'Didn't you just say that you didn't call me here to grill me?' Lawrend retorted inside his mind.
"I didn't." Lawrend shook his head.
He didn't know what Joseph said to them, but he had to lie to keep the lie hidden.
"Hmmm…"
The man stared at Lawrend for a bit before turning his head to one corner of the room.
"Are you satisfied now?" the man asked out of nowhere.
Suddenly, a man walked out of the pillar. He stared at Lawrend with a displeased expression.
"I still don't believe him," the man said.
"I don't care about what you think. You heard his words. Now, get out," the man in the embroidered cloak said calmly.
Lawrend stared at this new man. He didn't need to think that much to know who this person is. He looked somewhat similar to Logan, and the hateful expression on his face could only be explained if he was Logan's brother.
"Tsk. I will go ask the other one," the man said before he left the room.
And so, Lawrend and the stern man in the embroidered cloak were left in the room.
"Are you the Purple Thunder Grand Mage?" Lawrend asked.
He was still unsure whether the man in front of him really is a Grand Mage. There was a powerful aura surrounding him from the way he speaks, but that wasn't concrete evidence. He could be wrong.
"I am. You lied, didn't you?" The Purple Thunder Grand Mage said to Lawrend with smirk.
"H-How did you know?" Lawrend asked him in shock. He doesn't think that he did something that could have revealed him.
"It's easy. I can feel from the electrical pulses inside your body that you were lying," he said to him with a grin.
"You can do that!?" Lawrend exclaimed in disbelief.
He never thought that lightning magic could be used that way.
"What do you think? Neat, right? Once you are at my level, you will realize how powerful magic is, and how little we know about it," he said.
"Are you gonna punish me?" Lawrend asked fearfully.
This was a Grand Mage in front of him. He could do whatever he wanted in the kingdom, and he would only need to explain it to the king and everything would be good.
"Why would I? You're very talented. That sin of yours can be easily forgiven as long as you serve the kingdom. Besides, you did it because you really think it was correct, right?" he asked.
"I did. He was hindering me and he was always acting high and mighty. He even betrayed us at the last second. If I still had to endure that, I don't think I still deserve my dignity," Lawrend replied honestly.
He doesn't have any choice but to reveal it to him. He could only hope that the Purple Thunder Grand Mage would sympathize with him.
"Good. Betrayal among a team is taboo. You did the right thing," he praised Lawrend with a smile.
"Thank you for understanding my plight."
Lawrend bowed respectfully.
"Mm. What is your full name?" he asked.
"Lawrend Horiel," Lawrend replied.
"My name is Verkoli Grey," Verkoli introduced himself to Lawrend with a smile.
"Wait!? Doesn't that mean that you're related to Mr. Joseph and Nimela? Also, your name sounds familiar…" Lawrend exclaimed in shock.
He didn't expect that the Purple Thunder Grand Mage was actually related to Joseph and Nimela.
"Hahahaha. You even know my granddaughter? It seems like we are fated to meet," Verkoli said.
"Granddaughter?? Mr. Joseph is your son??" Lawrend asked in disbelief.
"Yes. I sent him to observe you. He also helped me find your teammates. Which is why that Logan became the team captain," Verkoli explained.
"Wait, you couldn't be that guy that recruited Ella?" Lawrend asked in realization.
"You know Ella?"
This time, Verkoli raised an eyebrow. He didn't expect Lawrend to know Ella too.
"Yes. I even know that you want her to become your disciple," Lawrend said.
"Hahahaha! It seems like we are really destined to meet," Verkoli laughed out loud.
"Hahaha. Yes. It seems so." Lawrend smiled at him.
"Very well. I will give this book to you. With this, you can directly apply to be a Fourth-Year," Verkoli said as he walked towards the bookshelf in the room.
He pulled out a silver book and handed it to Lawrend.
There were the words,"Theory of Magic Prediction Research".
"That book contains information about the Theory of Magic, Practice of Magic, Prediction of Magic, and Research of Magic."
"Just hearing all the names makes me dizzy…" Lawrend said.
It sounded really complicated to him. Though, he was very interested to learn them.
"Hahahaha. If you don't put in the work, how can you become strong? One day, you will feel rewarded for all of your hard work," Verkoli said to him with a smile.
"I know. Thank you. I was just venting a little bit," Lawrend replied.
"Alright. That's all. Once you become an Arch Mage, come to me, and I will teach you how to become a Grand Mage."
"I got it. I will come see you again after I become an Arch Mage," Lawrend said beofre bowing to him respectfully.
"Mm. Work hard." Verkoli nodded his head in satisfaction.
…
Lawrend exited the building. He turned back and admired it one last time before he left. Aezel followed right behind him.
He expected to meet Ella there, but he didn't. She must be doing something else.
And so, he walked back to the Lightning Department.
"Hey, you. Are you Lawrend?" A red-haired man suddenly stopped Lawrend.
"Who are you?" Lawrend asked with furrowed eyebrows.
Aezel took a stance seeing the newcomer. She will protect Lawrend if a problem ever arises.
"You don't need to know. I just want to tell you that Vernon is challenging you to a fight tomorrow morning at the academy campus.. If you don't come, we will announce to the whole academy that you are a scared wimp," the red-haired man said to Lawrend solemnly.