My friends clustered at the Academy gates, faces etched with concern. The moonlight cast long shadows across the courtyard as they rushed forward, forming a protective circle around me and my burden.

"Vardiel!" Annes's eyes widened at the sight of Harke's limp form in my arms. Blood had soaked through his tattered clothing, his face barely recognizable beneath bruises and dried blood. "How is he?"

Bad shape, I replied, my mental voice steady despite the rage still simmering within me. But alive. His tongue... I didn't finish the sentence. He needs the healers. Now.

We moved as one unit through the Academy corridors, Copelan running ahead to alert the infirmary while Genta and Loland cleared a path. Sven and Yulios flanked us, their hands never far from their weapons. Eyarna whispered a small incantation that seemed to ease Harke's labored breathing.

The infirmary doors burst open as we approached. White-robed healers rushed forward, taking Harke from my arms and transferring him to a clean bed. Their hands moved with practiced efficiency, cutting away blood-soaked clothing, preparing poultices and potions.

The head healer, a stern-faced woman with silver-streaked hair, approached me while her staff worked. "What happened to him?" Her eyes took in my blood-spattered form, the rip on my uniform's shoulder where the archer had almost gotten me.

Thugs in the city, I answered. Not entirely untrue. They tortured him. Cut out his tongue.

Her expression hardened. "And who is he? I can't authorize full healing services for non-Academy personnel without proper—"

He's family. The words emerged before I could think about it, surprising even me with their conviction.

She studied my porcelain mask for a long moment, then nodded. "We'll do everything we can." She turned back to the healing circle forming around Harke. "The tongue we cannot replace, but the rest..."

My friends and I settled into the hard wooden chairs along the infirmary wall as the night deepened. None suggested leaving. Copelan brought food that went untouched. Annes cleaned blood from my mechanical joints with both rags and gentle hands. Genta dozed against Loland's shoulder.

Throughout the night, we watched the healers work tirelessly over the unconscious form of my first friend, the only one who had known me from the beginning, when I was merely a head and an arm walking ignorant through a Hellzone in rusted armor stolen from a mass grave.

Dawn light streamed through the infirmary windows, painting the white walls with pale gold. I hadn't moved from my position beside Harke's bed, my mechanical form unnaturally still compared to my friends who had shifted, dozed, and paced throughout the night.

The head healer approached, fatigue evident in the dark circles beneath her eyes. "Your friend will live," she said, her clinical tone softening slightly. "His injuries were severe: multiple broken bones, internal bleeding, trauma to the skull. And of course..." She gestured to her mouth, not needing to elaborate on the missing tongue. "He'll require weeks of follow-up treatments, but he should make a full recovery, aside from his speech."

Relief flooded through me, an emotion so powerful it momentarily disrupted my integration systems. Thank you, I projected to her. For everything you've done.

She nodded curtly, professional mask slipping just enough to reveal a tired smile. "I need rest. The other healers will monitor him." With that, she turned and walked away, shoulders slumped with exhaustion.

Eyarna approached, wrapping her arms around my mechanical frame in an unexpected embrace. "I'm so glad your friend will be alright," she whispered, her spectacles slightly askew. "I was worried."

Thank you, Eyarna. I allowed myself a moment to appreciate her concern, this simple gesture of comfort. With all the ugliness I had suffered through this day so far, I definitely needed it.

The infirmary doors swung open, and my systems instantly shifted to combat readiness. Professors Casper and Harmony entered, their expressions unreadable. My friends tensed around me, hands moving to weapons.

"Be at ease," Harmony said, raising her palms in a placating gesture. "We're not here to fight. Chosun explained to us what happened to you."

I tilted my head, confusion temporarily overriding caution. What did the Black Knight tell you?

Casper stepped forward, his weathered face solemn. "Chosun informed us that by defeating Kaldos, you have claimed his powers." His voice dropped lower. "You are now the God of War."

To my astonishment, both professors lowered themselves to one knee before me, heads bowed in deference. Everyone looked at both of them as if they had grown two heads.

Sven broke the stunned silence with a nervous laugh. "Should we be kneeling too?" He glanced around at our equally bewildered friends. "Is that the proper etiquette when your study partner becomes a deity?"

I remained motionless, processing this unexpected development.

I gestured for the professors to rise, uncomfortable with their display of reverence. Please stand. This isn't necessary.

"It is entirely necessary," Casper insisted, though he did return to his feet. His weathered face held an expression I'd never seen before, something between awe and determination.

I think there's been a misunderstanding, I projected, careful to include everyone in the room. I haven't fully claimed Kaldos's power. Not yet.

I explained what I'd learned after the battle, about the dormant godseed nestled within me. It's sleeping, I told them. According to my status screen, the Mantle of Enmity won't fully awaken until I reach level one hundred.

Professor Harmony's eyebrows lifted in surprise, but Casper's expression remained unchanged.

"That changes nothing," he said firmly. "Godseed or not, you defeated Kaldos in fair combat. You are his successor, the new God of War and Change. Until your powers fully manifest, I will protect you with my life."

His words stunned me. Professor, that's not—

"It's not a matter for debate," he interrupted, his hand moving to rest on the hilt of his greatsword. "I was a devout follower of Kaldos for forty years. I built my life around his teachings. Now my allegiance transfers to you."

The certainty in his voice silenced any objection I might have made. Strange how his declaration felt simultaneously foreign and familiar. Through Vardin's memories, I recalled countless warriors, nobles, and kings kneeling before me, swearing similar oaths of fealty. The faces and words changed, but the ritual remained the same across millennia.

I supposed I should get used to it.

Annes cleared her throat. "What about Headmaster Reins? He seemed pretty devastated yesterday."

Both professors' expressions darkened. Harmony exchanged a glance with Casper before speaking.

"Kalder Reins is dead," she said softly. "Yesterday, after returning to his office, he fell upon his own sword."

The words landed like stones in still water. Ripples of shock passed through my friends.

"That's impossible," Copelan whispered. "The Headmaster? He was so..."

"Powerful," Sven finished. "Invincible, almost."

I recalled Reins's face when Kaldos fell: the naked horror, the collapse of something fundamental in his worldview. Still, suicide seemed inconceivable for a man of his strength and position.

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"Kalder's devotion to Kaldos went beyond religious observance," Casper explained, his voice rough with emotion. "He didn't worship the station of War God; he worshipped Kaldos himself. They had a personal relationship spanning decades. Kaldos visited him regularly, guided his career, even gifted him the enchanted blade he used to slay the Apocalyptic Dragon." Casper paused. "At least that's what he claimed. Kalder revered Kaldos."

Harmony nodded. "When Kaldos died, Kalder lost more than his god. He lost his mentor, his purpose. Everything he built his life around vanished in an instant."

The room fell silent as we processed this revelation. Even in death, the Headmaster remained inscrutable, his final act as incomprehensible as his leadership had often been.

In his bed, Harke stirred slightly, drawing my attention back to more immediate concerns.

What happens now? I asked. To the Academy, I mean.

"The faculty will meet to select an interim Headmaster," Harmony said. "Until then, normal operations continue."

Normal. As if anything could be normal after yesterday's events.

Copelan stepped forward, his face tight with concern. "You're missing something important," he said to the professors. "Vardiel has gained the Apostate title."

Both professors stiffened at his words.

It appeared right after I killed Kaldos, I confirmed. Along with Godslayer and Demigod.

"Apostate," Harmony repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. "The gods' judgment upon those who have incurred their divine wrath."

Casper's hand tightened on his sword hilt. "Chosun failed to mention this detail."

"I'm not surprised," Harmony said. "That man has always played his own games."

They exchanged a look loaded with meaning I couldn't decipher. Years of working together had given them a silent language, and whatever passed between them now clearly carried weight.

"If you bear the Apostate title," Harmony said carefully, "then all the gods will hunt you. Not just Kaldos's allies, but all of them. They'll see you as a threat to their very existence."

"She's right," Casper added. "The Academy can't protect you from that kind of pursuit. Not even I could stand against the gods, or their champions."

My friends shifted uneasily around me. Annes's hand moved to her sword, as if she could fight off divine retribution through sheer determination. Genta's eyes darted nervously to the windows, checking for threats.

What should I do? I asked, though I already knew the answer.

"You need to reach level one hundred as quickly as possible," Harmony said. "Once Kaldos's mantle fully awakens within you, you'll have a fighting chance."

I nodded, running calculations through my mind. Level fifty-four to one hundred... even with enhanced leveling from my mechanical children, that would take months of constant combat against powerful opponents.

Where could I go? Where could I fight and grow stronger without being discovered by the gods or their servants?

Central Hellzone.

The voice came unbidden, the same mysterious presence that had urged me to "grow strong" in the Academy's tunnels. I flinched at its sudden intrusion, drawing concerned looks from my companions.

The Central Hellzone.

The suggestion made perfect sense. According to Arctur, there was a hidden community of intelligent monsters living in the Central Hellzone. I could seek refuge there while fighting the powerful creatures that inhabited the deeper regions. The gods would struggle to find me amidst the chaotic energies of a Hellzone, giving me time to gain the levels I needed.

I know where to go, I began, but Harmony raised her hand, cutting me off.

"Don't tell us," she said firmly. "If we know your destination, the gods might extract it from us. They probably have ways of reading minds, compelling truth."

Casper nodded grimly. "Better everyone remain ignorant. We can't betray what we don't know."

I looked at my friends, seeing the same realization dawning on their faces. For their safety as much as mine, I would need to keep my plans secret.

Genta's voice cut through the somber silence. "When do we leave?"

We? I projected, focusing my mind-speech toward her.

"Yes, we," Annes stepped forward, her jaw set in that stubborn line I'd come to recognize. "You don't think we're letting you face this alone, do you? Of course we're coming with you."

Sven nodded emphatically. "We're a team, Vardiel. Gutter House sticks together. That's the whole point."

Loland and Yulios murmured their agreement while Eyarna crossed her arms, her expression making it clear she considered the matter already settled.

I felt a strange warmth spread through what remained of my organic body. Their loyalty touched me deeply. Yet I couldn't let them follow me, not this time.

No, I projected firmly. Where I'm going, you wouldn't survive.

It wasn't an exaggeration. From everything I'd heard about the Central Hellzone, it made the Academy's tunnels look like a training ground for children. Even at its outermost edges, the Central Hellzone teemed with monsters far beyond my friends' capabilities. Level 30 creatures roamed its periphery, and the deeper regions housed horrors that could challenge the highest level adventurers.

"That's not fair," Annes protested, her voice rising. "You can't just expect us to sit here and do nothing while you're out there fighting for your life against the gods themselves!"

"She's right," Copelan added. "We've come this far together. We've faced Shawe, survived the deep tunnels, even helped you prepare to fight Kaldos."

I extended my porcelain mechanical hand, resting it gently on Annes's shoulder. I don't expect you to do nothing, I clarified. I expect you to get stronger.

My gaze swept across their faces, taking in each expression of concern and determination.

The Academy is still the best place for you to grow your skills. Train here. Learn everything you can. Reach at least level fifty before you even think of following me.

I paused, letting my next words carry the weight of my conviction. When you're ready, truly ready, come find me. Then we'll stand together as a team once more.

Their expressions softened slightly, though doubt still lingered in their eyes.

"But who's going to watch your back?" Genta asked, her small hands clenched into fists. "Even you can't fight everything alone."

"I will."

All heads turned toward Casper, who stepped forward with quiet authority.

"I'll accompany Vardiel," he declared, his hand still resting on his greatsword. "I'm a level seventy Berserker with forty years of combat experience. I know the Hellzones better than most, and I've fought alongside level 100's."

He looked directly at my friends. "I give you my word that I will protect Vardiel with my life. No harm will come to your friend while I draw breath."

The tension in the room visibly eased. Having Casper the Manslayer as my guardian clearly reassured them in ways my own assurances couldn't.

My gaze drifted to Harke's unconscious form. What about him?

Professor Harmony moved to stand beside Harke's bed. "He'll remain here under our protection until he recovers," she said softly. "The Academy infirmary is one of the best in the kingdom."

She straightened her shoulders, her expression solemn. "I give you my word, Vardiel. Nothing will harm Harke or your friends within these walls. Not while I'm here."

I nodded, grateful for her promise. With Harmony watching over my friends and Casper accompanying me to the Central Hellzone, I could focus on what needed to be done: reaching level one hundred before the gods found me.

Thank you, I projected to all of them. All of you.

Harmony's expression softened. "It's no trouble at all," she said, her voice carrying a new deference I wasn't yet accustomed to. "After all, this is your Academy now."

The statement caught me off guard. My Academy? I hadn't considered the implications of killing Kaldos beyond my own survival. But of course; the War Academy had been Kaldos's institution, created by his will, guided by his hand through Reins. With the God of War dead and his successor standing before her, ownership naturally transferred to me.

"As the new God of War, albeit not yet fully realized," Harmony continued, "do you have any mandates you wish passed? Any changes to be implemented during your... absence?"

I fell silent, contemplating her question. The power to reshape this institution lay before me; it was an opportunity I never expected to have. What would I change? What vision did I hold for this place that had simultaneously welcomed and rejected me?

The answer came with surprising clarity.

Yes, I projected, my mind-speech reaching everyone in the room. One mandate.

I moved to the window, looking out at the Academy grounds where students trained and studied, where some flourished while others struggled against artificial barriers.

Stop with the nonsense that Headmaster Reins put in place, I began. The War Academy has a reputation for fairness throughout all the human kingdoms and beyond. It's considered a meritocracy where talent rises regardless of background.

I turned back to face them, my mechanical body casting a long shadow across the infirmary floor.

It's time this institution actually stood for those virtues. No more preferential treatment for noble students. No more systematic oppression of monsters or commoners.

My gaze swept across my friends: Genta, Loland, Eyarna, Annes, Copelan, Sven, Patter, Yulios; each of whom had faced discrimination in their own way.

Within the War Academy's walls, all should be judged equally. By their skills, their dedication, their character. Not by their bloodline or species.

Harmony straightened, a new light in her eyes. "Your will be done," she said, and I detected genuine approval in her voice. "I've wanted this change for decades, but Reins and his faction were too powerful to challenge."

"We'll implement your mandate immediately," Casper added. "The ranking system will be completely overhauled. No more C-rank placement based on prejudice."

I nodded, satisfaction flowing through me. When I'd first arrived at these gates with Mallie's invitation, I'd been a broken fragment, literally half a being, seeking only shelter and the means to avenge a child's death. I never imagined I would reshape the very institution I'd entered.

"Gutter House will help," Annes declared, her eyes bright with purpose. "We'll make sure your changes stick, even while you're gone."

"We'll be your voice here," Copelan agreed. "Your representatives."

A strange emotion welled within me. Pride, perhaps, or something deeper. I had entered the War Academy, witnessed its injustices, and now had set in motion the changes needed to make it better. And all it had taken to do so was to slay a god.

I smiled. Thank you. Make this place what it always claimed to be.

Casper stepped forward. "We should prepare to leave soon. The gods will be searching for you already."

He was right. This moment of triumph was fleeting. The real challenge was reaching level one hundred before the gods found me, and that still lay ahead. But I would face it knowing that here, in this place, I had already made a difference.

One more thing, I added. When you select the new Headmaster, choose someone who understands what this Academy should be. Someone who values fairness above all.

Harmony and Casper exchanged a look.

"We will," Harmony promised. "And when you return as a full god, you'll find an Academy worthy of your patronage."

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