A Journey That Changed The World.

Upon hearing her granddaughter's explanation, Ellariana erupted into laughter, her voice infused with humor as she spoke. "Ah, so he's not like the White Dragons of old, aspiring to be heroes.''

Ayrenn nodded. "Yeah, he's different compared to the others. At the moment, he's been collecting beasts to create an army, and by what Tiamat said, he gathered millions so far."

"We will see him during the Celestial Magic Tournament," Ellariana smiled.

''Yes, but Pluoria still has to have their tournament, which begins after their festival,'' Aryenn spoke.

The two continued conversing in the garden as the snow fell against the protective dome that covered the imperial palace.

[Back to Archer]

Archer patiently waited until the Stone Men returned with the goodies, prompting him to jump up excitedly.

Upon their return, he observed numerous chests filled with treasures before storing them in his Item Box alongside the stuff brought by the Chull.

With the task complete, Archer dismissed the Stone Men and cast Gate to the College of Magic before stepping through.

As Archer traversed the snowy road toward the college, he noticed the landscape blanketed in frost.

He cast Cleanse on himself and unfurled his cloak to shield against the cold as he made his way to college.

Upon reaching the entrance, the guard saluted Archer as he passed. As he walked through the grounds, a distinctive "poof" caught his attention.

Turning around, he spotted Ophelia standing there with a smirk as she inquired. "Why are you late, boy?"

His eyes narrowed before responding, "Had to help Sia in the Summerfield Duchy. The church and a red dragon attacked her and my grandfather."

Ophelia's eyes widened, and she quickly asked, "What did you do with the body?"

Archer grinned at her, sensing her excitement before answering, "What do you mean Headmistress?''

She sighed before speaking. ''I know you would have killed the beast for attacking Sia. I'm not stupid, boy.''

He started laughing as he answered. ''It's in my Item Box. Why?''

Ophelia's excitement skyrocketed before she grabbed Archer and teleported them somewhere, which took him by surprise.

When they reappeared, they were in the middle of a dense forest. The ancient trees stood tall, their branches interwoven like a natural tapestry that blocked out much of the sunlight.

She turned to him, a broad smile lighting up her face. "Show me the body."

Archer shook his head, eliciting a puzzled expression on the witch's face, which, in turn, made him laugh.

"But why? You will benefit from it," Ophelia inquired.

That's when he grinned. "I want a date with you, Headmistress."

When Ophelia heard this, she was taken aback, unsure how to respond. She shook her head before replying, ''No! You're too young, Archer. I am hundreds of years old and have walked Thrylos before the Ashguard bloodline. You're a baby to me.''

Upon hearing her refusal, Archer laughed before approaching her. He leaned in to whisper, ''I will get you one day, Ophie.''

After speaking, he strolled into the clearing and brought out the red dragon's body, which crashed to the ground, causing the nearby earth to shake.

While he did this, Ophelia watched his back and felt a strange sensation. She couldn't quite place it but ignored it before approaching the fallen dragon.

The creature was massive, its impact having crushed trees as Archer summoned it from his Item Box.

The witch was shocked and spoke as she stopped next to him. ''This is an adult dragon. But it seems wild to me. Look at its scales. They are thick and soaked with mana.''

Archer closely examined the scales, noting the mana seeping off them. He shrugged, uncertain about what to do, but decided to speak to the girls when he saw them.

That's when she made a request. ''Do you mind if I have a few scales, please? It will help in my and mother's research.''

''Okay, but I want a kiss in return,'' he replied with another grin.

Upon hearing this, she felt annoyed and thought, 'This cheeky dragon. All he wants to do is tease me.'

But she sighed, gently shaking her head. "I'm sorry, but I can't. I believe a kiss should be reserved for someone I truly love, a principle I hold dear."

When he heard this, he smiled. ''I respect that.''

Archer approached the fallen red dragon's body. He pulled loads of vibrant red scales from its massive form, each gleaming with a magical luster.

Most of the scales were stored in his Item Box, but he still held some. That's when he strolled over to Ophelia, who observed his actions with curiosity and surprise.

Archer extended his hand, offering her about half a dozen crimson scales.

The unexpected gesture momentarily shocked Ophelia, but she quickly regained her composure and accepted them with a gracious nod.

"Thank you, Archer. These will be invaluable for our research," she expressed, genuine appreciation in her eyes.

He responded with a casual grin. "Anything for you."

She quickly stored the scales in her ring before seizing his arm and teleporting them back to the college after he stored the dragon in his Item Box.

The hallway greeted them with its emptiness. Ophelia turned to Archer, her voice kind as she spoke. ''I believe you have The Quest and Adventure class. An interesting lesson, as it is a test.''

Archer, now curious, inquired, ''A test?''

Ophelia nodded before elaborating, ''Well, it was an idea of the Professors who believed students needed experience fighting beasts and taking on quests.''

''Where does the adventure come into it?'' he asked.

''At first, I didn't understand it, but according to what the Professors tell me, they want to allow students to venture out independently and learn life lessons. However, they provide recording crystals, and students can only explore places the imperial army deems safe enough based on their ages.''

Ophelia went to leave but continued. ''Well, it's only a test phase to see what the students learn from such a lesson. Now I have to get back to work, dragon. See you around.''

She smiled at him before vanishing into thin air. After that, he started looking for the Quest classroom.

As Archer walked down the college corridors, the echo of his footsteps resonating in the empty halls, he suddenly found himself face-to-face with Lioran and Nala.

The two friends also had the same class, and their faces lit up upon seeing him.

"Hey, Archer! You're headed to Quest, too?" Lioran exclaimed with a friendly grin.

He nodded, returning the smile. "Yeah, Ophelia just mentioned it."

Nala, ever enthusiastic, grabbed Archer's arm. "Great! We're on our way there too. Let's stick together."

The lion girl's hand encircled his arm. Lioran laughed, amused by the sudden gesture.

Archer, though slightly caught off guard, joined in the laughter as the trio continued down the corridor, making their way to the Quest and Adventure classroom.

As Archer, Lioran, and Nala entered the class, they were greeted by a sight that immediately caught their attention.

Maps adorned the walls, depicting diverse regions and terrains. Carefully preserved and mounted beast heads served as trophies, each telling a tale of a successful quest.

The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation as students gathered, examining detailed maps and inspecting formidable heads of mythical creatures.

Aged parchment and the subtle scent of preserved beasts created a unique ambiance, blending academia with the essence of adventure in the air.

Archer's eyes widened with excitement, and he exchanged glances with Lioran and Nala, who wore expressions of awe and curiosity.

Standing at the front of the room, Professor Grayleaf welcomed the students with a warm smile.

When Archer noticed Samara teaching the class, confusion crept across his features until Nala clarified, ''Most Professors teach two lessons organized by the college staff.''

He nodded in understanding as Samara addressed them. ''Lioran, Nala, you already have your seats, but Archer, you can sit over there.''

She gestured towards the window where Maeve sat, wearing a smile. Archer made his way to the desk and took his seat.

Looking around the room, he couldn't spot any of his girls. Using the bracelet, he tracked them down, discovering each one in their respective classrooms, some together, some alone.

That's when Archer saw Samara moving to the front of the class while looking at everyone.

Professor Grayleaf stood at the front of the classroom, her gaze sweeping over the students, including Archer and a few others.

With a warm smile, she explained the Quest and Adventure class and how it can help the students.

"Welcome, everyone," she addressed the class. "This class is not just about learning theories from books; it's about gaining life lessons and experiencing the true outside world. The college believes in hands-on education, and that's what Quest and Adventure is about."

Archer watched the happy pacing at the front of the class as she started her passionate explanation.

[A/N - Leave some comments, power stones, and gifts. It all helps support the book. Artwork in the comments or discord]