The next day, Kieran opened his eyes while sitting cross-legged on his bed. He exhaled a long breath before standing up, stretching his arms, and looking out his room window at the rising sun.

He showered quickly and put on his uniform, forgetting all thoughts of putting on a tie before joining Ryan at the cafeteria.

After having lunch with him, the two separated to go to their respective classes.

Checking the route he needed to take to get to his class, Kieran walked through the academy, taking his time looking around.

A few minutes later, he entered one of the buildings before finding a classroom with a sign written 2-3 on it.

The classroom was a typical lecture hall, with rows of desks and chairs facing a holographic board at the front. Most of the seats were already taken by other students. Some were in the middle of a conversation, while others were quietly revising their notes.

Looking for a place to sit, Kieran saw a lone figure sitting in the corner of the classroom reading a book. His heart suddenly began to beat faster, and his lips rose slightly as he began to walk towards her.

Elseria, who was lost in her book, was surprised when she felt someone approaching her. Turning her head, she was greeted by the sight of Kieran smiling at her.

"Hi. Looks like we're in the same class," said Kieran.

"H... Hi," Elseria replied before looking at her bracelet.

'Is it broken?' she wondered.

'Is it me, or does she seem sad?' Kieran thought, looking at her from the side. He couldn't help but notice that her eyes seemed slightly red as if she had spent the night in tears.

"Can I sit here?" he asked.

"You should avoid coming near me," replied Elseria.

"Again? Is this what you want? Or is it just because others are avoiding you?"

"I..."

Elseria began to speak softly, averting her eyes. However, before she could continue, a Professor entered the room and moved in front of the holographic board.

"Everyone, take your seats. We are about to start the class," the Professor said.

"I can't change seats now. You'll have to put up with me until the next class," Kieran said before sitting next to Elseria and looking towards the Professor.

Elseria glanced at him briefly before focusing on the Professor.

The Professor was a middle-aged woman who appeared to be 30 years old. Her black hair was pulled back neatly into a bun. Her slender body seemed to attract the attention of the male students in the class.

"I am Professor Melia. Now that the inscriptions are complete, each class will have a Head Professor who will manage all events related to their class while other Professors will intervene for specific lessons. Until the end of the year, I will be your Head Professor. If you have just joined us this year, do not fret over the lessons you might have missed during your first year. At this academy, students are grouped by age, and the subjects taught by Professors change accordingly. You won't miss out on any essential lessons this year as we tailor our teachings to the minimal cultivation level expected of someone your age within our academy."

Professor Melia made a simple gesture with her fingers towards the holographic board, and a representation of a crystal tree appeared on it.

"One of the goals of the Transcendental Academy of Ostrion is to train Transcendents and future Transcendents, so today's class will focus on that theme. Firstly, since the Ozryn incident, the rules enforced by the Aegis Alliance regarding information restrictions have been revised. Every institution is now obligated to impart to every student information regarding the various cultivation ranks, as well as the specificities of the Transcendent realm."

Professor Melia gestured with her fingers again, and a different image appeared on the holographic board. A representation of ten crystal trees appeared with each of them, except the very first, having a greater number of gems attached to their roots than the tree before it, the last having a total of nine gems attached to its roots.

"Can someone explain to me what the difference is between a Mortal realm cultivator and a Transcendent realm cultivator?" Professor Melia asked, looking at the students in her class.

A silence was heard before a student raised its hand.

"I'm listening," said Professor Melia.

"Once the Transcendent realm is reached, a cultivator no longer needs to eat or breathe oxygen, attracting the crystal essence inside its body fulfills both functions. It is also possible for a Transcendent to use its crystal essence to move in the air and even survive and move in space," replied the student.

"That's right. Does anyone else have anything to add?"

This time, the whole class remained silent. Kieran saw Elseria beginning to lift her hand, but she quickly lowered it.

"No one?" Professor Melia asked again.

Having no response from her students, Professor Melia continued.

"One of the big differences between the two realms is that when a cultivator breakthrough to the Transcendent Realm, it awakens a spirit inside its crystal tree. You don't feel it yet, but inside your crystal tree grows a spirit.

Once the limit of Diamond rank is reached and the process of breaking through to the Transcendent realm begins, a cultivator must use their soul to merge with the spirit within their crystal tree and thus breathe life into it and awaken it.

A crystal tree spirit does not possess any abilities of its own but is capable of assisting a cultivator in using the abilities of the crystal tree as well as reproducing inside the spiritual world the techniques that the cultivator has learned.

For example, a spirit can cultivate within your spiritual world and attract crystal essence on its own. Therefore, when a cultivator reaches the Transcendent realm, it will constantly cultivate, no matter what situation it finds itself in.

This results in a considerable difference between the two realms of cultivation in addition to the difference in the amount of crystal essence and physique. A cultivator of the Transcendent realm will always be recovering its crystal essence without having to stop in the middle of a fight," as she speaks, Professor Melia changes the images displayed on the holographic board, bringing up images of spirits who cultivate in front of their crystal trees.

"Can anyone tell me why breaking through to the Transcendent Realm is considered dangerous?" asked Professor Melia.

Several hands were raised at the same time in the class. She chose one, and the student stood up to speak.

"The Heavenly Tribulation is the reason why a breakthrough to the Transcendent realm is dangerous for a cultivator. There is a risk of dying in the process or becoming a cripple for the rest of its life," explained the student.

"This indeed is one of the reasons, but what most citizens of the Aegis Alliance do not know is that many cultivators undergo the process of a Heavenly Tribulation before reaching the Transcendent Realm," Professor Melia said, looking in Kieran's direction before continuing, "This is the price to pay for all double awakened."

Kieran felt a shiver down his back as he stared into Professor Melia's eyes, who seemed to see through him.

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Professor Melia Illustration, and Illustrations for Kieran and Elseria in uniform that I forget to share (Kieran hair don't have the green hue sadly.)
Professor Melia:

Kieran Uniform:

Elseria Uniform: