The door closed behind them with a solid thud, leaving Chancellor Vael alone in her office as Ryker followed behind Professor Aria. The hallway outside felt lighter compared to the suffocating atmosphere inside but Ryker could still feel the ghost of her aura clawing at the back of his neck.
Professor Aria walked with long, confident strides, her crimson hair cascading down her back like a waterfall of flame. Ryker kept pace silently, hands in his pockets, mind whirring.
She threw a glance at him over her shoulder.
"So," she began casually, though her voice held an undercurrent of curiosity.
"What exactly did you two talk about in there? The air felt like it could crush a boulder and half the floor was cracked."
Ryker gave her a sideways glance, lips twitching with faint amusement.
"Nothing interesting," he said with an exaggerated shrug. "Just your everyday chat about what happened in the simulation, the corrupted monsters and hypothetical death scenario."
Aria narrowed her eyes. "Sure…."
"If that happened then I am the Empress of Flame. Come on, that wasn't just a simulation debrief. You left looking like you aged ten years, and her expression…?"
"She looked amused. That's never good."
"You know how Chancellor Vael is," Ryker said smoothly. "She enjoys theatrics."
"Chancellor Vael doesn't enjoy anything," Aria replied bluntly, before pausing to look him over. "Except maybe chaos or torture."
Ryker smirked. "Then we probably get along just fine."
Aria blinked, then let out a low chuckle. "You are braver than you look, Ryker Case. Either that or utterly insane."
"Maybe both."
"You know professor I am hearing that thing about me a lot"
The conversation grew lighter as they continued toward the Academy Vault. As they walked across a narrow passage lined with stone sentries and glowing sigils, Ryker studied the architecture of obsidian pillars, enchanted glass and steel alloy wards reinforced every few meters.
Eventually, they reached a massive reinforced gate sealed by concentric circles of magic. Golden runes shimmered as they approached.
Professor Aria placed her hand on the center sigil. The rings rotated, clicking into place and the gate let out a deep groan before parting.
"Welcome to the Academy Vault," she said, stepping aside for Ryker to enter first.
As he stepped inside, his breath caught.
It was enormous.
The vault stretched out like a cathedral of secrets. Rows upon rows of transparent crystalline cases floated in midair, each housing something extraordinary. Every case is glowing with swords, bound grimoires, cloaks that shimmered like galaxies. Mechanical guardians floated in silence above, watching with lifeless red eyes.
Ryker's gaze swept across the chamber. In the distance, a giant orb displayed holographic listings of categorized items. Artifacts, Weapons, Armors, Skills and more.
Ryker whispered to himself, "This place… is even more incredible than the novel described."
He recalled key scenes, moments where the protagonist Lucas stumbled into this vault after winning the Nexus Combat Festival, he was allowed to choose one item from this vault and that one item helped him in the long run. Now Ryker stood in that very place, but this time, the choice was his.
Professor Aria leaned against the doorframe. "Take your time. You get one thing. Anything you want."
Ryker nodded and walked slowly down the glowing path, each case lighting up as he passed.
He first explored the skill section. Holograms projected names and descriptions.
[Radiant Judgment - SS Rank] [Lance of Serenity - S Rank] [Divine Reflection - A Rank]
Ryker's eyes widened as he skimmed through the offerings. These were all geared toward his Light affinity, some even legendary. His fingers hovered over a few, absorbing the details.
"Too flashy," he murmured. "Too costly."
He weighed the future against the present. The battles, the betrayals, the monsters hiding in the margins of the original story.
And the variables that had already changed everything.
"I can't just plan for what I know," Ryker thought. "Not anymore."
He moved past the high-rank section and wandered deeper. Here, the shelves grew less elegant, the lighting dimmer. The air itself seemed older.
Low rank skills.
Some are useless.
Some are forgotten.
But one…
"...Bingo."
His eyes locked onto a small, dim panel containing a single skill book. Its glow was faint. Almost dismissible.
He read the description and gave a slow, knowing smile.
"Lucky," Ryker muttered.
He took the skill book and turned back.
Professor Aria was checking her wristwatch going through holo tabs but she looked up as Ryker approached.
"Found something?" she asked.
Ryker held up the skill book. "This one."
Aria blinked. "That? Seriously? That's barely even ranked."
"I know."
She raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"
"I am." Ryker replied.
Aria looked at him for a moment longer, then shrugged. "You are seeing the big picture. That's rare. Most students would be halfway to bankrupting the vault."
"Power without purpose is a wasted edge."
She chuckled. "Spoken like someone who's already seen the battlefield."
Ryker smiled but said nothing.
"Alright. Hold still. Vault protocol," she said.
She stepped closer and gave him a quick scan from head to toe with a sleek device. Then, she placed a hand on his chest briefly.
"No hidden artifacts. You are clear."
"Thank you."
She handed the skill back back to him. "Need help learning it now or later?"
Ryker shook his head. "Later. But thank you for the offer."
"Suit yourself."
With a few taps on her wrist screen, the vault began sealing itself. Ryker glanced back at the rows of wonders one last time as the gates groaned shut.
They stepped outside.
"You have got the rest of the day off," Aria said, stretching slightly. "That's straight from the Chancellor."
"I will take it." Ryker said with a smile.
"Try not to break anything else." Professor Aria said to Ryker as she walked away.
"No promises."
They parted ways at the next corridor and Ryker turned toward the dormitory wing.
His boots echoed with quiet steps but his mind buzzed.
He smirked.
"That conversation… Vael bought me time. It covers one arc's mess entirely. That alone is worth celebrating."
His fingers brushed the skill book tucked in his inner coat.
"And this…? This will change the game."
He looked up, a gleam in his eye.
"Time to start building a team. I am not Lucas nor am I Arthur."
"Unlike both of them I have no interest of doing this fight alone"
"I need pawns"
"I need people that will do everything I tell"
Ryker's smirk widened as he remembered a distant detail about a character from an arc.
"For building my dream team my first step is…
"Get a girlfriend."