Awakening: I Became a Legendary Spirit Summoner-Chapter 35 - : Invitation from Starlight Academy, The Sovereign Guild

After accepting the invitation from [Starlight Academy], the glowing panels surrounding Karl vanished, fading into nothingness.

His vision cleared, and he was back to seeing the world normally again.

He instinctively glanced around, taking in the expressions of the other participants.

Some were beaming with joy, their excitement barely contained.

Others, however, stood still, their jaws clenched as they stared at the empty space where their own invitations should have been.

The stark contrast was obvious, winners and losers.

Karl didn't focus on them for long because, right beside him, Celeste was practically glowing.

"I did it!" she exclaimed, her eyes shining as she spun toward him.

She had just been accepted into [Starlight Academy] as well.

The realization was still sinking in, and all she could think about was how her parents would react when she told them.

But just standing there wasn't enough, she needed to do something.

She needed to celebrate.

And before Karl could react, she dashed toward him and threw herself into a hug.

"...?" Karl blinked, not sure how to respond.

He raised a hand slightly, then just let it drop, deciding it was best not to overthink things.

"...Good job?"

"Thanks!" Celeste grinned, pulling back like nothing had happened, completely unbothered by her own actions, "I guess you got accepted too, huh?"

"Of course." Karl nodded, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

"Nice! That means I can keep seeing Frappy and the others, then!" she laughed.

Karl didn't say anything, but a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

The excitement gradually settled as time passed.

Five minutes later, all participants had finalized their choices, officially sealing their fates.

[You have all been credited your exact amount of Credits, based on the points gathered throughout the Entrance Examination.]

Karl barely reacted to the message, but he understood the importance of these Credits.

They were the real currency within the academies, even more valuable than gold coins.

Whether it was buying equipment, items, or materials, Credits were the key to progressing.

Still, they weren't allowed to check their balance right now.

[The Entrance Examination is now over.]

[A "Teleportation Stone" has been placed in your inventory. Make sure to check it out.]

And just like that, the world around them shifted again.

One by one, the participants began disappearing, their bodies fading in flashes of light.

Some vanished immediately, while others lingered for a few seconds longer before being transported away.

Karl watched it happen for a moment before his own turn arrived.

Fwish!

A few seconds later, the sensation of weightlessness ended, and Karl landed on solid ground.

"...Huh."

He wasn't where he expected to be.

He had originally teleported to the [Entrance Examination] from the entrance of [Seabright Highschool], so he figured he would be sent back there.

But instead, he was standing in the middle of his own apartment.

Karl looked around, confirming that it was indeed his place.

The familiar sight of his neatly arranged furniture greeted him, along with the quiet hum of the city outside his window.

It seemed the system had chosen to return everyone directly to their homes instead of their initial departure points.

It made sense, this way, participants had a safe and private space to process everything.

Karl let out a quiet breath before focusing on his inventory.

[Teleportation Stone (Starlight Academy)]

[The Entrance Ceremony will happen in two days. Please use this stone when the time is right to begin the next step of your life as an Awakener.]

'Two days, huh?'

That meant he had some time to relax and prepare.

Karl sat down on the edge of his bed, running a hand through his hair.

He wasn't really tired, but the adrenaline from the examination was finally starting to wear off.

His mind wandered, thinking about everything that had happened.

Then, a small thought popped into his head.

'Maybe I should have gotten Celeste's contact information.'

The idea only lingered for a second before he dismissed it.

He was sure they'd see each other again soon.

There was no need to overthink it.

Closing his eyes, he whispered, "Spirit Cemetery."

...

Sovereign Guild Base

While Karl rested, another conversation was happening elsewhere—one far more dangerous.

Guilds in this world were as prominent as governments, and some of the top ones could even go as far as to have their very own territory.

It was all about power and money.

The [Sovereign Guild] was no different, having several buildings for themselves.

The main one, though, was the biggest, located in the heart of the Golden Empire, it was a massive-reinforced structure that resembled a castle.

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And at this moment, within the depths of that fortress, a storm was brewing.

A large office, lavishly decorated with dark furniture and golden accents, held an oppressive atmosphere.

The scent of expensive cigar smoke hung in the air.

Behind a polished black desk sat a man in his mid-forties, his presence alone enough to make lesser men tremble.

Lucian Sovereign.

The head of the [Sovereign Guild].

His sharp eyes studied the three individuals standing before him—his most trusted enforcers.

"Any updates?" Lucian asked, his deep voice cutting through the silence.

He tapped his cigar against an ashtray, eyes narrowing.

"Have you found the one responsible for my son's death?"

The three figures exchanged glances before the one in the center—a man in a suit and glasses—stepped forward.

His entire appearance screamed professionalism, but the way he carried himself made it clear he was more than just a businessman.

"We've narrowed it down," the man said calmly.

Reaching into his suit pocket, he pulled out five photographs and placed them on the desk.

Lucian exhaled a slow stream of smoke before picking them up.

His gaze flickered over each one, his expression unreadable.

"These should be the only people strong enough to have beaten him," the second enforcer—a woman with sharp brown eyes—added.

Lucian's fingers tightened slightly around the photographs.

His son, [Alexander Sovereign], had possessed the SS-Rank Profession [Voidblade Sovereign].

He was supposed to be untouchable, a prodigy destined for greatness.

And yet, he had died.

It was an insult.

An unforgivable disgrace to the Sovereign name.

Lucian's grip loosened as his eyes began to glow with a faint, ominous light—traces of mana leaking out as his emotions stirred.

"These brats..." he muttered, scanning the faces.

"One of them did it."

The photographs displayed five individuals, all students from [Seabright Highschool].

Three of them had awakened SS-Rank Professions.

The remaining two... were even rarer cases.

Karl Bloodborne and Celeste Frost.

Both had awakened SSS-Rank Professions.

Lucian's eyes lingered on one photo in particular.

A young man with black hair and crimson eyes.

A neutral expression on his face, his gaze sharp yet unreadable.

"Karl Bloodborne," Lucian murmured the name, his voice barely above a whisper.

Something about that boy... felt off.

A moment of silence passed before one of his enforcers spoke.

"What are your orders, Lucian?"

Lucian took another slow drag of his cigar, exhaling a cloud of smoke.

"Three of them have been accepted into [Starlight Academy]," he said, his voice laced with irritation, "Attacking students from that academy isn't a good idea, not yet."

"Understood," the third enforcer, an older man with silver hair, nodded, "We'll wait."

Lucian didn't respond.

He simply stared at the photograph of Karl, lost in thought.

Because deep down... something told him that this boy was the one.

And if that was true, if Karl Bloodborne had been the one to kill his son, then no academy, no amount of protection, would stop Lucian from taking his revenge.

This wasn't over, not even close.