The carriage cut through the sky like a streak of flame.
Four white-fire horses galloped through the air, their hooves leaving trails of burning light behind them as they pulled the celestial carriage toward Celestia God Academy.
Inside the carriage—
Silence.
For the first time in weeks, the team was asleep.
They had been moving constantly.
Battles.
Monsters.
Atlas.
Near death.
No real rest.
No real sleep.
Now that the mission was finally over, exhaustion claimed them all at once.
Kaelus was slumped sideways with his arms crossed, breathing slowly.
Rein leaned back against the window, mouth slightly open as he slept.
Stellar rested quietly with her head against the seat, silver hair flowing over her shoulder.
Darius sat in the corner, arms folded, half asleep even in that position.
Eryndor sat upright with his arms crossed.
His breathing was deep and steady.
The carriage raced through the clouds.
And as the fiery horses carried them forward—
News was already spreading across the divine world.
One Day Later — Morning
The sun rose above Celestia God Academy.
Golden light illuminated the enormous floating structures and divine towers of the academy.
Students walked across floating bridges and training platforms.
Everything seemed normal.
But something big was about to happen.
Inside the highest tower of the academy sat a woman whose presence alone could burn a nation to ash.
Seraphina Caldris
Headmistress of Celestia God Academy.
A High God.
Her long red hair flowed down her back like living flame.
Her golden eyes shimmered with restrained power.
Her figure was tall and elegant—slim yet curved with quiet authority.
Even sitting still, the temperature of the room was warmer than normal.
Because Seraphina constantly suppressed her power.
If she released even a portion of her aura—
The environment would begin to melt.
The air would become toxic.
Civilizations could collapse.
She calmly lifted a porcelain teacup.
Took a sip.
Then placed the cup down.
A small smile appeared on her lips.
"It seems my carriage will arrive in two hours…"
Her eyes gleamed.
"They sure caused a ruckus."
Elsewhere — Academy Tower
A man stood by a large window overlooking the academy grounds.
Lysan Eravon
Ether instructor.
Mid-level deity.
One of the academy's most respected teachers.
His eyes suddenly narrowed.
He felt it.
Four… no.
Five divine signatures approaching the academy.
His body disappeared instantly.
In the Seraphina's Office
Space flickered.
Lysan appeared inside the room.
But Seraphina didn't even turn around.
"Don't be alarmed, Lysan."
She lifted her tea again.
"It's them."
Lysan blinked.
Then laughed.
"They left as god candidates last week…"
He looked out the window.
"And came back this week as gods."
He held up his fingers.
"Three low deities."
"Two mid-level deities."
Seraphina tilted her head slightly.
"Wanna make a bet?"
Lysan smirked immediately.
"Put a hundred elemental stones on the line and I'm in."
Seraphina sighed.
"You waste no time when it comes to elemental stones."
She folded her arms.
"Anyway."
"I bet Eryndor and Rein Clark are the mid-level deities."
"Kaelus Magna, Darius Sletti, and Stellar McLaren are the low deities."
Lysan shrugged.
"That's kinda boring."
"I expected that."
Seraphina's smile deepened slightly.
"But Eryndor…"
She tapped the desk.
"Will give off an aura capable of subconsciously intimidating a High God."
Lysan paused.
His expression slowly turned serious.
"Well."
He rubbed his chin.
"That's interesting."
He chuckled.
"That's something I'd like to witness myself."
His eyes softened slightly.
"I remember when the boy just learned to feel ether."
He looked out the window.
"Let's see how far he's climbed."
Academy Entrance -
The celestial carriage descended from the sky.
Students across the academy noticed immediately.
"What's that?"
"Is that the Headmistress's carriage?!"
"It is!"
The carriage landed smoothly.
The door opened.
Rein stepped out first.
He stretched his arms above his head and yawned loudly.
"Man… I slept like a rock."
Kaelus jumped out next.
He rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck.
"Same."
Darius didn't exit normally.
Instead—
A shadow appeared beneath a tree near the academy entrance.
Darius stepped out of the shade calmly.
Stellar stepped down next.
Her hair flowed softly in the morning wind.
Students stared in awe.
Then—
Eryndor stepped out last.
The sunlight hit his face.
He inhaled deeply.
Fresh academy air.
He looked at the sky for a moment.
Then spoke calmly.
"Darius."
Darius snapped his fingers.
Snap.
Space folded.
All five of them vanished instantly.
Headmistress Office -
Space opened inside the room.
The team appeared instantly.
Seraphina smiled.
"Congratulations, everyone."
"You really surprised me this time."
She leaned back in her chair.
"You avenged the students."
"And the previous headmaster."
"And you also took on a High God."
Her golden eyes narrowed slightly.
"I admit…"
"My informant brought incorrect news."
"He failed to do his job properly."
She took another sip of tea.
"So I crippled him."
The room went silent.
Seraphina continued calmly.
"After telling him that if you didn't return…"
"I would torture him before killing him."
She placed the cup down.
"But he will live."
"Because all of you came back in one piece."
Eryndor nodded.
"It was a good mission."
He looked at his teammates.
"We all enjoyed it."
"And we all learned something."
They all glanced at one another.
The experience had changed them.
Then Eryndor turned back to Seraphina.
"Headmistress."
"I'll head home to see my family."
The others spoke up immediately.
"We want to see our families too."
Seraphina nodded.
"Of course."
But before they could leave—
Lysan spoke.
"I'm sorry, Eryndor."
The room suddenly became quiet.
Lysan continued carefully.
"We heard your family was attacked last week."
"We arrived too late."
Something changed.
Eryndor's body released a strange energy.
It was faint.
But eerie.
The same unsettling feeling from the trance state.
Lysan's forehead immediately began to sweat.
Even Seraphina noticed it.
But she didn't speak.
She simply watched.
Lysan continued.
"When we arrived…"
"Asmodeus was gone."
"But we reached in time to help Patriarch Zephyr heal his injuries."
"He wasn't seriously hurt."
"After all…"
"He's a High God."
"And a powerful one."
The tension lingered for a moment.
Then Kaelus stood up and placed a hand on Eryndor's shoulder.
"Go see your family, bro."
He smiled.
"And don't forget to hug Aren for me."
"Tell him his uncle Kaelus will bring him elemental stones."
The tension faded slightly.
Eryndor nodded slowly.
"Thanks, Headmistress."
He looked at Lysan.
"And thank you too, Sir Lysan."
"I'll go see them now."
Darius, Kaelus, Stellar, and Rein bowed respectfully.
"We will go as well, Headmistress."
"Thank you."
Seraphina smiled gently.
"Go on."
"Your rewards will be waiting for you tomorrow."
They nodded.
"Thank you."
The team turned.
And left the office.
For the first time in weeks—
They were finally going home.