Ten hours have passed since we started.
Three more hours and we will reach our destination.
The flight progressed swiftly, the wyverns gliding through the air with graceful ease.
The Empress asked
"Have we really been flying for ten hours now?"
Valen nodded silently, his unwavering gaze fixed on the horizon.
I asked Valen
"So Valen, How did you like the stay in my castle?"
Valen's stoic expression shifted slightly as he seemed to consider his response. Then, in his usual flat tone, he replied:
"It was... adequate."
I smiled
"Adequate....sounds good enough."
Valen nodded once, his expression unchanged. The Empress, however, chuckled softly.
"Don't take it personally. That's as close to a compliment as you're likely to get from Valen."
I chuckled
"I know"
Empress smirked, shaking her head slightly.
"Of course you do."
With that, the three of us continued the journey in comfortable silence, the wyverns carrying me ever closer to Academy City.
I asked
"What will you do after reaching there?"
The Empress stretched slightly , glancing ahead towards the distant horizon where Academy City would soon come into view.
"First, I'll settle into my quarters—Imperial guests get their own pavilion, after all."
She smirked slightly.
"Then? I suppose I'll attend the grand opening ceremony like everyone else."
She glanced at me, curiosity flickering in her gaze.
"And you?"
I glanced at her before then looked forward
"Before becoming The Twelfth Lord my family was one of the biggest merchant from Star Kingdom . We have sold almost everything but we still own a few properties. One of then is a hotel in Academy City. I will stay there"
Empress's said intrigue in her gaze.
"A hotel, you say? Sounds rather comfortable."
She tilted her head slightly, a sly smirk playing on her lips.
"Perhaps I might come for a visit."
Valen, as usual, remained stoic.
I looked at her
"I will be busy. I am not sure if I will be available.
If I have time , I will come visit you."
The Empress chuckled softly, clearly amused by my deflection.
"Oh? The infamous Twelfth Lord is suddenly too busy?"
She leaned slightly forward, resting her chin on her hand with a playful glint in her golden eyes.
"Are you trying to avoid me?"
I asked confused
"No, I am not avoiding you. Why will I avoid you"
Empress smirked, clearly enjoying the conversation.
"Hmm. So you would make time for me if I insisted?"
Her golden eyes gleamed with mischief.
"Good to know."
Valen, meanwhile, remained silent—though his expression suggested he was very done with this exchange.
I said vaguely
"There is no guarantee. Maybe during the event we can meet."
The Empress stifled a chuckle, raising an eyebrow at your vague answer.
"What a non-answer. But I'll accept it."
She shifted slightly in her saddle, tilting her head slightly.
"Though I have a feeling you'll find some way to avoid me even at the event."
I smiled
"We will see."
My eyes narrowed
I said quickly
"Valen, heads-up."
Suddenly a slash came towards us from ground"
Valen reacted instantly, his blade flashing out in a blur of steel as he intercepted the slash mid-air. The force of the clash sent a ripple through the sky, but Valen stood firm.
The Empress barely flinched, her golden eyes narrowing as she surveyed the forest below.
"Well, someone doesn't want us reaching Academy City."
I said
"We are landing."
I started descending
The Empress nodded, preparing to land her wyvern alongside me. Valen, ever obedient, followed suit, his eyes scanning the terrain keenly.
The wyverns swooped down towards a large clearing, landing with impressive agility. Their wings folding back neatly as they touched down.
I, Valen, and Empress all dismounted, my feet hitting the ground with a soft thump.
The Empress, her golden eyes scanning the surrounding trees, turned to me.
"So, we've got uninvited guests."
I said
"Not guests, Just guest"
The Empress raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"Oh? Only one attacker?"
Valen, sword already drawn, stepped forward protectively.
"Location?"
The forest remained eerily silent—whoever had attacked was still hidden.
The forest remained eerily silent.
No movement.
No sound.
No presence—
At least, none that could be sensed normally.
Valen's grip on his sword tightened as his eyes scanned the surroundings with sharp focus.
"Location?" he asked again, his voice low, controlled.
I didn't answer immediately.
Instead, I tilted my head slightly.
Listening.
Feeling.
Observing.
Then—
I saw him.
Or rather…
I noticed him.
Because "seeing" wasn't quite the right word.
At the edge of the clearing, where shadows gathered beneath the trees, something… shifted.
It wasn't a movement.
Not exactly.
It was more like the absence of something became noticeable.
Like a gap in reality.
Something your mind instinctively ignored—until it didn't.
Valen's body tensed.
He hadn't seen him yet.
But he felt something.
The Empress remained calm, though her eyes narrowed slightly.
Then—
He stepped forward.
And the moment he did, the forest felt heavier.
As if the air itself had thickened.
He didn't make a sound.
Not a single leaf stirred beneath his feet.
He simply… appeared.
Standing there.
As if he had always been part of the shadows.
His figure was lean, almost deceptively so. Not frail—but refined. Built for movement, for precision. There was no wasted mass in his body, no unnecessary bulk. Every line of him spoke of efficiency.
He wore dark clothing that blended seamlessly into the surrounding darkness. Layers of fabric, perfectly fitted, absorbing light rather than reflecting it. Nothing about him stood out.
And yet—
Everything about him demanded attention.
A hood covered his head, casting his face into shadow. Beneath it, a mask concealed his identity completely. It was simple—no markings, no ornamentation. Just a dull, matte surface that seemed to swallow light.
Even his eyes—
If they could be called that—
Were hidden behind narrow slits.
And within them—
Nothing.
No emotion.
No intent.
Just… darkness.
He didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Didn't even breathe—at least, not in any way someone else could perceive. I had Omniscient so I could see.
He simply stood there and that was enough.
He was someone I know from novel. Assassin guild leader , a Powerhouse.
Valen stepped forward instantly, placing himself slightly ahead of The Empress.
His blade was already drawn.
His stance—perfect.
"This presence…" he muttered under his breath.
Then his voice hardened.
"State your purpose."
Silence.
The man didn't respond.
Didn't react.
Didn't even acknowledge the question.
The Empress took a step forward, though still within Valen's protective range.
"A bold one," she said calmly. "To attack us mid-flight and then show himself so openly."
Still—
No response.
I exhaled softly.
Then said casually,
"Well… looks like this isn't my problem."
Valen shot me a sharp glance.
"…What?"
I shrugged slightly.
"You heard me."
I stepped back, crossing my arms lightly as if losing interest.
"He attacked you mid-air."
I gestured lazily toward the masked figure.
"So naturally… he's here for you."
The Empress glanced at me, her expression unreadable.
Valen frowned.
"You're saying this isn't your concern?"
I looked at him.
"Should it be?"
A brief silence followed.
Valen's jaw tightened.
Then—
He stepped forward.
Fully placing himself between the Empress and the masked man.
"Understood," he said coldly.
His killing intent flared.
Sharp.
Focused.
Directed entirely at the figure ahead.
"Then stay out of the way."
I raised a hand slightly in mock surrender.
"Gladly."
The Empress didn't say anything.
But her gaze lingered on me for a moment longer than expected.
Then—
She turned her attention back to the enemy.
The masked man finally moved.
Just a step.
Slow.
Measured.
And yet—
That single step made the distance between him and Valen feel… irrelevant.
Valen reacted instantly.
His body shifted, blade rising into position.
"Don't move any further," he warned.
The masked man stopped.
Then—
For the first time—
He spoke.
His voice was low, calm and almost… hollow.
"You're in the way."
Valen's eyes sharpened.
"Try and pass me."
A pause.
Then—
The air shifted.
And in the next instant—
He disappeared.
Valen's eyes widened slightly—
But his body had already moved.
CLANG!
Steel met steel.
The impact echoed through the clearing as Valen blocked a strike that had appeared from nowhere.
The force behind it—
Heavy.
Precise.
Deadly.
Valen's feet dug into the ground as he absorbed the blow, his muscles tightening.
"Fast…" he muttered.
The masked man didn't respond.
He didn't press forward immediately either.
Instead—
He vanished again.
Valen spun, his sword cutting through empty air.
Too late.
A flicker—
Behind him.
CLANG!
Another strike.
Another block.
This time, sparks flew as the blades clashed.
The masked man's movements were… strange.
Not just fast.
But difficult to follow.
Even when you knew where he was—
It felt like he wasn't entirely there.
Like his presence itself was… slipping.
Valen adjusted quickly.
His stance stabilized.
His movements sharpened.
He wasn't just defending now.
He was reading.
Adapting.
Predicting.
Their blades clashed again.
And again.
Each strike faster than the last.
Each exchange more precise.
The clearing echoed with the sound of steel, yet the forest itself remained silent.
No birds.
No wind.
Nothing.
As if even nature was avoiding this fight.
The Empress stood calmly behind, her gaze fixed on the battle.
Observing.
Analyzing.
Though I am sure she can't see a thing as it's two Powerhouses fighting. But being alert can sometimes make a difference.
I leaned slightly against a nearby tree, watching the fight unfold.
Unbothered.
Detached.
At least—
That's how it looked.
Valen pushed forward suddenly, his blade cutting in a wide arc.
The masked man stepped back—
Then vanished again.
Valen's eyes narrowed.
"Show yourself."
Silence.
Then—
A flicker.
Above.
Valen reacted instantly, his sword rising to intercept—
CLANG!
Another clash.
The force drove him back this time, his feet sliding across the ground.
He steadied himself quickly.
Then smiled faintly.
"…Good."
The masked man landed lightly, his posture unchanged.
Still calm.
Still unreadable.
Still… empty.
And then—
Without a word—
He moved again.
Faster this time.
Sharper.
More direct.
Valen met him head-on.
The clash intensified.
Steel rang through the clearing as two Powerhouses collided, their movements blurring, their presence dominating the space around them.
And through it all—
I watched.
Silent.
Still.
As if none of this concerned me at all.