Xavier L'Amour's victory—
didn't feel like a victory.
There were no cheers for him.
No sense of pride.
There were only—
stares.
Confused stares.
Suspicious stares.
Frightened stares.
And that—
was heavier than ridicule.
---
He left the arena.
His steps were awkward.
Several students immediately moved away.
Not because of hatred.
But because—
they were uncomfortable.
As if standing too close to him was a bad idea.
"…What actually happened?"
someone whispered.
"He doesn't have Arcanum…"
"But that wasn't coincidence…"
"No way that happened three times…"
---
Xavier pretended not to hear.
He shoved his hands into his pockets.
Walked casually.
Even though—
his heart was still racing.
He wasn't stupid.
He knew.
Something just now—
wasn't normal.
"…Don't tell me I finally became a genius."
he muttered softly.
He chuckled.
But his laughter—
was empty.
Because deep inside—
he knew.
This wasn't power.
This—
was something else.
---
"Xavier."
That voice stopped him.
He turned around.
Seraphine Vale stood there.
Alone.
No usual cold expression.
No dominating aura.
Only—
curiosity.
"Uh… yeah?"
She approached.
Stopped a meter away.
Looked directly into his eyes.
"…What did you do?"
she asked.
Straightforward.
No pretense.
Xavier raised an eyebrow.
"I stood there."
Silence.
Seraphine didn't smile.
"…Don't joke."
"I'm not joking."
And that was true.
He didn't do anything.
That was the problem.
Seraphine examined his face.
Tiny details.
Eye movement.
Breathing.
Pulse in his neck.
No lies.
Meaning—
he genuinely didn't know.
That—
was more unsettling.
---
"…You're strange."
she finally said.
Xavier chuckled.
"I've heard that since birth."
He turned around.
Started walking again.
Then stopped.
Without looking back, he said:
"If you want my honest answer…"
He shoved his hands into his pockets.
"…I'm scared too."
For the first time—
Xavier's voice wasn't joking.
And Seraphine—
had no answer.
---
Elsewhere.
The Academy's Observatory Tower.
The highest place.
The quietest place.
Caelum Argentis stood before a large window.
Looking down.
Toward the courtyard.
Toward—
Xavier.
"…Interesting."
he whispered.
Behind him—
an old man stood.
Long white hair.
Black robe.
Sharp eyes.
Archmagus Valerian Noctis.
One of the strongest mages in the kingdom.
And the head of this academy.
"You rarely take interest in others, Caelum."
he said softly.
Caelum didn't turn around.
"He has no Arcanum."
Valerian smiled faintly.
"I know."
"And he's still alive."
Silence.
Valerian stepped closer.
Stood beside him.
Looked in the same direction.
"…The world sometimes makes mistakes."
he said.
Caelum shook his head.
"Not a mistake."
He narrowed his eyes.
"…A choice."
That was a dangerous word.
Because if the world could choose—
then the world had will.
And that—
should not be.
---
Below.
Xavier stopped walking.
He didn't know why.
He just—
felt it.
Like he was being watched.
He looked up.
Toward the tower.
But it was too far.
He saw nothing.
"…I hate this place."
he muttered.
He turned around.
And walked away.
But now—
the story had changed.
He was no longer—
background.
He was no longer—
someone who didn't exist.
Now—
he was something—
that even the world—
could not ignore.
---
And far away—
in a place not yet on any map—
something—
moved.
Not a body.
Not a mind.
Not a being.
But—
potential.
Responding to—
a name—
that had no meaning yet.
Xavier L'Amour.