"You're quite insolent, young man." He chuckled while spreading his arms to the right and left, a few seconds before stopping.
Wein didn't say anything, waiting a few more seconds for the hooded man in special clothing to speak again.
Wein stared cynically, then slowly adjusted his revolver, raising it slightly in his pocket before his finger reached the trigger.
"This mist has vanished and will disappear soon, but the second problem is something none of you will ever anticipate," he said bluntly.
It was clear that the person standing before him was an assassin, and an experienced one at that, as Wein scanned him for a few seconds.
"What's your goal?" Wein snapped a little, though his gaze was sharp and expressionless, masking his face like a mask.
"I merely seek someone. That's my task," he said. The raspy voice Wein had first heard was now fading, becoming normal.
"In that case, I'm not your person." Wein planned to head back into the dorm, already in position to turn around.
"The child of Arcveil… They say both are currently at Aetheris Academy." His voice was plain, but the moment it reached Wein's ears, he instantly lowered his gaze toward the man.
Wein postponed his intent to return to the dorm; he had received something more significant. This time, he fully drew his revolver from his pocket.
The man flinched in surprise, jolting back and raising his voice again. "Easy, calm down! Do you know them?" he suddenly approached Wein.
His voice became a source of intense pressure, but Wein's mind was fully under Leon's control, making it not too difficult to handle.
Wein resisted the urge to aim the revolver at the man, then raised his face higher.
"No, I don't know them." He replied flatly, putting the revolver back into his pocket after instinctively pulling it out.
"You don't know them? Perhaps I've got the wrong dorm. What if I go after the one named… Elain... Elaina first." His voice was provoking. Wein realized this was bait, and he was the real target. Controlling his anger, he remained calm and slowly left the man behind.
"Go ahead and search, but I keep wondering how a man who hides behind a mask could ever defeat a Gladius on his own." With calm steps and a voice full of confidence, Wein walked toward the door behind him.
"Damn it." The man cursed, repeatedly swearing after being hit by Wein Arcveil's sharp words. Somehow, he kept trying to match things together.
He felt a powerful aura from the boy—Wein—but hadn't sensed the unique aura possessed by the Arcveil family. He stared in silence before finally watching Wein step through the door and leave.
---
Elaina Arcveil.
"All is well, Miss…" Director Claudia said jokingly, then placed a cup of tea down after a light chuckle.
Elaina and Akylaa Doreion sat across from Director Claudia Doreion.
Akylaa, the daughter of Director Claudia, bore the nickname TwinFate and had a twin who was also Director Claudia's child.
"You can see the results of the test that's been going on for decades now, and there's one thing that's truly surprising," Director Claudia explained as she used a runex shaped like a small ball, rolling it across the table.
After reaching a stopping point, the marble-sized ball projected a square screen that hovered in the air, showing the current dormitory rankings.
Drakvaris - 37
Velraptoris - 33
Tigravorn - 19
Pyraenix - 3
Current points of each dorm
The two of them were instantly shocked, their eyes narrowing as they looked again to confirm that nothing was wrong.
They stared between Drakvaris and Velraptoris, shifting their gaze back and forth, confirming again and again—was there a mistake?
"Drakvaris? How could that dorm be on top of the rankings?" Elaina asked in doubt. "Even with both of us present, that dorm was still below us."
Akylaa nodded, also looking at Director Claudia—her own mother—with curiosity.
"A miracle, perhaps. Drakvaris now has an Arcanist with a platinum mana core, someone who has mastered all elements, including high-level ones like light and darkness."
Akylaa wasn't surprised. Of course, that would happen—how else could that dorm top the rankings without someone exceptionally talented?
Elaina raised her eyebrows, then returned them to their normal position before asking, "What about the student rankings?"
Director Claudia grinned immediately, her smile widening as she pressed the marble-sized ball again, changing the floating screen in front of them.
It switched from the dorm rankings to the team rankings.
W. Arcveil - 33
N. Florence - 15
L. Eleanoir - 3
L. Lordmurt - 3
G. Rhoureus - 2
Also shows top leaders
Top Leaders:
Wein Arcveil - 100
Narisa Florence - 38
Lucas Lordmurt - 37
Janice Moonstone - 37
Elaina Arcveil was instantly stunned, her eyes widening and her eyebrows rising high—she hadn't expected her younger brother to top the rankings.
"Surprised?" Director Claudia grinned, her smile growing even wider after displaying such a projection.
"I never imagined someone like that existed, but I've witnessed every step and battle that was extraordinary."
---
Wein opened the meeting room door after passing through the eerily quiet main hall, which was usually crowded with people no matter what they were doing.
He slowly opened the door just enough to slip in. As he stepped in with curiosity to ask questions, two wolf pups came running toward him cheerfully, looking healthy.
Wein, surprised by the welcome, felt a swirl of mixed emotions—joy, annoyance, and sadness—but he was genuinely happy to see them well.
Taking a moment to pet the two pups, he felt one of their tongues lick his hand.
"Amazing, isn't it?" Aria said. She looked proud, showing off her skill—and rightfully so, since handling something like this in a situation like this was truly impressive.
Not long after being unable to withstand the puppies' licking, Wein stood up and looked at Aria happily. "Thank you."
"No problem," Aria replied with full confidence, just before Glen entered the conversation.
"So... when will we be sent back?" he asked from atop the table, and Loraine, who was standing nearby, immediately dropped her gaze after that.
Right—the Academy had promised to send them back for rest, coinciding with the winter break, and they would return afterward.
But Wein wasn't certain. "I don't know, the mist outside is still there." He shrugged.
"The density of the mist is lowering," Aria interjected