The academy remained under lockdown—
But the silence had changed.
It was no longer confusion.
It was tension.
"…The atmosphere feels different today," Christy said slowly as she walked beside Luxe through the restricted wing, her eyes scanning everything with sharp awareness. "Yesterday, people were afraid because they didn't understand what was happening. Today, they're afraid because they're starting to realize how serious it actually is."
Luxe didn't look around.
"…Fear evolves quickly once uncertainty turns into partial understanding," he replied calmly. "And right now, the academy knows just enough to be afraid… but not enough to feel safe."
Christy folded her arms, thinking carefully.
"…That means control is already slipping," she said. "When people begin filling gaps with their own assumptions, the situation becomes harder to contain."
Lumi stepped in quietly from behind them.
"…That has already begun," she said. "Rumors are spreading despite the lockdown. Some believe the academy is under attack. Others think it's an internal betrayal. A few… are already connecting it to demonic influence."
Christy exhaled slowly.
"…Then the academy leadership doesn't have much time," she said. "If they don't act decisively, panic will spread faster than the truth."
Luxe finally turned slightly.
"…They will act," he said. "But not necessarily in the way people expect."
Christy narrowed her eyes.
"…What do you mean by that?" she asked. "If they delay action now, they risk losing control completely."
Luxe's voice remained steady.
"…They're not delaying," he said. "They're choosing where to act. Right now, they're trying to identify the threat without exposing how vulnerable they actually are."
Christy paused.
"…So this isn't just an investigation," she said. "It's a controlled response designed to protect the academy's image as much as its people."
Luxe nodded slightly.
"…Exactly. And that means one thing."
Christy looked at him.
"…What?"
Luxe's eyes sharpened slightly.
"…They will use us."
Inside the strategy chamber—
The atmosphere was heavy.
Professor Halven stood at the center, surrounded by faculty and selected students.
"…Given the nature of the incident we experienced last night," he began slowly, his voice firm but measured, "it has become clear that conventional methods of investigation are insufficient for dealing with a threat that operates both internally and covertly."
He paused, scanning the room carefully.
"…We are not dealing with a random anomaly," he continued. "We are dealing with a structured infiltration—one that has demonstrated the ability to manipulate individuals, bypass detection systems, and operate within the academy without immediate exposure."
Christy's gaze hardened slightly.
"…At least he's acknowledging it openly," she whispered to Luxe. "That means the situation is worse than what they're saying."
Luxe replied quietly.
"…It also means they don't have a better option."
Halven continued.
"…For that reason, I am authorizing the formation of a specialized investigation unit," he said. "This unit will operate with limited authority but increased flexibility, allowing them to respond quickly to anomalies without being restricted by standard protocols."
A murmur spread across the room.
"…The selected members are as follows," Halven said. "Luxe von Valcrest, Christy de Astrell, Lumi… and two additional operatives for reconnaissance and mana analysis."
Christy stepped forward slightly, her expression serious.
"…You're assigning students to handle a threat that your own system failed to detect and contain," she said. "That's not just risky—it suggests that you believe the existing structure is compromised."
The room went quiet.
Halven didn't deny it.
"…Your conclusion is correct," he said. "Which is precisely why individuals who are less predictable and more adaptable are required."
Christy frowned slightly.
"…In other words," she said, "you trust us more than your own system right now."
Halven's gaze didn't shift.
"…At this moment, yes," he said.
As the meeting ended—
Luxe walked ahead silently.
Christy caught up.
"…You've been quiet," she said. "Not just during the meeting, but since last night. You're analyzing something, aren't you?"
Luxe didn't immediately respond.
"…I'm remembering," he said.
Christy frowned.
"…Remembering what?" she asked. "You talk like you've seen something like this before."
Luxe stopped walking.
"…I have," he said.
Christy's expression shifted.
"…That's not something you say casually," she said. "If you've seen this before, then you should also know what happens next."
Luxe's voice lowered slightly.
"…That's exactly the problem," he said. "Because what we're seeing right now… isn't random. It follows a pattern that I've been trying to piece together since the beginning."
Christy froze for a moment, her eyes narrowing as she studied his expression carefully.
"…A pattern?" she asked slowly. "You're saying this isn't just your intuition or combat sense… you're recognizing something specific in the way all of this is unfolding?"
Luxe didn't hesitate, but he didn't reveal everything either.
"…Let's just say I've been paying attention to details most people ignore," he said. "And when those details start repeating in a structured way… it stops being coincidence."
Christy kept looking at him for a few seconds longer.
"…You're hiding something," she said quietly. "Not in a suspicious way… but in a calculated one. You already have a direction in mind, don't you?"
Luxe turned slightly.
"…I have a theory," he said calmly. "And until I confirm it… there's no reason to complicate things with unnecessary assumptions."
Christy exhaled slowly.
"…Fine," she said. "I won't push further. But just remember—if this situation escalates any further, we won't have the luxury of holding back information."
Luxe nodded once.
"…When that time comes," he said, "I'll tell you everything you need to know."
Luxe turned toward her.
"…Kael's actions didn't start with open confrontation," he said. "They started with infiltration, subtle manipulation, and controlled experiments—just like this. By the time people realized what was happening, it was already too late."
Christy clenched her fist slightly.
"…Then this is the beginning of something much bigger," she said. "Not just an academy issue… but something that will spread beyond it."
Luxe nodded.
"…Yes," he said. "And this time… I won't let it reach that stage."
Later that night—
Inside a restricted archive room—
"…The mana fluctuations are concentrated here," Lumi said, her voice calm but precise. "If there is a source within the academy, this is one of the most probable locations."
Christy stepped forward carefully.
"…This area is supposed to be secured," she said. "Only authorized personnel should have access."
Luxe's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Which means if something is here," he said, "it's not unauthorized."
A voice echoed.
"…You shouldn't have come here."
A faculty member stepped forward.
Professor Dren.
Christy's eyes widened slightly.
"…You…?" she said. "You're part of the academy's core staff."
Dren smiled faintly.
"…Exactly," he said. "Which is why no one suspected anything."
Christy's voice hardened.
"…So you're the one who enabled this," she said. "You gave them access… protected their movements… and helped them avoid detection."
Dren's expression didn't change.
"…Enabled?" he repeated. "No… I facilitated evolution."
Dren's mana surged—
Dark.
Twisted.
"…He's already corrupted," Lumi said.
Luxe stepped forward.
"…No," he said. "He's not controlled… he chose this."
Dren smiled.
"…Of course I did," he said. "Why would I remain limited when something greater was offered?"
Luxe's eyes sharpened.
"…Then you're the perfect subject."
Lightning gathered—
But this time—
Different.
Christy noticed immediately.
"…This isn't your usual lightning flow," she said. "It's more compressed… more focused."
Luxe spoke quietly.
"…I'm refining it."
"Compressed Lightning Field."
The air changed.
Electricity didn't explode—
It condensed.
Lumi's eyes widened slightly.
"…He's not increasing output," she said. "He's increasing density."
Christy whispered.
"…He's creating a new technique… mid-combat."
Dren attacked—
But Luxe moved—
Faster.
More precise.
CRACK—!!
Dren collapsed.
Christy exhaled slowly.
"…That was different," she said. "Not just stronger… more controlled."
Luxe looked at his hand.
"…This is only the beginning," he said.
Sylvia chirped softly.
"…Kyuu…"
Luxe's gaze hardened.
"…Kael… I already know your path."
"…And this time… I'll destroy it before it begins."