The room tensed as Headmaster Malphas stepped forward, his imposing presence like a shadow stretching across the hall. His dark blue eyes bore into Lucian, as though trying to unravel every secret buried within him.
"Lucian Noctis," Malphas began, his voice a calm, chilling blade, "Your records are... incomplete. An enigma like you raises questions questions that demand answers."
Lucian straightened, his expression guarded but calm. "And you traveled all the way here for those answers?" he replied, his tone measured, though a faint edge crept into his voice.
Arius Rael, the head of the Rael family, stood from his seat, his commanding presence filling the room. His golden eyes narrowed, his aura flaring subtly, but with unmistakable authority. "If you have questions, Headmaster," Arius said, his voice calm yet cutting, "you could've waited until the academy. Barging into my home uninvited is poor form."
Malphas's lips curled into a faint smile, though his eyes remained cold. "Forgive the intrusion, Lord Rael, but the nature of these questions requires urgency. I thought it prudent to act swiftly."
Arius stepped forward, his regal bearing underscored by the restrained power that seemed to ripple around him. "Urgency does not excuse disrespect, Malphas. You are a guest here, and I expect you to act as such."
For a moment, the room was heavy with tension. Aurelius, standing behind his father, watched silently, his golden eyes flicking between Malphas and Arius. Lucian, meanwhile, remained still, his posture steady, though the charged atmosphere made the staff at his side pulse faintly.
Elder Woolark raised a hand, his calm voice cutting through the standoff. "Enough. Malphas asked me to join for this visit because I knew questions would arise about Lucian's past. I am here to provide clarity within reason."
All eyes turned to Woolark. The elder's presence, though less oppressive than Malphas's, carried an undeniable authority. Malphas started to speak.
He looked to Lucian, his gaze softening slightly. "You listed Maywood Forest as your home address on the academy's forms. That, alone, raises concerns. The forest is no place for a child to grow up, let alone survive."
Lucian's gaze flickered, memories of his isolation and the harsh trials he endured flashing briefly in his mind. "I survived," he said simply. "That's all that matters."
Malphas's eyes narrowed slightly before pressing further. "How did you end up in the forest, Lucian?"
Lucian's jaw tightened his grip on the staff instinctively firming. "I don't know," he said flatly, though a flicker of discomfort passed through his violet eyes. "I woke up there one day. Alone. The rest… I had to figure out for myself."
Malphas's tone softened slightly, though it retained an edge of authority. "And what about your parents? Do you know them or anything about them?"
Lucian hesitated for a moment, his violet eyes darkening slightly as he searched for the right words. "Not really," he admitted, his voice quieter now. "But… sometimes, I see a faint golden light. It takes the shape of a beautiful woman. I don't know if it's someone from my family or just my imagination."
A faint murmur rippled through the room at this revelation. Woolark's expression softened slightly, while Malphas's cold gaze lingered on Lucian, scrutinizing him as if searching for any hint of a lie or deeper meaning.
Malphas stepped closer, his imposing aura pressing down on the room. "Lucian," he said, his voice firm but not unkind, "if you allow me, I can search your memories. It may provide the clarity we need."
Lucian froze, his hand instinctively tightening on his bag. Before he could respond, the golden book inside his spatial bag flared to life. A brilliant, blinding light engulfed the room, and a searing wave of pressure rippled outward, making even the air itself feel suffocating. Gasps erupted as a golden, blurry phantom emerged, its form crackling with energy that made the room quake.
The sheer weight of its presence forced everyone to their knees except Lucian, who remained standing. His violet eyes widened as the oppressive force washed over him, yet his body held firm, as though some unseen force shielded him from its crushing aura. Even Malphas staggered, his cold composure faltering for a brief moment as he dropped to one knee.
The phantom's aura was suffocating, radiating an Ancient power that felt like it could annihilate the entire room with a single gesture. It turned its piercing gaze toward Malphas, ignoring the astonishment etched into the faces of everyone else in the hall.
"Step lightly," the phantom said, its voice reverberating like the sound of mountains breaking apart. "For the boy walks a path that none of you can fathom. Tread too far, and you may find yourself erased from this plane."
Malphas's aura flared in defiance but quickly subdued. His jaw clenched as he struggled to meet the phantom's gaze, the weight of its presence forcing him to reconsider. "You speak boldly," he said, his voice colder than ever. "But do not think I will hesitate to release my restrictions and act, even here, if you threaten this balance."
The phantom's laughter was a deep, echoing sound that carried a weight of timeless experience. "The strings of fate are taut," it said, its tone chilling. "Do not be the one to snap them."
Its golden glow intensified as it continued. "Worry not. The gods and demons who pry into mortal lives will not see this moment. I have veiled their sight. Let them wonder."
Elsewhere The Realm of the Gods and Demons..
Far beyond mortal sight, the gods and demons who often watched the threads of existence stirred with frustration. The divine tapestry of fate, their constant source of knowledge, shimmered with unnatural distortion.
"What is this interference?" boomed a voice that echoed like rolling thunder. The speaker, a towering figure wreathed in lightning, clenched his fists as he glared into the void. "Who dares to shroud an event from us?"
A shadowy demon lounged on a throne of shifting black flames, its glowing red eyes narrowing. "This reeks of arrogance," it hissed, its voice a chilling whisper that sent lesser beings cowering. "No mortal has the power to disrupt our sight. This is the work of someone else..."
A serene, golden-haired goddess stood at the edge of the gathering, her expression calm but her eyes betraying unease. "If this force wishes to act in secrecy, then I will respond in kind. Whoever it is, they will regret their actions."
The gods and demons fell into an uneasy silence, their attention turning toward the void, where the truth of the event remained hidden. None dared to act rashly, but the seeds of suspicion and fear had already taken root.
Back in the Great Hall..
With a blinding flash of light, the phantom vanished, and the suffocating pressure dissipated as though it had never been there. Everyone was left reeling, their breaths coming in sharp gasps as they tried to process what had just happened.
Malphas's gaze lingered on the spot where the phantom had stood, his jaw tightening. Finally, he turned to Woolark, his expression unreadable. "We'll discuss this further at the academy," he said curtly before striding toward the doors without another word.
The great hall remained silent as the weight of the encounter settled over the room. Lucian, his hands still trembling, looked to Woolark, who placed a steadying hand on his shoulder.
"You're walking a path few can tread, Lucian," Woolark said quietly. "But remember, the strength to face it lies within you."