The Next Day...
The morning sun bathed the modest home where Exafanos and Bella lived. The air was still cool, and birds chirped cheerfully, welcoming the new day. In front of the house, a carriage came to a halt. But this was no ordinary carriage—it was lavishly adorned with noble emblems and drawn by majestic horses equipped with gleaming golden saddles.
The carriage door opened, and a pair of nobles stepped down—a middle-aged man in a dark blue robe embroidered with family crests and a woman in a flowing lavender gown. They were Duke William and his wife—the parents of Rose.
Rose stood beside Bella, slightly nervous. The moment her parents saw her, they rushed in and embraced her tightly, as if never wanting to let her go again. Her mother cried in her arms, while her father—usually cold and authoritative—now wore a face filled with guilt.
"Rose... please forgive us..." her mother whispered hoarsely.
"Yes... we were wrong to treat you that way..." her father added.
Rose remained silent for a moment. Their embrace was warm, but her heart still bore the wounds of their past treatment. Still, she returned their embrace. For some reason, a small weight was lifted off her chest.
They then turned to Bella and bowed respectfully. "Thank you... for taking care of our daughter. We owe you more than we can say."
Bella remained silent. Her eyes stared straight at them—cold and suspicious.
"They tried to take Rose by force before. And now, just one day later... they act like grieving parents who almost lost their precious daughter?"
Then, realization dawned on her. There could only be one reason for such a drastic change: Duke William must have seen—or heard—something terrifying.
And indeed, it was true.
The day before, the elite knights sent by the Duke to retrieve Rose had been effortlessly neutralized. No wounds. No visible attacks. They simply... vanished from within.
Even the best healers, famous mages, and cultivation experts summoned to restore them had failed. The knights' bodies appeared normal, but their inner energy—mana, qi, everything—was gone. Not a trace remained. No potion, spell, or divine pill worked.
Duke William shuddered in fear.
How could someone disable his elite forces without a single touch, spell, or movement?
He realized something undeniable: they were facing a being far beyond human comprehension. And so, he made a decision—to retreat. He even halted the arranged marriage between Rose and the prince of the Barias Empire.
It was, by far, the wisest decision he had ever made.
---
After the Farewell...
Once Rose's family had departed, only Bella and Exafanos remained.
Without a word, Bella began to float, her gown fluttering gracefully in the breeze—like a phoenix returning to its roost. She used magic to ascend, light and elegant.
Exafanos, on the other hand, remained silent. He gazed at the sky, then slowly began to rise—not through magic, not through spiritual energy, but by manipulating gravity itself using his concept of "vanish." He floated without resistance, as if unbound by the world itself.
Bella glanced at him mid-air, surprised.
"He's... not using mana or qi... I can't sense anything from him..." she muttered. "Yet he walks through the air as if it were solid ground..."
More astonishingly, despite her using her fastest flight magic, Exafanos simply walked through the sky and effortlessly kept pace—calm, unhurried, and composed.
---
Moments Later...
Before them stood a majestic building with Western architecture—tall pillars, a grand gate bearing a coiled dragon crest, and walls laced with nearly invisible magical defenses.
This was Dracosta Academy—the most prestigious academy on the continent. A place where nobles, heirs of great families, and gifted individuals came to hone their skills.
As they landed in the front courtyard, students passing by immediately gathered around Bella. They greeted her warmly, smiling respectfully. Bella was known as a kind, nurturing, and exemplary teacher—admired by students of all kinds.
But their attention quickly shifted to Exafanos standing beside her—a young man with unreadable eyes and a calm presence that radiated immense pressure.
"Who is he, Professor Bella?"
"Your friend? Or... maybe your partner?"
Bella answered casually, "He's my friend... and the academy's new teacher candidate."
Immediately, the students tried to sense Exafanos' power. Some focused their mana, others activated their spiritual eyes—but all found nothing.
No detectable energy. No aura. Nothing.
And then... they began to weaken.
Several students collapsed on the spot, unconscious. Others stumbled and had to be carried to the infirmary. Bella sighed, palm on her forehead.
"Why are they so reckless... Even I wouldn't dare try to read Exafanos."
Potions were administered, and the affected students were taken away. Exafanos remained still, shaking his head.
"They're too curious," he murmured.
---
Meeting the Headmistress
Bella led Exafanos into the academy building, walking down a long corridor, past bustling halls, until they stood before a door marked: Headmaster's Office.
Bella knocked politely.
"Come in," a voice replied.
Inside, the room was modest but strange. A mysterious air filled the space. Shelves lined the walls, a large wooden desk sat in the center, and the faint scent of jasmine lingered in the air.
Behind the desk sat a strikingly beautiful woman—her sharp eyes, naturally red lips, and perfectly flowing hair exuded an unnatural charm. She was writing something on a scroll when she looked up.
"Is this the man you recommended yesterday, Bella?" she asked calmly.
Bella nodded.
The woman stood, revealing her full figure. Her gown hugged her curves, her movements confident and alluring. She was Lithuana—the headmistress of Dracosta Academy. A legend in both power and intellect.
She approached Exafanos slowly, gently straightening his collar with a soft smile.
But before she could say much more, blood suddenly dripped from her eyes. She staggered back, covering them with her hand.
Exafanos let out a sigh. "Why is everyone always trying to see through me..."
His passive ability had activated. Anyone who tried to probe his essence would suffer a backlash—simply from the nature of his existence.
Yet Lithuana didn't appear angry or in pain. Instead... she licked her lips.
"Fascinating..." she whispered.
She extended her hand with a smile. "My name is Lithuana."
"Exafanos," he replied simply, shaking her hand.
To Bella's astonishment, Lithuana suddenly pulled Exafanos into a tight embrace.
"Would you be mine?" she asked without hesitation.
Bella's eyes widened in disbelief.
The headmistress... just proposed to him?
Lithuana was known for her icy demeanor. Even royalty had been turned down by her. Yet now, she was smitten at first sight?
Bella rubbed her eyes, unsure if she was hallucinating.
Exafanos, meanwhile, stood still in the embrace. He didn't reciprocate—but he didn't resist either.
"She's bold," he muttered.
Lithuana looked up, locking eyes with him. "Of course I am. When I find someone powerful, I must have him."
Exafanos gently pulled away.
"I didn't come here to be your man," he said calmly. "I only want to know—am I accepted as a teacher here?"
Lithuana smiled even wider. "Of course. You may choose any class you like."
---
To Be Continued...