"You want to see the principal?" Lira asked in surprise, her brows lifting. Then, with a touch of regret, she added, "I'm afraid that's above my clearance. You can go through Instructor Yara for that though, I think."
Michael nodded in understanding. It would have been odd if just any student could request an audience with the academy's head. Still, curiosity tugged at him-especially after everything he'd seen so far.
Unfortunately, when they found Instructor Yara and he made his request, her response wasn't what he hoped for.
"The principal?" Yara repeated before exhaling softly. "I don't know why he wanted to et you so soon, but I'm afraid you'll have to wait. Sothing ca up today that required both his and the vice principal's direct attention."
Her expression was composed but apologetic. "Until they're done, there's nothing we can do."
Michael gave a slight nod, masking the faint disappointnt that flickered across his face. "Understood."
He didn't linger. There was no point pressing further. After thanking her, he turned to leave.
Michael found himself walking aimlessly for a mont, considering whether to just retire to his villa and rest.
That was when Lira, who had been trailing behind, spoke up suddenly, her tone bright again. "Hey-since we can't see the principal right now, how about we check out the academy eatery instead?"
Michael raised a brow at her suggestion. "The eatery?"
She grinned. "You've seen the dorms already. Might as well see what the academy serves its students. Trust -it's worth it."
He paused for a mont, then chuckled quietly. Though he was a
True Human now, a trace of his old self lingered - and that self had always appreciated good food.
"Fine," he said, a faint smile forming on his lips. "Lead the way." Lira's grin widened.
And so, the two turned away from the administrative wing and headed down the path toward the dining sector of the academy - where, according to Lira, "the real test of taste" awaited.
As they were on their way, a sharp voice suddenly cut through the quiet path.
"You two!"
Both Michael and Lira stopped and turned toward the source.
A group of people stood a short distance away.
The one at the front, clearly the leader, looked to be in his mid-twenties.
His dark hair was tied loosely behind his head, his posture confident.
He had a certain refined aura around him.
Lira's face imdiately paled when she recognized him. Her earlier ease vanished, replaced by a tension that made her grip her sleeve subconsciously.
Michael noticed her reaction first and frowned slightly, turning his attention to the youth who was now approaching them with asured steps.
The young man's eyes fixed on him. "You're Michael, right?" he asked, voice calm.
Michael blinked once, montarily thrown off by the abrupt. question. Still, he replied evenly, "Yes."
At the sa ti, his gaze sharpened slightly as he observed the man before him. The youth's presence was powerful.
At least he was undoubtedly stronger than the assistant teacher Arlen, the level 47 archer Michael had t during the third round of the college exams in the Academy territory in the Land of Origin. Michael couldn't tell if this strength ca from a higher level or simply from a better foundation. There was power in the man's energy, but not the crushing pressure of a Rank 3 Awakener.
So he hasn't crossed into the next rank yet, Michael thought. Still, he's close.
The man's confidence wasn't baseless-but it wasn't enough to make Michael take him seriously either.
"Why?" Michael asked quietly. "Do you need sothing?"
The youth's lips curved faintly, though it wasn't quite a smile. Before he could answer, Michael suddenly felt it-a faint but unmistakable gaze brushing against his body like invisible fingers.
A probing force.
Soone was using a detection skill on him.
Michael's expression cooled imdiately. The feeling was all too familiar-the distinct sense of a foreign gaze prying into his
information.
So he actually used [Detect] on directly.
The more he grew, the more Michael started to feel irritated about
this gesture.
On the other hand, the other party's previously calm gaze beca
serious.
Lira's heart sank. Cold sweat ford on her forehead as she stepped slightly closer to Michael, her voice barely above a whisper. "Michael... let's leave," she muttered under her breath.
Michael turned to look at her. He was really confused at the mont.
For one, he wondered who this person was that could instantly
change Lira deanour.
What was his status?
Lira recognized him at once. That was Ryn Halvane, a fifth-year student this sester and a level 50 Magic Swordsman-holder of a Special-Grade Class.
Two years ago, he had already reached the ceiling of Rank 2 at level 50 and begun comprehending a Law.
Since then, he had refined himself to an almost unnatural degree.
While his advancent had halted at the precipice of Rank 3, no one at the academy thought him stagnant. That "step away" from ascension was the kind of step that separated the rely strong from the truly terrifying. His mana density, spirit synchronization, and law comprehension were said to be at a level that even so Rank 3s could not match.
Among fifth-years, he was ranked at least within the top twenty- though if one considered only those below Rank 3, he was easily among the top five. He had represented the academy twice in the Intercontinental Awakener Tournants, earning recognition
everywhere.
Lira's stomach tightened the longer she looked at him. Soone of his standing did not stop first-years-or even third-years-without reason. His kind rarely wasted breath on trivial matters. For a fifth-year at the peak of Rank 2 to appear here, in person, and call out
to them so casually... It ant sothing.
She ran through the possibilities quickly.
Was it the principal's doing? Or perhaps sothing tied to Michael
himself?
Every option she considered made her pulse quicken.
It was then Lira rembered sothing else-sothing about Ryn
Halvane.
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