Canace

Graduated from Starlight Academy and currently teaching there.

During my time at Starlight Academy, I was awarded the title of "Top Star Student" for three consecutive years. After joining the faculty, I was promoted to professor in recognition of my outstanding contributions to researches on Grace Energy and Stellnanite Veins.

"The Conduction of Grace Energy Across Various Mediums" This paper explores the varying Grace Energy conductivity across different mediums as well as methods to improve it. It has been cited over 1,000 times within three years after publication.

"The Hypothesis on the Geographic Influence of Magic" This paper explains how, on the continent of Nova, the use of magic at the same level can produce different effects depending on geographic differences and unique environments, and on this basis proposes a hypothesis.

"On the Concept of Wish from a Trekker's Perspective" "The Current State and Future Trends of Grace Substitutes Research" "Exploring the Management of Monoliths in Cities" "A Guide to Edible Wild Plants in Nova"

1st Place in Starlight Academy's "Most Popular Teacher" Poll (Unofficial) 1st Place in Starlight Academy's "Most Feared Teacher" Poll (Unofficial)

She's published numerous papers, led several projects, and earned lifelong recognition. Yet, after all that, she chose a career as a university professor over a prestigious position at the Eye of Grace. Honestly, she might be the most perplexing student I've ever taught. —Professor Zosimos, Department of Elements, Grace Light Academy

During our background check on Canace, we faced significant interference and warnings from the Grace Imperium. Such reaction only confirms that the details of her "year-long absence" are highly classified even within the Grace Imperium. Based on her published research, it's clear that Canace has accumulated substantial Trekker experience. However, her unwillingness to discuss this raises concerns. Given the missing details about her background, we advise caution in further dealings with her. —███, Trekker Association

When I had packed the last of my belongings and walked out of the Metonia estate alone, a gaunt-faced man stood waiting by the iron gate. He was my father, a well-known businessman in Nova. Born in the Ash District, he had, through sheer determination and by marrying into the Metonia family, became a man of consequence in Emor's Gold District. All these years, my father had seldom spoken to us. I never knew what he was truly thinking. Only that, unlike my mother who valued results above all else, he cared more about the direction at the start. I thought he was about to say something, but he just handed me a book. "The Fundamentals of Grace Energy." I recognized it at once. It was the birthday gift I had begged my parents for when I was a child. But now, I had turned my back on it. "Since you chose this path for yourself, see it through to the end." Leaving those words behind, he turned and walked away, just as my mother had. Right on cue, the rain began to fall. The butler arrived with my luggage, wrapped in waterproof cloth. He explained that Father had personally given the instructions, since most of it was out of print rare books that could easily ruined by water. "Miss, please understand. Mistress and Master, they..." The lines on the butler's forehead deepened. Ever since my incident, he had followed my parents everywhere as they tried to get me out. No doubt he, too, had endured a difficult time. "It's all right. I understand. To protect me and the family, they had no other choice."

From the carriage window I watched the Metonia estate recede into the distance. Taking out the Grace Light Academy employment registration form, I filled in the blank for "Full Name" with— Canace·No family name.

"Ah, I knew I'd find you here, Ms. Canace."

Juno pushed open the door to the rooftop, greeted me like an old friend, and gave me a polite bow. She was the class president. With only a five-year age gap between us, we were more like friends than teacher and student.

"The graduation ceremony is about to start. Aren't you coming down, Ms. Canace?" "I need a moment... I'm feeling a bit..."

I tugged at the hem of the suit I'd found in the Monolith. I felt uneasy about the upcoming ceremony. This wasn't a traditional graduation—it was more of a forced graduation due to the school shutting down. Facing the imminent graduation, the graduates had only finished half of the semester. I couldn't stop the school from closing, but I still felt I hadn't done enough for my students.

"Wow, is that the formal suit in the Monolith?"

Juno noticed my unusual outfit and circled around me in excitement. It was indeed the formal wear popular in the Gold District. When I left home, my older sister packed it for me, but I never got a chance to wear it.

"The premium stuff from the Monolith! How does it feel? Is it really as comfortable as people say?" "It's tight and hard to move in it, not comfortable at all." "I see! This is the first time I've seen you in a suit, Ms. Canace." "Well... There are still lessons I haven't covered this semester. Sorry about that." "Don't worry! You've already taught us the most important lesson."

I gave her a confused look. After hearing about the school closure, I handed out the remaining lesson plans and textbooks. But that didn't count as completing the lessons, right?

"The most important lesson is this."

Juno pointed at my suit.

"This?" "Yeah, before you came, we thought Emor was this intimidating place, and the people there seemed to know so much more. We thought we could never catch up, no matter how hard we tried. Then you came, and we learned that people from Emor are just like us... And I just find out now that they wear these really uncomfortable clothes." "I don't think that's much of a compliment." "What? No, I really mean it. Everyone in class likes you, Ms. Canace. You've given us confidence we didn't have." "Well... I never realized I could do that." "Yeah, now we know we're just like everyone else, and there's nothing to be afraid of. Anyway, everyone's waiting for you in the hall. Let's go."

To quote a book from the Monolith: In any group of three, one of them can always teach me something. I guess teaching these students helped me gain new insights as well. Juno gently pushed me forward, a teacher who had learned just as much, toward my first "graduation" in life.

The coldness was gnawing at her senses while darkness was stripping away her will. All she could do was silently repeating her defense in the trial. "It'll be fine. If I just play dumb, I can get away with this." "Everything will be okay. Once my parents step in, I'll be out of here soon." But memories intruded and the past flashed before her eyes once again.

One could not have both freedom and stability. Longings for the Wilds made her sneak out to a Monolith outside the city. She saw climbing the Monolith as a kind of graduation celebration.

"Everyone wants to climb higher, but few stop to notice what's beneath their feet."

The girl descended into the Abyss, witnessing sights no one had ever seen before. The Monoliths, the continents, and the very planet itself. She realized that the true history of the world and its forgotten memories was beyond anything Novians could ever imagine. Once she took that first step, she could never accept living in a glass house of ignorance.

She weaved a bracelet out of tree branches to symbolize her will. She longed to reveal the truth to the world. and that obsession drove her to force her frail body back along the path she had come. There the memories came to an abrupt end, followed by events too terrible to speak of.

A beam of light cut through the darkness of the cell. Through the doorway, the young girl saw her parents and the figures of the Grace Imperium outside. During the trial, she lied. This was a first for her, as she had always been taught to speak the truth. Canace held firm onto the belief that silence would not last forever, those who sought knowledge would one day unearth the truth. She carried that secret on her back and began to walk her lonely path.