Chapter 38: Gavin
Athena's mind was spinning with questions.
Gavin removed his bowler hat, his voice calm but direct.
"May I come in?"
"Y-Yes!" Athena answered quickly, stepping aside.
As he entered the main hall, the scent of alchemical herbs lingered faintly in the air. The space was modest, with worn furniture and shelves filled with books, potion vials, and odd magical trinkets. From the kitchen, Shirley stepped out—and froze the moment she saw him.
"I apologize for dropping in unannounced," Gavin said, settling onto the sofa. His sharp eyes roamed across the home, pausing on the door to the alchemy room, then the hallway, and finally stopping at a portrait hanging on the left wall.
It depicted a young man with deep-blue hair, olive skin, short brows, a rounded nose, and an oval face. What caught Gavin's attention most were his eyes—one crystalline white, the other a piercing, oceanic blue, as if it held a world within. The young man wore a black formal coat, reminiscent of the Rune Era, and a neatly perched bowler hat.
The portrait was incredibly lifelike.
"Who painted this? And who is he?" Gavin asked, genuine surprise flickering across his face.
Shirley hesitated. "T-That's—"
Before she could finish, Athena spoke up with quiet pride.
"That's my brother's teacher. He's a wizard like you, Mr. Gavin. And my brother painted that himself."
Gavin's expression stiffened.
A wizard? That boy? Impossible… Unless—no, there must be something else going on here.
His thoughts raced, suspicion taking root.
"Interesting," he said slowly. "May I know his name?"
Shirley tensed. A cold unease swept over her.
Athena hesitated, then nodded with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
I can't risk revealing Raven's teacher. But I also can't let this man think we're defenseless.
"Charles Nightwind," she said evenly. "That's the name my brother gave us. We don't know anything else."
Gavin narrowed his eyes. "Charles Nightwind? That name doesn't exist in the records of Crow's Misery Academy." His gaze returned to the portrait, and for a moment, he simply stared—his expression unreadable.
Ten seconds passed in silence before Shirley gathered the courage to speak.
"H-How did you find us, Lord Gavin?"
Gavin gestured toward Athena's wrist. "The inheritance bracelet," he said simply. "As long as she wears it, her location can never be hidden from the Emperor's gaze."
Shirley gave a bitter smile. "Then why wait fifteen years? The Emperor could've taken us long ago."
Athena's hand flew to her sword. "So you're here to drag me back to the palace?"
Instead of answering, Gavin posed a new question.
"Have you heard any recent news from the Viser Kingdom?"
Both women shook their heads.
He let out a long sigh. "Then the news hasn't reached this far. Crown Prince Daniel is dead. Yesterday, the Viser Kingdom launched a surprise attack on the western fortress. They captured every soldier, every officer. And just two hours before the invasion… Prince Daniel was assassinated in his own mansion. Every servant and guard was killed."
He paused. When he spoke again, his tone darkened.
"There were also multiple assassination attempts on other royals. That's why the Emperor has summoned all royal family members back to the capital. Immediately."
Shirley's face turned pale. "Assassinations? But how did spies from Viser infiltrate the Empire? Did a noble betray us?"
Athena crossed her arms. Her voice was colder than steel.
"Why should I care? I've never met that prince—and I don't mourn his death. I severed all ties with that cursed royal family long ago." Her glare locked on Gavin. "And you—you were the one who told the Emperor to kill my baby brother. Don't pretend to mourn now. I'll never forgive you. Or that bastard father of mine."
"Athena!" Shirley gasped, grabbing her arm in panic.
But Gavin remained unshaken, almost bored.
"I made a harsh decision that day, yes. But nothing has changed. That child, even with your care, won't live past six."
He stood.
"And I'm under strict orders. You are to return to the capital immediately. If you resist—"
The room shifted.
A suffocating pressure filled the air, making it hard to breathe. Shirley stumbled, clutching the wall. Athena gasped, trying to stand firm.
"What about my brother?!" she spat through clenched teeth.
"The Empire has no use for burdens," Gavin said coldly. "Besides, your father has arranged a political marriage. With the Duke of Vega's son."
The words struck like lightning. Athena's face turned crimson with rage.
"I'll KILL YOU!"
Her sword was halfway unsheathed when a crushing, invisible force froze her in place.
Gavin didn't even flinch. Instead, he raised a hand.
From the shadows, a figure materialized in front of Shirley. It seized her throat and slowly lifted her off the ground.
"I didn't come to negotiate, Athena," Gavin said flatly. "Disobey the Emperor, and your aunt dies."
Shirley struggled, her limbs trembling violently.
"N-NO!" Athena's voice was hoarse, wild. "Let her go! I'll return to the palace—just don't hurt her!"
Gavin smiled, satisfied. "Good decision. Your aunt comes too, of course. We'll need someone to take the blame for harboring the Sword Princess all these years."
His grin twisted. The lights flickered—and then, all at once, darkness swallowed the hall.
…
When the light returned, Athena and Shirley were gone.
Only Gavin remained. He sat calmly on the sofa, clapping slowly, the eerie quiet thick with tension.
"Jonas."
A black figure emerged from the corner and knelt. He wore a fitted shadow suit, twin daggers strapped at his waist.
"Your orders, my lord?" the figure asked, voice young but cold.
"When that boy returns," Gavin said, "kill him. Make it look like an assassination attempt by the Viser Kingdom."
He turned to the portrait, eyes narrowing.
"And check this man's background. I don't want any surprises."
"Yes, my lord." Jonas vanished into the shadows.
Meanwhile, Raven strolled through the town square, unaware of what had transpired.
He passed the fountain, exchanged polite nods with a few locals, then exited through the northern gate. Ahead, a crowd of over a hundred students—mostly children around his age—had gathered in front of a poised woman with golden-blonde hair.
Her sharp amber eyes swept across the crowd. Her high nose, heart-shaped face, and ivory skin gave her an elegant, commanding presence.
She was none other than Teacher Elizabeth.
"Raven. You're late," she said with a smile before turning to the group of officers behind her.
"Status report?"
A tall officer stepped forward, musket slung across his back.
"No abnormalities within five kilometers. Only a few low-rank monsters. Superintendent Athena cleared out the intermediate ones yesterday—including a large goblin pack."
"Oh? Athena?" Elizabeth's gaze turned thoughtful.
She's one of the potential seeds. But what caught me off guard… is that Raven and Athena are siblings.
She shook off the thought and faced the students—forty in total—standing in nervous silence.
"You're about to enter the Mirage Woodlands. This is your final test," she announced.
"You'll need to survive until dawn. That means 21 hours inside the woods. Hunt, hide, or fight—but survive."
The students paled. She continued.
"You'll be scored by the monster ears you bring back. One point for a goblin, two for a kobold, three for a wolf. Return before 6 A.M.—and you're disqualified. No exceptions."
She paused, letting the weight of her words settle.
Then she shouted,
"Begin!"