After flying for a couple of minutes, the group found themselves thrown to the ground inside what appeared to be a living room.
The room was immense, a vast hall that seemed to stretch into infinity. The glossy white walls reflected the light pouring in from enormous windows that offered a spectacular view of the surrounding landscape.
The light marble floor was polished to perfection, while a long dark wooden table dominated the center of the room, surrounded by comfortable padded chairs.The air was fresh and almost sacred. A place clearly designed to accommodate dozens of people, yet despite its size, it radiated a sense of intimacy and solemnity.
"Wow, how many impressions am I getting just from a simple room," murmured Jeremy, looking around.The sight of his skeletons lifted his spirits, and he ran over to hug the small Drae'mon.
"Cough."A sudden cough made Jeremy stop whatever he was doing.
"So," said Rose, "now that we're alone… will you tell me what the hell your potential is supposed to be? How are you this strong?"
Jeremy was almost startled by the question. He decided to store his skeletons into his infinite space, preferring to be alone with her. He feared his undead could be opened up and dissected.Once they were put away, Jeremy answered, "I have no idea. I awakened with this potential," he said without blinking.It wasn't a lie—he really had no idea.
"Fine, it doesn't matter," Rose shook her head. "What matters now is that you need to get stronger. Right now, you're too weak. What you have is only potential. We need to make you stronger—immediately. We don't have much time."
Suddenly, the atmosphere grew more serious.Jeremy could feel the tension in the air.
"Why?" the young man asked timidly.
Silence fell upon the room.The headmistress said nothing, and Jeremy didn't press her further.He was waiting for her to spit it out.
And so, after a minute of silence, Rose suddenly said something that made Jeremy's heart race.
"The Empire is in danger. For the past few years, the monsters have all become stronger and more ruthless. Right now, we don't stand a chance of winning. Countless cities have been destroyed by their onslaught, and as if that weren't enough, innumerable Gates are opening everywhere. Humanity is dying with no way to fight back."
The room was once again filled with a deathly silence.
After another minute of silence."That's why we need the help of someone like you, Jeremy," she said, looking him straight in the eyes. "Your potential is beyond anything we can comprehend. You must save the human race."
"Huh?" Jeremy's face twisted in disdain. "Save the human race? Why the hell should I want to save people like you? It was your fault that noble left me on the brink of death."
"It was your fault for not intervening even though you could have!"The boy's rage exploded as he lashed out at Rose.
But she didn't move a muscle. She wasn't afraid of the boy—but that wasn't the point.He was right, but…
"We had no choice…" she muttered, biting her lip. "The situation is desperate. We had to find a way to become stronger—fast."
"But our plan…" she continued, running her hands through her hair, "it made sense. We couldn't not try."
"And does this plan have anything to do with me?" Jeremy asked with unnatural calm.
The woman shook her head."Not directly," she added."Our goal was to gather enough negative energy to open a Gate to another world."
"And what better negative energy is there than that of countless students and others who died with dissatisfaction in their hearts?"An ironic smile spread across her face.
Tears seemed ready to fall in rivers."But despite all our efforts, nothing seemed to happen," she continued.
"But a few days ago, everything changed."
"A Gate seemed to have opened, but when we got to the location, it had vanished."
Silence fell once again.
"So that's where I ended up," Jeremy finally said. "I was inside a damn Gate…"
"Yes, and you came out alive—with incredible power."
"It almost feels like all our efforts over the decades have finally paid off."
A smile slipped from her lips. It looked sincere.
"So Jeremy," Rose said, taking his hands and looking him straight in the eye, "everything you went through… I'm sorry, but we had no choice. So please, become strong and protect humanity."
Jeremy returned her gaze. He wasn't as annoyed as he made it seem. In truth, he was grateful. Without this opportunity, he would've remained a mediocre person.
Now he had the power to change the world. Well, not yet… but still…
"Don't rush," Rose continued. "We still have time."
They talked a little longer about what Jeremy had done inside the Gate, what he had seen, and the strength of that world. The boy answered everything honestly.
Rose was shocked to discover that another human civilization existed in that place—one with beings far stronger than them.
And so, after exchanging a few more words, their conversation came to an end. Jeremy would become stronger—strong enough to protect humanity.
"But now," the woman continued, "you need to take a break from all this, have a nice bath, and relax."
"But first," she added before vanishing, "take this."
A strange object flew from her hand and landed in Jeremy's.
And just like that, Jeremy went straight to one of the guest rooms.
The room was simple, yet cozy. The cream-colored walls reflected the warm light of the sunset filtering through the window, creating an almost surreal atmosphere. Jeremy let himself fall onto the bed, his body heavy and his mind foggy. Too many thoughts, too many emotions. But one thing was clear: he couldn't back down.
After a few minutes, he got up and headed to the bathroom. The warm water filling the tub felt like a promise of peace. He undressed slowly, looking at himself in the mirror for the first time in a long while.
Jeremy was tall, with black hair that fell messily over his forehead. His eyes, deep and dark like a moonless night, seemed to peer into the soul of the other version of himself in the mirror.
His gaze was empty, his smile faded. It felt like something was missing—but he didn't know what.
Without thinking too much, he slipped into the warm bathwater.
"Finally," he murmured, and then—nothing.
He fell asleep in the tub.
He hadn't properly rested in far too long.
A ray of light, signaling the arrival of a new day, filtered through the window and hit Jeremy's eyes, waking him abruptly. When he opened his eyes, he realized he had fallen asleep in the tub.
"Ah," he murmured, surprised. "I can't believe I fell asleep here… was I really that tired?"
As he lifted himself out of the tub, a gentle knock at the bathroom door interrupted his thoughts.
"Sir, your new clothes are ready," announced a soft voice from the other side. The maid, evidently well-prepared, waited patiently.
Jeremy dried off quickly and, hearing his stomach growl, decided it was best not to keep her waiting. He wrapped a towel around his waist, walked to the door, and with a quick motion opened it—finding himself face to face with the young maid holding a neatly folded set of clothes.
"Thanks," Jeremy said, taking the clothes with a smile, trying to look more awake than he felt.
The maid nodded with a smile, and after wishing him a good day, walked away, leaving Jeremy to get ready for the new day ahead.
The boy approached the window and looked out over the city that surrounded him. The morning light spread over the rooftops of Solmare, painting the city in golden, gentle tones. The main street was already bustling, with people of all kinds walking quickly, chatting and exchanging greetings. Animal-drawn carts moved steadily, and the sound of voices and footsteps filled the air.
With a deep breath, Jeremy decided to use his Perception skill. He closed his eyes for a moment and focused his senses on the surrounding city.
A wave of information flooded his mind. The people walking in the streets, their emotions, their fleeting thoughts… it all unfolded before him. The nearby market was lively—merchants shouted to draw in customers, while children ran between the stalls.
There was a sense of positive energy in the air, making the city feel like a place on the rise—prosperous and full of life.
He knew it wouldn't last much longer. Humanity was weak and couldn't defend the peace that Emperor Ydra had brought.
It felt like the fate of all these people rested on his shoulders.
After watching the scene for a little longer, his eyes stopped on a distant, majestic building. The grandeur of its architecture and its elegant design caught his attention. It was the academy—or more precisely, the headquarters of Headmistress Rose Redspine.
Jeremy stepped out of the building that belonged to the headmistress and, with a resolute thought, paused for a moment.
"Now that I'm finally back," he reflected, "I absolutely need to see them. I need to let them know I'm okay."
A faint smile touched his lips as his thoughts drifted to his two closest friends—Ivan and Nathan. He wondered what they were doing at that moment… Probably inside some Gate, training, growing stronger. He had always had that feeling—that they lived for that kind of challenge.
"And then there's Jennie…" he thought, but his smile vanished in an instant.
Jeremy's expression turned uncertain, as the emotions he once felt for her began to fade, like a memory slowly losing its color. He realized that his feelings for Jennie weren't the same anymore—as if they belonged to a different life.
The same feeling struck him when thinking about his friends: a distant fondness, like a story that no longer touched him. His curiosity was all that remained—a curiosity that gave him a reason to find them, but no longer the desire to reclaim the bond they once shared.
Jeremy sighed. He knew where to look for his friends.