Arthur leaned back in his chair, a sly smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as his usual playful attitude returned. "Hey kid, I'll be generous and give you a good offer. Consider it an apology for... well, for what I did to you earlier," he said with a casual tone, as though the recent chaos was nothing more than a small inconvenience.
Aria and Endeavor sighed in unison, their eyes briefly meeting as they exchanged a look that said everything. That's Arthur for you. He could go from intense to carefree in the blink of an eye.
Lucian, still feeling the lingering effects of his recent torment, blinked in confusion. He shifted uncomfortably in the hospital bed, trying to understand what Arthur was getting at. "What?" Lucian muttered under his breath, glancing up at Arthur.
Arthur waved a dismissive hand, ignoring the confused stares. "Do you know about Nightshade Academy?" he asked, his voice holding a hint of mystery.
Lucian, already on edge, frowned. The sudden question threw him off. "Of course I know about it. Who doesn't?" His tone was wary, wondering where this conversation was going. Why would he bring that up now?
Arthur leaned forward, his grin widening. "Good. Now, have you ever thought about being a student there?" His eyes sparkled with amusement, enjoying the suspense.
Lucian's heart skipped a beat. He sat up straighter, his eyes widening. Nightshade Academy? He had dreamed about that place, like every other kid in the world. But dreams and reality were different. Kids like me don't belong there, he thought. To even step foot in Nightshade, you needed talent extraordinary talent, something Lucian was convinced he didn't have.
He swallowed hard, the lump in his throat tightening. "I… what are you saying?" Lucian asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Arthur's grin only grew. "I'm saying, as the principal of Nightshade Academy, I'm offering you a spot. No tests. No prerequisites. Straight in."
Lucian froze. His mind raced, trying to process the words. Nightshade Academy? Just like that? The disbelief was almost suffocating. He had to be hearing this wrong. Arthur was known for being unpredictable, but this? It can't be real.
"What…?" Lucian muttered, the word slipping out before he could stop it.
Arthur chuckled, clearly enjoying Lucian's stunned reaction. "You heard me right, kid. I'm inviting you to Nightshade Academy. And yes, no strings attached."
Lucian's thoughts spiraled. He could feel his pulse quicken, his breath hitching. The opportunity of a lifetime had been thrown at his feet. But then, doubt crept in, gnawing at the edges of his excitement. What am I even going to do there? He felt a sudden wave of insecurity. Nightshade was for the best of the best, for people who were destined for greatness. I'm just some orphan who can barely hold my own. What's my future plan anyway?
His mind spiraled further into chaos. He didn't have a plan, no real path forward. He'd barely scraped by his entire life, and now, he was being handed an opportunity so massive, it almost felt like a joke.
But... I have magic now, he reminded himself. Or, at least, the potential to learn it. The system had promised him the ability to learn magic, but he remembered the catch it would require system points. Points that he didn't have a lot of yet. His hands clenched into fists as memories of his past flooded his mind being bullied, beaten, ridiculed for his lack of magic. No matter how hard he trained, he could never defeat someone with magic.
I was weak, Lucian thought bitterly. And being weak had cost him everything.
But now, he wasn't powerless anymore. He had a system. He had potential. And now… he had this golden opportunity in front of him. Should I take it? Part of him wanted to reject the offer, to avoid the risks. But the larger part of him the part that yearned for change, for power screamed at him to accept it.
The room felt still as Lucian wrestled with his thoughts. Arthur, Aria, and Endeavor didn't interrupt. They all watched him, letting him contemplate in silence. There was no need to rush him. After all, they had achieved what they wanted to the boy's surname would remain a secret, at least for now. They had time.
As Lucian was lost in his internal conflict, a sudden ding echoed in his mind.
[Mission received: Agree to join Nightshade Academy.]
[Rewards: ???]
The notification made Lucian's eyes widen slightly, though he quickly masked his reaction. He didn't want anyone to know something was off. He kept his face neutral, his body language calm, as his mind raced.
System? Is this what you were talking about when you said you'd give me missions? Lucian thought, communicating internally.
[Yes, host. After you complete this mission, you will be rewarded. The system judged that this will be beneficial for you, which is why the mission was issued.]
Lucian felt his inner turmoil ease. The conflict that had been tearing him apart moments before seemed to vanish. If even the system thinks this is a good idea… then maybe this really is the right path. And it wasn't just that it was his first mission from the system. He had no idea what the reward might be, but it had to be worth it.
System, can you at least tell me what the reward is?
Silence.
Lucian smirked to himself. Fine. I guess I'll find out later.
With newfound clarity, Lucian looked up at Arthur. "Sir… will I really not need to take any tests or anything? And won't it be a problem that I've never learned magic before? Nightshade is the greatest academy in the world. I don't want to be a burden."
Arthur burst out laughing, slapping the table in amusement. "Kid, I'm the principal. I can do whatever I want. There's no need for you to be afraid. I'll prepare everything. The teachers will give you special treatment. They'll teach you from the basics. All I want is for you to enjoy the moment. Being a student is fun, trust me."
Lucian could see the sincerity in Arthur's words. There was something oddly comforting in how laid-back he was about everything.
Lucian nodded slowly, still feeling a bit uncertain but determined to follow through. "Okay… so, I'll join. But, um… what about the books? The uniform? A place to stay?" Lucian asked, rubbing his hands together with a smirk. If there was one thing he had learned from surviving on the streets, it was to take advantage of every situation.
Arthur's laughter boomed through the room again. "Hahahaha! I like you, kid! Always thinking ahead, huh? Don't worry, I'll take care of everything. Books, uniforms, dorms you name it, it's all yours."
Lucian couldn't help but grin. It pays to be shameless, he thought.
Arthur's eyes sparkled with amusement. "So, when do you want to get started? You look fine to me. Why are you still lying in that hospital bed?" Arthur asked, teasingly.
Aria and Endeavor sighed once again, exchanging a weary glance. For heaven's sake, the boy was tortured by a crucio curse, and Arthur has the audacity to joke like this? They knew Arthur's personality, but it still amazed them how nonchalant he could be about something so serious.
Lucian waved his hand in the air, shrugging off the concern. "Oh, that? I'm fine. See?" He threw a few mock punches into the air, as if the pain from his previous torture was a distant memory.
Aria and Endeavor blinked at him, their expressions a mix of disbelief and confusion. Is he serious?
Arthur grinned and clapped Lucian on the back. "That's my boy! I'm starting to like you more and more!"
Lucian smiled,
"Let's go, then!" Arthur said, his voice booming with excitement. "I'll prepare everything at the academy. Believe me, you're going to love it there."
As Lucian stood up, ready to follow Arthur, he couldn't shake the feeling that this was the beginning of something huge. He had no idea what the future held, but for the first time, he felt like he had a real chance. A chance to grow, to learn, to become something more than the weak, powerless boy he had been.
Aria and Endeavor exchanged one final look. This had all gone more smoothly than they had anticipated. They had come here with a plan to invite the boy to the academy, to keep an eye on him, to ensure his safety, and maybe… just maybe… to make him feel a connection to humanity.
They had reasons reasons far beyond just offering the boy a place to learn magic. If his mother ever resurfaced and threatened the world, they needed leverage. They needed something someone that could stop her.
And who better than her own son?
After all, no secret stayed buried forever. They had to be prepared.