The next morning.
The weather was bizarre. The snowstorm had worsened, and a chilling wind from the east had blanketed the northern, eastern, and western parts of the Atheliya Empire. It was so intense that people were staying indoors, seeking refuge from the biting cold.
Sara stood in the hallway, watching the brutal weather through a window. She placed her hand on the cold glass, leaving a faint handprint in the frost. She then left the hallway and walked to Kayle's room, stopping before his door.
KNOCK, KNOCK.
"Kayle, it's me, Sara. Come out for lunch, everyone is waiting for you," she called out.
No response came from inside. Confusion flickered across Sara's face. She knocked again, a little louder this time.
KNOCK, KNOCK.
Again, silence.
"Is he asleep? But he's always on time; he's not the type to laze around," Sara murmured to herself.
KNOCK, KNOCK.
Still, no response. Sara's worry began to grow. "Kayle, open the door! It's no time to play around!" she shouted, a note of desperation in her voice.
Still nothing. Sara, now genuinely alarmed, tried the doorknob. The door, to her surprise, was unlocked. She pushed it open and entered, her eyes sweeping the room. Kayle was nowhere to be found.
Then, she saw a letter lying on his table. She picked it up and read:
[ I'm going to find a way to save Silvia. Don't worry about me; I'll be back within a month. And don't follow me. In the meantime, please take care of Silvia for me.
Kayle]
Sara was utterly shocked by the letter. Her eyes widened so much it seemed they might fall out of her head. She opened his wardrobe. It was empty. All of Kayle's belongings were gone.
Just then, Latty appeared at the doorway.
"Sara, what are you doing? You were taking so long, and where's Kayle?" she asked.
"Kayle is gone," Sara said, her voice a tense whisper.
Latty saw the letter in Sara's hand. "What's that letter, Sara?" she asked.
Sara handed the letter to Latty, who read it. Latty's face paled as she realized the impossible truth: Kayle had left, and in this brutal, bizarre weather.
"I'm going to find him," Sara declared, turning to leave the room.
Latty grabbed her hand, stopping her. "Let me go, Latty!" Sara insisted, a fierce look in her eyes.
"I know you're worried about him, but I can't let you go out in this kind of weather! First, report this to Sir Harrison. He'll find a way," Latty pleaded.
"What do you mean 'report it' and 'wait for Sir Harrison' to do something?! Can't you see the weather outside?! He could freeze to death!" Sara shouted, her voice thick with panic.
"I know, but don't think you're the only one worried about him!" Latty shouted back, her own voice cracking with emotion. "He's also special to me! And Kayle isn't a child; he's clever. He must have a way to survive in this weather, otherwise, he wouldn't have made this decision!"
Sara looked at Latty, her own anger fading into despair. She nodded, her shoulders slumping.
"Now, report this to Sir Harrison and wait for the professors from the academy to arrive," Latty said, her voice gentler now.
Sara nodded again, and together, they left the room to inform Harrison.
The whole mansion was soon in an uproar. James, Nana, and Rolex were in complete shock, hearing that Kayle had left the city in such extreme weather without telling anyone. They all gathered in the grand hall of the Maklice Mansion.
"Bryan, go and contact the people in charge at the teleportation gate," Harrison ordered, his voice sharp with urgency. "Ask them if Kayle used it, and send knights in that direction to search the whole area. If he left the mansion early this morning, he couldn't have gone far."
"Yes, Father," Bryan said, and rushed out to follow the orders.
"Sir Harrison, what do we do now? Shouldn't we also go and check if he's still in the territory?" Nana asked, her voice trembling.
"No, we can't. The weather is extremely bizarre right now," Harrison replied grimly. "You guys won't be able to handle that much cold. That's why I ordered Bryan to send knights. They are better equipped for this."
"Gosh, why did he do something like that? Is he out of his mind, going out in this weather?" Rolex said, frustrated. "I thought he was an intelligent man."
"No, he isn't a fool," James said, his face stern.
"What do you mean by that?" Rolex asked.
"I know him better than anyone else," James explained, his voice filled with unwavering conviction. "Kayle isn't the type of person who makes rash decisions because of his emotions. We all know how capable he is. He wouldn't make a decision like that unless he was 100% certain about it. I believe he must have a way to save Silvia. We just have to wait for him."
They all listened to James, a small glimmer of hope returning to their expressions. Just then, Bryan rushed back into the hall.
"Father, I contacted the teleportation gate in charge," Bryan said, his face pale. "He said that Kayle used the teleportation gate around 11 PM last night."
"What?! Then it's already been ten hours!" Harrison exclaimed, rising to his feet in alarm.
"Then he must have gone very far by now," Sara said, her worry returning in full force.
"Where did he go? Which city did he go to?" Harrison demanded.
"They said he went in the southeast direction, to Quebiton City," Bryan reported.
"Southeast... Quebiton City," Sara repeated, a shock of recognition in her voice. "That's the Roxidon Clan's territory. Their family lies in that city."
"I need to talk to the head of the Roxidon Clan. Only he can help us right now," Harrison said, heading for the magic communication room.
"Father," Bryan said, stopping him.
"What?" Harrison asked, impatient.
"They also said that professors from Venessa Academy are here," Bryan said.
Just then, a maid came running into the hall.
"Master, there are two women at the gate from Venessa Academy!" she gasped.
"What are you waiting for?! Let them in!" Harrison commanded.
Two women, both wearing the distinct black coats of Venessa Academy, entered the mansion. It was Lucy and Olivia.
Both of them walked directly into the hall, their faces flushed from the cold.
"Gosh, this weather is so chilly! I had to light up a fire to get here," Olivia said, stomping her feet.
"You mean burning down the path and the forest," Lucy corrected dryly, looking at her.
Harrison and the students watched the professors' familiar bickering.
"Welcome, esteemed professors from Venessa Academy. I'm Harrison Maklice," Harrison greeted them formally.
"Hello, Sir Harrison, I'm Olivia and she's Lucy, from Venessa Academy," Olivia said, her eyes then falling on the students. "And you kids are also here! What happened?"
But the students didn't say anything, their expressions tense and somber.
"I know that you all are worried about Silvia, even the headmaster was panicked after hearing about Silvia's condition. That's why we came from the academy to see Silvia." Olivia said, concerning about Silvia." By the way where is kayle."
But the group remain silent. Both Olivia and Lucy observed their faces. They were all pale, tense and worried.
"What happened? Why do you all look so tense? Tell me what happened!" Lucy asked, her own anxiety spiking.
Just then.
Harrison explained the entire situation, Kayle's sudden departure. Both Lucy and Olivia listened, their faces draining of color. The situation was already dire, but Kayle's disappearance in such extreme weather made everything exponentially worse.
Lucy stepped forward, a fierce fire in her eyes, and planted herself directly in front of Harrison. "You're saying that Kayle left this city in the middle of the night, in this extreme weather?" she shouted, her voice trembling with anger and frustration.
"What were your knights and maids doing at that time? Why didn't anyone see him leaving this mansion? Are your staff just lazying around all night?. Is your staff so incompetent they can't even monitor the front gate?" Lucy yielded, her words a torrent of accusation.
"We came running here after hearing that Silvia is in critical condition, and now you're saying Kayle is also not here. What if something happens to him in this weather? What will you do? Who will take responsibility?"
Her voice rose with every word, trembling with fury
"I have no excuse," Harrison said solemnly, lowering his head. "This is entirely my fault. I failed to ensure proper security. The blame falls on me and my knights."
Lucy's eyes narrowed. "Owning up now won't undo the failure. Kayle, That boy—he's already endured too much. And now, once again, he puts himself at risk to save someone else." She took a step closer. "Mark my words, Sir Harrison. If anything happens to Kayle... you'll answer to me."
Seeing Lucy losing her temper, Olivia grabbed her shoulder and stepped between them, acting as a buffer. "Stop it, Lucy. Yelling at Sir Harrison won't change anything. I know you're worried about Kayle, and I am too, but we first need to find him. And don't forget, we also have to take care of Silvia." Olivia's voice was soft and soothing, a stark contrast to Lucy's fury.
Lucy clenched her fists but said nothing. She turned her back, jaw tight.
"Sir Harrison," Olivia continued calmly, "you said he went to the Roxidon Clan's territory. Did you contact the clan head, Mister David Roxidon, yet?"
"I was just about to, but then you guys came," Harrison replied, relieved by Olivia's composed demeanor. "I'll contact him right away."
"Okay, then you contact him," Olivia said. "And you guys, please take us to Silvia."
Without another word, everyone followed Olivia and Lucy down the corridor to Silvia's room.
The door opened with a soft creak. Lucy and Olivia stepped inside.
Her once radiant face, full of life and pride, was now ghostly pale. Her breathing was shallow, her body fragile beneath the covers. The room was still and cold, a stark contrast to the fiery girl she once was.
Both professors stood in silence, the weight of the moment pressing down on them.
Olivia stepped forward, slowly taking Silvia's hand. It was cold.
That coldness... it pierced Olivia's heart. She sat beside the bed, still holding Silvia's hand tightly. Her eyes quivered. For Olivia, Silvia wasn't just a student—she was someone who had trusted her completely, someone who always gave her best, no matter how difficult the challenge.
Tears welled up in Olivia's eyes, unbidden.
Sniff... sniff...
She wiped them away, but the flood of memories broke through: Silvia's bright smile, her unwavering confidence, the way she lit up every space she walked into.
Lucy, watching from behind, understood Olivia's pain. The fiery professor, known for her hot temper, was now quietly weeping. To Lucy, Silvia was like family. Her pure-hearted confidence and cheerful spirit made her a source of light. Lucy placed a hand on Olivia's shoulder, her touch gentle but firm.
"Olivia, please don't cry. We have to be strong. Everyone is looking to you. So please... just for now, hold yourself together," Lucy said, her voice soft but steady.
Olivia wiped her tears and gripped Silvia's hand tighter.
"I promise I'll wake you up, Silvia… even if I have to search the depths of the earth or soar to the heavens."
Just then, the door creaked.
Ahem...
Behind them, Father Harpy and Sir Harrison entered the room. Everyone looked at them, their expressions a mix of hope and despair. Olivia and Lucy's eyes fixed on Father Harpy.
"Professors," Harrison said, "this is Father Harpy of the Church of Libra. He's been healing Silvia and watching over her condition."
"Thank you, Father, for healing our Silvia," Lucy said, her voice filled with gratitude.
"Oh, please don't say that, child," Harpy replied, his voice gentle. "As a priest of the church, it's my duty to help those who are in need."
"Then, Father, please continue," Harrison urged.
Harpy nodded and resumed casting healing magic. A warm, golden light enveloped Silvia. After nearly an hour, he exhaled deeply.
"Phew..." Harpy said, looking utterly exhausted.
Harrison quickly offered him a glass of water. "Father, please drink this water."
"Oh, thank you, Sir Harrison," Harpy said, taking a sip.
"Father, how is her condition?" Olivia asked, her voice laced with desperation.
Harpy looked at Olivia's frantic expression. "It's different from yesterday's."
"What do you mean, Father?" Harrison asked, leaning forward.
"Well, I don't know why, but the mana that was gathering in her heart last night was very violent, giving her many internal injuries. However, this time, I didn't feel that mana. It was as if her mana was being drained somewhere else. I didn't feel her violent mana. That's why I didn't need to push so much effort as last time," Harpy explained.
Everyone in the room looked at each other in surprise.
"I was able to heal her injuries easily this time," Harpy continued.
"Then it means you can save her!" James exclaimed, a glimmer of hope shining in his eyes.
Harpy looked at James, and his face fell. "I'm sorry, child, but as I said, she can't be saved. Because her violent mana is not flowing like last time, it doesn't mean she is in good condition. Her body isn't able to contain the immense power in her heart. When a Sixth Circle Mage has an awakening, they go through an absorption period, which helps them absorb and make that power their own. But your sister directly jumped from the Fifth Circle to the Seventh Circle. That's why she couldn't adapt her body to the greater power, and her heart was going to explode. It's a miracle that you guys were able to bring her back here alive; otherwise, she would have died out there." Harpy's voice was filled with somber finality.
"I'm sorry, child, but as I said, I can only give your sister a month, or maybe a month and a half," Harpy said, placing a hand on James's shoulder.
"If she can't be saved here, then I'll take her to Alofis and have the Cardinal or the Saint save her," Olivia declared, her voice filled with stubborn resolve.
"I highly disapprove of that," Harpy said, shaking his head. "Taking her outside in this deadly weather means certain death. She wouldn't survive the cold. My child, sometimes we have to accept the truth, even if we don't want to."
With that, he left the room. The silence returned, crushing their hope and morale.
"Sir Harrison, how did your talk with Mister David go?" Lucy asked, breaking the silence.
"It went well," Harrison replied. "He said he'd send his clan people to look for Kayle, and it so happens that his daughter, Jennica, just graduated from the academy and is in the clan right now. He said she knows Kayle and will help to look for him."
"That's good," Lucy said. "We can just hope that they will find him."
Meanwhile, Olivia was fuming. She refused to accept Harpy's words, but deep down, she knew he was telling the truth.
"Hey, kids, now tell me what happened during your mission," she said, turning her intense gaze towards the students. Her eyes were so fierce that a shiver went down their spines.
"Let me tell you, Miss Olivia," Harrison said, stepping forward. "What Kayle told me was that when they exterminated the monsters, he went to scout the area to see if any monsters remained. But during his scout, he saw a group of black mages preparing a teleportation array. Then, someone appeared in a black coat and killed all of them, leaving a girl behind. So, Kayle took her with him from the forest..."
"Stop, stop! Wait a minute!" Lucy interrupted Harrison, cutting him off mid-explanation.
"What happened, Lucy? Why did you stop him?" Olivia asked, a flicker of irritation in her voice.
"Sir, did you say 'from the forest'?" Lucy asked, confusion in her eyes.
"Yeah, from the Garxiz Forest," Harrison confirmed.
"What?!" Lucy exclaimed, completely surprised. "Didn't their assignment say they were going to the Dead Mountains? Then you sent them to the Garxiz Forest?"
"No, it was in the Garxiz Forest," Harrison insisted. "The letter Kayle brought back was for the Garxiz Forest."
"How can this be? I know it was clearly for the Dead Mountains!" Lucy's voice rose in disbelief.
"Just what is going on here? Explain it to me!" Olivia shouted, crimson mana radiating from her body in a controlled but threatening way.
"House Maklice sent two letters to the academy for the assignment, but I clearly know that the letter Kayle took was numbered as two," Lucy explained, her eyes darting between Harrison and Olivia.
"Yes, he brought back the letter number two," Harrison confirmed.
"Then why did you send them to the Garxiz Forest instead of the Dead Mountains?" Lucy demanded.
"Because that letter was for the forest rather than the mountains," Harrison said, now equally surprised.
"No, sir. I clearly know that letter number one was for the forest and letter number two was for the Dead Mountains, because I was the one in charge of arranging the letters! I knew every detail of the letters and their descriptions!" Lucy said, her voice filled with certainty. "The letter number one was for the forest, and two was for the mountains. I know it very well!"
"Then why did he have the mission for the forest instead of the mountains?" Harrison asked, his own confusion mounting.
"Sir Harrison, didn't you write those letters yourself?" Olivia asked, her gaze piercing.
"Then why don't you know what's inside the letters?"
"No, it wasn't me who wrote the letters. It was my first son, Julius, who wrote them. I just placed my seal on them," Harrison revealed, his face grim
Everyone in the room was shocked.
"You're saying that someone purposely changed our assignment from the mountains to the forest?" Sara said, the implication dawning on her.
"Now that you say it, doesn't it seem suspicious?" Latty added, her voice tense.
"How did those people know our location, and how did they prepare for that teleportation array in advance?"
"Yeah, you're right, Latty," Nana agreed, her expression serious. "Only the academy's staff, professors, and we knew about the assignment. Then how did those people also know our location?"
"It only means someone from the academy purposely switched your letters and sent you all to the forest," Olivia said, her voice dangerously low.
Everyone was horrified, the realization that someone from their own academy wanted them dead was a cold, cruel shock.
"Lucy, who was with you in the letter arrangements?" Olivia asked, turning to her sister-in-arms.
"Me and Mister Morry," Lucy replied, her voice trembling with anger.
Olivia's eyes blazed like a volcanic eruption. "Lucy, you stay here and report this back to the Headmaster. I'm going to the academy to catch that bastard!"
"Wait—Mr. Morry took a leave yesterday, said he had health issues," Lucy added.
"That bastard's trying to run away! You go back and report this to the Headmaster right now. I'm going to Alofis; he can't have gone far in this weather!" Olivia declared, her face a mask of pure fury.
"Then, Miss Olivia, go back to Alofis," Harrison said, his voice firm. "Don't worry about the students. I'll keep them safe here. That is my promise."
Olivia then left the room to head for Alofis. Lucy went to the communication room to report the matter to the Headmaster. The room was filled with a stunned silence. They couldn't believe that someone from within their own academy had wanted to kill them. Their faces were a mask of disbelief and rage.