The academy gates open up as Ian closes the door of his rover. Without wasting any time he goes straight to the girl's dormitory. Once there, he calls Andressa.
Few minutes later, Andressa comes out of the dormitory gate to meet Ian. Her eyes are all red from crying, her face is also a mess and her uniform is wrinkled.
"What happened?" Ian takes a step towards her. But Andressa's body shivers visibly.
"Don't tell me. He did something to you?" Ian asked in fury.
"N-No. I am. I am just confused." Andressa says in a small voice. "I wasn't able to think straight after he said those words. It made sense. It made complete sense." Her voice breaks at the end. "I don't want this, Ian. I don't want this to make sense. I hate it."
Ian slowly puts his hand on Andressa's shoulder. "What words? What did the Chief said to you?"
"He sa-"
Yesterday, like every other student Andressa also finished her dinner at mess and left the building for the dormitory. It was pouring outside but Andressa was walking through the rain like nothing. She only had one thought in her mind. 'Will Leo be alright for tomorrow's match?'
Even though they haven't talked with each other for a long time, 'Leonard' is the only name playing in Andressa's mind on repeat. Suddenly a umbrella covers her head from the rain.
"Huh?"She turns around and sees Chief standing behind her.
"Mind if we talk for a bit?" He asks.
Andressa sits on a random bench which is just below a large tree which provides a shelter from the rain. "So, what do want to talk about?" Andressa asks in a rude tone. "First of all, who even gave you entry on the campus?"
Chief smiles and reveals the federation badge in his hands. "I have my ways." He takes a seat besides Andressa. "Don't be so tense. I am just here to ask a few questions about your 'friend' Leonard."
Andressa swallows bit of her saliva in nervousness.
"According to our informants, he actively helped the Phirsecot family to extermination of the ancient beast. Do you know anything about him?"
"No. I do not." Andressa answers swiftly.
"Do you about his current whereabouts?"
"No."
"He was last seen in the Silver Chamber auction. Did he participated in the auction? Or he simply accompanied someone?"
"I do not know." Andressa is answering all the questions too quickly and the Chief also notices it. He leans back and chuckles. "I guess you are not his best friend anymore."
"Excuse me?"
"I mean a best friend knows all of this information. At least they share all the gossips to each other."
"Do you think I will fall such cheap trick?" Andressa stands up and starts to leave.
"He doesn't like you anymore."
Andressa quickly stops. The moment Karl turned away from her at that night reappears in her mind. That night, everything was perfect. If only she, she hadn't so selfish everything would have been normal. But it did not. She turns back.
"W-What are you trying to say?"
The Chief's blue eyes shines brightly in the rain. "Something changed or someone changed. Him or you." The Chief stands up and stares directly into Andressa's eyes. But Andressa holds her ground and doesn't back away. The sound of rain drops hitting the ground intensifies and the smell of wet soil enters Andressa's nose. They both stare at each other for few seconds before the Chief deicides looks away.
"Not you, I guess." The Chief steps down on the road and walks in circles around Andressa.
"Leonard Avaritia. An average boy with not so average element. Destined to betray humankind."
"No! The prophecy was proven wrong! He would never!"
"Yes. That is true for Leonard." Chief slowly creeps closer to Andressa.
"But that thing is not Leonard. He is something different. Think about it. A weak student who couldn't even learn his second spell defeated the princess of light without any effort. Few days later, the same student mysteriously left the city along with the former instructor who went berserk on her own lover."
'Zena? How much more does he know?'
"Later, that lover was found dead along with his dear brother in the same wilderness as your boyfriend was gone to. Coincidence right?"
Andressa starts to sweat in fear. She takes a step back but the Chief doesn't let her get away.
"And when your boyfriend came in the city…. The vampyers infiltrated the city gates. Oh! Look how the Horizon plays with our fate." The Chief laughs in an exaggerated manner. Then, he lets out a sigh and looks into Andressa's eyes. "All of this happened around a single boy is bit too inconvenient, don't you think?"
Seeing Chief's usual smile changing into an emotionless face, it sends shivers down Andressa's body.
"W-What are you trying to say?"
"That the person named Leonard Avaritia is dead and the current Leonard is someone else."
With that one sentence everything becomes clear. A series of complex memories began to pop in Andressa's mind. She was the person who knew Leonard better than anyone. His odd behaviour, sudden change in food preferences, lack of common knowledge and different personality. All of this resurfaces on her mind. The more she thinks about it, the more she believes it.
'Why didn't I noticed it earlier?' She clenches her fist and opens her mouth.
"Do you have any evi-"
BOOM!
The lighting flashes in a distance leaving a deafening sound. As the light flashed, a silhouette of a person appears standing between the Chief and Andressa. Visible yellow sparks coming at ground, just below the Chief's feet. "Give me a reason not to kill you right here and right now." Principal Esther threatens.
"Oh! Hello, Est! It has been a while."
'Principal Esther? Why is she here?'
The Chief lifts his both of his hands, indicating that he means no harm. "You got 5 seconds, Theodore."
"I was just asking for directions."
Principal Esther glances back and sees Andressa expression. "It doesn't look like that."
"Well, we had a mis-"
BOOM! A thunderbolt fell at Chief directly from the sky. The ground shakes from the impact creating a small dust cloud.
"Still feisty as ever." Chief walks out of the smoke without a single wound. Principal clicks her tongue loudly as she summons another spell.
"Stop! I leave. I don't seek any quarrels. As you know I have a big day tomorrow, I don't need any scars on my face." The Chief glances to Andressa.
"You asked for evidence? I will show it to you. Before the knight succession tournament ends." Andressa remains silent as the Chief turns around to leave. Principal Esther stands in front of the Chief, blocking his way. "I escort you out." She says.
"No need." Suddenly Chief's slowly turns into water and falls on the ground along with his clothes.
"You are dismissed. Don't speak of this to anyone."
Andressa quickly nods and walks away.
Back to present.
Ian silently stares at Andressa as she looks down at the ground. "So you think Leo is not Leo and someone else?"
"Yes!" She agrees quickly.
"And you reached this conclusion because an unknown man who just came into your life just few weeks ago managed to 'convince' you."
"Yes!"
"Are you dumb?"
"Yes! Wha- No! No."
"Then how could you believe his words so easily?"
"No- I didn't mean to-"
"Is your love for Leonard this shallow?"
Andressa's lungs forgets to breath for few seconds and something feels tight in her chest.
"I thought you knew Leo better than anyone."
"I DO! I do."
"If that's the case. How could you believe that he is not Leo? After that same Leo stood up for you when Remi was harassing you. He even got arrested for your sake and how could you even think such thoughts?" Ian raises his voice at the end, making Andressa cry.
"I-I don't know. Before he felt like he was so close to me but now…. Now he feels distant like he is a completely different person."
Ian grabs Andressa's shoulders. "If you have such worries, why not talk to him?"
"B-But he ran away."
"No. He did not. I swear on my family's name. Leonard did not ran away. Just your timing was bit odd." Ian tries convince Andressa. 'The less people know about the sword the better.'
"Do you think he will accept me?"
"Of course he will! Last time you were a bit too aggressive but now you are prepared and ready. Just be yourself and ask him out." Ian gives a thumbs up.
"W-What?"
"Don't try to deny it. You still love him, don't you?" Ian asks with a smug face.
"ACHWOO!" Karl sneezes loudly and drops a large piece of meat on the ground. 'Who the fuck is badmouthing me behind my back?'
Below the centre of Black Pegasus academy there is a very secretive hidden lab. There is only one way out and it can only accessed by Principal Esther. Lighting roars loudly in the sky.
"The outside weather seems bit rough, right?" A man wearing a lab coat says to his colleague who is setting up a camera. They are sitting in a very dark room with no light source.
"Who knows? It has been few months since I breathed fresh air. Alright, it's ready to roll. Three. Two. One. Rolling!" Both of them stand in front of the camera.
"This is the fourth day. Subject is less violent today and her vitals seems stable after the 2nd dose. In today's report, we increased the mana-"
WHOOM! Another lightning strikes, this time it is much louder than before as it shakes the entire lab. Suddenly Principal Esther appears out of nowhere. "Pack up. We have been found out by the federation."
"Lady Esther!" Both of them kneel.
"There is no need to worry about them. We succeeded in the experiment. Here, have a look." The man claps his hands and the lights turns on. It reveals the entire lab, there are various scientific equipment everywhere in the room. But the most important thing is behind them, a large glass cylinder with someone inside.
Principal Esther slowly walks towards the cylinder. "Open it." She orders.
One man turns the camera to the cylinder while the other man accesses the control panel and opens the cylinder.
SWOOSH! Hot water vapour is released from the cylinder. Inside, Mikaela sleeps in silence. There are various tubes inserted inside her head which are extracting and inserting a large amount unknown liquid.
Just by looking at it, one can see the pain that Mikaela is in.
"The mana output has been increased by 400 percent while the body has artificially enhanced-"
"Stop." Esther smiles widely as she stares at Mikaela. Her hair floating in the hair and excitement clearly showing on her face. "Even without the equipment I can sense the power of a intermediate knight."
Mikaela slowly opens her eyes.
"HAHAAHAHA! Now! I will never experience that shame again! Go my pupil! Win the knight ascension tournament and bring back the lost glory of your master!" Esther orders.