Mercedes Caulis – First Floor:
"Gone?!"
Will's voice cracked in disbelief as he walked side-by-side with Julius across the misty morning stretch of the Fields of Solitude.
Julius gave a tired snort and nodded.
"Yeah. I paid a visit to that cabin you told me about. No one was home."
Will frowned, shaking his head.
"That can't be right. They're probably just out on a morning run into the city—you should've waited—"
"I did wait!" Julius snapped, then sighed and rubbed his neck.
"Well… my clone did. For an hour. Then he let himself in, and get this."
Will paused mid-stride. "What?"
Julius stopped too. His voice dropped.
"The place was deserted. Not just empty—stripped. Anything valuable? Gone. Big furniture was still there, but no jewelry, no picture frames. No clothes, no food, not even glassware in the kitchen."
He met Will's eyes. "When I say they're gone… I mean gone gone."
Will froze.
His stomach twisted.
First came the worry… then the fear.
Then a small shake of his head.
...No. It's a cold day in Paradise before anything could happen to Shishō or Mrs. Silva. That means... they just left...
Something tightened in his chest. He tried to brush it off.
But still… the sting was there.
Didn't you promise to always be there… waiting for me to come back home?
His hand clenched into a fist.
A bitter smile crept across his face.
...You could've at least told me if you were going to pack up and move. So I'd know where to find you. I thought we were family…
Kiki, perched on his shoulder, purred softly.
"Mreow?"
She tapped his cheek with her paw.
Julius, noticing the shift in Will's expression, crossed his arms and leaned in with a gentler tone.
"Are you sure they didn't give you any sign? A letter, a message, anything hinting they were leaving?"
Will chewed the inside of his lip.
He shook his head slowly.
"No... none at all."
His voice was low, edged with something defeated.
Twack!
Both Kiki and Julius jumped as Will suddenly slapped himself across the cheek.
His glasses shifted from the force, misted slightly with moisture—but he grinned.
Bright and unbothered.
He started walking again, pace steady.
"Come on," he called over his shoulder.
His body relaxed, just a bit.
His hand dropped from his face.
What are you thinking, Will? Shishō definitely has a good reason for wherever he's gone. You'll meet again… definitely. Definitely!
The boy internally vowed to find them after the next Bloom.
Julius blanked for a second, then quickly hurried to Will's side, arms thrown wide.
"Well? What do we do now? Unless you have some sort of hunch where he's gone, we're at a dead end with your Ki-sensing thing. Again."
Will scratched his chin as they walked, mumbling aloud.
"We could go back to focusing on Wis. If Mr. Théo's comments were accurate, we could ask the Light Faction about the whereabouts of the Finn tribe. They probably know something."
"I agree," Julius said with a quick nod, but then shook his head in frustration.
"But it's not like we can talk to any of them! We're stuck here on the first floor, while the Light Mages—what few of them exist—are probably holed up near the top of the tower!"
Unluckily, the two boys had left too early last night to notice Patri's appearance.
Will clicked his tongue, then raised a finger.
"You said one of your clones is with Ms. Serah, right? Maybe she can reach out to them for us?"
Using a mediator like a mediator, huh?
Julius rolled his eyes and let out a snort.
"I'll give it a try, but no promises. She's a busy woman, and she's not exactly here to run errands for us."
Will winced slightly, but then a new thought lit up behind his glasses.
A different name and face came to mind.
"Then maybe... at the same time, you could send your clone to the Academy to look for the Headmistress."
Julius paused at that.
His brows furrowed as he nodded slowly.
"Yeah… I could do that. Be it Wis or the Finns, there's no way she doesn't know something about either."
He scratched at his chin.
Why hadn't I thought of reaching out to her before?
The proud Reinburg heir felt a sudden wave of embarrassment.
Will smiled as they arrived once again beneath the sprawling limbs of the giant Oak tree.
"Good. Meanwhile, we'll try our best on our end. Any progress is good progress. And no effort is meaningless!"
"If you say so." Julius shrugged, unconvinced.
He squinted up through the canopy of twisting branches and fluttering leaves.
A moment later, he pointed and whispered.
"No-Talent. Look."
"Hm?" Will arched a brow and followed his line of sight—only to pause.
There, nestled at the top of the towering tree, Argenta Hivernelle was fast asleep.
She clutched her long wand tightly to her chest, curled into a snug position, completely still.
Will's eye twitched.
"Did she not sleep during the night or something…?"
Julius didn't look amused.
"Whatever. Do we go somewhere else, then?"
"..."
Will hesitated, then shook his head gently.
"No. Let's stay here."
"But—"
"I don't think she's a bad person," he cut in, looking Julius in the eye.
His voice was steady, sincere.
"This place is good for training—away from too many eyes."
"But not hers," Julius muttered, gesturing toward the sleeping girl.
Will shrugged.
"Like I said. I don't think we need to worry about her."
"You said she was a threat," Julius argued.
"I said she could be a threat. There's a big difference."
The Ice Mage let out a slow sigh.
"Whatever. If this comes back to bite us and I end up stuck as a Colorless... I will do everything possible to make your life miserable."
Will chuckled.
"So... back to our normal academy days?"
Julius snorted, a faint flush creeping up his neck.
"Shut up. Let's just start."
Will smiled and drew his sword.
Kiki hopped off Will's shoulder with a soft thump.
Julius stepped forward and reached out, pressing his palm flat against the blade of Will's sword.
Cold mana flowed from his hand into the steel, frosting over the blade with a thin coat of shimmering ice.
He didn't break eye contact.
"Why don't you start by explaining how you're even turning Wis on and off."
Will nodded as the frost spread.
He took the sword in both hands, holding it horizontally.
Then he closed his eyes and began.
"Well, first of all… turning it off was never the issue. I always knew how to do that. Instinctively."
"Explain it anyway," Julius said flatly.
Will sighed.
"If I had to put it into words... it's like letting go of something."
He paused, frowning faintly.
"When Wis is active, I feel alive—like I've tapped into something vast and powerful. But to shut it off, I just have to run myself dry or will that power away. Like saying goodbye to a friend."
Kssh.
The ice coating the blade hissed and vanished, melting off in rivulets as the weapon returned to its usual turquoise sheen and silver luster.
Julius nodded again, arms crossing.
"Alright. And how do you turn it back on?"
Will's expression tightened.
"That's... more complicated."
He opened his eyes.
"It's not as simple as calling that old friend back for a reunion. I don't even know where they are—or where they live."
"Because you don't know where the Fifth Source resides in your body," Julius supplied.
"Precisely," Will said with a nod. "That's why I've been using Ki."
He adjusted his stance slightly, blade still held steady.
"I learned during battle that Ki can do more than track movements. At a certain level, it can force your muscles to act a certain way."
"I command my Ki to contract my muscles gradually—from the soles of my feet, from my shoulders—pushing inward, toward my arms and hands. It's like I'm squeezing your mana out of my body and channeling it into the blade."
Julius frowned, concern flashing across his face.
"Doesn't that... hurt?"
Will gave a half-shrug.
"I'm used to it."
Vrm.
As Will spoke, his blade turned icy cold.
Yet to the eye, it remained completely unchanged.
"..."
Julius went silent for a moment, watching closely.
Then he continued like nothing had happened.
"Although this method has shown some success... you're only regaining about a hundredth of my magic each time."
He glanced at Will.
"Which means either the majority of my mana is being lost when you turn Wis off, or—"
"—Or I'm being inefficient and need to actually find the core of my power," Will finished, brow furrowed.
Julius nodded.
"Exactly. If the Fifth Source actually has a physical root somewhere in your body—one that holds the magic power anyone charges you with—then if you can guide your Ki to and from that source, you should at least be able to produce something that looks like magic."
Will gave a wry smile.
"Okay. So… how do we figure that out?"
Julius flopped down on the grass, back resting against the tree trunk.
He smirked, arms folding behind his head.
"There is no 'we.' Only you."
Will blinked.
"Instead of contracting several muscles at once," Julius continued, "you'll go one by one, trying to turn Wis back on."
He gestured lazily toward him.
"We'll measure how much power each muscle gives back, compare results, and narrow down the location of your source."
Will stared, horrified.
"I—But there are hundreds of muscles in the human body! This'll take hours!"
Several painful hours...
Julius didn't even flinch.
"Good thing we've got six days left. Now stop whining and get to it, Serfort."
"Mreow!" Kiki chirped, echoing Julius's merciless tone.
The Carbuncle stretched her legs and made herself comfortable in the shade.
Wooh…
Will cried internally, already mourning his own soul as he began with his left sole.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Three Hours Later:
"..."
Will and Julius were deathly silent.
Both at a loss for words.
Because in all that time, Will had strained and toiled his way up to his waist—contracting his muscles, guiding his Ki—pointlessly.
Not a hundredth, not a thousandth, not even a millionth. He hadn't been able to access a single drop of Julius's power or guide it back into his blade.
Now, the boy's legs felt like jelly.
And for what?
Not even a single statistic to measure. No baseline. No comparison.
Julius offered him an awkward smile.
"Well... at least we now know where your power definitely isn't. This way, you won't have to strain your legs in the future."
Will didn't respond. He simply shot him a dark, exhausted glare.
The ice mage coughed, fidgeting with his sleeves.
"A-ahem… like the old adage goes—no pain, no gain."
He stood up, dusted off his trousers, and fixed his collar—trying to appear as composed as his words.
"Regardless. You said it best: no effort is meaningless. It's still early, so let's break for lunch and come back with equal vigor—"
"I can barely feel my feet. I can't move," Will said flatly, cutting him off.
"I see…" Julius cleared his throat again, then forced out another smile.
"Then you rest here. I'll bring you something—"
"Julius."
The sharpness in Will's voice made him wince.
"Y-yes?"
Will exhaled heavily.
"Have your clones made any progress?"
Julius froze for a moment, then let his shoulders dip.
He'd hoped to avoid piling on more bad news.
"Ms. Serah is busy. And according to her, even among the Light Faction, only a few know anything about the Finn tribe. And they're people she can't just meet on a whim."
Masterias Noah himself, I'm guessing… Will inwardly groaned.
"And what about the Headmistress?"
Julius hesitated, then averted his gaze.
"She's nowhere to be found. Not in her office, not anywhere on the academy grounds. According to several professors, she took a leave of absence yesterday."
Will clenched the hilt of his sword tighter.
"And they don't know where she's gone?"
Julius shook his head apologetically.
"Nor when she'll be back. Apparently, this is normal for her—disappearing without a word for days, weeks, even months at a time. …I wouldn't bet on her making an early return."
Will nearly cursed. His jaw tensed as frustration and anxiety surged in his chest.
"My master is gone to who knows where. So is the Headmistress. We've got no clues on the Finn tribe—or Wis, for that matter. And the clock is ticking…!"
His voice rose in bitter exasperation.
"Everything that can go wrong is going wrong. Seriously, does this world want me to fail?!"
Julius awkwardly twirled a strand of his hair, clearly unsure how to respond.
"Just relax, Serfort—"
"HOW?!" Will snapped, making him flinch.
"How am I supposed to relax, Julius?!"
He dipped his head, trembling with frustration.
"I—I just can't fail again… especially not on another technicality. I can't take it… it's so frustrating!"
Silence followed.
Kiki didn't say a word. Neither did Julius.
Will's voice cracked, barely above a whisper.
"Just what in Paradise am I supposed to do…?"
A moment later, a soft and hesitant voice spoke up.
"W-why don't you use your head?"
Will, Kiki, and Julius froze.
Then, slowly, they looked skyward.
Argenta Hivernelle was wide awake now, peering down at Will with a nervous, almost guilty expression.
"...What do you mean, Ms. Hivernelle?" Will asked, carefully keeping any trace of annoyance from slipping into his voice.
Argenta clutched her wand a little tighter but didn't look away.
She swallowed, then continued.
"T-this Wis thing… the Tower's been talking about it ever since the Terminalia. They call it the Mage Blade."
Julius frowned, folding his arms.
"Is there a point you're trying to make?"
Argenta nibbled her bottom lip, hesitant.
"I-I'm just saying… maybe there's a clue in the name. Like… if your sword is part of your power… why are you excluding it?"
Will went completely still.
A jolt of clarity shot through his mind like lightning.
Julius, still confused, rubbed his brows. He tried to maintain his usual polite tone.
"Could you word that more clearly, Ms. Hivernelle?"
Plop.
Argenta dropped softly from the tree and landed on the grass below, knees bent to absorb the fall.
She straightened and bowed her head slightly, speaking more quietly now.
"His sword… he shouldn't think of it as just a weapon. It should be an extension of his body…"
Julius blinked, blanking out for a moment.
Will's eyes flickered as he slowly returned from his daze.
"Y-you mean…?"
Argenta nodded, her hands trembling slightly.
"I-if you can use Ki to trace the flow of magic, don't just limit it to your body… try to use it on your sword too."
"..."
Will went silent, earning a puzzled glance from Julius and Kiki.
But he ignored them.
Instead, his gaze locked onto Argenta. Slowly, deliberately, he took a large step back and settled into his sword stance.
"Julius. Feed me," he said firmly.
Still confused, but cooperative, Julius casually snapped his fingers.
A small shard of ice shot forward.
It dissolved into glowing motes of light—absorbed directly into Will's blade.
Vrm.
Once more, the sword shifted—coated in a crystalline sheen of ice—as Wis came alive.
Will exhaled and closed his eyes.
No more idle channeling. No more guesswork.
He focused.
Not suppressing the power.
Not pushing it away.
He focused on the sword—until it became his body.
And to his surprise... it was easy.
Too easy. As if this was how it was always meant to be.
Don't get distracted.
Will quieted the thought and carefully disabled Wis again.
But this time, as the enchantment began to fade, he extended his Ki—into the blade—reaching for the trace of Julius's mana.
It glowed like a beacon in the dark. And he followed it.
Kssh.
The ice cracked away as the blade returned to normal, but Will's eyes stayed shut.
His attention didn't waver—not for a moment.
He followed the trail of fading magic.
And then… he felt it.
Entering his body through his palms.
He felt it travel—threading through veins and invisible channels.
It flowed upstream, circulating against the current like a living river of frost.
Vrmm…
Will's body shuddered slightly.
He'd hit something—a boundary. An unseen wall. A layer of resistance pressing against his senses.
But he didn't stop.
Because now—finally—he knew what Julius's magic truly felt like.
The real texture of it. Cold, composed, crystalline.
It settled into him—not just in his mind, but deep in his muscle memory.
Every fiber of his being memorized the code.
And just like he did before, through that same squeezing method…
He willed the power back out.
Vrmm!
This time, the cool sensation surged into him instantly.
Will's eyes snapped open.
Julius and Kiki were staring at him—wide-eyed, speechless.
Swallowing, he turned toward his sword.
His breath hitched.
It looked the same at first glance—no ice encasing the blade…
But now, a thin mist swirled around it, and frost rolled off the steel like a ghostly breath on a winter morning.
More than that—Julius could feel the power.
Even if it was minuscule, he could sense the mana pouring off Will's blade without needing to Search for it actively.
It wasn't just hidden anymore.
Maybe the increase was tiny—barely a jump from 0.01% to 0.03%—but for the first time, Will had undeniable proof.
He was using magic.
And that made Julius's eyes light up.
"Alright!"
"Mreow!"
The ice mage and his carbuncle both cheered in unison.
Will allowed himself a small smile. But then he turned to Argenta, his expression sharpening.
His gaze locked with hers—serious, intense.
"I don't mean to offend you, Ms. Hivernelle… but I don't believe someone could come up with that strategy so quickly without already knowing something."
His voice lowered slightly. "Something related to Ki… or Wis."
His eyes narrowed.
"So which one is it?"
Julius's excitement faltered. He glanced sidelong at Argenta.
The black-haired woman trembled slightly. Her hands gripped her wand tighter as she lowered her head.
She knew there was no point in lying—especially in front of Will.
She was a terrible liar, and the truth would be obvious either way.
"I-I know a bit about Ki…" she admitted quietly.
Will twitched, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Do you by any chance know someone named… Asta?"
Julius watched her more closely now.
But the reaction they were expecting never came.
Instead, Argenta looked slightly displeased. Her expression turned unreadable as she shot them a small frown.
"Please don't ask me so many questions," she muttered. "Especially when I'm trying to help you."
Will winced, guilt washing over him.
He lowered his head with regret.
"S-sorry… I don't know what came over me…"
He slowly raised his gaze again, hesitant.
"If you don't mind me asking… why are you helping me?"
"..."
Argenta went silent for a moment.
She lowered her head again, her voice shaky.
"F-for payback."
Will blinked, confused.
"Payback?"
She nodded quickly.
"Y-yesterday… you were going to help me, if Théo didn't step in. Right?"
Will blinked again, surprised.
She noticed that? …Well, if she can use Ki, I guess that's only natural.
He rubbed the back of his head, sheepish.
"I-I guess… but in the end, I didn't really do anything."
Argenta flushed red, her tone suddenly sharp and earnest.
"I-it's the thought that counts! It's all about the principle. Principle!"
Will and Julius exchanged a look.
Then Julius gave him a small, meaningful nod.
Will twitched slightly and turned back to Argenta, feeling a bit embarrassed—and more than a little shameless.
"Ahem." He coughed into his fist, then offered her a sheepish nod.
"Thank you, Ms. Hivernelle. In that case, I won't be polite… Do you have any other advice?"
Argenta lifted her wand and pointed at Julius.
"C-charge him up with a bigger spell this time," she said. "But not too big—just enough that it's easy to trace."
Julius nodded without complaint, already reaching for his wand.
"Sure."
Argenta looked back at Will.
"This time… even if you lose track of it, don't give up. Focus your Ki around prime organs or large muscle areas—n-near your heart, chest, torso, the center of your back… that kind of thing."
Will nodded, stepping back into position across from Julius.
"I'm ready."
Frost began gathering at the tip of Julius's wand, chilling the air around them.
He raised it and cast.
"Glace Itier!"
A shard of ice, roughly two feet long, surged toward Will—and like before, it disintegrated into shining motes of light as it made contact with his sword.
Vrm.
But this time, Will was already prepared.
His Ki was focused.
He traced the movement of the magic as Wis activated—followed it through his blade.
And then… he willed the spell off.
As the energy began to seep into his arms, he felt it again—that same invisible resistance, like a force trying to block the mana's flow.
But Will didn't quit.
He shifted his Ki inward, concentrating around his abs first.
He waited a moment. Nothing.
Then slowly, carefully, he moved it toward his chest—probing gently near his heart.
He paused.
There wasn't any magic there at the moment… but something told him the spell had passed through that area.
A faint residue. A trail.
I'm close…
Next, he cautiously moved his attention to the muscles along his spine.
And that's when he felt it.
A jolt shot through him—subtle, but undeniable.
He could actively feel the last remnants of Julius's mana running up his spinal cord.
And suddenly, it clicked.
This… this is what I was missing.
Finn had told him once: that his power was born from self-hypnosis—called forth through inner feelings, instincts, and emotions.
And his master had informed him: Wis was a power that had sacrificed his memories in the past.
Now Will understood where the core of it all was.
It wasn't the chest.
It wasn't the muscles.
It wasn't even the heart.
It's my brain!
He was equal parts excited… and afraid.
There was a reason he'd limited himself to squeezing the muscles from his shoulders down.
Everything above that—his spine, his neck, his brain—was far too sensitive.
One wrong move, one misstep… and he could end up permanently disabled.
If not paralyzed.
If not dead.
For a moment, that fear rooted him.
But then, as if summoned by the tension in his body, Argenta's voice reached him.
Soft. Clear. Steady.
And for once, completely professional.
"You don't need to probe your mind directly," she said gently.
"There are secondary and tertiary muscles… connected to your brain, indirectly."
Her voice felt like a tether, anchoring him in the moment.
"Your entire body is involved, in some capacity. Focus. Link several of those muscles together—form a pathway back to your blade. Then softly call that power back to it."
Will exhaled slowly.
"Phew…"
He took a deep breath.
And did exactly what she said.
Spine or heart…? Spine or heart…?
The doubt gnawed at him, battling in his mind.
But finally, he chose risk.
He traced a path—from the spinal cord—through the nerves in his arms, into the muscles of his fingertips.
The ones just beneath his skin.
Then, with unwavering focus, he gave the command.
He called the magic back, just as he'd once commanded it to shut off.
Wis… activate!
Bzt!
His body jolted violently.
Pain surged up his neck—he nearly clutched his head as his mouth foamed slightly.
"Aaughh!" he groaned, staggering from the shock.
It was the same feeling—just like the Terminalia.
When Finn had awakened his power with that silver light.
Zip!
"Mreow!"
"What the hell?!"
"M-my goodness!"
Kiki, Julius, and Argenta all recoiled, stepping back in alarm.
Silver bolts of electricity snapped and crackled around Will's body, arcing wildly from his arms and shoulders.
He collapsed to one knee, groaning, as the energy surged and refused to calm.
And unlike before, Will felt excruciating pain.
The memories that flashed through his mind came in rapid, overwhelming bursts—but this time they were all blurry. Distorted.
Censored, like something was actively trying to shield them from him.
All except one.
A recent memory.
Julius charging him up just moments ago.
It too was unclear—foggy around the edges.
But Will gritted his teeth and tugged on it anyway.
Vrm!
Will's eyes shot open.
"Hah—!"
Light trickles of blood ran from his nose, his mouth… even his ears.
But he didn't bother wiping them.
Instead, he looked down at his sword and sighed—half in relief, half in sheer frustration.
The blade had changed.
But only barely.
Tiny shards of ice—like pebble-sized icicles—clung to the edges.
The cold radiating from it had intensified slightly.
But that was it.
Will wiped his face with a sleeve, smearing the blood away.
Sure enough… unlike me, Mr. Finn knew exactly what he was doing.
How much pain did I just go through… just to recreate a hundredth of what he did so casually?
He was starting to regret his earlier words.
What's the point of progress… if it's this insignificant and this painful?
Grunting, he forced his strength back into his limbs and gave the sword a test swing.
Thump.
A few icicles fell from the blade and landed on the grass.
"..."
His eyes twitched.
He exhaled a tired breath and looked toward Julius.
"Until I can discharge magic from my blade, I doubt Kreutz will acknowledge this as a spell."
Julius gave him a tight, apologetic nod.
"Neither would I… or any self-respecting proctor I know. Sorry."
Glorified icy snot falling off a sword wouldn't cut it.
There was nothing magical about it—throwing a snowball would've been more impressive.
Will turned to Argenta.
She echoed the sentiment, though in her own hesitant way.
"I-it's like the difference between being knocked unconscious… or going to bed willingly."
Will twitched again, exasperated.
Do you think of anything else but sleep?!
Plop.
Will let out a long sigh and lay back in the grass, eyes drifting up to the illusionary sky above—its painted clouds slowly shifting in silence.
"Do I really have to directly tap into my brain?"
He muttered the question aloud, mostly to himself.
Just saying it made his stomach twist.
That was a terrifying thing to even consider.
But there was something else bothering him too.
A lingering sense of incompleteness.
"I feel like I'm missing something… like I'm lacking in another area.
Even if I succeed, I doubt we'll see much improvement…"
Julius frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Will hesitated, squinting at the sky.
"I don't know… I can't really put it into words…"
"Umm…"
All three turned as Argenta spoke up, fidgeting slightly.
They gave her an encouraging nod.
"M-magic is a spiritual power as much as it is physical," she said quietly.
"That might be what you're missing... the soul of your power."
She trailed off again, eyes dipping toward the ground.
Will looked contemplative.
Slowly, with a quiet groan, he sat up—his joints audibly protesting.
"The soul, huh…"
He repeated the words, ignoring the creaking and the ache.
Growl!
He froze as his stomach betrayed him with a loud rumble.
His face went red instantly as all eyes landed on him.
Clap.
Julius brought his hands together and gave a crisp nod.
"Alright. That's enough training for today. Will—you go buy something for all of us, then meet me in the library."
Will blinked at him.
"The library? But that hasn't worked out at all."
Julius shook his head.
"We're not going there to look for Wis. We're going to research the soul, memories, and anything about burst-type or enchantment magic."
"Anything really that might give you even the slightest hint of clarity."
He crossed his arms, eyes sharp with purpose.
"You've accessed about 2% of my magic. I have a feeling if we can push that to even five… we'll be perfectly fine for the next Bloom."
Will's eyes lit up.
He sprang to his feet, reinvigorated.
"You're a genius, Julius!"
"Mreow!"
Kiki seemed to agree.
The ice mage flushed just slightly.
"Shut up," he muttered, before turning to Argenta with a more reserved smile.
"Ms. Hivernelle, care to join us?"
Argenta shook her head quickly.
"N-no thank you. I-I'm fine here. You can come back if you need me."
Julius and Will both offered her a polite bow.
"Then see you tomorrow! Thank you for everything!"
Argenta flushed the faintest shade of pink and gave a stiff nod as they jogged off.
"N-no problem…"
She trailed off, watching them disappear into the distance.
Then her expression shifted.
She paused, frowning as her head turned—eyes slowly scanning the sky… then the tree line… then the far edges of the training field.
"...What is this feeling of being watched?"
Her grip tightened on her wand.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Upper Institute:
In the floating castle above Colorless Garden, Kreutz Harlon stood before a massive crystal display—its smooth surface paired with a sleek, arcane keyboard.
A technological marvel—one that perfectly blended magic and science.
At the moment, the projection was split-screened.
On the left: Julius, heading toward the first-floor library.
On the right: Will, his familiar trotting beside him as he veered toward the Tower's food hub.
Without turning, Kreutz spoke—his back still to the room.
"Charles. Give your Colorless Comrades the green light."
The assistant didn't respond right away.
Instead, he offered something unexpected.
"Paramount… in addition to the Fields of Solitude, the dwarves are now active in the ceremonial hall."
"..."
Kreutz paused for just a moment.
"I see."
Charles nodded, watching the man's back.
"Should I have them surveilled—"
"No."
Kreutz cut him off.
His gaze remained on the screen, but he subtly narrowed his eyes—catching the assistant's reflection in the glow of the glass.
He studied him briefly, still not turning.
"Stay on task, Charles."
"...I understand."
Charles gave a quiet bow and turned to take his leave.
Kreutz watched him go, his expression unreadable in the screen's reflection—until the corners of his lips curled into a small, satisfied smile.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
"…"
Will paused.
Something was wrong.
The street was suspiciously empty, and the handful of stalls still operating weren't run by yesterday's vendors. These were Colorless.
No matter how cruel the Tower had become, there was no way the administration would risk disrespecting these High Mages so openly—not when it might provoke mass protests for wasting their so-called "talents" on magicless labor.
Labor that could be automated by golems, or performed by dwarves, no less.
"Mreow."
Kiki purred.
Will nodded slightly. "I know."
He scanned the surroundings again. The few stallholders and passersby had all turned to look at him with vague, unreadable expressions.
Something was off.
Will whispered as he drew his sword, voice low.
"Stay close to me, Kiki."
"Mreow!" the Carbuncled hissed, springing up onto his shoulder. Her paws wrapped tightly around his neck.
Then came the shimmer of wands being raised—at least a dozen high mages surrounding him in a wide circle.
"Don't blame us too much, No-Talent," one of them called out. "We're just desperate. Come with us quietly, and we'll go easy on your friend."
Will's pupils contracted. Julius?!
His head snapped toward the direction of the library.
Without speaking, he bent low, ready to dash.
"Oh no you don't!"
The shout came from a man directly ahead. Will barely recognized him—the red-haired mage who had harassed Argenta yesterday.
Boom!
"Ignis Rooks!"
A magic circle bloomed at the tip of the man's wand, firing a spiraling flame straight at Will.
The swordsman didn't flinch.
Compared to Sion… this is parlour tricks!
He angled his blade, letting the flame wash over it. The metal caught fire, transforming into a sword of roaring heat.
"Flame Wis!"
Will narrowed his eyes.
Even the power is way inferior… is this guy really a High Mage?
The group recoiled, stunned.
"What the?!"
Vrmm!
"Augh!"
They didn't have time to react.
Will blurred forward, a streak of fire. He kicked off the man's face like a springboard and vaulted onto the nearest rooftop.
In an instant, he was gone—racing toward the library.
The group was furious.
"Shit! After him—!"
Vrmm.
They froze.
A massive black magic circle bloomed beneath their feet, swallowing the street in inky light. None of them could move.
Then a voice rang out—calm, measured, and unmistakable to several of them. It sent a chill racing down their spines.
"O mournful dusk that seals the soul…"
"Let their limbs defy the sky. And bind their sins in iron shadow: Cruciatum Nerezza!"
"Augh!"
"Auck!"
"Huh?!"
"Grr!"
Dozens of mages hit the ground, writhing, as shadows surged from below. Jet-black crosses erupted upward, chaining them in place.
They couldn't move.
They couldn't even call on magic.
The blonde-haired mage from the day before strained against the bindings, eyes wide with disbelief.
"An Upper Tier darkness spell—who could… Edward-sensei?!"
His voice cracked with dread.
From the alleyway stepped Edward Serfence, the infamous Dark Viper mage. His wand rested lazily in one hand. With the other, he twirled a loose strand of his hair, looking thoroughly unimpressed.
He clicked his tongue. "It's not sensei anymore, Barak."
His gaze swept the group with disinterest. "That said, it's nice to see several of my former students still as shameless and obnoxious as ever."
Aidan, the fire mage, finally stirred.
He snorted. "Well, we learned from the best. Now unhand us, Edward Serfence! This is the Colorless Garden, not some pit where a runaway can act amok—augh!"
He screamed as the chains cinched tighter. Tears pricked at his eyes. He gasped hoarsely, "Aren't you afraid of the consequences? We're acting under the Director's orders…"
Edward didn't flinch.
"Not at all, Aidan. I've already been fired once. My record's been ruined. A second time hardly matters."
He smiled—cold, bitter.
"Besides, I've always hated this Tower. Frankly, I'd love an excuse to wash my hands of it for good."
Barak ground his teeth.
"You can't stop this, Professor Serfence! Nearly all the Colorless are after the No-Talent! Backup will arrive any moment!"
Edward gave a lazy shrug, his gaze drifting past them down the empty street.
"Then you'll just have to see firsthand the difference between an Ascendant... and a Colorless."
Even as he spoke, a faint frown tugged at his lips.
I'm rusty, he admitted inwardly. And if the numbers weren't exaggerated, this could turn into a real slog.
He wouldn't get the chance to set another trap. Not here.
Taking a slow breath, he steadied himself.
And waited.
And waited.
And waited.
"…"
Nothing.
No backup arrived. No reinforcements. Not even footsteps.
The street was still.
Edward turned back toward Barak, a shadow of disbelief in his expression.
"Trying to scare me off with empty bravado," he muttered, scowling. "Honestly, how did I ever pass a cheat like you?!"
"Augh!" Barak cried out as the bindings at his ribs suddenly constricted.
He doubled over, trembling—tears streaking down his cheeks.
W-where is everyone?!
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Elsewhere:
In an alleyway opposite the direction Will had taken, a number of Colorless lay sprawled on the ground or slumped against the walls.
Most were bloody. Many had broken bones, torn garbs, and disheveled hair. Some had foam at their mouths, as though they'd seen something horrifying.
All of them were unconscious.
Asta ran a hand through his hair, clearly troubled.
"Shit… I forgot to ask what they wanted with Will." He clicked his tongue. "Well, I know what they want with Will. I just wanted to find that four-eyes freak so I could pummel him."
As he muttered, a voice rose behind him—tired and mildly annoyed.
"Honestly… I give you the benefit of the doubt, and you can't behave for even a day."
Asta turned around and shrugged at the blonde-haired dwarf.
"It might have been a day."
Finn held up a stopwatch and smiled.
"You're seven minutes short. I timed it."
Asta sighed, looking only mildly regretful.
"What a pity."
Not that he beat them up. Just that he got caught.
Finn gave him a wry smile and snapped his fingers.
"Clean this up."
Zssh!
Asta watched several masked mages in Light Faction robes drop from above like shadows. They moved silently, dragging away the unconscious bodies without even glancing at him.
"You can just order these guys around?"
Finn beamed. "I do have some privileges."
Asta raised an eyebrow. "What're you gonna do with them?"
Finn shrugged. "A little hypnosis. Some memory tampering. They'll wake up thinking it was all just a bad dream. Or a regular day."
"You can actually do that? What if it doesn't work?"
"Only works so many times before it loses effect," Finn replied casually, then narrowed his eyes, voice darkening. "If not... we'll have no choice but to dispose of them. As desperate as we are for new blood, grunts like these are replaceable."
Asta went quiet.
"..."
If it were the old him—even if it was an enemy who tried to hurt someone dear—he would have objected.
But that part of him died a long time ago.
He was a war veteran. A man who'd already lost everything.
Such selfless compassion included.
So he just nodded. "Cool. Now tell me where that Kreutz guy is—"
Finn shook his head. "No. As sleazy as he is, he's not so easily replaced. Leave him be."
Asta frowned. "He's after Will. You expect me to let that slide?"
Finn waved it off. "Have faith in that disciple of yours. Nothing will happen."
"But—"
"I believe Caldron will make her move soon."
Asta paused, then gave a reluctant nod. "Fine."
Finn sighed. "Good. Now return to your room. Stay there for the rest of the week. This tower's already on edge as it is."
Asta rested his arms behind his head and started walking off.
"If you keep your guys in check, I won't have to act. Remember, kiddo—you're the one who invited me here."
Finn flashed a fake smile. "And don't make me regret that, Big Guy."
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Elsewhere – A Few Moments Earlier:
As Julius made his way through a narrow alley—a shortcut to the library—he suddenly froze.
Bzt.
Crackle.
Vrm.
His eyes snapped to the right just in time to catch a blur of motion—lightning, flame, and wind all hurtling toward him.
"Shit!"
He thrust his wand downward. A shield of ice flared up in a rush, but hastily conjured, it shattered on impact.
Crack.
"Augh!"
Bam!
His wand slipped from his fingers as a searing pain shot through his shoulder. He slammed back against a wall and crumpled to the ground.
Three figures approached.
To his left: a girl with coarse, curled green hair—greasy, uneven. Ugly, even by Academy standards.
In the center stood a man with a chaotic nest of red hair and twitching hands, like he couldn't stop himself from casting.
On the right, the only one who might pass for normal—pale blonde, cool eyes, and an almost noble air that didn't quite reach the soul.
Julius's gaze flicked between them. Recognition flashed in his eyes, but he gave away nothing. Instead, he raised a brow.
"Upper Institute mages?"
The blonde gave a curt nod.
"We've been ordered to find the reprobates roaming our Garden like they own the place... and discipline them accordingly."
The green-haired girl sneered. "Your unsightly training ends once and for all!"
"Hah hah hah!" Julius burst out laughing, like he'd just heard the punchline to an inside joke. The sound echoed sharply, catching them off guard.
The girl stiffened. "What the hell's so funny—"
"Arrogant and self-important classmate... Mary."
She froze mid-sentence.
Julius turned to the redhead.
"Tony. A year ahead of me. Once."
His eyes landed on the blonde last.
"And Auron. My former, brazen little underclassman."
He gave a low, amused chuckle, ignoring the pain still throbbing through his shoulder.
"All three of you... such bright futures. Inventing spells faster than your own mentors. You left for the Tower like you'd already made it." His tone dropped a pitch. "What a delightful surprise, seeing how far the mighty have fallen."
A short pause.
"Fallen low enough to sabotage your colleagues—and your former schoolmates."
"Shut up!" they shouted in perfect unison.
"You don't know what it's like!" Tony spat. His voice cracked, full of bitterness. "Being stuck down here, mocked as some Colorless nobody!"
Mary's teeth clenched. Her wand trembled at her side. "I refuse to live as just another cog in the Tower's machine."
Auron stepped forward, calm but firm. "They're short-staffed since the Terminalia incident. This is our moment. Sir Kreutz promised us letters of recommendation to the factions if we finish the job!"
"Hah hah hah!" Julius howled again. The sound rang out louder, more scathing. "What fools… You don't even see you're being used."
"Shut up—"
"No, you shut up, you parasites."
The words hit harder than any spell. The trio froze as Julius, wounded and barely steady, began to rise to his feet.
"Even an idiot can tell Kreutz is hated by everyone. Incindia Barham, Thorzeus Fudge, Solphis Neamhain—they'll blacklist you the moment your names come across their desks with his attached."
A heavy silence followed.
Then, they snapped.
Roaring in denial, the trio refused to believe it. They'd come too far, sacrificed too much to accept it all meant nothing.
"Julius! We never liked you. Not back at the Academy, not now!"
Their fury was plain on their faces, magic swirling like a storm on their wands—fire, wind, and lightning sparking in tandem.
They raised their arms to strike him down.
But Julius didn't move. He didn't even flinch.
His magic was gone—completely drained after two days of using Ars Weiss nonstop.
Still, he stood there, staring death in the face with an exhausted calm. He could already see it.
You see, Anna… No-Talent… there's nothing kind about me—
"U-um…"
The soft voice broke through the building tension.
Julius's eyes widened.
The three attackers stiffened, turning around sharply.
"W-who?!"
"You?!"
"What are you doing here, Hivernelle?! Lost your way to your bed?!"
Argenta stood a few paces behind them, clutching her wand like a lifeline. Her eyes wavered, gaze lowered.
"I-I… um… c-could you… maybe put your wands away…?" she mumbled.
"I-I don't want to…"
Mary snarled. "Don't want to what, bitch?!"
Argenta flinched.
But then, slowly… she looked up.
"I don't want to have to stop you."
Her voice was quiet. Firm.
The trio stared at her, unsure if they heard right.
Mary's face flushed a deep red. "You think you're hot shit, Hivernelle?! Just 'cause Albis Vina fawns over you?!"
She raised her wand again.
"Get lost if you don't wanna die!"
Argenta paused—then sighed.
Her fingers tightened around her wand as it began to glow faintly. She whispered under her breath.
"Hunter's silence in frozen breath…"
The trio turned to her, sneering like she'd just made a joke.
"Lady Elfaria can't blame us for this," Tony muttered coldly. "Interfering with orders is treason."
Brr!
Bzt.
Whrr!
The attacks meant for Julius—now turned on Argenta—blasted toward her without hesitation.
"Get out of there!" Julius shouted instinctively.
But Argenta didn't budge.
Unshaken, she kept chanting, voice steady.
"Grant me tails of stalking frost… Let fox's chase become my will: Venaticus Hivernelle!"
Chill!
A cold wave swept down the street, and Julius involuntarily shivered.
It wasn't the magic alone—it was the tone. That last line hadn't just been cast... it had sounded borderline psychotic.
Boom!
The trio's spells landed hard, tearing apart the section of street where Argenta stood.
They didn't smile. Didn't cheer.
In fact, they took a cautious step back.
Then the smoke began to clear.
Their eyes widened. Pupils dilated.
"What kind of spell is that?!" Julius roared.
Because Argenta—wasn't Argenta anymore.
Her meek posture was gone, erased completely.
In her place stood something else.
Her black hair had turned silver-white, flowing long behind her. Two red dots burned above her brows, and sharp fangs peeked from her mouth.
Fox ears now perched atop her head.
Her wand had vanished.
In its place, she held a strange blade—a long, slender sword, slightly curved, foreign in both style and presence.
Frost and snow swirled in circles around her bare feet, licking the ground like hunting spirits.
Julius narrowed his eyes.
That's not mage sense.
This wasn't magic as anyone knew it. Not in Paradise.
Magic—Will aside—wasn't supposed to change your body like this. There were no transformation spells in the established system.
And yet... she had changed.
She was wielding a sword.
But what unsettled him most wasn't the sword, the snow, or the fox-like features.
It was the look on her face.
A deranged grin stretched her lips wide, and her eyes sparkled with something uncomfortably close to glee.
Mary, Auron, and Tony tensed.
"What is this— augh!"
Mary shrieked as Argenta appeared in front of her, blade flashing through the air.
A diagonal slash tore across her chest.
The so-called magic-resistant garb offered no protection. Blood sprayed out in a sharp arc before freezing mid-air.
A thin layer of ice sealed the wound shut, but it was too late—her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed face-first to the ground.
"Mary?!"
Tony and Auron flinched. Their wands shook.
Argenta laughed—harsh, manic.
"Hah hah! Don't worry, this bitch'll be fine."
She stepped over Mary's body without a glance, dragging her sleeve along her lips, licking the blood from it with a grin.
"I made sure to keep the cut shallow…" Her eyes gleamed. "But I can't promise I'll do the same for you two!"
"Eek?!"
"What are you?!"
Argenta tilted her head, then howled with laughter.
"Just your everyday serial killer!"
"F-Fuck—die!"
Fire and lightning exploded from their wands, intertwining into a spiraling barrage.
Argenta didn't flinch.
"That's the spirit! A hunt's only fun when the prey fights back!"
She cackled, raising her sword—and swung.
Fwoosh!
A beam of snow erupted from the blade, slamming into the incoming spell.
Despite the elemental disadvantage, it didn't just counter—it overwhelmed.
Augh!
The attack surged forward, blossoming into a small-scale avalanche. Snow crashed over the two, pinning them hard against the wall.
Julius watched, stunned into silence.
That's the same girl?
And that snow—what was that?
In Paradise, snow was nothing. Just an after-effect of ice spells. A pretty residue. A garnish.
Like smoke trailing fire, or sand kicked up with rock.
But in Argenta's hands, it was reversed. Ice was the accent. Snow was the spell.
It's like she flipped the entire system on its head…
Julius narrowed his eyes.
Is this why Albis Vina's so interested in her…?
Argenta stomped across the layers of snow. Her feet didn't sink an inch.
She came to a stop before the struggling pair, pouting.
"So weak. Weaklings like you can't be Komari-chan's comrades."
"Who…?" Tony winced, still conscious.
Argenta blinked, then frowned.
"Oops," she whispered.
Twak!
The end of her katana—the kashira—smashed into Tony's neck.
"Wagh—"
The redhead spat out a mix of saliva and blood before slumping over, unconscious.
Argenta's unhinged eyes flicked toward Auron.
He paled, trembling violently.
"W-wait, I'll do it myself!"
Bzzt!
A jolt of lightning burst from his own wand, coursing through his body. His hair frizzed. His body stiffened.
Then he collapsed.
Silence.
Argenta's eye twitched. Her bloodthirst still hadn't faded.
Then—she suddenly snapped her head upward.
Julius followed her gaze, muscles tensing as a glow of firelight approached them from above.
But as it neared… it softened.
Thump.
Will landed on the snow-covered street, expression concerned.
"Julius, are you—huh?!"
He stopped mid-step, staring at the scene.
His gaze moved from the downed attackers to the silver-haired girl standing amid frost and blood.
"Ms. Hivernelle…?"
Argenta puffed out her chest, beaming.
"You wanna try too?!"
Her tone was far too eager.
Will's eyes narrowed slightly. He turned away from her.
"What happened here?" he asked Julius.
"Mreow!"
Julius blinked at the sound, then looked at Will, incredulous.
"…Did you come here to rescue me?"
Will nodded. "Yeah. I got chased by some guys and thought maybe you needed help. But, uh…" He looked around. "Looks like you had things handled."
His gaze shifted back to Argenta.
Her eyes sparkled with renewed hunger.
"More prey?! Where?! Lead me to them!"
Will ignored her again.
Julius, still processing, slowly narrowed his eyes.
"…What are you, an idiot?"
He clicked his tongue.
"I thought we made it clear—we're only using each other. So why the hell would you worry about me?"
Will paused, visibly confused.
"Because we're friends, of course."
Julius froze.
Then his face flushed a deep red, and he socked Will in the face.
"Urbwwh?!" Will stumbled back. "What was that for?!"
"Shut up!" Julius barked, clutching his own fist in pain. It felt like he'd just punched steel.
His blush deepened.
"I-I hate you! Who's your friend, huh?!"
Will blinked, slowly rubbing his jaw.
Another one, he realized. Just like Noelle. And Sion.
What did Shishō call it again…?
Tsundere?
He opened his mouth to say something—but his Ki spiked without warning.
The wind shifted.
"Hmm?"
All three—Will, Argenta, and Julius—looked skyward at once.
Will's pupils shrank.
Descending from the sky atop a luxurious, oversized broom—or maybe a massive magic staff—was a woman unlike any he'd seen before.
Stunning didn't begin to cover it.
Her hat was wide and tilted just right, her hair glittered like woven starlight. Every inch of her extravagant outfit was designed to accentuate her curves—her chest, her thighs—glimmering with coins, beads, and jewelry that jingled in the air.
She raised her wand, pressing it under the bridge of her nose with a smirk.
Plump lips curled into a sly smile.
"I thought I'd need to lend you boys a hand," she purred, voice rich with amusement. "But it seems I was mistaken."
She chuckled softly, eyes gleaming.
"Still, thank you for that delightful display of adolescent angst."
Julius jumped to his feet, completely red-faced.
"Who are you?!" he snapped, mortified to be caught mid-outburst by someone this radiant.
The witch tilted her head, smiling like she knew every thought in his skull.
"I am Ceridwen."
"…"
Will remained unusually quiet, eyes narrowed and fists clenched.
Julius, meanwhile, was still catching up.
"Ceridwen… wait a minute—I know that name!"
Will glanced at him as Julius leaned in, whispering urgently.
"She's one of the Seven Mysteries of the Academy. Right up there with the Watchers! The Witch of the Hammer—they say she kidnaps students at night to use in her magical experiments!"
Ceridwen smiled sweetly.
"Oh, such baseless rumors," she said, clearly amused. "I merely offer guidance and advice to students I find… interesting. Promising."
Her gaze flicked between them.
"Just like I'm about to offer you two now."
Will frowned. "Training and guidance? For us?"
Ceridwen nodded, her smile never fading.
"Exactly. I've had my eye on you for a while. So—what do you say?"
Julius scowled. Her phrasing rubbed him the wrong way.
Eyes on us…?
He shook his head. "Like hell we—"
"Julius," Will interrupted, his tone sharp.
Julius hesitated.
Will met his eyes seriously, calm and clear.
"Let's go with her."
The Reinburg heir stiffened, mouth open to argue—but stopped. That expression... it was the same as during the all-student Praxis match.
A look that had proven right before.
"…Fine." Julius exhaled and turned away. "Let's get going, Psycho—"
But then he paused.
Argenta was gone.
No footprints. No farewell. Just the unconscious bodies of Mary, Tony, and Arun left sprawled in the snow behind them.
Ceridwen chuckled softly.
"Poor little Argenta ran off the moment she saw me. Honestly, I never realized she was that much of a monster."
Julius's eye twitched.
Will scratched his cheek, offering a sheepish smile.
"It's probably better this way. She likes her peace and quiet. We shouldn't tie her down to our boat."
"..."
Julius had more than a few ways he wanted to respond to that.
Plenty, in fact.
Like how it was already too late the moment those three showed up.
But he didn't get the chance.
Fip.
Ceridwen suddenly shot forward on her broom, scooping the two boys up like grocery bags. They dangled from the broomstick by their collars, flailing, while she laughed innocently.
"If we stay here, the Upper Institute goons will find us. Let's get going!"
"Ack?!"
"You witch!"
"Mreow."
Kiki landed gracefully on the broom beside them, completely unbothered.
A few moments later, Ceridwen guided the group into a narrow alleyway. She stopped in front of a plain brick wall.
The boys blinked, confused.
Tap.
Tap.
She tapped the floor with the base of her staff.
The bricks shimmered—then peeled away, revealing a hidden stairway and a door that creaked open on its own.
Ceridwen turned to them with a smile.
"Here we are! Welcome to the Secret Base for Single Witches!"
Both Julius and Will sweatdropped.
They stepped inside and found themselves in a surprisingly warm, two-story room. Books lined the walls, magical tools glowed softly on tables, and plush armchairs surrounded a hearth.
It felt more like a cozy magical café than a hideout.
"Sit anywhere you like," Ceridwen said cheerfully, gesturing to a large table. "And have a bite! Dinner's best served hot."
An entire spread of food had been laid out—piping hot dishes, breads, sweets, even drinks fizzing with faint sparkles.
Julius crossed his arms, glaring.
"Like we'd be stupid enough to—oh come on!"
He screeched as Will, already seated, twirled spaghetti around his fork and dug in like he hadn't eaten in days.
Will gave him a thumbs up mid-bite.
"It's good! And I can confirm—it's not poisoned. C'mon, Julius."
Julius sweatdropped.
"Please don't compare my immune system to your monster physique. You could probably eat rocks and survive."
Will beamed.
"Don't worry. Kiki has poison detection, and she says it's fine."
He pointed down.
Kiki was calmly sipping soup from a tiny porcelain bowl—tail swishing contentedly, just like her master.
Julius still wasn't convinced. His eyes scanned the room carefully.
"What I'm more curious about is where in the world we are."
Ceridwen smiled as she took a seat across from them.
"A little hideout my dear disciple made on the first floor," she said, crossing one leg over the other. "She lets me borrow it."
"Your disciple?" Julius raised a brow.
Ceridwen nodded with fondness practically glowing off her.
"Yes—my precious little munchkin, Creirwy. The Arbiter."
"Ms. Serah?" Julius blinked, stunned. Will paused mid-chew, setting his fork down with a quiet clink.
"That explains a lot," Will muttered.
Julius nodded slowly.
"She definitely got the devil-may-care attitude from you then…"
Ceridwen chuckled, swirling her tea.
Will dabbed his mouth with a napkin and sighed.
"Shame you didn't pass on your serious side, too."
Julius tilted his head, confused.
"What serious side?"
Seriously, No-Talent, are we even looking at the same lady? What's serious about this woman?
Ceridwen grinned and stuck out her tongue.
"Sorry, boy, but this is who Big Sis Ceridwen is—"
"No. It's not."
Will cut her off, eyes sharp.
The air shifted.
Even Kiki froze.
He pointed a finger directly at her.
"After all... you're the Headmistress, right?"
Silence.
Julius's breath caught.
Kiki stopped mid-lick.
Ceridwen blinked, expression blank.
"…Huh?"
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Author's Notes:
[1]Cruciatum – Latin for "torment" or "agony." Nerezza – Italian for "darkness," used here as a surname-style creation.
[2]Venaticus means "to hunt" or "predatory."
[3] I believe there has been a translation inconsistency in both versions of the name. Clairie has appeared as either Clairie Serah or Creslouis Serah, but both are likely incorrect.
The kanji of her name クレイルウィ・セラ transliterates directly to Kureiruwi Sera.
Ceridwen's name is drawn from Welsh mythology—a powerful enchantress and goddess known for her many disciples and her daughter, Creirwy.
Going forward, the Arbiter character will officially be referred to as Clairie Serah.
[4] If you'd like to chat, discuss the story, or hang out, feel free to join the Discord: https://discord.gg/s3MME8X8ar