"Unless you…"
A pause.
"…cheated."
The Headmaster's fingers tapped once against the table.
"Which should be impossible."
His gaze remained fixed on Tia.
"So shall we proceed?"
Tia said nothing.
Then nodded slowly.
In his previous life—
he had been told countless times that his body overflowed with mana.
Powerful mana.
Dangerous mana.
As amazing as it sounded—
he could never use it.
No matter what he tried.
Meditation.
Mana circulation.
Even dangerous methods.
Nothing worked.
Was it because of his rank…?
Or something else entirely?
"Sit."
Vice Headmaster Sila spoke calmly.
Tia obeyed.
She stepped closer.
Then placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You may feel uncomfortable."
"But do not reject the mana."
"Relax."
Then—
he felt it.
A strange energy.
Cold.
Deep.
Purple mist slowly surrounded them.
It flowed through his body like a freezing river—
moving through every vein.
Searching.
Tia's breathing slowed.
Then suddenly—
Vice Headmaster Sila's brows furrowed.
The mana flow changed.
It became deeper.
Sharper.
Like it was searching for something impossible to find.
Tia's chest tightened.
His vision became dizzy.
Then—
everything stopped.
The energy vanished.
The room became silent again.
Tia looked up immediately.
Vice Headmaster Sila looked…
confused.
Actually confused.
A rare expression.
But only for a moment.
Then her usual calm returned.
She turned toward the Headmaster.
"Headmaster."
A pause.
"Student Ming Tia Xu…"
Her voice slowed slightly.
"…has no mana core suitable for magic."
Another pause.
"…nor a Spirit Energyfor swordsmanship."
Silence.
"He is…"
her eyes narrowed slightly—
"…an awakened ....
"But purely useless."
Tia froze.
Impossible.
"I…"
His throat tightened.
"…Is this some kind of mistake?"
The Headmaster remained silent.
Eyes lowered slightly.
Lost in thought.
Then—
"Vice Headmaster Sila."
"You may leave."
"Thank you for your work."
"Yes, Headmaster."
She bowed slightly.
Then turned toward the door.
But before she left—
the Headmaster spoke again.
"This matter remains confidential."
Vice Headmaster Sila paused.
"…Understood."
Then she left.
The door closed softly behind her.
Silence filled the office.
A pause.
"Student Tia Xu."
Tia straightened immediately.
"Come here."
Tia stepped closer.
The Headmaster reached into a drawer.
Then handed him a letter.
Read this for me.
The paper felt strange.
Thicker than normal.
The handwriting—
too neat.
Almost unnatural.
Tia began reading loud.
Enough for both to hear.
Meanwhile—
a slow amusement began forming on the Headmaster's face.
"Interesting…"
A faint chuckle escaped him.
"After all these years…"
"At last…"
His eyes darkened slightly.
"…I found you."
A pause.
"The child of that loathsome man."
"How unfortunate."
Tia finished reading.
Then slowly lowered the paper.
Waiting.
The Headmaster smiled.
Cold.
Malicious.
"Good."
"You're done already."
"Yes, Headmaster."
The Headmaster leaned back slightly.
Then—
"I will give you two choices."
"Your answer is expected before the third week."
A pause.
"You may remain in this academy…"
"…or leave willingly."
Tia's eyes widened slightly.
His chest tightened.
For a moment—
he thought he misheard.
All that effort.
All that desperation.
The contamination trial.
Everything—
for this?
"We cannot afford liabilities in this academy."
The Headmaster's voice remained calm.
"But someone without a core…"
"…cannot survive here."
"Do you understand?"
Tia stayed silent for a moment.
Then lowered his head slightly.
"…Yes, Headmaster."
"You may leave."
Tia turned.
Then walked out of the office.
The door closed behind him.
Silence.
"My life…"
A hollow laugh almost escaped him.
"Before it even began…"
"…it already ended."
How pathetic.
****
Lost in thought—
Tia failed to notice the hooded figure walking past him.
Until it was too late.
The figure moved calmly.
Confidently.
A strange pressure surrounded him.
The office door opened.
The figure stepped inside.
Immediately—
he knelt before the Headmaster.
One knee on the floor.
Head lowered.
"Headmaster."
"You called for me?"
The Headmaster scoffed lightly.
"Relax."
"There's no one here."
"No need to pretend."
The figure immediately stood.
Then casually dropped into the chair opposite him.
One leg crossed over the other.
"What is it this time?"
"Is it about the old fool again?"
The Headmaster's eyes briefly shifted toward the legs resting on his table.
Then back to the figure.
"Hm."
A pause.
"Should I call this fate…"
"…or a blessing?"
The figure's expression changed slightly.
"You found something?"
The Headmaster smiled slowly.
"Your suspicions were correct."
"I called that child here today."
"Under the excuse of examining his mana."
The figure leaned forward slightly.
Interest appearing for the first time.
"So?"
"What happened?"
Silence.
Then—
the Headmaster's smile deepened.
"…He truly nothing like we expected."