"You're dismissed."
Edsel stood without another word.
The chair scraped softly against the floor before he turned and walked toward the door. Neither instructor tried to stop him.
The door closed behind him with a quiet click.
For a moment the room stayed silent.
Then Nova exhaled heavily and leaned back in her chair. Both hands dragged down her face as if she were trying to wipe away the exhaustion.
"You seriously have a psychotic bastard in your class," she muttered.
Adriel let out a quiet breath.
"Certainly not what I expected," he said. "Especially not after seeing how much stronger he's become."
Nova lowered her hands and frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Adriel looked toward the door Edsel had just walked through.
"Haven't you noticed?" he said slowly. "He's not a first-circle mage anymore."
Nova tilted her head.
"I could feel that much and he's not second circle either."
She blinked.
"Huh?"
"He's at the third circle."
Nova stared at him and her brows knitted together in confusion.
"What are you talking about? I felt his mana clearly. He's around the second circle."
Adriel paused, studying her reaction.
"You mean… you didn't notice anything unusual around him?"
Nova shook her head immediately.
"You're imagining things," she said. "I'm a sword mage. I can tell when someone has more circles than another. She crossed her arms confidently. "I would've noticed if he was third circle."
Adriel didn't answer right away.
She was right in one sense. Aura users and sword mages had an excellent sense for mana density. Normally they could judge someone's circle almost instinctively.
Yet during the fight he had seen it clearly, he was certain that Edsel had reached the third circle.
'Do not tell me that this kid is mastering the ability to hide his true power from others,' he thought while chuckling quietly to himself. "Never mind about it for now. Perhaps I was mistaken."
Nova got up from her chair while adjusting her uniform.
"Make sure that he does not cause any more trouble in your class, Mr. Vance. I do not want to be scolded by the headmaster for failing to control the students."
Adriel's expression changed slightly.
"The headmaster is busy right now."
Nova paused halfway to the door.
"Busy?"
Adriel's eyes darkened. "He's dealing with 'them'."
Nova's eyes widened at his words.
"You mean he is chasing after them? The devil worshipers?"
The name carried weight.
Devil worshipers were fanatics who served the Demon God. They performed forbidden rituals and sometimes even traded with demons themselves in exchange for power.
The problem was simple.
Humans couldn't naturally wield dark mana. Their bodies rejected it and most who tried ended up dead or worse, transformed into mindless undead.
Which was why those cultists had begun experimenting, Searching and finally Creating something unnatural.
A drug known as "Devora."
Nova's expression tightened.
"But why would that have anything to do with the academy?"
Adriel's gaze hardened.
"Because we suspect the group has already infiltrated this place. And they're recruiting students."
Nova stared at Adriel, disbelief written all over her face.
"You mean… infiltrated?" Her voice shook slightly. "Don't tell me…how is that even possible? We would've sensed something wrong."
She took a step forward.
"We need to inform the other instructors. Let's bring this up in the next meeting—"
"We can't."
Adriel's voice cut through her words.
Nova frowned.
"And why not? Are you seriously planning to keep this a secret from them?"
Adriel's expression hardened.
"It seems that you do not fully understand the seriousness of this situation. Why do you think the headmaster entrusted me with this information in the first place? And why do you think I decided to tell you about it just now?"
Nova's eyes widened with realization.
"Is the headmaster suspecting that some of the instructors might be involved with the devil worshipers?" Her voice trembled slightly. "That is impossible! We have worked together for years!"
Adriel walked towards her and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"For now, let us simply watch and see what happens next. Just be careful and report to me immediately if you notice anything suspicious or out of the ordinary."
He started to walk past her when suddenly she called out.
"Wait, Mr. Vance..."
He turned around to face her.
"Do you think that your student Edsel might be one of them? I mean, consider how he suddenly became this strong over such a short period of time. It seems unusual, does it not?"
Adriel chuckled at the suggestion.
"He is certainly not one of them, I can assure you of that. I am sure that he simply grew stronger after losing that duel against Fiora. Besides, I did not feel any bad or corrupted energy coming from him during the fight. He is just stubborn and violent, that is all."
"I see," Nova responded quietly.
*********
At the infirmary, the atmosphere was heavy.
Several students lay on beds, separated by thin white curtains. Edwin was sitting beside Penelope's bed, with Cecilia and Osias standing nearby.
Osias could not believe that Edsel had turned out to be such a brute. To think that he would actually win the fight by reading Penelope's movements and adapting to her speed was beyond comprehension.
He stared at Edwin, who was clenching his fingers tightly while staring at Penelope's unconscious body. Edwin was clearly angry at himself for not stopping the fight earlier, and more importantly, he did not understand why Instructor Adriel had allowed the match to continue for so long.
Osias cleared his throat awkwardly.
"U-uh… Edwin," he said, clearing his throat. "Don't take it too hard. I'm sure the instructors will punish Edsel."
He forced a small smile.
"Right, Cecilia?"
Cecilia caught on immediately and nodded.
"He's right," she said softly. "You don't need to worry too much. Penelope will be fine."
The moment Edwin turned to face them, both Osias and Cecilia froze.
His eyes seemed lifeless, or perhaps more accurately, they reflected the gaze of an angry and helpless man who could not protect someone important to him.
"I am deeply disappointed in both of you," Edwin muttered slowly.
Cecilia hesitated at his words while Osias stiffened beside her.
"Penelope is your friend. She was beaten so badly by your classmate, and the only words coming out of your mouths are that she will be fine?" Edwin glared at them with intensity. "You should both be ashamed to call yourselves her friends after saying such things!"
Cecilia felt deeply hurt by the accusation and looked down at the floor silently.
Osias stared at her and then frowned at Edwin. "Hey, she was only trying to—"
"Do not butt into this conversation, Osias. You are a terrible person too. Do you not understand that Penelope is seriously hurt right now? The instructors will not punish Edsel the way that you imagine. It will probably be a lighter punishment, that is all."
Osias paused while processing his words. Was Edwin trying to tell him that he should mind his own business and not interfere? Osias did not fully understand the meaning behind the outburst, but he was starting to remember what Edsel had said earlier about living in Edwin's shadow. He shook his head to dismiss the thought. No, Edwin was just angry, and he understood why his best friend was saying such hurtful things in the moment.
Osias clenched his fist tightly and then sighed in resignation. He felt relieved that he understood his best friend's need for space. "Okay, I guess there is nothing we can do to help right now. I will be going back to my dorm then. I leave Penelope in your care."
Edwin nodded without looking away from Penelope's face.
Cecilia had been completely silent throughout the exchange. She had not muttered anything in her defense, but Osias could tell that she was deeply hurt by Edwin's words.
Osias walked away from them with Cecilia following behind him. She understood that Edwin still needed some time alone with Penelope, but she could not help glancing back at the closed curtain one last time.
After a while, they were both standing outside the infirmary, and Osias felt the awkward silence hanging between them. Cecilia had not said anything at all since leaving.
"Hey, do not listen to everything that Edwin said back there. He was just—"
"Do you think that Edwin truly loves Penelope?"
Osias's eyes widened at the sudden question, but he could not form any words to respond. He understood many things about Edwin, but when it came to deep feelings and emotions, Edwin never expressed much. He was the clueless type who did not realize how others felt about him.
Cecilia smiled while looking down at the ground.
Although the sweet smile on her face appeared genuine, this time it seemed filled with hidden pain.
"I see..." she whispered quietly.