The next morning—
Rio slowly opened his eyes.
Sunlight streamed through the curtains of the mansion while silence filled the room.
"Haaah..."
A yawn escaped his mouth.
After everything that had happened recently—
the peace almost felt unreal.
He slowly got out of bed before heading toward the bathroom.
Still half asleep.
Still tired.
Then—
a sharp pain suddenly shot through his back.
"Ugh..."
Rio immediately frowned.
The sting wasn't overwhelming.
But it was enough to make him stop walking.
He slowly entered the bathroom before turning toward the mirror.
And froze.
Astarax immediately jumped onto the sink.
The little black dragon narrowed her eyes.
"...Impossible."
Rio silently looked at his reflection.
Three symbols had appeared across his back.
No.
Not symbols.
Stigmatas.
The first rested near his right shoulder blade.
A jagged crimson mark resembling countless broken crowns stacked atop one another.
Faint red energy flowed through its veins like burning blood.
The Stigmata of Wrath.
The second rested upon his left shoulder.
A flawless black emblem shaped like a single eye surrounded by golden thorns.
It radiated overwhelming arrogance.
As though it viewed all existence beneath itself.
The Stigmata of Pride.
The final mark sat directly over his spine.
A golden spiral stretching downward endlessly.
The closer one looked—
the more it resembled an endless mouth attempting to devour the world itself.
The Stigmata of Greed.
The three marks pulsed together.
Once.
Twice.
Almost like living hearts.
Rio narrowed his eyes.
He slowly touched the marks.
Warm.
Alive.
Yet strangely silent.
"I thought..."
His voice became quieter.
"...with the Sovereign's plan failing..."
"...the Demon King's Stigmatas would've disappeared."
After all—
the Retainer of Chaos had never awakened.
Everything should've collapsed.
Yet somehow—
the three Demon Kings still remained.
Rio carefully observed the marks again.
Oddly enough—
he felt nothing.
No whispers.
No madness.
No corruption.
No influence.
Just silence.
As though the three Demon Kings were sleeping.
Waiting.
Watching.
Astarax immediately jumped down from the sink.
Her golden eyes remained fixed on the stigmatas.
"Rio."
Her voice had become unusually serious.
"You should not underestimate those things."
"Even if they're dormant."
Rio nodded slowly.
"I know."
Silence filled the bathroom afterward.
Then—
Knock.
Knock.
A soft voice echoed from outside.
"Young Master?"
"The family is waiting downstairs."
Rio blinked.
The tension immediately vanished.
Astarax clicked her tongue.
"Tch."
"Perfect timing."
Rio laughed lightly.
"Yeah."
He grabbed a shirt and covered the stigmatas.
For now—
there was nothing he could do about them anyway.
But as he left the bathroom—
he couldn't shake the feeling that the marks on his back had grown warmer.
As though something inside them had smiled.
...
Rio's lips twitched awkwardly.
The atmosphere at the table felt strange.
Everyone was seated.
Everyone was eating.
Yet somehow—
nobody was speaking.
It felt more like an interrogation than a family breakfast.
Lucivar finally broke the silence.
"I heard you were a cadet at the Nexus Academy."
Rio nodded.
"Yeah."
"I'm currently the Apex of the Second Year."
A pause.
Then he blinked.
"No..."
"It should be the Third Year by now."
Rio leaned back slightly in his chair.
A year.
Almost an entire year had passed since he arrived in Astryx.
The Second year must have come to a end by now.
Originally, he had only planned to spend two months there during his vacation.
Instead—
he ended up staying for an entire year.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
He wondered how everyone at the academy was doing.
Samuel.
Reinhart.
Silver
Yelena
The others.
Just how much stronger had they become?
Helena noticed his expression.
"Are you planning to continue attending the academy?"
Rio thought for a moment.
She wasn't wrong to ask.
Currently his strength had already reached S-Rank.
And if he synchronized with Astarax...
His combat ability would easily reach S+.
Possibly even SS-Rank territory.
But strength wasn't the issue.
There were still things he needed to do.
People he needed to meet.
And more importantly—
the next major figure should have already appeared.
In the original story of Arcade Odyssey...
This was the point where an important character entered the stage.
Someone who should currently be in their First Year.
A small smile appeared on Rio's face.
Then disaster struck.
SPLAT.
Something landed directly on his cheek.
Rio froze.
Slowly—
very slowly—
he turned his head.
Lumine sat there innocently holding a spoon.
His face paled.
Because it wasn't just him.
The entire table had gone silent.
Lucivar's face was completely covered in maple syrup.
A thick layer of it dripped down his forehead.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Even the maids froze.
Rumine and Sumine continued eating happily as though nothing had happened.
Meanwhile Jasmine desperately tried to stop Lumine from launching another attack.
Lumine tilted her head.
"Hehe?"
Lucivar stared forward.
Motionless.
Then—
he awkwardly coughed.
"...It's fine."
He calmly grabbed a napkin and wiped the syrup from his face.
Rio immediately looked away.
His shoulders were shaking.
Trying—and failing—not to laugh.
Helena covered her mouth.
Lucinda buried her face in her hands.
...
I quickly changed clothes and prepared to leave for the day.
The academy awaited.
As I adjusted my coat, I heard soft footsteps behind me.
Turning around—
I found Lucinda standing there.
Her crimson eyes quietly met mine.
"You're leaving for the academy now?"
I nodded.
"Yeah."
"I've already been away for almost a year."
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"I see..."
Silence followed.
She remained standing there.
As though she wanted to say something.
Yet the words never came.
I blinked.
"Hm?"
Before I could ask—
she suddenly stepped forward.
And wrapped her arms around me.
I froze slightly.
Then sighed.
A small smile appeared on my face as I gently patted her back.
For a moment—
she didn't move.
Simply standing there.
Holding onto me.
Eventually she stepped back.
Her cheeks were faintly red.
"I'll see you later."
"Yeah."
She quickly turned around and walked away.
A chuckle escaped my mouth.
Watching her retreating figure.
"I really do have a cute elder sister."
Astarax immediately jumped onto my shoulder.
The tiny cat tugged on my hair.
[Let's go already.]
I laughed.
"Yeah, yeah."
With one final glance toward the mansion—
I stepped forward.
The next destination awaited.
Nexus Academy.
And for the first time in a year—
Rio Valen was finally returning.
...
Currently, I was standing inside Aurelia's office.
The woman glanced at me from behind her desk before sighing.
"So you want to enroll in the academy again?"
"Yeah."
Aurelia rubbed her forehead.
"You do realize the entire second year is already over, right?"
"You disappeared for a year."
"An entire year."
I awkwardly scratched my cheek.
"Uh... yeah."
Aurelia stared at me for a few seconds before letting out another sigh.
"Fine."
"I'll register you directly into the Third Year."
She opened a file and continued.
"But currently Samuel Crimson holds the title of Apex."
I shrugged.
"I don't mind."
That answer seemed to surprise her slightly.
Normally every student obsessed over rankings.
Rio genuinely couldn't care less.
Soon Aurelia began writing a recommendation letter.
Then Rio suddenly remembered something.
"Ah."
"Also..."
She glanced up.
"Could you register me as Rio Valen instead of Noctis?"
Her pen stopped moving.
"You're going to reveal your identity?"
Rio leaned back casually.
"Well..."
"It doesn't really matter anymore."
After the war had ended.
there was no point hiding.
Aurelia remained silent for a moment before finishing the letter.
She folded it and handed it over.
"Take this to Instructor Ron."
"Classes already started."
"You'll be considered a transfer student."
Rio nodded.
"Thanks."
Just before leaving—
he stopped at the doorway.
A mischievous smile appeared beneath his lips.
"Master."
Aurelia raised an eyebrow.
"What now?"
"Could I get a mask?"
"..."
"...Why?"
Rio's smile widened.
A few hours later.
Instructor Ron's Class.
CLANG!
CLANG!
The sound of steel echoed throughout the training grounds.
At the center of the arena—
Silver Ryker and Samuel Crimson were currently sparring.
Neither used mana.
Neither used abilities.
Every strike was precise.
Every movement refined.
Students watched in complete silence.
Even Ron crossed his arms while observing the match.
Both of them had improved tremendously over the past year.
Especially Samuel.
The current Apex.
CLANG!
Silver's sword collide with Samuel's spear.
Then—
The classroom doors opened.
CREAK.
Everyone instinctively glanced toward the entrance.
A lone figure stepped inside.
White mask.
Calm footsteps.
The entire class frowned.
Ron narrowed his eyes.
"Who are you, brat?"
The masked boy didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
he casually walked toward Ron.
Then handed him a folded document.
Ron frowned before opening it.
A second later—
his eyes widened.
His gaze shot toward the masked student.
Then back to the paper.
Then back to the student again.
The face in the attached identification file was unmistakable.
But the name written beneath it made absolutely no sense.
Y-You—
Before he could finish—
the masked boy slowly raised a finger to his lips.
A silent gesture.
Ron immediately understood.
His expression became incredibly annoyed.
"...Tch."
He folded the paper.
Then turned toward the class.
"Listen up."
The sparring stopped.
Ron pointed toward the masked student.
"This is your new transfer student."
A brief pause followed.
Then he spoke the name.
"Rio Valen."