--- Styrtan Cafeteria (Illustra Society) ---

Xyl's group was currently seated a far from Cyziel's group but they still have a clear view of them. Xyl, Hal and the other man named Kun was currently watching the commotion that was happening. Opposite of them was Lori and the other woman in their group named Keshi. Lori was currently unconscious and Keshi was supporting her.

"Kun! Did you see that?" Xyl fearfully asked.

"What did he do?" Kun started to think. "I don't know what magic is that but he definitely used dark and fire essences."

"What's so special about that?" Hal scoffed. "Hmph! That guy is just all brawn. If he had good resistance to magic then he won't be in that state."

"Have you forgotten that Lori is currently unconscious?" Keshi shouted. "Do you think that you are better than Lori in mental arts?"

"Hmph! We don't know yet what happened to her. It could be that she just made a mista-"

Lori woke up, groaning. "You are wrong Hal. We should avoid antagonizing them."

"Lori! Are you alright?" Keshi concerningly said.

"What did you learned Lori? Were you able to find anything important about the new students?" Hal asked.

"Hal! She just got hurt! Let her rest a bit more." Keshi scowled.

"I'm fine." Lori indicated, raising her palm towards Keshi. "I learned nothing! I tried to read the mind of the one farthest from Cyziel's right."

"I believe that guy is named Volus." Kun stated. "Are you saying that he already knew how to shield his mind? Are they taught nether based magic early this year or is he just that talented? But how are you hurt?"

"Yes. I encountered a mental barrier. I was supposed to pull back my consciousness but when I heard his voice suddenly warning me not to do it to the next people beside him, I was shocked. I didn't think that I would be discovered. What's more was that he was the one who was already in my head. I do not know how he bypassed my own mental barrier so I attacked in response." Lori then got quiet.

"What happened after?" Hal asked.

"I do not know." Lori shook her head. "My mental projection rebounded then I blacked out."

"What shall we do now?" Keshi inquired.

"Still the same. We will still try to recruit him. If he really was that good in mental arts then I think the other one named Volus would also be a good recruit." Xyl replied. "I doubt that someone as talented like them would not want to have access to the knowledge of magic our organization possess."

"What if they still refuse?" Kun asked.

"We at least shouldn't make enemies of them." Lori answered, taking a glance of Volus. "Its better to make friends with them."

"Hah! You might have gotten your head muddled by that guy but -- We are part of Illustra! No need to fear them." Hal shouted. "If they think that they could fight us then they are mistaken."

"Stop it Hal. You two both have good points. As part of Illustra, we cannot show weakness but it would also not do us good to clash with those new students. If they refuse then we should let the higher ups decide what to do next."

--- Styrtan Institute, near the Infirmary (Mundus Group) ---

"Faster Bisak!" Melos shouted. "What are you standing there for Jaza? Open the door!"

The group entered the infirmary room and Doctor Bion greeted them.

"What happened to him? Go place him there!" Bion ordered.

Bisak placed Grison at one of the beds in the infirmary. Bion scanned Grison with Nether magic then activated a light based healing magic.

"Will he be okay?" Stella asked.

"He would be fine. Its good that one of you actually applied some first aid for him. Here let him take this when he wakes up." Bion gave Stella a capsule based medicine, before turning towards Melos with a serious face. "Hah! You probably got in a fight again and worse, you lost."

Melos just looked away and kept quiet.

"You might belong to a huge group and have some great backers but remember that there is still a limit to the power that they possess. Keep yourselves in check." Bion then walked towards the door. "I'll be leaving first. I have something to do. I'll be back later. Do not touch my equipment." Bion then left the infirmary.

"Who does he think he is? He is just some doctor here." Melos shouted before turning to Jaza. "You have some explaining to do!"

"What do you mean? I already warned you that his friends might be with him and they are also strong!" Jaza retorted. "You should have immediately recognized them!"

"Nonsense! You said that we should not worry about them!" Melos argued back.

"Not my fault! I warned you that Cyziel was also skilled! And how would I know that intermedis who are ranked within top 100 could not even beat a freshmen! "

"Are you saying that we are weak?" Melos furiously stared at Jaza.

"I'm saying that Helar should have sent stronger--Gah!" Jaza groaned as he took 3 steps backwards before falling down the ground. Melos had suddenly punched him in the stomach.

"I still do not understand why Helar asked us to help some weakling like you!" Melos stared down at Jaza. "We might be here to help you but don't overestimate yourself. Stella! Remind me why do we need to help him?"

"He was defeated by that guy named Ortix. Even after ganging up on him 3 times, they still lost." Stella iterated.

"You understand the issue now? You literally are a loser who ran for help!" Melos tightly gripped his fist. "I really want to kill you right now. You know?" Melos then turned to Stella. "Stella! How do you evaluate that Cyziel?"

Stella suddenly shivered, looking at the unconscious Grinos. "He is abnormally talented in magic. He casted a silent spell so he is definitely above level 6 in magic rank for dark and fire essences. If I have to guess, his ability in magic might be level 7... No... He might be level 8 in rank."

"Are you exaggerating? That means he is as strong as the instructors or top maximas. He would be an adept mage." Bisak interjected. "What's more if he could use dark and fire at that level then he would be too strong!"

Jaza suddenly kept quiet. That's impossible! Someone like him is as strong or stronger than my brother?.... But If he really was level 8 then he really does have the ability to kill Tarak. Shit! Shit! If my brother knows of this then I am screwed but he is my only choice.

Melos also started to contemplate, he then activated his watch and checked for Cyziel's profile. "Magic 95? Rank 18 even when his other grades still is not available?" Melos then proceeded to check for Ortix and Vera's profile.

Rank 7

Name: Ortix (Profile not updated)

Race: (Profile not updated)

Planet of Origin: Daraksta

Energy Affinities: *Redacted* (Private Information)

If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

Elemental Sensitivity: *Redacted* (Private Information)

Combat Grade:88*

Magic Grade: 80*

Martial Grade: 95*

Technical Grade: N/A (Needs to take exams)

General Knowledge: N/A (Needs to take exams)

Mission Grading: S

Total Merit Points: *Redacted* (Private Information)

Remarks: *Redacted* (Private Information)

Rank 1

Name: Vera Rubiya

Race: Lucrim

Planet of Origin: Lucris

Energy Affinities: *Redacted* (Private Information)

Elemental Sensitivity: *Redacted* (Private Information)

Combat Grade:92*

Magic Grade: 93*

Martial Grade: 92*

Technical Grade: 90

General Knowledge: 95

Mission Grading: A

Total Merit Points: *Redacted* (Private Information)

Remarks: *Redacted* (Private Information)

"Jaza! Tell me who do you think is the strongest of the three?" Melos asked, finding the information quite misleading.

"Vera is really strong in magic... She just recently casted an imperfect level 6 spell though-"

"What? Why didn't you tell us that?" Stella shouted. "You are currently rank 14 aren't you? How are they much stronger than you?"

Jaza snorted. "Hmph! They are not much stronger than me! What about you? You haven't even reached level 6 in any element?"

"Shut up Jaza! Do you actually think that it is that easy to reach level 6? There is a reason that the level required for magic to graduate is only a 5 in particular element. Only top intermedis have reached that. As for level 7? Any intermedis who have reached that had already graduated. The only other people who reached level 7 are maximas who have been here for years and haven't graduated yet." Melos commented. "So you actually think Vera is the strongest?"

"No! Stop interrupting me. Let me finish. She might be good at magic but she would most likely lose against...Ortix." Jaza curled his fingers into a fist, anger flaring from his eyes.

"You're not trying to praise him so you won't look weak. Wouldn't you?" Bisak asked.

"Do you think that I would praise him?" Jaza scowled, smashing the ground with a hammer fist. "Its not as if that bastard is unbeatable. He is just too fast. As for Cyziel, I thought that he was the weakest but if he really can cast a level 8 spell then he might be the strongest."

"Might? Are you stupid? This is the reason you are in trouble!" Melos snickered, before furiously kicking him. "Are you only thinking with your fist? Do you think that the spell he used on Grinos is a joke? You literally put us all in trouble because of your stupid thinking! I'll definitely report this to Helar!"

"Hmph! My brother is a captain in Vile Brigands! Even Helar needs to respect me!" Jaza snorted, standing up from the ground. "You don't need to report me! I'll talk to him by myself!"

Jaza then went out of the infirmary. The remaining 3 who are awake continued to talk by themselves.

"So we are abandoning our task?" Bisak asked.

"It is already out of our abilities. Let the maximas deal with them." Melos replied.

"Wouldn't it be better if the Mundus group actually leave them alone? Lets tell Helar that this is too dangerous!" Stella shouted.

"You are right! Let us go! Jaza might start giving incomplete information again for his own goals. Why can't he at least try to bully those weaker than him! He even made enemies with monsters. Come Stella, we will meet with Helar!" Melos shouted. "Bisak, wait for Grinos to wake up."

--- Styrtan Cafeteria (Cyziel's Group) ---

"I'm sorry. I might have gone overboard" Cyziel sat back down, rubbing his forehead with his two hands. "I do not know what came to me but as soon as I felt angry, I just kept getting angrier."

"No! No! Its fine they definitely deserve it!" Ortix chuckled, tapping Cyziel's shoulder.

Volus shook his head. "I also do not care if you kill them but don't anger yourself with those kind of people.".

Ru wanted to reprimand the two. She does not agree with their reasoning. She thinks that it is too much to try to kill people and she also don't want them pushing those thoughts to Cyziel. She doesn't want him to become some merciless killer. Unfortunately, she was too scared to talk.

"No! That's wrong! You two should at least have stopped him!" Lucia shouted. "You literally just watched!"

Draka, Mary, Lily and Estelle immediately looked at her. It was quite a surprise for them. Lucia is not really the outspoken kind. She would always just be quiet. It was really unexpected that she was the one who would reprimand Cyziel even though a lot of them were also thinking the same.

"What did you say?" Ortix retorted, gripping at the wooden table causing a part of it to be squeezed. "Who do you think you are?"

"Stop! Don't fight!" Ru shouted.

"You think you are helping? You are just causing more problems!" Lucia stood up. "You kept on taunting them!"

"And what's the problem with that? I could handle them myself!" Ortix stood up, a dark aura started to form around him. Lucia is really starting to get on his nerves. "Do you also think that you are qualified to lecture us?"

"That's the problem! You didn't handle them yourself!" Lucia stared fiercely at Ortix. "What? You think just because you are stronger then you are right? What are you gonna do? Kill me?"

"Lucia! Stop!" Estelle pulled at Lucia's arms, scared that Ortix would attack.

"Lucia don't talk anymore!" Draka stood up, placing her arms in front of Lucia. "Ortix. We are not your enemies."

Ortix eyes suddenly turned blood red, ignoring Draka. The table below his hand was starting to cave in. "Is that what you want? Do you actually think that I am not capable?"

"Or--Ortix! Ple--please stop!" Ayri begged. Her hand in a praying position, shivering.

Ru pulled on Cyziel's shirt. "Stop them please!"

"Ort. Just stop. Its my fault." Cyziel softly muttered.

"No! She is disrespecting us!" Ortix shouted, staring down at Cyziel. "Let me teach her a lesson."

"She saved my life Ort. Just let her go." Cyziel said emotionlessly.

"Tsk! Don't tell me you actually care about her?" Ortix was suddenly covered by a dark shadow then the dark shadow became a black streak of light that disappeared from a distance.

"Vol." Cyziel called.

"I'll watch over him but-" Volus paused, looking at Cyziel, seemingly thinking of what he is about to say. "Just take care."

Cyziel nodded. "I'll speak with you guys later."

Volus then started to slowly vanish before he completely disappeared.

Draka looked around. "What are you all looking at? The show is finished. Go mind your own business." She then shouted at the people staring the whole time.

Lucia made a deep breath. She sat back down shaking. Tears were also falling from her eyes.

"Lucia! Are you okay?" Estelle asked.

Mary stood up and patted Lucia's back.

"I'm fine." Lucia smiled at Estelle and Mary. She was actually scared but her concerns overpowered her fear. With the pressure disappearing, she felt her piled up emotions being released.

"Don't cry Lucia! That Ortix has really have gone overboard!" Lily shouted. "I'll personally-"

"Stop it Lily! We are not his opponents and as I said, we should be a group here." Draka interjected.

"Draka is right. Do not forget that he helped us in the cave before." Lucia declared before furiously looking at Cyziel.

Cyziel currently has a conflicted face. Even when Ortix and Lucia were fighting, it was as if he was not himself. He was just staring blankly at the table.

"Can't you have stopped them earlier?" Rika asked. "Did you really need to wait for us to beg?"

Jorak nodded his head but stayed silent.

"Stop it everyone." Vera then turned to Cyziel. "You are actually not fine. Are you? What really happened earlier?"

"I'm fine." Cyziel looked away.

"If you are not going to answer then," Vera then turned to Lucia. "Can you tell us what happened to him?"

Lucia bit her lips, staring at Cyziel. "Did you remember the twisted creature and the corrupted wildling we encountered?"

Vera, Jorak and Draka frowned. Of course, they haven't forgotten about it. It only happened a few days ago. What they saw on those few days were something very hard to forget. The creatures. The places. The mysteries. Everyone of it was embedded in their brain. They haven't talked about it for a while but it was always in their mind.

As for the rest, they also have heard the stories from their respective groupmates so they were immediately alerted and intrigued by the question.

"Why? What does it have to do with it?" Vera asked.

Lucia moved her head near the center of the table. "He almost transformed similar to those." She muttered.

"What?" Almost everyone reacted. Even Cyziel who was quietly looking away became restive.

"What are you saying? You didn't tell me that before!" Cyziel fearfully said.

"I didn't want you to worry so much!" Lucia shouted. "I'm sorry." She murmured.

"So do you think that you are corrupted by that evil energy?" Jorak asked.

"I don't know. It is just another type of energy! It shouldn't have a mind of its own!" Cyziel shouted. He was getting more confused. He tried to feel his magicus. It was still there but he didn't dare to try to use or probe that abyssal energy again.

"Cyziel. Calm down. We just talked about this earlier." Lucia reminded Cyziel.

Cyziel closed his eyes then raised his head. He then breathed in and out. He didn't talk and so did the rest. There was a long silence in their table. When Cyziel opened his eyes, he smiled. It was as if he was finally back.

Cyziel looked at Lucia. "Yeah. I'll definitely understand whatever this energy is and try to master it. I'll look forward to your help."

"Is there something that we can also do to help?" Ru worriedly asked.

Cyziel scratched his head. "Well... I can't get too angry so you should protect me from annoying people!" Cyziel chuckled.

"Hmph! I can do that but you also can't be too happy." Vera jested.

"Then you all shouldn't be too kind to me!" Cyziel cracked back.

"I know I shouldn't be asking this right now but would your friend Ortix not be a danger to us?" Draka asked.

Cyziel sighed. "Its my fault. I apologize again but don't worry that much, he is not mindless. I'll make sure to talk with him but-" Cyziel turned to Lucia. "Please avoid angering him, specially when I am not here." He then looked at the opposite corner of the table where Ayri and Talas are located. "Talas, you should understand what I am saying."

Talas shivered. "Uhh.. Yeah.. He could be a bit vicious."

"What are you saying! He saved us from Jaza!" Ayri argued.

Cyziel smiled. "I wish that all of you could actually make friends with him but for now-" Cyziel's face then turned grim. "Avoid making conflicts with him. It would be better to surrender immediately than try to fight him. He is violent. He could kill ruthlessly."

"Then where do you think he is going with that blood thirsty aura of his?" Lucia seriously asked as if she was hinting at something.

"He would probably try to release some ten-- Shit! He might actually go for them!" Cyziel shook his head. "I just wish that Volus could at least reason with him on time."

"Are you saying that he would personally attack them all by himself?" Jorak asked.

"Most likely. He might have gotten worked up after Lucia reprimanded him." Cyziel chuckled.

"Hey! This is serious! He might actually kill someone!" Ru shouted. "Are you not gonna go after them?"

Should I really stop him? Ughh! I guess it would be too much of a problem if he killed someone. Cyziel sighed. "Well! We have been staying here too long and we have attracted too much attention. A change of venue won't hurt. Okay. I'll go after him."