Time passed unnoticed, and the clock on the wall now showed seven in the evening.
Inside a simple but tidy apartment, Ronan sat relaxed at a small table near the window, eating a warm omelet and stir-fried vegetables he had just cooked himself. Steam still rose gently from the food, spreading a savory aroma that filled the room.
While eating, he opened the laptop lying beside his plate, his fingers deftly scrolling through social media timelines and the latest news portals.
Most news passed by without much interest, but one headline caught his attention.
[S-Class Dimensional Rift Closed by the Heavenly Demon Order. Young Awakener Dorian Hellthorne in the Spotlight]
Ronan raised an eyebrow slightly. He clicked on the article.
Sure enough. An S-Class rift—which usually required the combined forces of several major orders—had been handled by a single order alone.
Even more interesting, it wasn't the elders or commanders who stole the spotlight, but Dorian Hellthorne, a young Awakener reportedly defeating a 4-star soul beast by himself. Said to be the direct disciple of one of the elders.
His name now appeared on the weekly Awakener Ranking list of Aden City, taking the 30th spot.
A massive leap—this ranking was highly prestigious. Each major city had its own list, containing only a hundred names.
With populations reaching tens of millions, making it onto that list was like carving your name into the sky.
"Top 100, huh?" Ronan smirked slightly as he chewed.
As a young Awakener himself, of course, there was a part of him that longed for recognition, fame, and wealth.
But at the same time, there was another side—a calmer, more strategic part—that chose to stay low-key.
At least for now.
He continued scrolling through the news.
Not long after, another headline popped up, causing his eyes to narrow slightly in interest.
[C-Class Rift Unresolved for Six Months Finally Cleared by Aegis Order, Led by Lex Mordane]
He clicked on the news.
The interview detailed the chronology of their mission.
But what made Ronan pause for a moment was the final part of the interview.
Lex mentioned a young unknown Awakener with "strange but powerful" fire manipulation abilities.
A mysterious figure who covered his face with clothes, and… most likely, it was RR—the initials recently brought up by Alistair Crowne.
Ronan leaned back in his chair, gazing at the screen with a satisfied expression.
Not because he was mentioned, but because he remained unrecognized.
Famous—without a name. Iconic—without an identity.
There was something deeply satisfying about that.
And although the news wasn't as viral as Dorian's case, at the bottom, comments full of speculation had started to appear:
"Damn, this RR guy is getting more and more intriguing. Does anyone actually know who he is?"
"If he's still in school, just search for anyone with initials RR in Lincolnville City schools. You'll find him."
"Bruh, I don't give a shit about this stuff. He's nobody. Give it a few weeks, people will forget."
Ronan read all of it without much reaction.
Not because he didn't care—but because he knew—comments like that were just part of the game.
And when the last bite of omelet disappeared from his plate, he was about to close the laptop, but paused when a notification from the school group chat popped up.
It was from a teacher.
"All final-year students are required to come to school this Sunday due to an important announcement."
Ronan raised an eyebrow—important announcement—probably related to the academy and order envoys visiting the school.
Various chats and replies speculated the same thing.
But Ronan closed the laptop immediately.
He had other things to do tonight.
Silence once again blanketed the room.
He stood up, carrying his plate to the sink, quickly washed it, and then walked to the corner of the room where his large backpack lay on the floor.
He slowly picked it up.
The bag was heavy—filled with various items, but the majority of it was soul stones.
The spoils of today's battle.
And his destination tonight was clear:
The House of Wisdom.
---
Ronan stood at the edge of the street, dressed in black jeans and a black hoodie, with a simple backpack slung over his shoulder.
Not long after, a taxi pulled up in front of him—the one he had ordered online.
"Ronan, right?" the driver asked, then raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"Wait, it's you. You still remember me from a few days ago?" he asked.
Ronan slightly lowered his head, and a faint smile formed on his face.
"I remember you. Can't believe you're my driver again," he replied.
"Fate is full of surprises. Anyway, you wanna drive again? Hehe," the driver chuckled.
Ronan shook his head. "No, I'm too tired today," he said, then opened the door and sat in the back seat, leaning into the cushioned backrest.
"Alright, just sit back and let me do the work," said the driver with a smile.
Ronan simply nodded, then settled quietly, closing his eyes.
Even though he had rested for several hours since returning from Blackburn Forest, fatigue still lingered in his body.
It seemed to be a side effect of the forced buff from Vera, which—by the logic of science—couldn't completely heal like pure healing magic.
It didn't take long before Ronan drifted off into sleep.
---
The trip to the House of Wisdom took about 40 minutes, and now, the taxi stopped across the street.
"We're here," the driver said.
Ronan, who was still asleep, woke up instantly.
His face looked slightly fresher than before.
He rubbed his face, as if brushing off the lingering sleepiness.
[New General Skill Acquired: Light Rest]
[Description:
Your body is beginning to adapt to short rests. Even a brief nap can slightly reduce fatigue]
Ronan: "..."
Even just from sleeping, he had gained another skill.
His expression slowly shifted, like a sky clearing after a rainstorm. His mood instantly improved, and the last traces of drowsiness vanished completely.
Stepping out of the taxi, the driver couldn't help but comment, "You look a lot fresher than before. That's good," he said.
Ronan smiled, "Yeah, thanks to you. I'll make sure to leave a five-star rating," he replied.
"Haha, alright. Have fun," the driver called back.
Ronan nodded, and the taxi drove away, leaving a thin trail of dust on the road.
Shifting his focus, Ronan looked to his left.
About 150 meters away stood a grand building, towering high, six floors visible from the outside—likely more hidden underground.
Its architecture was striking, a symphony between modern and classical styles:
a white marble facade supported by massive columns, intricate esoteric symbols carved along the walls. The front ceiling was a curved glass dome, refracting soft light from within like a lighthouse of knowledge in the night.
The House of Wisdom.
Without hesitation, Ronan began walking forward.
Even from the outside, it was clear how lively the place was.
Rows of vehicles filled the parking area, most of them luxury cars with gleaming bodies and special license plates.
Ronan pulled down the hood of his hoodie as he stepped inside, immediately greeted by an atmosphere that felt 180 degrees different from the outside.
The interior was vast, bright, and vibrant.
Shining onyx stone floors stretched as far as the eye could see, with faintly glowing energy veins running beneath the surface like the lifeblood of a giant creature.
People bustled about, awakeners in battle gear, researchers in lab coats, couriers with large bags, even representatives from minor Orders.
The sound of conversations, footsteps, and the tinkling of magic blended into one, yet everything remained orderly, as if an unspoken code of conduct reigned.
Massive racks stood forming aisles like an ancient library, but instead of books, they held exotic weapons, glowing data crystals, rune-inscribed and sealed scrolls, dimly shining artifacts, and rare training gear.
Several rooms were separated by transparent glass, protected by thin shielding fields—places where high-level experiments or transactions took place.
As Ronan moved through the hall, unaware, a woman standing by one of the artifact displays turned her gaze toward him.
Early-twenties, blonde hair tied in a neat horsetail, sharp blue eyes that seemed to catch more than what was visible.
For a split second, her pupils glowed faintly.
Then, her expression shifted—subtle, but unmistakable. As if she had just spotted something rare.
Amid the white energy of the people around her, she saw a golden hue in him.
A smile slowly formed on her lips as she began walking towards him, her steps confident, yet measured.