After a while, when Levi's laughter finally subsided, his brother quickly changed the subject, sensing an opportunity to steer the conversation toward more practical matters. "Anderson came to me earlier," he began, his tone shifting to a more serious note. "He mentioned that you requested data on the youngsters participating in this trial. Is that correct?"
Levi nodded, "Yes, I asked him. Did you manage to collect it?"
His brother sighed, running a hand through his short beard as he considered the request. "No, not yet. It will take some time," he admitted. "Gathering information on every student is no small task, even for me."
Levi shook his head slightly, clarifying his request. "I don't need data on every student. Just the ones from noble families. But," he added thoughtfully, "if it's possible to collect information on all of them, it would be even more useful."
His brother paused, weighing the options before coming to a decision. "Alright, here's what we'll do. I'll provide you with the data on the noble families by tonight. By then, the students from Kalimaru City will have joined us as well. As for the remaining students, I'll gather their information once I return from my journey. Does that work for you?"
He nodded in agreement, his expression calm but appreciative. "That works. Thank you."
The conversation shifted the atmosphere back to one of purpose and preparation. Levi's brother, though still slightly embarrassed from the earlier exchange, felt a sense of relief at having resolved the matter.
Meanwhile, Levi's mind was already turning over the possibilities, his focus sharpening as he considered the information he would soon receive.
In the evening,
the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow over the western sky where the academy teachers and trainers had set up their camps.
However, darkness began to creep in earlier than usual, as the dense canopy of trees blocked much of the fading light, shrouding the area in a premature twilight.
Levi sat in his camp, deep in thought. His mind was a whirlwind of calculations and predictions, trying to anticipate the events that could unfold in the dream realm.
He knew all too well that the dream realm was a place of constant flux, where the future was never set in stone.
The warning from the black-cloaked men about the alternating fates of those around him echoed in his mind. "It means I have no edge in knowing people's futures; it will alter eventually," he muttered to himself.
"I also don't need future events as they occur in the dream realm. If I knew everything beforehand, there would be no challenge, no fun for me as the Shadow Sovereign," he said.
Those words now resonated within him, a reminder of his resolve to embrace the unpredictability of his existence.
As he reflected on the dangers of the central continent, his mood grew serious. "Hunters will soon come after me," he thought, his eyes narrowing with focus. "But I'm not alone this time. And most importantly, I'm not bound by the destiny of being hunted by him."
"I've always thought of myself as a wolf in sheep's clothing, hiding in the deepest layers of disguise. Yet, he always finds me, like a pure, natural predator. It's as if God crafted him to be my counterbalance, my eternal foil,"
"But this time... what if I became a sheep while protecting others, not just in appearance but in nature as well? What then?" The question hung in the air, a quiet challenge to his own identity.
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Levi had spent centuries, millennia even, honing his cunning and sharpening his mind in the dream realm.
He was a master of manipulation, a shadow among shadows. Yet, he couldn't shake the feeling that his greatest weakness was not his lack of raw power, but the possibility of losing the very essence of what made him dangerous, his wolf-like nature.
Levi had forgotten something crucial. He carried with him the weight of thousands of years of experience, a lifetime of battles, betrayals, and triumphs in the ever-shifting dream realm.
If someone were to call him the most dangerous human in the Senthora world, it wouldn't be an exaggeration.
His mind was a weapon sharper than any blade, his instincts honed to perfection. The only thing he lacked was sheer, overwhelming power, a gap he had always bridged with wit and strategy.
The black-cloaked men had bestowed upon humanity a weapon in the form of Levi, a weapon that could either temper them or destroy them.
"All students should gather in 15 minutes at the front side of the teachers' camps. There will be a final lecture before entering the dream realm."
The announcement echoed across the campsite, resounding three times before fading into silence.
Soon after, the sound of hurried footsteps filled the air as students began to converge in front of the teachers' camp area.
The night was dark, but the camps were well-lit with glowing lumina crystals, casting a soft, warm light that ensured visibility despite the absence of the sun.
Levi emerged from his camp, his movements calm as he made his way toward the gathering area.
The sun had long since disappeared below the horizon, leaving the sky draped in darkness, dotted with countless stars that seemed to watch over the Senthora world with silent curiosity.
When Levi arrived, he found thousands of students already assembled.
Some sat on chairs arranged at the front, clearly reserved for noble students, while the majority stood impatiently.
Among them, Dorian, who had secured a spot in the second row, gestured toward an empty chair to his right, indicating it was for Levi.
Levi nodded in acknowledgment and took his seat, noticing Anderson sitting to Dorian's left, his face partially hidden as if trying to avoid Levi's gaze.
He believes Levi is unaware of his mischievous nature. In truth, Anderson's position in House Veyrathis is unlike that of other servants.Being the same age as Levi, His quiet obsession with following Levi everywhere, mimicking his habits like reading the same books, sitting under the great tree that changes color with each season, set him apart.
Anderson ignored formalities like levi: he never bowed, never extended a hand for a greeting, never waited for an invitation to meals, he never quite fit the mold of a typical attendant.
It was as if he had simply become part of House Veyrathis, though no one could recall exactly when or how it happened.
As Levi settled into his seat, Anderson stammered awkwardly, "Young master, I didn't expect you to come. You rarely attend gatherings like this. I took your seat, please don't take offense."
Levi chuckled softly, his tone light. "If you keep calling me 'young master,' I might just take offense."
Anderson flushed, stumbling over his words. "No, no, Brother Levi, your heart is as... magnanimous as this dark sky" He paused, realizing his mistake, and quickly corrected himself. "No, no, not dark! It's... bright!?"
Levi simply chuckled again, choosing not to respond further.
Dorian, seated between them, let out a quiet sigh of relief, observing their interaction with a mix of amusement and curiosity. "When did they become so close?" he wondered, feeling almost like an outsider sandwiched between the two.
"Perhaps I should invite Levi to dinner after we return home. They say good food can open the heart of even the toughest men, more effectively than the most beautiful women, even."
The presence of Dorian, the heir to the wealthiest and most influential family in Zul'vharra city, naturally drew attention. His invitation to Levi did not go unnoticed by the other students.
The gathering was dominated by nobles, many of whom had been trained from a young age to forge connections with influential figures.
Curious gazes turned toward Levi, their curiosity piqued by the sight of Dorian treating him as an equal.
While the nobles from Zul'vharra were somewhat familiar with Levi's presence in the academy, those from other cities were equally intrigued.
Anderson, with his awkward demeanor and lack of noble bearing, was easy to dismiss.
But Levi, his calm, composed presence and the subtle air of authority around him, made it impossible to ignore him.
The whispers grew louder as students speculated about his identity, their curiosity burning brighter than the lumina crystals lighting the campsite.
"Garret, look who's behind us. We have the two princes of our city here," a boy with jet-black eyes and stark white hair nudged the elbow of the boy to his left, both seated in the front row.
"Oh my, Levi Veyrathis and Dorian Veylmont. What a surprise," the other boy said, turning back with mock astonishment.
Dorian's expression darkened instantly. The tone of their voices was anything but not welcoming.
"Oh god, why do these two have to sit right here in front of us? Levi rarely ever comes out with me... This isn't good," he thought to himself."I can handle them myself but what if they start mocking levi, a fight could be broke out"