From MC's Perspective:
Darcie Lynch imdiately turned on her heels and left, her silhouette quickly disappearing into the distance. I stood there for a mont, the echo of her departure lingering in the air, and made up my mind. I'd wait and see what is going to happen next.
A sense of anticipation hung in the atmosphere, the kind that cos just before a storm breaks.
Ti passed slowly, and to focus, I turned my attention inward, feeling for the Gravity Mana particles around . My recent progress in understanding the gravity rule had been like unlocking a new sense, a deeper awareness of the forces that surrounded .
There was still one final barrier to break through—one last hurdle. Once I crossed it, I'd ascend to a level-7 Wizard. That thought sent a ripple of excitent through .
With the power of gravity spells at my fingertips, I could fight wizards who outranked . Soon, the challenges of my current level would be nothing more than mories.
Just as I sank deeper into these thoughts, a sharp noise broke through the quiet—the distinct sound of footsteps drawing near. The rhythm of those steps snapped back to the present, my eyes flicking in the direction of the sound.
I turned to see soone approaching. A woman, dressed in a formal blue-and-white uniform, with a white mage's robe draped over her. A peculiar, beast-shaped crest is pinned to her chest.
Her presence imdiately commanded attention, as if the air itself made way for her. She moved with the confidence of soone who had no doubt about her power.
She stopped just a few feet from . "Hi, I'm Leona Perry, a level-8 Thunder Hawk bloodline wizard," she said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
There was sothing unsettling about her, though I couldn't quite place it. Her smile seed too practiced, too sharp. For reasons I couldn't yet understand, her presence gnawed at , irritating in ways I hadn't anticipated.
"I'm Vincent Carey, level-5 Sub-Taboo Gravity Wizard," I replied, keeping my voice steady. Inwardly, though, I smirked. She had no idea about the truth. My system shielded my real strength, hiding it from anyone trying to pry into my abilities. She wouldn't know what I was truly capable of.
Leona stood tall, towering over at 6'2". Her build was solid and muscular, but not bulky like a statue carved from marble, with smooth, fair skin. Her long silky hair is blue in color.
She was strikingly beautiful, the kind of beauty that carried danger with it. Her eyes glead with sothing I recognized curiosity, perhaps, but also a calculated interest. Right now, though, she was up to sothing more subtle.
A faint pressure filled the air between us, and with a quick glance, I noticed a small arc of blue lightning flickering around her fingertips. She was testing , sending out pulses of energy that radiated like ripples in water.
The arcs seed harmless, but I knew better. For soone at her level, they were nothing, but for wizards below level-7, they could be deadly, or at least incapacitating, depending on their strength.
Suddenly, my system chid in my mind.
[Ding! Warning]
[A dangerous elent is nearing the host]
Without hesitation, I leaped back several steps, instincts taking over before I even had ti to think.
Leona's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of surprise breaking through her controlled expression. "Impressive reflexes. I see you're not completely useless. But… you're only level-5. How did you manage that?" she muttered under her breath, confusion threading her voice.
My blood ran cold at her audacity. This was no re greeting, she was testing , probing for weaknesses. Anger flared inside , and I had to hold back the urge to crush her right where she stood.
Did she think I wouldn't notice? That her subtle attack would go unchallenged? It was becoming clearer by the second—Leona wasn't here to guide at all.
"Stop!"
A firm voice cut through the tension like a knife.
Leona Perry froze mid-step, her predatory gaze montarily faltering. An older woman in her sixties appeared between us, materializing with the quiet authority of soone long accustod to command.
She was dressed in green uniford robes, the fabric shimring faintly with enchantnts. Her short, white-green hair contrasted sharply against her deeply wrinkled, but sharp and discerning face. Her eyes, though aged, glinted with a fierce vitality.
The old woman's gaze locked onto Leona, sharp as a blade. "Young Wizard Leona, what exactly do you think you're doing here?"
Leona's mouth parted slightly, dumbstruck by the elder's unexpected arrival. A flash of anger flared in her eyes, but she quickly suppressed it, her expression slipping back into a mask of polite indifference.
"Cough," Leona cleared her throat, shifting her weight, trying to look nonchalant. "Elder Iris, I was just passing by and saw soone standing here alone. I thought I could lend a hand," she said, her voice dripping with a sweetness that didn't match the venom in her glare, which she now directed at .
Elder Iris narrowed her eyes, unconvinced. Her nostrils flared slightly as she let out an audible, disapproving huff. "Harumph," she muttered, clearly unimpressed. She could see through Leona's thinly veiled lies as easily as one might glance through a window.
"You can leave now, Miss Leona," Elder Iris commanded, her tone brooking no argunt.
Leona's jaw tightened, but she had no choice but to comply. She turned on her heel, her posture stiff with suppressed rage.
She had barely scratched the surface of what she wanted to know about the newcor, just the na and supposed rank. But I could see the flicker of determination in her eyes as she left. This wouldn't be the last ti I'd cross paths with her.
As Leona's figure disappeared down the path, Elder Iris sighed, a heavy breath that seed to carry the weight of experience and patience. "The little devil is gone," she muttered under her breath. "Now I can speak with the new student in peace."
She turned to , her expression softening, though her eyes remained sharp, appraising. "You are Vincent Carey, am I right?"
I nodded in acknowledgnt.
"Good," she said with a slight smile. "Elder Darcie inford of your arrival. I've been asked to show you around the organization and explain the details about your departnt."
"Okay," I replied, grateful for the change in atmosphere. The tension Leona had stirred up still lingered in the back of my mind, but for now, I pushed it aside.
We started down a wide, cobbled path, choosing to walk instead of flying. The surrounding environnt was serene, a stark contrast to the earlier hostility. But my thoughts kept drifting back to Leona Perry. If she wasn't an elder, then what was she? And why did she target ?
Elder Iris, sensing my unease, gave a sidelong glance, clearly reading my thoughts. "That girl who accosted you earlier," she began, "is from the Bloodline Beast Departnt. Her bloodline magic cos from the ancient Thunder Hawk bird."
"Bloodline Beast Departnt…" I echoed, committing the na to mory. My resolve hardened as the words settled in my mind. They had underestimated .
They must have thought I was just another naive, fresh-faced wizard. If this had been anywhere else, under different circumstances, I would've killed her on the spot without hesitation.
Elder Iris seed to catch the shift in my deanor, and though she didn't say anything.
A few seconds later,
Elder Iris noticed that I was still deep in thought, my mind clearly preoccupied. She halted in her steps, turning to face directly, her gaze both steady and commanding.
"Young Wizard Vincent," she called out in a solemn tone, the seriousness of her voice pulling back to the present. I blinked, snapping out of my reverie, and focused on her.
"That girl, Leona," Elder Iris began, her eyes narrowing slightly, "she ca here with the intent to test you. As for why... I assu Elder Darcie has already given you so advice on that matter."
"I know," I replied, eting her gaze with a serious expression. But even though the situation was tense, I showed no fear. My eyes stayed clear, unwavering. I could tell that Elder Iris noticed. There was no reason to show weakness.
A flicker of approval passed through her eyes, subtle but unmistakable. The calmness on his face, the confidence in his voice, those were the qualities she expected from soone who wouldn't be easily shaken.
"Good," she said, her tone softening just a fraction. "But you need to be cautious with that girl. Leona isn't just strong and talented in her own right, she's also well-connected. Her family holds significant influence, and her master is one of the Palace Masters in our True Elents Society."
Her words carried weight, and she spoke them with the authority of soone who had seen the consequences of such power struggles unfold many tis before. "So, avoid conflict with them if possible," she added, her voice firm but not unkind.
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I nodded, though inwardly my resolve only strengthened. "Don't worry, elder. I'll be careful," I replied, repeating the sa assurance I had given Elder Darcie earlier. I wasn't naive. I knew how to navigate dangerous waters, but that didn't an I would back down.
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