The afternoon sun hung high above Aetherial Institute.
Golden light poured across the sprawling academy grounds.
Ancient towers cast long shadows over stone pathways.
Students moved between buildings carrying books, weapons, scrolls, and training equipment.
Some hurried toward libraries.
Others toward cafeterias.
Many toward training grounds.
The academy was alive.
Yet amidst the countless students—
Kel walked calmly.
His silver eyes remained thoughtful.
His mind occupied by matters nobody else knew.
The approaching dungeon.
The future tragedy.
The upcoming demon incident.
The fragile lives that would eventually be caught in the middle.
Far beneath Scarder Lake—
Seiren's voice echoed through their connection.
"You're planning something again."
Kel continued walking.
"I always plan."
"Normal students plan examinations."
The goddess sounded amused.
"You plan disasters weeks before they occur."
Kel considered.
"That's also true."
"You worry me sometimes."
"Only sometimes?"
Seiren laughed.
The sound resembled rippling sacred waters beneath moonlight.
The training grounds soon appeared before him.
The sounds of steel colliding echoed throughout the area.
Dozens of students practiced.
Some trained swordsmanship.
Others practiced magic.
Several sparred intensely.
Meanwhile—
One particular figure immediately drew attention.
Valeryn Darkhart.
The crimson-haired descendant of one of the Seven Pillar Houses.
The young woman stood at the center of a practice field.
Sweat glistened faintly upon her fair skin.
Her crimson hair flowed behind her like a burning banner.
Yet what attracted Kel's attention wasn't her appearance.
It was her weapon.
His weapon.
Or rather—
The shape-shifting bow he had given her.
The weapon transformed smoothly between forms.
Bow.
Sword.
Dual blades.
And hidden launcher.
The transitions looked significantly smoother than before.
Kel stopped.
Then quietly activated Appraisal.
His observation skill silently examined her movements.
Every stance.
Every adjustment.
Every decision.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
She had improved.
Not just improved.
Adapted.
Most swordsmen forced every weapon into becoming a sword.
Valeryn had done the opposite.
She learned what the weapon wanted to become.
The bow moved through her hands elegantly.
The string vibrated.
An arrow flew.
The projectile struck the distant target.
Dead center.
A perfect shot.
Then the weapon shifted.
Metal folded.
The bow transformed.
A sword appeared.
The transition looked seamless.
Natural.
Fluid.
Kel silently calculated.
Compared to several days ago—
Her proficiency had increased dramatically.
The talent wasn't merely physical.
She understood weapons.
Far more than most students.
Eventually—
Kel approached.
The crunch of gravel beneath his boots drew her attention.
Valeryn released another arrow.
Then turned.
Her crimson eyes immediately found him.
The stern expression she normally wore softened slightly.
Only slightly.
Most people wouldn't notice.
Kel did.
"I didn't know you had talent in archery as well."
Valeryn looked at the bow.
Then toward him.
A faint smile appeared.
"Neither did I."
The answer came honestly.
The noblewoman twirled the weapon once.
Elegant.
Effortless.
"To be honest, I originally wanted this weapon because it could become a sword."
Her eyes shifted toward the bow.
"But after using it for several days..."
A thoughtful expression appeared.
"I discovered something strange."
Kel listened.
Valeryn continued.
"The weapon forces me to think differently."
Another arrow appeared in her hand.
"It punishes impatience."
"It rewards precision."
"It demands timing."
The arrow flew.
Another perfect hit.
"And somehow..."
She looked genuinely surprised.
"...I enjoy that."
Kel smiled faintly.
That answer didn't surprise him.
Because talent wasn't limited to what people practiced.
Sometimes talent simply waited for the correct opportunity.
Valeryn lowered the bow.
Then looked toward him.
"So."
The noblewoman folded her arms.
"You didn't come here just to admire my shooting."
Kel nodded.
"Correct."
Her eyebrow rose.
"What happened?"
The silver-haired young man glanced around the training grounds.
Then answered.
"I wanted to ask whether you're free after training."
Valeryn blinked.
Then blinked again.
For a brief moment—
Something dangerous happened.
Hope.
A tiny amount.
A very tiny amount.
The kind nobody could notice.
Except perhaps Seiren.
Far beneath Scarder Lake—
The goddess immediately noticed.
And immediately began laughing.
"Oh no."
Kel ignored her.
Valeryn maintained a calm expression.
Mostly.
"Yes."
The answer arrived casually.
Too casually.
"I'm free."
Then she tilted her head.
"What happened?"
The noblewoman watched him carefully.
"Do you need something?"
Kel nodded.
"Yes."
Then came the explanation.
"I was planning to raid a nearby haunted dungeon."
Silence.
The hope immediately died.
Brutally.
Completely.
Mercilessly.
Far beneath Scarder Lake—
Seiren laughed so hard sacred waters began splashing.
"You destroyed it instantly."
Kel ignored her again.
Meanwhile—
Valeryn stared.
Then sighed internally.
Of course.
Naturally.
Why would it be anything else?
This was Aedon.
Every conversation somehow ended with monsters.
Dungeons.
Ancient ruins.
Or impossible situations.
Eventually she asked—
"A haunted dungeon?"
"Yes."
Kel nodded.
"I originally planned to go alone."
That statement immediately attracted her attention.
Of course he did.
Why was she not surprised?
Then he continued.
"But after thinking carefully..."
The silver-haired young man crossed his arms.
"...I concluded that was unwise."
Valeryn blinked.
Aedon admitting something was risky?
Now that was surprising.
Kel continued.
"The dungeon has a dangerous reputation."
"Many adventurers have died there."
"Many parties disappeared."
"The mortality rate is relatively high."
The calm way he said it somehow made it worse.
Then—
"I decided a party would be better."
Valeryn nodded.
Reasonable.
Finally.
Then she asked—
"Who are the others?"
A brief pause followed.
Kel answered.
"Karos."
Reasonable.
"Lucien."
Also reasonable.
Then—
"Luna."
Valeryn froze.
Very slightly.
Very.
Slightly.
A tiny pout appeared.
So tiny that almost nobody could notice.
Almost.
Unfortunately—
Kel noticed.
And Seiren definitely noticed.
"She's pouting."
"I know."
"It's adorable."
"I know."
"You should tell her."
"No."
The goddess sighed dramatically.
Meanwhile—
Valeryn quickly resumed training.
The pout disappeared instantly.
Professional recovery.
Years of experience.
The noblewoman released another arrow.
Direct hit.
Then another.
Direct hit.
Then another.
Direct hit.
Only after several moments did she answer.
"Fine."
The word came calmly.
Perfectly calmly.
Absolutely calmly.
Perhaps slightly less calmly than usual.
"When are we meeting?"
Kel didn't notice.
Or pretended not to.
"City square."
"The central fountain."
"After training."
Valeryn nodded.
"Understood."
The conversation should have ended there.
Yet she spoke again.
Without looking toward him.
"Aedon."
"Hm?"
The crimson-haired noblewoman continued aiming.
"If we're entering a dungeon..."
Another arrow flew.
"...don't die."
The statement sounded casual.
Yet something sincere existed beneath it.
Kel smiled.
"I'll try."
Valeryn immediately looked toward him.
"That answer inspires absolutely no confidence."
Kel laughed.
The noblewoman rolled her eyes.
Then returned to training.
Meanwhile—
Kel turned and departed.
His objective here was complete.
One member secured.
Three remained.
Far beneath Scarder Lake—
Seiren's voice appeared.
"You aren't taking them because of the dungeon."
Kel continued walking.
"No."
"You're training them."
"Partially."
The goddess became thoughtful.
Kel finally explained.
"All of them are strong."
A brief pause followed.
"But not strong enough."
His expression gradually became serious.
"They possess talent."
"They possess potential."
"They possess power."
The silver-haired young man's gaze drifted toward the distant horizon.
"But potential doesn't save lives."
The wind moved gently through his silver hair.
"Experience does."
The words carried unusual weight.
Because he remembered.
Too many timelines.
Too many deaths.
Too many heroes falling because they lacked experience.
Too many talented people dying young.
Seiren understood immediately.
"You want them prepared."
Kel nodded.
"Exactly."
Because eventually—
Heroes and demons would clash.
And when that happened—
Only the prepared survived.
Leaving the training grounds behind—
Kel headed toward another section of the academy.
Toward Luna.
Toward another future participant.
Toward another person who would unknowingly step closer to destiny.
The afternoon sun slowly descended across the sky.
And piece by piece—
Kel continued gathering the companions who would soon descend into the darkness hidden beneath the world.