Athena narrowed her eyes. Rufus was always unpredictable, but this time, something in his expression felt… off. He was amused, sure, but there was something else—something almost solemn. That wasn’t like him.


    "What mission?" she asked, crossing her arms.


    Rufus chuckled, his usual air of mischief playing across his face.


    "A mission that will aid in your future." He leaned forward slightly. "You have a tremendous amount of potential, kid—something I didn’t even see in your father."


    Alexander’s eyes narrowed.


    "And what exactly is this important mission?"


    Rufus’s expression darkened for a moment.


    "The demon who came as a new professor… he is someone special." He paused, then added, "Help him remember what he forgot."


    Athena’s brow furrowed. Help a demon… remember?


    "And Alexander," Rufus continued, turning to him, "don’t worry. He would never harm her."


    He let out a slow breath, as if recalling something distant, something painful.


    "Not her," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "Never her."


    For a moment, a shadow of sadness flickered in his eyes. But just as quickly as it appeared, it was gone—replaced by his usual mischief.


    His smirk returned. "Prince, would you like to see around your daughter’s dorm?"


    Alexander studied him carefully, the weight of centuries reflected in this strange being before him. A man, a legend, or something more?


    Rufus continued, his tone more serious now.


    "Don’t worry. As long as even a sliver of my consciousness remains here, I will never let Abyss set foot in this place. This is the sanctuary that holds the future of various realms and races."


    Alexander nodded, reassured. This being—whatever he truly was—had seen the greatest triumphs and the deepest sorrows of mortal history, and still, he had chosen to remain. To protect.


    Ever since hearing Rufus Alfonso’s name, a question had plagued Alexander’s mind—if beings of such power had failed to destroy Abyss, how could he and his companions, far weaker than the legends before them, hope to succeed?


    And yet, as he watched his daughter—so young, yet so unyielding—an unfamiliar thought crept into his mind. Could she… succeed where he and his generation had failed? The idea was both exhilarating and terrifying.


    As they walked, they arrived at a massive entrance.


    The doorway was there—but there were no doors. Only a solid wall blocking the way.


    Alexander frowned. A teleportation array?


    Without hesitation, Rufus walked straight through the wall as if it didn’t exist.


    Alexander took a step forward, but Athena stopped him. She placed her palm against the wall, and suddenly, the entire entrance glowed blue.


    With a quiet hiss, the wall split in half and slid aside, revealing the passage beyond.


    Athena turned to him with a small smirk.


    "If you don’t step inside now, you won’t be able to get out later," she teased. "It only grants access to the inhabitants of Alpha Dorm. Unless you’re with me, you’re stuck outside—or inside."


    Alexander chuckled in amusement before stepping through.


    As soon as Athena entered behind him, the doors sealed shut with a whisper-quiet motion.


    "I was expecting some kind of magic array portal," Alexander admitted, glancing back at the now-sealed entrance. "But this… this feels more like a machine-engineered door."


    Athena chuckled.


    "It’s not just machinery. It’s a combination of three different things—mana, runes, and engineering."


    Alexander saw the glint of excitement in her eyes, and he couldn’t help but smile.


    ‘She’s in good hands.’


    Before he could say anything, Rufus’s voice rang out from deeper inside.


    "Are you two just gonna stand there admiring the door all day, or do you wanna see what I did with the barrier?"


    Alexander and Athena exchanged glances before stepping forward.


    "Dad, this is my training ground. He gives me simulated Abyssal creatures and demons to fight against." Athena gestured toward the vast space around them. "And for a man who’s mostly known for his architectural achievements, he’s surprisingly good with weapons."


    Rufus smirked. "Kid, don’t underestimate our generation. We were known for our versatility. Nowadays, someone with the most trash-tier skills gets called a genius. But back in our time, a true genius was someone who was unparalleled in at least three different areas. And those areas could be anything—combat, magic, engineering, strategy…" He trailed off for a moment, lost in thought.


    "I’ve only seen a handful of true geniuses in this Academy’s history," Rufus mused. "Your father and his ridiculous band of friends were among them. And, of course, that beautiful and fierce lady…" He paused. "She always reminded me of someone."


    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    Athena frowned. "That beautiful woman you’re talking about—that must be my mother."


    Rufus stared at her in disbelief before sighing dramatically. "A kind, well-behaved, and strong woman like her actually married the trashiest guy of her generation—and gave birth to a brat like you." He shook his head in mock sorrow. "Ah, the unpredictability of mortal hearts."


    Athena gave him a puzzled look. "What?"


    Rufus chuckled. "Hoho! I’ve seen a lot in this Academy, but one thing I never saw? A single day going by without your mother and father fighting like street dogs. It was… truly entertaining."


    As he spoke, he walked toward the massive glass door at the far end of the training hall. Just like before, he passed straight through it like a ghost.


    Athena sighed, pressed her palm against the lock, and the door slid open. She and Alexander stepped inside.


    The room was dimly lit, illuminated only by the soft glow of multiple screens, wires, and engineering tools scattered across workbenches. At the very center stood a circular podium, surrounded by a shimmering mana shield.


    And within that shield, there was a pillar.


    It was carved from pristine white jade, covered in intricate runes and arrays that pulsed faintly with energy. The mana radiating from it was so pure that it felt holy, like something that should not exist in this world.


    Athena felt something inside her tighten.


    The moment the strange sensation hit her, the pillar pulsed—once, then again, in perfect sync with her heartbeat. A rush of energy flooded her senses, too much, too fast. The world blurred at the edges. Cold sweat ran down her back as her knees buckled.


    Her vision blurred, and her skin felt ice-cold.


    Alexander moved instantly, catching her before she could collapse. He could feel the pulsing energy—it wasn’t just the pillar reacting to Athena; Athena was reacting to it.


    "I shouldn’t have brought her inside," Rufus muttered under his breath. He stepped forward to lead them out—


    And then—


    A voice rang through the chamber.


    "Rufus."


    It was deep. Familiar. Powerful.


    A voice that shook the very foundations of Alpha Dorm and the enchanted forest surrounding it.


    Rufus froze. His entire body went rigid, his breathing shallow. No. This was impossible. He had steeled himself for centuries, convinced he would never hear that voice again. And yet… here it was. A tremor ran through him, his heart pounding like a war drum.


    His voice was barely a whisper.


    "M-My Lord... Is that you?"


    For the first time in centuries, his soul trembled.


    Athena, still caught in the haze of pain, slowly opened her eyes when she heard a voice—a voice she knew.


    Her fingers tightened around her father’s hand.


    "Dad… it’s the same voice I heard back then."


    Alexander’s gaze flickered between his daughter and Rufus, who stood unnaturally still. Shock and recognition warred on Rufus’s usually smug face. ‘Whoever this voice belonged to, they were not just powerful—they were someone crucial.’


    Rufus’s voice was strained, almost reverent. "My Lord… I thought you had left us."


    The voice responded, deep and calm yet distant, carrying a weight of ancient sorrow.


    "I am no longer present here, Rufus. What you hear is merely the echo of my consciousness—a fragment I left behind within this child’s soul to guide her, for she is my chosen."


    Alexander’s entire body tensed.


    ‘A fragment of his consciousness… within my daughter?’


    The voice continued.


    "It is only because of the Grand Pillar that I can speak now. My power has long since faded—I can no longer watch over this world as I once did."


    Then, it addressed Alexander directly.


    "Alexander of Arcane, you are a man of great will… and yet, you have only just begun to see the path ahead. Your daughter walks a road darker than yours, and yet… she must."


    Despite the weight of the situation, Alexander felt his heart clench.


    "But be warned… The Abyss is watching. He covets her. And when he learns the truth—her true mission—his fury will be unmatched."


    A sense of dread settled over the room.


    "When that day comes, you must do everything in your power to buy her time to grow."


    Alexander clenched his fists. ‘That day? When? How soon?’


    The voice sighed.


    "The times of peace are ending. The storm will come soon."


    "When she embarks on her journey to find her Bound Beast…" the voice grew fainter, "guide her to the Ancient Ruins of Armageddon. There, she will find her destined bond."


    A pause.


    "Not just her—" the voice continued, "but the two boys… and the child of the Northern Empire."


    Alexander’s breath hitched. "The Northern prince?"


    "Do not see him as an enemy," the voice warned. "One day, he will be your daughter’s greatest strength."


    Another sigh.


    "I do not have much time. I must return to my slumber."


    There was an eerie stillness as the voice faded, leaving behind only silence.


    Athena had lost consciousness somewhere in the middle of the conversation.


    Alexander stood there, staring at the sleeping child in his arms, his mind racing.


    ‘Who was that?’


    Something in his heart told him he shouldn’t ask. Shouldn’t even try.


    Rufus finally let out a long sigh. His eyes softened as he looked at the unconscious girl. "We need to ensure she is strong enough for what’s ahead."


    Meanwhile, Athena’s consciousness was transported elsewhere.


    When she opened her eyes, she found herself no longer in the training room.


    Instead, she stood in the middle of a vast, endless garden.


    Lush flowers swayed in the breeze. Strange golden butterflies flitted through the air. The sky was a mesmerizing swirl of deep purples and blues, like a twilight that never ended.


    Athena’s brow furrowed.


    ‘Where… am I?’