After my conversation with Byen, I headed to the cafeteria to eat. By the ti we finished talking, lunch break had already passed, leaving the vast space eerily quiet. Long wooden tables stretched across the room, their surfaces spotless and untouched, while sunlight stread in through the tall windows, illuminating floating dust particles in the air. Every student had already returned to their respective classes.
I was the only one left.
The silence felt heavier than expected. Usually, the cafeteria was filled with overlapping conversations, clattering plates, and the occasional laughter echoing off the stone walls. Now, all I could hear was the faint crackling of the hearth and the sound of my own footsteps as I approached the counter.
I ordered a simple al—beef stew and freshly baked bread—and took a seat near the window. Steam rose from the bowl as I picked up my spoon, but my appetite didn’t co from hunger alone. It was more like habit, sothing to ground myself after everything that had happened.
As I ate, my thoughts inevitably drifted back to Byen’s proposal.
Based on my observations of him, he didn’t strike as the type of person who would go through all that trouble just to ss with . His words were direct, his deanor composed, and his goal—at least on the surface—aligned with mine. If nothing else, he seed sincere about wanting to save Raiden.
Maybe he really is telling the truth.
But deep down, doubts still lingered.
I had been fooled once before, and the consequences of that mistake had led straight into my current predicant. Trust was no longer sothing I could afford to give freely. No matter how reasonable Byen seed, I couldn’t ignore the possibility that he was simply using to reach his own objective.
Or worse—
What if he’s working under that bastard Alad?
The thought made my grip tighten around the spoon. Alad had a way of pulling strings from the shadows, manipulating people into doing his bidding without them even realizing it. If Byen was connected to him in any way, then I was already walking into a trap.
Even so, one question kept bothering more than the rest.
Why the principal?
I didn’t understand why securing a eting with that damn principal was the first step in Byen’s plan. The man despised . That much was painfully clear. The last ti I stood in front of him, he didn’t even try to hide his irritation. If anything, he made it very clear that he never wanted to see my face again.
And yet...
I’ll do it anyway.
Even if it’s just to confirm whether Byen is truly on my side or rely playing , this eting might reveal his true intentions. If I hesitate now, I might lose the only lead I have to saving Raiden and the others.
Lost in thought, I didn’t realize that my food was already gone. I stared down at the empty bowl, blinking in mild surprise.
Did I really eat all of that already?
I must have been far more imrsed in my thoughts than I realized.
Letting out a quiet sigh, I stood up and headed back to the counter to get seconds. As the staff served another portion, my mind returned to the sa problem, circling around it like a predator that refused to let go.
How could I possibly get a eting with the principal?
The last ti I saw him was just a while ago, and I hadn’t left a good impression—far from it. His cold glare, the sharp tone of his voice, and his final words still echoed clearly in my head.
Don’t ever co back. Don’t show your face in front of again.
Given that, requesting a eting felt almost laughable.
What am I supposed to do? Just walk into his office and pretend none of that happened?
I returned to my seat with my second serving and resud eating, though this ti more slowly. My gaze drifted absentmindedly toward the window, where the academy grounds stretched out under the midday sun.
That’s when I saw him.
Instructor Refu.
He was walking across the courtyard, carrying a thick stack of papers in his arms. His pace was steady but purposeful, his brow slightly furrowed as if already buried in work. From where I sat, I could see the faint traces of dirt on his sleeves, likely remnants of earth magic practice.
This was only the second ti I had seen him.
The first was during the opening ceremony, when all the instructors were introduced. I still rembered his presence—calm, grounded, and imposing in a quiet sort of way. Unlike so of the other instructors who radiated authority through sheer intensity, Refu gave off the impression of soone who didn’t need to raise his voice to be respected.
He was supposed to be my earth magic instructor as well.
But since I joined, he had been busy with sothing—papers, etings, or whatever else kept him occupied. He hadn’t been able to attend or teach his class, leaving the responsibility to Fia and the other fifth-year students instead.
Watching him now, a thought slowly ford in my mind.
Instructor Refu... carries authority. And unlike the principal, he doesn’t seem to harbor any personal grudge against .
Maybe—
I stopped myself before the idea fully took shape.
No, don’t get ahead of yourself.
Still, the fact that he was involved with both first-year instruction and academy administration couldn’t be ignored. If there was anyone who could serve as a bridge—soone who might at least listen—it would be him.
I continued to watch as he disappeared from view, my thoughts quietly shifting gears.
Perhaps this wasn’t just coincidence.
Perhaps this was my opening.
But it’s not him that I’m curious about.
It’s the two familiar figures following behind him—one with black hair and the other with brown.
They weren’t even trying that hard to stay out of sight. Their movents were stiff, their timing awkward, and every now and then they would stop too abruptly whenever Instructor Refu paused. From where I sat, it was painfully obvious that they were tailing him.
Those two...
Leaving my table, I quietly exited the cafeteria and headed straight toward the nearby bushes where they had ducked into monts earlier. The leaves rustled slightly as I approached, confirming my suspicion.
"What are you two doing?" I called out, suppressing a sigh. "Lana, Lucia."
There was a brief mont of silence.
Then, as if on cue, both of them revealed themselves almost instantly. They weren’t really hiding properly to begin with—their lower bodies were still sticking out from behind the bushes, making the entire attempt borderline comical.
Both Lana and Lucia were friends of Chris and Crestia, which naturally made them my acquaintances as well. Given everything that had happened, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of curiosity and concern about why they were following Instructor Refu of all people.
"Will?!" Lana exclaid, her eyes widening. "You’re already discharged?"
Her black hair bounced slightly as she leaned forward, clearly surprised by my sudden appearance.
"Yeah," I replied. "Earlier this morning."
Lucia stepped closer, her expression noticeably more subdued. "Then... you must have already heard about what happened, right?"
There was sadness in her voice, the kind that didn’t need elaboration. It lingered in the air between us.
"That’s right," I said. "I’ve already been inford about everything that happened while I was asleep."
The words ca out steadier than I felt. Inside, however, a faint sense of regret gnawed at . If only I had woken up sooner. If only I had been there.
Lucia lowered her gaze for a mont before speaking again. "We only heard bits and pieces from the rumors, so we don’t really know the full story."
She paused, then looked up at , her eyes firm despite the sadness. "But we know it’s not your fault."
A light breeze passed through, causing her brown hair to sway gently. The warmth of the sun contrasted sharply with the heaviness in my chest.
"No matter what others say," Lana added, stepping forward with her arms crossed, "both of us know you wouldn’t let Chris and Crestia get captured and save yourself like the rumors say."
She flashed a small, determined smile, clearly trying to lift my spirits.
I felt a tightness in my throat.
They were trying to comfort —no, more than that, they were standing by despite everything being said behind my back. And yet...
"But the result is still the sa," I said quietly. "They were captured because of ."
My hands curled into fists at my sides. "So I can’t help but bla myself."
Even as I said it, I knew they wouldn’t accept that answer. Still, it was the truth—at least, my truth.
Lucia took a step closer, her expression changing from sadness to sothing sharper.
"And that’s exactly why Lana and I are doing our best to help," she said.
She raised her clenched fist in front of her, her determination clear.
"Help?" I echoed, surprised.
Lana nodded enthusiastically. "That’s right."
Lucia continued, "We’ve been following Instructor Refu—the earth magic instructor—because he’s one of the teachers assigned to monitor those in the correction facility."
The words imdiately caught my attention.
Monitor... the correction facility?
So that was it.
In an instant, several pieces fell into place. Instructor Refu’s constant absence. His overwhelming workload. The reason fifth-year students like Fia had been filling in for him during classes.
So that’s why he’s been so busy lately.
And why he hasn’t been able to teach us directly.
The realization sent a quiet jolt through . If Instructor Refu was directly involved with overseeing the correction facility, then that ant—
He was close to where Chris and Crestia were being held.
I looked back in the direction Instructor Refu had gone, my thoughts racing.
This wasn’t just coincidence anymore.
Between Byen’s request to et the principal and now this—Instructor Refu being connected to the correction facility—it felt as though invisible threads were slowly tightening around the sa point.
Opportunity.
Or danger.
Maybe both.
I exhaled slowly, steadying myself as I processed Lucia’s words.
So that’s why Instructor Refu has been so busy lately and why he’s been having the fifth years teach us.
"So we’re following him to find where he hides the key to the facility and sneak it from him if possible," Lana continued.
She said it with a straight face, as if she were explaining sothing perfectly reasonable. Lucia nodded beside her, clearly in agreent, her eyes shining with conviction.
They explained it like it was a grand plan they had carefully thought through—like heroes preparing for a daring rescue.
I looked at them and felt my chest tighten.
I didn’t want to crush their enthusiasm. I really didn’t. They looked proud, determined, and desperate in the sa way I was. But the more I listened, the more I realized just how reckless their idea was. There were too many holes, too many unknowns—and worst of all, it could easily put them in danger.
"Sorry to say this," I said, my tone turning serious, "but please stop what you’re doing imdiately."
The words fell heavily between us.
Both of them froze.
Their eyes widened, their expressions stiffening in disbelief as if they couldn’t process what I had just said.
"Why?" Lucia was the first to speak, her voice rising slightly. "Don’t you want to save Chris and Crestia?"
Her confusion was genuine, and that made this harder than I expected.
"I do," I replied without hesitation. "More than anything."
I took a breath and continued, choosing my words carefully.
"But I already thought about that plan, and it has a high chance of failing."
Lana shook her head imdiately. "How? Do you have any evidence?"
Her tone wasn’t hostile, but it was defensive. She didn’t want to believe —not because she thought I was wrong, but because she didn’t want to accept that their only idea might be flawed.
I could see it in her clenched jaw.
I understood how they felt. They were scared. Angry. Helpless. And when people feel that way, even the most dangerous ideas can start to feel like hope.
I knew I had to stop them.
"Let’s say you got the key from Instructor Refu," I said calmly. "What are you going to do next?"
Lucia answered instantly, as if the solution was obvious. "Of course, we’ll save Chris and Crestia. And your friends too along the way."
She said it confidently, almost proudly.
"And then what?" I asked. "What would you do after that?"
I didn’t raise my voice. I didn’t rush them. I just waited.
"Huh?"
Both of them said it at the sa ti.
Their expressions faltered.
It was clear—they hadn’t thought that far.
I watched as realization slowly crept into their eyes, the confidence they had monts ago starting to waver.
"Do you think the academy would just let the prisoners and the people who helped them escape go free?" I asked. "Do you think they’d let you attend classes like nothing happened?"
The words sank in.
Lana lowered her head first, her gaze fixed on the ground. Lucia followed shortly after. Neither of them spoke, but their fists were still clenched tightly at their sides.
They were frustrated.
Not at —but at the truth.
I continued, my voice steady but firm.
"Breaking into the correction facility isn’t just against school rules," I said. "It’s a serious cri in the academy’s eyes. Even if you succeed in freeing them, the consequences afterward would be far worse."
I paused.
"Chris and Crestia wouldn’t be safe. They’d be fugitives. And you two..." I trailed off, then finished quietly, "You’d throw away your futures."
The wind rustled through the bushes beside us, filling the silence left behind by my words.
Lucia bit her lip, clearly struggling to hold back her emotions. Lana’s shoulders trembled slightly, though she remained silent.
"I know you want to help," I said more softly. "And I’m grateful. Really."
I looked at both of them.
"But acting on impulse will only make things worse. If sothing happens to you because of this plan, I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself."
They didn’t respond imdiately.
The determination they had earlier was still there, but now it was tangled with doubt and fear.
"I don’t want you to get hurt," I added. "Not for my sake. Not for theirs."
Finally, Lucia spoke, her voice quieter than before.
"Then... what are we supposed to do?" she asked.
That question hung in the air.
What were we supposed to do?
I didn’t have a complete answer yet. I was still figuring things out myself—Byen’s plan, the principal, Instructor Refu. Everything felt uncertain, fragile.
But one thing I knew for sure was this:
Reckless heroics wouldn’t save anyone.
I looked at them again, both still staring at the ground, their fists clenched but no longer raised in defiance.
After hearing that, they lowered their heads and looked at the ground, but their fists were still clenched.
"Believe in ."
The words slipped out before I could second-guess myself.
Both of them looked up at at the sa ti, clearly caught off guard. Their eyes widened, and for a mont, neither of them could say a single word. It was as if they were afraid to speak, afraid that if they did, this fragile mont would shatter.
"I promise both of you," I continued, eting their gazes head-on, "I’ll save Chris and Crestia no matter what."
I didn’t avert my eyes. I didn’t hesitate.
This wasn’t a bluff, and it wasn’t sothing I said just to comfort them. It was a vow—one I fully intended to keep, even if it ant walking straight into danger again.
"So can you believe in ?" I asked.
The silence that followed felt heavier than any accusation or doubt. I waited, unsure of what their answer would be.
Then—
Tears began to fall.
Lucia’s eyes filled first, the moisture spilling over as she suddenly stepped forward and wrapped her arms around . Her forehead pressed against my chest as she broke down, her shoulders shaking.
"Please, Will," she cried softly. "Save Chris and Crestia."
Her voice trembled, carrying all the fear and helplessness she had been holding back.
A second later, Lana followed, hugging just as tightly. She tried to speak, but her words ca out uneven, broken by sobs.
"I’ll believe in you," she said. "I’ll help you in any way I can—just please... please save them."
For a mont, I froze.
I hadn’t expected this. I hadn’t prepared myself for the weight of their trust, for the way their grief clung to so desperately. My chest tightened, but I forced myself to stay steady.
"Yeah," I said quietly, lifting my hands and gently patting their heads. "Just leave it to ."
I let them cry.
I didn’t rush them. I didn’t tell them to stop.
If anything, I felt like this was sothing they needed—sothing they deserved after holding everything in for so long.
After a while, their sobs gradually faded. Lucia pulled away first, hurriedly wiping her eyes. Lana followed shortly after, her face flushed with embarrassnt.
"S-Sorry," Lana muttered, turning her head away. "That was... kind of sudden."
Lucia nodded quickly. "Y-Yeah. Sorry for doing that in front of you."
I shook my head lightly. "It’s fine. Really."
Hearing that only seed to make them more flustered.
"W-We should go," Lucia said, suddenly panicking. "We skipped our classes to follow Instructor Refu. If we don’t return right away, we’ll definitely get in trouble."
"Yeah!" Lana added. "We’ll talk again later!"
Before I could respond, both of them turned and hurried off, their footsteps fading as they disappeared down the path, occasionally glancing back at as if to make sure I was still there.
I stood there for a mont longer, watching them leave.
I can’t fail.
Not after this.
Eventually, I turned back and headed toward the cafeteria.
The quiet atmosphere greeted once again as I re-entered the room. When I reached my table, I glanced down at my al—my beef stew had gone cold, a thin layer of oil forming on the surface.
I sighed.
"Figures."
Standing up, I returned to the counter to order another serving. As I waited, my eyes wandered across the nu board hanging above the staff.
That’s when I noticed it.
The most expensive dish on the nu.
My gaze lingered on it longer than necessary.
And then—
An idea struck .
It wasn’t loud or dramatic. It didn’t co with a sudden rush of excitent. Instead, it settled quietly into my mind, fitting into place as if it had been waiting there all along.
That’s it.
I finally understood.
That’s how I could do it.
That’s how I could get a eting with that damn principal.
Why didn’t I think of it right away?
The question occupied my mind as the staff handed another bowl of beef stew. I took it and returned to my table, my steps steadier than before.
This ti, I wasn’t just eating.
I was preparing.
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