The day the stars aligned over Wysteria Academy—the grand graduation for the 3rd-year students—had finally arrived.
The ceremonial hall shimmered with Aetheric chandeliers suspended in midair, casting an elegant glow over the pristine white marble floor. Every seat was filled with proud parents, professors, and the graduating class, all dressed in their resplendent uniforms.
The girls were adorned in ceremonial gowns: short, white and accented with sapphire-blue stripes that glowed faintly in the ambient light. Black thigh-high stockings paired with polished heels, white gloves at their wrists—elegant, yet daring.
The boys, dignified in midnight-black shirts layered under white long coats, donned with personal touches. Some bore custom brooches, others subtle color runes. But one seat remained conspicuously empty—the front row, boys' column.
"Where is Muhan?" Jin-woo whispered, scanning the hall. "He's not even with the girls…"
Mi-cha sat beside Soo-ah and Chae-won, her eyes fixed on the entrance. Her heart beat louder than the ceremonial fanfare playing through the overhead speakers.
But in the silence of his dorm, Muhan sat alone—dressed in his Wysteria ceremonial whites, legs crossed, eyes closed.
"They're late," he muttered.
Knock. Knock.
The door creaked open as Han stepped in, dressed in an elegant dark cloak embroidered with Arcanian sigils. "Is Muhan here?"
Chae-min gasped as she saw her son. "Whoa… is that really our son? He's taller… sharper." She blushed. "He looks like a prince from an S-tier fantasy drama…"
Muhan smirked, grabbing her wrist gently. "Mom. Enough daydreaming. Let's go—we're late."
And with a single warp glyph, they vanished from the dorm.
Inside the main hall, Professor Bora—now principal—stood at the podium delivering her speech with earnest poise.
"Graduating doesn't mean the journey ends," she declared. "Wysteria was only your proving ground. Out there, the real multiverse awaits…"
Suddenly, a glimmer at the entrance caught everyone's attention.
Fwoosh—
Muhan entered with an ethereal flicker of blue flames at his feet. His coat billowed, silver-trimmed and almost glowing. Gasps echoed across the girls' column. One bold girl cried out:
"It's Muhan!!"
The entire hall seemed to shift. Mi-cha turned, a soft smile curling her lips. Soo-ah twisted a lock of her dark hair and murmured, "He made it."
Han and Chae-min made their way to the parents' row. "Looks like our son's popular," Chae-min whispered.
Han adjusted his collar. "He takes after me, clearly."
Professor Bora glanced up mid-speech and instantly flushed crimson. Her eyes met Muhan's—he winked, unintentionally—and she stumbled over her words.
"Th-therefore the gra—GRADULATIONS—er, I mean GRADUATES…" She turned, walked off-stage in a daze. The audience blinked in confusion.
"Did… that just happen?" Ji-hoon whispered to Jin-woo.
Muhan calmly took his seat next to Jin-woo, slipping his hands into his pockets. "Subtle entrance, huh?"
Ji-hoon tapped his shoulder from behind. "We're finally graduating, man. Can you believe it?"
"I can," Muhan said softly. His thoughts flashed—See-hoo's corrupted eyes, the clash with Jin-ho, Mi-cha's Grace Form igniting mid-battle. He had survived… changed.
One by one, names were called. Students ascended the stage to receive their digital medals and system certifications, which automatically uploaded to their System HUDs under the Achievement Sector.
Then, Professor Ae-cha took the stage. The mysterious professor with that unnerving aura… The air seemed to tense subtly as she raised her voice.
"Here are the top 10 graduates of Wysteria Academy," she said. "Based on real battle achievements, academics, and system evolution."
As names rolled out—Kim, Jin-ho, Jin-woo, Ji-hoon, Soo-ah, Mi-cha—each rose to proud applause.
"And finally…" Ae-cha paused, her eyes glinting briefly with something unreadable.
"Muhan Lockhart."
The hall erupted into thunderous applause. A holographic projection displayed Muhan's key moments: shattering See-hoo's fallen form, shielding Mi-cha from spatial collapse, shaking hands with Jin-ho under a burning sky.
As Muhan walked up, his Iris glowed neon blue, flickering with residual Aether energy. The crowd quieted in awe.
He took the mic and looked into the sea of eyes—until they settled on Mi-cha. Time slowed.
"Thank you… everyone," he began. "Wysteria wasn't just a school—it was a storm. And in that storm, I found rivals who became comrades… a girl who became my heart…"
Mi-cha's eyes welled with tears. "Muhan…"
"To our professors: thank you for guiding us. To my mom and dad… thank you for believing in the me that I wasn't yet."
Chae-min and Han held each other, wiping away tears. "He's become a man," Chae-min whispered.
Muhan turned toward Mi-cha, voice gentler now. "And Mi-cha… thank you. For seeing me, even when I didn't see myself."
A ripple of whispers stirred the hall.
"Did he just—?"
"Are they…?"
After the ceremony, Muhan gently took Mi-cha's hand. Her fingers trembled slightly in his.
"Mom, Dad… this is Mi-cha."
Chae-min gasped. "My future daughter-in-law!"
"Mom!" Muhan groaned, flustered.
"She's beautiful! That skin, her aura… and her eyes—wait… pink and purple? Is that natural?"
Han squinted. "That's not just beauty… that's Celestial-Class resonance."
Mi-cha froze, face flushed a brilliant red. "N-no, I'm just a regular girl…"
But then—a sudden breeze cut through the moment.
Tap. Tap.
"Hi Muhan!" A soft voice chirped. It was Chae-won, the Lycan girl with silvery eyes and sharp instincts. She blushed, curling a strand of hair behind her ear.
Before anyone could respond, Mi-cha's system flared silently in her vision.
> [WARNING: UNKNOWN PRESENCE DETECTED NEAR SUBJECT: MUHAN LOCKHART]
[EYES ONLY: MI-CHA - INITIATING CELESTIAL PROTECTION SUBROUTINE...]
Mi-cha's smile faded slightly.
Something… or someone… had followed them into this day of celebration.
And it had begun watching Muhan.