Chapter 373: Chapter 372- A new morning
It was a lazy day.
Everyone was exhausted—both physically and mentally.
After returning to Adrian’s room, they took turns bathing and fell asleep soon after.
Ruby, naturally, didn’t come back with them. She chose to return home and bring her aunt with her.
Adrian was worried about her, but the redhead assured him that she was fine. Still, he asked her to send a letter as soon as she could to let him know what happened at home.
This was the first time Reid Vermillion had been betrayed by someone so close to his family. It wouldn’t be easy for anyone—especially Ruby.
Now, early in the morning, Adrian sat on the bed, quietly gazing at the two women beside him.
Annabelle and Ariana had been too tired to argue about who would sleep next to him, so they just decided to share the bed.
There was enough space for two people to lie comfortably, but with three, it was a bit cramped.
Still, they were so drained that no one cared.
’Haah... so much happened yesterday,’ Adrian muttered under his breath, brushing a loose strand of Ariana’s hair away from her face.
He had finally completed the two steps of the Fifth Thread.
Then came the ambush at Ruby’s house.
He died, met his past self, and saw a version of the world that hardly anyone knew existed.
He learned about his origin and gained something he had been chasing for a long time.
But after that... he hurt the people closest to him—to the point that they grew wary of him.
That thought pierced his heart.
Even though the two women said it was okay, Adrian knew he wouldn’t be able to forget it anytime soon.
By then, he had been completely drained and just wanted the day to end... but there was still more waiting for him.
Annabelle had attacked Skulth’s base.
He had been in a panic. Even though he knew how strong Annabelle was, Adrian couldn’t stop worrying about her.
To attack a cult on her own... naturally, that would raise alarms.
Thankfully, she didn’t suffer any serious injuries. And on top of that, their biggest concern for a while—the cult—had finally been subdued.
The cult’s leader was captured and was set to reveal to the public that the Twilight Vault, Midnight Ascent, and a few other Towers were involved in the farce that could have endangered countless lives.
Naturally, such news would cause an uproar. But Adrian didn’t care.
It would serve as the perfect distraction—something big enough for people to forget about him, at least for now.
With that thought, he got up and walked toward the closet.
He took out his jogging clothes, stared at them for a moment, then sighed and tossed them back inside.
His eyes drifted toward the two girls still sleeping soundly on the bed. They looked peaceful—too peaceful to be disturbed.
He scribbled a short note, leaving it by the bedside. It simply said that he was nearby and they could contact him using the artifact if needed.
After that, Adrian quietly left the room.
Stepping into the hallway, he was met by a familiar face.
"Professor, morning."
It was Allen. Judging by his attire and the faint sheen of sweat on his neck, it seemed he was heading for training.
Adrian gave him a quick once-over. The boy had changed—he looked leaner, sharper. His eyes carried focus, and the aura around him hinted at someone who had been training for real combat, not just technique.
"Morning, student," Adrian greeted with a small nod before walking past him.
But before he could go far, Allen called out, "Umm, sir..."
Adrian stopped and glanced over his shoulder.
The raven-haired boy hesitated, then asked, "If you have some time this weekend, could you be our combat mentor?"
Adrian raised a brow. "Our?"
Allen nodded quickly. "We, the second years, have formed a group to practice combat together. Olivia, Sylvie, Kale, and a few others too."
Adrian thought for a moment before replying, "I’ll think about it. When do you train?"
"After class, sir," Allen said promptly.
Adrian gave a small nod and walked past him without another word.
His feet carried him to the rooftop—a place reserved only for teachers to inspect.
Of course, that wasn’t why he was there.
"Haah..." Adrian let out a deep sigh as he sat beside the flagstaff, his eyes settling on the breathtaking view before him.
The sun was slowly rising over the horizon, painting the sky in hues of gold and orange. The forest stretched endlessly into the distance, and far below, he could see the quiet stirrings of the market as the town began to wake.
For a while, he just sat there, letting the cool morning breeze brush against his face.
Then, breaking the silence, he muttered, "So, System... I suppose what I saw after dying wasn’t part of your plan, was it?"
[...Thanks to your continuous mental training over the past few weeks, you didn’t completely collapse. The system was able to maintain its connection with the host.]
Adrian let out a small chuckle, a hint of pride in his voice. "Well, thank the training doll that forced me to face those horrifying memories—and the diary you gave me. My mind’s become the strongest part of my body."
There was a moment of quiet before he asked, "By the way, System, do I still get the reward you promised for completing the Fifth Thread?"
[Yes, you will, host. The fragment of memory you left for yourself will be crucial—it will help you understand which side you’re meant to stand on.]
"Hmm?" Adrian’s brows rose slightly. Those words set off several alarms in his mind.
But, as always, the System offered nothing more.
Adrian let out a long breath and leaned back, curling his legs close as his gaze drifted toward the academy below. Students were beginning to fill the courtyard, chatting, laughing, living their ordinary lives.
A soft smile found its way to his lips. "Even though it hasn’t been that long... it feels like I’ve been here forever."
When he first opened his eyes in this world, all he knew was fear—fear for his own survival, fear of what came next.
But now... things had changed.
He had people he wanted to protect. Smiles he wished to keep safe.
Goals to reach. Promises to fulfill. Oaths that still held meaning.
The road ahead was uncertain, and the world itself was vast and unpredictable—but for the first time, that didn’t scare him.
He looked toward the rising sun, its warmth painting the sky in gold.
"So many things still await..." he murmured. "And when it all finally ends, I just hope I’ll be sitting like this again—watching a peaceful world awaken before me."
The wind brushed past him, gentle and calm.
And for that fleeting moment, Adrian allowed himself to believe—that maybe, just maybe, peace wasn’t too far away.
—End of the First Half—
°°°°°°°°
A/N:- There would be a time skip after the graduation of the third year.
The longest novel I have ever written. Seriously, without you guys, I might have never reached this point. Thanks to you all.