The five victorious mbers couldn't wipe the grins off their faces as they strolled down the passage hall.
Waiting for them at the end were the other six mbers of the team, pumping their fists in excitent, everyone was elated by their victory and advancent to the next stage.
However, Selene stood off to the side, hands on her hips, a stern expression on her face.
"What's got you in a sour mood? Did you lose a bet?" Alec asked as he joined the rest of the team, leaving the celebratory hugs and shouts behind.
To get a briefing on the situation and ensure everything was alright, he was relieved when she initially shook her head no, but then, to his dismay, she shook her head yes.
" Bet aside, what has bothered now Is still not serious but it's making concern because a future conflict might arise from it," Selene spoke up, capturing the attention of the team, who had temporarily suspended their jubilation.
"So, what's the problem? Let's see if we can find a solution," Alec proposed, hoping for a straightforward resolution.
However, Selene shook her head, indicating it wasn't as simple as that.
"It's not that simple, from my perspective, the only one who can make a decision for themselves in this situation is Pale," Selene explained, stretching her left hand towards the side.
Alec's gaze followed her outstretched hand until he noticed three middle-aged n standing in one corner.
Taking his ti to observe them closely, he finally recognized their true identity and discerned their potential connection to Pale.
Although Selene had introduced them in such a way that they no longer concealed themselves at the side, as they approached Pale, who had remained oblivious to their presence due to his celebration with his teammates.
"We have discovered that you, Pale Zero, have awakened a variant ice power, and we have co to invite you back to the clan house at core of the capital, you can live there, where you will be better taken care of and looked after," the man in the middle stated, making his way towards a bewildered Pale.
"You should have inford the clan earlier, especially after awakening your ability, We would have withdrawn you from this barbaric academy in ti, allowing you to hone your abilities without suffering such a humiliating defeat from your own power," one of the n on the side remarked.
Alec's anger grew at the derogatory term they used to describe the War God Academy, said right in front of them and one of the academy's Top student.
It seed as though they had no regard for the academy's reputation.
Alec noticed that as they approached, the man in the middle swung his hand, conjuring a thin veil of ice that enveloped Pale and the three n, At that mont, Alec could no longer hear their conversation.
"What is this really about?, Pale doesn't strike as a prominent young master in the Zero clan neither is he soone holding a high position, so why are they trying to withdraw him from the War God Academy now?, Could they be trying to disrupt our team?" Alec, no longer interested in listening to them, turned to Selene and asked.
"He's not exactly a young master, more like soone who was reluctantly accepted due to his father's prominent status within the clan, they're only here because he awakened a variant ice ability," Selene explained, emphasizing the reason for their presence.
"You have to realize that the Zero Clan rarely produces variant elent mages like the Blaze Clan, but when they do, they tend to be exceptionally strong, that's why they're here for him, if he had been a core mber of the clan, it could have been a good opportunity for him, but now, I'm sure they're only interested in grooming and brainwashing him to serve the clan," Selene explained.
Alec shook his head in disbelief, but as he observed Selene walking towards the thin veil, he realized that it was no longer just a conversation, it seed like Pale was being pressured, and the atmosphere beca tense.
"That's enough, he said he is not interested," Selene declared, swatting her hand and shattering the ice veil as if it were fragile paper.
The Zero Clansn looked at her in astonishnt, realising that she had overheard their conversation despite the sound barrier they have inserted, they turned their attention to Pale, who kept his head bowed.
"You will regret this, whether you like it or not, we will acquire it from you, believe it," the man in the middle threatened.
"It seems I didn't make myself clear enough," Selene spoke calmly, her voice laced with determination.
"Pale, who is a student under my watch, is uninterested in your proposal, any harm directed towards him will only lead to your own demise." As she spoke, countless bubbles of water began to appear around them, heightening the intensity of the situation.
Even Alec, who stood beside Selene, could feel the imnse pressure being radiated from her, though it wasn't aid at him, he was certain that the individuals before them were feeling it even more intensely.
However, the man in the middle snickered despite the beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
"Let's see how you back that up," he taunted, his voice shaky but laced with defiance.
With that, they finally turned away and walked off, Alec glanced at Pale, feeling at a loss for words to console him, he was not particularly close to Pale; he had only recently begun getting to know this alternate version of him.
As the team made their way back to the inn, Selene took the lead while Pale was accompanied by Katie, offering him support in this difficult ti.
A few minutes later, in another location, the Zero clan elder who had witnessed the battle between the War God Academy and the Royal Mage Academy was seen kneeling before an older man with lustrous silver hair.
The elder folded his hands behind his back, with his back turned towards the elder.
The three clansn whom the elder had sent to discuss with Pale entered the scene.
They bowed respectfully before the older man, addressing him
" we greet you, Lord Enforcer," they spoke in unison.
"What is his response?" the Lord Enforcer questioned, his voice deep and commanding, despite not turning to face them.
"We pressured him, but he has not said anything, however, before we could try to persuade him further, the coordinator of the War God Academy interrupted us!" the man in the middle reported.
"Hmm, I suppose being diplomatic didn't yield the desired outco. I'll have to resolve this through force, gather all the top mid-level enforcers still at the base," the Lord Enforcer declared before finally acknowledging the elderly man kneeling before him.
"Now, it is crucial that no information about Pale reaches the core family of the clan, or you will regret the rest of your days alive," the Lord Enforcer of the esteed Ancient Zero Clan declared, his powerful voice filled with authority.
"If you have understood the gravity of my ssage, proceed to explain to in detail how this new variant power operates." As he spoke, he gracefully lowered himself to sit on a throne of ice that erupted from the ground, enveloping his body with its chilling embrace.
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