The next day unfolded under a quiet, uneasy sky.
Inside Rick's dorm room, the air felt heavier than usual. Clothes lay scattered across the bed as Rick methodically packed his belongings, folding each piece with careful precision—as if the act itself kept his thoughts in order.
Rome stood by the doorway, arms crossed, watching him in silence for a while before finally speaking.
"You're really going back home?" His voice carried a seriousness that didn't quite match the simplicity of the question.
Rick didn't answer.
Rome's gaze hardened slightly. "You do realize they sent assassins after you… and now you're walking straight back into that place?"
Still, no response.
The silence stretched, tense and suffocating, until at last Rick spoke—his voice calm, but edged with something deeper.
"That's exactly why I'm going back."
Rome's expression faltered.
Rick zipped his bag shut, his face composed, but his eyes distant—like someone who had already made peace with a difficult path.
Without another word, he walked past Rome.
For a moment, Rome stayed still, then turned as if to follow—but stopped when Rick's voice called out from behind him.
"Hey… Rome. Catch."
Something small flew through the air. Instinctively, Rome reached out and caught it.
He opened his palm.
A pouch.
The faint clink of metal echoed as he loosened it—gold coins.
"What's this?" Rome asked, confusion knitting his brows.
"Your salary," Rick replied simply, slinging his bag over his shoulder.
Rome frowned, irritation flickering across his face. "Are you mocking me? I earn enough from guild missions. I don't need this to stay loyal."
Rick paused, then let out a quiet breath.
"You've got it wrong," he said, turning slightly. "It's not payment for loyalty. It's just… a normal salary."
Rome opened his mouth to argue, but Rick cut him off gently.
"Listen," he continued, his tone firm but not unkind. "Loyalty is valuable… but it won't feed you."
Rome's grip on the pouch tightened.
"I know you've turned down countless offers from nobles," Rick went on. "I know how loyal you are—probably more than anyone else. But that alone isn't enough for your situation."
The room fell silent again.
Rick stepped closer and placed a hand on Rome's shoulder—a rare, quiet gesture.
"Take it."
For a moment, Rome said nothing.
Then Rick pulled away, heading toward the door. "Now let's go. Leze and Krai are waiting."
He walked out without looking back.
A second later, Rome exhaled slowly, his eyes lingering on the pouch in his hand. Something conflicted stirred within him—pride, frustration… and something softer he couldn't quite name.
Then, tightening his grip, he followed.
The cafeteria buzzed with its usual noise, students gathered in clusters, laughter and chatter filling the air.
But at one corner table, the mood was different.
Leze sat quietly, her gaze drifting toward the entrance every few seconds. Krai, beside her, leaned back in his chair, unusually silent.
Then—
The door opened.
Rick stepped in.
Behind him, Rome followed.
For a brief moment, their eyes met across the room.
And though nothing was said, something had shifted between them—something unspoken, yet undeniable.
Rick and the others sat together in the cafeteria, their meals laid out before them. The clatter of plates and the faint clinking of spoons echoed across the nearly empty room. Only a handful of students lingered, their quiet conversations blending into the background.
For a while, they ate in silence.
Then Leze glanced up at Rick, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "So… where is your home?"
Rick paused mid-motion. For a brief moment, something unreadable crossed his face. He hesitated, then cleared his throat.
"Well… you could say it's near Emu Town."
The words settled heavily.
Leze and Krai exchanged looks before turning back to him, disbelief written plainly across their faces.
"You mean that Emu Town?" Leze asked, her tone turning serious. "The one near the capital of the House Vleck's territory?"
Rick gave a small nod. "Technically… yes."
Krai nearly choked, slamming his spoon down as he stared at Rick. "Wait—so you're telling me you live in the capital of House Vleck?"
Rick answered simply, "Yeah."
"Are you serious?" Krai's voice rose, sharp with alarm. "Do you even understand what kind of place that is? That territory is dangerous—no, worse than dangerous!"
Rick remained calm, but Krai leaned forward, lowering his voice as if trying to force reason into him. "You need to get out of there."
"Stop it, Krai."
Rome's voice cut in, firm and edged with irritation. "It's his decision where he lives."
Krai turned toward him, frustration flaring. "I'm just saying it for his sake!"
"Both of you, calm down." Leze intervened, his voice steady but strained.
But the tension had already taken root.
"Oh, so now you're speaking for him?" Krai snapped, anger slipping through despite himself.
Leze tried to interject again, but his words were drowned out.
"That's because I'm his knight."
Rome's reply came without hesitation.
The table fell silent.
Slowly, Krai leaned back, a faint, bitter smile forming on his lips. He tapped his spoon lightly against the table, the sound echoing in the quiet.
"Alright then… Mr. Knight," he said, his tone laced with sarcasm. "For your information, that place is hell."
His eyes darkened as he continued.
"People get killed there for fun. The only reason that territory still stands is because its head is…" he paused briefly, searching for the right word before letting it fall coldly, "…a monster."
Krai's gaze shifted, locking onto Rome as he pointed his spoon toward him.
"He is an Awakened. Completely."
The word lingered in the air like a shadow.
No one spoke after that.
Even the distant clatter of dishes seemed to fade, leaving only the weight of what had just been said pressing down on all of them.
The atmosphere grew heavier with every passing second.
Voices began to rise, sharp and unrestrained. The few students present in the cafeteria turned their heads, whispering among themselves as the argument between Rome and Krai intensified.
Rick, however, remained seated.
He continued eating in silence, as if the chaos unfolding around him had nothing to do with him at all.
"Calm down, both of you," Leze urged, his voice strained as she tried to defuse the situation.
"You don't have the right to tell him what to do—"Rome in anger.
"Oh really?" Krai snapped back. "So as a friend, I can't even give him advice now?"
"Just shut up!" Rome threw back.
The words collided in the air, louder and harsher than before.
The tension snapped.
And then—
"ENOUGH."
Rick's voice filled with mana, cut through the noise like a blade.
It wasn't just loud—it carried a weight that silenced the entire room.
Even the whispers died instantly.
Rick slowly placed his spoon down, finishing his meal with deliberate calm before rising to his feet. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes held something firm—something final.
"You're not kids anymore," he said quietly, yet every word echoed.
No one responded.
Not Rome.
Not Krai.
Not even Leze.
Without another glance, Rick picked up his belongings and walked out of the cafeteria.
The silence he left behind didn't last long.
Almost immediately, Krai scoffed under his breath and stood up, irritation still burning in his chest. Rome followed, his expression just as tense.
Both of them left in opposite directions—anger guiding their steps.
Outside, the academy grounds felt strangely peaceful in comparison.
Rick walked toward the main gate, his pace steady, his thoughts hidden beneath a calm exterior.
Footsteps approached from behind.
"I can't believe they began fighting over such a small thing."
Leze's voice carried a quiet disappointment as he caught up to him.
Rick didn't slow down. "It's nothing new for me."
For a moment, they walked in silence.
Then Rick glanced at him. "When are you planning to leave?"
Leze thought for a moment. "Maybe in about seven days."
Rick in confusion. "Seven days? What are you gona do for seven days?"
"Well i am thinking aftet seeing the result." Leze with a grin on his face.
"Why do you even need that?" Rick in a way teasing him.
"Because not everyone is confident as you." Leze annoyed.
And just like that,
They reached the academy gate.
Leze stopped and turned toward Rick, extending his hand. "Take care of yourself."
Rick looked at it for a brief moment before gripping it firmly.
"Let's meet again after two months."
Leze nodded. "Yeah… let's do that."
And just like that, two months long vacation started.
Seven days had passed since Rick left the academy behind.
The journey had been long—four days by train, followed by two more riding across rugged terrain on a dragonite. By the time he finally arrived, the familiar sight of Emu Town stood quietly before him, unchanged… yet somehow distant.
Rick paused at the entrance of the guild.
For a brief moment, memories surfaced—faint echoes of the past lingering in the air. It was around the same time of day as before… the same light, the same silence.
Taking a quiet breath, he stepped inside.
The guild was nearly empty.
Only the receptionist remained at the counter, busy with paperwork. A few unfamiliar faces lingered in the background, but nothing stood out—until Rick's eyes settled on someone he recognized.
A familiar face.
Without hesitation, he walked toward her.
As he drew closer, a faint smile appeared on his lips. "You've become even more beautiful in the two years I was gone… Ema."
Ema, who had been absorbed in her work, froze at the sound of his voice.
Slowly, she looked up.
For a second, she simply stared—her eyes wide with disbelief.
Then, in an instant, her expression broke into pure joy.
"Rick!"
She rushed forward, nearly knocking over her chair as she leaned across the counter and pulled him into a tight embrace. "You're back!"
Rick chuckled softly, returning the hug. "Yeah… I'm back."
A little while later, the two of them sat together at a small table.
Ema placed a cup of tea in front of him, still smiling as if she couldn't quite believe he was really there.
"Thank you," Rick said, taking a sip.
The warmth of the tea spread through him, grounding him in the moment.
After a pause, he glanced around. "By the way… are they the new staff you mentioned in your letter?"
Ema shook her head lightly. "No, those are different. The previous ones left."
Rick blinked, surprised. "Already? It's only been a few months."
Ema leaned forward slightly, her tone turning more serious. "This job isn't as easy as you think."
Rick let out a small sigh, setting his cup down. "Yeah… I guess not all adventures are as simple as they sound."
Ema only smiled at that—quiet, knowing.
For a moment, there was a comfortable silence between them.
Then Rick spoke again.
"So… where are Andrew and Kai's party right now?"
The question lingered in the air.
"Well… Kai's party is currently in the Empire," Ema said, her voice steady at first. But then she hesitated, her expression shifting ever so slightly.
Rick noticed immediately.
"And Andrew?" he asked, his tone sharpening.
Ema paused for a moment, as if choosing her words carefully.
"…He left the town."
Rick frowned. "Left? What do you mean he left?"
Ema sighed softly. "Apparently, he went on a journey… to fulfill his promise. We don't know where he is now—or what he's doing."
Rick's brows furrowed, irritation flickering across his face. "And you didn't think to mention that in your letter?"
"That's because he told me not to," Ema replied, a faint grin forming. "He wanted it to be a surprise when you came back."
Rick let out a short, dry laugh. "Yeah… well, I'm beyond surprised."
"Hey, don't get so angry," Ema said gently, standing up. "Let me tell you something that might calm you down."
Rick didn't respond, but he didn't leave either.
"You know," she continued, picking up his empty cup, "Andrew left a letter for you… at Richard's place."
That was enough.
Rick stood up immediately, his chair scraping softly against the floor as he turned toward the exit.
But after taking a few steps, he suddenly stopped.
For a brief second, he stood there—silent.
Then, without warning, he turned back, walked straight to Ema, and pulled her into a quick embrace.
"I'm sorry… for snapping earlier," he muttered quietly.
Ema blinked in surprise, then smiled warmly.
Rick pulled away just as quickly and headed out without another word.
Ema watched him go, her smile softening as she shook her head lightly.
"Honestly… that kid."
The afternoon sun hung low over Emu Town.
The streets were calm, with only a few people wandering about—but nearly everyone who passed by recognized Rick. Some nodded in greeting, others simply watched him with quiet curiosity.
He didn't stop.
His steps carried him straight through the familiar roads until, at last, he stood before a well-known place—
Richard's blacksmith shop.
Rick knocked on the door.
Inside, the faint sound of movement followed.
Richard, who had been sitting quietly, frowned at the interruption. "I told you not to come—" he muttered under his breath as he got up and walked toward the door.
But the moment he opened it—
His words stopped.
His eyes widened.
Standing there, under the fading sunlight…
was Rick.
And for the first time in a long while—
Richard was speechless.
Inside the house, the atmosphere was calm and familiar. Rick soon found himself seated at the table, the comforting scent of food filling the air.
"Here, eat. You must be hungry," Richard said, placing a plate in front of him.
"Thank you," Rick replied quietly, picking up the spoon and beginning to eat.
Richard took a seat across from him, watching him for a moment before speaking again.
"So… how is the academy?" he asked in a low, measured voice.
Rick swallowed his food before answering. "Well, it's good. The dormitory is nice, the food is also good… and the teachers…" He paused briefly, as if choosing his words carefully. "Some of them are really good. I also made some friends."
A small smile appeared on Richard's face. "So, it's good, huh?"
Rick nodded.
For a brief moment, silence settled between them—comfortable, but carrying unspoken thoughts.
Then Richard spoke again, his tone shifting slightly. "So… how is your health? I heard in your letters that you closed the blacksmith's work."
Rick looked up sharply, a hint of worry in his eyes.
"Don't look at me like that," Richard said with a faint laugh. "I'm not going to die in some tragic way. It's just that… I'm getting old. I thought it was about time I stopped."
His voice softened toward the end, almost blending into the quiet of the room.
Rick watched him for a moment, then relaxed slightly.
"Well… enough about me," Richard continued, brushing off the heaviness with a wave of his hand. "Tell me something interesting. What have you been doing these last two years?"
And just like that, the mood lightened.
Rick began to speak, and soon the two were deep in conversation—stories flowing, laughter returning, and time slipping by unnoticed.
After a while, they moved into the kitchen to prepare dinner together. The rhythmic sounds of cooking filled the space, blending with their occasional chatter.
Then—
A knock.
Both of them froze.
"There's someone at the door," Rick said, his brows furrowing slightly. "Were you expecting someone at this hour?"
Richard didn't respond immediately. He remained focused on his cooking, almost as if the sound hadn't reached him.
Rick's unease grew.
"Ah… it must be that brat again," Richard muttered casually, still not turning around, as though the interruption was nothing out of the ordinary.
Rick's expression tightened as he glanced toward Richard.
"Again… so he's pestering you?" he asked, his tone turning serious. "Is everything alright?"
Richard didn't even look up from the vegetables he was cutting. The steady rhythm of the knife against the board continued, calm and unbothered.
"It's nothing like that," he replied casually. "He's a good boy. Just…tell him I'm busy. Tell him to come back tomorrow."
There was something oddly dismissive in his voice—too casual, as if he were deliberately brushing the matter aside.
Rick hesitated for a moment, studying him, but then turned toward the door.
The wooden floor creaked softly beneath his steps as he walked across the room. The faint echo of the knock still lingered in the air, making the silence feel heavier than before.
He reached for the handle.
For a brief second, he paused.
Then he opened the door.
Standing outside was a boy.
He looked to be about the same age as Rick—perhaps no older, no younger. His presence was quiet, almost ordinary at first glance, yet something about him felt… different. His posture was still, his gaze steady, as if he had been waiting not just for the door to open—but for Rick specifically.
Rick blinked, slightly caught off guard.
The night air slipped past them, carrying a faint chill.
And in that moment, something unseen seemed to shift.