People before would try to make breakthroughs without subsidiaries however such a path was akin to suicide. The higher the rank, the lower the chances were for a successful breakthrough and without subsidiaries the chances were even lower.
"Your luck seems to be very well then." That was the only thing that Vhorren could say for now. He had spent five months so as to get the necessary ingredients for the subsidiaries and an Obsidian Heart expert to help him navigate through the experience.
He knew how harsh it was and here Callista had managed to do what he had done with nothing more than the molt. "The molt was pure." She feigned in her boredom and apathy however the implication was clear. That there was something more about the glyph than just mystery.
'Does it help with physical and malcore growth?' Eldrion couldn't help but wonder as his eyes locked onto Jarren who seemed rather apathetic to be there. "You may have passed the appraisal and I as a fifth year student applaud you for your hard work. However I do wonder what exactly does your glyph work?"
Eldrion posed with a warm and friendly demeanor. He was the one who had managed to get closer to him than the others. "It helps with casting, halving the cost of cast and amplification of output. My growth has nothing to do with the glyph." Rather than Jarren, it was Callista who gave him the answer.
But this brought more questions than answers to their troubled minds. 'Is it some forgotten spell for accelerated growth?'At this point, such a thought felt more realistic as they looked at the two individuals. "Is that it or are we going to keep on wasting each other's time?" His tone indifferent as he had his hands folded behind his back.
Callista felt the gazes of contempt shot at Jarren and yet the one at the center of attention seemed unfazed. "Callista, you don't mind if we conducted another test. Quick and casual." Lirale spoke, her mind hoping the conclusion that she had in her mind was right. "I don't mind." The girl retorted, her presence feeling more like a piece that didn't belong.
This time a staff of the academy made his way to her. His robes classy in red as he made his introduction short and his point clear. He was there for a mind scan to check whether her mind had been tampered with phrenomancy. Callista let it happen as Jarren watched from the side, his interest lost in the matter.
The man furrowed his brows, his face uncomfortable as he withdrew his hand from her forehead. "She's clean. No tampers whatsoever." Callista felt nothing through it unlike the warning she had been given that it would be akin to a light wave of fatigue kissing her mind thanks to the necklace.
"That will be all. You may both take your leave." And with that, the two took their leave out of the Faction House. Both barely talked to each other as they each went their separate ways.
...
"So it wasn't pheromancy? Then at this point it would be better to involve the professors into his case." Saevin spoke, her tone hinting at her suspicion with Jarren and now Callista. They had expected resistance from her given that her status wasn't something to overlook but she agreed.
"I still can't believe that she managed to make a breakthrough into Obsidian Heart rank so easily. How long has it been? Two weeks since she bought it." Looking at the record in his hand, Vhorren still had the thought running through his mind. The record entailing both the pairs' purchases.
Now it was then how apparently wrong something was about the two. Jarren making a breakthrough from the second to the fourth rank in the Maga path and Knighthood while Callista into the fifth rank with no subsidiaries. It was hard to hear such feats and yet the evidence was in their hands.
"All we have to do is wait and watch the tournament. I just hope that Jarren will use his glyph for once and not resort to his Pyro affinity." Eldroin mused, his mind in a state of curiosity rather than skeptism of Jarren. "Well that could give us more of an in-depth sight into his glyph but his Pyro affinity isn't something to be overlooked."
Lirale, the fifth year student known as the inferno petal spoke, her tone heavy. "I'm sure that you'd beat him in a fight." Saevin cheered however there was no carthasis to Lirale's mood. "I doubt whether I would win. His malcore reserves are extremely high for him to be in the Gravechant rank however his flame has yet to be fully refined. There was a single flaw that I picked up during his fight with Lance."
It was clear that Jarren had more to him than just his Darkness element. "Well time will tell for now. We can only watch and see it all unfold. Hopefully those two manage to win this year's tournament. Last year was nothing short of an embarrassment on our part." Eldroin couldn't help but chuckle which eliticed a growl from Saevin.
"Look I wasn't ready at the time but now, I'm confident that I would be more than capable of managing a victory." Her pout provoking another tease from Eldroin. Vhorren and Lirale took a glance at the two who went back and forth, their minds recalling how they would play their games.
It was clear that there was something greater going on between the two but none of them chose to advance the relationship. "Will you two just become a couple already?! At this point it's shocking that you haven't shot your shot Eldrion!" A tease from Lirale which resulted with the air falling into silence.
"I'll have to agree with Lirale here. You two have been at it for way too long to not be in a relationship." Vhorren mused, a light punch landing on Eldroin's shoulder. "Look I'm working on it,I just waiting for the right opportunity is all." A scoff followed. "Well keep on waiting because time won't wait for you lover boy."
Lirale rose to her feet, ready to dodge Saevin's remark. "Humph! Can't you focus on yourself and not meddle in other people's business?!" Trailing her the ladies took their leave. Vhorren and Eldroin followed suit. "Why haven't you at the very least made a move on her yet?" Vhorren asked, his tone light and concerned like the friend that he was.
The halls were empty, staff and students nonexistent as the two made their way outside. "It's not like I don't want to but it's that she already has a marriage arranged for her. I wouldn't want to break her heart with a relationship that wouldn't go anywhere." Eldrion's tone was heavy which was followed with silence.
"As much as I'd like to tell you to run away with her, we both know how that will turn out. It's tough." Vhorren's hand drooped over Eldroin's shoulder as the two kept on walking. "It's a shame that that is nothing more than a fantasy. I'll try to break it to her the next time I meet her. It's not she likes the douchebag she'll be married off to anyway."
Vhorren gave a long look at Eldrion, understanding his pain. "It's truly a shame but I know that you'll do what is necessary. There's no need to feed her false hope into thinking that a relationship could spark between you two." Vhorren's words were sharp but they were what he needed to hear as much as he didn't want to say them.
"She's the daughter of a wealthy merchant and I'm nothing more than a commoner." Coming to the bitter conclusion, Eldrion let out a sigh of resignation, their figures passing through the lavish decor that claimed the academy. For fifth year students, they had the chance to graduate out of the academy or further their studies.
Most opted to leave however a select few remained. Most usually becoming adventurers, others merchants or other occupations that demanded their skills. "Look, I'm sure that you'll find your match soon enough but it's time to let Saevin go."
Eldroin let out a snort, his tears dancing on his eyelids as he mustered himself not to cry. "You're right. It would be better to end things as soon as possible." Smoothing out his creaseless coat and clearing his throat, he took his leave heading towards the Arcane Archives. He knew her schedule and he hated himself for it.
He knew where she would be prefer to hang out while reading thus it would be easy to find her. His mind already coming up with the words that he would say. "Saevin, I..." He was met with an empty chair that made him weirded out however he didn't think much of it as he made his way back to her chambers.
*Knock-Knock-Knock*
Her door slipped slightly open with his tap which made him skeptical but with a poke inside, there she was. Her eyes looked way too long at him as if waiting for his arrival and he never came, her figure sprawled onto the floor as blood gushed out of her throat.
It was clear that the attack was short and quick but his mind was still in bewilderment with what he saw. "Saevin?!" Drawing closer, it was now that he got a closer look at her. Blood coated the walls in an artistic fashion, her body letting out spasms indicating that the attack was fresh and as a strange melancholy lingered about.
Clutching to her head and cupping her face, he let his tears fall free. "Saevin!!" His voice sore and gravel still in the stupor of disbelief. "No-No-No!!!" Her jugulars exposed and bleeding, her face painted with a look of horror and shock and her eyes wide open. His hands and coat were tainted with her blood but he didn't care.
***
Callista who had gotten to her room looked at her phone. Indifferent as ever.
[{She's dead}]
Her message sent to Jarren which was met with an answer.
[{Did you feel anything about your first kill?}]
She paused, her figure seated on her desk as she locked herself with the conversation.
[{Nothing, how could I?}]
It was a cruel joke on his end and she knew it but could only endure. His instruction ringing through her head after parting with him. 'To kill Saevin.' She thought that it was probably the way Saevin was hostile to him during the trial but the more she applied more thought the less likely it seemed.
'If he had an issue with her then it would be way more than sending me to kill her. Maybe watch Eldroin descend into grief for entertainment.' She came to her best bet but with Jarren, it was hard to think what ran through his head.
[{Well good job. I'll reward you soon}]
Seeing the message, she wasn't eager at the slightest but skeptical. 'Reward? You've already given me enough.'