"Ok, but why though?", I asked Malgorius with a mildly annoyed/shocked face. I know I tend to be rather reckless, but I want to at least maintain the facade of being a low-key person.
"Why not? I figured with your predisposition for recklessness, this would be...up your alley?", Malgorius said with a bemused expression as he sipped his tea. I had already put two and two together that he knew what had happened to us on the day of the incident, I still grimaced at the comment though.
[Hey, I didn't say anything to anyone], Voxea complained to me.
{We just followed you like good mentors do}.
[Both of you, out of my head].
"But on a more...specific reason, it's because that old owl at the top of the roost asked me to do it for her", Malgorius explained in a more serious tone.
"The old ow-Headmistress Malrena? Why?", I asked a bit more confused but having a bad feeling as to the reason why.
"I cannot fre-"
"It's because I can sense the power you're hiding, Miss Rosewood".
"Bah"!
I'm not sure how and when, but Headmistress Malrena had somehow appeared behind me. Rather surprising because she was at least a head taller than me.
"And I don't appreciate being called 'old owl', Malgorius", Malrena said with a tinge of annoyance.
"Won't happen again, Malrena", Malgorius said with a lazy smile and shrug.
[Oooh, first name basis. I bet they have a history~].
"Now then, Miss Rosewood, or should I say, Miss Volance-Firmis? You have quite the record of practical experiences and hiding a surprisingly powerful trump card", Malrena said with a raised eyebrow. An icy feeling gripped my stomach at the realization that this crazy old bird somehow knew about both my family history and personal recent history.
"How...did you know that?", I asked in a weak voice.
"Your aura for starters", Headmistress explained,"when we first met, you gave off a similar energy to Miss Firmis. However, I noticed that there was distinct difference in it which reminded me of another young student from House Volance".
Why did all the crazy strong people have to be crazy perceptive?
"After that, it was a manner of looking into your history, sending someone to investigate your hometown and having someone observing you", the Headmistress added, "I'm just surprised you managed to hide a gold grade majimonster until recently".
"So that means...".
"Yes, I was there to watch as you and your friends fought the Bultungin", she explained matter-of-factly.
"For real? You've been improving your stealth skills", Malgorius commented in surprise.
[Huh...guess she was that weird thing I noticed back in the alleyways].
"But that doesn't change the main question", I interjected, "Why me"?
In response to my question, Headmistress Malrena proceeded to hold up three fingers.
"First, you are arguably one of the stronger binders on campus through the fact that you are among the handful of students with a gold-grade majimonster", she said before putting down one of her fingers.
"Secondly, while the upcoming exhibition match is a friendly sortie on the surface, it is still a matter of honor for us. To make sure our reputation is maintain and rivals understand our strength, we to put our best foot forward", she added while putting down a second finger.
"And lastly", she said while holding up her last finger, "It's not often one gets to meet the Emperor. It is a rare experience that I think would be rather beneficial to you...and your mentor".
The moment she said that, I could feel a bubble of anxiety coming from Voxea.
[While I doubt she knows about me specifically, that was still rather ominous].
"But, I will not force you", Malrena added as she began to walk towards the door, " I do hope you consider accepting though. Such events only happen a few times in someone's life, one should grab such opportunities like a Ragnaceros by the horns, no? "
And with that, Malrena left the room. That left Voxea and I to mull over her words, while an amused Malgorius, and presumably Belladonna, watched on.
"So then...what are you going to do, Miss Rosewood"?
"...do you even need to ask"?