After taking Yerin’s words into consideration, Ruvian allowed himself a moment to sort through his thoughts.

In the original novel, there had been several cases of scholars going missing during the Vazrun Island test, never to be seen again. While the incidents were few, they all shared a troubling pattern.

The squads involved had started somewhere in the western region of the island. And honestly, that was what slightly troubled him now.

Ruvian knew the starting locations of several important figures. Calyra, Rosalin, Silvena, and Julian all had designated starting points that he could recall from the novel.

His own squad, however, was another story.

He didn’t know where they would be deployed. And that uncertainty bothered him more than he cared to admit.

’Honestly, let’s just hope we don’t end up in the west.’

Ruvian closed his eyes and leaned back against his seat.

’Ah, though knowing my luck...’

He sighed.

’’I’d be better off preparing for the worst.’

Then, his gaze drifted to the side, drawn by the tall window etched into the curved wall of their private quarters, framing the endless, brooding sprawl of the sea beyond.

The world outside was painted in deep blue waves, slow and viscous under the bright sky.

’I wonder when was the last time I went to the sea?’

Chime!

After a long moment, a distant, melodic chime rang out from the heart of the vessel.

Ruvian’s eyes narrowed in awareness, and he spoke — not loudly, but with enough gravity that it parted his teammates’ conversation.

"It’s moving."

The others turned, surprise flickering across their expressions, and in that breath of shared realization, all idle talk vanished, replaced by a low hum of nervous anticipation.

The four of them craned their neck towards the porthole.

Even Yerin, composed as ever, paused, her hand already resting on her lap as if unconsciously bracing herself.

The massive and silent Leviathan had begun its voyage.

[’Beneath the Banner of Enrollment’ Arc has reached its conclusion.]

[Bearer of the Fable, from this moment onwards, you are expected to shape the thread of fate. Silence will no longer shelter you.]

[Entering Arc II: ’The Vazrun Island’.]

[You have endured the first arc!]

[Reward Granted: +10,000 Plot Points]

Ruvian remained calm as the voice echoed in his mind.

He had been expecting this.

After all, he had experienced something similar before, when the "prologue" ended shortly before his enrollment at the academy.

’Still, that’s a lot of points.’

A hint of satisfaction flickered across his thoughts. The reward was far greater than he had anticipated.

Unfortunately, he didn’t have long to dwell on it.

Before Ruvian could properly appreciate the amount he had earned...

Another voice followed, deep and cavernous, as though coming from the depth of desolate hollow.

[■■■■ released a low chorus of resonating laughter.]

Ruvian felt a chill as the words reached him.

["Continue, Bearer of the Fable."]

["Your story does not disappoint."]

*****

A knock came just then, and their attention shifted in unison toward the door.

The door creaked open, revealing the same academy staff member from before.

He stepped inside, his boots thudding against the floor as he made his way toward the round table with the air of a man delivering something important.

With a quiet rustle, he placed a single parchment at its center, just within Yerin’s reach. She instinctively leaned forward, her fingertips already brushing against the aged, wax-sealed edge.

"This may contain your squad’s instructions," the old man said, his voice dry and devoid of inflection.

"You may open it now."

Then he turned, without waiting for questions or reactions, and headed for the door.

And with that, he was gone.

The door clicked shut behind him, and the silence that followed felt a shade deeper than before.

The moment the staff member left, Arlok practically leaned across the table.

"Well? What are you waiting for? Open it already."

His eyes were glued to the parchment.

Shima, who had been sitting quietly until now, nodded in agreement.

Yerin shook her head, a faint smile appearing on her face as she picked up the parchment.

"Alright, alright. I’m opening it."

Her fingers moved toward the wax seal.

Then, she paused.

Somehow, something else caught her attention.

Her gaze shifted toward Ruvian.

While everyone else was focused on the parchment, he seemed to be lost in thought, his eyes fixed on nothing in particular.

"Ruvian?"

Yerin’s voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

He blinked a few times before turning toward her.

Yerin tilted her head slightly.

"You good?"

For a moment, Ruvian was caught off guard.

But he quickly composed himself.

The strange voices from earlier still lingered in his mind. Even now, thinking about them sent a slight chill down his spine.

Fortunately, years of hiding his true thoughts had made masking his reactions a second nature.

Ruvian offered a small, apologetic smile.

"Ah, sorry. I spaced out a bit."

’But that voice... I think I heard it clearly. It sounded as though it was encouraging me. I guess...’

Yerin studied him for a moment before nodding.

After finally managing to gather everyone’s attention, Yerin broke the wax seal with a calm sort of decisiveness.

A soft crack echoed through the room.

She unfolded the parchment carefully. The academy’s emblem, faintly embossed along the inner fold, caught the lantern light overhead.

Almost immediately, the others leaned forward.

Arlok was the first.

Shima followed not long after, despite trying to appear indifferent.

Even Ruvian found his gaze drawn toward the document. After all, this parchment would likely determine where their squad would begin the island test.

’Now... let’s see where they’ll be dropping us.’

Ruvian quietly thought.

As Yerin brought out the paper from the parchment and put it on the table for everyone to see, a long pause stretched across the room, almost questioning.

Arlok’s brow furrowed first.

"Huh? Is this a joke?"

He leaned forward until he was practically hanging over the table. His eyes scanned the page several times before disbelief spread across his broad face.

His thick finger pointed accusingly at the sheet.

"Fuck! There’s nothing on it!"

"...Wait."

Ruvian murmured, not looking at Arlok but at the parchment itself, gaze fixed on it.

"Give it a few seconds."

And then, almost on cue, it began.

──────── ✦ ────────

[Chapter 215: Entering Arc II: The Vazrun Island]

Plot Points= 29,755