A few days had gone by and Grace felt his body exude a tremendous amount of strength. It pulsated and shuddered like a strike of thunder. A small smirk fell on his face, a look of satisfaction surging from one end of his lip to the other.
"Normal Grade 8."
He was progressing quite finely, but there was still much to do. Even though there was still a few months lefts until first semester ended, Grace was determined to be able to get to at least Normal Grade 5 or 4 by the time it did end.
It was good progress.
But not enough.
I need to be quicker. He was ahead, but he wasn't ahead by much. Even though he had this extensive knowledge of the world, he couldn't put it to go use.
Everything is depending on strength. He could attempt to solo a dungeon or use a weekend to go out of the academy and explore--but he lacked strength.
And those who wielded strength would be able to detect it.
Regardless if he was putting of a bravado.
"Still," Grace muttered. "It seems it'd be best to venture out and beat some mana beast." Though given his track record, attempting to get permission would go down the drain.
I'll figure something out. Getting out of the training pod, Grace recollected himself and started going back to the dorm. Though when he did arrive, Grace saw an academy staff member stand outside the door that led to his and Rufus' room.
"Ah, Grace Walker," the man straightened his posture. "The Headmaster is looking for you. He said that there is someone that is looking for you." Grace furrowed his eyebrows.
"Anyone in specific?"
"Your sister."
Grace's eyes widened.
Something in his heart leapt, twirling as if it was a dancer - or a ballerina - bending their bodies in unfathomable way. It was not love or awe--
Rather the feeling of envy fell into his heart.
This body... quite a thing you are. It's recognizing an inevitable meeting between siblings. Grace thought to himself, then he nodded at the staff and made a 180-turn out of the dormitories.
As the wind pressed against his face and the sun slowly turned to the west, Grace was at a crossroad. He did not know what this meeting between him and his sister would entail.
That sibling... she's a damn Royal Knight for the Emperor. Ain't that a crazy thing? A Special Grade 6 just awaiting for my presence. Had she not been his sister, then he could almost believe this was a sequence of him walking towards impending death.
When he arrived in the office of Aventus Dawn, Grace stood still for a moment. His body was frozen, and he planted his heart into the depths of the void. He calmed himself, maintaining an even gaze.
Grace walked up to the receptionist. It was a lady with neat brown hair that was braided beautifully, and her eyes bore a deep hazel that shone enchantingly.
"The Headmaster called for me?"
"Ah, Mr. Walker. Yes, he and your sister await you in his office."
Grace nodded.
He walked to the side and stopped at the door to the office.
Knock!
Knock!
"It's me--It's Grace."
"You may enter."
Even from where he stood - behind the door - Grace could feel the dominating presence that awaited for him in the room that stood beyond the door he stood in front of.
He entered.
Bright.
It was the first thing that he noticed.
There were panes of glass that was parallel to the wall he was in front of him, and to the side were dark-navy curtains that had yet to be unfolded. So the light of the sun pierced through the glass and shone those present in limelight.
Below, the Aventus Dawn sat at his oak-wood desk with a stack of papers planted atop that same desk. His gaze was calculated and stern. Yet it also had an even amount of warmness.
Then, on a couch to the left, was a woman that sat sat confidently. Her presence was earth-shattering, and the mere glance at her stature--
There comes an instinctual acknowledgement.
That this woman was strong.
Unbelievably so.
Sipping on a cup of tea, her hazel hair was amplified by the shining light, accentuating the color to a blonde that made it seem as if she was a radiant angel that fell from heaven.
And she shared the same dull, pale skin a Grace.
Her azure eyes flashed to where Grace stood.
"Brother," she said. The mere tone of her voice--it carried weight that demanded attention. Her eyes then flashed to the couch that was directly parallel to her own.
"Sit."
Grace followed the command. He walked to the couch parallel to her own and basked in the silence between the three of them. Between them, Aventus merely smiled warmly at the two and stood up from his chair.
"Your sister wishes to discuss something with you privately," Aventus informed him. "So I'll leave you to alone." Grace suppressed the urge to groan.
Great... just great. But he remained calm and collected, his gaze indifferent. He could tell that Madeline was analyzing every expression and gesture and fidget that he could possibly make.
Something that differed from the usual Grace Walker.
He did nothing of sort.
Closing her eyes, Madeline finally placed her tea cup down on the table that separated them.
"You're good."
Grace said nothing in response.
"The indifference is there. And the calmness that was akin to a despondent body of water is still there. Though the flame that burns in those eyes of yours - the same flames that the you before you thought none could see - is far brighter than ever."
Then, different from anything that Madeline has ever to for him in his memory that he could recall, a thin smile appeared on her face.
That smile--It was... shaking. For a split of a second, that smile shook.
Sadness?
He wondered.
"Welcome to the new world, Grace Walker."
This--it was a genuine welcome. There was not a hint of hostility or dislike, though a part of Grace could not deny the possibility that she is resisting the urge.
"I heard you fell into a dungeon."
Grace looked away slightly, a slight chuckle escaping his lips.
"It was a 1-star at first. Then it turned into a 4-star."
Madeline hummed.
"Not surprised."
Grace raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
"It's because you entered the gate."
His eyes widened.
"It changed because of me?"
Madeline nodded her head.
"The gate recognized that you were a blessed for the Creator. Though the jump from 1-star to 4-star is uncommon. But... this should serve as a lesson. If you do go into a dungeon--be prepared for the star to jump up."
What a pain in the ass, Grace couldn't help but think.
"How did you and Vincent get stronger?"
There was an amused chuckle that escaped her lips.
"We snuck out."
"To where?"
"Outside of the city. Every Friday. For two days. We would return on Sunday evening. We avoided dungeons, but we dabbled in nearly anything we could do. Underground markets, mana beasts, illegal fighting under disguises, and the like."
"Ever get caught?"
Madeline smirked.
"Nope. We snuck out through a tunnel that was near the entrance walls. To the left of the entrance is a sewer system. It's near the walls so much people don't know much about it. We just took a clean path straight. As long as you make it back without anything suspicious on you--you are as good as clean. Though... just because you don't get caught, does not mean no one knows."
"What do you mean?"
"Aventus," she started, saying his first name. "His sensory abilities reaches the entirety of the academy. He knows when people leave and when they come back. He knows everything. But he can't sense the things you bring."
As expected of Aventus, Grace inwardly mocked.
Sipping her cup of tea, her gaze landed on Grace.
"Speaking from experience--you should bring someone along. Just one. Like Alice."
Grace raised an eyebrow.
"Quite specific. Any reason why?"
"I've seen her a handful of times--she's cautious and makes sure to think before acting. Though being too cautious can be an issue, it wouldn't hurt. And... well--I want to see something."
Grace narrowed his eyebrows.
"What are you scheming?"
Madeline shrugged her shoulders.
"A long time ago - just a bit before we found out that there would be no transmigration for the body you now had - father and mother were looking to arrange a marriage between you and Alice. Though that never came to fruition and it got buried just as quickly as it had been formed."
"And what now? Trying to play cupid?"
"Hardly. Testing out the waters of your compatibility is never a bad thing, isn't it?"
"It could be."
"But not in this instance. Take it from me, but surrounding yourself with reliable people is a good thing."
Grace shook his head, not being able to take this woman seriously. He looked to the side and noticed that the world outside of the room was getting dimmer.
"It's getting dark," he sighed. "I should probably head back to the dorm. It was nice meeting you."
"Wait a moment."
Grace stopped as he was getting up, looking at Madeline with a raised eyebrow.
"Here." From her pocket, there were three items that she pulled and put on the table between the two of them.
A ring.
Contact lenses.
And glasses.
"Pick one or two. You absolutely must take the ring because it's a dimensional storage ring. And while it is attached with an item identifier, I'm giving you the option to pick another thing. Purely for cosmetic purposes."
He picked up a ring and the glasses, keeping it to himself.
On the other hand, he wondered--
"Why are you doing this? After all this time... now?"
And, for the first time, Madeline couldn't meet him in the eyes. Her head was turned to the windows.
"I know--you don't want an apology. Not after everything. But I want to make amends."
There was an audible gulp, the lump in her throat being swallowed.
Grace didn't say anything.
He understood.
Madeline.
Vincent.
Michael.
Rowena.
He understood why they did what they had to do. Yet it hurt the body all the same. And right now... he did not have the strength to be able to forgive them.
"Later," Grace said flatly.
He avoided her gaze and walked away.
"Take care, Grace."
Alone in the room, Madeline couldn't help but sigh.
A difficult and solemn look spread across her face.
"It'll... take some time."