The projection absorbed this calmly.
Her gaze drifted once more across the gathered students, pausing briefly on their battered states. Then her eyes lowered back to Rynne.
"What is the issue?"
Her tone was no longer gentle. It had shifted into sothing firr, more direct. The voice of an authority figure now fully present.
Rynne did not hesitate this ti.
She raised her hand and pointed upward. Directly at Michael's suspended figure in the air.
"The Federation wants to take a student of the academy without explanation."
Her arm shifted slightly, finger moving, now pointing at the two Rank Four superpowers hovering above. Her expression, usually composed, now carried a rare trace of open displeasure.
"And they refused to let the academy intervene."
The projection followed the line of her disciple's gesture. Her eyes landed first on Michael. Then her gaze shifted slowly toward Caelum and the military old man beside him.
Her expression did not imdiately harden. But the temperature in her eyes dropped noticeably.
At the sa ti, her perception probed deeper.
This projection had been created long before Michael's existence had entered the awareness of high rank figures. She did not know him. She did not know his na, his achievents, his ranking, or his
potential.
To her, he was simply an academy student. An unfamiliar youth. But she knew her disciple.
Rynne was not impulsive or reckless. She would never summon such a projection lightly over minor disputes or personal grievances.
Calling upon a projection ant one thing. She believed the situation had escalated beyond her ability to handle.
Even if she did not know the suspended youth, she understood the weight behind her disciple's decision.
If Rynne deed this worthy of summoning her, then it was not a simple matter.
Her gaze lifted once more toward the sky. Now her authority unfolded fully, calm yet immovable.
When she spoke again, her voice carried far more weight than before.
"You two."
A pause.
"Explain why an academy student is being detained under
suppression without institutional notification."
The air between the two sides grew heavy.
Caelum's expression turned ugly the instant the projection's authority unfolded fully.
Though it was only a projection, he recognized her imdiately.
How could he not?
There were very few existences in Aurora whose presence alone could alter political balance.
And this woman stood among them.
Gagye.
Or as she was far more widely known across the higher realms, Divine Lady Gagye. Emperor of Still Waters. One of the confird Demigods
of Aurora.
The mont recognition settled, the tension in Caelum's shoulders sharpened subtly.
He did not bow, but his posture straightened instinctively
nonetheless.
Respect had to be shown, even to a projection. Because the power contained within that fragnt of consciousness was not sothing a
normal Rank Four could ignore.
He spoke.
"Then you must be the famous-"
"Spare the courtesies."
Gagye cut him off mid sentence without even looking at him fully.
Her tone was flat, disinterested, almost impatient. Her gaze remained on Michael for only a fraction longer before shifting fully onto Caelum and the military officer beside him.
"Go straight to the point."
The interruption landed like a quiet slap.
Caelum's jaw tightened faintly, but he did not show anger. Because even as a projection, the pressure radiating from her was imnse.
He recalibrated instantly.
His tone when he spoke again was more respectful than it had been
with Sera.
"Divine Lady Gagye."
A brief pause.
"Due to several reasons, I am unable to disclose the specifics of the
situation."
He gestured slightly toward Michael's suspended figure.
"However, the academy need not be concerned. The student is safe.
No harm will co to him."
His words were careful and asured.
"I rely require him for clarification on certain matters. Once that is complete, he will be returned."
It was the sa explanation he had given Sera, but the delivery was entirely different. More formal. More cautious.
Because the one he was speaking to now was not an Instructor, but a
Demigod.
Even if only a fragnt stood before him, that fragnt alone might
very well be enough to match him.
Caelum knew this.
A spirit projection from an existence like Gagye could operate far beyond normal projection limitations. If conflict truly erupted, he would not be able to suppress her easily.
So he balanced himself carefully.
Respectful, but not submissive. Firm, but not provocative.
He would not appear weak before Federation authority. Yet he could not afford disrespect before a Demigod tied directly to the academies. The atmosphere above the military compound thickened subtly as the two sides regarded one another.
Gagye did not respond imdiately after Caelum finished speaking.
In fact, she did not respond to him at all.
Her gaze drifted past him as if he were nothing more than a
decorative obstruction in her line of sight.
When she finally spoke, her tone was calm, detached, and utterly
dismissive.
"If the Federation requires the presence of an academy student..."
A brief pause.
"Then the Federation will co to the academy."
Her eyes shifted slightly, though not fully settling on Caelum.
"You will submit a formal request."
Another pause.
"And await permission."
The words were not loud, yet they carried a weight that pressed far
deeper than shouting ever could.
The dismissive nature of her tone made the old military man beside
Caelum's expression darken instantly. His aura flared subtly in
irritation.
"You should not push this matter, Divine Lady," he said coldly.
The title was spoken, but the respect within it was thin. Warning
laced his voice.
Gagye's eyes shifted to him slowly.
"What can you do?"
The question was simple, almost curious. Yet the lack of concern
within it made it far more insulting than open mockery.
The old man's composure snapped. Rage flared across his features.
He turned sharply toward Caelum.
"She is only a projection!"
His voice bood across the airspace.
Gagye made a small sound.
"Oh?"
It was not anger. Not even irritation. It sounded like amusent.
Her lips curved faintly.
Then she raised a single finger.
That was all.
Yet the instant her finger lifted... Sothing appeared above the military compound.
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