The room fell into silence.
"...The Geist License Examination."
Alumna's words lingered in the air like the toll of a distant bell.
Neither Yuma nor Serena immediately spoke.
Even Stud, who only moments ago had been diving through stacks of government reward money like a child swimming through autumn leaves, slowly poked his head out of the briefcase.
"...That sounds expensive."
Nobody answered him.
Alumna folded his hands together as his calm gaze settled upon the two young Geists sitting across from him.
"The examination begins one month from today."
His voice remained composed, yet there was a noticeable weight behind every word.
"It is the final requirement before becoming an officially licensed Geist under the Japanese Spiritual Defense Bureau."
Yuma swallowed.
"A whole month..."
Alumna nodded.
"You both possess talent."
He paused.
"But talent alone isn't enough."
"The enemies you face from now onward will no longer be ordinary wandering spirits."
His crimson eyes became sharper.
"They will hunt you."
"They will adapt."
"And eventually..."
"They will kill you."
The warmth inside the room seemed to disappear.
Even the sunlight shining through the windows suddenly felt colder.
Alumna slowly looked toward Yuma.
His expression softened ever so slightly.
"...Yuma."
The boy immediately straightened.
"Y-Yes, Sensei?"
A faint smile appeared on Alumna's face.
"Starting today..."
"...I will be pushing your training far beyond what you've experienced."
Yuma blinked.
"What do you mean?"
"It is time."
The teacher slowly reached toward the black sword handle resting at his waist.
His fingers wrapped around it.
The room became strangely quiet.
"You've seen this."
Yuma nodded immediately.
The image of that crimson blade carving through the Calamity-Class was permanently engraved into his memory.
"I have."
Alumna slowly lifted the weapon.
The black handle radiated faint spiritual energy.
Not enough to intimidate.
Only enough to remind everyone of what it represented.
"The technique you witnessed..."
He looked directly into Yuma's eyes.
"...is known as Cybernetic Protocol."
Yuma frowned.
"...Cybernetic Protocol?"
The unfamiliar words rolled awkwardly off his tongue.
Alumna nodded.
"It is an ancient purification art developed centuries ago by the first Geists."
"The techniques were never written down."
"They were never published."
"They were entrusted only to families who proved capable of bearing them."
He gently returned the weapon to his side.
"Ordinary spiritual techniques strengthen the body."
"Experienced Geists learn to manifest spiritual weapons."
"But Cybernetic Protocol..."
His voice lowered.
"...exists for only one purpose."
His eyes became sharp once more.
"To destroy calamities."
Nobody spoke.
Even Stud remained unusually quiet.
Alumna continued.
"Creatures like the one we faced..."
"The Calamity-Class."
"...cannot be permanently purified through ordinary means."
"Their spiritual cores regenerate."
"Their curses evolve."
"Their hatred survives."
He looked toward Yuma once more.
"Cybernetic Protocol was created to erase those curses completely."
Yuma stared at him.
"...You're saying..."
"...I'll learn that?"
A small smile crossed Alumna's face.
"You will."
The boy's eyes widened.
"I..."
"But not mine."
Yuma froze.
"...Huh?"
Alumna's gaze remained steady.
"You will inherit something similar."
He spoke the next words without hesitation.
"...Your father's techniques."
The room froze.
"..."
"..."
"...What?"
Yuma's breathing stopped.
"My..."
"My father?"
He had almost no memories of the man.
Only scattered stories.
A name.
Fragments.
Nothing more.
Alumna nodded slowly.
"Your father left behind more than memories."
"He left behind his Cybernetic Protocol."
"And..."
His voice became softer.
"...I promised him."
"When the time came..."
"I would pass it on to you."
Yuma couldn't find the words.
Questions flooded his mind.
His father...
A Cybernetic Protocol user?
Someone powerful enough to possess an ancient purification art?
The revelation shook him completely.
Across the table—
Serena quietly lowered her eyes.
Nobody noticed.
Except Reige.
She wasn't upset.
She wasn't angry.
She was happy for Yuma.
Truly.
He deserved answers.
He deserved to know about his father.
Yet...
Something deep inside her heart tightened.
Cybernetic Protocol.
Ever since she was a little girl...
She had watched her father disappear on dangerous missions carrying that mysterious crimson blade.
She remembered standing behind the window as a child.
Watching him leave.
Thinking...
"One day... I'll fight beside Dad."
Every training session.
Every bruise.
Every failed exercise.
Every sleepless night.
She endured them for that dream.
To someday inherit the same ancient art.
Yet...
She remained silent.
Because today...
That opportunity belonged to Yuma.
Her fingers slowly curled beneath the table.
"..."
Reige quietly watched his daughter.
He understood immediately.
A father always noticed.
He smiled gently.
Then—
"Serena."
She looked up.
"...Yes?"
Reige's expression softened.
"You're coming with me today."
"...Huh?"
Her eyes widened.
"What?"
Even Yuma looked confused.
"Dad?"
Reige stood from his chair.
His usual playful smile disappeared.
Instead...
A quiet father stood before his daughter.
One who looked strangely vulnerable.
He walked around the table.
Stopping beside Serena.
For several moments...
He simply looked at her.
As though seeing the little girl he used to carry on his shoulders.
Then he sighed.
"...Every father..."
His voice carried an unusual warmth.
"...wants to protect his child."
Serena remained silent.
"I won't lie."
"There wasn't a single day..."
"...that I wasn't afraid."
He smiled bitterly.
"Every mission."
"Every phone call."
"Every report."
"I wondered..."
"...if this would be the day you wouldn't come home."
The room became quiet.
Reige gently placed his hand on Serena's head.
The same way he had done when she was still small.
"But..."
He laughed softly.
"...Children don't stay children forever."
"They grow."
"They stumble."
"They fall."
"They get hurt."
His smile became proud.
"And eventually..."
"They spread their wings."
Serena felt tears threatening to form.
Her father continued.
"When you first told me you wanted to become a Geist..."
"I refused."
She nodded.
"I remember."
"I made you a promise."
His hand remained on her head.
"I told you..."
"'If you could prove your determination'..."
"'If you never gave up'..."
"'If you became strong enough to protect yourself...'"
"...Then I would stop standing in your way."
His eyes became gentle.
"You kept your promise."
"You trained."
"You became stronger."
"You survived."
"You even faced the nightmare that haunted your birthdays..."
"...and stood back up."
He smiled proudly.
"So now..."
He took a deep breath.
"...It's my turn."
"A promise..."
"...is a promise."
His hand slowly left her head.
"I'll stop treating you like someone I have to protect."
"..."
"And start treating you..."
"...like the Geist you've worked so hard to become."
Serena's vision blurred.
"Dad..."
Reige smiled.
The same warm smile she remembered from her childhood.
"Come with me."
He extended his hand.
"It's finally time..."
"...for you to inherit the Cybernetic Protocol of our family."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Serena stared at his outstretched hand.
She had dreamed of this moment for years.
Countless years.
The dream she believed was still far away...
Had finally arrived.
Slowly...
A tear rolled down her cheek.
Then another.
She stood.
Without saying a word...
She stepped forward.
And wrapped both arms tightly around her father.
"...Thank you..."
Her voice trembled.
"...Thank you, Dad..."
Reige gently embraced her.
"I'm proud of you."
Those four words...
Meant more to Serena than any power she could ever inherit.
Across the room, Yuma smiled quietly.
He had never seen Serena cry tears of happiness before.
Stud wiped one of his tiny eyes.
"...Who's cutting onions?"
Nobody answered.
Because everyone knew...
A new chapter in both of their lives had just begun.
One would inherit the legacy of his father.
The other...
The legacy of her family.
And from this day onward—
The true training of two future Geists would finally begin.