[Zandar POV]
It's been nearly three years since the angel lady instructed me to build an academy for young geniuses, and now it is finally finished. I've been sending invitation letters to many colleagues and notable individuals, personally visiting a few when time allowed.
Right now, I am heading to the home of the one individual who inspired me to follow this path in the first place, the Wissenschaft family.
Upon my arrival in a horse-drawn carriage, I saw the angel lady herself, Marlene, at the front porch. She was dressed like an ordinary caretaker, disguising her true identity from everyone else. I wonder if the family she serves knew who she was, but I'm too cautious to ask.
"Welcome to Wissenschaft, Mr. Zandar," she greeted, bowing courteously.
I returned the gesture, getting straight to the point. "I completed what you asked for."
"Excellent," she smiled gently. "And you're here to invite Lady Herta, correct?"
I blinked, surprised she knew my intention. "Right... Is she here?"
"Lady Herta is currently in the study," said the caretaker, turning towards the manor. "Please, kindly wait here while I fetch the young lady."
After that, the woman climbed upstairs and went through the hall to the right, her steps light and calculated. I stayed near the marble archway, gazing around the manor's spacious lobby.
The hall was eerily quiet—too quiet.
Tap... tap... tap...
Suddenly, I heard footsteps from the left hallway, and a figure came out from the shadows.
She looks oddly familiar.
Short. Purple eyes. Long ash-brown hair. White frilled dress beneath a black and purple coat.
I took a hesitant step forward as I called out to her. "Is that you, Miss Herta?"
"...."
No response. She just stood there, motionless.
Just then, another figure walked behind her... then another... and another.
All of them were identical, with the same blank expression, the same rigid walk cycle.
"What... the hell?"
My breath ceased when they all turned to me at once, with their eyes unblinking yet focused, and their faces devoid of emotion.
I took a step back, feeling my nerves on edge. "O-okay... This is new..."
Then I turned towards the manor's front gate—and froze.
More of them. Ten. Fifteen. Maybe more.
A wall of little girls, all similar to the first, blocked my exit like an army of sentinels.
"What kind of sorcery is this, young lady?"
Muttering under my breath, I instinctively shifted into a defensive stance.
Then, without warning, they raised their arms in perfect unison and outstretched their hands, causing the magicules to ripple in the air. Sparks of elemental particles crackled—fire, water, earth, ice, and wind—all materializing at once.
I tensed up, my instinct screaming at me to move.
But then—
"All of you, stand down. He is not an intruder."
A voice cut through the suspense.
The particles in the air flickered and faded. The army of little girls followed at once, lowering their arms in perfect synchronization.
I turned back inside, heart pounding, and saw another girl descending the stairs.
But this one... she's different.
She looked older. Not so much, but just enough. Her presence was grounded, and her purple eyes held sharpness, clarity, and something else—composure, intelligence, and confidence.
The army of little girls retreated into the background like shadows returning to the walls.
Taking a sigh of relief, I steadied my voice. "Is that really you, Miss Herta?"
She stopped at the bottom of the stairs and then folded her arms.
"Yup, it's me, Mr. Zandar."
Her voice was more refined now. Still calm and collected, but firmer and clearer, as if used to giving orders.
"You've grown, young lady."
"Yeah, I've been busy."
I chuckled under my breath, still processing what I'd just witnessed. "And those girls are..."
"Living dolls," she replied immediately. "I'll explain more on the way, so please, come inside."
She turned and began walking into the manor.
I followed behind her, still feeling dozens of invisible eyes trailing my every step. I whispered to myself, What has this young girl become?
----------------------------------------------------------
As Herta and I were walking through the hallway, she explained to me about her dolls, which were elemental-infused constructs collectively designed to serve and obey their master.
"Such an ingenious concept, young lady."
"It's nothing more than a simple task, Mr. Zandar."
Not long after, I was ushered into the guest room—a tastefully furnished place that blended aristocratic elegance and intellectual charm. Books lined the shelves, and subtle floral tones from a nearby vase softened the scholarly tone.
I settled into a comfortable, soft chair, while the Wissenschaft family took their seats on the opposite side of the table, their composure making the meeting more formal than familial.
"Here are some tea and pastries," said the caretaker as she carefully poured freshly brewed tea into cups before hovering her lips close to my ear. "Keep this conversation straight to the point, and avoid asking unnecessary questions, understood?"
I gave a slight nod, careful not to draw too much attention from the family.
"Welcome to our humble abode, Director Zandar. It's nice to see you again."
A lavender-haired woman warmly welcomed me, her voice soothing and nostalgic. Her name is Theresia Wissenschaft, my former apprentice back in the Genius Society. She retired after getting married and having their daughter a long time ago.
"It's great to see you too, Theresia," I replied kindly. "You have no idea how much I've missed having you as my apprentice."
"I thought so," she chuckled merrily. "So, how are—"
"—Ahem..."
Just then, a brown-haired man cleared his throat, shifting our attention. His name is Albrecht Wissenschaft, the husband of my dear apprentice. Ever since Theresia got married to him, he has taken responsibility for handling theories assigned to her.
"I understand that this is a surprising reunion between you two," he pointed out. "But let's get straight to the point, and tell us what you're here for, Director."
"Quite punctual as always, Mr. Albrecht," I remarked, chuckling to lighten the mood. "You see, I'm here for one thing and it's—"
As I reached for my breast pocket to retrieve something important, a bunch of the living dolls suddenly emerged from the darkest corners of the room, extending their hands towards me.
"Stand down. He's not attacking."
Before they could do anything destructive, the young lady raised her hand, signaling them to cease their aggression. The dolls, just like before, lowered their arms and then retreated into the shadows. Those things give me the chills.
Taking a deep sigh, I pulled out a letter and carefully placed it on the table. "I must say, those dolls are... rather responsive."
"I know, right?" Herta replied, smiling confidently. "There are—hey?!"
Suddenly, the young lady's sentence was cut off when Theresia pinched her ear. Though she didn't wince in pain, Herta was annoyed by her mothers's interruption.
"Forgive my daughter's unruly imagination," Theresia apologized profusely. "I told her to keep her dolls organized and well-behaved, but she didn't listen."
"In my defense, you also told me to have my dolls protect the family from any threats," Herta argued. "Though the sensitivity of their directives required some adjustments, so... my bad."
"Right..." I nodded in understanding and gently tapped the envelope forward. "Now then, this is an invitation. Herta, you've been formally selected to attend the Nasca Academia—a place built for young geniuses like yourself."
Upon saying it, both parents lit up in delight. The mother squeezed her hands near her chest, while her husband gave a proud laugh.
"That's wonderful news," Theresia beamed warmly. "I always knew she'd receive such a huge offer someday."
"As expected of our daughter," Albrecht added with a firm nod. "She would consider this kind of opportunity seriously."
Herta, however, didn't share their joy, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly.
"An academy, huh?" she murmured, her voice faint and skeptical. "Mr. Zandar, are you certain this place can offer me knowledge I don't already have?"
I blinked in confusion, then leaned forward slightly. "Why do you ask?"
"Because I've already read every single book in our home's library," she proclaimed without a hint of conceit—only factuality. "So, I'm wondering if this academy's resources and strategies can broaden my horizon."
"Fair enough," I chuckled, impressed despite her scrutiny. "But the academy's library is larger than your average room-sized library. It holds rare manuscripts, provincial theories, and even ancient texts from the bygone eras. Most importantly, we don't just offer knowledge—we put it to the test, designed for the brightest minds."
With that response, Herta seemed uneasy for some reason. I turned to her parents, and they were concerned about her reaction.
"Herta, this might be your chance to meet other prodigies like you," Theresia claimed, placing a reassuring hand on her daughter's shoulder. "You could make friends in there, or somebody you could share common interests with."
"Come on, dear, take this chance to leave your mark in a place where your brilliance can truly shine," Albrecht urged with heartfelt encouragement.
The young lady didn't respond right away, her gaze shifting back to the letter on the table.
"If I accept the invitation," she muttered, "would it include any privileges?"
"Absolutely," I confirmed, sensing a window of opportunity. "You'll get early admission grants access to faculty laboratories and library, private mentorships, an immediate connection with the student council, and priority acknowledgment to experiments and fieldwork."
She raised an eyebrow, tempted. "What about political immunity and personal protection?"
Her suggestions made me pause. I glanced at Theresia and Albrecht, both frowning subtly.
"Why would you need something like that?" I asked carefully.
"Because I'm not blind to politics, Mr. Zandar," she answered solemnly. "Finishing the Solitary Particle Theory and proposing the Spark Model Hypothesis has painted an obvious target on my back. The children of High Elites and nobles will take advantage of me, or worse."
Ah, I see now. That makes a lot of sense. Those people would surely not ignore her.
"Sure, I'll make arrangements to guarantee your protection," I promised, meeting her calm but calculating gaze. "As for the social immunity, I will try to convince my associates to urge their children to take it easy on you."
With that proposal, Herta finally nodded in agreement.
"Alright, I'll accept your invitation, Mr. Zandar."
In response, Theresia and Albrecht hugged her warmly, which annoyed her.
Although I may not completely erase social prejudice, young lady, I will ensure that someone like you is never left isolated or unguarded.
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[Third POV]
Somewhere within the Nasca Kingdom, a completely different story transpired behind closed doors. Deep beneath the Ruan estate, a servant made their way to a hidden laboratory—one that hadn't seen daylight for three whole years.
Within, among humming instruments and flickering lanterns, a sleep-deprived woman worked tirelessly before an incubation chamber, noting something on a parchment. She was no other than Ruan Ling, a dedicated scientist specializing in biological advancement.
"Madam, I have news for you," the servant announced, bowing respectfully.
The woman didn't turn—only flashed her eyes over her shoulder. "Is it good or bad news?"
"It's good news, Madam," the servant answered with restrained breath. "A newly constructed academy has finally opened its doors, and it's said that Director Zandar is personally sending invitations to families with young prodigies."
Hearing the news, Ruan Ling was shocked and glanced back to the chamber, her sharp gaze falling upon the figure floating within. Taking a deep breath, she confronted the servant.
"Send someone immediately," she declared coldly. "Inform the director that I, Ruan Ling, have made a prodigy of my own. That alone should merit an invitation for me and my child."
"Understood, Madam."
The servant bowed once again before quickly leaving. As the doors closed shut behind them, silence reclaimed the laboratory—save for the steady hiss of archaic instruments and the low hum of runic life support.
Ruan Ling turned around and stepped closer to the chamber, placing a hand against the cold and translucent glass.
"Three years of accelerated development... sustained by the elixir I perfected from the blood of my former companion, powered by forbidden knowledge no mortal should ever access. All for the sake of creating a perfect rival."
She gazed through the glass, her expression unreadable in the reflection.
"It's time for you to wake up... and show those spoiled children what real genius looks like..."
Suspended within the azure liquid, covered by living tendrils growing from the ceiling, was a young girl—unconscious, weightless, and eerily identical to the creator.
Long black hair floated like seaweed in the nutrient-rich solution, her closed eyes unaware of the burden she was born to carry.
Her mother leaned in closely to the chamber, softly calling out the child's name.
"...Ruan Mei."