Heaven's Eyes

Strength in Silence

His spear cracked into the test pillar with a heavy thud.

The stone flickered.

235.

He had doubled his previous strength.

More than doubled.

"Thank you, teacher!" Zane dropped again to his knees. This time, tears welled in his eyes not from pain, but from release.

Milo stood frozen.

His own strength had only risen by 30% under Master Cron.

And now Zane, his friend, had just achieved a breakthrough he didn’t even think was possible.

This man… this so-called nobody…

"Teacher, may I ask your name?"

Zane looked up, just realizing… they didn’t even know it.

"Jack Reed," the man replied.

Milo blinked. "Wait… Reed? You mean... the Jack Reed who scored zero on the Teacher’s Exam?"

"That’s me," Jack replied with a small shrug.

Silence.

Zane and Milo stared at him like statues. Neither could believe it.

The teacher with the worst reputation in the entire academy...

Was a genius.

There were plenty of rumors about that useless teacher. Even before setting foot in the academy, Zane and Milo had heard about him so many times it felt like their ears had grown calluses.

They said he was completely talentless, that he misled students.

They said he couldn’t cultivate, didn’t know real martial arts...

In short, slander in every shape and form.

The general warning was always the same: if you’re a student, steer clear. Mess with him, and going berserk would be the least of your worries; people had died under his so-called "guidance."

When the two of them came to the academy searching for a proper mentor, they’d been cautious, avoiding every sign of the so-called cursed instructor. Never did they imagine the calm, sharp-eyed man who had just transformed Zane’s technique... was that very same legendary “trash.”

"Teacher, if you’re this incredible... then why…."

Zane couldn't stop himself from asking.

Even in this short time, he could sense the man’s depth. Every movement was precise, every insight stunning. He was no fraud. He was something else entirely.

"There will always be those who envy the talented," Jack said simply, glancing upward with a faint, sorrowful gaze like a man misunderstood by the world.

It was the perfect look of righteous suffering.

Inside, he was cursing.

If it weren’t for the Vault of Eternal Insight… the old Jack would've been lucky to score a negative number. Getting a zero was practically generous.

"I’ll help clear teacher’s name!" Zane declared with conviction, moved by the quiet weight of Jack’s loneliness.’

"It’s fine," Jack said with a wave. "My reputation’s not important. Just focus on your training. That’s enough for me. Now go get your supplies and make sure you’re on time tomorrow. Don’t be late."

Zane nodded quickly.

"Yes, teacher!"

He pulled Milo along, and the two of them left the room.

"Five students…" Jack leaned back in his chair, mind drifting. His thoughts went briefly to Emmett, the boy from the rift. Should he count him?

No, he decided. Emmett wasn’t officially enrolled. Jack had no idea where he was now, or when he’d appear again. Last time he checked the Vault of Eternal Insight, the button that once summoned Emmett had disappeared, replaced by a strange book titled The Deity’s Path. Inside, a name and a question were written: Emmett Rowan and ?????. Both pages were blank.

Until I understand what that book does, I’d better not count Emmett as a student, Jack thought. No point in making assumptions.

Still, a flicker of excitement lit up in his chest.

Emily, the quiet but determined girl. Liam and Jennifer, the two he’d won in a bet. Zara, the strong-willed noble’s daughter. And now, Zane Hawthorne, the spear prodigy.

Five.

Initially, he thought this day would go like all the others: no students, no progress, and more whispers behind his back.

He didn’t expect to win five.

Then his eyes narrowed.

Wait… I’m out of identity tokens.

Even if another student came now, he wouldn’t be able to officially accept them.

The academy only issued a limited number per teacher. Because of his reputation, the registrar had only given him five, probably expecting he wouldn’t use even one.

I’d better go request more, Jack muttered, rising to his feet. If I’m going to turn this around, I’ll need them ready.

Pausing before heading to the registrar, Jack turned and headed in a different direction. He had spent his previous life as a servant, with little time for leisure or personal pursuits. Now, with newfound freedom, he decided to explore the lush areas behind the academy, seeking herbs to experiment with in his cooking. He had already met the requirement, so he could afford a bit of time to himself. As he wandered through the verdant landscape, he discovered a variety of herbs, including Ironroot Myrrh, Skytrace Reed, and Blazing Orchid Vine, whose aromas invigorated his senses. He carefully collected these herbs, envisioning the flavors they would bring to his culinary creations.​

Just as he was about to return to his room, a sudden rustle in the underbrush caught his attention. From the shadows emerged a small yet formidable beast, its eyes gleaming with a predatory glint. Jack's heart raced; he had not yet begun his cultivation training and was ill-prepared for such an encounter. The beast lunged, and instinctively, Jack activated the Vault of Eternal Insight. The Vault revealed the creature's weaknesses, but Jack lacked the strength to exploit them.​

In that critical moment, the Deity's Path book materialized, and Emmet was summoned. Assessing the situation with his third eye, Emmet swiftly engaged the beast, exploiting its vulnerabilities with precision. The creature was subdued, and Jack, catching his breath, expressed his gratitude.​

"How did you know to be here?" Jack inquired, puzzled.​

Emmet shook his head. "I didn't. The book pulled me here."​

"Interesting," Jack mused.​

With the immediate danger resolved, Jack decided to return to his room to change into a fresh robe before proceeding to collect his tokens. Emmet accompanied him, and as they walked, he recounted his experiences upon returning to his world.​

"So," Jack commented, "when you went back, it was as if no time had passed?"​

Emmet nodded. "Exactly. I have no idea how it works. I thought I'd need to activate the book to return here, but it seems that's not the case."​

They both entered the mental space where the Deity's Path resided, but nothing indicated a means for Emmet to return to his world.​

"It appears," Jack said thoughtfully, "that the book has its own agenda."​

Emmet agreed, the mystery of the Deity's Path deepening with each encounter. Putting the book aside, Jack told Emmett he was just on his way to get more student tokens and gestured for Emmett to follow him there.

This token contained a teacher’s credentials. Once a student claimed it with a drop of blood, they formally acknowledged that teacher as their mentor. Likewise, if a student wanted to withdraw from lessons, the teacher only needed to drip their own blood on the token to sever the bond.

Standing up, Jack walked out of his classroom, Emmett following closely behind.

The afternoon sun blazed down, casting sharp shadows through the trees. Heat shimmered off the cobblestone paths, and sweat slicked brows as students passed each other, chatting with excitement.

New students were buzzing with the thrill of the unknown. Older students grinned at the arrival of fresh faces and potential challengers.

As they followed the paved path, a broad structure came into view. Hanging from its high archway were two bold words etched into the dark wood: Logistics Hall.

“This is where we get the identity tokens,” Jack said, glancing at Emmette. “Since we don’t know when the Deity’s Path will send you back, and we can’t activate it, I’ll register you under me as a student for now.”

Emmette nodded. “Then I’ll be in your care until I return to my world, Teacher Jack.”

Jack gave him an approving look. He appreciated the boy’s respect and composure.

Just as they stepped inside, a loud, mocking voice rang out from the far end of the hall.

“Well, look who it is! Our ‘star teacher’ graces us with his presence. What’s the occasion, Jack? Could it be you didn’t use any of the tokens we gave you and came to return them?”

Jack looked up to see a heavyset man leaning against the counter. The man’s bulk pushed his robes to their limits, and from a distance, he looked like a mound of dough in human form.

Ronan Bixby.

The name surfaced from Jack’s memory.

Ronan was one of the logistics officers. Vindictive, petty, and always eager to shortchange those beneath him. Because Jack had always ranked last, Bixby made it his mission to offer the bare minimum. The five tokens Jack had originally been given were courtesy of this man’s low expectations.

“I’ve used all my tokens. I’m here for more,” Jack said calmly, ignoring the smirk spreading across Bixby’s jowls.

“You... used them?” Ronan blinked, then roared with laughter. “Hahaha! Oh, this is rich! Hey, come listen to this Jack Reed says he actually used up all his tokens!”

From the adjoining rooms, three other logistics officers strolled in, drawn by the commotion.

“Didn’t he get, like, five?” one of them said, smirking. “Used them all? That’s adorable.”

“Even Cole Xander, who’s second-to-last, only managed to get two students. This guy? What did he do, bribe them?”

“Someone throw him out already. Once the headmaster sees this term’s report, he’ll be fired anyway.”

None of them even noticed Emmette standing nearby.

To them, Jack Reed was a joke, the bottom-ranked teacher with a zero on his exam record, a walking cautionary tale for new hires.

“Oh?” Jack smiled. “You think I’m bluffing? Why don’t we make a bet?”

“A bet?” Ronan Bixby snorted. “With what, Jack? You got nothing to your name.”

“That’s for me to worry about,” Jack said coolly. “I’ll wager something simple, face. If I lose, you can slap me three times in front of everyone. If you lose, I get to slap you.”

A hush fell over the room.

Bixby’s face twitched. The humiliation of being slapped by the lowest-ranked teacher... in front of his peers?

He hesitated.

“What’s the matter, Ronan?” Jack asked. “Afraid?”

“He’s bluffing,” one of the others scoffed. “No way he has even one student.”

“Exactly. Even if this year’s students were blind and drunk, they’d never pick him.”

Ronan’s confidence returned with their support. He chuckled darkly.

“Fine,” he said. “You’re on.”

Jack turned to the others. “What about the rest of you? Care to make the same bet?”

The three clerks exchanged looks, then laughed.

“Feeling bold, huh? Sure, I’m in.”

“Same here.”

“Let’s see how hard you fall, Reed.”

All four men now wore smug, expectant grins. In their eyes, Jack had already lost.

And when he did, the entire logistics hall would witness it.