Aren felt as though time had frozen the moment the words left Evy's lips. He stared at her, his voice trembling as he struggled to find his footing. "W-what... what are you talking about?"
Evy let out a soft, playful giggle. She leaned in even closer, her breath hitching with excitement as she whispered directly into his ear. "I mean... I know your secret. I know you aren't a Null."
The blood drained from Aren's face. A cold sweat broke out across his forehead, and he felt a frantic tremor in his hands.
How does she know? Did she see me last night? Was she hiding in the gym the whole time? Panic swirled in his chest like a storm, but before he could respond, Evy pressed further. Seeing his face turn a deep, flustered red, she giggled again.
"Oh, come on! Don't be so shy now that the cat's out of the bag," she said, her eyes sparkling.
Aren leaned back, putting as much distance between them as the narrow desk allowed. "What secret, Evy?"
Evy leaned in one last time, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial hush. "The secret that you are... a Vampire."
The tension in Aren's body snapped so suddenly he nearly fell off his seat. He let out a long, ragged sigh of relief, the terror replaced by sheer exasperation. "What on earth are you talking about? Are you out of your mind?"
Evy smirked, crossing her arms with an air of absolute certainty. "Oh, stop playing innocent. That score of 500 last night? Those glowing crimson eyes? I've read enough stories to know the signs. You're a child of the night, aren't you?"
Aren stood up, looking at her with a mixture of disbelief and pity. "I am not a vampire, Evy. Those are just fairy tales." Without waiting for a rebuttal, he grabbed his things and marched back to his original seat next to Theo.
Before Evy could chase after him, Faith arrived. She scanned the room with her usual icy gaze and, seeing the empty spot next to Evy, claimed it for herself. The sudden arrival of Faith silenced the room as the morning lecture finally began.
Thank the Heavens she thinks I'm a vampire, Aren thought, staring straight ahead. No one would ever believe such a ridiculous claim. But I still have to be careful. He glanced to his side and saw Theo staring at him with a wide, suggestive smirk.
Now, how do I explain to Theo that it's not what he thinks? Aren sighed and tried to focus on the professor, while in the back of the room, Evy's eyes remained fixed on his silhouette. I'll prove it, Aren Vox, she thought stubbornly. I'll prove you're hiding something special.
While the students settled into their lessons, Instructor Silvia was marching through the silver-tiled corridors of the administrative wing. Her face was a mask of cold professionalism as she reached a set of heavy, ornate doors. She knocked twice.
"Come in," a deep, authoritative voice boomed from within.
Silvia entered the grand meeting room to find Director Wayland already seated. Two other figures were present. One of them, a man named Hildred, paced the room with restless irritation. "How much longer are we supposed to wait?" Hildred snapped. "If he were coming, he'd be here by now."
Before Wayland could offer a calm rebuttal, the doors swung open. A man in his early forties stepped inside, clad in lightweight but lethal-looking battle armor. Without a word of greeting, he unstrapped a long-bladed katana and placed it firmly on the mahogany table.
"My apologies for the delay," he said, his voice steady and calm. He pulled out a chair and sat, his long hair partially veiling his sharp features.
Director Wayland leaned forward. "Now that everyone is present, we shall begin. Miss Silvia, what is the count for this year's Null intake?"
Silvia placed her tablet on the table, projecting a holographic data stream into the air. "We have a total of six Null students this year, sir."
Wayland leaned back into his leather chair, a faint sigh escaping him. "Six... a slight decrease from last year. If it weren't for The Order's strict mandates, that number would be zero."
Disappointment colored his voice as he turned to the armored man. "Mr. Stephen, I trust you will integrate these Nulls into your combat classes as per the standard curriculum?"
Stephen didn't look up. He merely gave a sharp, singular nod of acknowledgment.
Suddenly, Hildred slammed his fist onto the table. "Director, if you had let me handle the 'weeding out' process, we wouldn't have to waste resources on these dead weights!"
Wayland's eyes flashed. "Control your temper, Hildred. Things are never as simple as you'd like them to be."
The weight of his gaze forced Hildred to settle back into his seat, grumbling under his breath. "Regardless, the four of you represent the pinnacle of our faculty divisions. Prepare your students for the upcoming scouting season. That is your primary order."
Wayland moved to dismiss them, but Silvia spoke up, her voice hesitating for the briefest of moments. "Sir... there is one specific boy I believe requires your attention. Aren Vox." She swiped her tablet, and Aren's student profile appeared in the air.
"Another Null?" Wayland asked, his interest already waning. "What is there to discuss?"
"Last night, he entered the Group D gym," Silvia reported. "He remained inside for approximately thirty minutes."
"And?" Wayland countered. "Is it a crime for a student to use the facilities?"
Silvia pulled up a specialized energy reading. "The issue, sir, is that while he was inside, our sensors recorded a massive surge of power. A spike so potent it rivaled the energy output of a high-tier Vessel."
Wayland's eyes widened as he scanned the report. "This... this shouldn't be possible. A Null producing a reading like this?"
"The surge lasted only two seconds before vanishing," Silvia explained, her brow furrowed. "Furthermore, when I went to pull the security footage, I discovered that exactly three hours of recording from that sector had been wiped clean."
The atmosphere in the room shifted instantly. The disappointment in Wayland's eyes vanished, replaced by a sharp, calculating curiosity. "We need to keep a very close watch on this boy," he said gravely.
"Let me take him," Hildred growled, a predatory grin on his face. "I have my ways of making people talk."
"We have no evidence," Stephen interrupted, his voice like cold iron. "You cannot interrogate a student based solely on a two-second sensor glitch. It is beneath us."
Hildred scoffed. "Do what you want. I'll handle things my way." He stood up to leave, but before his hand could touch the door handle, Stephen tapped the hilt of his katana against the floor.
A localized shockwave rippled through the room, rattling the heavy table and vibrating the chairs. The sheer pressure forced everyone to brace themselves. Hildred froze, his hand trembling as he turned back.
"Whatever happens will be done legally and within the rules of this Academy," Stephen stated calmly. He stood, retrieved his blade, and walked past Hildred without a second glance. Hildred spat on the floor in frustration and stormed out after him.
Director Wayland watched them go, his mind racing. Suddenly, a soft, melodic voice drifted from the corner of the room. "If you wish, I can keep an eye on young Aren. I am, after all, an expert in such matters."
Silvia turned toward the voice. It was Miss Helena, the final member of the top four faculty. She had remained silent and still throughout the meeting, her eyes closed as she sipped her tea with practiced grace. Has she even opened her eyes once since she got here? Silvia wondered. Is she using her powers even now?
Wayland looked at Helena and shook his head. "No, Miss Helena. Your talents are needed elsewhere for now."
He stood up, his expression turning grim as he made a final decision. "See to it that Professor Linwood is appointed as the homeroom teacher for Group D. I want eyes on that boy at all times."