The journey felt longer than it should have. Not because the distance was far but because silence lingered too heavily inside it. Even when the enchanted carriage ran smoothly, it couldn't erase the anxiety on the
people. With time passed from the beginning, they would soon reach the
destination. At that place, the treatment they had envisioned from before might come true.
Alicia remained composed by the window and her gaze was distant toward the sky. Anderson occasionally closed his eyes as if meditating. Baston, meanwhile, pretended to nap while carefully reviewing the knowledge granted by the old book. Since people only recognized him as ice wizard, then he would use ice as his magic. Once someone asked for verification toward his strength, he could then manifest his power.
He traced imaginary circles in his palm, feeling mana gather and disperse. He wanted to test it, to measure it, and to understand its edge. If someone challenged him in a duel, he already estimated his next action. The thought surfaced more than once. Power without measurement was uncertainty and that thing was dangerous. Despite having an intrusive thought regarding the spread of his ice magic, he suppressed the urge. The meeting ahead mattered more than reckless experimentation.
When the carriage finally slowed, the sound of bustling streets replaced the hum of enchantments. The city gates alone spoke of
authority. Polished white stone curved into towering arches engraved with defensive sigils that shimmered faintly under daylight. Guards wore armor that wasn't merely decorative since its mana pulsed along the etched lines. It was subtle but deliberate.
Beyond the gates, the city had flourished. Shops lined both sides of broad streets. Their positions were not cramped but quite organized. Restaurants displayed banners with refined insignias. Some boasted signature soups while others specialized in roasted meats glazed with fragrant herbs. Elegant dessert houses exhibited layered pastries behind glass windows enchanted to preserve freshness. Even the smallest establishment possessed delicious dishes.
Baston kept looking unconsciously as the carriage rolled forward. He studied menus posted outside eateries consisted of soups infused with rare mountain herbs, slow-cooked meats sealed with mana-assisted
techniques, and delicate desserts sculpted like miniature art pieces. His stomach tightened. Not from hunger but from restraint.
He had no money for indulgence. He took a pity of himself. Although his dream to taste the food might still be far, he believed one day that he would enjoy it. Not only to taste luxury but to choose it.
The carriage continued deeper into the city until a vast campus emerged at its heart. The name at the front gate signified it was
magnificent. It was Zeverius Academy, the place where the so-called meeting between chosen representatives would be held. Baston had heard the name before but seeing it for the first time made him felt small in this vast land. The place was not merely larger than Prius Academy. The place was huge.
The main gates stood tall with interwoven silver and dark iron. Beyond them stretched expansive fields that made Prius Academy's
courtyard feel like a private backyard. Buildings rose with architectural precision with tall spires carved with runes that glimmered faintly against the sky. Each space itself felt controlled and measured like every stone had been placed after calculation.
For him, Prius Academy existed to be functional. Meanwhile, Zeverius Academy existed to spread a statement. It was just like everyone around must know its glory from the beginning. Baston wanted to comment, expressing astonishment but Alicia and Anderson had already stepped down from the carriage without reaction. They were calm and unimpressed as if this scale was normal. Baston swallowed his words just to make sure he wouldn't look like a commoner.
A staff member soon approached, "Welcome… Zeverius Academy greets you. You might be tired so please, you can rest first before another briefing would be put on later."
The man bowed not deeply and not shallowly. He only showed his professionalism by controlled gesture. Alicia stepped forward smoothly.
"Thank you for your hospitality. We will await further instruction."
The keys were handed over, consisting of three rooms. The exchange ended quickly. It was too quickly despite many opportunities to exchange pleasantry. As they walked,
Anderson muttered quietly.
"His tone lacked respect…"
Alicia responded just as softly, "They respect strength. They do not care about affiliation."
Baston remained silent. He did not sense insult since he sensed something else. It was observation. The staff member had studied them carefully. The man didn't mean to be rude, only evaluating their response. That thought lingered toward to other purpose.
*****
Baston unlocked his assigned room. It was spacious compared to his underground dormitory at Prius Academy. It was clean and well-lit. A faint lavender scent lingered in the air. Perhaps, it came from a minor
purification array embedded in the ceiling.
The bed was soft, too soft to be ignored completely. He lay down, intending only to rest his eyes yet darkness soon swallowed him. When he woke up, shadows stretched long across the floor. Several hours had passed unknowingly when he was drifted into dream. A sharp and precise knock was
heard. He opened the door to find Alicia and Anderson waiting.
"We're expected at the dining hall," Alicia said.
Her expression was neutral but Baston noticed something. The corridor felt quieter than before. Students from various academies walked past yet conversations dipped slightly when Prius Academy's representatives emerged. It was subtle but it was very clear.
Zeverius Academy was allowing visiting students to roam freely for two days before the official meeting. On the surface, it was
courtesy. In reality, it was a display. It was a demonstration of superiority. Let them wander, let them compare, and let seeds of doubt be planted. If people want to grow stronger, this was the right place. It was recruitment disguised as hospitality. The hidden message was clever. At least, very clever for people who understood it
*****
The dining hall was grand but not gaudy. Chandeliers suspended by floating arrays casted steady illumination without flicker. Long tables arranged in symmetry filled the room. Students from different academies
mingled. They were not openly hostile but they measured every person inside the
room.
Their eyes assessed robes, posture, and mana presence. Strength still dictated hierarchy in the end. Baston felt it immediately. Zeverius Academy's students carried themselves differently. They were not arrogant but assured. Their mana signatures were refined and polished. It wasn't explosive but disciplined.
In short while, food arrived in orderly courses. The first bite stunned Baston. It was tender and the spice was balanced, layered in flavor. He forced himself to chew slowly. He did not want to draw attention.
Because of that, he tried hard to not ask for seconds. The restraint inside his heart worked greatly to stop his grueling stomach. Everything should be fine, but somehow, the atmosphere shifted. A noble boy approached their table with confident stride and measured smile.
"May I borrow Alicia for a moment?"
Anderson leaned closer to Baston, "It was the one who I had told you. His name is Clark Poromir, the insisting suitor of Alicia…"
"Ah… So this was him…"
Baston observed carefully. Clark was handsome, undeniably so if compared to others. His uniform, though styled similarly to others, carried faint enchantments woven through the fabric. It contained protection arrays and for sure, it was very expensive ones. Just by outfit, his status was already
declared.
Alicia smiled politely, "I'm sorry but I'm quite tired from travel…"
Clark nodded, "It's unfortunate but there will be another time tomorrow."
His gaze shifted to Baston and Anderson, "Greetings, my name is Clark Poromir. I hope we will develop a pleasant relationship."
His eyes lingered a fraction longer on Baston. Just a fraction yet quite threatening. Baston smiled back. His smile was neutral and unthreatening since he didn't want to have a problem. After brief pleasantries, Clark then left. The moment he did, Alicia's composure cracked slightly.
"That was unpleasant…" she muttered.
"It's quite troublesome, huh?" Baston asked.
Alicia exhaled, "He's very possessive, persistent, and jealous. He investigated anyone who spoke to me."
Baston's stomach tightened. The word investigates seemed to spell incoming trouble.
"So, even the classmates was being investigated?"
"Especially boys…" Alicia nodded faintly.
The sentence confirmed something. Baston believed he was already noted. Whether he wanted it or not, Clark supposedly had already marked him.
*****
Elsewhere within the academy's guest wing, Clark sat in a private chamber illuminated by low-burning crystal lamps. Three figures stood before him. They wore attire resembling academy guards but their stance
betrayed military discipline.
"My lord," one began quietly, "We have completed the preliminary background checks."
Clark leaned back, "I will listen..."
"One is from the Anderson family. Minor noble lineage and skilled in knightly disciplines."
Clark waved dismissively, "And the other?"
There was a pause. The man took a couple of seconds before he continued.
"The fat one… His name is Baston from poor class."
Clark's fingers stilled, "Explain it to me… Why is there a poor person in such representative?"
"He was a non-magical student until recently. Witnesses confirm he awakened overnight under the presence of Great Wizard Angus."
Clark's eyes narrowed, "Overnight?"
"Yes, my lord. Not only awakened, he was blessed with ice affinity."
The silence thickened. Ice magic was not common. It was superior to water. It was more structured and more lethal.
"And Angus supported him?"
"Yes."
Clark's jaw tightened. He began making relationship toward several occurrences from the ugly pig, lucky encounter, and ice affinity before ended up sitting beside Alicia. Clark rose slowly and walked toward the window. Below, academy lights shimmered across manicured grounds. He wondered if
everything was just a coincidence? After all, he disliked coincidences.
"Continue the observation," Clark ordered.
"Yes, my lord."
When they left, Clark remained alone. Regarding the fat boy who had experienced ice element, poor class, and sudden awakening, Clark's lips curled faintly. No one rose without reason. If Baston was merely lucky, he would expose weakness soon. Clark's gaze hardened. If not, then he would deal with him before the meeting concluded.
"I will have to adjust my plan…"
*****
Back in his room, Baston sat upright on the bed. He had sensed it earlier. Not directly but there were faint fluctuations in mana outside his corridor. The footsteps were too synchronized. Their pauses were too
deliberate. Clark was already investigating. It was faster than expected. Such operation meant Clark did not view him as harmless. There was good side and bad side in this opinion.
Baston summoned a thin thread of ice mana in his palm. It formed slowly. It wasn't visible but cold enough to crystallize the air briefly. He dispelled it immediately. Ice magic prioritized control, compression, and precision. Not a brute force since he needed subtlety. If Clark provoked him publicly, Baston could not retaliate recklessly.
This was Zeverius Academy. Power hierarchies were more complex here. Behind Clark, there was influence and money. Perhaps, there was also even political ties. Baston leaned back against the headboard. He reviewed the day from the staff's evaluation, the academy's display, and Clark's immediate investigation.
Supposedly, it was not coincidence that Zeverius Academy had invited representatives from multiple academies. This meeting was not only about discussion. It was about positioning, alliance building, and future dominance. And Clark Poromir was moving before the official gathering even began which meant the meeting itself might not be peaceful.
Baston's eyes drifted to the ceiling. He felt something else too. A faint tension beneath the academy's polished surface. It was controlled and rehearsed as if something here was being hidden. The thought returned back at the cafeteria explosion at Prius Academy, the fake cult's shadow he created,
and Angus' suspicion.
What if this gathering was not merely political? What if someone intended to move here? In a place full of talented students from
multiple academies? It would surely gave maximum impact and chaos. Baston's
fingers tightened. He disliked being unprepared and he disliked being watched. Tomorrow, he would roam the campus. Not to admire it but to study it.
Zeverius Academy was magnificent but magnificence often concealed cracks beneath marble floors. And Baston had learned something important recently. The louder the display of power, the more carefully one should search for silence. Outside his window, a faint breeze moved through the trees. Far across the campus, in a separate tower, Clark stood staring toward
the guest wing.
His thoughts were sharp and his jealousy was sharper. Two young men, both of them were calculating and both of them were watching. They realized they had to move delicately. In a place where strong fist couldn't be used, the sharpness of words would become their main weapon. While the meeting had not begun, the game already had.