That night Leo didn't sleep.
More like he couldn't
He lay still, eyes open, staring at the ceiling as faint silver light filtered through the balcony on his right .
The Elven Academy , Elavein was quiet
—too quiet.
It was currently midnight yet unlike skycrest where the curfew was a bit lax , here it was absolute. Every student was sleeping peacefully yet Leo's mind wandered .
Slowly he rose from the oversized bed and looked at the large room assigned to him by the elves .
" This is honestly to much "
Quietly he walked to the balcony .
He could feel powerful presences locking unto him then disappearing
His mind went through everything concerning his mission then the events of the day before settling on his meeting with the three royal elves .
First was Aelion the crowned price who he didn't trust completely but did not dislike at the same time .
Next was Evangeline the 3rd princess, her presence like a radiant sun reminded him a bit of summer yet she held a curious glow in her eyes .
Honestly he didn't suspect her but still the brightest star cast the largest shadow .
Finally there was Sol the 5th prince .
Just the taught of him made Leo frown , there was something unsettling about him .
". It could be his just a racist prick ... but I still have to be sure ".
Slowly he stepped unto the balcony then jumped off .
The cold air brushed harshly against his face as he plummeted towards the ground , but before he could crash his body stopped .
Momentum seized.
Space rippled .
He landed softly then straightened his coat .
"Let's do some midnight investigations shall we "
***********************
Days later Leo sat calmy watching a group of elves training from his balcony.
This was his third day here and his progress had stilled though he had plans to change that .
Plans that started with losing his unwanted companion.
To his side sat a golden haired elven beauty Evangeline Vinter the 3rd elven princess.
" What's wrong Leo don't humans have beautiful ladies ? ". she asked still wearing her usual mischievous smile.
" Thats not it don't you have princess stuff to do or at least classes to attend ?"
" So you admit I'm beautiful "
" I didnt say that "
" So you think I'm ugly right " she suddenly pouts while turning away .
" I didnt say that at all .... your quiet easy on the eyes you know "
Immediately Evangeline's face brightened " I knew it .. you've been checking me out haven't you ....prev "
" What I haven't"
Evangeline gave him a warm smile " I believe you "
Her expression said a different story .
" Tsk " annoyed by her antics Leo slowly stood up , looking around he locked eyes with a silver haired elf staring at him with annoyance.
" Oh yeah I have a match with him tomorrow , maybe it will be fun "
Apparently Prince Sol had the nice idea to put him against the first year elves in Elavein .
Another thing that made Leo like him less .
" What are you thinking of Leo ?... Maybe something ...naughty " her voice rose a bit towards the end of her statement , while her checks turned a share redder .
" Tsk .. You wish "
***********************
Once again at midnight Leo stood at his balcony looking down at Elavein .
This was his third time doing this , he had successfully mapped out the routine of the guards and he had finally found a lead though a vague one.
Landing on the soft ground Leo dashed towards a garden on the far east of Elavein .
With a speed surpassing the speed of sound he cleared the distance in a heart beat , as two figures appear in his vision , two elven guards wearing silver armor .
Before they could react space rippled locking the in place followed by two swift , precise strikes by Leo knocking them out .
" Sorry guys .. just have a nice rest for now "
Walking into the garden he took a moment to take in the beauty .
' If only earth had kept nice places like this '
" What are you doing here at this time Leo ?"
A mischievous, feminine voice called pit softly from the side .
" Finally revealing yourselve Eva ."
" You knocked out two guards and are breaking into the headmaster's personal garden at midnight.... sounds like treason to me"
" Seriously... are your going to turn me in ? "
" Of course not, that sounds like something Sol would do ... but you owe me "
" Let me do you one better ... I'm here because I found a lead "
Without saying more Leo walked towards the center of the garden
Evangeline's smile turned serious immediately
" let's go "
Without another word both move towards a large tree at the center .
Calling it large was an understatement.
It was massive.
As large as a house .
Ancient.
The roots twisted around a stone structure, forming a natural barrier.
Evangeline crouched near the entrance, scanning it.
"…This isn't standard elven magic."
Leo frowned. "Yeah i noticed thats why i decided to check it out "
"…It's layered ... I can feel multiple attributes ..." she paused . "It's a natural formation combined with artificial reinforcement."
" How could this go unnoticed if elves have such great world energy sensitivity.?" Leo asked suspiciously.
" There's a lot of world energy fluctuating in Elavein so we don't really mind the less dangerous ones " . Evangeline quickly replied.
Leo stepped closer.
The moment he did—
Space groaned .
Then a simmering portal opened in its place.
" It seems either whoever put this is over confident , stupid "...' or its another perk of my transmigration.'
Evangeline glanced at Leo. "…It's reacting to you."
Leo nodded once.
"…Which means we're on the right path."
—
The air changed immediately as they stepped inside the portal.
Heavier.
Colder.
Wrong.
Evangeline's voice dropped. "… Everything here… they're corrupted."
In front of them was a laboratory like space with interconnecting capsules filled with a black liquid and bodies of different beasts and other species like humans, beastkin and mostly elves along with other strange and twisted experiments .
Faint pulses of dark energy ran along the room like veins.
Controlled.
Contained.
Not spreading wildly.
Guided.
"…This is a network," Leo said softly eyes narrowed.
" What.... kind of ... madness is this..
... this is sick....
what.... is this ... place?" .
Evangeline murmured her voice breaking
—
They moved deeper.
And then—
They saw it.
The dreadful aura pressing on them before anything else .
A chamber.
Hidden.
Artificial.
Rows of glass containers lined the walls.
Inside them—
Dark energy swirled.
Contained.
Stabilized.
Both froze.
"…You've got to be kidding me," leo muttered.
His expression hardened instantly. "…They're storing it."
"No," Evangeline said quietly.
"…They're preparing it."
Leo stepped forward slowly.
His gaze scanned everything.
The containers.
The capsules .
And the most disturbing.—
A small sigli at the center of the room .
A world covered in darkness with an ominous eye in the middle.
Leo could almost feel its gaze on him .
Moving his gaze away he saw it.
A table.
Covered in notes
.
Detailed.
Precise.
Controlled experiments.
Stages.
Subjects.
Leo's eyes darkened.
"…This isn't just research."
Evangeline stepped closer, her voice barely above a whisper.
"…It's deployment..... Why would they do this…?"
Leo didn't answer.
Because he already knew.
—
A slow clap echoed through the chamber.
Both turned instantly.
A figure stepped from the shadows.
Tall.
Composed.
Robed.
"…I was wondering when you would find this."
leo moved immediately, stepping in front of Evangeline.
"Identify yourself."
The figure smiled faintly.
"You stand in my sacred research facility… and you ask me to identify myself?"
The air shifted.
Authority.
Pressure.
Recognition.
Evangeline's voice dropped.
"…Head Master .. Roland ."
The figure inclined their head slightly.
"Correct as always princess."
Evangeline stepped forward, fists clenched. "Yeah? Then explain this... This madness ."
Rolands gaze swept over them calmly.
"…Progress."
Evangeline's face tightened. " Your using chaos energy .. thats forbidden."
"Yes."
"You're using your own students"
"Yes."
No denial.
No hesitation.
Just—
Truth.
Evangeline's voice shook slightly. "Why…?"
Roland looked at her.
"… Oh naive as always princess .... purity alone will not save us from what's coming"
Silence.
Leo stepped forward.
"…You're experimenting with it.... With lives " his anger grew with each word.
"Refining it," the Roland corrected casually.
"Controlling it...
…The world is changing," he continued.
"A storm is coming. And when it arrives—those who cling to old ideals will be erased."
Leo's gaze sharpened.
"…So you decided to create your own storm."
A faint smile.
—
Leo studied him carefully.
"…You're not the source."
The chamber went still.
For the first time—
Roland's expression shifted.
"…What makes you say that?"
Leo's voice was calm.
"Because this energy…"
He raised his hand slightly.
"…doesn't belong to you."
Silence.
Then—
A soft chuckle.
"…Impressive."
Roland's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You're smart for a human ."
"…that's why Prince Aelion choose you ....
My master also has his eye on you "
Leo didn't react.
".... who ?"
A pause.
No answer .
Yet a presence stirred .
Dark.
Familiar.
Watching.
Leo's eyes sharpened instantly.
"…One of them."
The Roland smiled.
"…Yes."
—
Far away—
Hidden.
Watching.
A masked figure tilted their head slightly.
"…He figured it out faster than expected."
A quiet laugh followed.
"How interesting."
—
Back in the chamber—
The air thickened.
Tension rising.
Power building.
The Roland stepped back slightly.
"I would love to chat but …You've seen too much."
Evangeline tensed light gathering around her " His at the peak of the world saint rank "
" Good I need some practice"
Leo exhaled slowly.
Power building—
Roland's smile widened then he snapped his fingers . All the capsules made a strange sound before draining of the black liquid and opening.
Immediately fifteen malformed creatures stepped out each radiating thick black energy and the unmistakable aura of a middle world saint .
" Let's see what you both can do Leo , princess .
"…Gladly."