Mercedes Caulis – First Floor:
On the long, grassy plain of the Fields of Solitude, at the eastern end of the Colorless Garden, a towering oak tree stood on a slight incline.
Not far from it, the Carbuncle, Kiki, lay belly-up on a flattened rock. Her master stood a few meters away from Julius.
Will crouched slightly, gripping his Wist-blade with both hands, angled upward.
Fully Charged: Glauss Wis!
Just like during the first Bloom, the blade transformed—jagged ice encased the weapon, the result of devouring one of Julius' spells.
Will's solemn expression twisted into one of hesitation.
"Um… I'm holding it… but what do I do now?"
Julius began rolling up his sleeves, casting an indifferent look toward him.
"You keep the spell charged."
Then, without further explanation, he raised his right palm toward the sky. Snow and icy mist began to swirl around him in a spiral.
"Freeze. Whisper. Quell. Dance. Thy name is Guardian, thy name is Icebird: Fridde Gardinas!"
Will flinched as several hawk-shaped constructs made of ice erupted around Julius. The birds flapped their translucent wings and scattered, circling him.
Still, Will stayed focused, eyes flicking between the constructs and Julius.
"These are low-level guardians," Julius said, as they swooped around him in rhythmic arcs. "But I've poured a fair amount of magical energy into them…"
He lazily twirled a strand of frozen hair.
"They'll survive a hit—maybe two—especially if it's from the same element. Close enough to simulate those nasty worms from before."
Then he raised a finger.
"But," he continued, "you're going to hold back. I want your magical output so low that you can't even destroy them."
Will blinked, thrown.
"Okay…? But what for?"
Julius met his gaze, calm and cold.
"You're going to learn how to activate that Wis thing all by yourself."
He stepped forward, voice lowering.
"In six years at the Academy, you never managed to cast even the most elementary of spells."
Will winced but didn't argue.
Julius continued. "Trying to learn now is a fool's errand. Instead, we'll focus on what you can do—accessing that strange new power those freaks seem so interested in."
Will let out a breath and cracked a faint, wry smile.
"No, I get that. We've been over it… multiple times."
His grip on the icy blade tightened.
"It's just—how is this supposed to help me learn how?"
Even as Will asked the question, repressed thoughts drifted to the surface without him noticing.
I can't use magic by myself. That's why I have to charge my sword with the spells of others… I'm completely dependent on external magic…
So the idea of generating my own magic to activate Wis defeats the entire purpose.
"What you're trying to do is no different than having me create a new spell…"
He mumbled aloud without realizing it—lost in the spiraling logic of his own frustration.
Julius, who had been scratching the back of his neck in visible annoyance, suddenly snapped.
"Ugh, shut up, shut up! I don't want to hear your theories, Book Learner!"
Will flinched and gave him a tight, apologetic smile.
Julius sighed and slowly raised his wand, holding it to his chest like a conductor readying a performance.
"Stop overcomplicating everything, Serfort. All you're going to do is scare yourself with your own thoughts…"
He pointed the wand forward, voice calm but firm.
"What you're going to do is simple."
Sff.
A soft breath of icy mist escaped from the wand's tip. A small, crystal-clear shard formed in the air and hovered above it.
"You're going to anchor my magic."
"...Anchor?" Will echoed, stunned.
Julius nodded once, then dispelled the shard with a flick. He gripped his wand tighter and suddenly roared, voice charged with conviction.
"Precisely! It doesn't matter where it comes from—or who it comes from. If you can anchor the magical energy of a spell inside of you permanently, then you'll be able to turn Wis on and off at will! That will be your magic!"
He pointed dramatically at Will, eyes alight.
"One that Kreutz can't deny!"
"If right now you're outputting 100% of my magic—maybe even exceeding that because of your freakiness—"
Will twitched. Can you phrase that more nicely...?
Of course, Julius couldn't hear his thoughts. Nor would he care if he could.
"Then what we want is to reduce that number as close to zero as possible. Stretch the time you can hold that power until it's practically infinite."
"All so you can carry that energy in your blade permanently, and release it whenever you choose."
His voice rose again, brimming with certainty.
"We want to reach the point where that power stays with you even when you're resting. Even when you're walking, talking—not even thinking about it."
Snap.
Julius clicked his fingers, flashing a charismatic grin.
"Ideally, by the next Bloom, you'll hit a level where you can instantly ramp that output back up to where it looks like magic! Just like flipping a switch! Do you understand?!"
Will stood frozen.
Now he was starting to understand.
The Wors Ooze falls apart at even the slightest touch of magic... So even if he could only summon a minuscule amount, he'd be fine.
To reach that end, Julius intended for him to face the guardians without destroying them—forcing Will to minimize his magical output and eliminate wasteful usage.
A solid training plan. Especially given how quickly it had been devised. It only proved why Julius held a spot in the academy's top three.
Still… Will couldn't shake a lingering concern.
"Um… Julius?"
The Ice Mage, looking pleased with his own genius, raised a brow mid-smirk.
"What?"
Will cleared his throat, uneasy.
"But what if my sword is inspected beforehand… If they find out you lent me your power, they might fail me on the spot—"
"Oh, that?"
Julius' smile curled back into place, sharp and malicious.
He scoffed.
"Take it from a noble mage like me, Flunkee. Arrogance comes as naturally to us as breathing."
He paced slightly as he spoke.
"Kreutz is no different. He doesn't see you as anything more than a toy in his sandbox—something he owns. He won't even bother giving you a second look... not until it's too late."
Will sweatdropped slightly, offering a crooked, wry smile.
Then he paused again.
"But in the future… let's say I pass this test—"
"You will pass," Julius said firmly.
Will gulped, nodding.
"Right. After I pass the next Bloom... say I'm on an expedition, or a mission—and I have to use Wis at full power. When I release an attack, the sword will go back to normal unless someone lends me magic again. Won't I be exposed then?"
Julius went still.
He hadn't considered that.
A frown creased his face as he looked Will up and down.
"We'll just have to pray you're not unlucky enough to use it under the eyes of someone who actually wants to harm you."
"But—"
"But nothing!"
Julius snapped so sharply that Will flinched, immediately regretting speaking up.
The mage sighed and raked a hand through his pale blue hair, visibly frustrated.
"Listen, Serfort. As a noble, I made you a promise. I won't let that promise be meaningless."
His tone softened, but remained resolute.
"We're both aiming for Lady Elfaria's faction. Once we graduate from these ugly Colorless rags, we'll have plenty of time together to figure out how to make that power of yours truly independent—and eternal."
He pointed a finger at Will.
"So stop worrying about nonsense. Focus on the now. Pass this Bloom before we worry about whatever future this graveyard has in store for us."
Will's eyes widened.
Then he smiled softly.
"Thank you, Julius. I mean it! You're really amazing. I don't even know why you didn't get into a faction!"
The compliment hit like a sharpened arrow straight to the chest. Julius nearly choked on imaginary blood.
"It's all your fault, you stupid idiot!!"
"W-What?! My fault?!"
"YES, YOU! J-Just shut up and let's start already!"
"Eek! O-Okay!!"
"Mrow…"
Kiki, watching lazily from her rock, purred softly before rolling onto her belly. She stretched out her feline limbs, then shut her eyes to nap again.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Five Hours Later:
Pa-ling!
Another ice hawk shattered into crumbling mist the moment it struck Will's sword.
Julius nearly tore his hair out.
"Dammit! How many times do we have to start over?!"
Will stood panting, sweat dripping from his chin as he gritted his teeth.
"S-sorry…"
"Sorry doesn't cut it!"
Julius snapped from across the field. He crouched down, hands braced on his knees, breath coming fast.
"You keep destroying them! You're not showing the slightest bit of progress! How much of my mana are you trying to waste?!"
Huff.
Huff.
Huff.
Will wasn't doing much better. His shirt clung to him with sweat, and his arms trembled from strain.
Try as I might… I can't seem to hold the magic past the fifty-minute mark. It just disappears!
And the second Wis breaks down, I feel it—like something yanks the life right out of me. Physical and magical… this weakness is intense.
Kssh.
Even now, cracks splintered across the ice sheathing his blade. The magic flaked off in crumbling slivers—another fruitless round slipping away.
Again.
Will sighed, running his hand along the flat of his blade.
"Julius… I really think we should try to learn more about Wis before we do anything else."
He exhaled slowly.
"I honestly don't even know what this power is. And that's the problem."
He'd searched the entire academy library—top to bottom—but found nothing of note.
Workner-sensei seemed to know something… and Shishō too… but neither had anything concrete. No explanation of how Wis even works…
Will lowered his sword and spoke more calmly, appealing to reason as Julius slowly sank to his knees.
"What I need to do now is at least figure out the source of this thing… this 'Fifth Element' as Incindia Barham called it. Where it dwells inside me. Its core. Once I find that, maybe I'll finally be able to store and hold your magic properly."
"Mrow."
Kiki purred in agreement as Will scratched at his cheek, contemplative.
"It might take time, but I think we should seek out some High Mages—ask permission to access the higher archives, or something—"
"I'm already working on that!"
Julius cut in sharply. Will flinched, nearly stumbling from the sudden interjection, but this time Julius didn't care.
"As we speak, one of my clones is in the Upper Institute Library under Ms. Serah's guidance. Another just returned to the academy to consult Professor Eliza—she's helping me track down the whereabouts of anyone from the Finn Tribe."
Will blinked in confusion.
…Why Ms. Eliza?
But then his eyes widened in realization.
"Wait. You're remote-controlling Ars Weiss… across that distance?! Alone?! You've improved that much?! Hold on—why are you going this far out of your way to help me—"
"Because we have no time!" Julius snapped, his voice cracking from pressure.
A vein pulsed at his temple, his expression strained with frustration and fatigue.
"We don't have the luxury to choose between training and research. We have to do both. Now. The clock is ticking, Serfort—augh!"
He winced mid-sentence, pressing an icy palm against his forehead in an attempt to soothe the migraine forming behind his eyes.
Three separate sensory threads… three scenes… all at once… Dammit, this is why I hate multitasking!
Julius groaned and turned sharply, marching toward the tree.
"Five-minute break!" he hissed.
Then, with all the grace of a collapsing marionette, the Reinburg heir slumped down against the trunk of the ancient oak, curled inward with his face buried in his knees.
"…"
Will watched him in silence.
Then quietly walked over and sat beside him.
Julius tensed at the movement—shoulders stiffening slightly—but made no motion to pull away.
"Mreow…"
Kiki purred softly as she curled up in Will's lap. He stroked her fur with a quiet, rhythmic motion.
For a moment, the silence between the boys held—until Will let out a long, heavy sigh.
"That's a poor answer, Julius… and you know it."
He slowly turned, eyes fixed on the mage as Julius raised his head.
"So why are you really going this far?"
Julius twitched.
Then—without warning—he spat in Will's face, groaning as he nursed his pounding headache.
"Because I have ulterior motives, you fool! Why can't you figure out that I'm—"
"Using me to cozy up to Elfie?"
Will's voice cut through him like a blade.
Julius froze.
"?!"
Will let out a dry, bitter chuckle.
"Don't look so shocked. You've boasted about being her future successor more than once."
He gave a lopsided smile.
"I wouldn't deserve the nickname Book Learner if I couldn't put two and two together."
Julius clenched his jaw. No response came.
With a scoff, he lay back against the oak tree, staring up at the canopy.
"If you knew this whole time, why play along with my plot? More than that—why waste time asking me about it?"
Will's smile turned faintly wry.
"I suppose I was curious."
"…Curious?"
Will nodded.
"I wanted to see how far you were willing to go to win me over."
He gave a small shrug.
"Gotta say, you've blown those expectations right out of the park."
Julius let out a dry, biting laugh.
"So you were inwardly howling at me while settling your doubts?"
But Will's features softened as he shook his head.
"If you were just trying to manipulate me… I wouldn't have played along in the first place."
Julius raised a puzzled brow.
"What do you mean?"
Will didn't answer immediately. Instead, he leaned in slightly and whispered his own question.
"Julius… do you remember when you asked me how I could tell which one was really you during the Grand Magic Festival?"
The Reinburg heir tilted his head, clearly bewildered by the sudden shift in topic. But too tired to challenge it, he played along.
"Yes. I know my Ars Weiss wasn't perfect, but still... no matter how sharp your senses are—be they dwarven, beastly, or magically enhanced—you shouldn't have been able to pick the real me out so easily."
Will nodded.
"You're right. My accuracy didn't come from instinct alone. It came from a martial arts technique my master taught me—one that allows me to heighten my senses to their limits."
Julius blinked.
"Martial arts?"
"Yeah," Will said, nodding again. "It's called Ki."
Julius narrowed his eyes, repeating the strange name.
"Key?"
Will shook his head.
"No. 'K', 'i.' Ki. Everything that lives has it—magic or not. It's energy born from the body's movements: breathing, hearing, muscle contractions, even the rhythm of a heartbeat."
"Monsters, some dwarves, and experienced warriors use a diluted form of it. They may not know what it is, but they sense it instinctively—to hunt prey or read an opponent's movement."
Julius' eyes widened.
"And because of the cold air leaking from me... you could pick me out from my clones?"
Will nodded again.
"That was part of it. But Ki can do more than track movement. If you train it properly, you can feel someone's emotions… their intentions… even when they lie."
Julius froze.
Will's gaze turned quiet and resolute.
"And thanks to that, I knew. Deep down… you genuinely wanted to help me."
He looked at him without judgment.
"That's why I accepted your offer."
The ice mage clenched his jaw and shook his head with a sharp snort.
"Then it sounds like your master didn't teach you very well. You're still living in denial—refusing to see the truth that you're being used—"
"You're the one living in denial!"
Will cut him off, stepping in and getting right in his face.
Julius flinched.
"You're a good guy, Julius. If you weren't, you wouldn't have clapped for me at graduation!"
"I just didn't want to look bad in front of the audience! I was trying to blend in!"
"You cheered for me during my fight with the Devander!"
"Everyone else was doing it!"
"You didn't run during the Terminalia. You stood on the frontlines!"
"I wanted to run! But it was too dangerous to do it alone, so I had no choice but to follow that idiot Ulster!"
"You honored our bet—and even worked at Gina's tavern!"
"Those were her terms for an apology! A nobleman keeps his word!"
"It wasn't a one-time thing. I heard you kept working there until graduation."
"I—I had nothing better to do!"
Julius' final excuse landed with a thud.
So flimsy, so unconvincing... it practically dissolved in the air.
Will smirked, victorious.
The ice mage went beet red and turned away, arms crossed tightly as he let out a disgruntled snort.
"Whatever. At the end of the day, it doesn't change the fact that I used you."
He reached into his pocket, his hand wrapping around a locket tightly.
I'm not a good person… that part of me died the day she chose someone else.
Will leaned back, resting his weight on his hands as he looked up at the illusionary sky. Clouds drifted slowly across the projected dome above.
He let out a soft chuckle.
"And? What's wrong with that?"
Julius blinked.
Then stared at him, incredulous.
"…I beg your pardon?"
Will didn't look away from the glowing sky.
"You heard me. Deep down, everyone's got some ulterior reason for helping someone."
He continued calmly.
"Whether it's to feel good about yourself. To return a favor. To avoid guilt or regret."
Then he turned to Julius, voice steady.
"Or even to impress someone you hope is watching nearby."
Julius let out a sharp hiss.
"That doesn't make it any less shameless!"
Will shrugged.
"But it's human. It's us. Expecting help from someone who gets nothing out of it—that's what I think is truly shameless. Or at least, selfish."
Julius went silent.
For once, he had no comeback.
"…You're a lot more cynical than I had you pegged for, Serfort."
Will scratched his cheek, a sheepish smile on his face.
"Well… living day after day being insulted and ridiculed tends to mess with your outlook."
Julius winced. He knew he'd contributed to that.
"…Still. Getting caught red-handed—it's humiliating."
Will patted him on the shoulder.
"If it makes you feel any better, you came clean before you knew I already knew."
Julius rolled his eyes with a quiet snort, but the tension in his shoulders eased as he let out a slow sigh.
"So what now, Serfort? You heading off to do your own thing?"
Will shook his head.
"No. I'll still follow your plan. I just hope you'll be a little more open to my input going forward—"
He froze mid-sentence.
His eyes widened as a jolt ran through his thoughts, snapping them into sharp, sudden clarity.
Julius and Kiki raised their brows in unison.
"No-Talent, what's wrong?"
"Mreow?"
Will silently lifted Kiki off his lap and set her down beside him.
"Mreow?"
He didn't respond.
Ignoring her curious purr, he grabbed his sword and took a few steps away from the tree, his gaze sharpening with focus.
"Ki is the answer!"
Julius cocked his head.
"What are you talking about—"
"Julius, can you do me a favor?"
The ice mage furrowed his brow.
"What do you need?"
Will settled into his sword stance, feet braced, shoulders steady.
"Feed me another spell. Anything. Doesn't have to be strong."
Though confused, Julius remained seated in the grass. He tightened his grip on his wand and flicked his wrist.
A shard of ice shot forward—but just before it could hit Will, it curved unnaturally toward the flat of his blade, pulled as if by some invisible force.
Fsshh.
It broke into glittering dust, vanishing into the sword.
In seconds, the weapon transformed—gaining a jagged sheath of frost.
Ice Wis!
Will gripped the hilt tighter.
He still hadn't mastered how to activate Wis on his own.
But now—he could shut it off at will.
Kssh.
The frost melted away instantly, the Wist-blade returning to its original, untouched form.
Julius stared in stunned silence.
"…What was the point of that—?"
He stopped.
Will wasn't looking at him.
In fact, Will wasn't looking at anything.
His eyes were shut, shoulders loose, breath slow and deliberate as he cleared his mind.
Huff.
Huff.
Will breathed slowly, in and out, calming his body as he visualized inward.
He recalled the Ki technique— the same one he'd used to contract and relax his muscles during the battles against the Devander and the Grand Duke. Back then, it was brutal, self-destructive even.
Now, he took a gentler approach.
He steadily contracted and relaxed the muscles in his core… legs… feet… arms… hands… fingers… shoulders… over and over in a deliberate rhythm, as if searching for something hidden beneath the skin.
But whatever he was trying to find… it wasn't there.
So he changed tactics.
This time, he started from both ends—simultaneously from the soles of his feet and the tops of his shoulders. Slowly, he worked his way inward and outward again, like someone squeezing the last bit of paste from a nearly empty tube.
Paste that might not even exist, but you try your luck anyway.
Each pulse of his body carried a single intention:
Push whatever's inside… out. Into the sword.
And then—
Will's eyes snapped open.
A familiar coolness flowed into his blade.
His lips trembled before spreading into a wide, triumphant grin.
He hopped on the spot and threw his hands up.
"YES! I DID IT!"
Kiki and Julius stared at him like he'd just lost his mind.
With a cautious look and a voice laced in mild pity, Julius muttered as if speaking to a patient in a ward.
"…What exactly did you do, Learner?"
Will turned, baffled, and pointed at his sword.
"What do you mean? Don't you see—I used magic—"
He stopped short.
His smile wavered.
The sword… looked exactly the same.
No ice, no glow, no sign of change.
Just a normal, ordinary blade.
A very pretty magicless sword.
A bit sheepish, Will held out his sword, angled downward, offering it to his former classmate.
"Sorry. Just touch the blade. You'll understand."
Julius' visible pity deepened as he reached out with a sigh.
"What nonsense are you—"
He stopped cold.
The moment his fingers brushed the metal, his eyes widened.
It wasn't just cool like ordinary steel. It was ice cold.
Not frost-covered—but undeniably enchanted.
Julius' pupils contracted.
Without a word, he flicked his wand and cast Search.
A faint dome rippled out from the tip like a radar pulse—scanning the blade.
Ping.
There it was.
Faint. Incredibly faint. But magical energy was there.
Festering on Will's sword like a whisper of residual spellwork.
Like clockwork, Julius shot to his feet, nearly startling the Carbuncle off her paws.
"Mreow!" Kiki hissed.
He didn't register it.
His attention was locked on the weapon, hand still hovering near the blade. His throat bobbed as he swallowed.
"Can you turn it off?"
Will nodded.
And with a quiet breath, the cold vanished.
The Moria silver returned to its normal, room-temperature sheen.
Julius gulped again.
"…Turn it back on."
Will did.
Instantly, the cold returned. That silent, imperceptible bite of frost—not visible, not obvious, but unmistakably there if you knew what to feel.
"Off."
The cold receded.
"On."
Back again.
"Off."
Gone—quicker this time.
"On."
It returned, faster too.
"…Off."
It faded without delay.
"On."
Will concentrated—brows furrowed.
But nothing happened.
The sword remained what it was: a beautiful, completely magicless blade.
"…Damn."
Will grimaced slightly.
"I guess I'm already out of power."
Julius, however, smiled.
"That's not an issue. I only gave you a scrap of my mana. Before the test, I'll feed you my strongest spell."
Will looked at him, moved—but also worried.
"But you need to conserve your magic for the Bloom too…"
Julius chuckled.
"I've already proven my worth as a mage. You just put in a good word with Albis Vina for me."
Now that his intentions were out in the open, Julius felt no shame being forward.
And honestly… Will preferred it that way.
The swordsman laughed softly.
"Alright."
Julius withdrew his hand from the blade, the light in his eyes dimming slightly as a thought struck him. He went still.
Wait…
Magic power so low, it can't even be detected…
His chest tightened.
He prayed he was wrong.
"…Will."
Uncharacteristically, Julius used his full name—his real name. It caught Will off guard.
"Yeah? What's up?"
Julius clenched his jaw, hesitating.
"…Whatever you just did… is that how you killed the Wors Ooze during the First Bloom?"
Will nodded, a touch of pride in his voice.
"Yeah. I guess I was just in the zone back then and didn't understand it at the time. But now that I do get it… I'm sure I can repeat it anytime."
Julius froze.
His smile faded, his entire posture slumping as he dropped back to the ground.
"…Dammit."
Thump.
Will dropped his sword into the grass, stunned.
"What's wrong?!"
"Mreow!" Kiki echoed, nodding urgently.
Julius let out a long sigh, tilting his head back toward the illusory sky. He looked more tired than annoyed—resigned, almost.
"Serfort… what's stopping Kreutz from claiming one of his creatures malfunctioned again? If you don't radiate any magic when you destroy the beast… how's he supposed to approve you?"
Will furrowed his brow.
"We can just have someone in the audience cast Search, like you did."
Julius looked him up and down, deadpan.
"The fact that you can use magic without detection, right in front of the Vander, while lacking the Hide technique…"
His tone darkened.
"…Incindia Barham might really be tempted to turn you into a lab rat."
Will stiffened.
But he didn't back down.
"But—"
"But even if he doesn't," Julius interrupted, "this still isn't enough."
Will scratched his neck, confused.
"What do you mean?"
Julius slowly met his gaze.
"Because what you just did isn't a spell. It's not even real magic. It's just the circulation of mana. Something even a baby can do."
He continued grimly.
"It doesn't matter what requirements Kreutz gave you. He's not your friend. He's a researcher who wants to experiment on you. Knowing how shameless he is, he'll just move the goalposts again—say something like, 'If a No-Talent with this little ability can join a faction, then so should every other dropout in the country.'"
Will froze.
His smile fell away.
"…Oh."
Silence.
But then he shook his head and looked up again, determined.
"So what? We've still got a whole week. Now that we've made some progress, we just need to tweak the plan. I'll figure out how to burst some magic out of the blade next."
Julius nodded slowly.
"Alright. And how exactly do you plan on doing that? Is there some secret, advanced version of that Ki thing you forgot to mention? Or do we go back to searching for clues about the Fifth Element and Wis?"
He groaned under his breath.
"Because I'll tell you right now—none of my clones are having any luck with the latter. Not one."
His frustration bled through.
Success so close—only to feel it slipping again. It stung.
Will grimaced.
Do I tell him where to find Shishō…?
No, Will—what are you thinking?!
After everything he's done for you, how can you drag Shishō back into this? How can you ruin the quiet life he worked so hard to earn?
Tsk.
Will clicked his tongue in frustration.
A mix of disappointment and self-loathing swelled in his chest—and before he could stop himself, he threw a punch at the nearby tree.
Bam!
The trunk shuddered violently. Leaves rustled loose and fluttered down.
And then—
"Eek?!"
Thump!
Something—or rather, someone—crashed down from the tree and hit the grass face-first on the slope of the hill.
Both boys stood frozen.
Will's jaw slackened, a wave of apprehension filling him.
…Someone's been nearby this whole time… and I didn't notice?!
Julius, instinctively, dropped into a defensive stance and raised his wand. His eyes narrowed on the figure.
But then, after a closer look, he hesitated—and slowly lowered it again.
Will's alarm shifted into utter disbelief.
Because this so-called "stalker"… didn't seem dangerous at all.
"Aaah! Aaah! It hurts! It hurts! Waaaahhh!"
She sat up wailing in high-pitched sobs, cradling her head like a child who'd bumped it on the corner of a table.
Slender and fair-skinned, she would've looked like a total beauty—if not for the swollen red lump on her forehead and the snotty, hiccuping tears pouring down her cheeks.
Her hair was obsidian black, glossy and immaculately kept—styled into two long tails tied at the sides, with neat bangs above her eyes and a small knot in the back. Two delicate flower-shaped pins sparkled at her temples.
She wore a strange variation of the Colorless Gloria uniform—long and robe-like, more ceremonial than practical, like something worn at a festival rather than on school grounds.
And in her trembling hands, she held a pitch-black wand.
It was long, slender, slightly curved at one end, and faintly sharp at the tip.
Something about it tugged at Will's memory… almost like one of Shishō's wooden training swords.
He blinked and shook his head.
No, I'm imagining things.
The woman dusted herself off, brushing grass from her odd, robe-like "dress," and turned to them with a teary whimper.
"W-why did you hit my tree? D-did you come to bully me too? I-I don't even know you people! W-why won't you just leave me alone, e-even after my poor, helpless, and useless self goes out of her way to avoid everyone?!"
"…"
Will and Julius exchanged a long, silent look.
Then Will raised his hands in a calming gesture.
"Sorry, Ms…?"
"Argenta Hivernelle is what I go by!" she sniffled, puffing out her chest—though it only made her look more fragile.
Will squinted slightly.
That's an odd way of putting it… This lady sure talks weird.
Still, he forced his best polite smile.
"Sorry, Ms. Hivernelle. We didn't mean to startle you."
He bowed his head respectfully.
"We thought this area was public. I'm sorry for hitting your tree."
Argenta immediately turned meek, her fingers fidgeting as she looked down in embarrassment.
"W-well… it's not really mine… I just like to spend time here and rest…"
Julius nearly gawked.
You mean she's just been sleeping here this whole time? Through all the yelling and spellwork?! What kind of High Mage is this?!
Will's smile twitched, starting to crack at the edges.
"Still, I'm really sorry. I just got a little frustrated with my training and took it out on your… resting spot."
Argenta flushed bright red.
Then, with a dramatic groan, she fell to her knees and collapsed into despair, like a flower folding in on itself.
She raised her wand slowly to her own throat.
"Oh no… t-this is no good. I've been found out! Now the world will remember my disgrace—my shame! I-I have no choice but to preserve what little honour I have left by slitting my throat—!"
"WOAH—WOAH—WOAH!"
Will and Julius both yelled in unison, throwing up their hands like panicked schoolteachers calming a hysterical toddler.
Will instantly blurred forward and grabbed the wand—
Thump.
But then he froze.
He tried pulling it from her hand…
And failed.
Why is her grip this strong?!
Once again, the internal alarms in Will's mind flared—loud and clear.
But when paired with Argenta's utterly pathetic demeanor… he just couldn't see her as any real threat.
Still clutching her wand, Argenta lowered her head and mumbled softly.
"P-please let go… this is mine…"
Chill!
Every hair on Will's neck stood on end.
That one simple mumble sent a shiver racing down his spine.
Without thinking, he released her wand and backed away a full step.
Julius, noticing none of this, instead chose the gentlemanly route.
He bowed with grace.
"Apologies for my friend, Ms. Hivernelle. It seems you've mistaken us for someone else. We're merely new graduates preparing for this week's Bloom."
Argenta blinked, surprised, and slowly rose to her feet again.
"You are…?"
Julius nodded with a charming smile. An ice rose bloomed in his hand—a small, elegant gesture he'd already used on Will earlier that morning.
"Yes. So could you perhaps find it in your lovely heart to forgive us?"
Whatever reaction he'd hoped for—it certainly wasn't what he got.
Argenta's already pale complexion went ghostly white. Her expression twisted into one of pure horror.
"Oh no… I dishonorably mistook these children for someone else… and now one even thinks I'm an easy woman to seduce…"
Her hands trembled.
"I might be twice his age! N-now I really have no choice but to die—!"
"PLEASE CALM DOWN!!!"
Will and Julius shouted in unison, their voices sharp with panic.
"Aah—ack! I'm sorry! Please forgive me!" Argenta yelped, stumbling backward in a flurry of sleeves and apologies.
The two boys stared at her, dumbfounded.
Completely at a loss.
Even if she was Colorless… how had someone like this—shameless, suicidal, and so impossibly timid—made it to the rank of High Mage?
Their respect for their superiors… took yet another hit.
The two exchanged a glance, then forced soft smiles as they each extended a hand to her in unison.
"We apologize for offending you, Senior. Please forgive us."
Argenta blinked, hugging her long wand tightly to her chest like a child clutching a favorite toy. She didn't take their hands, but she slowly stood and gave a stiff, trembling nod.
"O-okay… forgiveness granted."
Will and Julius exhaled in unison, visibly relieved.
Kiki purred approvingly.
Mreow!
Argenta's eyes shimmered faintly as she caught sight of the Carbuncle.
...S-so cute… If only frogs had even half this charm, maybe this miserable life would be worth living...
Will looked up at the sky.
"It's getting late… I think we should head back for the night."
Julius nodded, sparing one last look toward Argenta.
"Will you come with us—"
"Y-Yes! The n-night is no place for a maiden to wander alone!"
"…"
The duo twitched at her exaggerated tone, but said nothing as they turned and began walking ahead.
Argenta followed a few paces behind, her wand still clutched protectively in her arms.
Kiki hopped onto Will's shoulders with a soft plop.
As she did, Julius leaned closer and whispered under his breath.
"How much do you think she heard?"
Will grimaced, whispering back.
"I want to say she was asleep the whole time… but something about her gives me the chills."
Julius narrowed his eyes, nodding slightly.
"Then we can't waste any more time. If she's one of Kreutz underlings and makes a report, things could spiral fast. Tell me where your master lives. I'll send a clone. He might know more about Ki than you realize…"
Will clenched his jaw.
Damn it… This is exactly what I wanted to avoid.
Always bothering Shishō… dragging him into my mess...
But at this point, he had little choice.
With a heavy heart and a voice barely audible, he whispered a location to Julius as they continued walking into the simulated dusk.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Clank.
Crank.
Thump.
"...What is happening here?"
Julius couldn't help but murmur in confusion. Will and Argenta mirrored his expression.
Near the entrance to the Fields of Solitude—just past the outskirts of the main city—a large crowd of Colorless had gathered.
They whispered among themselves, brows furrowed, voices low and uncertain. What lay before them was… baffling.
A massive portion of the sacred field had been cut off, blocked behind wooden barriers and stacks of lumber. Some kind of undisclosed construction site had sprung up overnight.
And it was being run by dwarves.
Is that... Mister Donnan?
And Mister Hugo?
Wait—Mister Gerrad too?!
Will blinked, eyes wide. He wasn't hallucinating—face after familiar face appeared before him. Dwarven artisans, blacksmiths, carpenters, and lumbermen were all hard at work, hammering, hauling, shouting measurements.
They were building something big. Wide. Structured. And they were doing it here, of all places.
That alone was enough to raise alarms.
Dwarves working outside the tower's sanctum? Normal. Expected, even.
But inside the tower—a place sacred to magic itself?
Unless you were a Finn, just seeing a dwarf here was borderline sacrilege. An insult to Mercedes Caulis' legacy.
This was the one place where even the most elitist mages, who despised grunt work, wouldn't be above picking up a hammer or screwdriver—all to ensure these sacred walls remained "pure" for the magical kind.
Yet here were the dwarves. Whistling as they worked. Laughing. Unbothered by the dozens of confused and increasingly displeased stares.
What the hell is going on... Will thought.
Then, the quiet cracked.
"WHAT ARE LOWLY DWARVES DOING ON MY FLOOR?!"
A thunderous roar tore through the crowd.
All heads turned.
Will and Julius stiffened as their gazes locked onto the source.
Their eyes widened.
"Paramount Kreutz..." Julius whispered.
Kreutz Harlon stomped forward, fury vibrating in every step. Charles trailed behind him, silent and tight-lipped.
He hadn't noticed Will yet. Didn't see the boy he'd deemed his optimal experimental material standing among the stunned onlookers. His full attention was fixed on the dwarves and whatever heretical project they'd dared begin here.
Will swallowed. His heart clenched for his dwarven friends... but he trusted them. They knew what they were doing. They had to.
Then—Julius tugged his sleeve.
Without a word, they slipped behind the crowd, darting around the perimeter and into the city before anyone could spot them.
Argenta followed a beat later, eyes still wide. She didn't mean to follow—but her legs moved before her mind caught up.
She didn't want to be left alone.
Kreutz looked down at Donnan, visibly seething—eyes sharp, lips curled, out for blood.
"More than that... how did you filth even get into my Tower?!"
Donnan just stood there, chewing on something imaginary. Unbothered. Unresponsive.
The lack of reaction only made Kreutz's fury spike.
He raised his wand, slowly pointing it at the top of Donnan's head.
"Answer me, savage. Before I blow out what little brains your primitive mind possesses—"
"Let's not do that."
Everything stopped.
Kreutz froze mid-cast. Charles froze. Even the crowd of Colorless held their breath.
They all followed the direction of Kreutz's startled gaze... and turned to see the man now standing calmly at his side.
He looked like he'd been there the whole time.
Blonde hair. An ever-smug eyepatch. That smooth, unreadable smile that made you want to slap it off his face.
Kreutz narrowed his eyes.
"What are you doing, Patri—?"
"Adjutant Patri," the elf corrected with a wag of his finger, clearly proud of the title.
It was as if he were showing off a new medal.
Kreutz didn't flinch.
"Are you obstructing my work, Adjutant Patri? I'm here to deal with these audacious heretics—"
"I understand," Patri chuckled lightly. "But they're under my purview, so I can't allow you to do that. If you have an issue, please direct it to me."
Kreutz blinked. His voice lowered to a harsh whisper.
"Are you out of your mind? This bottom floor belongs to the Upper Institute—my jurisdiction. I am the Director. Any projects here, no matter how small, must be approved by me first."
He stepped closer, wand still trembling.
"And you—without so much as informing me—dared to let filthy dwarves defile these sacred grounds?! Even if you are an Adjutant, this is grounds for treason. An offense worthy of execution!"
"I said," Patri interjected, still smiling, "they're under my purview, not my direction."
That stopped Kreutz in his tracks.
Patri let out a small snicker, then tilted his head.
"Oh, and allow me to correct another misunderstanding while we're at it, Paramount. There is, in fact, one individual in this tower who requires no one's permission to act—so long as they don't tamper with the barrier."
A beat of silence.
Then Kreutz's breath hitched.
The entire crowd fell still.
"Th-this... was ordered by Lord Masterias?" Kreutz stammered.
Patri nodded, calm and collected. "That's correct."
Kreutz shivered.
"B-but why...? What's he planning—?"
"Are you questioning the King, Paramount Kreutz?"
Patri's voice dipped to a near-whisper.
The smile was gone.
His gaze sharpened.
And Kreutz—Director of the Upper Institute, one of the most powerful men in the Tower—nearly collapsed under the weight of that quiet threat.
He bowed low, sweat beading down his forehead.
"M-my apologies... May I take my leave?"
"You may," Patri said, all friendly again. Smile back. Voice light. As if nothing had happened.
It felt like divine judgment had passed and spared him.
Kreutz didn't wait to be told twice.
He spun on his heel and stormed off. Charles trailed behind in a hurry, unsure whether to look angry or relieved.
Patri turned to the crowd, his smile unwavering.
"Any other problems?"
The Colorless gulped.
Heads shook all around. They scattered like frightened mice.
Patri laughed and turned to Donnan.
"You're dismissed for the night. Continue tomorrow morning."
Donnan gave a casual nod and waved to the others.
"Sure thing, Mister Elf."
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Kreutz slumped into his chair, the full realization of what had just happened finally catching up to him.
He still felt like he'd brushed the edge of death.
Few people understood what Aaron Masterias Oldking truly was—not the kind, benevolent ruler so many liked to imagine. No.
He wasn't a tyrant.
But he was merciless.
There was no tolerance for failure or dissent. No leniency for stepping out of line. Unless, of course, you were a Vander.
And Kreutz... was not a Vander.
He was no pillar. No irreplaceable piece in the grand hierarchy.
He was disposable.
Phew.
He wiped his forehead with a damp cloth, his hand still trembling.
He didn't care that Charles was watching—didn't care that his assistant could see the sheer pathetic state he was in.
Charles chewed his lower lip, hesitant.
"Paramount... should we at least verify whether this was truly under Lord Masterias Noah's orders—?"
"No," Kreutz said flatly.
He cut him off with quiet finality, his voice steadying, the practiced calm of a veteran slowly returning to his tone.
"That's not a name anyone invokes lightly. Not unless they have a death wish. Not even his adjutant would dare lie about it."
Charles stayed quiet for a moment, watching him.
"...The rumors will spread quickly," he said at last. "And if Lord Masterias doesn't come forward to deny it, then... it either means Patri was telling the truth, or he's been given silent consent."
Kreutz didn't reply.
Charles continued, hesitant. "Either way, don't you want to know why? Aren't you the least bit curious—?"
"I am not."
The words hit like a hammer.
Kreutz's voice was firm. Cold. Closed.
"Drop the topic, Charles." He exhaled and sat straighter in his chair. "Now. Do you have any reports for me?"
Charles froze for a second, then gave a small nod.
"Yes, sir."
He cleared his throat. "Word just came in from one of the labs. The sample Arvin Olus deposited earlier—it's been confirmed."
Kreutz raised an eyebrow, interested despite himself.
Charles continued.
"It belongs to the boss of Floor 40."
Kreutz went still.
Slowly, he sat up straighter.
"I see…"
Charles nodded, then paused, clearly hesitant.
"Paramount, if I may... the timing of all this is quite—"
"Coincidental?" Kreutz finished dryly, his tone rhetorical.
He gave a slight nod. "Certainly it is. With the Devander absent from the floor—as evidenced by the invasion—it was the opportune moment to challenge the Fortieth Layer."
Charles nodded as well. "Exactly, Paramount... Isn't that quite concerning?"
Kreutz narrowed his eyes, gaze sharpening.
"You think Yuno Grinberryall's group had something to do with the invasion?" He studied his assistant. "Charles... you weren't this gossipy before."
Charles lowered his head. "I'm only broaching the topic, Sir."
Kreutz didn't look away. His assessing glare stayed fixed.
"I understand what you're getting at. Even if Solphis Neamhain as a faction didn't collaborate with the invaders, it's entirely plausible they were at least informed—either about the attack itself, or the Devander's absence."
He leaned back, expression thoughtful.
"They could have used that narrow window to gain an edge over Albis Vina. And either scenario could be grounds for treason... however—"
"However?" Charles echoed.
"However... this could also be a smokescreen."
Kreutz's voice dropped slightly, eyes narrowed in calculation.
"A convenient narrative. One that makes us pin blame—or at least suspicion—on the Wind Faction. Meanwhile, the real perpetrators slip right through the cracks."
Charles said nothing. Just listened.
"Until more concrete evidence emerges—and until the research on those Mage Slayers is completed—we'll continue monitoring Solphis Neamhain just like the other factions."
A pause. Then:
"However, raise their priority level. One grade higher."
Charles gave a silent nod, gaze fixed on the floor.
"It will be done, Paramount."
Kreutz settled deeper into his chair, folding his hands in front of him with a satisfied hum.
"Good. There are many suspicious points tied to Yuno Grinberryall, Sylor Silvamillion, and Terzo Auguste Pennacallis."
He tapped a finger once against the armrest.
"Capturing Floor 40—even with the Devander absent—is no small feat. Especially as a group of three."
"Even if they're innocent concerning the Terminalia... they'll need to be brought in for questioning someday."
He paused. Then added with a grim smile:
"But for now, there's little point in tipping them off. That could provoke a violent response—and these are turbulent times."
"Rather..." He trailed off, gaze turning cold.
"Rather?" Charles prompted, barely above a whisper.
"Rather..." Kreutz smiled slowly, the corners of his lips twitching upward into something crooked and malevolent.
"I'm not particularly interested in anything at the moment. Not Lord Masterias' actions. Not Solphis Neamhain's movements. Not even the invasion—"
He leaned forward, eyes alight with cruel desire.
"Unless it leads me to having Will Serfort... on my dissection table."
Charles didn't flinch.
"So," Kreutz went on, voice low and gleeful, "reach out to your contacts among the Colorless. Have them assembled."
"Quietly."
Charles bowed deeper, his tone crisp.
"Of course, Director."
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
As Will's group slipped deeper into the Colorless Garden, a mocking, degrading voice stopped them in their tracks.
"Well, look who we have here?"
Will and Julius exchanged a tense glance.
Shit! Did Kreutz notice and send someone after us?
Another voice joined in, sharp and sneering.
"Arrogant and useless trash alike."
Their anxiety spiked.
They're definitely talking about us!
Grinding their teeth, the duo whirled around, instinctively dropping into low, defensive stances. Muscles tightened, bracing for a confrontation.
But then—blink
"Mreow?"
Even Kiki cocked her head, puzzled.
Because the voices hadn't been directed at them at all.
They were aimed at Argenta Hivernelle, who stood off to the side, head lowered, shoulders trembling slightly.
The source: two men in Colorless robes. One had matted red hair, the other slicked-back blond. Neither of their faces were memorable, but their smirks reeked of cruelty.
The redhead leaned closer, his voice low but cutting.
"I thought trash like you would've died off somewhere. Shame you're still breathing."
The blond followed up with a sneer.
"Had a good nap while the rest of us worked our asses off for even a sliver of recognition?"
Argenta flinched. Her wand trembled in her grip as she mumbled, not daring to meet their eyes.
"I-I-I didn't mean to…"
Julius frowned, eyes narrowing.
She did mention something about bullying… but seriously? High Mages acting like damn street thugs? Where's your dignity?
Will, meanwhile, was quiet. He didn't know Argenta. He'd only met her recently, and she was no friend of his.
But something about the way she shook… the way her head stayed down while her fingers curled tightly around her wand…
He didn't like it.
Not because of pity.
But because he knew that stance.
His gut told him she wasn't weak. She wasn't helpless.
She was just holding herself back.
And that feeling—it hit too close to home.
Being strong enough to fight back… but not allowed to. Not without revealing too much. Or worse—because somewhere deep down, you don't believe you're worth fighting for.
Will's gaze darkened.
He'd seen enough.
Will was just about to step forward when a gentle, yet firm voice cut through the tension.
"It's quite late. How about we all turn in for the night, hmm?"
The mocking duo spun around, eyes narrowing as they measured up the new arrival.
He was a man of average height—maybe 5'10—dressed in the standard-cut Colorless Gloria. His short black hair was neatly parted, and his ocean-blue eyes carried a calm gleam.
He wore a smile that seemed harmless and friendly, almost too much so.
"Acting this way won't endear you two to any faction," he continued, voice still pleasant. "Especially if word got out."
The two men stiffened slightly. Their smug posturing faded, if only a little, as they exchanged a glance and turned to sneer over their shoulders.
Hmph.
They snorted at Argenta one last time before shoving past the newcomer, shoulder-checking him with deliberate force.
He barely reacted—just gave a quiet chuckle, then turned back toward Argenta.
"Argenta—"
"I-I've got to go to bed!"
She yelped the words, cutting him off as she spun around and stormed off, head down, eyes locked on the ground.
The man watched her retreating figure with a slight twitch in his lips.
"…Haven't you been sleeping the entire day?"
He sighed, the helpless sound of someone used to this routine, and began to walk away.
But Will stepped forward, raising a hand.
"Um… Mister—?"
"Théo Coqus," the man said promptly, flashing another friendly smile. "How may I help you?"
Will scratched the back of his head, hesitating.
"Mr. Coqus, can you tell us what that was all about—?"
"Hey, Flunkee?!"
Julius grabbed him by the shoulder and hissed into his ear.
"Why are you getting involved in other people's business?! We've got our own problems!"
Will winced at the scolding, but Théo's eyes suddenly lit up with childlike excitement.
"Oh?! Are you two friends of Argenta?!"
Both Will and Julius froze.
The sheer surprise—and delight—on Théo's face made it painfully clear:
The idea that Argenta Hivernelle had friends was, to him, almost unthinkable.
And yet... he looked genuinely pleased.
Will chewed on his lip, looking slightly guilty.
"We only met a few minutes ago, so…"
"Oh… such a shame."
The light in Théo's eyes dimmed a bit. Julius sighed and ran a hand through his hair in visible frustration.
I can't believe I'm doing this… This damn Flunkee is rubbing off on me too much.
With a reluctant groan, Julius raised a hand.
"I take it you're one of Ms. Hivernelle's friends… or at least an admirer?"
"Julius?" Will blinked at him, surprised.
Théo chuckled softly.
"Friend," he said firmly.
Julius gave a small nod.
"Alright. We're not close to her, but we didn't appreciate the tone those two were using. Mind explaining what that little show was about?"
The Reinburg heir folded his arms, posture aloof as he quickly tacked on a justification to keep his "detached" image intact.
"Your new juniors here aren't really familiar with the social dynamics or power plays on this floor. We only arrived today. It'd help to know what we need to watch out for."
Théo studied them both for a moment, then gave a short nod.
"Fair enough. But in return, I want you two to promise me something."
Will blinked.
"…What?"
Théo cleared his throat, his tone soft but serious.
"I'm not asking you to be friends with Argenta. I just hope that going forward, you'll treat her with a bit of respect. Or, if nothing else, just leave her alone."
Will didn't really understand, but Julius answered for both of them.
"Trust us. That sort of tactless bullying is in poor taste for either of us."
Will arched a brow. Coming from Julius, that felt a bit rich. Still, he nodded along with a faint smile.
"Yeah. We're good kids!"
Théo chuckled softly, then glanced up at the night sky with a wistful sigh.
"Oh, where do I even begin…"
A flicker of clarity passed through his eyes as he turned back to them.
"I hope the two of you understand what it really means to be Colorless. Right?"
Will and Julius frowned in unison.
Julius scoffed.
"Yeah. It means putting the Blessed on an even higher pedestal while we slave away down here doing all the tower's grunt work."
Théo offered him a sympathetic smile and nodded.
"Yes. Needless to say, no one chooses to be Colorless. Not if they have a choice."
He paused, then held up two fingers.
"But there are two exceptions."
Will tilted his head.
"Two exceptions?"
Théo chuckled wryly.
"Well… there used to be only one. Until Argenta."
That name made them blink. But Théo just shook his head and continued.
"The first—and formerly sole—exception was when someone declined an offer from a faction because they had another path they wanted to follow."
He smiled faintly.
"Paramount Kreutz, for example. He probably could've joined Albis Vina, but instead chose to become the director of the Upper Institute. He devotes his life to magical research."
Will exhaled through his nose.
Good. I wouldn't want that creep anywhere near Elfie.
Théo moved on without missing a beat.
"Clairie Serah could've joined the Ice Faction too. As well as Incindia Barham… maybe even Solphis Neamhain. But Clairie chose to become the Tower's arbiter—to mediate between factions rather than align with one."
He gave a small shrug.
"There are others too. Eccentrics with a deep passion for research like Kreutz. Some immediately returned to the academy as professors or assistants instead of trying to climb the tower. Others took posts in major cities like Terallis or Samios—as instructors, governors, mayors. That sort of thing."
Will and Julius both perked up slightly at the mention of cities outside the tower.
"And the Finns," Théo added. "The People of Light. They've always been close with the Light Faction… but they've never officially joined them."
For a brief moment, something flickered in both boys' eyes at that.
Théo, however, sighed and folded his arms.
"The point is—everyone who ever turned down a place among the Blessed had a clear, even admirable reason to."
His voice dropped.
"Until Argenta."
Will hesitated.
"…What did she do?"
Théo clicked his tongue, a bit of wry humor behind it.
"It's more what she didn't do. I trust you've noticed her… social anxieties by now?"
"…"
Both Will and Julius twitched, recalling her dramatic display of flailing and suicide attempts. They nodded, expressionless.
Théo chuckled sheepishly.
"Well, she turned down Albis Vina. Simply because she was afraid of having expectations placed on her… and disappointing them."
She turned down Elfie?!
Will's eyes widened, though Théo remained unaware of his internal turmoil and continued calmly.
"And ever since, Argenta's done… nothing. She passes her days lazing around, sleeping, eating, just idling. No research. No projects. Nothing to contribute to the tower."
He sighed.
"It's gotten to the point where some have seriously suggested revoking her status as a High Mage."
"But…" Julius narrowed his eyes. "You haven't."
Théo raised a finger with a knowing look.
"Because every now and then, Albis Vina keeps offering her a spot. She refuses each time… but many believe it's only a matter of time before she finally gives in."
He gave a loose shrug.
"And if we kicked her out now, we risk souring Albis Vina's mood."
Julius frowned slightly.
"Politics."
"Exactly," Théo said with a soft laugh. "And here's the thing…"
His tone sobered.
"The fact that she does nothing—no initiative, no ambition—infuriates the rest of the Colorless. Especially the ones who are killing themselves day after day, just for a chance to be seen by any faction."
He looked toward where Argenta had disappeared.
"That's what today was about. Nothing personal. Just envy and frustration, directed at the easiest target."
Julius scratched his chin, nodding slowly in thought.
"I see."
Will, meanwhile, was frozen.
She turned down Elfie multiple times?! What… why?! How could anyone do that… Elfie's the best!
For the first time, he fully understood the resentment in that earlier pair's voices.
And he wouldn't lie—he felt a flicker of jealousy too.
He had risked life and limb for six long years just to stand beside Elfaria.
And Argenta?
She'd gotten countless offers… while napping in a tree.
Unbelievable.
Yeah—he was jealous.
But he didn't resent her.
Everyone had their own reasons. Even if he didn't understand Argenta's, he knew better than to judge someone for trying to live in their own way.
After a moment, he nodded.
"Thank you for your time, Mr. Coqus. We'll keep our promise."
Théo Coqus beamed.
"That's all I can ask for."
He gave them a quick once-over. "I heard there's another Bloom next week. Good luck."
Julius scoffed, arms folded.
"We don't need it."
Will was more diplomatic.
"Still, we're grateful."
Théo chortled and turned, strolling off into the darkening corridor.
Once he was out of earshot, Julius leaned close and whispered.
"At least this probably means she isn't some spy for Kreutz."
Will's shoulders eased slightly as he nodded.
"I sure hope so."
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Author's Notes:
[1] Black Clover and Wistoria season 2 announcements on the same weekend? Not bad at all.
[2] Argenta (Latin) + Hivernelle (French) loosely translates to "Silver Winter," carrying a soft, feminine elegance.
[3] Théo (French) + Coqus (Latin) roughly means "one blessed with the divine gift of cooking."
[4] If you'd like to chat, discuss the story, or hang out, feel free to join the Discord: https://discord.gg/s3MME8X8ar