The office is huge. Bookshelves tower along the walls. Magical relics float in glass cases. The air hums with mana. It's colder in here. Still. Like time doesn't move unless granted permission.
The Headmaster sits behind an obsidian desk. White beard. Golden robes. A piercing gaze that makes Renji feel like every thought he's ever had is being unraveled and studied.
"Renji Shibata."
"Yes."
"Sit."
He complies.
The Headmaster doesn't speak for a moment. He simply stares. Quietly. Like he's reading something beyond what's visible.
"I've heard many stories in my time. Prodigies. Accidents. Even legends."
He leans forward.
"But no one casts a spell like that on their second attempt. No one."
Renji doesn't flinch. "I didn't mean to damage anything. I was just following instructions."
"I know. That's what worries me."
A pause.
"You came here with no magical education. No known bloodline. No formal record. Only reason you're here is because you somehow won all your trial duels."
Renji nods.
"And yet... today, you not only defeated the top of Class 2A, you shattered enchanted stone. You overpowered wards meant to withstand attacks much above your expected level."
Renji stays quiet.
The Headmaster stands up. Slowly. Walking over to a display case near the window. Inside it is a sword. A beautiful, curved blade, pulsating faintly with crimson light.
He speaks without looking back.
"There are a few people in this world born without limits. They bend the rules just by existing. They destroy scales. They make structures like this academy nervous."
He turns.
"I believe you might be one of those people. This place isn't built to contain people like you. It's built to watch you. Study you. And if necessary... control you."
There's no threat in the Headmaster's voice. Just honesty.
"You've just become a very important person to a lot of very dangerous people. Be careful, Renji Shibata."
The Headmaster walks back to his desk and sits.
"You'll continue in 2A. You'll be observed more closely now. I believe within a few months of training you might be too good for this school, but you should stay here. I offer you my guidance. Boosting you up to a more fitting class to your caliber would raise too much suspicion, and that would mean a huge risk to your safety. We'll keep in touch."
He taps the desk twice.
"You may go."
Renji nods once, then steps out.
Maya is waiting just outside. She sees his face, reads his silence, and just walks with him.
No jokes.
No jabs.
Just quiet.
She does break the silence eventually.
"What did he tell you?"
"That I'm too strong. That I should be careful about showing my power. That I should stay here, even if it's holding me back."
"... and how do you feel about that?"
Renji stops in place, thinks, and responds.
"I refuse to hide my power. If I'm as strong as he pretends, I can protect myself. I don't want to hold myself back like a scaredy cat. I'll take the risk."
Despite being worried, Maya agrees with him.
"You're right. You should use your blessings to the fullest, as long as it's for good."
She pauses.
"But you need to understand that you will become a target. It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when. The more powerful you get, the more dangerous you are in their eyes. Anyone can turn rogue at any time, especially with the world at their feet."
"I'm aware, but... I choose to live my life freely. I reject fear. We don't know for sure how strong I can get. What if this is my peak? What if somehow, someway, I skipped all the way to the end and I'm already at my strongest?"
"That's unlikely. I didn't tell you yet, but magic can be casted without chanting. When you're able to do that, the spell you used earlier would be ten times stronger. Possibly even stronger."
"Woah. That's an eye-opener."
"I know, right? We'll get to that at some point."
"How does training work? Do I just keep casting a spell until it gets stronger and stronger?"
"Pretty much. But how fast you improve depends on your mana reserves."
"Where can I even do that without getting in trouble?"
"The forest."
"I wanna do it. Right now."
"Right now?"
Maya sighs.
"Alright, I'll take you there."