"Well, yes?" Sarah was surprised Varian didn't know.
Didn't Seth inform him of her identity?
"I didn't know you were our Dean's daughter." Varian admitted.
"Do I not act like a general's daughter?" She raised an eyebrow.
Varian felt the air cooling down. It was likely a subconscious reaction from Sarah. She must be pretty sensitive about the topic.
"You see, all the guys from top powers I encountered — Narcis, Adir, Ryan, and Charles. They're arrogant, put themselves above everyone else and are incredibly entitled. The infamous Young Master syndrome." He explained.
The corners of Sarah's mouth twitched. "So you imagined everyone from top powers to be the arrogant young masters and ladies?"
Varian coughed lightly in acknowledgement and justified himself. "Well, you're not from a Sovereign background. So my opinion is valid."
Evander was a Level 9 Awakener. But he was no Sovereign. So that was the reason reason Sarah was 'normal', right?
Sarah pursed her lips. "Albert is my grandfather. So technically, I'm from a Sovereign background."
'Wait, what the fuck?!'
'So your grandfather is one of the three marshals and a Sovereign. Your dad is the general of earth and dean of the academy.'
Varian looked at Sarah and this time, he saw her above the clouds.
"You are like a princess in real life."
"The Princess who almost died if not for you." Sarah looked at the location where she laid powerless a few hours ago.
Varian shook his head. "It was actually you that saved yourself."
"What do you mean?" Sarah turned to him and tilted her head in confusion.
Varian smiled brightly. "Thank you, captain. Even before you knew me, you helped me out thrice."
First time was in stopping Narcis.
Second was in stopping Charles from forcing him to kneel.
Third was preventing Charles from expelling him.
If not for Sarah, Varian would've been out of academy already.
"So you prevented me from getting expelled, which ultimately led me to saving you. You saved yourself." Varian said nonchalantly.
Sarah was embarrassed by his response, and waved her hands. "I was only trying to be fair."
Varian looked at her flustered face and smiled.
'She looks indifferent most of the time. But she does have a much softer and shy personality within.'
Soon, his smile receded.
'But there's always more to a person. If she reached level 6, then she's not a naive girl policing the campus to enact laws.'
Sarah felt guilty and sighed. "I was actually trying to suppress Xanders. That's why I arrived there on time."
'Regardless of her actual reasons, she saved me and I'm grateful for that.'
"Figures." Varian said, but then wondered. "You and Ryan are both Marshal Albert's grandchildren. Since Ryan is close to Narcis, I thought Xander and Albert powers were close."
Sarah looked at him weirdly. "Forget it. The politics is complicated."
Varian shrugged.
'Politics…. wait!'
Sarah recalled the final moments of her battle and felt a shiver down her spine. She glanced back into the cave and saw everyone of the teammates was still unconscious.
She focused her Controller powers and boosted her senses. Her vision, hearing and other senses increased and Sarah focused on her teammates.
All of them had normal heart beats and blood flow.
'No one's spying.' She sighed and looked at Varian. The inevitable question emerged in her mind.
'What if… Varian was sent by those that want to approach me? It'd make perfect sense to gain my trust by saving me.'
Varian didn't know why, but he felt a change in Sarah's gaze.
'If they want to use my father's and grandfather's power, then I'll be the perfect springboard. I'll be more useful alive than dead.'
Sarah was torn between suspicions. After all, if top Humans, presumably high levels, partnered with Abyssals, then anyone could betray. Much less a 1st year student.
'Varian, are you a spy?' She wondered.
She was entangled, and her expression was one of pain and confusion.
This sight fell in Varian's eyes, and he said. "So you already know. Then I'll stop pretending that it's a secret."
Sarah tensed up and channeled chi and mana. She hadn't recovered much. But she had enough strength to kill him.
'Did he discover that I uncovered his identity?'
"You too realized there are traitors, right?"
'Huh?' Sarah was surprised. What was he talking about?
"After knowing your identity, I can be sure there are traitors in the academy. At least Level 8." Varian said with a grim face.
"N—Yes." She stopped her chi and mana.
"They wanted to kill you. I guess it's a big coincidence that I happened to join your team."
He recalled Seth's complaining face and smiled. " My tutor did the right thing by adding me to your team."
"Seth....right!" Sarah exclaimed, startling Varian. He looked at her with a frown. What was going on?
He didn't know, but Sarah just solved her suspicions about him.
'Seth lost his family to Abyssals. He also knows that traitors helped Abyssals win Pluto. He got an extensive network, he can surely find out Varian's true background. So if he took Varian as his pupil, and even asked me to help him. Then…'
Sarah looked at Varian and sighed in relief. 'He's not a spy.'
"Why do I feel this tension in the air?" Varian chuckled light heartedly, but he was already running his space power, ready to teleport.
'After her miraculous survival, I bet she's suspecting me as a spy. Saving her life would be the best way to win her trust and exploit her background.'
"I'm sorry, Varian." Sarah dropped her head. "I suspected you."
'Spot on.' Varian stopped channeling his space power and relaxed.
"No hard feelings. I'd do the same if I were you." He said what he believed.
Sarah sighed in relief. "There are indeed traitors in the upper echelon. I know you have a feud with Charles, but for now, stay low."
"I'm just level 2 now… Not like I can go and fight him." Varian's shoulders slumped.
"You were pretty brave to challenge Charles that day." Sarah chuckled. The wind blew her hair and carried her laughter. She didn't take his vow seriously. Like any sane person.
'Everyone thinks it's impossible. Going from Level 2 to level 6 in a year? Please. Even kids won't believe me.'
Varian knew the general opinion and didn't argue.
After calming her down after her deathly experience, he finally started the serious topic.
After explaining his guess on the human's purpose of saving the final Abyssal, he presented her the Abyssal's space ring.
Sarah observed it for a moment, then turned to him in shock.
"This is not a space ring."