After a brief silence, Hans Wagner shifted the conversation. "Now, about your conflict with the Thornhill family… I cannot intervene directly in noble affairs. However, know this: power is not always about brute strength or magic. It's about influence, alliances and control over the flow of information. Dazzai has those, but so do you."

I frowned, unsure of where the Chancellor was going with this.

"Your clash with the Thornhills is not a battle of fists but of wills…"

"...You've already proven that you can stand toe to toe with their scion, Dazzai. But don't mistake that for victory…"

"...To truly win, you must outmaneuver them. Learn their weaknesses, strike where they least expect, and above all, don't let their games distract you from your true goal."

"And what is my true goal?" I asked, feeling the weight of chancellor's words.

Hans wagner leaned forward, his gaze intense. "The truth, Levi… the truth about your parents, the dungeon gates, and the forces that have shaped your life…"

"...The Thornhills are merely one piece of a much larger puzzle. don't lose sight of that."

As the conversation drew to a close, I felt a renewed sense of purpose.

The Thornhills were powerful, but they were not invincible.

And as the chancellor's cryptic tale of his past and the Heart of Eternity. It only fueled my determination further.

"Thank you, Chancellor," I said, bowing slightly. "I wont forget your advice."

The Chancellor smiled faintly.

"I don't expect you to… now go.."

"Your path is your own, but remember something, its not just about power. Its about knowing when to use it."

As I left the chancellor's office, I couldn't shake the feeling that the conversation had set something in motion.

The heart of eternity, the Thornhills, my parents all of it was connected somehow.

And I was determined to unravel the mystery, no matter how long it took.

»»»«««

It had been five months since I had first stepped foot in RAA: Cindralock.

The once unfamiliar halls and towering structures now felt like a second home to me, though my path had been far from easy.

My growth had been substantial and with each new level, my power increased.

But there was still a nagging unease in my mind, a constant sense of something that needs to finish.

My sibling Percy and Jackson, had also changed. Both of them were now a year older, their skills and understanding of the world slowly growing as they trained under the care of the city's best tutors and one of the best schools.

Though I visited them often, I couldn't help but feel the weight of responsibility on my shoulders.

Every choice I made was to ensure their safety.

It was a quiet evening when I found myself alone, sitting by the windows in my dorm, staring out at the distant mountains.

My thoughts drifted back to the conversation I had with Chancellor Hans Wagner just one day ago.

Specifically, something he had said still puzzled me.

Before leaving his office that day, he said something that absolutely puzzled me. I couldn't ask because I had other things in mind.

"I've informed someone about your clash with the Thornhills," Wagner had said cryptically. "They may step in to solve the problem…".

I clenched my fists at the memory. Who? I had no allies, no one besides my siblings who truly cared about my well being.

Why would someone want to help me, especially against a powerful noble family like the Thornhills? it didn't make any sense.

I could think of a few individuals the Chancellor was referring to, but then those individuals had no reason I could come up with to side with me and every thing to benefit to side with them.

Probably someone powerful, like Korvessa S-Rank Mage Class Reaper and one of the five most powerful individuals in the country—The Vanguards.

Or maybe any one that is superior to her in the Vanguards, those individuals were known for their strength that was able to take down entire countries with magic power backed up.

"Who is the headmaster talking about?" I whispered to myself, feeing the familiar frustration building up inside me.

I hadn't seen or heard any signs of outside intervention, and the Thornhills hadn't made any moves recently.

But the Chancellors words lingered like a shadow over me. Could someone really be watching over me?

Shaking my head, I pushed the thought aside. I couldn't waste time on mysteries I couldn't solve yet.

I had something far more pressing ahead of me:

"The first semester exam will soon start…"

»»»«««

The next morning, my teacher, Professor Fiona entered the classroom with her usual calm confidence, her long robes swaying as she moved.

The students hushed immediately, sensing something important was about to be announced.

"As most of you know," she began, her voice clear and authoritative, "the fist semester exam are approaching… these exams will test everything you've learned so far since the beginning of your time here. For some of you, it will be a simple test of skill… for others…" her gaze wept across the room, "It will be a wake-up call."

My focus sharpened.

I knew I could afford to fall behind, not with the kind of name I have made for myself.

My recent clashes with the Thornhill family and recent dungeon gate mission had put me on the gap, but if I failed to excel in the exams, it would only give my enemies more ammunition against me.

"The exam will determine not only your placement for the next semester…" Professor Fiona continued, "But also whether or not you are eligible to enter the advanced courses and earn specialized training…"

Her eyes scaled the room until it lingered on me for a brief moment, as if silently reminding me of the stakes.

The class buzzed with quiet excitement and anxiety. Everyone knew how crucial this test would be.

That night, I returned to my dorm with a renewed sense of purpose and direction.

I spent the next five days reviewing all the lessons from the past five months since I had been admitted in this academy, refining my techniques and practicing my magic combinations.

My coordination with my pets and my mastery over elemental magic had grown significantly since I first arrived, but I knew the exams would push me to my limits.

»»»«««

As the first semester drew to a close, the atmosphere at the academy grew tense.

Students could feel the pressure of the upcoming exams weighting sdown on them.

For many, this would be the moment that defined their futures or their chances to become a Reaper. If a student failed the exams, they would be considered as candidates to be rusticated by the school on the grounds that they didn't meet the academy's standards and releasing them is for their own safety.

I, however, felt calm. I had faced worse before; monsters, betrayal, even near death situations. That being said, this exams was just another obstacle to overcome, another test of my resolve.

And if there was one thing I had learned form my time here, it was that I thrived under massive, great pressure.

My mind was set. I would pass this exam, earn my place in the advanced classes and continue to uncover the secrets I wish to have knowledge of.

The day of the first semester exams dawned bright and clear. I woke up with a mix of anticipation and anxiety swirling in my stomach.

Today would determine not just my academic standing but also the trajectory of my journey at RAA: Cindralock.

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