"This is an unprecedented training opportunity. No, in fact, more than training, this is a blessing. " Evander announced. His lips were slightly curled up.
Those familiar with him rubbed their eyes to check if they were hallucinating.
They knew him too well. Before Pluto War, he was jovial and even a little carefree. At Level 8, nothing could change his content with status quo.
However, after the war, the number of times he smiled could be counted on one hand.
The audience to his address were Imperial Defense Academy cadets. They were mostly Level 4, and Level 5.. There were a few Level 3 and fewer Level 6.
In the first row, the top 10 of the Amethyst list were seated. Charles Xander was naturally the first. Next to him was Williamson and the third was Sarah Albert.
On the third row consisting of first years, Narcis Xander, Ryan Albert and Ryan were the first three.
"We will be in a competition with other academies. Real time ranking list is also available on meta net. Imperial Defense Academy shouldn't fall behind. You must strengthen people's confidence in us." He ended his brief speech, with that smile.
Before he left, he glanced at Sarah for a moment and nodded.
'I hope you can do well.' That was his message. She could tell that much with her experience. After all, he rarely spoke to her after the war.
"Sarah, are you going?" the brown-haired boy next to her suddenly asked.
He was Williamson. Second in Amethyst List. Third Year Cadet. Level 6 Macrokinesis. The son of Adventure Guild's vice leader and a pride of Imperial Academy.
"I think she's too depressed after someone's death." Charles chimed in. There was a smirk on his face as he watched her face grimace.
Sarah clenched her fist and with force, moved her gaze away from Charles. She looked at William's eager gaze and finally shook her head. "I have other things to do."
"I've heard what happened. Deaths are very normal. You should have already moved on." Willam said. Unlike Charles, he was genuinely worried.
Sarah flashed a strong smile at him. "I've moved on already. I really have important missions to do." Her tone at the end was assertive and even Willaim knew he had to stop.
"Tsk. This is funny. What can be more important than representing our academy? Wait, it's your father's academy, anyway? Crying over the death of your little lov—?!"
Shuaa!
Charles caught the ice blade that was about to pierce his throat and gulped, mostly in shock at her audacity.
"Don't be so full of yourself. Maybe you'll get your ass kicked one day." her voice echoed and Sarah was nowhere to be found.
"Tch. That bitch! Even though you're talented, you're a dual awakener. You'll never be a Sovereign." Charles snorted with disdain.
"And me, with my talent, one day, I will surpass even my father." He crushed the ice blade and disappeared.
William looked at the other students, looking at the scene in confusion and facepalmed.
"Aren't we supposed to be setting an example of unity?" A feeling of defeat spread through him.
'It always came down to this.' He signalled for the adventure team members among the students to follow.
He could not help everyone, but he would help those in his capacity and the priority was, of course, people from the same organization.
Soon, the students left the auditorium.
On their way back to Aura Well, one of the three Semi-Artifacts of the Academy, Ryan suddenly asked.
"What if that trash suddenly appears?"
Narcis was replaying the recording of Charles's 'One day, I will even surpass my father.' with a furious gaze.
He was distracted by the question and frowned. "Huh?"
"That rank one. What if he is not dead and teleported to somewhere else?" Ryan thought back to the unyielding look in the eyes of Varian.
Despite himself, he felt Varian's death was a pity.
"He better be dead." Narcis laughed it off and replied. "There is an expulsion notice waiting for him."
Ryan shrugged it off and got to the main point. "When are you taking the mission?"
Ryan was Evander's nephew and Sarah's cousin.
Since Sarah was a dual awakener, he was expected to be the Sovereign. Sarah was neglected by their Sovereign grandfather while Ryan got all the attention.
That led to his pampering.
He came to believe that he was destined to be a Sovereign.
Of course, any Sovereign at his age was much stronger than he was, but everyone close to him were too scared to confront him on the truth.
Anyone who dared to speak the truth was branded 'jealous' by him and killed.
So he had only one friend. Narcis.
"Mission? I am planning to break into the 30th layer of Aura well and advance to Level 4. Then I can kill all I want." Narcis grinned smugly.
Of course, he had the right to be proud. Most of the first years were still Level 2 and would take a while to advance to Level 3. On the other hand, he was taking a great leap ahead.
"Damn! 30th Layer? It'll take me a while to get there. But I too will be advancing soon." Ryan nodded, and they reached a gigantic well.
*** *** ***
"Miss, your father would be disappointed." A middle-aged woman in French maid costume bowed at Sarah, checking some files on her comm.
"Are you trying to say I'm making the wrong choice, Aunt Anna?" Sarah separated a few files and asked without looking up.
"No. I'm just informing you. I'm sure whatever decision you make, it'd be after thinking through." Anna replied with confidence.
Sarah stopped her search and looked at Anna for a moment before she resumed her work.
A small smile broke out on her face.
Silence ensued for a while until Sarah's excited voice broke it.
"Finally, I've almost found them." Sarah clenched her fist.
"Pardon?"
"Traitors!" Sarah sprung to her feet and hugged Anna. "I've found the traitors. I can find who is targeting me and who is responsible for his death."
"Miss, you could just inform your father." Anna clutched her forehead.
Sarah's smile receded, and she vehemently shook her head. "He has important things. Besides, the best support he can lend me is a Level 7 Awakener. But don't I have a Level 8 super cool maid with me already?"
Anna rolled her eyes. "I will stop you if it gets too dangerous."
"Sure." Sarah didn't mind.
When every top student in the academy planned to go out, she chose to weed out the traitors.
Her eyes shone with a dangerous glint.
'Whoever is behind this… I'm coming for you.'