"We can't let students be harmed to such an extent. Please reconsider using something that bypasses the safety barrier."
Cyril was led into a staff room and seated on a leather couch.
A worker was standing stiffly in front of him, forcing a smile and talking about the problem in the softest voice possible.
"..."
Why is he so nervous? The academy should be above this.
"It's only natural~"
Cyril calmly observed the man's flattering body language.
His silence caused a sweat to roll down the worker's forehead.
"Mr. Thorne, if it's-"
"Will I receive any disciplinary punishment?"
"Of course not!" The man flinched and stood at attention.
"It's not a big deal, don't worry about it!"
What is this?
Feeling somewhat sour, Cyril stood up from the couch.
"If that's all, I'll be going."
The man's smile froze as he observed Cyril quickly leave the room.
No one stopped his departure.
"Looks like we are in the clear after all."
Yeah.
Cyril walked through the castle's corridors and emerged outside a few minutes later, where the crowd was long dispersed.
The only ones left were the few especially curious ones staying in the distance, as well as those who knew him.
"Hey, Cyril!"
A lively voice immediately greeted him.
Myra ran up to him with a smile, Morpho sitting on her shoulder.
As she approached the red butterfly eagerly flew to his shoulder instead.
"How did it go?"
"I only got a warning. I received no punishment."
"That's good." She wiped her nonexistent sweat. "That guy could only blame himself. He was actually quite weak for a second year."
He silently observed her optimistic demeanor, her eyes that still stared at him without any fear, and a whim soon formed.
"If your opponent insulted someone close to you, what would your reaction be?"
Myra tilted her head for a second and frowned.
"Hoho, that someone is done for then. I'll at least break an arm, or more, depending on my mood."
So were my actions reasonable?
"Of course they were! Even if you killed him, it would've been fine!"
"By the way. Did you use the same technique that woman we met used?"
She noticed?
Cyril nodded and raised his hand, taking a look at his open palm.
"She managed to find me, and we... I agreed to be her disciple."
"Huh," Myra looked at him with some concern before nodding in wonder.
"For you to agree, that must be a powerful spell indeed."
To him it seemed like a brief spark of wonder flashed in her eyes, a yearning for something.
Maybe I could try teaching her on my own? Just to test it, not like Selene will know...
"Do whatever you want. That crazy woman has no right to order us around."
Just as he was contemplating, Rose and Edmund walked up to his as well.
"Hey, Cyril, It's been a few days."
"I talked to Edmund, and he agreed to go with us." Rose calmly nodded as she stepped closer.
"Yeah. I know of that zoo, actually. We'll also need a place to sleep since it's quite far. Let me handle that."
Edmund pointed to himself and smiled.
...Let's consider this later.
Cyril quickly got rid of any stray thoughts.
"We'll leave it to you."
"That's right, but in exchange." Edmund raised a finger and pointed at Cyril, then at Myra.
"Could you two teach me how to fight?"
Cyril narrowed his eyes while Myra tilted her head.
"I don't need to be able to cripple people with a touch, just better combat ability."
"Sure."
Cyril nodded after a brief contemplation.
"Let's meet tomorrow after lessons. There is not much time left now."
Myra slowly nodded as well before glancing at Rose, who stood quietly nearby.
As soon as she did that, Rose's eye twitched.
"Rose... How about you?"
The brown-haired girl sighed and massaged her temple.
Her voice incredibly reluctant, she replied. "...Fine. I do need to work on that before my grade tanks."
"Then it's settled! Let's meet at the training field tomorrow!"
Edmund waved to them and walked away.
Rose similarly said goodbye, prompting Myra to reluctantly go away as well.
Left alone, Cyril gently brushed Morpho's wings and walked back to his dorm.
Any student on the way now sent him even more curious glances, as most people were discussing the duel that just took place.
However, most people only focused on the brutal end of it.
Cyril shook his head as he entered the class I dormitory.
That backfired.
"No, I am telling you, this is good as well. It's just the first step of the plan."
As he approached his room, his sharp hearing picked up the noise of hurried scratching on wood.
"...?"
He quickly opened his door, and a soft, white furball rolled out.
Tigris shakily regained his footing and stood up on his hind legs, his front legs leaning on Cyril as support.
His blue eyes pitifully stared at him as a quiet meow escaped his cat mouth.
"Meow."
The corner of Cyril's mouth twitched as he raised the cub in his hands. Morpho quickly greeted him, a slight sense of pride to the flutter of her wings.
The mighty tiger immediately took a comfortable position and relaxed.
"Haha, he lost the sleepiness and suddenly started missing us!"
"What a cute guy!"
Cyril closed the door behind him and walked to the bed, taking a seat there.
Morpho landed on the table and began moving back and forth, excitedly striking with her wings at the empty air.
Cyril briefly observed the excited butterfly before looking at the ball of fur in his arms.
"Tigris, do you want to try learning spells?"
The white tiger looked at him, their blue eyes meeting each other for a few seconds.
Eventually the mighty kitten shook his head and resumed his relaxation.
Huh.
"So what if he doesn't want to fight or train? He is still freshly born, let him enjoy life."
"Tigris has the right to be a carefree little tiger."
Morpho wasn't born that long ago herself. And even back then she was more active than this...
Rhamn stood in front of him, arms crossed.
"Unlike her, Tigris is still a kitten! You have to let him grow up first."
Cyril tilted his head, his encounter with Cosmas flashing on his mind.
...Will he grow up? According to Cosmas, archdemons don't change.
Rhamn raised her head higher.
"Hmph!"
"That's just yet another proof of their inferiority. Take a look at Morpho." She confidently pointed towards the table.
On the wooden table, Morpho was currently doing flips, swiping with her wings in the air.
...Cute.
"Yes, but that's not important right now. You didn't notice, but her size actually increased a bit."
Rhamn walked towards the butterfly, sending her a kind smile.
"They are growing, that's for certain."
Huh.
Cyril began petting the kitten in his arms, contemplating.
Tigris purred softly, his eyes half closed.
...So the demons' inability to change is yet another flaw humans caused them.
"Makes sense they want to destroy the Tower so much."
"But let's focus on something much more significant."
Her red eyes turned solemn.
"We bought things for Morpho, but Tigris is still without anything. That won't do, it's unfair!"
Cyril looked in her bright red eyes, finding not a shred of playfulness in them.
...That's true.
"Tigris, do you have anything you want?"
The white feline rolled in his arms.
"Meow."
No?
"...He doesn't know what's out there, of course he wouldn't want anything. Let's go choose something ourselves tomorrow."
If we have the time.
Cyril patted the kitten one last time and put him on the bed.
Tigris desperately cried out, but he left without looking back.
Cyril took a seat by the table and pulled out his study materials.
Morpho landed back on his shoulder, her improvised training interrupted.
The next few hours he spent absorbed in knowledge.
"..."
This is indeed a lot of homework.
"Nothing we can't handle! ...Oh, you missed a stroke here. The circle needs it to properly absorb mana."
Thanks.
Morpho already flew away, not able to handle this level of spellmaking.
The butterfly excitedly fluttered around Tigris, her antennae twitching in a challenging manner.
The white tiger blankly looked at his battle-ready sibling and quietly swallowed.
He meowed and sent a pitiful stare to Cyril, though he was ignored.
"Hahaha! Don't be shy, Morpho only wants to play!"
At Rhamn's urging, Tigris looked back at Morpho, at her compound eyes that burned bright with fighting intent.
"Meow..."
Cyril quietly studied, unbothered by the playful yelps and meows that followed.
...I do need a bigger room.