Reincarnated With A System Of Different Genre

Chapter 101: The Shining Sun

[Cael: Why are you angry? I was just worried about you, so I asked.]

[Cael: Are you really not going to reply?]

[Cael: I met your father, he told me to visit the Imperial Palace.]

[Anna: What?]

After that incident, Anastasia barely spoke to him for several days.

Caelum had initially thought she would calm down after some time, but she remained strangely distant, only responding when absolutely necessary.

Eventually, after enduring this treatment for quite a while, he decided to contact her through the Private Badge.

The moment he saw her reply, a satisfied smile appeared on his face.

Then he casually slipped the badge back into his pocket.

Naturally, he had lied.

He had not met the Emperor, but he was completely oblivious to the fact that the Emperor was quite eager to meet him.

However, that was not important.

What mattered was that the reply had arrived almost instantly.

Which meant Anastasia had definitely been reading his messages the entire time.

She simply chose not to answer.

Today was the Annual Sun God Festival, one of the largest and most celebrated religious events across the world.

Numerous kingdoms and empires held this festival in honor of the Sun God.

Naturally, the Imperial Zenith School was no exception.

Many students took advantage of the occasion and, after obtaining permission from the school, opened temporary stalls offering various services, games, food, crafts, and entertainment.

The followers of the Golden God were especially active during this period.

Many student merchants viewed the festival as a perfect opportunity to earn extra money.

Likewise, students studying crafting, blacksmithing, enchanting, and other professions often displayed their creations for sale.

Although Caelum himself had never bothered visiting the school’s weekly market, which was only held during holidays.

After all, the Imperial Zenith School taught far more than swordsmanship and magic.

There were courses related to alchemy, weapon forging, beginner magic engineering, commerce, monster studies, magical agriculture, and numerous other professions.

However, students of the Foundation Division mainly learned the basics of the world.

True specialization generally began after entering the Intermediate Division.

"Let’s get going," Paul said.

Behind him stood Jojo, who was somehow dressed in something resembling a martial artist’s robe.

The panda looked unusually serious today.

"Alright," Caelum replied.

Then he grabbed Voomie before wrapping her around his neck like a living scarf.

"Ownerrr! Wooof~"

Voomie released a strange sound as several cracks echoed from her body.

Her size-shifting ability had become surprisingly useful, at least now she could function as a comfortable neck warmer in summer, which was strange in itself.

After gathering with the rest of the boys, they quickly finished breakfast and headed toward the festival grounds.

Since this was the Sun God’s festival, most of the major activities took place during the morning and afternoon.

By the time they arrived, a lively atmosphere had already taken over the entire area.

Students moved between stalls.

Colorful banners fluttered in the wind.

The smell of food filled the surroundings.

At the center of the celebration grounds stood a large ceremonial stage.

Upon it rested a magnificent representation of the Sun Chariot, decorated with countless golden ornaments and centered around the blazing symbol of the Sun God.

Many students and teachers briefly stopped before it to offer prayers.

Caelum also spotted Father Aldric nearby.

The retired Grand Paladin was blessing students one after another while maintaining his usual warm smile.

The old man’s expression seemed especially bright today.

Perhaps because this was one of the most important festivals of his faith.

For a while, everything appeared completely normal.

"Is it just me, or is it getting hotter?" Sénior suddenly asked.

The others paused.

"You too?"

"Me too."

"I thought I was imagining it."

"Now that you mention it..."

A strange warmth had begun spreading throughout the festival grounds.

At first, nobody thought much about it.

After all, it was summer.

Feeling warm seemed perfectly natural.

Yet the sensation continued growing stronger.

Then something happened.

Father Aldric suddenly froze.

The old paladin’s expression changed dramatically as genuine shock appeared on his face.

Without saying a word, Aldric slowly lifted his head and stared directly toward the sky.

His reaction immediately drew attention.

More and more people began looking upward.

Then, a blinding flash erupted.

The source was the sun itself.

For a brief moment, the sky seemed to ignite.

An overwhelming brilliance spread across the sky.

Many people instinctively covered their eyes.

Others fell to their knees and then, the impossible occurred.

A colossal beam of golden light erupted from the sun.

The light descended toward land like a divine spear falling from the heavens.

Nobody could tell where it landed, nobody knew its destination.

Yet everyone saw it.

From bustling imperial capitals, remote villages, ships sailing distant oceans, deserts, forests, and frozen wastelands.

Every living being beneath the sky witnessed the phenomenon.

Silence spread throughout the festival grounds as some stared at it in awe while others stood in shock or fear.

Everyone instinctively understood something.

This was no ordinary event.

Something immense had just occurred.

And although nobody yet knew what it was.

Everyone understood that the world would not remain silent for long.

***

Arkhe Empire, Tri-Mountain Village.

Situated in the northeastern region of the Arkhe Empire, Tri-Mountain Village lay only a day’s journey away from the Ylnir Kingdom, one of the three members of the Three Kingdom Alliance.

Due to its location near the border and its unique geography, the area was frequently patrolled by border guards.

Although the village and its surrounding settlements had a combined population of only around five thousand people, the Empire did not neglect the region.

Tri-Mountain Village occupied a strategically important position.

This was one of the only key routes connecting parts of the Empire to the mainland in east.

Because of this travelers and military personnel often passed through the region.

On the surface, everything appeared normal.

However, the officials in the Imperial Capital were unaware of the corruption that had quietly taken root within the region.

Smuggling operations had become increasingly common.

Illegal substances and dangerous narcotics were being transported into the Empire through hidden routes that passed directly through this area.

While reports reaching the central government painted a picture of stability and order.

Beneath that facade, something far more sinister was taking place.