After the conversation finished, Will and I decided to head back to our dorm.
Meanwhile...
Claude chooses not to return immediately to the dorms following our exchange. He quietly exits through the academy's side corridor while his boots remain silent on the polished floor. His face maintains its usual impassive demeanor yet his eyes move swiftly and intentionally to check for possible followers.
Nothing.
Good.
He enters an unmarked door which leads to a storage room with high stacks of crates and the soft glow of mana-concealment wards in the corners. With a magical whisper the door shuts behind him.
He releases a measured breath before lifting his wrist.
A subtle shimmer. His Aetherplate screen transforms into a sleeker, darker interface with red glyphs replacing the typical academy blue background.
[Codex 097: Vampire – Passive.]
[Codex 344: Demon's Glare – Active.]
[Codex 930: Abyssborne Pact – Passive.]
The two boxes dangle next to each other while faint pulses give them an appearance of life.
Claude's eyes narrow. He brings his fingers together to bring up an image of the academy represented as a faintly illuminated map. His eyes settle on the very center of the map: a locked vault deep underground. The Altinium.
He whispers to himself: "The heart of it all..."
"Not much longer."
His Codex whispers back to him as though it possesses its own awareness.
[Directives unchanged. Continue integration. Await signal for breach.]
He flexes his fingers, jaw tightening. His stoic facade momentarily breaks revealing a fleeting glimpse of something sinister beneath.
The leader speaks in a low tone addressing both his thoughts and the voices emerging from the Abyssborne Pact as he says "These kids."
"Zach. Will. Julius... they don't even realize."
A pause.
He exhales and deactivates both Codex interfaces. The room becomes bare and quiet as the dark light disappears.
Claude adjusts his uniform while his face takes on that well-rehearsed blank expression, his habitual mask.
He exits the storage room and seamlessly merges back into the academy halls as though he was undisturbed.
…
We leave the training grounds feeling sore and drenched in sweat yet there's a shared feeling of accomplishment between Zach, Will, and I beams with smugness after the morning sparring session.
We head toward the main academy hall, following the tide of students. Even Zach, who wasn't in Vanguard Training, is dripping sweat—he notices my glance and shrugs.
"Combat Conditioning," he says, rubbing his shoulder. "Not as flashy, but trust me, they worked us to the bone."
Zach wipes his sweaty face with his neck towel before suggesting we go to the cafeteria.
"God, yes," I mutter. I need to eat something fast or I'll fall down where I stand.
Will slaps my back so hard that I almost fall. "See? Vanguards who understand their needs for energy recognize when to eat because you're showing improvement."
We advance towards the main academy hall while moving with the student crowd. The dining area at Velmara stands out from typical cafeterias. The main academy hall serves as a vast outdoor atrium where enchanted sunlight streams through its towering glass walls despite thick clouds concealing the real sun. Extended banquet tables display dynamic tablecloths that shift hues throughout the day while food stations occupy the perimeter staffed by culinary wizards.
I stop short at the entrance, staring.
The menu offers everything from mana-braised beef that glows pale blue when roasted to shrimp battered in gold with a smell of seaside festival to salads vibrant with shining crystal berries. The rice contains small mana pearls that seem to be embedded within it.
I point at the hovering tray of steaming broth and ask "Is that floating soup?" while enchanted spoons guide it through the air.
"Levitation potage," Will grins. "Highly recommend."
Without hesitation Zach makes a beeline for the protein section and fills his plate with grilled phoenix wings and an item resembling enchanted steak. His voice is confident as he assures me that the magical desserts which hover on their trays will become familiar over time. "The academy's obsessed with mana nutrition."
I pick up a plate and join them but proceed with extra caution. I fill my plate with garlic herb mana bread and roasted flame-fruit before adding a serving of levitation potage because who says no to that?
We position ourselves by the window to watch the courtyard where the aether lights begin to shine as dusk falls.
After waiting a few minutes Claude arrived and took the seat opposite me. He gives us nothing more than a nod while his eyes dart between us and he eats his meal. Same calm, collected as always.
I comment on the surreal situation while eating bread and leaning back in my chair. "How does any of this even work?"
Will winks. "Magic, obviously. Welcome to Velmara, Paragon."
For a moment, everything feels normal. Students laugh and talk as they move past us while the air vibrates with mana and my Aetherplate remains quiet.
I understand deep down that the momentary peace will give way to future challenges.
However, at this current moment, I am truly happy, and it's likely the first time in a while that I feel so glad that I'm with friends who I can depend on. Although I just met Claude for two days, I am excited to get to know him better. His steady demeanor is something that I admire. And as to Will and Zach, their kindness and their abilities are also something I can learn from. Even though just a while back, Will and I had some sort of tension at Freedom High, all of that is forgotten due to far more intense situations. All I know is that they are people who saved my life, and they're people that I can count on, and I know that they can say the same for me as well.