The room fell into a tense silence, the air thick with unspoken thoughts. Some students considered Phoebe's point logical and worth pondering, while others dismissed it as overthinking.
"Since the three great gods only revealed these specific threat levels to us, maybe nothing can surpass them. And even if that isn't the case… surely the gods wouldn't be wrong in creating the system, right? Especially when they're omniscient beings…" Professor Kate said, attempting to maintain a confident tone, though uncertainty betrayed her words ever so slightly.
"Is that really so?" Phoebe asked, her voice carrying a subtle note of doubt.
The words barely left her lips when a cold, sharp voice cut through the room.
"Hmpf. As a mere mortal, you speak as if you know better than the three great gods. Do you even have any evidence to support your claim? Do you?" Robrecka's lavender eyes glimmered as she directed her challenge at Phoebe, her tone both mocking and commanding.
"W-What? No, that's not what I mean. It's just… curiosity, that's all," Phoebe replied, cheeks tinged with embarrassment.
"Oh really? Because it seems to me you are contradicting the gods themselves," Robrecka said, her voice tinged with a teasing menace.
"No… that's not…" Phoebe stammered, her discomfort growing as all eyes in the class subtly shifted toward the unfolding confrontation.
Some students, evidently influenced by Robrecka's aura, began murmuring in agreement.
"Lady Robrecka is right. How dare you question the system created by the gods?" one student snapped.
"Yeah, have you no shame?" another added, eyebrows furrowed in disapproval.
"Well, what can you expect? She's just a lowborn orphan from some random orphanage," another student sneered.
Lucas frowned, stepping forward slightly. "Hey, come on. Stop that. You know that's not what she means, right?"
"And who are you, huh? To order me around?" Robrecka's gaze shifted to Lucas, irritation flickering across her composed face.
Lucas wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead. "What's up with your temper?"
The tension in the room escalated, the atmosphere almost palpable. Before it could spiral further, Professor Kate raised her voice, cutting through the tension like a blade.
"That's enough, all of you. Stop acting like children and behave your age, won't you?"
Silence fell once more. Robrecka and Lucas withdrew slightly, while Phoebe took a deep breath, regaining her composure.
"If none of you have any further questions, that will be all for today. Class dismissed," Professor Kate said, her footsteps echoing as she exited the classroom.
As the classroom emptied, Phoebe's eyes lingered on Robrecka, who was now engaged in conversation with her entourage. There was an unmistakable intensity in her gaze, a mixture of discomfort and caution.
"She's hot-headed, isn't she?" Lucas said, his tone low, walking beside her.
"And… really scary," Phoebe admitted, her face darkening slightly.
Lucas smirked. "Lol, she really got to you earlier, huh? You almost seemed ready to burst into tears back there."
Phoebe pouted. "I'm going to tell Ryze how you bullied me here at the academy!"
"What? How does that even involve him?" Lucas said, awkward and confused.
Phoebe waved her hand dismissively. "Pfff, I'm just kidding. But… I'll be careful around Robrecka from now on." She offered a sheepish smile, trying to hide her lingering unease.
The rest of the day passed without incident. Professors cycled in and out, delivering lessons while Phoebe and Lucas absorbed as much as they could. By the time the final class ended, the sky had darkened, a soft purple hue settling over the academy grounds. They decided to return to the inn where they were staying, jumping through the warp gates to reach the academy gates swiftly.
Upon arrival, Phoebe recognized the guards stationed at the gate—the elf knight and the dwarf knight who had aided her in contacting the headmaster earlier. She smiled warmly and greeted them.
"Good evening, sir knights," Phoebe said, her tone soft and respectful.
The elf knight raised an eyebrow. "Hm? If it isn't the human girl from before. Seems you've made friends as well."
"Good evening. I see you've passed and become an official student. Congratulations," the dwarf knight added with a kind smile.
"Yes, thanks to both of you. Your help allowed me to make it to the exam, so thank you very much," Phoebe said politely.
"I see. Then I wish you the best experiences here at the academy," the dwarf knight replied, nodding firmly.
Phoebe's curiosity got the better of her. "Did you two just start your shift? Earlier, I didn't see either of you on duty."
"Well, yes. Night shifts can be a bit grueling, and the cold doesn't help. The wind makes staying awake difficult," the elf knight admitted, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.
"Hey, keep it down. If anyone heard, we'd get scolded," the dwarf knight added, a faint smirk on his lips.
"Oops, don't worry, it'll be our secret," the elf knight laughed lightly.
Phoebe chuckled softly. "Don't worry. Your secret is safe with me."
"You two should get going. Students should be heading home now, and it's dangerous at night," the dwarf knight warned.
"Okay, goodbye, sir knights," Phoebe said, waving as she began walking with Lucas.
As they walked away from the academy gates, Lucas glanced at Phoebe curiously. "So you befriended the guards too? I thought your only friend was the orc girl from before."
"Call her Ammy, not just 'orc girl.' And yes, those two knights helped me reach the examination site safely," Phoebe explained, careful not to reveal anything that might compromise Julius' recommendation letter.
Lucas nodded. "I see, so that's how it was."
Their conversation flowed easily as they walked toward their inns. However, the atmosphere shifted as they passed a group of four individuals cloaked in dark garments. Three followed behind with two wings pierced by a spear emblem on their backs and pitch black visor in the eyes attached in a circular white masks. The one at the front had a cloak marked by a single wing pierced by a spear, hood concealing their identity.
Phoebe's eyes caught the symbols immediately, and instinctively, she turned to observe them again.
Those symbols… aren't they the same as the group I saw in the Outer Continent? And the same ones I noticed when arriving here from the ship? Phoebe thought, unease creeping into her mind.
As the cloaked group moved further ahead, Lucas noticed Phoebe's hesitation. "Hey, what's up with you? Why did you stop walking? Can't you hear me?"
"W-What?" Phoebe replied, startled, turning to face him.
"You look like you saw an undead or something," Lucas remarked, concern lacing his voice.
"N-No, it's just… those symbols," Phoebe muttered, glancing once more toward the alley where the group had disappeared.
By the time she looked back, they were gone, as if absorbed by the darkness of the streets. She turned to Lucas, trying to mask her unease. "Never mind."
"You weirdo," Lucas said with a teasing grin, though his eyes remained alert.
The two continued their journey toward their inns, the night air cool against their faces.
Meanwhile, in a luxurious manor within the capital of the Empire of the Brave, a dark room sat quietly under the night sky. A faint sliver of moonlight streamed through the window, illuminating a woman with lavender hair and matching eyes seated elegantly on an expensive chair. A closed bladed fan rested on her lap, reflecting the pale glow of the moon.
Silence reigned until a male voice broke it.
"Earlier, what you said… I didn't know you were such a devotee to the three great gods. I'm touched, Robrecka, truly touched. BWAHAHA!"
Robrecka's eyes remained fixed on the fan in her lap. Slowly, a blob-like creature with red eyes emerged from it.
"Hmpf. That was mere acting. There is no reason for me to be a devotee of the three great gods," Robrecka said calmly, her voice cold and composed.
"HAHAHA, your temper is always hot when she's around. Why do you keep attacking that girl?" the blob asked, entertained.
Robrecka's eyes narrowed. "It's because of a report from my informant. It concerns that girl, her association with Julius Von Trinity," she said, her gaze sharp and calculating.
"Oho, could it be that they've found a lead on you? HAHAHA!" the blob jeered.
"Hmpf, nonsense. It's impossible for them to trace my identity. All my operatives work meticulously. That's why I'm puzzled why Julius Von Trinity would send someone affiliated with him to the academy—coinciding with my infiltration," Robrecka said, annoyance flickering briefly across her features.
"The timing is… suspicious, even I can say that. HAHAHA," the blob replied.
Robrecka's gaze drifted to the moon, its cold blue light reflecting off her sharp features. Deep in thought, she pondered the report, unaware that the timing was nothing more than coincidence. Slowly, clouds crept across the sky, dimming the moon and casting the room into deeper darkness.