After Vorne's crushing defeat, Alex drags him to the headmistress's office and coldly drops him in front of Navy's desk.
"I think I'm done with what I had to do," he says curtly. "Now it's time for me to go to sleep."
He turns on his heel and walks away.
The next morning, Ella is summoned to Navy's office. When she enters, she finds the headmistress seated behind her desk, looking concerned.
"Is something wrong, Madam?" Ella asks.
"No, don't worry. Please, have a seat."
Ella sits down, yawning, her thoughts still foggy.
(Seriously, what do they want from me… It's my day off. I don't have any classes today. I would've loved to sleep in.)
Navy observes her outfit: a simple white dress with long, flared sleeves. She can't help but smile, which Ella immediately notices.
"Don't mind me," Navy says. "It's just that you look cute in that outfit. I'm still sorry for disturbing you when you don't even have classes to teach."
"It's nothing—though I admit I would've preferred staying in bed. So, what's this about?"
"You don't waste any time… Tell me, did you know Alex managed to deal with that student, Vorne?"
Ella replies as if it were obvious.
"That was predictable!"
Navy reflects silently:
(So him barging into my office in the middle of the night to drop off an unconscious student didn't surprise her at all? That boy really is intriguing…)
The headmistress straightens and continues more seriously:
"Anyway, that's not the point. I asked you here because I need your help."
"My help?"
"Yes. We've received reports of a large gathering of monsters in the forest. If they were low-rank creatures, it would be routine. But this horde is led by a Silver-Antlered Stag. It's a powerful monster—but you should be able to handle it."
Ella freezes for a moment as she processes the information, then jolts upright.
"Wait—what?! Do you realize what that means? How many are there?"
Navy maintains her calm smile.
"Our estimates are around a hundred individuals. Nothing extraordinary for you."
Ella pouts dramatically.
"Let me guess… I have to deal with it today?"
"Exactly!"
She crosses her arms, making a face.
"Well, I don't feel like it!"
A bead of sweat forms on Navy's forehead.
"Please! I don't see anyone else capable… If you accept, I'll owe you one. I'll grant you a favor—any favor."
Ella pretends to hesitate for a long moment, then finally smiles.
"Fine. But in return, I want something truly special."
"That goes without saying!"
Ella stands up energetically.
"In that case, I'm heading out right now!"
A few hours later…
Near the academy grounds, Alex, Karden, and Ella track the monsters. Suddenly, a horde of massive humanoid cats charges at them. Leading the group, Ella shouts:
"Don't let a single one escape!"
She raises her wand and casts:
"Explosion!"
A burst of flames detonates, instantly consuming a large portion of the pack. Ella admires her staff with satisfaction.
"That spell really is effective."
The survivors rush straight at her. Without panicking, she gracefully lifts into the air, out of their reach. She glances down at Alex and Karden below.
"Your turn now!"
Alex sighs as he draws his dagger, while Karden readies his scythe. The monsters descend upon them—but from the very first exchange, they are cut down with surgical precision.
As he fights, Alex grumbles inwardly:
(What am I even doing here?)
While they clear the area, Ella flies overhead for a quick reconnaissance. When she lands again, only monster corpses litter the ground.
"Looks like you've been doing this your whole lives. You're handling yourselves quite well! Any questions?"
Alex wipes blood from his blade.
"Yes. Just one. Why am I here again?"
Ella tilts her head, studies him, then smiles.
"You really don't remember? By the way, I love your outfit today. Very elegant—all in black."
"It's just pants and a shirt…"
"Still stylish! Be happy—I just complimented you. And to answer your question, you agreed to come of your own free will."
"Seriously?"
"Yes! Remember? I promised you those wonderful pastries from last time, and you jumped at the chance. Karden just followed along. So stop complaining and come on—I found the leader's lair. The faster we finish, the sooner we go home."
She takes the lead. Karden watches silently before murmuring to Alex:
"Looks like she really enjoys hunting monsters."
They set off again. As they move deeper into the woods, Alex hears a whisper:
"Alex…"
He stops and looks around.
(A hallucination?)
But as he walks forward, the voice returns—more trembling, thinner:
"Alex…"
Then a rough, deep voice echoes inside his mind:
"Alex Andreas! Alex Andreas!"
A cold shiver runs down his spine, freezing him in place. He nervously adjusts his hair, brushing his long ponytail aside, his gaze darkening.
(Damn… what is that feeling now? Don't tell me it's starting again…)
END OF CHAPTER
NEXT CHAPTER: Royal Academy, Act 2 — Familiar Sensation