Novel's Extra: The Lost Heir of Dragon Queen-Chapter 76: Reunion and Nightly Spars

Kael arrived at the academy, the sprawling campus eerily quiet as it remained closed for another week.

The familiar sight of towering spires and cobblestone pathways felt both comforting and suffocating.

As he made his way through the dormitory grounds, a voice called out,

"Hey, Kael! Over here!"

Turning around, he saw Marcus, Ren, and Aelina gathered near the central fountain.

Marcus waved enthusiastically, Ren wore a mischievous grin, and Aelina smiled warmly.

Kael walked over, feeling a sense of relief seeing his party members again.

"You guys are early," he said.

"Well, we couldn’t sit around doing nothing," Marcus replied. "Figured we’d come back and get a head start."

"Speaking of getting ahead...Kael, you need to spill the beans. What’s your secret with the Dragon Queen?" Ren asked.

Kael blinked, caught off guard.

"What secret?"

"Don’t play dumb," Ren insisted. "We all saw how she looked at you. Plus, everyone’s talking about her crying when you collapsed. Come on, man, give us the inside scoop!"

Kael sighed, knowing he needed to tread carefully.

"Alright, fine. She sponsored me for the academy. That’s it. She’s just...a family friend of sorts." Kael replied.

Ren squinted at him, clearly not buying it.

"A family friend? That’s the best you’ve got?" Ren said.

"It’s the truth," Kael replied.

Marcus chuckled, deciding to let it go.

"Alright, alright. But we’ve got something else to ask you." Marcus said.

"What is it?" Kael asked.

Marcus exchanged a glance with Aelina and Ren before speaking.

"We want you to train us."

Kael blinked in surprise.

"Train you? Why me?"

"It’s simple," Marcus said. "You’re way ahead of us in combat skills. If we spar with you, we’ll get stronger faster."

Aelina nodded. "We’ll treat it like nightly sparring sessions. It’ll help all of us improve."

Ren smirked. "And don’t think you can say no. We’re not letting you off the hook."

Kael sighed, realizing there was no way out of this.

"Fine. I’ll spar with you guys at night. But don’t blame me if you regret it."

Marcus grinned. "That’s the spirit! Let’s start tonight."

As the group walked back to the dorms, Kael felt a sense of camaraderie he hadn’t experienced in a while.

.

As the group settled into the lounge area of the dormitory, the atmosphere shifted from lighthearted to serious.

Marcus leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms.

"There’s something you should know, Kael," Marcus said.

"What is it?" Kael asked.

Marcus exhaled deeply.

"Professor Tharion is dead."

The room fell silent.

"Dead?" Aelina asked softly.

"Yeah," Marcus confirmed.

Kael’s expression darkened.

"I see," he murmured.

"And that’s not all. Principal Elowen is in custody now." Ren said.

Kael’s head snapped up. "Principal Elowen? Why?"

Marcus leaned forward. "Apparently, she’s being investigated for negligence and possible ties to the events that led to the attack. The council and Vampire queen are involved in questioning her. It’s a mess."

Kael ran a hand through his hair,"So the academy leadership is in complete disarray."

"Pretty much," Marcus said. "For now, the vice principal is handling things, but it’s clear the academy’s reputation has taken a massive hit. They’re trying to keep it under wraps, but rumors are spreading like wildfire."

Aelina added, "It’s not just about the academy. People are questioning the safety of the entire Neutral continent after what happened."

Kael leaned back in his chair, his gaze distant. He felt the weight of the situation settle on his shoulders.

"Things are going to get worse before they get better," he said quietly.

Marcus nodded.

"That’s why we need to stay focused. Training, preparing—whatever it takes." Marcus said.

Kael looked at his team,"You’re right," he said.

.

The week passed in a steady rhythm as the academy prepared to reopen.

Students began trickling in.

For Kael and his team, however, the routine had already settled into a structured regimen.

Each morning, Kael, Shirone, Marcus, Ren, and Aelina would gather in the training grounds before the sun fully rose.

Their warm-up exercises ranged from sprints to strength training, pushing their limits as a unit.

Shirone, with his sharp grasp of lightning magic, took it upon himself to guide Kael in refining his affinity. "It’s all about control," Shirone would say, his hands sparking with precision as he demonstrated techniques.

Kael’s progress was slow but steady, his mastery over the element growing stronger with each session.

By evening, the roles shifted.

Aelina, with her deep connection to water magic as a mermaid, took over Kael’s training.

Her teaching style was fluid, much like the element itself, focusing on flow and adaptability.

"You need to feel the water, Kael," she instructed one evening, her voice calm but firm. "Don’t force it—let it guide you."

As they practiced, Kael couldn’t help but notice Marcus lingering at the edge of the training room, his gaze fixed on them.

Marcus’s attempts to remain inconspicuous were futile; his presence was obvious.

Kael chose to ignore it, chalking it up to Marcus’s curiosity or perhaps concern for his progress or —.

By nightfall, the real challenge began.

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The group gathered for their sparring sessions, with Kael as their opponent.

The duels were intense.

Ren’s agility and precision with a bow kept Kael on edge, while Shirone’s lightning strikes forced him to stay alert.

Aelina’s mastery of water made her movements unpredictable.

Despite the grueling routine, Kael felt himself improving, his body and mind growing sharper with each passing day.

The bond between the team strengthened as they trained together, preparing for the challenges that awaited them as the academy reopened.

For now, the world seemed to pause, granting them a brief moment of peace in the eye of the storm.

But Kael knew that it wouldn’t last.

.

(Academy re-opening day)

The grand hall of the academy was buzzing with energy as the first-year students filled the seats, excitement and curiosity in their eyes.

The re-opening ceremony marked after the S-rank mission.

Kael sat with his usual companions: Marcus, Aelina, Shirone, and Ren.

’The main reason for this Caremony is prize Distribution.’ kael thought.