After Arthur and Alia had walked so distance, they spotted Cassie from across the courtyard — the sa courtyard where, not too long ago, they’d cornered Ha-Joon until he was sweating more than a roasted duck.
Cassie stood there in her neat uniform, her hair catching the morning light just right, arms already slightly open like she’d been rehearsing.
Alia, walking beside Arthur, smiled knowingly.
Sure enough, as soon as they got within reach, Cassie stepped forward and wrapped Arthur in her early-morning hug — a warm, tight, "mine" kind of hug.
Arthur returned it without hesitation, because honestly, who says no to a hug that cos with the faint scent of fresh lavender?
Of course, the boys scattered around the courtyard stared like they’d just witnessed soone eating their last piece of cake.
Sharp, dagger-like glares followed him — the kind that said "I hate you" in seventeen different languages.
Arthur ignored them.
He was used to it.
Cassie let go, looking just slightly too pleased with herself.
Before they could start walking to the auditorium, a pair of arms suddenly wrapped around Arthur from behind.
A voice purred near his ear, "Guess who?"
Arthur didn’t even need to guess; the "evidence" pressing against his back made it obvious, but he put on his best thoughtful face.
"Hm... could it be... wait... that shape, that softness..." He turned around slowly. "Yep. Guessed it."
Ellie grinned at him like she’d just caught a prize fish. "Good morning," she said lightly before greeting Alia and Cassie as if she hadn’t just ambushed him.
Cassie tilted her head as they walked together. "Any idea why they called us to the auditorium?"
Arthur nodded. "Yeah. I’m planning to transfer to the higher institution."
Alia humd like she’d already guessed. "I figured. Ever since I hit Yellow Core Mage, my progress has been slowing down."
Cassie and Ellie nodded in agreent as they walked, but then all three of them turned toward Arthur, who had frozen mid-step.
Cassie frowned. "What’s wrong?"
Arthur blinked. "When exactly did you all hit Yellow Core and Graduator rank?"
The girls exchanged grins like they’d been waiting for this mont.
"What?" Cassie teased. "Afraid we’ll catch up to you?"
Arthur shook his head. "No. It can never happen. But that’s beyond—"
Cassie cut him off. "What do you an, it can’t happen?"
Arthur tilted his head innocently. "Well, it can’t. I’m a Supre."
The three of them stopped.
Ellie squinted at him. "Are you dead serious right now?"
Arthur nodded.
Cassie snorted. "Shut up~"
Alia’s eyes sparkled. "Does that an we can leech off you like those girls in novels? ’Oh, husbando, save us! Oh, husbando, we need your help!’"
Ellie tapped Alia on the shoulder, shaking her head. "No, it’s like—’Art, you’re not a Supre. We are.’"
They all giggled at the idea, Arthur included.
"Either way," Arthur said, catching up to them, "we should start keeping records of our progress and training together."
Cassie nodded, stealing the rest of his coffee without asking. "Yeah. I miss Unnie... and Sylvia, Elizabeth, Eira too."
Ellie scoffed. "I don’t miss anyone except Unnie."
Alia looked around. "Speaking of which... where’s Isabella?"
Arthur glanced around too. "Now that you ntion it, she didn’t wake up this morning."
He sighed. "Let’s go first. Isabella isn’t weak, and besides, the goddess is always watching."
Alia clasped her hands like she was in prayer. "Yes, take my prayers, Sylvia, and send your big sister a blessing."
Arthur let them chatter while his mind wandered.
It had been on his mind for a while — the storyline of Magic Academy’s Genius Scholars.
Back when the world hadn’t reset yet, he’d thought he could use the ga’s events to his advantage.
But he’d changed so much already that the original tiline was basically useless.
Besides, there wasn’t exactly a rank higher than Supre.
Or so he thought.
The system had hinted that "Supre" was much larger than people realized.
But how large?
And if it was true, did that an there were other Supre beings out there?
Maybe even soone else who had beco God too?
Arthur shook his head. ’No need to overthink it.’
"We’re here," Alia’s voice rang out.
They stood before the academy’s massive auditorium — a proud display of dieval Victorian grandeur.
Tall arched windows frad by carved stone. Heavy oak doors bound in black iron. A tiled roof that glead faintly even under the morning sun.
Inside, the high ceiling soared like a cathedral’s, with banners of deep blue and gold hanging from every arch.
The polished wood floors reflected the glow of chandeliers shaped like blooming roses, and rows of seats spread out in perfect order, divided by red-carpeted aisles.
The four of them stepped in.
Cassie, Alia, and Ellie peeled off toward their class sections, Alia sticking with Cassie since they were both second-years, while Arthur wandered toward where Cale and the other boys had saved him a seat on the far edge.
They knew how much chaos his face caused if people stared at it for too long.
The mont he sat down, the chatter faded. All eyes turned to the stage as the narrow-eyed council president stepped out from behind the curtains.
He cleared his throat. "Students of Central, good morning."
Then, with the enthusiasm of soone announcing tax season, he added, "Please rise for the school anthem."
Arthur’s first thought: ’Why the hell would I waste brain space learning this boring anthem?’
The only anthem he’d ever morized was the Korean one. Everything else? Gone.
So he did what any sensible man would do — lip-sync.
The anthem ended, everyone sat down, and the president spoke again. "Now, it is my honor to introduce our real host, the dean of the academy."
Polite applause followed.
From a ripple in the air, shadows folded over themselves, and Lysandra stepped onto the stage in a shimr of spatial magic.
Teleportation — flashy, but everyone had seen her do it at least once.
"Welco, my diamonds in the rough," she said with a smile. "It’s ti for a brief announcent."
─── ✦ End of Chapter ✦ ───
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