Legendary Architect of Apocalypse

"That was good." He sat on the table, feeling even worse than he had after being bullied by his father.

"Should I make more?" Lycorice asked, feeling extremely happy that Elias liked her soup so much, even though it was her first time cooking.

"N-No need. This dish... Humans only eat it once a year. This is a rule amongst humans. So don't make it again!" Elias abruptly stood up and grabbed Lycorice's shoulder.

"Hmm? What a weird rule. Should I try making something else? That book had a few more images that I can follow."

"You don't have to worry about that. It's the job of the servants. How can I make you cook for me? In fact, the servants did deliver some things to eat."

He had eaten this thing once, but he couldn't do it every day. Rather than teaching the girl to cook, he would have her learn to fight.

He brought food from his subspace, and placed it on the table.

"These things aren't as tasty for us humans, as your delicious dish. So it will taste better for Soul Beasts. Moreover, we can eat it every day as the rule doesn't affect it. Try it."

"And next time you are hungry, just tell me, so that no human rules are broken. Alright?"

He didn't forget to remind her, before walking away after leaving the food for her to eat. He returned to the bedroom, and fell on his bed, still feeling the taste of that soup.

He ate some chips to drown out the taste from his tongue, while catching a moment of peace.

"Now that we have dealt with that, is there anything else that happened last night? No one came here after my father, right?" he asked while his teeth crunched on the spicy chips.

"No one else came. Though, the Academy seems to be in quite a stir. Something about an announcement? I only heard the people outside talking about it."

"How did you manage to get outside? Aren't you trapped in my mind?"

"I am still trapped in your mind, but I think after your evolution, I am able to put more of my conscience in my spiritual body outside. It's not as useless as before. Though I can't move far from you, and can't physically interact with the world."

Elias raised an eyebrow. It was truly an interesting growth for Astralious, who was still trapped. It made Elias a little suspicious, if it meant Astralious could free himself on his own in the future.

"Which announcement were you talking about though?" He hadn't bothered to check his Academy Badge.

He usually ignored the general notifications unless they were specific assignments or messages directed at him which were always more prominent. He reached for the badge lying on the bedside table.

As soon as he picked it up, the badge shone with a faint light, displaying missed notifications. He scrolled through them, his eyes widening slightly as he read the main announcement.

"Urgent Notice: Seeking the Inheritor of the Ice Phoenix Flames. Substantial rewards offered, including a High Grade Growth Stone and designation as a Core Student. Inheritor, please report to the Dean's office at your earliest convenience."

Elias blinked, reading it again to make sure he wasn't mistaken. Ice Phoenix Flames? High Grade Growth Stone? Core Student? They were looking for him?

"Well, isn't that something," Astralious mused, reading over Elias's shoulder. "They're practically rolling out the red carpet for you. A Growth Stone and Core Student status? That's unprecedented. They must be desperate to find you."

Elias remained silent. This changed things. The Academy wasn't hunting him down for punishment for entering the tomb. Instead, they wanted to reward him.

The rewards were tempting, especially the Core Student status, which offered freedom and resources. But revealing himself meant exposing the Ice Phoenix Flames, and his identity.

It meant drawing even more attention, the kind he wasn't sure he wanted, especially with his father's ten-day ultimatum hanging over his head.

An even bigger problem was the Academy itself. Could he truly believe the words of the Academy? They could easily be lying. If he revealed himself, and they didn't like him, what was to stop them from making him disappear forever after taking his flames away?

"What are you going to do?" Astralious asked, sensing the conflict within Elias. "Going to claim your prize? Become the Academy's shining star?"

"I need to think," Elias said quietly. He slowly put the badge down. He stood up, stretching his sore limbs.

He walked towards the window, pulling back the curtain to look out at the sprawling Academy grounds. Students were walking past his mansion, some undoubtedly discussing the very announcement he had just read.

His father's words echoed in his mind. 'It is all because you carry this last name.'

Was this opportunity something that could make him get past the shadows of his father? No, Freya wasn't stronger than his father. Moreover, she was a friend of his father.

It was no different than revealing all his secrets to his father. He had multiple secrets, and if he accepted that he was the one who took the flames, many questions were going to arise about his true abilities.

Revealing one secret might risk exposing the others. Silas had given him ten days regarding Dreke. Could he afford to step into the spotlight right now, becoming a 'Core Student' while hiding such dangerous secrets?

The Dean wanted to nurture the next Aliath Ashborn, but Elias knew he was walking a much darker path.

"Thinking is good," Astralious commented. "But don't think too long. An opportunity like this... it doesn't come often. And hiding forever isn't really an option, is it? Especially not with that father of yours."

Elias didn't answer. He continued to stare out the window. The Academy's generous offer felt like a sweet poison that he couldn't drink, but also couldn't reject.

He was still insignificant, still vulnerable. But maybe, just maybe, these unexpected rewards held the key to gaining the strength he desperately needed. The question was, could he claim the prize without paying an even heavier price?