Chapter 244: Zane Takes Charge

“I’ll help you. They are my students.”

The words settled heavily in the air, and for a moment none of them spoke. Relief slowly spread across their faces, but Zane didn’t give them time to linger in it.

“In two days, classes will resume,” he continued calmly. “So in these two days, I’ll train you—and we’ll bring them back.”

There was no hesitation in his tone, no uncertainty. To him, it sounded less like a plan and more like something already decided.

Maera’s eyes sharpened at once, Selene straightened with renewed determination, and even Drevin’s quiet gaze grew more focused.

Zane turned slightly. “Let me inform Seris. Wait here.”

Maera frowned. “But she won’t allow us to go.”

A faint smirk appeared on Zane’s face. “Don’t worry about that. I’ll manage.”

And before they could say anything else, he vanished.

—

Zane reappeared beside Eirenyssa, who had been waiting quietly.

“Let’s go back to Seris,” he said. “I need to talk to her.”

Eirenyssa nodded immediately. “Yes, my lord.”

They returned to the Vice-Chairman’s office, the door opening without ceremony this time.

Seris looked up from her desk, slightly surprised. “Oh, Professor Zane… Miss Eirenyssa. You didn’t find your rooms?”

Zane didn’t respond to that. Instead, he walked forward and stopped in front of her desk, his gaze steady.

“There’s something you didn’t tell me.”

Seris stiffened ever so slightly. A faint bead of sweat formed on her forehead.

“…What are you talking about?”

“My students,” Zane replied, his voice calm but firm. “They’re missing.”

The room fell silent.

Seris exhaled slowly, as if she had been expecting this moment.

“…You found out.”

She leaned back slightly, her expression tired but composed. “If I had told you, you would have gone after them immediately. And the academy would have been left defenseless again.”

Her gaze lowered for a moment before she continued, “We are trying to locate Jax Harl. But Ron Volkov and Lia Isolde…” she paused, then sighed, “…they were formally withdrawn from the academy.”

Zane looked at her without blinking.

“And you know that’s nonsense.”

Seris gave a small, defeated smile. “Yes. But in our current situation, we can’t interfere. Those documents are official.”

Zane didn’t argue further. He simply said, “I can.”

“And I will.”

His voice carried a quiet certainty that made the air feel heavier.

“In two days, I’m bringing them back. All of them—Lia, Ron, Jax… and Caelum.”

Seris’s eyes widened slightly at the last name, but before she could respond, Zane continued.

“And I’m taking those three students with me.”

That snapped her back.

“Absolutely not,” she said immediately. “They are students. And Maera and Selene have noble lineage. I can’t allow that.”

Zane remained unmoved. “I guarantee their safety. And they’re going whether you allow it or not—they’ve already decided.”

There was no arrogance in his tone. Just fact.

Then he added, almost casually, “And you don’t need to worry about the academy.”

He gestured toward Eirenyssa. “She’ll stay here.”

Seris looked at her, then back at Zane.

“She’s stronger than Caelum.”

That… made her pause.

A long silence followed before Seris let out a deep breath, her shoulders relaxing slightly as if she had given up resisting.

“…Even if I try to stop you, it won’t matter, will it?”

Zane didn’t answer.

He didn’t need to.

Seris closed her eyes for a moment, then nodded faintly. “Just… protect them.”

Zane smirked.

“Who do you think you’re talking to?”

There was no hesitation this time, no humor hiding behind his words.

“I’m the strongest.”

He turned toward the door.

“As long as I’m with them…”

His voice carried absolute certainty.

“Nothing will happen.”

Zane gave a small nod.

Then his gaze shifted toward Eirenyssa.

“While I’m gone,” he said calmly, “kill anyone without mercy if they show hostile intent toward the academy.”

There was no emotion in his tone.

“However… if someone seems interesting enough, keep them alive. I’ll deal with them when I return.”

Eirenyssa didn’t question it. She simply bowed her head slightly.

“Yes, my lord.”

Zane smirked faintly.

“Perfect.”

With that, he turned and walked out of the office.

—

Outside, near the academy grounds, the three students were waiting.

The tension on their faces was clear.

Maera stood with her arms crossed, trying to stay composed but failing to hide her impatience. Drevin remained quiet, his eyes scanning the surroundings, while Selene kept glancing toward the building, clearly anxious.

“What’s taking so long…” Maera muttered.

Before anyone could respond—

Zane appeared in front of them.

Selene’s eyes lit up instantly.

“Professor! What happened? Did we get permission?”

Zane smiled slightly and nodded.

“We’re going.”

Relief washed over them immediately.

Without wasting another moment, the group headed out—this time not sneaking through the barrier, but walking straight through the academy gates.

For once, there was no need to hide.

Once they were outside, Zane glanced at them.

“So,” he said casually, “where to first? Lia or Ron?”

Selene shook her head.

“Actually… both kingdoms are at the same place right now.”

Zane raised an eyebrow.

“What?”

“Wasn’t Ron’s kingdom—the floating Glimmereach—near Aetherveil?”

Selene nodded.

“It was. But after the official withdrawal documents came… news spread that Glimmereach started moving.”

“Moving?”

“Yes,” she continued. “It’s now positioned directly above the Thesmeris Kingdom.”

Zane’s expression shifted slightly.

“Oh… is that so.”

Selene nodded again.

“And the reason…”

She hesitated for a moment.

“…Lia’s older sister and Ron’s older brother are getting married. Tomorrow.”

Maera stepped in, her voice more serious.

“There are also rumors,” she added, “that both kingdoms plan to merge.”

“To form a single empire.”

Zane listened quietly, a faint hint of interest crossing his expression.

“…I see.”

Maera’s gaze hardened.

“And during that same ceremony…”

Her fists clenched.

“They’re planning to execute Lia and Ron.”

Silence followed.

The weight of those words settled heavily.

But Zane—

Zane simply smiled faintly.

As if he had just heard something… mildly inconvenient.

Zane glanced ahead, hands still casually in his pockets.

“So… we head to save Lia and Ron.”

There was no urgency in his tone, as if he were simply deciding the next step of a routine day.

Then he stopped walking and turned slightly toward them.

“We’ll infiltrate,” he said, “and follow my plan.”

Maera frowned a little.

“But… Professor Zane, you’re so strong…”

Zane looked at her.

“So you want me to go in head-on?”

Maera froze.

Zane continued, his tone calm but firm.

“That would solve the problem for a short time.” He tilted his head slightly. “But in the long run, it creates more complications.”

His gaze moved across all three of them.

“Not for me.”

A small pause.

“For you.”

The weight of those words settled.

“We’re not just saving them,” he continued. “We’re doing it in a way that doesn’t put you all in constant danger afterward and don’t cause another war .”

He stepped closer and lightly brushed Maera’s hair aside with his hand.

“We fight this with both brain and brawn.”

“Understood?”

Maera blinked, then quickly nodded, a faint blush appearing on her face due embarrassment of such idiotic suggestion that she gave.

“…Yes, Professor.”

Zane gave a small nod.

“Good.”

Then his expression shifted slightly.

“But right now…”

He looked at all three of them.

“You’re not ready.”

“Not even close.”

The words weren’t harsh.

Just factual.

Selene and Maera stiffened slightly, while Drevin remained quiet, his eyes narrowing just a bit.

“So I’m going to train you.”

That made all three of them look up.

Drevin spoke first this time.

“But, Professor… we have around fifteen hours until morning.” His tone was calm, but there was clear doubt behind it. “How much can we even improve in that time?”

A brief pause.

“And can we even get stronger… in such a short period?”

Zane looked at him.

Then—

He smirked.

“Fifteen hours is short.”

He took a step forward.

“For you.”

Then his eyes gleamed faintly.

“But what if…”

He paused just long enough to build tension.

“…you had fifteen days?”

All three of them froze.

“…What?”

Their voices came out almost at the same time.

Zane’s smile deepened slightly.

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