Chapter 518: The Situation Of The World [1]
Selene’s tone softened, almost contemplative.
“But at the end of the day, Darius… we, the media, can only speculate. If the public truly wants to understand supernaturals, wouldn’t it be better to hear it directly from them?”
Darius nodded, smiling faintly. “That’s exactly right. Which is why, for today’s broadcast, we’ve invited a special guest. Please welcome Professor Alaric Veylin, of Dawn Liberal College.”
The camera shifted smoothly, revealing an elderly man seated beside them. His hair was snow-white, his posture slightly stooped, but his eyes carried a sharpness that belied his age. He wore a simple suit.
Selene offered a small, respectful incline of her head. “Professor Veylin, thank you for joining us.”
The professor gave a small nod, voice steady and calm. “It is my honor.”
Unlike the academies for cultivators or awakeners—which remained closed to public scrutiny, only making themselves known to young supernaturals during their college entrance exams when they sent out offers or in the Supers forum—liberal colleges had always been known to the people.
Dawn Liberal College was a state University. Dawn is the State in which Woodstone and Brightgate city are under.
Selene’s expression sharpened as she leaned in.
“Professor Veylin, if I may—do you know why the Education Council decided to pull such a big move during this year’s college exams? What’s different now, that wasn’t before?”
The old man adjusted his glasses, his gaze briefly distant. Inwardly, his heart sank.
It’s because they need more people—more youths striving to become supernaturals. If they do not, if the tide continues as it has, then when the worse comes… this world won’t have enough to protect it.
But when he finally spoke, his lips curved into a polite smile.
“It’s actually not the Education Council of Dawn State, nor even our country of Vessera, that made this decision.”
Darius blinked. “Oh?”
Professor Veylin’s voice was calm, deliberate. “The decision came from higher. From the Federation Council itself. All nations of Aurora agreed to this. Today’s display is not a local—it is an international one.”
For a beat, silence spread. Then Selene cleared her throat softly. “Professor, we were aware the Education Council was working with higher bodies, but you’re saying this was not their initiative?”
Veylin’s eyes glimmered faintly, like steel hidden under cloth. “That’s right.”
The camera lingered on him for a long second.
Across Bright Academy’s cafeteria, chatter stilled into murmurs. In the restaurant, Aunt Mia frowned, her hands tightening around the counter. In living rooms, bars, and roadside diners across Aurora, the words sank like stones into water.
The Federation Council.
To the people of Aurora, the Federation had always felt like a distant colossus. A grand government formed of different rulers, bound together by agreements too vast for ordinary citizens to see. They didn’t know how many representatives sat at that table, nor how much power they commanded in detail—but they knew one truth.
The Federation was absolute.
Whenever its name appeared, it was never trivial.
And now, for it to step directly into education? To touch the college exams that had always been matters of state? That was something new.
Voices in the crowd turned quieter, more focused, as if unconsciously leaning closer to the screen.
Selene’s tone matched the mood, quieter now, almost reverent. “So this… is bigger than anyone expected.”
Professor Veylin only nodded.
Had Michael been outside watching the news, he would have been very surprised.
Unlike what he had assumed—that the Federation only wanted to raise awareness little by little, enough for the public to begin to understand more about their world—this was far bolder than he expected.
The Federation was not simply “lifting the veil.” They were making big moves, stepping into the light more than they ever had before.
For years, their attitude had been cautious, restrained. It had all been keeping supernaturals as a quiet undercurrent in society. Something known, but not flaunted. Respected, but not spotlighted.
Michael would have wondered why?
And maybe, just maybe would have wondered if the demon incident that was related to demonic cultivators was involved in this decision.
Selene didn’t miss the weight of his words. Her brows drew together slightly, and she pressed on. “Then, Professor, may I ask—why now?”
The old man’s fingers brushed lightly against his glasses. His eyes narrowed with thought, though his voice remained calm when he spoke.
“The Federation has come to a realization,” he said slowly. “That the public… does not know enough about the supernatural enough. And yet, the supernatural has always been a deep part of our roots. A foundation of who we are. To see it slipping away, misunderstood and neglected—that is a result the Federation does not want to see.”
A murmur rippled through the cafeteria at Bright Academy. Students shifted in their seats. Even those who had not cared much before found themselves caught on those words: slipping away.
Veylin continued, his tone edged with quiet steel.
“In recent years, something troubling has emerged. When a student fails to awaken, or fails to enter a cultivation academy, many of them give up cultivation altogether. At first glance, this can be seen as acceptance of reality, and perhaps there is merit in that. But… more troubling still, there are now youths who do not even attempt. They grow lazy, placing all their hopes upon the chance of awakening, while neglecting the path of cultivation entirely.”
Selene’s lips parted faintly. “You mean…?”
“Yes.” The professor gave a solemn nod. “They forget that cultivators make up a vast portion of the supernatural academies. They forget what they were taught in school—that while awakeners shine brightest in the public imagination, it is the cultivators who form the backbone of our defense. It was taught, but never emphasized. And so, a generation of students began to place their lives on a single gamble… while leaving behind the surest path of all.”
The words settled over the cafeteria like a weight.
A/N: Thanks for reading today’s chapters! Please comment your thoughts on the story.