Lexa searched through the Legendary Residence District, recalling the information Dante had sent to her bracelet.
Her master had not given her any particularly detailed instructions.
Simply:find Elric.
Fortunately, locating a residence within the district was not difficult. After asking for directions only once, she eventually arrived before Residence Seven.
It had taken roughly half an hour from the restaurant to reach this section of the academy, with only a few additional minutes spent navigating the district itself.
Unlike the Mythical Residences, the Legendary Residences were far less extravagant. They were still luxurious by ordinary standards.
Each student possessed their own private estate surrounded by a protective barrier, complete with a modest courtyard and enough living space for a small household.
But compared to the mansions reserved for Mythical students, they were noticeably smaller.
Lexa stepped toward the entrance. The transparent barrier stopped her from proceeding any further.
She simply folded her hands before her and waited.
A few moments later, the barrier rippled. Permission had been granted. She stepped inside and walked toward the front door.
Knock. Knock.
Only a few seconds passed before the door opened. Standing there was a young woman with long purple hair and gentle amber-colored eyes. She smiled politely.
"Hello. Can I help you?"
Lexa returned the smile with a courteous nod.
"I'm looking for Elric."
She paused before adding,
"...and, judging by the records, I believe his cousin lives here as well."
Amber looked slightly surprised.
"That would be me. My name's Amber."
Lexa nodded.
"Good. My master wished for me to deliver a message."
Amber tilted her head.
"...Please don't tell me this is another faction invitation."
Lexa chuckled softly.
"So you've already had several."
Amber sighed.
"You're the fourth person today."
Lexa couldn't help laughing.
"I suppose students are working faster than I expected."
Amber folded her arms.
"So, which faction does your master represent?"
Lexa answered without hesitation.
"He doesn't."
Amber blinked.
"...He doesn't?"
"My master isn't interested in building a faction. He's interested in building something much smaller. A group of people he personally considers worth helping grow"
Amber studied Lexa for several moments.
"And Elric is one of them?"
Lexa nodded.
"As are you."
Amber looked genuinely surprised.
"...Me?"
"My master asked me to invite both of you."
Amber smiled awkwardly.
"I'm flattered, but I don't think Elric is particularly interested."
Lexa simply shrugged.
"That's entirely his decision. My responsibility ends after delivering the invitation."
Amber relaxed slightly.
"May I ask — what year is your master?"
"First year."
"...First year?"
"Mythical Tier."
Amber's eyebrows immediately rose.
"...Another one."
Lexa noticed that wording.
"So you've already met another Mythical student."
Amber nodded.
"Several, actually. Three have already approached us."
Lexa smiled.
"I see. Would you mind telling me who they are?"
Amber narrowed her eyes.
"...Why?"
Lexa answered honestly.
"So I can report it. My master dislikes competing over people. If he decides someone is worth recruiting, he generally prefers solving the matter personally."
Amber laughed.
"That almost sounds like a threat."
Lexa shook her head.
"I wasn't threatening you. If you refuse, that's perfectly acceptable. My master isn't the type to force loyalty. He simply prefers speaking to people himself before making a decision."
Amber studied her expression.
There wasn't the slightest trace of hostility.
Only confidence.
Before she could answer, the shadows beneath Lexa's feet gently rippled. A figure silently emerged, almost as though he had been part of the darkness itself.
Lexa calmly turned around. She hadn't even flinched.
"Hiding inside someone's shadow—" She smiled politely. "—is a little creepy, don't you think?"
The young man adjusted one of his gloves.
"That's rather the point of my Skill."
Lexa nodded thoughtfully.
"Fair enough. So — you must be Elric."
He inclined his head.
"And you're Lexa. I heard enough of the conversation. As my cousin already explained, I'm in something of a difficult position."
He looked toward Amber before continuing.
"I've spent most of today declining invitations. It seems Mythical students are very interested in recruiting people."
Lexa smiled faintly.
"I couldn't tell you. My master is the first Mythical student I've ever served. Most invitations I've received have actually come from Legendary students."
Elric couldn't help chuckling.
"Interesting."
Amber glanced between the two before stepping aside.
"Standing outside discussing recruitment feels a little strange."
She opened the door wider.
"Why don't we continue this conversation inside?"
Lexa nodded.
"I'd appreciate that."
Elric gestured toward the entrance.
"Come in. For now, let's simply talk."
Finally, they sat down. The residence was nothing like the estates assigned to the Mythical-tier students. It was considerably smaller, consisting of only a single floor.
There was a modest living room, a small kitchen, several bedrooms, and bathrooms. That was all.
After everyone had settled into their seats, Lexa looked at Elric.
"So, what exactly is your decision? How are you planning to deal with the current situation?"
Elric took a slow sip of the coffee Amber had prepared before shaking his head.
"Simple. I'm just going to decline them."
Lexa raised an eyebrow.
"I'm pretty sure you already know things aren't going to go that smoothly. In fact, I'm certain you know that."
Elric chuckled as he scratched his cheek.
"I'm well aware."
"Then what are you going to do?"
He glanced toward Amber. She simply smiled while he answered,
"I'll scheme my way out of it."
Lexa nodded.
"I don't know how you're planning to scheme your way out of it, but it's certainly one way to approach the problem. Personally, I think Master's proposal is much easier."
Amber leaned forward slightly.
"Can you at least tell us a little about your Master? Who is he? Is there anything about him that would make us recognize him?"
Lexa paused to think. Truthfully, her Master wasn't exactly someone who stood out in ordinary ways. He wasn't particularly famous.
Nor did he intentionally draw attention to himself. Then something came to mind.
"He actually wanted you as well."
Both Amber and Elric paused. Amber blinked.
"...Me?"
Lexa nodded.
"The both of you."
Amber frowned.
"I can understand why he'd want Elric. He's talented, young, and powerful. Any faction would want someone like him. But me?"
She pointed at herself.
"There's literally nothing remarkable about me. Unless you're suggesting he wants me as a woman."
Lexa laughed and shook her head.
"He already has a woman. And from what I've seen, he doesn't seem particularly interested in finding another."
Amber relaxed slightly.
"Then why?"
Lexa recalled Dante's exact words.
"He said you were an excellent find."
Amber tilted her head.
"An excellent find? In what sense? My appearance? My intelligence?"
Lexa shrugged.
"He specifically mentioned your skill."
Both Amber and Elric immediately looked at one another.
"...My skill?"
Even Elric slowly placed his cup onto the table before leaning forward.
"You're saying he knows about her skill? How?"
Lexa answered without much concern.
"He possesses either an appraisal skill, or an appraisal artifact. I'm not entirely sure which."
Naturally, she lied.
There was no reason to reveal more than necessary.
Still, it was enough for the two of them to understand something. Whatever Dante had seen, it wasn't a coincidence.
Amber let out a small laugh.
"Interesting. I've had countless people comment on my skill. But never once has someone described me as an excellent find."
She smiled teasingly.
"Unless your Master plans on using me as some sort of blood sacrifice."
Lexa couldn't help but laugh.
"No. Nothing like that."
She folded her arms.
"Honestly, I think you should simply meet him and judge him for yourselves. My recommendation would be to agree."
Amber remained quiet. Lexa continued calmly.
"Master has a habit. When he decides something, he usually finds a way to make it happen. Whether people agree with him or not."
She wasn't trying to boast. She was merely stating a fact.
"Even if you try to scheme your way around this, there are some things you simply can't outsmart. Especially in only three weeks."
She gestured toward their academy bracelets.
"For example, if you continue delaying everyone, it wouldn't be difficult for Mythical-tier students to exchange favors with Legendary-tier students.
They could easily have your movements restricted. They could interfere with your opportunities. They could even make you fail the Special Entrance Examination."
Elric silently nodded.
I thought about that as well. If I could reach that conclusion, then everyone else certainly can. This won't be nearly as easy as I hoped.
Still, one thought lingered in his mind.
'Dante... what kind of person are you...?'
He looked back at Lexa.
"When does your Master want to meet us?"
Lexa thought for a moment before answering.
"He never gave a specific time. He only asked me to deliver the message. But once I report back, I imagine he'll want to meet you as soon as possible."
She smiled.
"And depending on your abilities, or perhaps your loyalty, he'll probably grant you a skill as well."
Both Amber and Elric froze.
"...Grant a skill?"
Amber's voice carried genuine disbelief.
"You mean he possesses an ability capable of giving someone another skill?"
Lexa nodded without hesitation.
"That is exactly what I'm saying. I don't know how he does it. I've never personally witnessed it. But tomorrow Master intends to grant both Vexion and me new skills."
She shrugged.
"He never asked me to tell you this. I'm simply choosing to."
Silence filled the room. Amber slowly leaned back.
"...Do you realize how unbelievable that sounds?"
"Of course," Lexa answered with a small smile. "I barely believed it myself. Even now, you could call it blind faith. But if you're curious, come tomorrow and see it with your own eyes."
Elric narrowed his eyes.
"And you're comfortable telling us something like this? What's stopping us from spreading this information throughout the academy?"
Lexa simply laughed.
"Who would believe you?"
She spread her hands.
"Even I haven't actually seen him do it. All I have is Master's word. To everyone else, it would sound like the ramblings of someone trying to exaggerate her leader."
She took another sip of her tea before continuing.
"Besides, if Master truly wished to keep it secret, I wouldn't have mentioned it. I'm simply giving you another reason to meet him."
Her smile never disappeared.
"As for trying to use that information as leverage—" She gently shook her head. "—I wouldn't recommend it."
Amber frowned.
"Is that a threat?"
"No," Lexa answered immediately. "It's simply reality. Master has an unfortunate habit. He always gets what he wants. And if something stands in the way, he removes the obstacle."
She looked at the pair with complete sincerity.
"I don't know what method he'd choose. But I know he'd find one."
She slowly stood from her seat.
"Personally, I think meeting him is the easier option."
Neither Amber nor Elric spoke.
For the first time since Lexa had arrived, they began wondering whether the most dangerous person involved in this conversation wasn't the woman sitting before them, but the man she followed with such absolute confidence.