Chapter 36: A Call to the Headmistress
The morning light was still soft when a firm knock echoed through the room. Iris moved to open the door, revealing a tall, composed woman in formal academy attire. Her uniform was pristine, and her expression held a quiet intensity. Clearly, she wasn't just a messenger—her presence alone carried authority.
Argus glanced up from where he sat, a faint curiosity in his gaze. The academy had only just begun to settle into its rhythm, and already, something was pulling him away from the routine.
"Argus Augustine," the woman said, her tone polite yet formal, with just the right amount of weight. "The headmistress requests your presence. I am here to escort you."
There was no hint of urgency, but the significance was clear. A summons from the headmistress on the first day wasn't something to take lightly.
Argus straightened, meeting her eyes. "The headmistress? This soon?" He tilted his head slightly, a hint of surprise coloring his usually composed demeanor.
The woman didn't flinch. "It is as unusual as it sounds, Master Argus, but the request stands. Her office awaits you. I suggest we leave promptly."
Argus remained silent for a beat, weighing his thoughts. The academy had barely begun, and yet he was already being singled out. What could the headmistress want from him this early?
"I see," he finally said, standing from his chair. His movements were calm, deliberate. "Lead the way."
The woman gave a slight nod of acknowledgment, then turned to guide him. As they stepped into the hallway, Argus noted that rather than taking the main route bustling with students, they moved through a quiet side corridor. The walls here were different—marked with faint, glowing runes, the kind of magic reserved for private and important passages. There was an almost eerie stillness to the air, as if the very academy itself hushed as they passed.
They walked in silence for a few minutes, the steady rhythm of their steps echoing faintly in the secluded passage. Argus's thoughts, however, were far from still. The headmistress was an Eternal—one of the highest beings in the Central Realm—and the weight of her summoning him was not lost on him. Even as he kept his outward demeanor composed, inwardly, he was beginning to realize just how significant this meeting could be.
He glanced briefly at the messenger, her posture upright and unwavering. It was clear she was used to these kinds of tasks. Still, something about the quiet, private nature of this path stirred his curiosity.
"Does the headmistress often summon students on their first day?" Argus asked, his tone measured but probing, as if feeling for more information.
The woman's expression remained neutral. "No, Master Argus. This is quite rare. The headmistress rarely interacts with first-year students directly, especially so early in the term."
Argus nodded, more thoughtful now. He had expected attention because of his Adept rank, but this level of immediate interest from someone like the headmistress... it meant something deeper.
They approached a large door, etched with glowing runes. The magic that clung to the frame felt old, ancient even—much like the woman who resided within. The messenger stopped and gestured for Argus to proceed.
"The headmistress is inside," she said, her tone slightly softer, but still firm. "You may enter."
Argus stepped forward, opening the door to the headmistress's office. The atmosphere inside shifted immediately, thick with quiet power. The room itself was grand, but not overtly lavish—bookshelves lined the walls, filled with ancient tomes and relics. The air thrummed with old magic, subtle but unmistakable.
Behind a large desk sat Sylthana Silverleaf, her presence unmistakable. Her silver hair gleamed in the soft light, and her emerald eyes, ageless and piercing, fixed themselves on Argus the moment he stepped inside.
"Sit," she said, her voice steady, leaving no room for hesitation.
Argus complied, moving with measured grace to the seat across from her. He knew better than to underestimate the woman before him. The headmistress wasn't just a powerful mage—she was an Eternal, the peak of existence within the Central Realm. The sheer magnitude of her presence filled the room, a quiet but overwhelming force.
Sylthana studied him for a moment, her gaze sharp, assessing. "An Adept at your age is no small feat," she said after a pause. "But I suspect you know that already."
Argus held her gaze, his expression neutral. "I've heard it said."
Sylthana continued, her voice smooth but probing. "You're aware of how unusual this is, aren't you? Most students your age are only just beginning to grasp the basics. Yet here you are, already standing far above them."
Argus nodded once, acknowledging her words. He had felt the gap between himself and others ever since his awakening. But now, with the headmistress herself pointing it out, it felt more tangible.
Sylthana leaned back slightly in her chair, her eyes narrowing just a touch. "Your mother was much the same," she said, her tone shifting slightly as she mentioned Evangeline. "She arrived here with power that few could understand. But she chose a path that... set her apart in a different way."
At the mention of Evangeline, Argus felt a flicker of something—perhaps curiosity, perhaps something deeper—but he remained composed.
Sylthana didn't linger on the topic of his mother. Instead, she shifted her focus back to him. "The academy will watch you closely," she said, her words deliberate. "Your talent has already drawn attention. Some will look at you with admiration... others with envy. That is the nature of power."
Argus didn't react outwardly, but he understood the implication. His rank, his age—everything about him would make him a target, both for praise and for scrutiny.
Sylthana allowed the silence to stretch for a moment before she spoke again, her voice calm but with purpose. "Your rank is impressive, but potential like yours will attract more than just attention. It will bring expectations, scrutiny, and pressure."
She stood slowly, moving from behind her desk to stand before him. Her presence, already commanding, seemed to fill the room even more as she stepped closer.
"I've seen many students with talent," she continued, her tone even, "but none like you."
Then, with quiet finality, she said the words that shifted the room.
"You will be my disciple."
The weight of her declaration hung in the air, thick and undeniable. It wasn't an offer—it was a decision. Argus didn't need to question why. The headmistress, an Eternal, had chosen him. It was as clear as the magic humming in the walls around them.
Sylthana met his gaze, her expression unreadable, but the intensity in her eyes left no doubt—she had decided, and there was no room for argument.
"You will attend your regular classes with the others," she said, her voice calm but resolute, "but when I summon you, you will come. Your true lessons will be with me, and they will be unlike anything your peers will experience."
Argus remained silent, processing the weight of her words. He had expected the academy to be different for him, but this—becoming the disciple of Sylthana Silverleaf, an Eternal—was something beyond anything he could have imagined.
"I'm aware you haven't begun your classes yet," Sylthana continued, her tone steady. "The academy will teach you many things, but your path will be different from the rest."
She took a step closer, her gaze unwavering. "You'll master the foundations like everyone else, but your training will extend into areas only I can guide you through—skills and knowledge reserved for those with potential beyond the ordinary."
Argus thought briefly of his master, Suzume, the Eastern Guardian who had been both his mentor and guide. The time spent under her rigorous training had shaped him into the adept he was today. Her discipline, her relentless pursuit of perfection, had driven him far beyond what most his age could even fathom.
"I've trained under Suzume, the Eastern Guardian, for some time," Argus said, his tone steady as he studied Sylthana. "She's guided me well."
Sylthana's emerald eyes flickered with recognition, though her expression remained calm, measured. "Suzume... Yes, I know her well. One of the finest warriors of her time. Disciplined, fierce—there's little wonder you've advanced so quickly under her."
Argus gave a small nod. Hearing Suzume's reputation acknowledged by someone as powerful as the headmistress felt like a confirmation of the path he had walked thus far. But Sylthana hadn't summoned him just to speak of the past. He could sense there was more.
Sylthana's gaze held him, sharp and unwavering. "Suzume has taught you discipline, how to wield a sword, how to master yourself. But I will teach you knowledge—how to wield power in its many forms. Knowledge beyond the battlefield. You'll need both to navigate the challenges ahead."
There was a pause, the silence heavy with unspoken possibilities.
"I'm offering you that path, Argus," she said, her voice quiet but absolute, every word heavy with purpose. "You will be my disciple."
Argus absorbed the weight of her words. There was no question in his mind that this was not something to be debated. He had been chosen, and this path was already set before him.
"I understand," Argus said, his voice calm and resolute.
Sylthana nodded once, her expression unreadable but the faintest hint of approval flickering in her eyes. "Good. I expect nothing less from someone with your potential."
She turned, walking over to one of the many bookshelves lining the room. "Before we conclude, I want to see the extent of your power firsthand. I know you've already advanced far, but it's important I understand exactly where you stand."
Argus shifted slightly in his chair, curiosity rising. Sylthana's words weren't a challenge, but there was an undeniable intensity in the air now. He had never been one to shy away from a test of strength, but this felt different—this wasn't a spar or a show of physical prowess. This was something else entirely.
The headmistress returned to the desk with a small, black crystal. It pulsed faintly with energy, a strange hum emanating from it as she placed it before Argus.
"Touch it," she instructed, her tone calm but firm. "This will reveal the depth of your connection to the forces you wield. I've heard whispers of your awakening, but I'm particularly interested in seeing how unique your power truly is."
Argus eyed the crystal for a moment before extending his hand. He wasn't surprised that Sylthana, with her power and experience, would have some inkling about his abilities. The moment his fingers made contact, he felt a sharp, almost electric jolt. A familiar sensation—the void, vast and endless—stirred within him, resonating with the crystal. The air seemed to thicken, the light bending faintly as the void's energy poured into the crystal, swirling in response.
The room dimmed slightly as the crystal absorbed the energy, reflecting the vastness of the void that Argus had awakened within. Sylthana's eyes gleamed with interest, but she remained silent, observing.
For several moments, the hum of the crystal grew louder, the void within it expanding, swirling in response to Argus's touch. Then, just as quickly as it began, the sensation faded, and the crystal returned to its inert state.
Sylthana reached out, taking the crystal back into her hand. "Impressive," she said, her voice measured but with a hint of something deeper. "Your connection to the void... I expected something different, but this—this is remarkable. Truly unique."
Argus withdrew his hand, feeling the lingering presence of the void inside him, though it was no longer surging outward. He looked at Sylthana, his curiosity piqued. "And now?"
The headmistress placed the crystal back on the shelf, turning to face him fully. "Now, you continue your path here at the academy. You'll attend your classes, learn what they teach you—but when I summon you, you will come. We will explore your powers further. This will not be an easy journey, Argus, but I believe you are more than capable."
She stepped closer, her presence once again filling the room. "Remember, the academy will offer you the foundations. But what I teach you will be beyond that. Our lessons will be private, and you will not speak of them to others. Do you understand?"
Argus nodded, the weight of her words sinking in. "I understand."
Sylthana regarded him for a moment longer before giving a slight nod of approval. "Good. Then, for now, you are dismissed. But I will call for you soon, Argus. Be prepared."
With that, Argus stood, offering her a respectful nod before turning toward the door. As he stepped out of the office, the air outside felt lighter, as if the academy itself had shifted around him. The path ahead was now clear, but it was unlike anything he had anticipated.
As he made his way back to the dorm, his thoughts lingered on the headmistress's words and the revelation of his power. His connection to the void, though still unfamiliar, had been recognized by someone as powerful as Sylthana. And while he was far ahead of his peers, this opportunity wasn't about rising above them—he was already past that point. This was about unlocking the full extent of his abilities, mastering the forces within him that even someone like Sylthana found intriguing.
The academy had only just begun, but the true path he would walk was far beyond what others could even comprehend.