Winter continued to embrace the North.
Days passed quietly after the grand birthday banquet.
The endless stream of visiting nobles gradually departed from Rosenfeld Estate.
One after another, magnificent carriages disappeared down the mountain roads.
The halls that had been overflowing with guests slowly returned to normal.
The fortress breathed once more.
The celebration had ended.
Yet something else was approaching.
The beginning of a new journey.
A new identity.
A new stage.
Aetherial Institute.
The legendary island academy that stood beyond ordinary noble influence.
The place where future heroes, rulers, monsters, and geniuses gathered.
For many students, entering Aetherial Institute represented the beginning of adulthood.
For Kel—
It represented something else.
A chance to become someone entirely different.
Again.
Not Count Kel von Rosenfeld.
Not Lord of Frostbound Coast.
Not the heir of House Rosenfeld.
Not Nameless.
This time—
He would become Aedon Flinth.
The commoner explorer.
The promising young adventurer.
The student.
The mask had already been prepared.
Now he simply needed to wear it.
Several days after the banquet.
The morning sky remained gray.
Snow drifted gently from the heavens.
The eastern courtyard of Rosenfeld Estate bustled with activity.
Servants loaded luggage.
Knights prepared escorts.
Carriages lined the entrance road.
Students from noble families across the North were beginning their return journeys.
Among them—
Aria Rosenfeld.
The second-year student of Aetherial Institute.
At seventeen years old, she had already completed her first year.
Now she was preparing to return.
Standing beside her carriage, Aria crossed her arms.
Silver hair danced within the cold wind.
Her blue eyes stared directly at Kel.
A dangerous sign.
Because whenever Aria stared at someone like that—
She wanted something.
Kel already knew what it was.
Unfortunately.
She asked anyway.
"Come with me."
"No."
Aria blinked.
Then frowned.
"You didn't even hesitate."
"I already knew the question."
The young viscountess looked offended.
"You're supposed to think about it."
"I did."
"When?"
"Before you asked."
"..."
Arthur immediately laughed nearby.
Aria glared at him.
The younger boy instantly became quiet.
At least temporarily.
Aria turned back toward Kel.
"Seriously."
Her tone became more reasonable.
"The journey will be easier."
"I know."
"We can travel together."
"I know."
"We're going to the same place."
"I know."
Aria narrowed her eyes.
"You planned these answers beforehand."
Kel nodded.
"Yes."
The surrounding family members laughed.
Aria looked increasingly annoyed.
Unfortunately for her—
Kel remained completely immune.
The young viscountess pointed toward the luxurious Rosenfeld carriage.
"You can simply travel with us."
"No."
"Why?"
Kel answered immediately.
"Because Aedon Flinth is a commoner."
Aria sighed.
"We've discussed this."
"Correct."
"Many times."
"Correct."
"And I still think you're being ridiculous."
Kel looked toward her.
"A commoner arriving at Aetherial Institute in a Rosenfeld noble convoy would be suspicious."
"..."
"A commoner carrying Rosenfeld luggage would be suspicious."
"..."
"A commoner receiving Rosenfeld protection would be suspicious."
"..."
"A commoner traveling beside Viscountess Aria Rosenfeld would be suspicious."
The more he spoke—
The more Aria realized he was correct.
Which made everything worse.
Finally she groaned.
"You always ruin my arguments."
"I simply provide facts."
"You use facts as weapons."
The surrounding family members laughed again.
Even Helena smiled.
Meanwhile—
Inside Kel's mind—
Seiren spoke.
"She's losing."
"I noticed."
"Quite badly."
"Also noticed."
Far away, the Guardian laughed.
Aria suddenly pointed accusingly toward him.
"You know what?"
"What?"
"When you arrive at the academy."
"Yes?"
"I'm telling everyone you're annoying."
Kel considered it.
Then nodded.
"Reasonable."
Aria froze.
That wasn't the response she expected.
"You aren't supposed to agree."
"Why not?"
"..."
For several moments she simply stared at him.
Then finally surrendered.
A dramatic sigh escaped her lips.
"You are impossible."
"Thank you."
"That wasn't a compliment."
"Noted."
Arthur nearly fell over laughing.
Even Duke Aktaris looked amused.
Eventually Aria gave up completely.
With the expression of someone accepting defeat.
Again.
She climbed into her carriage.
Then immediately opened the window.
Pointing toward Kel one final time.
"I'm serious."
"About what?"
"Don't do anything strange."
Kel raised an eyebrow.
"Define strange."
Aria looked horrified.
"That answer alone is terrifying."
The carriage door closed.
Moments later—
The convoy began moving.
Snow crunched beneath wheels.
Horses moved forward.
Knights followed.
Aria's carriage slowly disappeared down the mountain road.
Eventually vanishing into the snowy horizon.
The future second-year student had departed.
The next time they met—
It would be within Aetherial Institute.
As senior and junior.
Or perhaps—
As Viscountess Aria Rosenfeld and commoner Aedon Flinth.
The thought was amusing.
Several more days passed.
The mountain fortress became quieter.
Arthur returned to training.
Elise returned to lessons.
Roland returned to the border.
Serena resumed governing her territory.
Life continued moving forward.
As it always did.
Eventually—
The day arrived.
Kel's departure.
Unlike Aria's departure.
There would be no grand convoy.
No noble banners.
No family insignias.
No escorts.
No official announcement.
Everything would be simple.
Ordinary.
Exactly as Aedon Flinth required.
The morning sky remained pale gray.
Snow covered the fortress grounds.
Cold winds swept across the mountain cliffs.
Standing within his room—
Kel looked around one final time.
The bookshelf.
The fireplace.
The desk.
The window overlooking the North.
Everything remained familiar.
Everything remained unchanged.
Yet when he returned—
He knew things would be different.
Because he would be different.
New experiences always changed people.
Aetherial Institute would be no exception.
The door opened softly.
Marine entered.
Carrying a travel bag.
Simple.
Practical.
Commoner quality.
At least on the surface.
The contents were anything but ordinary.
Marine handed it over.
Then stared at him.
Several seconds passed.
Neither spoke.
Finally—
"You packed enough?"
"Yes."
"You checked everything?"
"Yes."
"You have emergency funds?"
"Yes."
"Backup funds?"
"Yes."
"Secondary backup funds?"
"...Yes."
Marine nodded.
Satisfied.
Then after several moments she quietly said—
"Take care of yourself."
The words sounded simple.
Yet Kel understood their meaning.
He smiled slightly.
"I will."
Marine looked away immediately.
As though embarrassed.
Then left before anyone could notice.
Outside the estate.
The entire family had gathered.
Not because they intended to stop him.
But because this was tradition.
House Rosenfeld always saw family members off personally.
No matter their status.
No matter their destination.
Arthur looked depressed.
"You'll be gone for years."
"Not years."
"Possibly years."
"Possibly."
The younger boy looked even more depressed.
Elise immediately hugged him.
"Bring gifts."
"I will."
"Many gifts."
"I will."
Helena embraced him next.
The warmth of a mother's hug.
Something rare.
Something irreplaceable.
"Stay safe."
"I will."
Then came Duke Aktaris.
The ruler of the North looked at his son.
Neither spoke immediately.
Because neither needed many words.
Eventually the Duke nodded.
"Represent yourself."
Kel nodded.
"I will."
That was enough.
For both of them.
Far away within Scarder Lake—
Seiren suddenly spoke.
"You have a strange family."
Kel blinked.
"Strange?"
"Very."
"How?"
"They trust you completely."
The answer surprised him.
Then Seiren continued.
"Most powerful families rely on control."
"Yours relies on trust."
For several moments—
Kel remained silent.
Then glanced toward his family.
His mother.
His father.
His siblings.
His relatives.
The people waiting beside him.
The people seeing him off.
Then he smiled faintly.
"Perhaps."
The Guardian became quiet.
Understanding.
Finally—
It was time.
Kel stepped forward.
No noble attire.
No count's insignia.
No heir's crest.
Simple travel clothes.
A dark cloak.
A backpack.
An explorer's appearance.
Ordinary.
Forgettable.
Aedon Flinth.
The identity fit perfectly.
Snow drifted through the air.
The mountain wind howled softly.
The gates of Rosenfeld Estate stood open.
Beyond them—
The world awaited.
The academy.
The future.
New allies.
New rivals.
New legends.
New dangers.
Behind him stood House Rosenfeld.
Ahead of him stretched an unknown road.
Kel took a step forward.
Then another.
And another.
The distance gradually increased.
His family became smaller behind him.
The fortress slowly faded into the snowy backdrop.
The North remained silent.
Ancient.
Watching.
As though witnessing the beginning of another story.
Far away—
Seiren's voice echoed through their soul bond.
Soft.
Amused.
Warm.
"Good luck, Aedon Flinth."
Kel smiled.
Then adjusted his cloak.
His silver eyes gazed toward the distant horizon.
Toward the island academy hidden beyond the sea.
Toward the future.
And without looking back—
He continued walking.
The era of the Frontier Lord had ended.
The era of the Nameless Scholar was about to begin.