'What am I doing here?'
'Where did it all go wrong?'
Ash sat stiffly, his mind in turmoil, as the car sped down the road toward the academy.
To his left, Melissia Ravencroft sat fuming, She was fiddling angrily with her phone.
Her occasional glares felt like daggers stabbing his composure.
At the wheel, Lady Nyra drove in silence, her calm yet intimidating aura filling the car.
"Fuck…" he muttered under his breath.
Melissia's ears perked up at his faint curse, but she didn't say anything.
Yet.
Finally, he tried to reason again. "I'm saying it again, Lady Nyra. Even though I have to go to the academy, I need to make a quick stop at Iron hold City first.
There's something urgent I have to take care of," Ash said, carefully keeping his tone respectful, though his nerves were frayed.
Before Nyra could respond, Melissia beat her to it.
"You're going nowhere! You have to pay the price for making me cry... You'll be my servant until the academy starts, Otherwise I will tell My Father!" she said smugly.
Ash's eyebrow twitched. He clenched his fists to stop himself from snapping.
This bratty kid... I swear...if Weren't for her father....huff...calm down...Ash...Calm down
He forced a tight smile and replied as calmly as he could, "Miss Melissia, I admit I was disrespectful earlier. How about I compensate you after we arrive at the academy?"
Melissia narrowed her eyes, suspicion radiating from her gaze. "You're so weak. There's no way someone like you will even get into the academy. Don't try to fool me!"
'Fuck. That's why I hate geniuses—they're too smart.'
"Brat—I mean, Miss Melissia, I can tell you with a Guaranteed source that I will pass the entrance exam of the academy," said Ash, forcing a smile.
Melissia eyed him suspiciously and asked, "What's that trusted source?"
Even Nyra tilted her head slightly, curious.
Ash flashed a little grin and said, "Trust me bro!"
"Pfft."
Nyra chuckled, and Melissia stared at him, dumbfounded.
"You're going nowhere," Melissia declared firmly.
'Fuck, I shouldn't have mentioned the academy. Now how the hell am I supposed to get my second rune before the entrance test?'
Ash's mind reeled as he thought about how he'd gotten into this mess.
***
A Few Hours Earlier
Ash wanted to leave—escape this situation before it spiraled even further—but his body refused to move. His mind churned as he replayed the events of the past few moments.
Her presence.
Even the faint resemblance to her future self.
He should have recognized it earlier.
In the Novel, the Flame Empress was known for her volatile temper, her unparalleled affinity for fire magic, and her unwavering sense of justice.
And yet, here she was—an innocent twelve-year-old girl, still growing into her power.
'Although I won't die since she has that sense of justice and all that shit... but still.'
He had fucked up right from the start.
"Melissia Ravencroft…" he whispered under his breath, the words almost choking him.
Nyra caught his murmur, her sharp eyes narrowing suspiciously. "What did you say?" she asked, her tone sharper now, the protective edge in her voice unmistakable.
Ash forced himself to speak, though his throat felt dry.
"...Nothing," he muttered, cursing inwardly.
He had to tread carefully now.
Melissia sniffled, her tears slowing as she peeked up at him.
Her wide, red eyes were filled with confusion and a hint of lingering anger. "You're still standing there? What, do you feel bad now?" she asked, her voice wobbling.
Ash swallowed hard, his usual composure slipping. "I… didn't mean to upset you," he said carefully, trying to sound as neutral as possible.
Her lip quivered again. "You called me spoiled!"
He bit back a groan.
'Damn it. That's why I hate kids. They're cute when small, but they're a pain in the ass.'
Before Ash could respond, Nyra stepped forward, her presence shifting into something far more commanding.
"What's your name?" she asked, her voice sharp and demanding.
"Ash Burn," he replied, his tone respectful but measured, maintaining the decorum that kept his emotions in check.
Her gaze didn't waver. "You recognize her, don't you, Ash?" she murmured, her voice a low hiss that cut through the silence. "That look in your eyes... You know exactly who she is."
Ash's chest tightened, but he didn't flinch. He kept his face neutral, betraying none of the turmoil swirling within.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Nyra's eyes narrowed, piercing through him as though seeing every lie he tried to hide.
"There's no point in lying. Your heartbeat tells me everything. It spiked suddenly. You can't fool me."
His fists clenched involuntarily, the pressure building inside him. But there was no point in denying it any longer.
Her perception was far too sharp, and prolonging the lie would only make things worse.
"Yes," he said quietly, the words falling from his lips with an unsettling calm. "I know of her."
Nyra's brows furrowed slightly, but before she could press him further, Melissia spoke up again, her tone still petulant.
"Then why were you so mean to me if you know who I am?"
Ash stared at her, unsure how to respond.
Because I didn't realize who you were until now, he wanted to say. But that wasn't an option.
"I…" He hesitated, searching for the right words. "I didn't mean to offend you. I've had a… difficult day. I was preparing for the Starlight Academy entrance exam. And—"
Melissia frowned, crossing her arms. "That's no excuse! You should apologize properly!"
Nyra sighed, rubbing her temple as if trying to stave off a headache. "Miss, perhaps we should—"
"I'm sorry," Ash interrupted, his tone flat but sincere enough to make Melissia pause. Her expression softened, though the pout remained on her lips.
"Good," she said, nodding as if she had won some great battle.
But her next words made Ash's stomach drop. "Now you can repay me for making me cry by becoming my servant until I reach the academy."
'This fucking brat.'
He didn't know what to do, so he did what he thought was best—he turned around and walked away.
"Hey! Where are you going? Come back here!"
He ignored the shout behind him, continuing to move forward.
Suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see Melissia right in front of his face.
"Don't ignore me. Be my servant until we reach the academy," she said seriously this time.
'What should I do now? Oh, right, that might work.'
"There's something I have to take care of. Once that's done, I'll come back," Ash said, his face unnaturally serious.
"And what's that work?" Melissia asked, tilting her head in innocent curiosity.
"It's a universal men's problem. You should give me privacy," he replied, somehow managing to keep a straight face.
Melissia blinked, utterly confused. "What's that?" she asked again, removing her hand from his shoulder.
'Here goes nothing.'
He leaned slightly closer and whispered, "I'm on my periods."
The words hung in the air like a bad punchline.
Melissia froze, her eyes widening. "O-Oh! I-I didn't know men had those… I-I mean… I guess that's okay," she stuttered, her cheeks turning pink.
She took a nervous step back, unsure of what to say.
'Fuck. I've done it now.'
"Thank you," Ash said hurriedly and darted off, leaving the awkwardness behind.
The moment he disappeared around the corner, a loud burst of laughter erupted behind him.
"Pfft… Periods… Pffft… Universal men's problem… Hahahaha...hahaha hahaha!"
Ash's face flushed with embarrassment as Nyra's voice rang out, barely coherent between her fits of laughter.
"Hey, you bastard! Stop!" Melissia's confused voice echoed after him, though it lacked any real anger.
Ash quickened his pace, but he knew no amount of speed could save him now.
But he still tried his best.
Before long, Nyra caught up to him effortlessly, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes.
"Wait… wait… Did you just…" She doubled over, barely able to stand. "Periods? Universal men's problem? I'm dying!...pfftt.....hahahah hahahaha"
"Look, it worked, didn't it?" Ash muttered, glaring at her.
"Hahah hahahaha!" Nyra wheezed, trying to regain her composure.
She shook her head and pointed an accusing finger at him, "She actually believed you!"
"That's not my fault!" Ash said defensively.
"She kept Demanding I serve her till
She reaches academy. What was I supposed to say?"
Nyra smirked, a dangerous glint returning to her eyes. "How about Following what she said, you lunatic?"
"I was trying to avoid that exact scenario," he replied, throwing his hands in the air.
Nyra's expression shifted, her grin turning chillingly sweet. "Well, too late for that. You're coming with us, now."
"Yes, Mama—I mean, Ma'am," Ash muttered, surrendering without a fight.
Behind them, Melissia peeked around the corner, still looking confused. "Boys really don't have periods?"
Nyra turned her head slightly, her smile widening as her gaze met Ash's. "You explain it to her."
'Fuck. Everything's going to shit.'
****
Back in the Car
Ash replayed the earlier events in his head, suppressing the urge to groan.
Now, he was stuck in the car, Melissia smirking smugly beside him, while Lady Nyra, seated in the front, seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the aftermath of his antics.
He sighed deeply.
'I'm stuck here now. There's nothing I can do.'
At least they'd had enough decency to allow him a bath before leaving the city.
Thinking about the bath, he glanced down at his body, instinctively inspecting himself.
'Not a huge change, but still... I've gained some muscle. My skin feels smoother, and I'm taller than before.'
A small smile tugged at his lips. Overall, he couldn't complain about the changes his awakening had brought.
Closing his eyes, he turned his focus inward, trying to sense his core.
And there it was—two cores, glowing brightly, one in his upper and one in his lower dantian.
But the moment his senses locked onto them, his eyes snapped open in shock.
'What the...?'
He quickly closed his eyes again to confirm what he'd seen.
Two pure white cores radiated an ethereal glow, their brilliance unmatched by anything he'd ever seen before.
'This can't be right. Pure white cores? Already?'
His breathing hitched slightly as realization set in. He instinctively touched his chest, as if trying to physically feel what he was sensing.
Ash's previous core had been riddled with impurities—black streaks that clouded mana flow, hindering efficiency.
Like most people, he'd expected that purification would happen gradually as he ranked up, the impurities being cleansed little by little over time.
Pure white cores, however, They were the hallmark of Mythical-ranked individuals — their mana flow as smooth and unrestrained as the winds of nature itself.
And yet, here he was, freshly awakened, with not one but two pure white cores.
He took a deep breath, trying to steady the storm of thoughts rushing through his mind.
'The Rune of Stability… It must have done this.'
His lips curled into a slightly shaky smile.
'When the protagonist got the rune in the novel, he was already awakened. That's why this effect wasn't recorded in its description.'
He let out a nervous chuckle, the weight of this realization finally sinking in.
'This is insane. I'm nowhere near Mythical rank. Hell, I've only just started. No wonder my body feels so different…'
But something else caught his attention. He leaned in deeper, mentally focusing on the cores again.
Delicate golden Runic lines ran across the surface of the cores, faint but intricate, like veins of molten gold weaving through white marble.
'What… is this?'
The golden lines pulsed faintly with a rhythm he couldn't quite understand. Despite his confusion, he decided to leave the mystery for later.
'I'll figure it out once I get to the academy library. For now, let's focus on the basics.'
Leaving the golden runic lines alone, he exhaled deeply and eagerly opened his status window.
'Status.'
****