Academy-wide assembly, an unexpected turn, Ian vs. the Winter Academy Head, and the academy heads' fear!

The next day.

In the morning light, inside the Four Symbols Academy's Castle, Ian watched Kieran struggle to his feet.

Ian wanted to help steady him.

"No need. I'm not that far gone yet."

Kieran smiled, gazing at the sunlight outside the door as though he could see something within it.

Cerys and the others waiting nearby said nothing either, their feelings somewhat complicated.

They knew very well.

Today's assembly would be anything but simple.

"Let's go."

At Kieran's command, the group headed toward the Academy's Grand Hall.

As they drew closer to the Main Academy, more and more wizards appeared around them.

Their gazes were complicated when they saw Kieran and Ian, but they showed little surprise.

Just yesterday.

News that Ian had returned and awakened Kieran had already spread throughout the Academy.

For most of the Academy's wizards, it was cause for celebration, but for certain families, it was bad news.

Of course, some wizards close to Kieran's faction also took the initiative to greet them.

Things did not seem as bad as they had imagined.

That gradually eased everyone's mood.

Before long.

They reached the Grand Hall.

The instant they entered.

Every gaze in the hall seemed to turn from the front toward the back, making them the center of attention.

Among them were the worried looks of Elena and the others at the front, the resolute expressions of the Winter Academy Head, Una, and the others, and many more complicated looks from wizards whose thoughts Ian could not discern.

They headed down the steps.

Cerys and the others took their seats, and Ian settled into his assigned place as well. At this point, he was still the Alchemy Department's deputy head,

after all.

Not far from him.

Gabriel and Quentin smiled and nodded, and the other