Ery did go to the Twin Halls, but this ti he headed straight to the administrative sector-deep within the mountain, at the academy's main facility.
Soone was already waiting for him: Magus Urix, standing stiffly with an anxious expression.
"He already knows you're coming" Urix muttered, then leaned closer and whispered, "Just... please don't cause any trouble."
"? Of course not," Ery said with a faint smirk.
With that half-believable assurance, Ery was escorted toward one of the main chambers carved high into the mountain's upper levels. Shinta, Soltz, and Feyanor followed behind him, each taking in the environnt with a different mood.
The door to the eting chamber was already open. Inside was a small VIP room carved from obsidian stone, with a wide window overlooking the academy grounds far below.
A staff mber bowed and guided them inside.
"The Headmaster is still in another eting. He will be with you shortly."
"Thank you," Ery replied.
Once the assistant left, Shinta leaned closer and whispered, "We're eting Headmaster Goldstein? For what? And... why am I here, Father?"
Ery only smiled, offering no explanation. Instead, he turned to Feyanor and old Soltz, gesturing at the view outside.
"What do you two think of this place? Impressive, isn't it?"
Feyanor acknowledged imdiately, his senses sharpening as he soaked in the overwhelming nature energy that saturated the mountain. Soltz, on the other hand, folded his arms and grumbled.
"Hmph. I've seen better places back ho."
Ery ignored the old man's attitude and shifted to a more aningful topic.
"You must have felt it as you stepped inside this mountain... the unique power... it ca from the Origin Stones."
Both grand magus stiffened.
Origin Stones existed even in the Tartarus Realm-but there, only a dozen were known, each jealously held by top-tier figures of different races. Yet this academy alone possessed ten, each attuned to a different elent. Their combined influence transford the island into one of the most potent nurturing grounds in the entire sector.
Ery went on.
"And then there's the Myriad Spring of Life-one of the academy's greatest treasures."
That finally caught Soltz's full attention. Feyanor's as well.Ery inclined slightly toward the old grand magus and whispered," It could help your recovery significantly."
The old man's eyes sharpened, his earlier disinterest fading.
Watching all this, Shinta ca to her own conclusion-one that made perfect sense to her. Her father wanted to lure these two grand magus into supporting the Twin Halls. With such power, the hall truly could climb back to top status. Before she could ask more, the person they were waiting for arrived.
Headmaster Goldstein stepped inside-a two cosmos-realm grand magus, a middle-aged man in pristine robes, thin spectacles framing sharp eyes. Though his appearance was academic, an undeniable authority radiated from him the mont he entered the room.
He glanced at Ery and offered a polite smile.
"Ah... Grand Magus Ery. It has been so ti."
Ery had t the headmaster a few tis back when he served as an Academy instructor. Yet even when Ery had led his hall to the top position, the man had never shown him more than polite acknowledgnt. Now, as a newly ascended grand magus, the shift in attitude was unmistakable.
Goldstein's gaze swept over Shinta, Feyanor, and Soltz. As expected, he didn't recognize Shinta-despite her once being a top student who won major competitions for the academy.
"Please, have a seat," the headmaster said.
Ery sat. The three behind him remained standing, silent and disciplined. The small gesture visibly impressed Goldstein; it reinforced the image that all three were, in fact, Ery's subordinates.
"So then," the headmaster began, "how can I assist you?"
"Thank you for seeing on such short notice," Ery replied.
He explained, calmly and politely, that he intended to stay in the area more permanently. With Klea-the current registered head instructor-absent for quite a while, he planned to take on a more active role in the academy, especially over the Twin Halls, which were already entrusted to his faction. "I see," the headmaster said with interest. "Does that an you intend to resu the head-instructor role?"
Ery shook his head. "No. I won't have that much free ti."
The headmaster's attention shifted to the three standing behind Ery.
"Then... one of them?"
"Yes," Ery answered.
But before he could elaborate, the headmaster interrupted.
"Grand Magus Ery, allow to be blunt. Strength is important, certainly. These gentlen appear capable." His eyes lingered on Soltz and Feyanor. "But instructors are more than strong magus-they are teachers. ntors. Role models. We cannot accept just anyone. Reputation within the Alliance is important. And..." He cleared his throat. "I'm afraid I do not recognize either of
them."
Soltz frowned, clearly offended.
Ery remained composed. Everything the headmaster uttered was true. Not only did Feyanor and Soltz have no public reputation within the Magus Alliance, they weren't even registered yet. Ery had already anticipated this resistance -in fact, he had been waiting for this exact mont to deliver his next line. "I understand completely," Ery said. "Of course, we all wish to avoid... another embarrassing scandal at the academy."
The headmaster froze.
"...What do you an?"
Ery feigned surprise. "Ah-did I misinform? I heard about that incident recently. What was his na? Instructor Barnet? ...I heard it was... quite a
ss."
Headmaster Goldstein's composed deanor cracked for just a mont.
"So you heard about him..." Goldstein muttered, adjusting his glasses. "Yes. Yes, exactly. That is precisely why we must be extrely selective when accepting new instructors."
Ery watched the man carefully, hiding the relief blooming in his chest. That reaction gave him the confirmation he needed: the more they spoke about the incident, the more convinced Ery beca that the headmaster had no idea about his involvent in Barnet's capture and death.
That ant Goldstein likely had no real ties to the secret faction Barnet had belonged to. This forr Magus Alliance minister was probably just taking bribes from them, or sothing equally self-serving.
Good. One less hidden enemy lurking inside the academy.
"That's perfectly reasonable, Headmaster," Ery said smoothly. "Fortunately, the candidate I chose is not a stranger. In fact, she was once a student of this academy-a top student."
He turned his gaze toward Shinta, and her eyes widened in shock.
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