The Headmaster was sitting in front of Luciferis the day after the incident, annoyance with Theolian evident on her face. She was tempted to just resign from her position, but her ego was getting in the way of that.
"So, you have the Frost Element, right? I can help with that since I was a child when the last Frost User was seen."
"How were they?"
Luciferis asked, getting sidelined from the rather important conversation he wanted to have with Rosette almost immediately. He knew Rosette was old, but to have been alive almost 5 centuries ago?
'Perks of being an elf...'
Rosette leaned back in her office chair, the sound of her many cats playing with each other getting louder as the room descended into silence.
"Stupid idiot. I remember that he once rendered a mile of land inhabitable to 'mark it' as his. Apart from that... He was completely normal. Massively powerful, maybe the most in his generation, but, was never the first option to call back then."
Luciferis was just about to comment on the massive contradiction. Never calling upon the strongest? He'd rather his fate had been that instead of dying so young.
"But. Just know. He was never called to the frontlines because he had already killed all of his enemies before turning 20. He died at 50 in his sleep."
She paused, like she herself didn't believe that, nor did Luciferis, incredibly powerful Vitin users? They don't just take a nap and never wake up. But what can be done? It's been 5 centuries already.
"Also, unlike you, he was rather... Bad at talking to people, some of my Elders who had regular interactions with him complained about how he stuttered and went quiet during conversations. Personally, I just thought he ran out of things to say."
"He sounds... Like the average Saint level being." Luciferis mumbled under his breath, just a bit amused. 'Thankfully, everyone's still a normal person.'
Rosette abruptly stood up; it seemed like she wanted to switch the topic as fast as possible. 'She isn't telling me something. But oh well.'
"Anyways. Forget about the past. I will be testing out your full power head on."
"But I want to know more about Frost. Not about the user."
"You asked about him in the first place, Leonidas..."
"Um... I changed my mind."
Rosette sighed as she reached for one of the many books she had set up on a shelf, and the book immediately began glowing a bright purple. A sigil, one that looked like a maze of lines and intricate designs, appeared in the center of the leather cover.
'A Grimoire, huh? It uses Vitin seals so that the important information can only be accessed by the rightful owners. Of course, it can be overridden. But that requires a lot of Vitin I don't have right now.'
"This Grimoire is directly connected to all knowledge available to me inside the Aurelion Empire. I can use it to search through them instantly. This is highly confidential, so don't speak of this to anyone."
Rosette's Grimoire flew through the pages, eventually landing on a single paragraph titled "Frost: The Cold," the words glowing with an air of mystery and anticipation.
"Since I don't want you looking through things that you can't know, I'll read it for you."
She cleared her throat, her eyes flickering across the page, just to make sure that it contained nothing she didn't want Luciferis knowing.
"Frost is an element that is in a position of being Formless and Cold in nature. It is immensely powerful and is a counter to every Element, excluding Void, Light, and Time. It is closely related to the Formless Elements of Zero and Temperature."
Rosette was also slowly and surely getting more and more scared of Luciferis' Element. Zero and Temperature? The Emperor himself is the owner of the Zero Element. And he's the Saint of Apohpicis. The God of Death. And Frost was similar? Hell, it sounded stronger.
'Zero? That's basically a slightly tamer Void; it can do anything Void can and more. I've seen it used; it's stupidly powerful, the Emperor could nullify attacks like nothing.'
She looked at Luciferis, who was calm on the surface, like the words Rosette just spoke out loud had no weight.
"Forget it... Let's just see what you can do." Rosette sighed; both Theolian and Luciferis were causing her even more stress than she had ever experienced in her entire life.
"Okay, but a sword?" Luciferis stood up, putting forward his hand like a sly and greedy fox.
'If I give him a sword... I'm never getting it back, huh?'
Rosette stared at his hand, deadpanned. A normal sword wouldn't be able to handle Frost; she would have to give Luciferis an actual good weapon.
A red and white vine phased through the wall, this one a lot thinner and sharper as it formed into a solid, nearly metallic sword, perfect for Luciferis's size.
"Here... This is made from my spell. Its name is Risean. Rosette quietly handed it over to Luciferis, who swung it in the air just a few times. Testing it out.
"Alright~ I'm ready."
Luciferis took in a deep breath, his eyes becoming a bright electric blue, and Risean became colder and colder, water frosting over it.
He slashed, just once. Yet Rosette's eyes widened just a fraction; it felt like a small bit of her Vitin was getting absorbed by Risean, strengthening Luciferis' attack.
"I don't know what I expected out of a Rank IV. But I honestly thought you'd do actual damage."
Rosette blocked the slash using her finger with ease. It wasn't that strong, but it was siphoning her energy. Just a bit. She felt like she was just a little sleepy.
"Alright, I've gauged your level."
She said as she slapped Luciferis's wrist, making him drop Riseant as the sword immediately returned to normal.
"You could easily outcompete the 1st and 2nd years... But you'll be met with a hard stop in any year above since the difference between Ranks is too great for Frost to overcome."
Luciferis chuckled slightly. He hadn't actually put 100% into the slash; more like 80%. He wanted to hide his true strength just a little bit. The future events that would unfold in the coming year might change after all.
"Apart from that. You can move into my Guild's dormitory."
"I'll only move in if William and Mime are allowed, and William also has to be in your guild."
"Fine? It's not like I have a vendetta against him and Mime. Just know that he has to be competent in the upcoming tournament."
"Tournament?" Luciferis grinned. Fighting snobby nobles and humbling them? That was his favorite hobby, even though sometimes it ended with him losing. The adrenaline was worth it all.
"Yep. Tournament. It'll happen in a few months. It's between all years. Though the winner is usually from the 1st or 7th Year." Rosette picked up Risean from the ground, reluctantly handing it back to Luciferis.
"You can keep this."
"Great. I don't have to steal it now that you permitted me."
"Fu-" Rosette quickly shut up, looking at Luciferis, who was unaware of her almost cursing at him. Unfortunately, he was too preoccupied with imagining William's face when he broke the news to him.
"By the way. How'd you know about my Guild? I kept it a secret from almost everyone."
"Eh? It's super obvious." Luciferis wrapped Risean in his jacket and tied it around his waist. A makeshift sheath.
"Really, huh? I guess I'll have to put more work into keeping it a secret..."
(...)
While Luciferis and Rosette were talking, William was still busy weeding out the books inside his dorm, as his eyes landed on a book with "Strengthening of the Body."
"I need that, I guess? Let's skim through it."
"Please do utilize the content of the book. It is incredibly useful. The book is used to create an amazing foundation for a brawler, such as yourself."
Mime again appeared behind William's chair, their voice showing just a sliver of excitement; usually, it was completely and utterly emotionless. And that itself made William stare at Mime for a few moments before shrugging.
"Sure. I'll read it. But I'm not a brawler!"
"Uh huh... I hereby change the fact that you are a brawler into that you're an elegant dancing brawler who fights in a dress."
"Damn it, Mime!" William huffed, standing up and shoving the book underneath his pillow.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. And Mime, being Mime, immediately jumped forward, opening it without even asking who it was.
"Where's Leonidas?" It was a random girl, alongside a few of her friends. And an especially large, armored male. Around Mime's height.
"Hm. I'm afraid he hasn't told us either. May I be of assistance?"
"See now, I've found out there's a peasant rat living in these quarters. I want him out."
"Ah... I see you want me to rip your eyes out. Please take that back about my Young Master-"
Mime was interrupted, the man thrusting his sword forward, but Mime took the blunt force of the attack head-on.
The girl was, of course, shocked, and Mime was completely unaffected. But her expression slowly shifted into one of amusement.
"You do know if you attack us. You're out of the Academy permanently!"
"Oh..." Mime's mind filled with thoughts on how to cover the incident up if he were to fight, but he heard William stomp his way over to the door.
"Don't worry! I got them! Just cover me!" William rushed forward, sword in hand, as he struck at the man's hand, almost cutting it off in one blow, had he not dodged.
"Wow... Pretty good for a peasant." The man quipped, countering William with a kick, almost immediately sending William flying backwards.
'Alright... 1 big guy, 3 snobby brats. I think I can take em on... Maybe. Just gotta survive until Leonidas comes back.'
"Your clothes, they're expensive, you don't deserve them!" The man shouted. Mime wanted to grab him and pull out his teeth, one by one, but he couldn't, since that would hurt the reputation of the Orchel House.
"You talk a lot for someone so fat their buttons are sending complaints to the dieties."
"Oh... You're so dead." The man's lips quirked sadistically.
"Insulting a noble like me! Simon the Great's 17th Grandson?! I'm named after my ancestor! And I deserve that name since I'm a great man!"
"Such an inspiring speech you're giving. You gonna fight or what?"
William was stalling on purpose, still reeling from the kick.
'I'm actually dead...'