Conall stared at the eyes that turned fully blue. Small magic circles appeared on her irises while the mana in the air visibly halted, blue clusters forming around them before scattering away. Every piece of equipment that was running in the lab started failing.

The person herself, responsible for the actions, wasn’t affected by the effects. Instead, it was like she was sucking the ability to control mana from the things around for herself, judging by the perfect magic circles coming out of her hands.

‘Ah, her excitement is running wild.’

Conall noted down as he looked at her expectant gaze. The academy wasn't the place she believed she would first meet her kind. No, rather, it was probably the last one. Yet, it was as though fate clashed their destinies together, making him come to her.

Since the mana was in havoc, he easily untied himself from the straps of the chair before coming up to the witch. With a simple statement, he caused her eyes falter for a second before becoming normal. If he prolonged it any longer, it could become quite a mess.

“Miss Silvana, are you ready to reveal it?”

Like on a command, she stopped. The circles around her hands dimmed out before disintegrating into the air. The lab was also back up again.

“H-how did you?”

She was speechless because she knew exactly what he was talking about. Her state of almost pure mana control from the result of her long-lived curse.

Then, she got enraged. The secret she was hiding for more than thirty years got found out just like that? If he knew, how many others were also aware? Who told him? Was it her master who revealed it?

Her hysteria was something Conall expected, though not on such a large scale. She was always prone to releasing her hidden emotions when it came to her person, but the idea of such a weak, random person knowing must have ignited her anger. After all, if he knew, how couldn’t someone much stronger than him?

“How do you know!?”

Countless questions filled her mind as her breath staggered, getting rougher with each second she thought about it.

Fiercer than before, the mana around her completely collapsed, the area becoming void of it. Her eyes glowed blue while countless circles appeared behind her back. She was ready to kill the foe in front of her.

Suddenly, however, in the fit of rage that left her almost blind, she felt something touch against her shoulder. Silvana looked at the arm stretched out towards her before glancing up. A red-haired boy was giving her a warm smile. His yellow eyes showed no danger or threat, something she had only seen once in her entire life.

“I’m not here to hurt you.”

Hearing him speak, strangely, her body listened on its own, soon calming down.

The flickering lights above them lit up again while she apologized.

“I’m sorry. It all happened so suddenly I just couldn’t control it.”

She was abashed. Completely unlike her, she wanted to hide in a hole and never leave it, especially after showing such a side to one of her students. She wanted to fly away into the clouds from the embarrassment she was feeling right now.

Nonetheless, she asked the thing that bothered her. His knowledge of her calamity status.

“How did you know? No one here should be able to tell. Especially not a random student like you.”

“A good friend of mine told me. But don’t worry, he’s also a great friend of yours.”

With a light smile, he spoke directly to her face. Yet, his answer left her further confused. Was there even someone like that? A whirpoll of different emotions stirred inside the witch. From wrath to befuddlement, she probably experienced more emotions than over the period of a couple last decades.

“You don’t need to know for now. I will tell you eventually, but right now is not a good time. This is only our second meeting. Let’s just go back to what we were doing.”

Taking his hands off her shoulders, he left her to wonder over the matter.

“If you say that, then let’s have a friendly talk. I need to know something. And it won’t be related to me, that side of me, at least.”

After a brief period of silence, she finally broke it, to which her student obliged, bewildered.

Conall stared at her walking around the lab, confused.

‘What is she doing now?’

Watching as she corrected her witch hat, she suddenly pointed at him, specifically his torso.

“I think you should fix that. We can’t go out like this.”

‘Go out?’

He muttered inwardly before glancing down at his jacket, split in two. He wondered how that happened, but seeing the remains of a magic circle on his stomach, Conall could easily guess the culprit.

Nonetheless, he wondered what suddenly got to her. Was she ever the type to go out to the capital? Not really, she usually stayed in her lab. At the same time, he wondered if he ever actually got to truly know her inside the game.

As he laid out new clothes from his inventory ring, Conall quickly put them on. Ready in less than a minute, he stopped moving after seeing the Professor staring at him blankly.

“Is something wrong?”

“Hmm? No, let’s just go.”

With a plain voice, she started moving in front of him, already opening the doors.

The two, oblivious to the dean searching for the lightly, but still elegantly dressed boy, went on their way, swiftly leaving the academy grounds.

After a while of walking through somewhat large crowds of the bourgeois streets, they finally arrived, Silvana guiding him.

Silverose’s teahouse. Decorated with exotic wood coming all the way from the land of elves, they boasted a high variety of luxurious and quality teas, as well as respect for privacy.

After a while, Conall found himself in an enclosed room, with just the two of them. Placing their orders for two mana-soothing teas, they watched as the cups suddenly appeared on their table when two minutes passed.

Taking the white cup with a silver rose on it, he sipped on the yellow-orange tea, immediately feeling its effect, despite having no core.

“Do you like it?”

As he enjoyed the floral taste engulfing his tongue, sitting on the soft cushions of the room, Silvana asked while watching him calmly.

“I do. I didn’t expect it to taste this good.”

“It’s my favorite. I always drink it when nothing in my lab works out.”

“Do you come here often? They treated you like their most treasured customer at the entrance.”

“The owner of this place is my friend from the Witch Tower.”

Like her usual self, she talked without emotions in her voice. Though Conall knew that wasn’t really the case. Just now, he saw sadness flashing through her eyes. But, he came here for these exact reasons.

“Professor, you asked how I’m still alive at the academy, right? What did you mean by that?”

She looked directly into his eyes, recalling the excitement she felt during their tests. Although she did want to test his reaction to foreign mana, she also wanted to check for his regeneration. A specific trait of regeneration, only found in the giants, blood purification. So, she altered the test slightly.

“Yes, can you tell me how you survived? Even though you have a human body, you’re also a giant. Were there giants that survived the extermination and mixed blood with humans?”

“I don’t know. Truthfully, I’m only a human. However, I do have the heart of a giant.”

Hearing the first half of his reply, something died down inside of her. The hope that she held onto for the last few decades was suddenly washed off. However, in the same sentence, said hope started to smolder yet again.

“What do you mean?”

“I received the heart of a giant, so I guess that could make me a human half-giant? I don't really have an idea. After all, the composition of my body changed when it was transplanted, and a giant’s blood is flowing through it.”

It was as though her eyes glowed slightly, a meager smile appearing on her lips. Still, it wasn't long before the expression went back to normal. However, the emotion inside her voice couldn't be denied.

“I see. All this time, I wasn’t able to find any trope, yet you came to me."

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

She stopped for a second, hesitating a bit. In the end, she muttered the words she thought would never be able to come out of her.

"You see, I’m also a half-giant. It’s only fair to be honest if you were too, right?”

Silvana confessed one of her deepest secrets. Though it might have been wrong to do so, after all, they didn’t really know each other, Conall somehow felt deeply familiar to her. She felt it especially after he came to be treated by her earlier in the day.

She didn’t understand what it was she was feeling, but she categorized it as a form of happiness. Knowing that she wasn’t the only one of her kind left in this world brought her calmness she couldn’t get for many years that passed. Because that meant they might still be somewhere.

But, when she looked at his face, the look in her eyes was quickly wiped off. He looked conflicted, guilty almost. At the same time, his eyes screamed of wanting to apologize to her.

“I already knew. That man also told me about that side of you.”

Her eyes cleared up. Once again, he was speaking about that man. A ‘dear’ friend of hers she had no idea existed. As much as her curiosity was eating her up to know about it, she understood his reasons for objection.

“Was that the reason you came to my class?”

Her eyes slowly lost their shine, to which he quickly revealed the truth. He didn’t want her to think he had any ulterior motives towards her.

“No. I acquired the heart after I enlisted in your class after we first met.”

Feeling the mana saying he was speaking the truth, the lost shine came back to her eyes, a meager smile appearing with the hems of her lips.

“Then, it doesn’t matter. I’m just happy we can share the burdens of our race together, though you still have to fully become, but I don’t think it will take long. Right, it won’t.”

“Hmm? What is it?”

Her brows suddenly furrowed when she stopped talking, though only slightly, since she never used those facial muscles.

“Ah, no, I was just thinking about something. Actually, Conall, do you think you can help me with a request from the dean?”

A hidden quest, he already thought to himself. He really needed to abandon that mindset. His relationship with Silvana was already different than in the game. There, he had to spend many lessons with her to acquire a chance at a friendship.

Nonetheless, he quickly complied.

“I can, but it depends on what it is.”

“Do you remember that big bone in the middle of my lab?”

“The one in the vitae? What of it, professor?.”

Silvana nodded before explaining.

“It’s a femur of a giant, though currently, it’s just a hollow bone. I acquired it on my journey to find traces of giants, as a mission from the dean.”

As Conall recalled, there was something like that, though she never went on another one after finding that bone. She succeeded in reviving the functions of the bone, but, before she could grant it to the dean, Ogulu along with the goldens captured the femur.

“Dean Lurius is facing a problem. His youngest daughter was born with damaged mana veins, and as you know, normal means can’t regenerate such delicate material, even the best healing potions. The only thing that might stand a chance is the Elixir of Life, but that is only found in the legends.”

“So, are you insinuating that giants are able to regenerate their mana veins? How would the femur come in place then?”

“Because of the potent blood. The dean wants to concoct a potion using a giant’s blood as the main component. Using the femur bone, I at first wanted to make it come alive to produce the blood, however, you appeared.”

“I can understand everything and am willing to supply the blood, but couldn’t you have provided it?”

To answer his curiosity, she shook her head.

“I already talked about it with the dean. I revealed the secret to him, but what he needed was male blood. Female giants regenerate faster, but male ones can regenerate deeper injuries. Besides, we tried to make one potion, but it didn’t have any effects.”

“I see. If I can help the two of you, I’m willing to suffer some blood loss.”

“Thank you, Conall. I promise you I will allow you to have a mana core in the future.”

“Take as much time as you need, professor.”

He took another sip, though what followed after caught him by surprise. Thankfully, the liquid didn’t travel down the wrong hole.

“Silvana. If we’re meant to work more together from now on, you should call me by my name.”

‘This is going to be hard.’

He always referred to her as the genius professor. He didn’t expect this.

“Silvana, does that sound good?”

With a slight nod of her head, she also started drinking her tea again.

After talking some more about their next experiments and drinking tea, they finally left the building. On the way back to the academy, there was a slight, nudging feeling he was constantly experiencing. As though somebody was watching him from afar.

Yet, no matter where the feeling came from, he couldn’t see the person there.

It was definitely eerie, but it stopped as soon as he entered the academy. Parting his ways with Silvana, he entered his dorms a few minutes later.

“Hmm?”

…

“Why haven’t you come to the arena?”

He stared at the stern-looking dean. Sitting right in front of him, he finally noticed just how tall this man was.

‘Silvana, are you sure this guy doesn’t just want to become a giant?’

Though he thought that, he knew that wasn’t the case. Not only did Silvana trust him, but the dean openly opposed the Heavenly Order.

“I wouldn’t make it. I went to Professor Silvana to heal myself. Though, I also didn’t want the first-place reward.”

Lurius looked confused. Going to Silvana to heal himself was bizarre, but he didn’t question it. However, not wanting a gate-opening pill was completely different.

People were able to kill one another for such a treasure.

“You know it doesn’t change the stat quality, right?”

“I know, I just don’t want it. Instead, I want something else.”

Lurius looked at the youth with a questioning gaze, but with a sigh, he complied.

“Fine, what do you want?”

“The ticket to the Kreon Dungeon.”

Lurius stared at him directly, with a blank face. As his mouth started to move, Conall intervened.

“Headmaster, before you say no, I’d like to add something.”

Taking out his handy dagger, he pricked his finger and a droplet of blood quickly appeared. He looked at the student with a doubtful face.

“What is this?”

He asked while taking the dagger Conall handed him. Smeared on the tip of it, there was the same drop of blood.

“I will help you if you give me the ticket.”

Lurius snorted at his statement, however, once he inspected the blood with his mana sense, his eyes dropped in disbelief, looking at the boy in front of him with bewilderment.

“The blood of a giant.”

He muttered while taking a close look at the red blood with a golden shine to it.

“Did Silvana tell you?”

There was no anger in his voice, despite the close secret he kept with her. No, rather, he was excited to see development in his daughter’s treatment. Seeing the boy nod, he also nodded.

“I see. Can I ask if you’re a descendant or?”

“I acquired the heart from a giant.”

“Acquired? From where? Have you found the land they could have gone to?”

The dean waited for a certain reply, but Conall had to disappoint him.

“No, it’s a bit different than that. I guess I could say I got it from the Giant of Trials.”

Lurius’s eyes widened as he heard him. They almost shook from the astonishment he felt.

“You found Harmis? And he gave you a trial for a heart?”

“Yes, although it was a bit hard, I won it in the end, allowing me to gain the heart of a soldier giant.”

He had to lie. It was easier than explaining he had received a divine heart. Besides, it wasn’t safe, even if Silvana trusted him.

“Now, I can’t let you delve into the dungeon even more. It’s a Grade B dungeon. You will die before you reach the first enemy. I can’t let a golden goose like you perish that way.”

“I have to go there. There is a treasure there that I need.”

“What is it? I can send someone to bring it for you instead of the ticket.”

“It won’t work, you have to be there in person.”

“What are you talking about? There is no such treasure.”

“That’s because you haven’t fully searched through the dungeon. Besides, the treasure is only for people below Grade B.”

“Are the older years playing a prank on you?”

The dean looked at him suspiciously. How would a weak student like him know of secrets that even he didn't? He wasn’t allowed to enter a dungeon lower than his grade, but he would still know because of the position he held.

Suddenly, the dean worried that the trial might have impacted Conall’s psyche.

With exasperation, the student looked at the headmaster. Somehow, he knew whatever that platinum head was thinking.

“I’m not crazy, as ridiculous as that may sound. Please, headmaster, just trust me. I won’t be going there to conquer it.”

“Do you even have the party necessary for it?”

“No, but I will be asking Silvana to accompany me.”

After a minute of silence and staring at the ceiling of his office, the dean finally agreed.

“Fine, but we have to come to terms first. I won’t give you the ticket unless two conditions happen. One, you go to Silvana each day to extract blood, just until my daughter is cured. Two, you reach the point of opening the first gates.”

“Alright.”

Shaking their hands, they came to an agreement. Truthfully, Conall didn’t expect any less. In fact, acquiring the ticket while being in Grade C was so hard he only went there about fifty times. The others were all from when he was in Grade B.

The fact that he knew of the dean's secret allowed his chances of success to skyrocket. He would have to thank Silvana another time.

“What do you want to do with your points?”

The dean suddenly asked.

‘Right, I forgot.’

“Can I exchange them for points at the guild?”

“Yes, it’s a ratio of one to ten, so you will gain 3,000 guild points.”

“That’s great. Thank you, headmaster. I will take my leave now.”

“It should be me who’s thanking you. When she’s cured, I will make sure you meet her. She will gladly thank the one that healed her.”

With a light smile, Conall turned back to him.

“It would also be my pleasure to meet your progeny, Headmaster.”