Five years later…
Igor sat crowded with stacks of docunts on the mahogany desk, waiting for review. The only sound in the room was the faint clinking of porcelain as Donovan carefully poured tea for Igor.
Igor didn't mind the sound. His eye remained on the papers as he signed one docunt, then the other with practiced strokes. But it seed Donovan had sothing on his mind.
Suddenly, Donovan cleared his throat.
"Is there sothing you wish to say, Donovan?" Igor asked without looking up.
"Young Master Aurelia has once again topped the class, sir. He got perfect scores in both theory and practicals."
Hearing the news, Igor put down his pen. He looked at Donovan before allowing himself the rare luxury of a smile. It was a smile he reserved only for Aaran's accomplishnts.
"Of course he did," Igor said, leaning back in his chair.
Five years had passed since he had taken Aaran under his wing. In all those years, not once had he regretted his decision.
Sure, Aaran was reckless, chaotic, and utterly impossible to control. However, his unparalleled growth made Igor turn a blind eye to him.
If Aaran beca the empire's sword, forget the Marki. Conquering the entire continent wouldn't be a farfetched dream. Though, Igor would never admit that in front of the brat.
Donovan, however, wasn't finished.
He delivered the good news before the bad one. After spending years around Igor, Donovan knew how to read him.
That's why he praised Aaran first, so Igor wouldn't react too badly. After all, the emperor did not wish for any harm to the young talent and he wasn't sure Igor won't lose his mind.
"There is another matter, sir."
"Go on," Igor said, sipping tea.
"It seems that Young Master Aaran has once again… beaten so nobles."
Igor sighed before massaging his temples. It was the eighth ti this month. Even if Igor wanted to ignore it, he couldn't anymore. The other nobles weren't as gifted as Aaran, but that didn't an they weren't useful.
Everyone had their roles to fill. The empire was like a watch, where one cog, no matter how big or efficient, couldn't operate the entire watch itself.
"How many?"
"Three, sir," Donovan replied. "Their injuries were superficial. They have already been treated and discharged. But I'm afraid the ntal scars might not heal for a long ti."
Igor let out another sigh, now tapping his forehead as if trying to ward off an impending headache. He had ignored Aaran's actions till now, but that brat was acting out a bit much now.
The nobles would definitely raise the question. After all, the academy was supposed to nurture the youth, not give them ntal issues.
However, Igor knew Aaran would not attack them for no reason. Those nobles must have provoked him and so he lashed out. Either way, he would have to talk with the involved parties before deciding.
"Fetch the nobles for . I'll talk to Aaran later."
"At once, sir."
Donovan bowed before leaving the room, his footsteps making no sound as he left.
Only when the door clicked shut did Igor chuckle. He leaned back in his chair, sipping tea.
He put on a front of being annoyed and angry before Donovan, but he was quite happy on the inside.
Although Donovan worked at the academy, he was there to enforce the Emperor's will.
Everything that Donovan told him was first told to the Emperor. Only after the Emperor's approval did Donovan inform Igor about the happenings.
Yet when he was alone, Igor couldn't help but want to praise Aaran.
The baby lion is already baring his fangs.
Igor smirked.
In all his years as Headmaster of Excellence Academy, he had never been entertained so thoroughly. It's almost as if Aaran knew everything about him, maybe even more that Igor knew about himself.
"I wonder what happened this ti."
***
anwhile, at an unknown place.
A man covered from head to toe in tal sat in a glowing ritual circle, detached from the outside world. A few candles lit the otherwise dark room.
The head priest was lost, chanting spells. Suddenly, a gentle breeze snuffed the candles, plunging the room into darkness. The priest stiffened. He felt the familiar evil presence and opened his eyes.
A faint, crimson glow shimred above him, revealing the figure of a woman floating midair. She was beautiful, almost unnaturally so.
Her long, dark hair covered half of her face. She smiled as she laid her crimson eyes on the pitiful creature before. She didn't hide her smile after seeing the price the fool had paid for summoning her decades ago.
The sadistic side of her always appeared when the priest called just to laugh at his desperation. But this ti, sothing felt different.
He didn't address her with honorific like he usually did. Instead, he raised a finger at her.
"Why is the boy still alive?"
The demoness rolled her eyes.
"Still hung up on a literal child?" she sighed. "Don't you have anything better to do?"
No one dared to talk to the head priest in such a degrading tone. For nine years he had waited. For nine years, he had been patient. But he couldn't anymore.
"We had a contract—!" he yelled. "I sacrificed everything! The very light I once worshiped turned toxic to ! Because of you, I am trapped in this wretched suit!"
He continued, "All this for what? You pathetic creature, you can't even kill a child!?"
The demoness's mouth twitched. Before the priest could react, an invisible force wrapped around his body, dragging him in the air.
Countless dents appeared on his tal suit as the force slowly crushed his body. The demoness's playful expression had long since disappeared, replaced with rage.
"Watch your tone, priest," she hissed. "Do not forget who you are speaking to."
The head priest wanted to retort, but couldn't. She had forcefully closed his mouth.
"I have no interest in killing a boy. The invasion is all I care about. I don't have ti for your childish grudge and after today, I sure as hell am not helping you."
Just like that, she vanished.
The candles ca back to life as if nothing had happened. The invisible force released its grip, and the priest crashed to the floor.
There was absolute silence in the room when suddenly the priest began laughing.
"Fine… I'll do it myself."
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