Year 348 of the Great Sundering Era, 2nd Month, 25th Day of the Astral Reflux Cycle.
The Netherwave Communion and its associated festival were rooted in an ancient myth passed down for thousands of years. According to the myth, the celestial bodies adorning the firmament were not just distant stars and planets but reflections of departed souls. Each twinkling light represented a person's essence, and the vast expanse of the night sky was the river ferrying them to the afterlife.
Whenever a prominent ruler, general, or leader had passed from the mortal realm, it was said that the heavens shimmered with the brilliance of their soul's journey. This phenomenon marked the Netherwave Communion, a time when it is said the boundary between the mortal world and the afterlife becomes thin, allowing people to gaze upon the stars with total clarity.
As for whether the myth held any truth, Magnus couldn't say for certain. In any case, now that the Netherwave Communion had passed, Magnus woke up knowing that today was the day Luden had set for their faction meeting.
"Did he seriously just tell us to wait out here? He didn’t give us a time we were supposed to meet or anything?" Syrna glanced at her brother, who was to her right. The two of them were standing in the main hall of the dormitory building. They had been waiting there for nearly twenty minutes now.
"Yes, he said we simply had to wait here for Cain to arrive and lead him to the meeting area," Sylas replied.
"Hmm, well, if I’m being honest, I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn't show up at all. I mean, after he fought us, it was like he vanished from the academy completely. I couldn't find him no matter where I looked, and no one supposedly saw him either." Ever since they lost last time, both of the twins have been itching for a rematch.
But, since Magnus never bothered to put on the mask outside of when Luden needed him, they never managed to get one.
"It’s fine; we’re probably all in the same year. As long as we advance through the Live Examination, I’m sure we’ll get a chance to fight him again eventually, even if we are in the same faction." As the two twins continued to talk to one another, with Syrna mostly complaining, eventually the person they were waiting for arrived.
They spotted him the moment he walked into the hall, even amongst all the other students, thanks to his mask, and it seemed he had spotted them as well, as he made his way over to them.
"Finally, I was starting to think you were going to sleep in," Syrna said while grinning at Cain. If there was one word to describe how she looked at him, it would be like a child looking at a new toy. It was obvious that she couldn’t wait to fight him again.
"Luden sent us to take you to where our faction is meeting up." Hearing the reason for their visit, Cain nodded lightly before replying.
"Lead the way."
"Bah, you're way too stolid," Syrna said after seeing Cain had completely ignored her comment on him sleeping in. Still, now that they were all together, there was no reason for them to wait around. The three of them left the dorm building and started to make their way to the main academy building.
As they walked, there were occasional whispers and hostile gazes shot toward the group, some of which were directed at the twins, but a lot of it was toward Cain. At this point, almost every important faction and their members were known to one another, and that of course included Luden’s Faction.
"Hey, isn't that him? The masked Apprentice-level mage who managed to beat two Apprentice-level knights," a student whispered to his friend on the bench beside him. Hearing the comment, the friend looked up from the book he was reading to see who the student was referring to, then shook his head.
"Huh? Don't be stupid. Do you really believe that rumor? There's no way an Apprentice-level mage could take on two Apprentice-level knights at the same time. Even Pseudo-Adepts would probably struggle to do something like that," he replied skeptically. Despite Luden spreading the story around, there were still plenty of doubters.
After all, most of the Mage Division students in the first year were still at most Pseudo-Apprentice level, excelling in only one or two of the three key areas: mana reserves, magical knowledge, and mana control.
Genuine Apprentice-level mages were already rare, especially among first-year students. They were seen as real geniuses who definitely had a promising future. As for Pseudo-Adepts, they were even harder to come by, and only the top talent from extremely well-known mage families was considered to have the ability to reach that level.
So, in this place already filled with the geniuses of each noble family, what were the chances that Cain, someone no one had ever heard of before, would be one of them? That was a question many factions, including Luden's own, asked.
It didn't take long for the twins, along with Cain, to arrive at the main academy building, with the group making their way up to the 4th Floor. When they arrived, the familiar sight of long, interconnected hallways and rows of wooden doors came into view, with Syrna letting out an annoyed sigh.
"I still don't understand why they made every door look exactly the same. They could have at least numbered them," Syrna complained as she led the way. Despite finding the identical doors annoying, she seemed to know exactly where she was going, leading them to a specific door several hallways away from the stairs that led to the 4th Floor.
Without hesitation, she grasped the door handle and swung it open, striding in with Sylas and Cain trailing behind her. As they stepped into the chamber, they were greeted by a sight that differed from the usual rooms found behind the wooden doors on the 4th Floor.
It was clear that this chamber had undergone some changes.
A finely crafted carpet adorned the stone flooring, while bookshelves lined the walls. The dull lighting had vanished, replaced by the warm glow of lanterns hanging from the ceiling. It felt as though every detail had been meticulously arranged, from the seating areas and tables perfect for quiet reading to the open spaces designed for active training.
The chamber had been completely transformed into a lounge, and sitting in waiting were, surprisingly, all familiar faces.
“Hmm?” Luden glanced up from the book he held open with one hand, spotting the twins entering the room along with the masked figure behind them.
“Ah, you’ve finally arrived,” he remarked as he closed the book, drawing everyone's attention to the newcomers. Among them was Blair, whose gaze immediately fixated on Cain.
Rising from his seat, Luden walked to the front of the chamber, motioning for the twins to take a seat as he positioned himself beside Cain, facing the others.
“I know we’ve already done introductions, but since Cain is meeting some of you for the first time, I think it's worth going around the room again,” Luden suggested, pausing briefly in case anyone objected, though no one did.
“Alright then. I’m sure you’ve all heard his name by now, but this is Cain. He was the first person to join my faction, so you could consider him your senior. While I’m sure you’re all curious about his real name and family background, I’ve agreed to keep that information private, along with his face, which was badly scarred in his childhood.”
Luden turned his attention to Blair, addressing him directly.
“Blair, since you were the most eager to meet Cain, how about you go first?” The twins exchanged a look, a hint of disgust flickering in their eyes, when they heard Blair's name, though they hid it almost right away.
“Sure, why not,” Blair agreed, rising from his seat to introduce himself.
“It’s a pleasure to finally put a face, or, I suppose I should say, a mask to the name. My name is Blair, and I am from the Reinholt Family. I won’t lie, you’re a little shorter than I had imagined, but that’s alright. If I’m being totally honest, I’m really interested in seeing what lies under that mask. But since Luden said your identity is to remain private, I’ll give up on that for now.”
There was something peculiar in Blair's tone and demeanor as he spoke to Cain. While Syrna might have shown excitement and the other’s intrigue, Blair's expression was entirely unreadable. It was as if he regarded Cain as an object rather than a person, his gaze seemingly passing through him.
Nevertheless, Luden continued, unfazed by the oddity, redirecting his attention to the next member scheduled to introduce themselves.
“Why don't we hear from you next, Seraline? You're our newest member,” Luden suggested, drawing everyone's attention to a maroon-haired girl seated in the corner of the chamber. As she rose to her feet, the unseen eyes behind Cain’s mask narrowed ever so slightly.
"Hello, my name is Seraline Sostenza. I hope we can work well together in the future." Her tone is formal and straight to the point. While some might label the way she introduced herself as a bit cold, it seemed more like a natural aspect of her personality than an intentional choice.
"Wow, that was truly enlightening," Blair remarked sarcastically from the side. However, Seraline paid no heed to his comment, instead turning her attention to Luden once she finished her introduction, who nodded in response. With that, Seraline settled back into her seat without saying another word.
“Please excuse Seraline if she comes off a bit traditional. The Sostenza family focuses on creating knights and has close ties to the military. Children raised by them often tend to be set in their ways. Additionally, Seraline recently left her previous faction, though her reasons remain her own to tell,” Luden explained.
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Though directed at Cain, his words felt as though they were meant for someone else entirely. Nevertheless, no one had a chance to dwell on it as Luden swiftly moved along.
“Now that introductions are done, let’s get to the meeting. As you all know, the Live Examination starts tomorrow. I don’t need to stress how crucial it is for everyone to perform their best, as it will determine our standing among the first-year students. At the same time, our faction is still growing, so there's no reason to overlook your safety. While the academy won't allow fatal injuries, severe wounds this early in the year will affect us all going forward,” Luden emphasized.
He glanced around the chamber to ensure everyone understood. Despite the church and mages having advanced healing methods, most still required time, and the quicker ones were too expensive, even for nobles like themselves. Therefore, getting injured to the point of being unable to participate in future exams or combat-intensive activities was unacceptable.
While a newly formed faction did need a strong start, stability was even more crucial.
“So we have to give it our all, but we have to avoid being too badly injured. In that case, what about our opponents?” Sylas raised the question.
“I’m glad you asked since that was the next topic of discussion. As it currently stands, our faction has come to an agreement with multiple other factions, including those led by Resir, Jalud, and Zilen, who can be considered potential threats. So, as long as we do not aim to heavily injure their members, they shall do the same to us, letting both sides avoid any complications,” Luden explained before pointing to the desk where a small stack of papers lay beneath the book he had been reading.
“As for who their members are, I’ve prepared lists of all of them, as well as summaries about their families and personal capabilities. Of course, this means anyone you don’t see on those lists is under no agreement with us, and you’re free to do as you see fit. The only factions we don’t have agreements with are those that aren’t worth any attention, or those who have actively turned down my attempts at being diplomatic.”
Hearing Luden’s explanations and reasoning, Sylas lowered his head, seeming to ponder something for a moment before speaking.
“Even if we haven’t made any deals with them, shouldn’t we still avoid heavy injury to our opponents, no matter who they are? Although it's a common rule that things that happen within the academy must be settled within the academy, I doubt there won’t be a few families deeply upset by their future generations being maimed.”
“Haha, don’t tell me you came to Takerth Academy without expecting there to be some newly formed hostility between families. It’s unavoidable that those students who are too weak to make it will have their families bare fangs in their stead. It’s simply a natural risk,” Blair said while looking over at the twins.
The way he spoke to Sylas seemed to tick off Syrna, who replied to him in a hostile tone.
“Don’t talk down to him. Of course, we know that, but it would be better to avoid it altogether if possible. If we can avoid troubling our families by lightening our blows, then why shouldn’t we?”
“You two are prattling about a possibility that doesn’t matter as long as we do our jobs properly and prove our positions during the examination. Even if the academy gives noble families leeway, they wouldn’t tolerate any family that attempts to influence other students' performance, even more so if they’ve proven to be talented. The only reason any of us should be worried is if the person in question is weak. I know I’m not, so what about you two?” Blair asked, tilting his head and sporting a smirk.
The comment on their strength made both twins tense up for a moment, their expressions darkening. While Sylas stayed quiet, Syrna didn't hesitate to fire back with a retort.
“Weak? Ha! You say that as if you would have a chance at winning a fight between us. We both know the only reason you’re even in this room is because of your family's lineage magic. The fact you’re acting as if anyone would even care about who you are without it is laughable!” Blair's smirk froze at the comment, then twisted into an irritated smirk.
“Hehe, big talk coming from the bitch who's lived in her brother's shadow her entire life. Tell me, how does it feel knowing that no matter what you do, you’ll be seen as an accessory to the actual heir of your family?” With those words, before even Syrna could react, Sylas, who had been silent up to this point, suddenly bolted to his feet from his chair and rushed at Blair.
At the same time, as if expecting the twins' reaction, Blair began to cast some form of magic in front of him. Seraline, who had been quiet and out of the way, immediately took action as well, seemingly attempting to stop the two of them from clashing. However, before anyone even took a step, a deep voice echoed through the chamber.
“Enough.” Shooting from the ground under their feet, the luminescence of mana, as black as tar, weaved together, condensing and wrapping itself into ropes, suddenly binding Sylas, Blair, and Seraline, their arms stuck to their sides.
“Ugh…” Sylas tried to move, but found that the ropes binding him were too strong. It felt as if he had suddenly been bolted down with steel rods. Even with his strength as an Apprentice-level knight, he couldn’t move an inch.
Beside him, both Blair and Seraline were equally confused, turning their attention to the black-cloaked man who had been sitting silently the entire time. He barely had his right hand raised, yet it was clear he was the one who had cast the spell holding them in place.
“What… but when did you-” Blair wanted to speak but was cut off as Cain spoke over him.
“He hasn’t finished speaking; sit down.” With a brief gesture, all three of them were forced back into their chairs violently as the rope-like tendrils of mana disappeared. Even Syrna, the only person who hadn’t been targeted by the magic, was in shock. From where she was sitting with her brother, she had a clear view of the entire room, yet she hadn’t noticed anything.
But how? Whether it be in gathering or during the casting stage, I didn’t notice him using any magic at all or even detect a ripple of mana before it was already launched. His casting speed is even faster than when he fought me and Sylas…
Of course, if Syrna had that thought, so did Sylas. He had fully intended to launch himself at Blair at top speed, yet Cain had still managed to stop not just him but all three of them. Besides those two, Seraline simply stared at Cain with a strange expression, her confusion replaced with another emotion entirely.
The only person in the room who didn’t seem to find the sudden turn of events strange was Luden, who had been silent since the twins and Blair started arguing. Standing there with a smile on his face, he turned his head and looked at Cain.
“Thank you, Cain. Now to focus on the concerns you two brought up. I’ve been in contact with my father, Lord Eldrin, and we’ve come to an agreement. After the Live Examination ends, the Rilhawk Family will personally show support to all your families to deter any potential backlash. Of course, if they still pursue beyond that, then we will deal with them… personally.”
No one in the chamber raised an issue with that statement or anything Luden said for the rest of the meeting, for that matter. Even though Blair and the twins still clearly didn’t like one another, it never made its way to anything verbal again, much less physical. Everyone seemed to be completely engrossed in their own thoughts.
Still, the entire meeting only lasted about an hour, and their full attention wasn’t really necessary, with Luden going over some basic things like the rules of the examination as well as more information about how it would be organized. The only other important tidbit was at the very end.
“And with that, I believe we can end today’s meeting. Make sure you look over the list of faction members and rest well. Remember, everyone's eyes will be on the Live Examination tomorrow, including the core members of the academy.” And with that, everyone was free to leave.
There was a strange atmosphere in the chamber, as even Blair only quietly, threw a glance in Cain’s direction before leaving through the door.
“Cain, would you mind staying behind for a moment?” Just as Cain was standing up to leave as well, Luden called out to him, causing the masked figure to pause before nodding. The twins and Seraline took notice of this but knew it was a private conversation, and soon only Cain and Luden were left in the chamber.
“You can take off the mask this time; it’s just us here,” Luden said. Hearing that, Cain reached for his mask and took it off, revealing the familiar face of Magnus underneath. He had a contemplative look on his face as he placed the mask down on a nearby table.
“So, what did you think of your new allies?” It was a question Magnus didn’t even need to think about before answering.
“You were right; it really is a game of egos. It’s hard to believe they’re all going to be running some great noble family in the future.” Magnus hadn’t been surprised by the behavior of the twins and Blair; he could tell there was an issue between the three of them the moment he stepped into the room.
However, he would be lying if he said he wasn’t disappointed.
“Even though Blair initiated things, it was obvious he was trying to get a rise out of the twins, and still, the two of them fell for it hook, line, and sinker. The worst part of it is that they both hit each other’s weak spots, to the point that neither of them were in control of their emotions when the pot finally boiled over.” As Magnus said that, he let out a sigh while shrugging his shoulders.
“I don’t know; maybe talking to you raised my expectations of nobles a bit too much without my noticing. In the end, the only one who really held it together was Seraline, which isn’t surprising considering how you said she was raised.” Casually pondering Magnus’s words for a moment, Luden took a few steps in a random direction before stopping.
"I agree; they have a lot of growing up to do. But that’s just another benefit of having future lords and ladies within your faction," Luden said with a smirk, causing Magnus to tilt his head in confusion.
"What do you mean?"
"No one benefits from incompetent partners, Magnus, unless you never planned for that partnership to last in the first place. They are young, yes; however, they are also moldable. Their foundations have yet to be set entirely in stone. As they stand now, they’re simply talented students, but under the right influence, they can be more." What Luden saw in them was not what they were now but instead their potential.
In his eyes, the most valuable thing a person could have was the potential to rise, the potential to grow, and the potential to change. That’s what he saw in all four members of his faction that had just left, and it was also what he saw in Magnus.
Magnus inquired, "So, I’m assuming that influence will be yours, right?"
To answer that question, Luden merely swayed his head back and forth in uncertainty.
"Hmm, perhaps. Whether it be the twins, Seraline, or Blair, they were all raised to be the best knights and mages they could, even before they entered the academy. But as it currently stands, you’ve influenced them a lot more than I have. You’ve just become a wall for them, or, I suppose I should say, Cain has." Luden’s gaze fell onto Magnus before slowly shifting to the mask sitting on the table next to him and continuing.
"They’ve met plenty of people stronger than them and know there are students more talented than them, yet this is the first time they’ve come face to face with it. A taste of what’s going to happen to them again at some point in the Live Examination.”
Almost everyone has heard the phrase, there’s always someone better than you, one way or another. It’s an easy phrase to accept since it’s only logical.
The chances that you would be the best at anything were incredibly slim. Yet despite that so-called acceptance, people would still get angry when they lost a game or sport against a better player. They would try again and again until their anger overcame their sense of logic. Yes, it was easy to accept the phrase. However, when that phrase is forcefully applied to you, when you are unable to advance because the ‘better’ has revealed itself, it triggers an entirely different desire than acceptance.
As such, Magnus, who had spent so much of his life gaming, knew what effect Luden was after.
"Well, I guess that’s what Cain is here for. The ever-loyal wall. Though, if we’re being honest, you could have easily become the wall yourself, considering you’re already at the Pseudo-Adept level," Magnus said, causing Luden to pause. He stared at Magnus with surprise in his eyes, though it vanished a moment later as he replied.
"You really are just a bundle of surprises, aren't you? But I suppose we should get to the real reason I asked you to stay behind. You want something from me again, don’t you?" Luden asked. But, to his surprise, Magnus's answer wasn't what he expected.
"Well, not exactly. Instead, I want to make a deal."