The Road Ahead Is Long

But thinking carefully, Lucia’s suggestion did make a lot of sense.

This world was no era of peace.

The war between demons and humans had never truly ceased.

Not to mention those ever-watchful players—

Cultivating students’ combat awareness and self-preservation abilities was absolutely necessary.

It could also serve as another form of mental training.

“Alright, it’s decided then.” Vivian quickly made up her mind.

“Lucia, you’ll handle the academy’s basic combat courses.”

“But let me say this upfront—this will be an elective. Those who want to learn can; those who don’t, no pressure.”

“As for new recruit training… go when you have time, but don’t stray too far.”

“Understood.” Lucia smiled faintly, clearly satisfied with the arrangement.

At that moment, little Luna in her arms suddenly let out a crisp cooing sound.

Her tiny hands flailed as if trying to grasp something.

Lucia looked down and saw Luna staring at a small orb of holy light that had unknowingly condensed at her fingertip.

It was an unconscious habit of hers—when deep in thought, she would always gather a bit of light there.

“What’s wrong, little Luna?” Lucia asked gently, moving her finger closer to her daughter.

Luna’s eyes sparkled.

She reached out with her chubby little hand, trying to grab the holy light.

Then…

“Eeya!”

Something shocking happened to everyone.

The instant Luna’s hand touched Lucia’s holy light, the originally warm and gentle orb suddenly changed.

It didn’t dissipate.

Instead, as if responding, it began joyfully bouncing in Luna’s palm.

Not only that—Luna instinctively reached out with her other tiny hand.

And in that palm, a small orb of light also condensed!

Only, this orb’s color differed from Lucia’s pure white holy light.

It carried a faint dark purple hue—the color of Vivian’s Evernight mana!

“This…” Lucia’s eyes widened.

Vivian was stunned too.

In the next second, the two differently colored orbs—under Luna’s control, though incredibly clumsy, undeniably hers—

Clearly, this control was unconscious—slowly drew closer, then fused.

The fused orb took on a peculiar gray shade, like the boundary between night and day.

Both warm and tinged with mystery.

“Mama! Mama!” Luna excitedly raised the gray orb, her eyes curving into crescents. “Shiny!”

But in the next moment, the gray orb suddenly shattered.

Luna’s little face immediately fell, clearly upset.

At this point, Vivian and Lucia exchanged a glance.

Both saw disbelief in the other’s eyes.

“She… she’s not even one yet, right?”

Lucia murmured. “To do this…?”

“Talent, I suppose.”

Vivian took a deep breath to calm herself.

“Both our bloodlines, born under such special circumstances—maybe she can instinctively control both light and dark attributes?”

“It doesn’t seem impossible.”

Even so, shock raged like a storm in Vivian’s heart.

After all, in this world’s lore, light and darkness were opposing attributes.

Mastering both was already rare as phoenix feathers.

Let alone fusing them naturally like Luna.

This child’s future potential likely far exceeded her imagination.

“Shiny! Gone!”

Luna pouted, deeply frustrated that her “creation” had vanished.

Vivian reached out to take her daughter, planting a kiss on Luna’s cheek.

“There, there—it’s okay.”

“You’re still too little to overuse mana.”

“When you’re older, we’ll teach you properly.”

“Mm, don’t be sad.”

Lucia nodded too, her eyes full of doting.

“But Vivian—what do you think that light-dark fusion means, in your understanding?”

Vivian pondered, then spoke slowly.

“In this world’s traditional view, light represents order, justice, purification.”

“Darkness represents chaos, evil, corruption—absolute opposites.”

“But I’ve always felt this binary division is too absolute.”

She blinked.

“Is light necessarily good? Not necessarily.”

“The morality of any power depends on the user’s intent and methods.”

“Power itself has no good or evil. It depends on how it’s used.”

Lucia nodded thoughtfully.

As the former Hero of Light, her understanding of holy light had once been unshakable.

But now, after living in the Evernight Territory for some time, certain beliefs were quietly shifting.

Or rather, she had gained new perspectives.

“Then… we’ll raise her together.” Lucia said softly.

“Let her become truly free, unbound by any dogma.”

“Of course.” Vivian smiled. “Our daughter will choose her own path.”

“Alright, enough staring at the child.”

With that, Vivian exhaled and handed Luna back to Lucia.

She turned to the little succubus.

“Luna, inform Aria and Lucia.”

“Have them gather the craftsmen and start phase one of the academy per this blueprint.”

“You have one month. The basic teaching buildings and dorms must be completed.”

“Yes! Demon Lord!”

Luna immediately took the blueprint respectfully.

“Also.”

Vivian continued.

“Select a group of youths and children from the refugees as the first batch of students.”

“The criteria I mentioned before: ages ten to twenty-five, healthy, willing to learn, background irrelevant.”

“Nobles, commoners, even former slaves—as long as they’re not impaired, all are welcome.”

“Understood!”

After receiving orders, the little succubus turned and hurried off.

Watching Luna’s retreating figure, Vivian stretched.

Building the academy was just a small step in her grand plan.

But it was a crucial one.

Education was the most fundamental and thorough way to change a society.

As more people accepted new knowledge and ways of thinking,

The face of the Evernight Territory would undergo earth-shaking transformation.

And this change would eventually radiate outward.

Influencing the entire Demon Clan, even human society.

To this whole world.

“Vivian,” Lucia suddenly spoke. “Have you considered—if your ideas truly spread, you might face even greater resistance?”

“Whether conservative factions within the Demon Clan or vested interests among humans—none will want this change.”

“I know.” Vivian replied calmly. “But precisely because it’s difficult, it’s worth doing.”

“This may be a very long road.”

Lucia blinked, then continued.

But Vivian turned to her, a confident smile curling her lips.

“I know. But I’m not alone.”

“All I need to do is ignite the spark.”

“And that spark can start a prairie fire.”

“Besides, time is something we have plenty of now.”

“Moreover, though the path is long, as long as we keep walking, we’ll reach the end someday.”

“…Alright. I believe in you.”

Lucia nodded in response.

Gazing into Vivian’s resolute crimson eyes, an indescribable emotion welled up in her heart.

This Demon Lord… was utterly different from what she’d imagined.

It was why she hadn’t struck to kill upon first sight.

Not a tyrant ruling by violence and fear.

But a leader truly thinking for her people and the future.

Following her… perhaps she really could see a different world.

Lucia knew she had martial prowess but lacked in other areas.

She couldn’t grasp certain things, couldn’t unravel the world’s frameworks and systems.

So she had always sought answers—without success.

But now, with her second life, perhaps she could see from Vivian how to realize her dreams.