'Reaper' stood outside the gates of the academy, on a building near a church, and pulled out a pair of binoculars from his [Arbiter: Vault]. He placed them over his eyes and looked into the High Ovaris Academy.
"I've been here for so damn long and she hasn't even left the academy once?" 'Reaper' muttered under his breath, irritated by the whole situation before standing up and dropping his binoculars onto the roof of the church.
Being irritated and extremely bored, 'Reaper' leapt off the church, landed on the ground, and caused the stone beneath him to break into small pieces. He walked toward the gate before seeing a guard for the academy.
The guard looked over and placed his hand on the sabre at his waist. "I've never see—" Before he could even finish speaking, 'Reaper' extended his hand, grabbed the man instantly by the neck, and activated [Saltbind]. Straps made of water formed from the never-ending rain and tightened around the man's legs, arms, and mouth before a small hole appeared in the strap over his mouth, allowing rain to charge into the man's mouth and nose.
'Reaper' looked at the guard, who was slowly drowning, before lifting the man over his shoulder and heading down an alleyway. By the time 'Reaper' threw the man to the ground, he was already dead. 'Reaper' took off the guard's uniform, changing into the dark blue suit, blue gloves, a small white hat, and dark blue trousers with an incantation of reinforcement applied to them. He placed the sabre at his waist, surprised by how well the clothes actually fit him.
He walked toward the academy gates and entered the academy.
The headmaster of the academy appeared and walked up to him, extending his right hand. "You must be a new hire, right? Tony Stone?"
'Reaper' extended his gloved hand and slightly smiled. "That's me! I'm so happy to be working here. It was an honor to get hired!"
The two shook hands before the headmaster smiled in a way that made 'Reaper' feel somewhat uncomfortable. Then the headmaster walked away.
'Something's off with that... person. Whoever the hell he was.'
'Reaper' shrugged his shoulders, looked down at his hand, then plunged it into a bubble of water he had made to clean it off. Instantly, he made his way down the large hallway, following a sign that said Female Dormitory.
"Damn this was easier than I thought," 'Reaper' muttered to himself as he passed several young women wearing dark blue dresses, and a few young men wearing dark blue dress coats, some with matching trousers.
He walked down this hallway for nearly thirty minutes before sitting on a bench and looking up at a sign. His eyes widened. He saw Maple Yuso walking down a flight of stairs, heading straight toward him.
He smiled slightly, took off his hat, and set it on the bench before standing up. He walked over to Maple and gave her a warm smile.
"How's school?" he asked, trying to be polite.
Maple Yuso smiled back but hesitated to answer due to her shyness, then turned around to walk away. She felt a hand grab her shoulder tightly. Her eyes glanced back and widened as 'Reaper' stared into her eyes like a predator hunting prey. "It would be best if you follow me," he said coldly, showing no emotion at all.
Maple swallowed hard, clenched her fists tightly, and nodded. A loud buzz echoed throughout the academy. "Maple Yuso, Reya Sunflower, Trev Gruton, and Young Quiz, come and see me at my office," the headmaster's voice rang out across the academy.
'Reaper' showed no intention of letting go of her shoulder as a small group began to gather, watching them both before whispers began to spread.
"I wonder what she did?"
"Could it be for that group project?"
"I'm curious why so many names were called."
The whispers continued before 'Reaper' sighed and tightened his grip on her shoulder. "We're going to that damn office and I will be listening to everything," he whispered into her ear. Her shoulder almost dislocated as she nodded, closing one eye in pain and letting out a slight grunt.
She began walking first, heading up the same flight of stairs she'd just come down, then continued up another flight, and another. After almost an hour of climbing stairs, they finally arrived at the top floor of the academy.
'Holy shit. Why the fuck were there so... so many damn stairs?'
'Reaper' shook his head, confused and irritated, his disdain for stairs starting to show on the surface.
The two continued walking down a long hallway. 'Reaper' released his grip from around her neck. She inhaled deeply, then exhaled slowly, swallowing hard out of unease, nervousness, and the cold awareness that she could be killed if she did anything he didn't like.
As they approached a pair of towering doors made of silver wood, the panels creaked open. Maple glanced at Reaper before stepping inside and bowed respectfully to the headmaster, who stood watching from behind a grand, dark-stained desk. The other three students walked past 'Reaper' without offering him a single glance before entering the room. As the last one crossed the threshold, the headmaster snapped his fingers. The doors shut with a heavy thud, and a veil of aura shimmered briefly before coating the entire room—sealing it off with soundproofing.
The office was vast, lined with tall, arched windows framed by deep navy-blue curtains that fluttered gently in the breeze. Golden sunlight streamed through the glass, casting patterned shadows across the polished black-marble floor. Along the back wall stood shelves of leather-bound books, old scrolls, and intricate artifacts preserved in glass cases. The ceiling was high and domed, painted with constellations that faintly glowed with soft white light.
Seated behind his ornate desk, the headmaster sat tall and composed. He wore pure white trousers and a matching suit jacket, accented by a dark blue tie knotted neatly at the collar. His black hair was slicked back with meticulous care, not a strand out of place, giving him an air of authority that felt both refined and intimidating.
His fingers interlaced, elbows resting on the desk as his sharp eyes scanned the four students before him.
"You four are going to be paired together for an event that's coming in six months," he said before pausing for a second, allowing the students to process. "It's a practice duel which Reya Sunflower will be attending, a written exam which Maple Yuso will be attending, an incantation-only duel to memorize more incantations which will be given to Trev Gruton. Young Quiz, you'll be going as a 'watcher' of sorts. A representation of our academy, in a way. Any complaints?"
Reya Sunflower raised her hand slightly before speaking. "If I may ask, what exactly is this for? I believe none of us knows anything of this."
The headmaster offered a mild smile. He lowered one arm beneath his desk, retrieved a white folder, and placed it on the surface before flipping it open.
"This is for a new tradition that the High Ovaris Academy will be starting. Every year we'll conduct one of these practices with other academies to test different strengths, and also weaknesses. We have high hopes for you all."
Reya crossed her arms over her chest and nodded. Her light blue hair flowed with a sudden gust of wind from the nearby window as the headmaster turned to Maple.
"The rest of you may leave. Maple, stay for a moment. We have a few things to go over."
The three students glanced briefly at Maple. Reya let out a muffled chuckle before turning around, her hair whipping lightly in the breeze. The doors creaked open again and the trio walked out without protest.
'Reaper' watched from where he had been leaning against the wall, his ear tilted slightly toward the door in a futile effort to listen in, but the soundproofing was flawless. 'Where the hell is she?'
The doors shut again before he could get a proper look inside. He sighed, irritation tightening in his chest. But he kept still. He knew better than to act recklessly. Doing something stupid now would mean going up against the entire empire.
Inside, Maple looked toward the headmaster, who gestured to a leather chair across from his desk. She stepped forward and sat down.
The headmaster gave her a reassuring smile. "There's been someone following behind you. Not one of our guards. Did you realize?"
Maple's eyes widened slightly. "H-how did you know that?"
"I met him earlier in the halls. Figured he was spying at first, but from the way he was being around you, I'd say he has a target. I believe you're the reason he's here."
He leaned back slightly. "Stay in this office. I'll go deal with him. Harming a student of the academy under any circumstances is illegal. So is sneaking into the premises. And impersonating a guard—also illegal. I don't know who he is, but if I had to guess, I'd say someone hired him. His handshake was too strong, too precise, for a standard academy guard."
The headmaster stood and walked toward the massive doors. He placed his hand flat against the wood, aura gathering faintly at his palm. "I've already informed the king. Guards are on their way as we speak. This intruder won't be here to harm anyone for much longer," he said, offering Maple a final smile to ease her worry.