Chapter 115: Dawn of Departure!
Two weeks passed in the blink of an eye since the day Albedo had ascended to Gold Rank. For the villa, and everyone else, it was a quiet and normal stretch of days, mostly spent with monotonous learning & schedules, with no Abyssal interference at all.
However, for Albedo, it had been anything but quiet. As soon as he woke up, and as soon as he returned from the Academy until he went to sleep, he’d spend all his time in the training room, which bore witness to his relentless focus.
Every second of those two weeks had been consumed in consolidating his Gold Rank foundation, tempering the surge of power that threatened to spiral beyond control, and also mastering new spells & techniques from the Book of Aevarion.
Even now, as the first blush of morning painted Pantheon’s skies, faint traces of that intensity lingered in the air around him.
Mana clung to his skin like a second layer of existence, refined and sharpened until every pulse of his aura carried the weight of his breakthrough.
Albedo opened his eyes to the soft morning light filtering into his room. His platinum hair spilled across the pillow, catching the glow with an almost metallic sheen.
He exhaled slowly, his breath shimmering faintly as wisps of violet and crimson light danced from his lips before fading.
Albedo flexed his fingers once, a faint ripple of violet-crimson fire dancing across them before fading. Then he stood, rolling his shoulders and breathing out, steadying the storm.
Today would be different than the prior two weeks, because today, the Exchange Program with the Demon Kingdom began.
Albedo quickly headed into the shower, taking a nice bath and then using the Ethereal Silk Armor to warp into a sleek but flexible outfit for combat & casual wear.
With that done, he left his room, heading downstairs until he heard laughter from the garden outside, looking out the window and spotting Gwen and Diona.
He found them easily, their figures painted in the morning light beneath the sprawling oaks in the courtyard. Gwen was chasing a butterfly, her silver hair glittering like spun starlight, her emerald eyes wide with delight.
Diona stood nearby, reading a book while listening to music, occasionally glancing up to spot Gwen and watching her with a gentle smile, her braid swaying as the warm wind stirred it.
The sight made Albedo pause for a heartbeat. Two weeks of training had left little room for these quiet moments, but it was these moments that reminded him what he was fighting for.
"Brother!" Gwen’s voice rang out the moment she noticed him. She sprinted across the grass, her little arms wrapping around his waist in a fierce hug, "You’re finally awake! Seraphyne said today’s the day you’re leaving."
Albedo crouched, ruffling her hair softly, "Mm. Today’s the day." His eyes softened, though his voice held that steady calm she always relied on, "The Exchange Program begins this morning. I’ll be gone for a while."
Her emerald eyes flickered, a mix of sadness and determination, "But you’ll come back, right?"
"Of course." He leaned down, pressing his forehead gently to hers. "I’ll always come back, Gwen. You and Diona are my treasures. Don’t forget that."
Her eyes misted slightly, but she smiled, nodding. "Then I’ll wait. I’ll be good. I’ll train extra hard too, so you’ll be proud of me when you come back."
Albedo chuckled, the sound rare but genuine. "You already make me proud every day. Don’t forget that either."
Diona approached softly, her expression quieter, more restrained than Gwen’s. Yet her chestnut eyes betrayed the worry she tried to hide.
"You’ve trained harder these past two weeks than anyone I’ve ever seen," she said, her voice low, carrying an almost reverent tone. "I can feel it... you’re not the same as before. Stronger, sharper... but still you."
Her lips pressed together, then softened as she whispered, "Just... make sure you come back to us too."
"I promise."
A faint ripple of killing intent brushed the courtyard then, cold and sharp like steel. It was not directed at them, but it was unmistakable.
Seraphyne.
The Duchess stood near the villa’s archway, tall and elegant, her long black hair falling in cascades around her crimson eyes.
Her presence was like a rose dipped in blood—beautiful, but edged in lethal thorns. She leaned against the wall with her arms folded beneath her chest, lips curved in a faint, knowing smile.
"Leaving the girls in my care, are you?" she said, her French-laced accent wrapping around the words with velvet sharpness.
Albedo turned his gaze on her, steady and commanding,"Of course I am, make sure to protect them with everything you have."
Her crimson eyes gleamed with playful amusement, though the weight behind her answer was absolute. "Mon chéri, do you even need to ask? Anyone foolish enough to lay a hand on them will find themselves nothing but ash and regret. On my honor as the Scarlet Calamity, they are safe."
Albedo inclined his head. "That’s all I needed to hear."
Albedo released Gwen from one final hug, gave Diona a reassuring nod, and stepped past Seraphyne as he left the villa, quickly moving down the streets of Pantheon, spotting various commoners and nobles alike bustling around their routines.
He quickly made his way through Pantheon and using his Zephyr Academy Identification Card, gained access to the Imperial Palace, looking at the magnificent structure before him.
Its towering spires of white stone gleamed beneath the morning light, banners of deep crimson and gold unfurling in the wind. The gates were reinforced with arcane wards and opened for him without hesitation, the guards bowing respectfully as he passed through.
As he walked further and came before the grand courtyard, he could already hear the barrage of voices and could spot his classmates immediately.
Lucian stood near the steps, speaking with Zeus, their conversation already heated as they were most likely talking about battling various Demons on the Exchange, with Miranda not far away, silently reading a book while awaiting time to leave.
Other classmates like Morgana, Veronica, William, Kaden & more were all littered all across the courtyard, doing their own things as they waiting the time to leave for the Exchange. Albedo found his seat next to Elara and began waiting.
Professor Kayle arrived only a few breaths after Albedo, her tall figure commanding immediate attention. Her white-gold hair caught the sun like a halo, and her golden eyes, steady and proud, scanned the assembly before settling momentarily on Albedo.
Then came the student council members, Orphelia, Persephone, Athena & Lukas.
Finally, Raphaeline descended the marble steps of the palace, her black wings folded neatly behind her, their faint rustle carrying an air of sovereignty.
The chatter stilled instantly.
"You are all here. Good." Her voice carried easily, neither loud nor harsh, but commanding all the same. "This marks the beginning of the Exchange Program with the Demon Kingdom. Consider it both an opportunity and a trial. Your behavior, strength, and wit will reflect not only on yourselves, but on this Empire."
A faint pulse of her aura washed across them like a reminder. None dared speak.
Raphaeline’s gaze swept over them, lingering briefly on Albedo before continuing," While there are many unofficial routes to the Demon Kingdom, we’ll be using the only official one. The sanctioned path is through the Black Demon Forest that boarders the Capital City of Nocturna,"
Murmurs rippled faintly through the students, though none dared raise a voice in protest.
"You will be teleported to the forest’s outskirts, close enough to walk into the Demon Capital, but not without trial. The Black Demon Forest does not welcome outsiders. Its beasts and terrain will test you, and that is intentional."
Raphaeline smiled as she continued, "Neither me, Professor Kayle, or the various Student Council members will be assisting you, we’re just here to make sure creatures too strong don’t kill you all,"
She spread her wings slightly, her shadow stretching across the gathered students, "You are not the only delegation. The Elven Kingdom has also chosen to send participants. They will join you in this Exchange, and you will encounter them throughout the Exchange Program, don’t embarrass us,"
Albedo’s eyes narrowed slightly, his mind already shifting. The Elves were the original exchange partners in the Novel, with the class heading to the Elven Kingdom.
Now, everything was out of wack, they’d be heading to the Demon Kingdom and meeting the Elves there, he’d have no access to any Novel information to help him throughout this journey.
The Elves were also notoriously prideful, but exceptionally talented, so Albedo could predict this would be a unique exchange.
"Now line up, we’ll all be teleporting to the Black Demon Forest soon," Raphaeline said, and all the students quickly made sure they had all their things and came close towards the mass teleportation formation in the middle of the courtyard.
"Let’s begin - CLAP!" Raphaeline said, clapping her hand as a vast amount of purple aura erupted all across the courtyard, immense amounts of mana beginning to swirl.
Then, a bright white light exploded from the courtyard.
When things calmed down, everyone was gone, teleported away.