A Hand in the Dark
Among those left behind stood Selena.
Silver-white hair draped across her shoulders. Blue eyes dimmed, still swollen from crying.
She didn't understand.
Why her?
What was so wrong about her that not a single division head chose her?
Her fingers tightened until the knuckles whitened. Reality hit like an open-handed slap.
The dream of becoming stronger… shattered.
If no one chose her, there was only one road left — a life of labor within the academy. Carrying water. Chopping wood. Cleaning halls. Maybe, one day, she might touch cultivation… if she survived long enough.
And if no one chose her…
That meant her aptitude was awful.
A life like that was almost impossible.
The hall felt colder.
Just as despair began sinking its roots into her chest —
A white figure stopped before her.
Quiet. Calm. Like dawn pushing through the last hours of night.
Selena's heart jolted.
She slowly raised her head.
It was the young division head who had barely spoken earlier — long black hair brushing his shoulders, purple eyes carrying a gentle, unreadable light.
Leon.
His voice came soft, steady.
"Are you willing to take me as your teacher?"
Hope hit like lightning.
"I am willing. Student Selena greets Teacher…"
She dropped to her knees and bowed deeply, not daring to hesitate.
In that humiliating hall, Leon's presence became the one thread keeping her dignity intact — the last door left open.
If she became his student, she had a chance.
Revenge wasn't impossible anymore.
Even if he was young… even if she didn't know how strong he was…
He was still a division head. A teacher recognized by the Celestis Academy.
If not now — when?
Leon inclined his head.
"Well. Come with me."
He turned and left the main hall.
Selena followed quickly — heart pounding — when a sharp, mocking laugh cut across the space behind them.
Shera's voice.
"Haha. A trashy teacher took in a trashy student. What a powerful alliance. As the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together. It's a pity the thousand-year legacy of the Amethyst Summit Division will be ruined in the hands of these two mediocrities."
The words echoed.
Selena froze for a split second.
Confusion tightened her chest. Anger warmed behind it.
Leon walked ahead without reacting, but he could feel the turmoil behind him.
After a while, he stopped.
Selena nearly bumped into him.
"Teacher?"
The word slipped out instinctively.
Leon turned, studying her quietly.
"You heard what they said just now. What do you think?"
She hesitated — breath uneven — hurt mixing with rising defiance.
Why slander them? Why ridicule so casually?
She didn't know how powerful Leon truly was. But she knew this much:
When the world turned its back on her…
He didn't.
Her voice steadied.
"Teacher, I don't know any great principles. But I know one thing. A teacher for a day is like a father for life."
She took a breath, emotions tightening her throat.
"When no one wanted me… you gave me hope. I will use my entire life to protect Teacher's reputation. I will never shame Teacher — even if I am consigned to eternal damnation."
Resolve burned through the sadness.
"Teacher, don't worry. I will work hard. One day, I will prove to them that Teacher is not mediocre. And I am not trash."
Her fingers curled into fists, trembling, but firm.
Leon watched her — and something eased inside him.
Yes.
He hadn't chosen wrong.
Back in the hall, he could've fought for the talented ones — but with his current position, he would've lost anyway.
So he chose among those who had been left behind.
And someone chosen at rock bottom… carried gratitude like iron.
She would give everything.
He nodded lightly.
"Very good. Let's go."
He didn't say more.
With a flick of his wrist, the Amethyst Mist Sword appeared, humming softly.
Leon took Selena's hand.
Wind gathered beneath their feet as the sword carried them skyward, cutting across clouds toward the distant peaks of the Amethyst Summit Division.
The beginning and ending stood exactly as fate intended — but the path in between had quietly changed.
For both of them.