Seena led Leon to a canteen and offered him anything he desired to eat first.

Leon rejected the offer, but Seena ordered for him either way.

"Rejoice, junior!" Seena suddenly announced.

She smirked confidently, placing a hand on her hip.

"After seeing your outstanding performance, I, Seena, the president of the Disciplinary Committee, will offer you a position among us."

Yoru seating beside her, clapped her hands twice. Clap. Clap.

"Congrats."

'I already know this,' Leon thought.

If he looked at the brighter side, joining the Disciplinary Committee was a great honor. It meant holding real authority in the academy, maintaining order between students regardless of year or rank. But Leon was already juggling enough.

Twilight Order, the research group under Esther, and his own goals. He had no interest in piling more weight on himself.

'Even Eula didn't join…' Leon thought.

"Thanks for the offer," Leon said flatly, "but I have to politely reject."

The confident smile on Seena's face faltered for the first time. She clearly hadn't expected that. No one ever said no to this offer before.

"Wait…" She pinched her forehead and sighed. "I think you misspoke."

Leon didn't even blink. "No, I said, I'm not interested."

"Huh?" Seena turned her head toward Yoru. "Lilly, did you hear this guy?"

Yoru nodded without hesitation. "He said he's not intereste—"

"I heard that." Seena snapped back.

She looked at Leon properly this time, meeting his eyes.

"Hey, Leon. Do you even know what you're missing? Even your elder brother applied multiple times and got rejected each time. Just think about it one more—"

"No, Miss Seena. I already thought," Leon interrupted calmly. "You see, as a scholar, I just signed a research club contract with Professor Esther. So I won't even get the time, even if I join. I'm sorry, but I have to reject this opportunity."

Seena blinked. Then clicked her tongue softly.

"Professor Esther? Damn, she was quick."

Leon's eye twitched slightly.

"Can't I change your mind?" she asked politely.

Leon gave her a side glance. "I'm sorry."

Seena puffed her cheeks for a second but let it go, crossing her arms.

"Tch. Fine. But if you change your mind, the door's open."

Leon nodded.

He doesn't want to act all arogant and rude to her by not even listening to her first. That's why he agreed to come here.

Then, as Seena stared at the other side, he made a subtle gesture toward Yoru. Yoru's eyes flicked in acknowledgement.

'Perfect.'8 the treat, but I have a class now."

Seena nodded.

Leon turned to leave.

'Shit, I'm late.'

He doesn't want to miss all of his classes. Rank 02 or not, it wouldn't leave a good impression.

He quickened his steps toward the classroom building.

[At the same time]

Headmaster's Office, Eclipse Institute.

Raizen sat alone in his chair, tapping his finger on his desk.

His eyes looked dull.

"Haaah… What's the point of bothering me now?" he muttered as if he had given up on something.

From under the desk, he took out a brown envelope that was sealed with a spell.

Raizen placed it flat on his desk and marked a pattern on the envelope. As soon as he did that, the envelope cover dissolved, and only two pieces of paper were left on the desk.

He picked it up and read the first line.

[Investigation Report]

It was a report on the recent investigation regarding Twilight Order and their involvement in several cases.

Raizen flipped the page and fully read the content.

Twilight Order had created a name for themselves in such a short period of time. For the last couple of years, there wasn't a single incident left without their involvement, either directly or indirectly.

It was as if they knew about these events beforehand.

The report in his hand raised an important question.

"How do they get intel from…?" Raizen muttered.

Indeed, it was concerning. Among all the cases, there were cases that were supposed to be national secrets. But they still had intel on them.

"It's as if someone from inside leaked it…"

And by inside, he meant someone from the Royal Gathering.

Raizen understood what the Authority was trying to point out.

According to them, there was a traitor inside the Royal Gathering.

Because only the king and his close allies and ministers were aware of these cases.

'No wonder the palace is in chaos…' Raizen sneered and then hardened his expression.

He was actually enjoying all of this. Because of Twilight Order targeting most of the criminals inside the capital, a few of the ministers were also on their hit list.

Whoever the leader was, they knew what they were doing.

Their movements were almost perfect. Too perfect for even the top members of the Authority to catch.

"Hm?"

Raizen's eyes fell on the last few lines in the report.

[After further investigation, it has been found that the involvement of Twilight Order with the internal affairs of the kingdom began after the winter of year 1024]

"Isn't this… too recent?"

Raizen stood up from his chair. Leaving the paper on the desk, he walked around his office.

"This is right after the incident…" he thought out loud. "After the first princess died."

Is there some connection to it?

The first princess was known as the rebellious one among the others. She had many followers. As the first princess and the heir to the throne, she had implied a few of her own laws. Which were not liked by some of the ministers who were in power at that time.

They opposed her and her ideals. But she, being the stubborn lady she was, held her ground.

During her time, she changed a lot of things. And none even dared to oppose her after that. Not because she was the first princess, but because one of her closest friends had become the Calamity Tower Head.

That woman was Veronica.

The first princess and Veronica had changed the course of Eclipse's history during their time.

They were unstoppable.

Her death had shocked the entire royal family. The official reason given was mana core overload. It was said she had pushed herself too much.

"Maybe there's more to it…" Raizen muttered. Then he shook his head. "No… I must be overthinking."

Glancing outside the window, he walked to his desk and looked down at the academy's grounds. A few students were walking in groups, some alone, some with friends. Just like them, once the first princess and the Blood Tower Head were students here at Eclipse.

That was the peak era of Eclipse. He saw them grow. He saw how far they went.

Raizen slowly returned to his desk. From the stack of folders, he pulled out two particular ones.

It was the summary detail of Class Allotment results and a report based on their Astral Tale Library data.

On the cover page of both, two individual names were written.

[Ethan Grave]

[Leon Valentine]

Raizen traced his finger on Leon's name and bit his lip.

He had already made his decision.

"I won't let it happen again," he whispered.

With a soft voice, Raizen cast a voiceless incantation.

The folder with Leon's name burned away to ash in a second, leaving not a single trace.

He will forge his report. He had to, if he wanted to keep him away from all this mess. After all, Leon had truthfully revealed his unique skill to him.

Raizen already knew when he saw his Astral recording that he possessed such a skill.

Leon had shared his skill with him; he admitted that he possessed a power beyond human comprehension.

A power to claim any skill as his own.

Raizen smiled briefly.

"That boy even played me to get my skill…"

He was cunning.

Raizen doesn't know the limitations of his skill, but he can guarantee that Leon will create a name for himself in the future.

'Maybe he will surpass Veronica….'

On the other hand, Ethan was different. The king himself stood behind him.

But the boy Leon had no such backing. Sure, his elder sister could protect him, but she was not here at the academy. So it was his duty to do his role.

"It's too soon…" he muttered.

The world shall not know about Leon's skill.

If they do, then he will become nothing more than a tool.

— — —

Standing behind the classroom door, Leon could hear the murmur inside.

But it wasn't the regular murmur from students. It was from someone lecturing the class.

'I was five minutes late…'

Leon, standing there, cursed his fate. And Seena.

Even though he was a research scholar who was given some perks, he hated missing class.

"Yeah, not happening."

He made a choice. No matter what, he would attend the class even if it was midway.

Without any shame, he pushed open the door.

Clank—!

"..."

The lecture stopped, and all eyes turned to the door. On Leon.

Silence.

Leon glanced at the professor first. He was an old man with a white beard and a bald head.

"Mr. Valentine?" said Professor Theo, the instructor for Class S 'Basic Alchemy.' "Why are you late… again?"

Leon, standing at the door, apologized in a calm tone.

"Apologies, Professor Theo. I was occupied with Professor Esther."

He didn't lie. It was true she was the one who called him. No need to mention that he went to the cafeteria with Seena.

"Ah… Professor Esther? Alright, understandable. Take your seat."

"Thank you, professor."

After saying that, he walked straight to his desk at the back.

Climbing the steps leading to his seat, Leon noticed a particular face present here for the very first time.

Alice Nightson. She was sitting in the second-to-last row all alone, with a pencil balanced between her nose and lips.

"..."

"..."

Their eyes met.

Alice, after seeing him, simply raised her hand as if saying 'Yo.'

She even shifted sideways, giving space for him to sit beside her. She patted the seat next to her.

Leon's eye twitched.

'Is she crazy?' Leon thought.

Everyone around her noticed this small gesture between them.

The girls on the left whispered something into each other's ears.

After the rose flower rumor, this was not a great move for Alice.

Leon glanced to the back, toward Ethan.

As usual, the seat beside him was empty.

Ethan glanced back at Leon, raised his hand, and quietly said, "Yo."

'My bro.'

Leon almost smiled.

'At least he doesn't try to make it weird.'

Without even sparing Alice another glance, he walked straight to Ethan's side and took the seat.

He could already imagine Alice's reaction later.

'Yeah, I'll probably get cursed to death after class,' Leon thought. 'Better make a run for it when the bell rings.'

He leaned back in his chair, pretending he didn't just walk past an active landmine.

.

.

[AN: support with PS and GT]

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