Chapter 194 — Back To Class I

[Stormhold Academy - Student Forum]

The Academy’s online forum exploded with activity early that morning, threads multiplying faster than moderators could track.

[CONFIRMED: Damian Valcor Returns to Central Region!]

User_Commoner47: Just saw him in Tranquil city. He’s back from Norrington City. Classes today are going to be INSANE.

User_NobleWatch: Finally! Been months since anyone saw him on campus. Wonder if he’ll actually attend classes or just disappear again.

User_AcademyGossip: Did you guys see the Tranquil City news reports? He’s not just running Mafia at the Academy. He’s the actual GODFATHER of an entire city’s criminal organization!

[BREAKING: Mafia Controls Entire Tranquil City - Damian Valcor Confirmed as Leader]

User_NewsJunkie: Attaching verified sources. The "Mysterious Sir" everyone was talking about? It’s him. Sixteen years old and he’s governing a city more effectively than the actual government.

User_Skeptic91: This has to be exaggerated. One student can’t possibly–

User_LocalResident: I LIVE in Tranquil City. It’s not exaggerated. It’s UNDERSTATED. Crime is literally zero. Orphanages are taking the children from everywhere. People actually trust the Mafia more than police. It’s surreal.

User_Commoner203: He turned himself into the Godfather of eight thousand orphans. EIGHT THOUSAND. That’s not a gang. That’s a movement.

[Poll: Will Damian Attend Classes Today?]

89% voted YES

User_Excited1stYear: He HAS to show up. Everyone’s talking about it. The energy on campus is crazy right now.

User_Noble_Heir: Let him come. We’ll see how much his "legend" holds up in actual Academy life versus propaganda.

User_Commoner_Pride: The man fought SEVEN Demons alone and survived TWO MONTHS in a portal killing GIANTS. What part of that is propaganda?!

The threads continued multiplying, speculation running wild, excitement building to fever pitch.

Students who’d never cared about politics suddenly invested in whether the Academy’s most controversial figure would actually show up to class.

By the time morning classes were scheduled to begin, half the student body was watching hallways and entrances, hoping to catch a glimpse.

****

[Damian’s Dormitory Room]

Damian stood in front of his mirror, adjusting the crimson coat that marked him as an Academy student.

The uniform felt strange after months of not wearing it. It was too formal and too restrictive. Too much like playing a role rather than being himself.

His reflection showed changes that went beyond clothing.

His face had lost the last traces of adolescent softness, features sharpened by stress and combat into something mature beyond his sixteen years.

His shoulder-length crimson hair was slicked back neatly, showing the sharp angles of his jawline and cheekbones.

His body, though not excessively muscular, showed clear definition under the uniform – enhanced strength from the Devourer Body Art creating a frame that looked carved rather than built through normal training.

’I look twenty years old. Maybe older. Nobody seeing me for the first time would believe I’m a first-year student.’

He tied his black tie with practiced efficiency, making sure everything was properly aligned.

’Feels weird wearing this uniform after so long. But appearances matter. I need to look like a normal student, even if everyone knows I’m anything but.’

Satisfied with his appearance, Damian walked to his dormitory door and opened it.

And stopped, mildly surprised despite having expected something like this.

More than thirty students stood waiting in the hallway, all dressed in their Academy uniforms, all wearing expressions mixing determination with nervous energy.

They were the Mafia students. His own people. Waiting to escort him to class like an entourage accompanying their leader.

Ariana stepped forward immediately, positioning herself just behind his right shoulder like a secretary or bodyguard, her posture professional.

Damian looked at each of them carefully, actually paying attention to details he’d missed during brief meetings in Tranquil City.

Edrin, Lysa, and Ronan – the S rank talents who’d been among his first recruits – all radiated D rank Aura now. Solid advancement from their initial ranks, the result of months of dedicated training and real combat experience.

But...It was Ariana who surprised him.

She was radiating D+ rank Aura! A minor rank above the others despite her talent being only A rank if he remembered correctly.

Damian’s eyes narrowed slightly, showing his surprise.

Ariana noticed his look and spoke casually, though her voice carried careful wording given the audience.

"My talent increased due to certain circumstances. I’ll explain properly later when we have privacy."

’Her spatial innate skill evolved when she was attacked. The desperate situation forced her ability to advance beyond its original parameters. And apparently her talent rating increased as well.

Makes sense. Extreme trauma can trigger evolution in rare cases. She’s one of the lucky ones where evolution was beneficial rather than destructive.’

Damian nodded understanding without pressing for details.

Then he scanned the rest of the group.

All the Mafia members – students who’d been barely E rank of F rank when they joined – had advanced to D- rank minimum.

The improvement was remarkable, speaking to both their dedication and the resources Mike had been providing.

’Combat experience in Tranquil City helped too. Mike’s been sending them on operations whenever issues arise. Learning through real conflict rather than just training exercises.

Smart. It builds character and capability simultaneously.’

His eyes found Zavier, noting the exhaustion in his friend’s face despite efforts to hide it.

Last night’s torture session had taken a toll, both physical and emotional.

But Zavier met his gaze steadily and nodded slightly, showing he was functional despite everything.

Squeeze

Damian stepped forward and placed his hand on Zavier’s shoulder, squeezing gently, his smile showing approval and support without words.

Then he put his hands in his pockets and started walking toward their classroom, his posture completely relaxed.

The entire Mafia group fell in behind him naturally, their formation unconscious but effective, moving like a unit that had trained together extensively.

Edrin moved up to walk beside Damian, his voice quiet enough that only nearby members could hear.

"I should update you on class rankings. Several changes have happened since you left."

Damian kept walking, listening without looking at Edrin directly.

"You’re still ranked first overall. Micheal Thorne is second. Adrian Murdock third. Leonard Ashford fourth. Iris Langsten fifth."

Standard top five. It was expected given their talents and family resources.

"Ariana is sixth now."

Damian’s eyebrow raised slightly. That was significant advancement.

"I’m seventh. Ronan eighth. Lysa ninth."

The three S rank talents retaining their place in the top ten made sense.

"Fiona Sigurd is tenth – the one who stayed neutral during your Noble conflicts. Smart enough to avoid making enemies unnecessarily."

Damian remembered her. Black hair, black eyes, glasses, always observing rather than participating.

"Ruby Fray is eleventh. Simon Diserion twelfth. Quinn Xander thirteenth. Zav fourteenth. Ralph Eddington fifteenth."

Ruby was the girl whose arm he’d severed during the violence. Simon the tall Noble he’d beaten. Quinn another Noble who’d challenged him.

"And after that... positions sixteen through thirty-five are all Mafia members. Marcus, Selena, Rio, all of them. We’ve completely dominated the class rankings below the top fifteen."

Damian’s expression didn’t change, but internal satisfaction was undeniable.

’Complete dominance in the first year. The Mafia doesn’t just exist within the Academy anymore. We’re the dominant force in Section A.’

"Good work."

His voice was calm and casual, but the praise carried weight.