"It won't happen," Snowshade said in a serious tone. She didn't like the fact that Jung constantly challenged her authority.
Jung didn't care about her demand. "Try me!" he said, his will unbroken.
Hearing his words, the woman revealed her aura, demonstrating the difference between them and weakening Jung.
The boy had resistance to mental or physical attacks, yet he felt an unimaginable power pressing on his being.
The weight it brought was unbearable.
Not for Jung, though.
Amidst the chaotic, cold, and wild force, Jung sat as if it did not affect him, his 12 lives proving their worth.
Seeing his resolve, Snowshade ceased her actions. She wanted to pry and ask about his reasons, but Jung cut her short.
"I heard an albino girl was under your care," he said, asking about Elara. "What happened to her?"
The woman was momentarily stunned.
Hearing this out-of-pocket question wasn't something she expected, but presented a good opportunity to gauge more about Jung.
"Top secret," she said shortly and examined the boy.
"Is it connected to the Ruler god?" Jung asked, suspecting that God's presence wasn't so secretive.
Hearing that, Snowshade was startled once again.
"How did you…" she was about to ask, but remembering Jung's identity, she became even more convinced.
"Tell me more about her and her disappearance," Jung asked, his voice almost cracking.
Not missing his emotions, Snowshade collected her thoughts and began.
"Her name is Ophelia. She was brought here by God's envoy, who asked us to look after her. It happened three years ago; she was a bit older than you, and her talent was nothing like we had seen before."
'Something doesn't add up,'
Jung thought.
He had the same doubts after hearing other students speaking about her, but listening to Snowshade, his suspicions increased.
"Her acting as a ruler and her aptitude for pills were off the charts," the woman continued, looking at Jung attentively.
"Given enough time, she could have reached Tier XII, but as soon as rumours about the Fracture started, she grew ill and almost died while no one could cure or explain her condition. Then the same people who left her with us came back and took her."
Jung was listening, and he became even more certain that the story was about Elara, although her name was changed.
However, her age was a concerning factor for him.
His sister was two years younger than him; it made little sense how she could have grown older than him.
Her kidnapping happened five years ago.
If they brought her three years after that, it meant that something happened in those two years, altering her age or possibly changing her altogether.
"Were you close to her?" Jung asked, waiting for the answer, his heart beating faster and faster with each second.
"No one was close to her," Snowshade stated, reminiscing. "She barely talked and intimidated others."
Jung sighed and laughed. "Reminds me of someone."
His expression said it all.
As for his thoughts, they were in turmoil, dominated by anger and sadness.
'Elara was the most energetic, talkative child, but they did something.'
Jung's wrath increased; his persona left his body, and carrying power from two different archetypes, his aura was stronger than it should have been.
"Stay calm," Nero meowed in his head. Her voice was serene, steadying his actions.
Snowshade saw his reaction and didn't hold back her curiosity. "Why do you care about her?"
A concrete answer didn't exist to that question, but how could he, when he couldn't just explain or control the feeling he felt in this new world?
The answer he came up with would benefit him alone.
"She is important," he said, genuinely smiling he added. "We need her to save the world."
Snowshade didn't argue.
She saw Elara's talent better than anyone, and if someone could play a leading role in an apocalyptic world, it could have easily been her.
Meanwhile, Jung returned to the last topic and connected it to the current conversation.
"Ophelia is significant to protect Maskera, but Astra is a danger we need to vanquish at all costs."
"What do you mean?" the woman asked because it sounded like an excuse Jung came up with.
But he had no desire to explain himself.
Jung knew his acting was on point, and that Snowshade almost trusted him.
In order to maintain that trust, he had to kill the Chosen One, and when the information about their existence spreads, he alone would have the competence to keep that status.
His wish didn't stem from jealousy.
Jung absolutely disliked the guy and thought that he was unfit to protect the world.
No moral dilemma, no hesitation existed inside him.
With the decision already made, he would gladly uphold it.
Their conversation didn't end there.
Touching on various topics, Jung asked about his admission, not doubting that he wouldn't be expelled after what he did.
"You don't have to worry about that," Snowshade answered. "I have sufficient authority to solve that problem."
"Dope!" Jung exclaimed and followed the woman to the training grounds.
Her request was to spar with him, not only to test his current capabilities but to discern his future potential.
However, Jung had a slightly different idea.
"I want to duel with white-clothed creator grandpa. I know he is connected to twins, and I made a promise to him to teach something."
Arguing wasn't Snowshade's priority.
Walt was an expert judge of character, and normally he would spar with Juniors.
In addition to that, she was interested in Jung's promise and his plans.
After reaching the training ground, she led Jung inside and advised.
"Wait for my return. I am going to call Walt, and remember, stay still and don't start anything."
Not saying a word, Jung nodded, which gave Snowshade uneasiness.
As soon as she left, Jung wanted to look around the arena.
It was an enormous hall, covering the whole floor.
Filled with upperclassmen who trained and sparred with each other, hardly anyone paid attention to him.
Various pieces of equipment were present.
Some of them developed or checked many physical or magical abilities. Jung saw more than one piece of machinery, the purpose of which he didn't know.
Yet it was a wonderful experience, and he was lost in a graceful and magical environment as a few kiddos approached him.
Based on their appearance, Jung guessed their average age would be around 16 to 17.
They had a certain aura around them as if they were asking for a face-slapping.
Unfortunately for them, Jung wasn't the kind of guy who would be satisfied with just that; he snickered as he met them head-on.
"I know who you are," said the fat, round-faced, and bald student.
"Snowshade brought you here, which means you are some kind of big shot."
Shaking his head, Jung rubbed his face.
"Let's not waste our time and fight. We both know it would come to that."