At the Greenhouse beneath the Asta Academy on the base floor, Xan starts packing his belongings whilst Kael pats the horse.

"You're packing?" Kael questioned.

"Well, you found me so it's time for me to return to teaching. Not even the other professors or the headmaster know of this place," Xan said.

Kael rubs the back of his head as he lets off an awkward chuckle.

"There's no need for you to feel bad. Just take note to carefully use your magic around people. It will be bad if anyone finds out, and it's not the Association I'm worried about but the evil organization. You'll become their target especially since you're pure blood."

"..."

Xan deactivates his spell and the greenhouse is transformed to an ordinary storeroom and the horse a greatsword. He grabs the greatsword and stores it in his inventory.

"So everything here was created by alchemy?"

"It's not easy since Alchemy works with the law of equivalent exchange. Well then, shall we return upstairs."

Xan and Kael are walking down the hallway together and every student keeps staring at them.

"This old guy is strong. I've never seen such a technique before," Alastair said.

(Well his Astral Magic rank is S Tier. He is one of the 16 who managed to awaken such.)

"Everyone keeps looking away. You sure are a celebrity, Kael."

"Dr. Xan..."

A woman dressed in the Asta Academy female teacher's uniform with deep blue walks towards Xan holding a stack of papers.

"Well look who it is. If it isn't young Selene."

"Dr. Xan, where have you been? Headmaster Alaric and your granddaughter Isolde have been looking for you."

{Professor Selene Arcturus: Professor of Astronomical Studies and Advanced Astral Theory from the Theoretical studies and history department}

"Well, as you can see, I'm alive and well. There was no need to worry. Send the same message to that troublesome granddaughter of mine."

"And next to you is..."

"Right, this is Kael Voss. I'm sure you already know who he is since you were teaching him in my absence. He was the one who found me."

"I see..."

"I hope you're treating Selene well. She is a very good student of mine. She might not have lasted in the frontier, but she's great as a teacher," Xan said.

"Right, I know that very well," Kael said with a sharp gaze and Selene frowned at him.

"Well, you have a good day young Selene. We'll be on our way," Xan said.

"Right..."

Kael and Xan walk away and Selene glares at Kael. A few minutes later, they arrive before the Class 1-A classroom.

"Kael! Where have you been!? We've been searching for you the whole break!" Ada said as she and Arthur walked towards them.

"Princess..."

Xan gets down on one knee and places his right hand over his heart.

"I greet you both, young lady Ada and Prince Arthur."

"You're... old man Xan," Arthur said.

"You were able to recognize him that quick?" Kael said.

"I'm so glad you still remember me, Prince Arthur. How is your father?"

"He's got a lot on his mind but he seems to be doing well," Arthur replied.

"You're the legendary Xan who fought alongside King Lancelot and Eldwin Fischer," Ada said.

"I'm not really a legend since we failed to reclaim Lunaris. Besides, I'm still alive," Xan said.

Kael remembers what Xan said about the Shadow Coven.

"They have been causing us trouble for 30 years. What's worse is the leader of these Hazards. He took away my left arm, King Lancelot's right arm, Duchess Aisling's left eye, and the former Duke of Durnholde's life. It's no ordinary power which is why we made them our top priority. These individuals have formed an organization known as The Shadow Coven."

Kael looks at Ada with an observant look "..."

"Well then, we can't spend our time here. Shall we go into the classroom," Xan said.

Xan walks into the classroom with one hand behind his back, followed by Kael and the two behind him. Kael sits in the last row and sees Ada and Arthur seated next to him.

"Seriously, what do you two want from me?" Kael questioned.

"I'm here to observe every action of the man I'll battle in the death with in the future," Arthur said.

"I'm here to observe that weird powers of yours. Observation is better up close," Ada said.

"I'm making sure you don't run away from our next duel," says Lucille, who is seated before them with both arms extended and his right leg over his left thigh.

"Who are you?" Kael, Ada, and Arthur all synchronizing said.

"How cruel! Should I show you another Heaven's fury so you remember!"

"Ahem, quite all you students, we're about to start with my first lesson. My name is Caelum Xan, former doctor of the battlefield and also a former Starlight Warden of the Celestial Forge."

The students began to murmur...

"No way!"

"It really is that Dr. Xan, one of the six heroes of the Iron Pact War 30 years ago."

"My dad is always talking about them."

"Haha, thanks for all the flattery. I look at you all and I can see a bright future. The Astral Magi will be great in the next four years. Maybe with our new army, we can stop the prophesied war. The battlefield is not a joke place, which is why we don't just let anyone into the Magi. Ashenfiends are conquerors here to take our land, our goal as Magi is to fight them off, and that's what put a hold on the Iron Oact War. Ashenfiends are relentless and kill anybody, so you can't raid gates with a weak mindset. Some are in pursuit of this job for money, power, and fame. Whilst others seek justice and vengeance. I say you do it for the sake of this Kingdom that has birthed you. As your professor, I must guide you through that path. Now, let's begin with our lessons shall we?"

Later that night in the headquarters of the Celestial Forge in the City of East in Eldoria...

* The Headquarters of the Celestial Forge is a fortress-like structure with a glowing ember motif, featuring walls that shimmer like molten metal at sunrise and sunset.

"Lady Isolde, I have a report to make. It looks like Dr. Xan has resurfaced after five months of absence," the Magi reported.

"That old fool. Causing me to worry like that, just where the hell did he go?"

{Isolde Xan: Starlight Warden of the Magi Company the Celestial Forge. Society rank: Sanctified noble. Astral Rank: B Tier. Skill: Alchemy. Role: Lead Engineer. Company Rank: 8th}

"But he's okay is he not? Isn't that all that matters," the Magi said.

"I'll give him a talking-to for disappearing for five whole months!" Isolde yelled as she touched the ground and created multiple ground spikes.

'She sure is scary. Different from the previous leaders.'

The next day, at the Asta Academy, Dr. Xan taught the class using a 3D mana projector on his desk. The students took notes of everything taught.

"As you all know, there are various species of Ashenfiends. Do you guys already have a vague understanding of what Ashwnfiends are do you not? Ashenfiends are interdimensional species that make their way to Earth through an interdimensional crack known as gates, to hunt and feed off human mana. Allowing them to grow stronger and live longer. The Ashenfiend ranks are assigned by the Association based on the mana they emit. There are about over 30 Ashenfiend species. Three of the Ashenfiends are the Nethermoth, I'm sure you've heard about them. Titan-like creatures with large horns, one of the toughest of the Ashenfiends. They're known for their impenetrable hide making them tough ones to defeat. They dwell in ruined or desolate lands filled with mana. Next are the Frostbriars, they are humanoid with blue icy skin with pointed features, dwelling in snowy or tundra-like areas with low ambient mana. Lastly, we have the Abyssal Wraiths, their appearance is a wispy, fiery form with molten veins glowing under obsidian-like skin. They dwell in Volcanoes, magma caves, or areas with high geothermal energy," Xan dictated with the projector projecting the images of what he said.

"I've heard of Nethermoths since they were the ones that led an army of Ashenfiends during the first cataclysm in Lunaris City in the State of Ravenshade," Ada said.

"It was quite the battle but we managed to defeat them to ensure the future of the next generations," Xan said.

(They were not defeated, not one. It was Alastair who wiped them all out.) Kael thought to himself as images of the incident in the shopping district flashed in his head.

"There listings of the Ashenfiends on your tablet or would you like me to read them out?" Xan asked.

"Please spare us the details," Arthur replied.

"Very well. Just make sure to prepare for it. I'll teach you their anatomy, but I'm sure you know this since you started the Academy five months ago. Now, to the point I've been waiting to get to, to conclude this lesson. We'll be talking about your stats in case you have no vague understanding of it. The Blessed are Individuals who receive a normal blessing from the Astral Gods at birth or during significant rites. These blessings act as divine marks, determining one’s social status, role, and position in society. But there is a rare case when one receives a second blessing, and the Blessing is used for combat. These individuals are known as Blessed Warriors. The Blessed Warriors are Individuals who experience an awakening, a rare phenomenon where their blessing transforms, granting them the ability to wield Astral Magic and excel in combat or other extraordinary fields. When one goes through their awakening, they usually awaken based on their society rank. For if a Commonfolk awakened, their Astral Magic rank will be either E Tier or D Tier. And if a Sanctified noble awakened, it would be either C Tier or B Tier. You already know about Divine Royals. If they go through an awakening, it's A Tier. But some mutants awaken higher than their society rank, and I'm not talking about an E Tier becoming D Tier or a C Tier becoming B Tier, that's common. I'm talking about those who awaken S Tier abilities despite their society rank like The Heralds and Eve Wilson. They are known as Celestials and there are only 16 of them in the Kingdom, and I'm included. A lot experience blockades to rise but they don't understand it. Is it only your Job skill that makes you S Tier? Look at your window."

<Character Stats>

Basic Information (Top Section):

Name: Kael Voss Fischer

Title: The Lone Reaper +1

Age: 18 

Gender: Male

Affiliation: The Asta Academy of the Astral Magus Association

Class: Reaper

Job: None

Rank: D+ Tier (Sanctified noble)

Core Attributes (Left Section)

STR: 110

END: 106

AGI: 108

INT: 108

WIL: 120

CHA: 102

LUK: 109

Combat Stats (Right Section)

HP: 100/100

MP: 110/110

STM: 116

ATK: 143

DEF: 120

SPD: 133

Critical Rate: 60%

Dodge Rate: 80%

Skills & Abilities (Center):

Passive Skills: Shadow Empowerment & Fear Incarnate

Active Skills: Shadow Manipulation (Void Rend, Dark Vision, Shadow Bind, Shadow Step, Shadow Spawn)

Ultimate (Job) Skills: [Locked]

Weapon Arts: Void Slash

Equipment (Bottom Right Section):

Weapons: Ecplise Reaper, Black Scythe

Armor: None

Accessories: None

Relics/Artifacts: None

Status Effects (Bottom Center Section):

Buffs: Death's Aura, Reaper’s Resolve, Soul Harvest, Silent Step, Grim Endurance, Symbol of the Reaper

• Debuffs: Isolation Penalty, Burden of Souls, Grim Reputation, Unseen Cost, Marked by Death, and Eternal Solitude