”Sigh…I am too tired….”
Inside one of the buses, Ethan mumbled as he looked at the interior. After all the things that had happened in the Phantom’s Land, he was a lot more tired than he initially expected himself to be.
For some reason, he felt like his mind was under immense pressure even though he wasn’t able to recall what had transpired.
“Same.”
At that moment, a voice came from his side. It was the bob-cut white-haired girl looking at Ethan with a tired smile. Her usual and cheery demeanor was nowhere to be found, and she was just looking at everything with a tired face.
“Man….I just want to relax in my room for the whole weekend. They for sure must empty our next following days of school, or else I am skipping.”
Ethan nodded in agreement, “I was thinking the same. A weekend of pure relaxation sounds like the perfect recovery plan.”
He himself wanted to play games for the first time in a while, as well as wanted to see a certain ‘someone’….
However, Lilia, sitting across from them, chimed in with a dissenting opinion. “I disagree. Knowing the academy, they’re more likely to push us forward rather than let us rest. They love keeping us on our toes.”
Ethan and Julia exchanged glances, realizing the truth in Lilia’s words.
‘She is right…Sigh….’
The academy had a knack for maintaining a relentless pace, ensuring that the students were always challenged and prepared for any situation. This was especially the case with the new semester since the students were said to be pushed to their limits.
“You might be onto something, Lilia,” Ethan admitted a hint of resignation in his voice.
Lilia smirked as if enjoying being the voice of reality. “Heh….It’s not called the best academy for anything. Get ready for another whirlwind week, my little lazy peaches.”
“Peaches?” Ethan raised his eyebrows as he was unable to understand what she meant.
“You didn’t get it?” Lilia scoffed as he looked into her smartwatch. “You should keep tabs on recent trends more, or else girls will mark you as boring.”
Lilia decided to enlighten Ethan by showing him a small picture on her smartwatch, revealing a seemingly popular TV show. Ethan, taking it seriously, asked, “Really?”
At that moment, Julia couldn’t resist the opportunity to tease him, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Of course not, my dear innocent Ethan. But hey, peaches are trending now. Maybe you should consider a peachy makeover.”
Ethan, slightly perplexed, raised an eyebrow while turning her head to Julia. “A peachy makeover? Is that even a thing?”
Julia chuckled, enjoying Ethan’s confusion. “Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t. You’ll never know until you try. Imagine the talk of the academy : Ethan, the Peach Prince!”
Ethan shook his head, a small smile forming. “I’ll pass on the Peach Prince title, thank you very much. I’ll stick to being the guy who survives the academy’s whirlwind weeks.”
“Can you survive my whirlwind though?” Yet, Julia raised her arms, clenching her biceps. Following that, seemingly, those slender arms turned to sculptured muscles, and Ethan immediately flinched.
“No, thanks. I would rather drown in the whirlwinds of the academy.” Ethan answered.
‘There is just no way I can take this mad woman head-on now.’
Though his inward thoughts didn’t match his polite words.
“You just thought something rude, didn’t you?”
“Cough….” Ethan coughed, seeing Julia’s squinted eyes. “Of course not.” And tried to lie.
‘A Woman’s intuition is crazy….’
He couldn’t help but feel a little more fearful in Julia’s presence, as if he felt like his mind was being red.
“Humph.
Just as the two were talking, Lilia turned her attention to the side, only to see Lucas looking out of the window, seemingly in his thoughts.
‘Just what is the deal with this guy.’
Being a sharpshooter and a very good archer, she immediately noticed how different Lucas’ demeanor was. Yet, she decided not to ask anything, as she knew if there was something Lucas would surely tell her and others.
This was what ‘friendship’ meant, after all.
********
Inside one of the highest buildings in the vicinity, a meeting was ongoing between some high-ranking officials. The room was dimly lit, and the atmosphere was tense. At the head of the long table, a figure sat in a high-backed chair, their features concealed by shadows and a veil. The other officials, similarly shrouded in veils, projected dark holograms to mask their identities.
The person at the head of the table leaned forward, their voice echoing through the room, “Report. What have you discovered?”
One of the black figures, their holographic image displaying only a silhouette, spoke up, “Our agents have thoroughly investigated the incident in the Phantom’s Land involving the three academy students. According to our findings, their testimony aligns with the events that transpired.”
The veiled figure at the head of the table nodded, “Continue. Elaborate on the details. Were there any discrepancies or additional information not provided by the students?”
The black figure continued, “The investigation supports the claim that a magical anomaly occurred within the Phantom’s Land, and the leader of the three students, Irina Emberheart, successfully dealt with our kin. His existence was verified through traces of fire magic and the burnt remains found in the cavern.”
The veiled leader remained composed, “And the government’s involvement?”
Another figure, whose hologram showed a different symbol, responded, “As per your request, the government has chosen to close the investigation into the Phantom’s Land incident. We made sure that Minister Veridian issued a directive to cease any further inquiries.”
The leader at the head of the table nodded in satisfaction, “Good. This information should be sufficient to control the narrative.”
However, at that moment, one of the shadows interrupted, “Forgive my intrusion, but I have been suspecting something.”
“How dare you interrupt-“
Just as one of the shadows was about to scold him, the headman raised his hand, calming it down.
The headman turned towards the interrupting figure, his tone turning serious, “The Flare. Speak, and choose your words carefully.”
The shadow, known by the alias ‘The Flare,’ hesitated for a moment before revealing, “As per your request, my team also investigated the scene. But, rather than looking for the demon’s remnants, we analyzed the scale of the spell used.”
The headman leaned back, intrigued, “What are you getting at, Flare?”
The Flare took a deep breath before continuing, “According to our findings, the mana levels of the spell used at the Phantom’s Land indicated a strength equivalent to tier-6 or tier-7 magic in modern classifications.”
The room fell into a heavy silence as everyone processed the implications of The Flare’s revelation. The headman’s expression turned contemplative as he absorbed this new piece of information.
“What are you suggesting?” the headman asked.
The Flare met the headman’s gaze, “I’m not implying that the student’s accounts are wrong. However, it seems improbable that a student, even one as capable as Irina Emberheart, could withstand such powerful magic, let alone a student named Sylvie. It raises questions about the authenticity of the reported events.”
One of the shadows couldn’t contain their hostility and exclaimed, “Are you implying that our findings were inaccurate? We investigated the Phantom’s Land thoroughly afterward!”
The Flare remained composed, “I am not implying that. Initially, we had also assumed the tier of the spell lower, around 3-4, thanks to its strength. However, we noticed that we had overlooked one thing.”
The room fell into a contemplative silence as everyone absorbed this revelation. The opposing shadow, initially hostile, now remained silent, realizing the oversight in their analysis.
The headman nodded, acknowledging The Flare’s explanation. “Continue.” ʀᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛʀs ᴀᴛ NovlFre.nt
The Flare took a breath before elaborating, “Given its ancient nature, the tier analysis becomes complex. It’s not a direct comparison to modern classifications. We need to reassess the magical landscape of the Phantom’s Land and consider the possibility that ancient magic, not conforming to our current understanding, played a role.”
The opposing shadow remained silent, digesting the new information.
The headman, with a thoughtful expression, raised two crucial questions. “Firstly, how could a normal healer with a low rank withstand such a potent spell? And secondly, how did Irina Emberheart manage to defeat such a strong demon, supposedly one of ‘his’ descendants?”
The leader contemplated for a moment before making a decisive decision. “We need to investigate or possibly capture both Irina Emberheart and Sylvie Gracewind further. I want a thorough background check on their abilities, affiliations, and any potential connections. Additionally, raise a target bounty for both of them. We need to know more about these students and the events within the Phantom’s Land.”
His voice echoed in the room as he made his final decision.
“What about Astron Natusalune? He also played a crucial role in this event.”
The headman’s contemplative gaze shifted to the holographic image of the young student with slightly pale skin and a downcast expression, displayed with his information beneath it.
‘I’m tempted to consider him merely a lucky Awakened who happened to be on the same team as Irina Emberheart. However, simplicity can sometimes be deceptive. I learned it the wrong way, and I shall not underestimate the potential complexities of this situation. I feel like something is amiss for some reason.’
After a moment of silent scrutiny, he spoke, “Astron Natusalune. While he may seem like a mere bystander in this event, we cannot afford to dismiss any potential connections or influences he might have had. I want a separate investigation team to delve into his background, affiliations, and any unusual occurrences surrounding him.”
The veiled figures remained silent, absorbing the decision. The headman concluded, “Proceed with the investigations. Report back with any significant findings. We need to understand the full extent of the events within the Phantom’s Land. This matter is a sign from our lord. His descent is near.”
With that, the holographic communication ended, and the veiled figures dispersed, each attending to their assigned tasks.
The headman, however, continued to gaze at the holographic images as his mouth curled up.
“Thank you for showing me another future threat, My Lord. I shall do my best to end them here and now.”
With those words, he closed his eyes as the scene of a man with his arms hung on a cross appeared.
******
“She has once again proven herself to be a beacon of courage and heroism. Irina Emberheart, with her indomitable willpower, faced a unique and formidable monster that emerged during the collapse of the Phantom’s Land. This monstrous entity, unlike anything we had encountered before, threatened the lives of our fellow students. But Irina, guided by her noble Emberheart lineage, fearlessly stood against the unknown threat.”
The commentator’s voice resonated through the auditorium as the crowd’s applause continued.
Irina’s expression remained composed, at least she tried to, though her amber eyes betrayed a subtle mix of ‘annoyance’ and ‘arrogance.’ Deep down, she knew the accolades were not entirely genuine.
“It was her quick thinking, honed skills, and unwavering commitment that allowed her to single-handedly confront this aberrant creature, ensuring the safety of her peers. Irina’s actions exemplify the core values of our academy – bravery, selflessness, and the ability to face the unknown head-on.”
As the commentator praised her, Irina couldn’t shake off the feeling of being a mere pawn in a performance. Her internal disdain was palpable.
–CLAP!
‘Tch. I feel like a clown.’
Despite the outward acknowledgment, Irina’s mind echoed with dissatisfaction. The commentator continued, emphasizing the unique strength that resonated from her Emberheart lineage.
“It is thanks to her unique and strong willpower, a testament to the enduring legacy of the Emberheart noble family, that she was able to overcome such a perilous situation. The noble blood that runs through her veins undoubtedly played a pivotal role in her triumph over adversity.”
The applause intensified, but Irina’s internal monologue persisted.
‘Strong willpower, my foot. They have no idea who even did it.’
At that moment, she slightly turned her head and saw the reason for her being in this place: he was just looking around with his usual emotionless eyes.
But, at that moment, she couldn’t help but notice another woman in front of the crowd.
‘Huh?’
It was someone she would have never expected.