.
"Attention all students. A special ranking assessment will take place in two days."
"All combatants will have the opportunity to demonstrate their growth and be reevaluated for rank advancement."
"Prepare accordingly."
A wave of excitement spread through the students.
Joshua stopped walking.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"A ranking assessment, huh?"
This was perfect.
A chance to test his new abilities in front of the academy—without revealing everything.
Beside him, Wei groaned. "Great. More ways for the instructors to beat us into the ground."
Joshua's smirk deepened.
"I don't know, Wei," he said, rolling his shoulders. "I think this is going to be fun."
Wei stared at him.
"…Who are you, and what did you do with my friend?"
Joshua just laughed, already feeling the daggers pulsing beneath his skin, waiting to be summoned.
"Time to see just how far I can go."
End of Chapter