"So what do you think?"
Emilia looked up from where she sat, her eyes meeting Lyra's. Her room had floating orbs in the air like miniature moons. The soft glow from each of them bathed the space in a warm golden light.
But for all its beauty, the room had a cold feeling to it. Perhaps it was the way Emilia sat, arms crossed, legs tucked under her, staring out the curved window that displayed a breathtaking view of the forest surrounding the castle.
Only when Lyra stepped closer did Emilia sigh and turn her gaze toward her.
"I don't need to say it," she replied, her voice low and firm. "You know it too. He's not ready to handle this. If he ever will be."
Lyra folded her arms. "He's not ready now because he's never had any form of training," she countered. "But the moment I touched him, I felt it… dormant, but undeniably there.
Emilia scoffed, leaning back against the cushioned seat. "That's exactly the problem," she muttered. "That thing is dormant, yet the presence I felt from it..." She clenched her fist.
"He's not a fighter, Lyra, and he wasn't even interested in all this from the start. He's not capable of bringing that under control."
"You think I don't know that?" Lyra shot back. "But we don't have time. If you won't help train him, who will?"
Emilia's expression didn't change. "You know I won't. I'd rather spend my time working on myself than wasting it on him."
A third voice interrupted, smooth, carrying a sense amusement.
"You act like you have no emotions, but under those cold eyes of yours… there's a warm chimney isn't there?" Zenon's voice echoed from the corner of the room.
Both women turned. A shadow stretched from the dimly lit walls, twisting and reforming until Zenon emerged, his form solidifying like ink bleeding into reality.
Lyra arched a brow. "And what about you Zenon? What do you think?" She asked
He placed his hand against his chin, as if weighing the question. "About Levi? Hmmm… What do I think?" He tapped his chin, and sighed heavily, his expression changing into something more serious. "I think it's too early."
"But I also think that's exactly why it's perfect." He continued. "I don't know why they made their move now, but it tells us one thing—we don't have the luxury of waiting. His training needs to start immediately."
Lyra nodded. "Fine then, how about this...
"We'll send him to Rakuzan first. Monitor his progress. From there, we'll decide the next step."
She paused, turning her gaze back to Emilia, wordlessly asking for her input.
Emilia held her stare for a long moment before finally exhaling, pushing herself up from her seat. "Whatever decision you make..." she murmured, walking toward the door, "just make sure it doesn't get him killed."
"I'm sure we all remember... If he dies, then we lose IT too."
With that, she stepped out, leaving Lyra and Zenon in silence
***
There exist different kinds of people in the world. There were those who draw strength from lifting others up, the ones who walk through life minding their own path, and then the ones who seemed to thrive off making others feel small.
You didn't even have to offend them. Your existence alone, your silence, your difference, anything could threaten their ego.
And once it did, they'd latch onto you like a dog with a bone, convinced they had something to prove, usually to themselves.
Throughout his school life on Earth, Levi had dealt with enough of these individuals to know how they operated.
Marcus and his little crew had been a daily lesson in the psychology of unnecessary cruelty. Levi had seen enough to know the signs, the smirks, the self-centered and unnecessary swagger, the way they scanned a room like it was a hunting ground.
So when his eyes met those of the yellow-haired boy now standing in front of him, he knew. If this world had its own version of Marcus, it was this guy. And from experience, Levi understood one truth—whether he clapped back or stayed quiet, this was going to lead to trouble either way.
Despite being annoying, he was tall, well-built, and annoyingly good-looking. Compared to Marcus, he had something to show for his arrogance.
[Warning: System has detected a troublesome presence]
[User is advised to eliminate troublesome presence]
Levi blinked as the alert flashed right before his eyes. His eyes shifted toward the boy standing in front of him, the very picture of arrogance with his hands buried in his pockets and a lopsided smirk on his face.
"Even the system knows this guy's annoying," Levi muttered under his breath. "But... eliminate? That feels... a bit extreme."
Before anything else could be said, Kyle slid in between them with his usual grin, hand raised like he was greeting an old friend.
"Heyyy, Raika," he said casually. "Maybe chill a bit? You're gonna make the new kid think we're all unhinged."
Raika didn't even bother responding to Kyle's smile. "Mind your own business," he said and gave him a shove to the side. It wasn't rough, just quick.
His eyes locked back onto Levi with a look that made his intentions painfully clear. He didn't want to talk. He wanted a target.
"What's with that condescending look on your face?" Raika said, stepping closer. "You think you're better than me or something?"
"At least he knows how to put a sentence together," Levi muttered, barely loud enough to be heard. "And he had a decent vocabulary"
Raika heard it all"
His frown deepened, and his voice dropped. "Hey…" He took a step forward and grabbed Levi by the collar, jerking him slightly forward. "Did you just make fun of me?"
Levi stayed still, his eyes calm even as Raika's scanned him from head to toe like he was sizing up prey.
"So you're the rumored younger brother of Captain Zenon," Raika scoffed. "I guess you think that makes you something special. Like you can just walk in here and look down on everyone?"
"So that's what this is about..." Levi exhaled slowly, like he was already tired. "This is such a drag…"
By now, a few students had turned their heads, to the growing ruckus.
Levi calmly reached up, gripping Raika's wrists. "Please," he said quietly, "let go."
But before Raika could react, he felt two additional grips tighten on either side, one on his right, one on his left.
Kyle had his usual laid-back smile, but his grip was firm. "That's enough, Raika."
And Violet stood beside him, her gentle expression remaining on her face. "If you're having a bad day, that's not his fault," she said calmly. "Try not to embarrass yourself more than you already have."
Raika scoffed and released Levi with a forceful shove to the chest. "Tch."
Levi staggered back, falling.
Levi dusted himself off calmly, rising as he got up. But before he could fully stand, a foot pressed down on his forehead, forcing him back.
Raika stood over him, still smirking, his foot planted firmly like he was pinning down a bug. "Tch. I guess you already have people sucking up to you," he casted a glance at Kyle and Violet.
Levi knew very well what Raika's goal was. To taunt him. He knew he was just looking for a reason to justify further violence.
But also had a simple plan, ignore him and let it slide. He wasn't worth the energy. But the more Raika spoke, the more that voice, that tone, reminded him of Marcus.
And that memory alone was enough to make Levi boil.
What Levi didn't realize was that his irritation had begun to appear in form of a cold glare on his face—locked directly on Raika.
And something responded to that look.
[Notice: Troublesome figure initiating violence]
[System has noticed the user's refusal to take action]
[A new skill will be crafted to thwart the troublesome figure]
Levi blinked. "Craft? That's… new." He narrowed his eyes slightly. "Has this thing always been this talkative?"
[New Skill Acquired: Dominator's Aura]
[System initiating Dominator's Aura]
Raika suddenly felt a sharp chill run down his spine. He turned his head quickly, his eyes meeting Levi's glare, and for the first time, he faltered.
But his pride wouldn't let him retreat. "Who the hell are you looking—"
He couldn't finish.
Behind Levi, something suddenly began to take shape.
It was a smoke-like existence, and fluid, yet it's presence was heavy and oppressive.
Its shape wasn't fully clear, but within the dark mist, a pair of blood-red eyes gleamed within the dark mist, staring directly into Raika's soul.
Was it a skill from the System? Was this the Dominator's Aura it initiated?
Everyone could feel it. The room had gone cold.
Before anyone could speak or trace the chill back to its source, a deep voice seized their attention.
"And what exactly do you both think you're doing?"