Ash sat on his bed with a grim expression on his face.
All the playfulness he displayed around campus, or the nonchalance he showed to Dustan were no longer present. This was his real face.
’I’ve finally made it this far.’ He thought to himself. ’But now, things will get exponentially more difficult.’
He thought about the Incident that would happen during the Exchange, and how it would forever shape the life of the students present.
’The students of the other Academies should have arrived already. If the tiline remains consistent with them, I should be seeing so very familiar faces and nas. That ans I can predict them, to an extent, but that also ans they’ll be difficult to handle.’
It was for this central reason that he decided to inject himself into the Exchange.
’I have to manage any unnecessary events, plus… with the main storyline in shambles, I have to ignore the main continuity and act in my best interests and the best interests of the protagonist.’
As for his other responsibilities in the Apprentice Wing, he could have Dustan handle them.
’In the next few days, all Akashic Academy participants of the Exchange will be transferred to a special dorm in the Expert Wing.’ He sighed. ’It ans I’ll be disconnected from Dustan, but it also ans Raven won’t be able to monitor as closely as he has been.’
After weighing all the pros and cons, a feeling began to swell up inside Ash.
’If only I had one more person… maybe Elma.’
He had been feeling it a lot lately, but those emotions had not been as evident as they were in this mont.
’It was only for a short while, but I miss her already.’ He smiled softly. ’We were such an efficient team when dealing with The White Death, and I can tell she’d be a lot useful in this incident.’
Ash began to wonder if he made a mistake by confronting her.
’Should I have left our relationship as it was? No… I’m sure she was also suspecting , so it’s better that I took the initiative.’
Did that an he had to sell her out, though?
’I may have been too impatient in my decision there. I wanted to get rid of Gerald, and I saw it as a perfect opportunity to rope in Dustan and also get rid of the potential threat known as Elma…’
There was no use wallowing in regret, though.
"Haa… What’s done is done." He clenched his fists and steeled himself for the hurdles that lay ahead.
’I just have to improvise.’
******
[The Next Day]
It was a very busy, but organized day in the Central Dining Hall.
The various Academies had their own large tables dedicated to them, capable of containing several of their own people. As such, the six tables in the room were divided equally amongst the three Academies present.
Delicious food and sweet drinks were presented elegantly on the tables, but no one was eating.
Instead, they kept their vision trapped on the small platform that served as a stage at the end of the room. It was where a certain man stood, alongside two individuals who served as his entourage.
"Greetings, everyone. My na is Charles Zellium, and I am the Vice Head of this prestigious Academy." The man began, his two hands placed behind him as he spoke with a friendly smile plastered on his youthful face.
He seed to be in his late thirties, absurdly young for a Vice Head.
With long brown hair, and regular brown eyes, he seed extrely ordinary—too ordinary to be considered an influential leader within the Academy. A monocle stood at the edge of his face, covering one of his eyes, but that did very little to add to his overall presence.
Fortunately, he had the Head of Student Affairs—Beatrice Lampshade—and the Special Head of Security—Raven Nightshade—as his entourage, so every single mber of the audience had to pay rapt attention to his words.
"I apologize for not coming to welco you yesterday, as I was otherwise occupied." He continued rather gently. "And, I also apologize for the absence of our Esteed Head of this Academy. She is yet to return from her most recent assignnt from the Emperor himself."
It was no secret that the Head of the Akashic Academy had been assigned to the North to support the Zephyr Household’s forces in their escalating fight against the Barbarian forces in the Northern Borders.
As such, everyone nodded in understanding.
"In her place, I welco you all instead." Vice Head, Charles Zellium declared.
Not everyone knew about this man, but for those who did, they weren’t surprised by his lack of domineering presence. After all, Charles was strictly an academic and was not an active Mage.
He was, at most, a Rank 5 Mage, but many believed him to be less.
Still, with the Head of Student Affairs and Special Head of Security—both of whom were Rank 9 Mages—standing right behind him, no one dared to disrespect him, or the Akashic Academy by extension.
"I would like to ask everyone how well they are settling in. Are your accommodations and als to your liking?"
He first turned to the Orion Sage Academy.
"You have been most generous in receiving us. Accommodations and als are exquisite and per specifications… thank you."
Charles Zellium nodded, clearly pleased by this.
"How about for you all?" He turned to the Asura Spirit Academy.
"We feel welcod by your generous efforts to receive us, but this also makes us all the more excited for the Exchange itself. Our fiery spirits burn brighter than ever, right everyone?"
"YEAHHHHHHHH!!!"
As one would expect from the Asura Spirit Academy, they let out a loud howl of excitent. Even their Supervisor was hot-blooded.
Of course, this still pleased Charles Zellium as he turned to face the final, most problematic school: The Nirvana Gate Academy
"I-It was very nice… t-thank y-you f-for—"
"It was smaller than I expected, but we can’t complain too much… since our Nirvana Gate Academy is several tis better than this place." The senior with long dark hair rose to his feet, interrupting the Supervisor.
He was clearly the strongest among his peers, and his presence was enough to suppress the older man who was ant to act as his chaperone.
"Well… it is good for your Academy that you think that way." Charles strained a smile. "I’m hoping you can show us so of this superiority in the Exchange."
"You bet we will!" The senior grinned wider.
"Very well. Now, it is to my understanding that so of you still wish to train during your stay here before the Exchange begins. A Training Hall has been created specifically for you all, and it is adjacent to your dorms. You can ask any of our several staff positioned in this Hall for directions."
Many students sighed with relief, clearly desiring not to miss their training schedule—whether due to the fear of getting rusty, or several other motivations.
"I am sure you have all been inford of the specifics, but the entirety of this week shall be dedicated to settling into the Academy as well as touring our grounds. Then, the next week will officially kickstart the Exchange."
Once again, excitent could be seen on the faces of everyone who listened.
"I deeply apologize that I have to leave now due to the work I have at hand, but my brief mont here has been enjoyable." Charles cited the usual words so he maintained an air of politeness. "You should all enjoy your als."
He turned to leave, with Beatrice and Raven trailing after him.
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