The morning after helping Charlotte form her mana core, Kael woke up earlier than usual.
For once, there was no need for an alarm. His eyes opened naturally, and after a brief mont of staring at the ceiling, he pushed himself out of bed.
The events of the previous day briefly flashed through his mind.
Charlotte had successfully ford her mana core.
Even now, the achievent felt sowhat unreal.
After freshening up, he headed toward the Staff Section of the academy.
The morning air was cool, and students could occasionally be seen moving through the academy grounds despite it being a rest day.
The academy never seed to rest.
Teachers were always around. During weekends, holidays, and even during periods when students were given breaks, the staff still remained inside the academy grounds.
It reminded Kael of NPCs trapped inside a ga.
While playing Abyssal Chronos: Veil of Ruin, he had never thought much about it, but now that he lived here, it felt strange.
Aside from a few powerful instructors who occasionally left the academy for missions, most teachers practically lived here.
Even the atmosphere felt strangely permanent, as though the academy itself expected them to remain here forever.
"That sounds miserable," Kael muttered.
Walking through the staff building, he ignored the busy instructors moving through the hallways and stopped in front of Stella’s office.
Several teachers carrying docunts walked past him while discussing lesson plans and student evaluations.
Then he froze.
The naplate wasn’t Stella’s.
Instead, another woman stood outside the office.
She floated a few inches above the ground with her arms folded.
Long silver-blonde hair.
Pointed ears.
A beautiful face carrying a smug smile.
Kael imdiately recognized her.
Miss Lyra.
One of the strongest mages in the academy.
And one of the best mages in the entire ga.
Back when he played, countless players admired her abilities.
So even tried recreating her combat style.
"Who are you?" Lyra asked casually.
Kael nearly jumped.
His hand moved toward his waist before he rembered he wasn’t carrying his sword.
"You seem quite stunned seeing but, why are you being defensive," she continued.
"Miss Lyra," Kael replied.
Lyra blinked.
"I see you already know ."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"But I don’t recall introducing myself."
She floated closer.
"You’re obviously in the Knight Departnt."
"I’m quite certain Stella never introduced to her students although we are best friends."
"And you’ve definitely never attended any of my classes."
"So..."
She tilted her head.
"How exactly do you know ?"
Kael resisted the urge to say:
Because you’re one of the strongest mages in the ga.
Instead, he smiled.
"You’re pretty popular around the academy."
Lyra imdiately placed a hand on her cheek with a thoughtful expression.
"I suppose that’s possible."
Her smile widened.
"I am quite popular."
The confidence in her voice was completely genuine.
Kael resisted rolling his eyes.
Before Lyra could continue talking, Stella finally stepped out of her office.
"Lyra, what are you doing here?"
Then she noticed Kael.
"And you too. What are you doing here?"
"I was just asking your student a few questions," Lyra replied.
Stella sighed.
"I don’t see why you’re interrogating him this early, he is a student of the academy or have you forgotten that part."
Then she looked at Kael.
"So why are you here?"
"I wanted to ask if I could gain access to the academy’s VR Simulation Training."
Stella imdiately shook her head.
"You don’t have enough rit points."
"And your rank is still too low."
Kael frowned.
The answer was expected, but that didn’t make it any less annoying.
"Not even after the special event during the class assignnt?"
Stella rubbed her forehead.
From the side, Lyra imdiately beca interested.
"Special event?"
She looked between them.
"Now I’m curious really curious."
Stella imdiately looked tired.
"Don’t start."
"But I want to know."
"No."
"Why?"
"No."
Lyra turned toward Kael.
"What exactly did Stella do to you?"
Kael ignored her.
Stella sighed again.
"Is he really trying to hold that incident against ?"
she thought.
After a mont she finally answered.
"If you want access to the simulation rooms, challenge soone above your rank."
Kael nodded.
"Defeat them and you’ll gain access."
"Understood."
It wasn’t the answer he wanted, but it was still a path forward.
Before he could leave—
"But Kael."
Lyra floated directly in front of him.
"You still haven’t told what Stella did."
Kael stared at her.
Then looked at Stella.
Then back at Lyra.
"I’m busy."
Lyra’s smile twitched.
"You’re ignoring ."
"Not Intentionally, and like I said I’m busy."
The twitch beca stronger.
Stella suddenly stepped forward.
"Don’t bother the student."
Lyra’s eyes lit up.
"Oh?"
"You’ll tell yourself?"
"Yes, before you assault a student."
Lyra imdiately looked pleased.
anwhile Kael started walking away.
"Move along little toddler."
Lyra said waving her hand at him.
Kael stopped.
Then looked over his shoulder.
"Okay, Grandma."
Silence.
A dangerous silence.
The entire hallway seed to beco quieter.
Kael imdiately realized his mistake.
Lyra froze.
Stella froze.
Several staff mbers nearby froze.
One instructor carrying a stack of books actually stopped walking.
"You..."
Lyra’s smile disappeared.
"...what did you just call ?"
Kael suddenly rembered.
Elves lived for centuries.
Calling an elf old was practically declaring war.
Kael turned around.
"Nothing."
"Co back here."
"No."
"CO BACK HERE."
A fireball shot across the hallway.
Kael dodged instantly.
The explosion shook the corridor.
Teachers imdiately jumped out of the way.
"Goodbye, Grandma!"
Kael shouted before running out of the building.
Another fireball missed him by inches.
"You little brat!"
"You’re proving my point!"
Kael yelled while fleeing.
Eventually he disappeared around the corner.
Lyra stood there fuming.
Small sparks of mana flickered around her body.
Stella stared at her.
"So."
Lyra looked away.
"So?"
"Getting provoked by a toddler now?"
Lyra nearly exploded again.
"Did you hear what he called ?!"
"Grandma."
"Exactly!"
"You started it."
Lyra opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
Because Stella wasn’t wrong but she still felt wronged.
"You don’t seem to teach your students properly", Lyra said with a huff.
"Now you’re just being bitter", Stella replied not feeling to concerned about the situation.
After several monts, Stella crossed her arms.
"So."
Lyra groaned.
"What?"
"Why are you interested in him?"
That question finally made Lyra serious.
The playful expression vanished from her face.
"People from the Knight Departnt rarely pick your interest."
Stella continued.
"I know." Lyra replied
"Most of them don’t possess elental affinities." Stella continued.
"Exactly." Lyra replied.
Lyra glanced toward the direction Kael had disappeared.
"But there’s sothing strange about him."
Stella remained silent.
Lyra continued.
"If it’s because of his darkness affinity."
"Darkness users are rare."
"But they exist."
Stella stated.
"There are even Dark Elves and most of have an affinity for darkness ." Stella continued.
"I know that but."
Lyra folded her arms.
"It’s not his elent."
"Then what?"
Lyra hesitated.
For a brief mont, she carefully recalled the sensation she had felt earlier.
"I think he ford a mana core."
Stella froze.
"A mana core?"
Lyra nodded.
"Did you see it?"
"No."
Lyra imdiately shook her head.
"I’m not a monster like Xavier."
"I can’t directly see sothing like that."
"But I can sense it."
"And unless I’m mistaken..."
"He definitely has one."
Stella’s expression changed.
"A mana core..."
That wasn’t supposed to happen this quickly.
Not for a first-year knight.
Not for Kael.
Then she rembered sothing.
Xavier’s interest.
Her expression beca even stranger.
"That boy..."
Lyra noticed imdiately.
"You know sothing."
Stella sighed.
"Xavier took an interest in him."
This ti Lyra froze.
"The Xavier?"
"Yes."
"The strongest individual alive?"
"Yes."
"The man who ignores almost everyone?"
"Yes."
Lyra blinked.
Then laughed.
"Now that’s interesting."
Stella nodded.
"It gets worse."
"What did he do?"
"He cleared a D-Rank Dungeon."
Lyra frowned.
"With a team?"
"No."
Lyra stared for a few monts then decided to ask.
"Alone?"
Stella nodded.
"I placed him there myself that’s the special incident you’re so curious about." Stella replied
Silence filled the hallway.
"He was E-Rank."
"Correct."
"In Class D."
"Correct."
"A first-year at the bottom of the rank."
"Correct."
Lyra slowly rubbed her forehead.
She suddenly understood why Stella looked exhausted whenever Kael was ntioned.
"What is wrong with that child?"
Stella laughed.
"I’ve been asking myself the sa question."
For several monts both won remained silent.
Eventually Lyra smiled.
"I guess you really do have an interesting student."
Stella sighed.
"Interesting is one way to describe him."
"Troubleso is another."
Lyra’s smile widened.
"You’ll probably be teaching him soon." Stella said.
"You think he’ll move up?" Lyra aske.
"I do."
The upcoming tournant was approaching quickly.
Students throughout the academy were already preparing.
And if Kael continued growing at this rate—
Class D wouldn’t be able to keep him.
Lyra grinned.
"Then I guess I’ll have to teach him so manners."
Stella imdiately imagined Kael calling her Grandma again.
The image appeared so vividly in her mind that she almost laughed.
"...good luck with that."
:
User Comments
0 comments from readers