I Can See Evolution Paths

Arthur smiled. "Yeah?"

The office fell completely silent. Steven slowly leaned back in his chair while Elaine remained standing and nobody spoke.

Arthur glanced around. "Did I miss something?"

Sun slowly closed his eyes. "No. Unfortunately."

Steven quietly sighed. "Elaine."

She nodded once, then slowly walked around the desk, each step echoing through the office. She stopped in front of the five students. Her expression was calm. Too calm.

"I’ve listened to your entire expedition," she said. She folded her hands behind her back. "And now it’s my turn."

Nobody smiled anymore. Even Arthur straightened slightly.

Elaine looked across the five students before slowly folding her hands behind her back. "You’ve already judged yourselves enough."

Everyone blinked.

"I’m not going to stand here and tell you that you shouldn’t have fought." She slowly shook her head. "You’re Beast Tamers. Danger isn’t something you’ll occasionally face. It’s the life you’ve chosen."

Silence settled over the office.

"What matters is whether you learn from it."

Her eyes settled on Sun first. "You and Kong stopping that boulder saved countless lives."

Sun quietly lowered his head.

"It was the correct decision."

He looked surprised.

Elaine continued. "But next time, don’t wait until you’re out of options. If there is another way, find it. Every second you buy yourself may become another opportunity."

Sun nodded firmly. "I understand."

She turned toward Athena. "You activating Dawn’s defenses changed the entire battle."

Athena instinctively adjusted her glasses.

"But there was one mistake."

Athena quietly asked, "Pushing too far?"

Elaine nodded. "You continued working long after your body had warned you to stop." She paused. "A researcher who collapses halfway through an expedition can’t finish uncovering history."

Steven smiled faintly. "And your father would never forgive you for making him continue your work."

Athena couldn’t help smiling. "He really wouldn’t."

Elaine looked toward Mithra. "You coordinated the battlefield. You healed. You kept morale together. Excellent."

Mithra blinked.

"But don’t carry every burden yourself. You had teammates. There were moments where you should have trusted them to protect you while you recovered."

Mithra slowly nodded. "I’ll remember that."

Elaine turned. "Leon." Leon straightened. "You chose to stay. I expected that."

A small smile appeared on Leon’s face. "But next time, don’t just think about how to win. Think about how everyone gets home afterward."

Leon quietly nodded. "Yes, Vice Principal."

Finally she stopped in front of Arthur. "You."

Arthur scratched his cheek. "Me again?"

A few smiles appeared around the room.

Elaine nodded. "You led. You adapted. You inspired everyone around you."

Arthur smiled awkwardly. "Thank you?"

"But." She raised one finger. "There were moments where you accepted impossible odds because you trusted everyone."

Arthur nodded. "I did."

"Good."

Everyone blinked.

Elaine continued calmly. "Never lose that. Trust is one of the greatest strengths a leader can possess."

Arthur smiled. "Really?"

She nodded. "But remember something. A leader’s job isn’t only believing everyone else can survive. It’s finding a path where they don’t have to gamble their lives in the first place."

Silence filled the office. It wasn’t the sharp kind of silence that follows a scolding. It was quieter than that, the kind that settles in when someone has said something true enough that nobody wants to be the first to speak over it.

Arthur slowly looked down. "I never thought about it that way."

Steven smiled. "That’s why these conversations matter." He stood and walked beside Elaine. "You all accomplished something extraordinary." He looked at each of them. "None of us would ever ask you to become more hesitant. We’re asking you to become wiser, so that you can continue coming home."

The room fell quiet.

Elaine’s expression softened for the first time since the meeting began, and she looked across every one of them.

"Remember this. You have families. You have friends. You have partners. There are people waiting for you to come home." A brief silence followed. "So don’t disappear from their lives."

Nobody spoke. Not because they had been scolded. But because, for the first time since returning from the Ruins of Evolution, silence lingered throughout the office in a way that meant something. It stretched a while longer than any silence before it, everyone quietly sitting with what had just been said instead of rushing to fill the gap.

Arthur slowly blinked. "That’s it?"

Elaine looked toward him. "Yes."

Arthur scratched his cheek. "I thought you were about to explode."

Complete silence.

Sun immediately covered his face. Mithra bit her lip. Leon quietly looked away. Athena quickly raised her notebook in front of her face. Steven slowly looked toward the ceiling.

Elaine raised an eyebrow. "Explode?"

Arthur nodded honestly. "You had the whole calm voice. You walked around the desk. You even paused between every sentence. I thought I was about to get thrown through the wall."

Nobody said a word. Sun’s shoulders had already begun shaking. Mithra desperately pressed both hands over her mouth. Leon coughed into his fist. Athena’s notebook trembled suspiciously.

Elaine stared at Arthur for several long seconds. "Is that what you think of me?"

Arthur blinked. "No?" He thought about it. "Maybe a little."

Sun completely lost the battle. A laugh escaped. He immediately covered his mouth. "Sorry."

Arthur looked confused. "What?"

Elaine slowly pinched the bridge of her nose. "I was attempting to encourage you."

Arthur’s eyes widened. "Oh." He looked genuinely surprised. "You’re actually pretty good at it."

Elaine blinked. "Thank you."

Arthur nodded. "I thought it’d be more like—" He glanced toward Steven. "—him smiling, and then you threatening to throw us out of the Academy."

Steven burst into laughter. Even Leon couldn’t hold it anymore. Mithra turned completely around, shoulders shaking. Athena quietly lowered her notebook just enough to reveal she was smiling. Sun was openly laughing now.

Elaine looked around the room. "Am I really that intimidating?"

Arthur answered immediately. "Yes. Well, actually, most of the time you aren’t."

Another round of laughter filled the office.

Elaine closed her eyes for a moment before letting out the smallest sigh. "Arthur."

"Yes?"

"You’re fortunate your intentions are usually better than your wording."

Arthur smiled. "I’ve been told that a lot."

Sun immediately replied between laughs. "Not enough."

Even Elaine couldn’t stop the tiny smile that appeared for just a second.

Once the laughter had finally worn itself out and the office settled again, Steven straightened in his chair, and everyone could feel the conversation shifting toward something new.

Steven chuckled as he shook his head. "Well, now that everyone’s recovered, I believe it’s time we discuss your rewards. You accomplished something most Beast Tamers never will."

Every one of them immediately straightened. Even Arthur’s eyes lit up.

Steven smiled at their reactions. "The Academy always rewards results," he said. "And after discussing your expedition with the other professors, we’ve reached a decision." He raised one finger. "First. You’ll each receive a large amount of Academy Points."

Sun’s eyes immediately widened. "A large amount?"

Steven nodded. "A very large amount."

Sun quietly pumped his fist. "We’re rich."

Leon laughed. "I think that’s the first time I’ve ever seen you this excited."

Sun looked at him like he was crazy. "Do you know how many things Academy Points can buy?"

Arthur suddenly raised his hand. "So I can exchange them for gold?"

Steven chuckled. "You can."

Arthur’s face immediately brightened. "YES!" He pumped both fists into the air. "I can send money home!"

Steven’s smile softened. "I thought that might be your first thought."

Arthur scratched his cheek. "Mom’s been working really hard."

Steven nodded quietly. "She’ll be proud."

Arthur smiled. "I hope so."

Steven raised a second finger. "Second. The Academy Armory has agreed to let every one of you either replace your current weapon, or upgrade it."

Complete silence.

Athena’s eyes widened behind her glasses. Mithra blinked. Sun slowly looked down at his staff. Leon actually looked surprised. "For free?"

Steven nodded. "Completely free."

Sun immediately hugged his staff. "Finally... we’re getting stronger."

Arthur looked down at Dusk resting against his chair, his eyes sparkling. "I wonder what you’ll become this time."

Mithra smiled. "Kusa is going to be so happy."

Athena quietly held Aegis a little tighter. "Professor Ivan is going to have a field day."

Mithra laughed. "I have a feeling he’ll lock himself inside the forge the moment he hears."

Steven laughed. "I’ve already told Ivan."

Arthur blinked. "You did?"

Steven nodded. "He immediately cancelled every appointment for the week."

Sun blinked. "Seriously?"

"I believe his exact words were..." Steven cleared his throat. "’Nobody bother me unless the Academy is on fire.’"

Arthur smiled. "He really likes making weapons."

Mithra giggled. "I think he likes your weapons."

Finally Steven raised a third finger. "And lastly. For the next two weeks, every meal you eat will be served in the Gold Dining Hall."

Nobody spoke.

Sun froze. "The Gold Line?"

Steven nodded. "The Gold Line."

Sun slowly looked toward Arthur. "Arthur."

Arthur blinked. "Yeah?"

Sun grabbed Arthur’s shoulders. "Do you know how expensive that place is?"

Arthur thought about it. "No?"

Sun stared at him in disbelief. "Of course you don’t."

Leon laughed. "I’ve only eaten there once."

Mithra smiled. "The desserts are incredible."

Athena nodded. "The ingredients are all taken from high-ranking Beasts. Even the meals help your recovery."

Arthur’s eyes immediately lit up. "Free food?"

Steven smiled. "Free food."

Arthur stood up so quickly his chair almost fell over. "BEST REWARD EVER!"

Sun immediately pointed at him. "I knew you’d forget about the Academy Points the moment food appeared!"

Arthur looked genuinely offended. "I didn’t forget." He paused. "They’re tied."

The room burst into laughter. Even Elaine quietly sighed before the corner of her mouth lifted slightly.

Steven chuckled. "I’m glad all of you like your rewards."

Elaine immediately said, "Follow me."

Sun tried. "We’re really fi—"

One glare.

"Yes, Vice Principal."

Nobody else even attempted arguing.

Arthur whispered, "She’s scarier than Principal Steven."

Mithra immediately whispered back, "Much."

Steven laughed behind them.

...

As they stepped out of the Principal’s office, the hallway instantly became quieter. Whatever ease had settled into the room a moment ago stayed behind the door, and the five of them stepped straight into a hallway that had clearly been waiting for them.

Students walking past slowed.

A conversation stopped halfway through.

Someone pointed. "That’s them! The missing first-years."

"They actually came back."

More students began looking over, whispers spreading down the hallway faster than Arthur expected. "I heard the Principal personally searched the Ruins."

"My brother’s third-year team went looking for them."

"That’s Principal Steven’s daughter."

"I heard they were already dead."

"No, I heard they accidentally entered a Gold Rank Secret Realm."

"You’re both wrong. My roommate said they found an ancient treasure and decided to stay."

Arthur blinked. "That one’s kind of close."

Sun immediately looked at him. "Please don’t encourage them."

They continued walking.

The whispers only multiplied.

"Wait, isn’t that Leon?"

"Why’s he with them?"

"I heard he disappeared too."

"I heard he ignored his own expedition mission."

Leon smiled politely. "Those rumors spread fast."

Sun looked around. "They’re multiplying."

Another group hurried past. "My cousin said the Vice Principal yelled at every search team."

"I heard Master Ajax almost started living inside the Ruins."

"Didn’t the Principal cancel three expeditions?"

"No, five."

Arthur scratched his cheek. "People were really worried."

Nobody answered, and even Elaine’s footsteps slowed for just a second. It was a small thing, barely noticeable, but for a moment the weight of the last two months seemed to catch up with the hallway itself, everyone quietly absorbing just how far the worry had spread while they were gone.

A first-year suddenly walked right up to them before freezing. "Um—"

Everyone stopped.

The first-year stared at Arthur with wide eyes. "Welcome back."

Arthur smiled immediately. "Thanks."

The boy’s face turned bright red. He bowed so fast he almost lost his balance before running away.

Sun watched him disappear. "You just accidentally made a fan."

Arthur blinked. "I did?"

"You smiled."

"That’s all?"

Sun nodded. "That’s all."

Leon chuckled. "I think Arthur still doesn’t realize he’s famous."

Arthur looked genuinely confused. "Why?"

Sun slowly looked toward the ceiling. "Because apparently surviving impossible situations is impressive."

Arthur thought about it. "Huh, I guess."

The whispers continued following them. "I wonder what happened."

"They look completely fine."

"Maybe the expedition wasn’t actually dangerous."

Sun’s eye twitched and he almost turned around.

Arthur gently grabbed his shoulder. "It’s okay."

Sun looked at him. "They’re so wrong."

Arthur nodded. "Yeah. Let’s keep it that way."

Sun paused before laughing. "Fair."

They rounded another corner. Elaine finally spoke, without turning around. "I have counted thirty-seven conversations."

Silence.

Arthur blinked. "You were counting?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"So I know exactly how distracted all of you have become."

Everyone immediately looked forward. "Sorry, Vice Principal."

She nodded once. "Good."

They walked another few steps. Arthur slowly raised one hand. "Can I wave?"

"No."

"Smile?"

"No."

"Exist?"

Elaine sighed. "I’ll allow it."

Sun completely lost it. Mithra burst into laughter. Even Steven couldn’t stop chuckling behind them.

Arthur smiled. "That’s very generous."

Elaine didn’t even look back. "I know."

...

The group reached the Academy infirmary, and the mood shifted once more, the easy laughter of the hallway giving way to something a little more businesslike as Elaine reached for the door.

Elaine opened the door. Inside, a woman with long flowing silver hair, golden eyes, a pristine white dress looked up from a patient file. "Oh?" she said, smiling warmly. "So these are the famous expedition students."

Elaine calmly said, "Celestia. I need a complete examination."

Celestia blinked, then smiled wider. "The ones you nearly wore a hole through the Academy worrying about?"

Elaine immediately replied, "I did no such thing."

Celestia laughed.

Arthur tilted his head. "I don’t know. You seemed pretty worried."

Elaine slowly turned.

Arthur nodded seriously.

"I’ve learned."

Sun looked over. "Really?"

Arthur smiled. "Yeah. I’ll let you talk instead."

Sun’s eyes widened. "WHY ME?!"

"Take one for the team!"

"I refuse—"

"Stop talking," Elaine said, making Sun fall silent and look down.

Celestia’s smile grew wider. "It’s nice to see you having fun."

"Who is having—"

"Anyway, they don’t seem the type to cry."

Arthur blinked. "Why would we cry?"

"Well, being pierced does tend to hurt."

"...Wait, what?"