It’s been a few days since the Sasha incident.
Not much has happened since, but I managed to gather all the concerning details thanks to my use of Clairvoyance to gather details from both students and lecturers.
The Academy is vast, but it wouldn’t take an entire day for to reach any location in it, which ans I can actually observe anything occurring inside without any problem.
The student dormitories, the staff residences, lecture halls, offices... You na it.
Potions and Armants also can’t interfere with my Conception, which ans nobody here can protect themselves from Clairvoyance. With no possible defenses intact and no trace of my power being evident to anyone, it’s no surprise that everything worked fine without a hitch.
Well, saying ’without a hitch’ would be an exaggeration.
I had severe headaches after using it a few tis, which ant I had to stop on many occasions just to recuperate. The problem with Clairvoyance is that it simply takes up too much ntal power, and I reach my limit quickly the further away I want to observe.
There’s also a limitation to Clairvoyance, and that has to do with the sufficiency of clues.
I can only observe a location that I have so ’clue’ about.
But that isn’t much of a problem, since I am a Senior Professor and even have access to the blueprint of the Academy. Plus, I know the students who live in the dorms, as well as the lecturers who live in their residences.
Offices and Lecture Halls also pose no difficulty whatsoever.
However, hidden locations and secret hideouts will, naturally, be out of my jurisdiction, since I won’t ’know’ about them enough to observe them properly.
Clairvoyance is about observing events as though I were present, which ans a certain possibility of my presence being there must exist. The higher the probability, the less the strain on , hence it’s easier for to observe the Lecture Halls or even the Bronze Wing than it is for to look into the Gold Wing.
Using that logic, I should also find it easier to observe the hos of Professors I am more familiar with, like Professor Seraphina, compared to the likes of Earl Klaus Gerondester.
This isn’t only due to my familiarity with Professor Seraphina, but also because I have more details regarding her residence, hence... more clues.
Regardless of this, I can still access most of these other places, though it will just be more stressful.
Thankfully, since I mostly use Clairvoyance in the comfort of my office or residence, the drawbacks aren’t too imnse, hence I can manage without much of a problem.
As for my headaches, I use Potions to help alleviate the effects, but they are proving insufficient.
It’s either my constitution as a Leviathan makes otherwise effective Potions lose so of their potency, or the kind of headache I incur from using Clairvoyance can’t easily be solved by the likes of Low Grade Potions.
Sigh...
Being a Leviathan makes a man triumph over others, but it also presents its own challenges.
I don’t consider myself a god at all, and I certainly don’t feel like one.
I still possess far too many limitations, and many of my problems can’t be solved with the Conceptions at my disposal.
Regardless—
"Now that I’ve gathered all the evidence, I should present it to Miss Anna..."
************
"Oh? This is quite the extensive report, Javier..." A red-haired woman with rainbow-colored eyes adjusts her glasses as she reads the docunt on her desk.
Her fair skin glistens with royalty, and her red lips appear soft and succulent under the brilliant lights of her enormous office. Her red hair falls to the back and is tied into a bun, but it’s so long and overflowing that it spills to the side, accentuating her beauty.
In contrast to my dark outfit, her robe is drenched in white, with gold outlines all over it. She wears a long jacket and a bright white tunic underneath, displaying more of that golden design that perfectly complents the pure splendor of her fine fabric.
A golden brooch sits between her collars, right atop her large, slightly ruffled cravat, and a blue gem glistens right at its center.
I have never seen her wear an outfit without that brooch.
"Thank you, Miss Anna..." I smile. "It took a while to actually—"
"I already told you... Just call Anna." She responds almost imdiately, her curt voice echoing softly as her gaze remains on what she is reading.
"Yes, ma’am."
"Urgh..." She finally lets out a groan.
Her displeased glare darts towards , and a small frown forms on her face almost imdiately.
"Is your plan to make upset? Because it’s working..." Her stern deanor creates an unmistakable pressure around us, and I can’t help but smile while watching her.
It’s always a pleasant thing seeing her so serious.
"Not at all, Anna... I was just teasing." I laugh lightly, to which she scoffs before shifting her gaze back to the material before her.
After another period of silence, she sighs and closes the report, relaxing in her chair.
However, the expression on her face doesn’t look relaxed at all.
She’s concerned.
"Would you mind telling how you were able to gather all of these? It must have taken you a lot of ti and effort. I’m even surprised by so of the things here, but your references are solid, and you have hard evidence that can be traced."
I smile and shrug.
"Just so things I picked up as a rcenary. They’re secrets of the trade, so I can’t share them with you. But don’t worry... I didn’t do anything unethical."
"Of course, you didn’t! Else, you would be in very serious trouble." She returns my smile, though anxiety soon replaces the brief display of lightheartedness on her face.
She doesn’t even try to hide the worry that dots her features, sullying her otherwise majestic looks. Instead, she gives a long, hard stare.
I stare back calmly.
’Anna Randalorion...’ In this mont of silence, my thoughts gently flow. ’The most outstanding woman I have had the pleasure of eting, besides Lady Anastasia, of course.’
Can the latter even be called a woman?
It feels almost insulting to put her on the sa level as human females. Her beauty, no, her very existence seems to have transcended any contemporary understanding of brilliance and glory.
There is no word to properly express Lady Anastasia’s majesty.
I can only try to describe it... But words ultimately fail to capture her true essence.
She is a true deity—a goddess.
’As for Anna... while she doesn’t compare to Lady Anastasia, she’s amazing in many ways as well. As a student, I had a big crush on her, and even now... I can still feel the chemistry.’ I smile wryly to myself, unable to bear the silence any longer.
However, right as I’m about to say sothing, she finally breaks the quietude.
"To be honest, Javier... we have noticed a lot of these problems already. Even before you ca here, Noble Supremacists have been increasing at an alarming rate. The spike clearly indicates the work of the Noble Faction. It seems this is their new strategy to gain a foothold on the Randalorion Kingdom."
I sigh and nod in understanding.
I’m not too surprised. In fact, I actually expected this to be the case.
"I shouldn’t tell you this, since it’s still in the works, but the Academy has been working on a few policies in order to bring about a reform on the Royal Academy..."
"Oh?" My eye brightens almost imdiately, and I ignore the part where she ntioned not being able to tell . "Tell more!"
She laughs lightly and shakes her head, adjusting a loose strand of hair before continuing.
"The committee plans to introduce sothing called The Collegium Reform. It’ll take the form of a Royal decree, which will allow one Commoner candidate per year through national recomndation. It’ll also integrate Practical Sciences and Alchemy as independent study tracks, and finally... Introduce more rit-Only Scholarships to students with potential from poorer households. That way, the poor Nobles, Knights, and Clergy don’t have to worry about anything; even the miscellaneous fees will be covered. It’ll boost the literacy rate among Nobles and commoners alike, encouraging more people to invest in the Royal Academy."
"A-amazing..." I can’t help but mutter with genuine surprise.
I wasn’t expecting the Royal Academy to have sothing like this in the works.
This is revolutionary news!
’Even before she finished speaking, I was already taken aback by the first point. Offering Commoners a chance to study at the Royal Academy is too absurd. It has never been done in the history of the Kingdom!’ My eye widens as I consider all the repercussions.
Naturally, I’m not against this developnt.
In fact, I’m all for it!
As soone who has traveled the Kingdom and seen the kind of lives that commoners lead, this reform would really go a long way to raise their standard of living.
It’s just... too groundbreaking.
’And the other two are also incredible changes. First of all, having Alchemy and Practical Sciences as a new departnt would really go a long way to encourage more students to give so of the more interesting courses in my departnt a try without getting bogged down by the other more technical and abstract courses.’ I smile in excitent. ’Even as a student, I told Anna that the Sciences & Natural Philosophy Departnt should be divided into two separate departnts.’
One Departnt would focus on the abstract and philosophical side of the Sciences, while the other Departnt would focus on more practical courses like Alchemy. This way, students would be able to pick and choose their paths, and certain Courses would be more popular as a result.
However, I was a student back then, so there was a limit to what I could know.
’To think the Academy is seriously considering this...’
I can’t help but be excited.
’Then, for the Scholarship idea, I’m in full support. The Academy certainly needs more scholarship slots, since there are a lot of exceptional people who won’t get the chance to get into the Academy due to the reservations being so small.’ Everything about this reform plan sounds fantastic, and I can tell that it’s been well thought-out.
But—
"Everything is still under discussion, though. We’ve been stuck in the planning phase for a while now because a lot of High Nobles fiercely oppose the plan." Anna speaks with a tinge of frustration etched on her face.
"The Noble Faction?" I ask with a sigh.
"What’s their justification this ti?" I can’t help but ask, to which she shoots a knowing look.
I sigh in understanding.
Frankly speaking, they don’t need any real justification.
As long as they possess sufficient numbers, they can just present whatever bullshit excuse to stall progress and make advancent difficult.
"Those bastards are claiming that there are already sufficient opportunities given, and we shouldn’t waste resources on such aningless ventures..." I can sense the anger in Anna’s tone as she speaks. "Even though their influence has reduced and they are experiencing a decline, it seems the Noble Faction can still be a pain in the ass."
"Haha! Have I told you how much I love it when you’re candid with your words?"
"You won’t shut up about it."
"Damn straight!"
"But this is serious, Javier... really serious." Anna stares at with a deep, reflective gaze, forcing to fall into silent contemplation.
"How can I help?"
Only when I ask this question does her expression ease a little, forming a smile.
"Your presence in the Academy, for one, helps us greatly. It’s one of the reasons Count Winchester wanted you here with us, Javier... so you can join the fight and take our side on this matter." She speaks without mincing words, a quality I respect.
I already knew Count Blake Winchester had to have another motive for giving such a nice offer. Even though I am still widely acknowledged by the Kingdom as a Hero, my situation back then was too precarious, and it was oddly convenient that I would receive such help.
After thinking it through clearly, it all makes sense.
They made an offer I couldn’t refuse, and now that I’ve learned of the situation myself, I have more of a reason to join them in their efforts.
"I’m guessing I’m not the only one you set your eyes on." I casually say.
"That is correct."
’I see. It seems they plan to take this issue to all senior staff and conclude the matter with a simple majority vote...’ I smile to myself. ’Having more staff on the Royal Faction side is smart.’
But it’s not like the Noble Faction won’t see this angle.
There has to be sothing else.
"First, we have to combat these Noble Supremacist ideals that have gotten popular among the students. To do that, we plan to spread our mbers to clubs, groups, and activities involving the students as a way to build cohesiveness and dismiss these radical notions. As for your case, we’ll need you to serve as a Staff Consultant and oversee the affairs of one of such clubs..."
Her smile widens as I hold my breath in anticipation.
"... The Golden Dawn Association, previously known as the J Tutorial Club."
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