Valeriana’s POV

As I walked out of the classroom after zeph left, I moved towards Aunt’s office that was on the third floor of main building.

// This time I will protect Professor Deventhia even if I have to sacrifice my life //

Zeph’s words from the previous night about saving my Aunt replayed in my mind even after all today’s event, it was only thing that came inside my mind whenever I thought about Aunt.

It left me puzzled, wondering why he said that.

Though I had grown accustomed to hearing complex and often confusing things since childhood, making me somewhat immune to them.

But Zeph’s words were different, it felt like they held truth,’I don’t know anymore’

I wanted answers to his words but I can’t ask him directly making me frustrated, for me my Aunt is most important but a puzzle was still there — Who is capable of killing Deventhia Corlos Hedrian.

Upon reaching the hallway, I unexpectedly spotted Professor Adriannel and Zeph walking together.

I watched as they strolled deeper into the garden, their figures becoming smaller in the distance.

{A/n : In this setting, imagine the architecture as an L* shaped layout, where the vertical line represents the Third Year’s Building and the horizontal line symbolizes the Main Building, reserved for professors. The asterisk (*) marks the garden spot where Zeph is seated. From Deventhia’s office, strategically placed at the center of this joint structure, you have an unobstructed view of the garden}

Though due to their distance, I can’t hear their voice, but their internal thoughts were clearly audible.

’Why they are going to talk there’

I found it Confusing, if they wanted to talk about something important, they could have just used Professor’s office.

’isn’t she’

Suddenly turning my eyes towards the third year’s building, I saw the same woman who was thinking about getting a noble title or something in classroom while accompaning Alisia. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

"’ Why are they together like that? Don’t tell me, did he not get fooled by even my abilities? ’"

’Abilities, fooled?’

What is she talking about?

Is this about Zeph?

I turned my eyes towards Zeph’s direction as he sat on the ground while gesturing to the professor to sit too.

’Is he insane? ’

I can’t help but think about his stupidity in talking to the professor like that.

Even Professor Adriannel is the lowest-ranked in the academy, but he’s still a professor of this academy.

Narrowing my eyes, I observed the professor to see if he could get angry with Zeph and punish him.

"’ Is he trying to take advantage of this situation? "’

What was that?

I don’t understand the meaning behind those words.

Does he have some dirt on the professor?

Observing them, I tried to listen to Zeph’s thoughts too, but just like before, it was all useless, ’Why isn’t he thinking something’

I turned towards the professor, who had taken his seat in quite a womanly posture, but it had nothing to do with me.

’" He’s quite handsome ’"

I can’t deny that.

He is indeed one of the most handsome guy I have ever seen, but still, thinking that out of nowhere, ’Doesn’t the professor see Zeph regularly?’

Their conversation was going in a completely different direction, making me confused about their intentions.

"’ He’s quite a flirt ’"

’What!?’

Did Zeph try to flirt with the professor?

Wait, don’t tell me, is he interested in the professor too?

First, Danny and now the professor, but what is he thinking to do something like that?

"’ Finally, he wants something from me ’"

’!?’

’ No, is it what I am thinking? ’

After hearing those words from that hidden beast of Zeph, I can’t hear anymore.

’Is he lusting—’

"Aaahhh!"

I closed my eyes swiftly, not letting those dirty words reach my mind.

I can’t believe this.

The professor is going with this flow.

Maybe he is too interested in him.

I have to leave this place to calm my mind. I will just meet Aunt in the evening.

.....

"Hahahaha!... Oh my, my stomach."

A laughter echoed inside a hidden space that was invisible from the outside, but from inside, everything happening was visible.

Adriannel’s mouth twitched at a visible pace as he looked toward Deventhia, who was laughing while clutching her stomach.

Turning his gaze again towards a figure identical to himself, he couldn’t help but sigh. "Stop it, Deventhia. The reason I called you is important."

"Haha... w-wait for a moment,"

She kept laughing due to all the things they saw. For Deventhia, it was not hard to understand the things her niece was thinking.

Deventhia didn’t have the ability to read other’s thoughts, but her power was far greater.

She could imprison others within their memories and manipulate those memories, making her akin to a god inside someone’s mind.

So, she didn’t need to know what someone was thinking by reading their thoughts when she could see all that person’s past, present, and future, and even make them think what she wanted, regardless of how strong their mind was. Deventhia was always far greater than them.

"Oh my, Adriannel, your image is completely destroyed by your own disciple,"

Deventhia said, calming down her laughter. She tried to adjust her jaws that had started to hurt from all the laughter, while Adriannel blankly looked toward Deventhia before hearing her words again. "He doesn’t even know about anything. Imagine the moment when he realizes you are his fa—"

badump

Suddenly, Deventhia’s eyes widened, feeling an inexplicable sensation of being watched. She swiftly turned her gaze in a particular direction.

Her vision effortlessly cut through all obstacles in its path, as if it could see through them. It eventually fell upon a space sealed by runic inscriptions and magic circles.

BOOM!

One of the magic circles shattered like glass, while a runic inscription shined brightly before vanishing into thin air.

Deventhia, not understanding what was happening, narrowed her eyes to see through further, as her vision penetrated those circles that connected to a hidden realm.

This hidden realm was far larger than all three realms combined, with it’s unknown inhabitants shrouded in darkness as their origin remained mysterious.

Adriannel, in his quest to find something powerful enough to capture The Evangeline, had combed through all the race’s documents, information, and even delved into their most hidden secrets, but he hadn’t found anything.

In his relentless search, he finally stumbled upon the space leading to a hidden realm. Upon entering, he found nothing but a dark, void-like space shrouded in darkness.

However, for Adriannel, this was nothing more than a facade.

In that space, he encountered something far more formidable than any threat he had ever faced, something that couldn’t be overcome through force alone.

At that moment, he decided to seal the space, and the key to that mystery was hidden in the most secure place in the entire three realms he could think of — The Chrintain Valley

He implemented safety measures to prevent anything from escaping the hidden realm, but even after all this, he knew that at least one day those things would find their way into this world.

To prevent this and ensure he wouldn’t forget about the most important threat, he used the strongest person as its gatekeeper—Evangeline Tenebri

He chose that place to seal his wife. The presence of Evangeline kept others at bay; only the strongest beings could dare to venture into that realm. But with her presence, it was impossible for them to even look at that place.

In the Great Catalysmic War, he lost his life after using his last ounce of energy.

For others, it was the end of the Great Archmage Riannel Aintain. But for him, it was the birth of Adriannel Riantain, a new identity and a cycle of rebirth to keep his wife sealed in a place more mysterious than anyone knew.

In his second rebirth, after the Catalysmic War, the Chrintain Valley was converted into an inhabitant for Elves, Dragons, and a place for the banishment of strong individuals.

No one knew the reason for the mana density there except an Archmage.

The Human Realm, which had lost all its Archmages, had fallen from its peak until they emerged out of nowhere—The Obsidian Order

Claiming to be the savior of the Human Realm, they became the front guard against the Demon and Saint realms, making them saviors for all the people of this realm except for one person.

Adriannel, as an Archmage, could never believe in someone’s justice without profit as even he had ulterior motives for all his actions.

His curiosity to learn made him an Archmage; it was his greed.

His helplessness to stop his wife from destroying a world that could have become their home; it was his selfishness.

So, it was impossible for him to believe in some unknown forces with good motives and give them command over the whole realm.

He dug into their information, killed thousands, went deeper into each of their secrets, and finally stood against the Seven Empty Thrones filled with runes.

From the first glance, he knew that these inscriptions and runes did not belong to anything of this world.

And there he realized the origin of these Seven Beings who were not even present in this realm; they operated remotely to ascend in this world using a vessel.

Deventhia’s gaze penetrated the intricate Magic Circles as it tore through the space before capturing the ominous darkness dwelling within the hidden Realm.

Amidst that shadowy abyss, a figure emerged with Hundreds of shining chains binding it’s movement.

This figure possessed stark white hair, an ethereal contrast against its amethyst ones due to it’s mana being drained by the seal.

Deventhia’s own eyes met with two radiant amethyst orbs as a glint shone within them.

SWISH

"Haaa...Haaa...."

She swiftly averted her gaze, gasping as the memories of the chilling horror resurfaced. It was sheer terror that gripped her, an individual typically known for her unwavering mental control felt the fear.

"Adriannel, How?"

She turned her puzzled gaze to the man standing beside her, unable to fathom the abrupt weakening of a Seal that should have endured for years.

Adriannel, with a small smile forming on his face, looked in the direction of Zeph, never turning his gaze towards Deventhia.

"Protect my Son, until I return"