“…?”
“You were a containment target.”
Charlotte’s voice was steady, as she noticed Neo’s confused expression.
“Void Window # 8477. It destroyed the Hephaestus Clan.”
She paused and looked towards the window.
A massive swirling tornado stood on the horizon.
“The only survivors of it were Henry Hargraves and Neo Hargraves.
“Both of you brothers must have gained Void Affinity from that incident,” she stated.
Neo’s expression remained unreadable.
“Henry never tried to awaken his God blood.
“We don’t need to worry about him awakening his Void Affinity. In fact,” she looked at Neo in the eye, “I think that’s the reason Henry doesn’t try to awaken.
“He knows he risks awakening Void Affinity if his God Blood awakens.
“You, Neo Hargraves, were different.
“The moment you applied for the Academy made your intentions of awakening your God blood clear.
“With Hargraves Corporation’s resources, you could’ve awakened your God blood even without our help and, maybe, even Void Affinity,” Charlotte explained.
Neo’s brows furrowed as he processed her words.
“I was allowed admission so that I could be monitored more easily within the Academy?” he asked.
“Yes,” Charlotte confirmed. “The Academy has more than a few dozen Paragons and several Exalted Demigods.
“We could’ve put you down instantly as soon as there was even the slightest chance of you going rogue.”
Anyone with Void Affinity was like the carrier of a contagious virus.
If they were allowed to live in society and they somehow awakened Void Affinity, they would corrupt hundreds of people — as soon as they awakened — even if they didn’t want to.
“Void Affinity users are like a potential bomb that could explode anytime risk,” Charlotte continued, lowering her gaze. “People like you can’t be allowed to live in the same space as the public.”
She turned toward the window once more.
Void was dangerous and powerful.
“That’s why you were allowed admission to the Academy, a place where powerful demigods are within a moment’s notice distance.”
Neo remained silent for a few seconds.
He opened his mouth after collecting and organizing his thoughts.
“Why are you helping me if I’m dangerous? You even sent a Templar from the Temple of Death to help me in Aubern.”
“Because it’s not your fault if you have Void Affinity.”
Charlotte looked at him with a kind smile.
The soft glow of the office’s ceiling lights reflected in her calm, steady eyes.
“You never asked for it. We are monitoring you, true. But it’s for others’ safety.
“We don’t have any negative agenda against you, and we will help you as much as we possibly can,” Charlotte said.
“Got it.”
Neo stood up.
His chair creaked slightly against the polished floor as he moved.
He decided to leave the principal’s office with Jack, who had been silently observing the exchange.
Neo stopped at the doorstep and turned around.
The cool breeze filtering through a nearby open window ruffled his hair slightly.
“What’s the name of the Void Entity who destroyed the Hephaestus Clan?” Neo asked.
“The Angel of Thousand Despairs, Velkaria,” Charlotte replied without hesitation.
She saw no reason to hide the information.
Neo froze.
“Come again?” he said.
“Velkaria, the Thousand-Eyed Despair.”
“That thing defeated the Exalted Demigods and the Paragon Demigods of the Hephaestus Clan?” Neo asked again to confirm.
“Yes. Is there any problem?”
“…No. It was just my curiosity.”
Neo stepped out of the room and closed the door behind him with a soft click.
The sound seemed to echo faintly in the quiet hallway.
‘Velkaria? Did it become strong enough to fight Exalted Demigods in the present?’
His thoughts churned as he walked.
Thinking about it logically, Velkaria’s strength made sense.
After Daniel saved the world, Velkaria was not able to invade Earth.
It must’ve gone to other planets and destroyed them, using them to grow stronger. Continue your adventure with empire
“Neo…”
Jack called out to him.
He didn’t say it—worried Charlotte might hear it—but his gaze said plenty.
You have met Velkaria somewhere, haven’t you?
Jack did not think Neo had Velkaria with him.
Neo wasn’t yet strong enough to defeat a being who could kill Exalted Demigods.
“Let’s go.”
Neo decided to remain silent.
The duo walked through the long corridors and stepped out of the building.
The sky outside was painted in shades of deep orange and purple, the setting sun casting long shadows across the Academy’s courtyard.
A cool wind brushed past them, carrying with it the faint scent of fresh air.
“What are you going to do now?” Neo asked Jack.
“I’ll rest for a bit. The Trial sucked everything out of me,” Jack chuckled. “What about you? Going to meet others?”
Neo’s eyes narrowed.
He couldn’t read Jack’s thoughts.
Jack had countless voices inside his head—thanks to being a Darkness User—and it made his Intent entangled.
Neo couldn’t pinpoint which Intent belonged to him.
He couldn’t read Jack’s thoughts unless he concentrated hard.
‘Not like I’m trying to read his thoughts.’
‘I respect people’s privacy.’
‘Besides, I don’t need mind-reading to know what he is thinking.’
“Lying now, are we?” Neo asked Jack.
It was clear Jack was going to train.
Jack smiled bitterly.
“How do you know that?”
“Magic.”
Jack scratched his cheek.
He let out a sigh, as if relenting.
“Fine. I’ll do as you say. So? Where are we going?”
“The cafeteria for now,” Neo said. “I’m hungry. We’ll go meet others after that.”
Neo doubted his friends were in the Academy.
If they were, they would’ve come to meet him already.
They were probably at Hargraves Mansion, waiting for Neo and Jack to return after they recovered from the fatigue of the Shadow Trial.
The duo entered the cafeteria.
The air was filled with the aroma of freshly baked bread and savory dishes, while the faint clatter of trays and utensils created a rhythmic background.
The line was not long since it was the holiday season.
Warm light from chandeliers bathed the room, casting a welcoming glow on the polished wooden tables and marble floors.
Jack didn’t get much attention in the Academy, since most demigods were good-looking.
Neo, however, was the center of attention.
Some of the demigods recognized him.
They wanted to approach him and talk to him.
But the air around Neo sent shivers down their spines, and they decided to stay away.
Neo and Jack ignored others.
They looked around the cafeteria and noticed someone.
Morrigan.
She was sitting in her usual seat, stuffing herself with bread as usual.
Crumbs littered the table around her plate, and a half-empty glass of juice sat nearby.
Neo walked towards her with his tray, followed by Jack.
They stopped before her.
Morrigan raised her head.
She looked at Neo, then Jack, then back at Neo.
“Wewcome bahh.”
Her words slurred as she spoke while trying to chew.
Pieces of bread puffed out her cheeks comically.
Neo and Jack looked at each other.
They couldn’t hold back and laughed.
“….?” Morrigan tilted her head, her brows furrowing slightly.
“Whhy arrr youh two lahffing?”
“Some things never change.”
It was just funny to see Morrigan being herself.
The sight made them realize again they had left the hell named Shadow Trial.
“Okay?” Morrigan said, still confused.