Kyle didn't know whether he should hide behind pillars near him, but in the end, he decided to stay quiet.
Mr. Heinz knows that he's here, so he shouldn't be leading Lesley to where he was… unless Mr. Heinz wanted him to meet her and get him to fight her in a battle!
Does he want me to test my Spell Dispersion this early?! She's already graduating this academic year! She must have plenty of Spells! There's no way I can fight her!
Furthermore, I can only last 10 seconds! She's probably just getting heated up, and I'm already unable to continue. No… No… I'm overthinking this.
Kyle shook his head as he calmed his breath and listened to their conversation quietly. He soon heard his Master's agitated voice.
"I'll be reprimanded by the Vice Headmaster again, Lesley. I can't help you. If you obtain the Vice Headmaster's approval, I will make that potion for you. Don't make it difficult for me." Heinz replied with exasperation. This matter had definitely happened before, and he was used to this.
"There's no way I'll get permission… I didn't even get enough contribution points. We can just keep this a secret. You need money, right? The academy is not funding your research anymore. Aside from a few materials being given to you, you don't have financial support from them anymore. How about it? In each potion you make, I'll purchase it for three times the current market price." Lesley spoke as he lowered her voice.
'Is she that rich? No wonder she didn't bother checking our bodies for some spare change.' Kyle mused.
This time, Heinz didn't answer immediately as he seemed to be hesitating with the offer. As expected, Heinz's financial situation isn't really good. Considering how he had no results in his research for many years, it must've been difficult for him to raise enough money to continue his Arcane Studies.
Noticing Heinz's hesitation, Lesley decided to strike while the iron was hot…
"Aren't you thinking of accepting an apprentice before? I heard you mentioned it several months ago. Since you lack money, it will be difficult for you and your apprentice… This is an opportunity. The money you'll earn from me can be used for your future apprentice or even improvement of your facility..."
Heinz finally sighed after hearing this. He indeed spent all of his money on the three potions he prepared for Kyle.
Those potions are worth more than 10,000 zen each and since it was made by Heinz, they can normally be sold for 20% more.
"Fine… Let's discuss it in my office and we'll sign a contract…" Heinz replied with a tired voice.
"Great! But aren't you going to the Animus Haven Hall?" Lesley asked.
Heinz's mouth twitched after hearing this, but he didn't show it to Lesley as he urged her to follow. "It's not important… Let's hurry and complete the deal."
With that said, the two finally left the hallway leaving Kyle frozen behind the door.
After a while, when he could no longer hear their receding footsteps, he finally heaved a sigh of relief… Of course, he didn't immediately open the doors as he was worried that he'll be noticed by Lesley if he went to hide in his room.
Although unlikely, she might enter her Phantasm State and discover his familiar aura within her range. In the end, he decided to stay inside the basement for a few more hours to ensure that she had already left.
"Ahh… Did she call this place Animus Haven Hall? I wonder what that means…" Kyle muttered as he waited inside the hall.
***
After two more hours, he entered his Phantasm State and realized that his second spell light was already turning black. It wasn't completely black yet but at this rate, it should return to its previous deep color in another four or five hours.
Kyle didn't feel unhappy about this slow rate of recovery… After all, he still lacks proper training and he's only beginning in his Arcane Path…
Clink!
Kyle twisted the door knob and opened the door slightly. After confirming that no one is around, he finally returned to his room and threw the pieces of shattered glass in the garbage bin.
Gurg... Gurg…
His stomach suddenly grumbled so he had no choice but to visit the dining area to request some food.
While going there, he already confirmed that Mr. Heinz and Lesley had left the building. However, before he could even enter the dining area, he heard some unfamiliar voices that were causing trouble in the area.
They seemed to be overbearing as they were scolding someone in the dining hall.
"Who do you think you are?! If Heinz is not here, why should we listen to you?"
"You stupid girl! We're not planning to make it difficult for you but you're overstepping your line."
"Take her out and we'll teach her a lesson…"
"R-right… Come with us… We'll teach you how to properly serve people."
Soon, Kyle noticed four young men wearing the Academy's as they surrounded a small girl who was already on the floor. The girl was undoubtedly Denise and she already had bruises on her body. Her lips are already bleeding and her cheek seems to have been slapped as it was already swelling.
The workers, including the chefs and other servants, were only quietly watching and didn't dare to interfere. They were obviously afraid of the Academy's students who practiced the Dark Arts.
It was a familiar situation for him…
Kyle was also a weak bystander in his younger years during his previous life. He was someone who didn't want to trouble the kind parents who had adopted him, fed him, and given him a place to stay.
It was only in his later years that he changed his view of his life, and that change even cost him his life.
"Aahh! Let go!" Denise cried as she tried to fight back.
Kyle clenched his fist as he saw Denise get dragged by her hair. The one who was dragging her was a freckled-faced blond man, and he seemed to be very excited about what he was doing.
'Why is Master Heinz not here yet?!'