Vol 8. Chapter 2: From…

By evening, Leon and Rosvisser arrived at Saint Heath Academy. In the principal’s office, the husband and wife, travel-worn, pushed open the door. Following them came Claudia’s aide, Samantha.

Claudia glanced at the clock on the wall. It was already past eleven at night, close to midnight. She and Principal Wilson first exchanged a few words of greeting with the couple, then Claudia crooked her finger at Samantha.

Samantha immediately stepped close behind her, bent forward and whispered:

“What is it, Vice Principal?”

Claudia lowered her head slightly, her voice hushed.

“Why so late? By rights you should’ve arrived at the academy more than an hour ago.”

The incident had taken place in the morning. After the accident in the scorpion cave, Claudia had dispatched messengers to the Silver Dragon Sanctuary by midday to inform Leon and Rosvisser.

At most, even at the slowest, it should only have taken about ten hours. But now they were over an hour late. She had to ask.

Samantha also whispered in reply:

“We detoured to the Redstone Forest on the way.”

Claudia arched a brow. “The exam’s already been terminated. Why go to Redstone Forest?”

“After confirming that our staff had completed the collection and survey work in the scorpion cave, Prince Leon went ahead and wiped out the hundreds of surviving rock pythons inside...”

At those words, Claudia silently pressed a hand to her forehead and sighed inwardly.

“Well, at least he didn’t turn his fire toward the academy.”

A doting father—Claudia could understand Leon.

“Alright, you can go.”

“Yes.”

Once Samantha had left, Claudia turned toward the couple and spoke.

“First of all, on behalf of Saint Heath Academy, I offer my sincere apologies to you both for the events that occurred during the Redstone Forest outdoor exam. We—”

“Senior, spare us the official talk. Don’t waste everyone’s time.”

Clearly, his daughter having been attacked, Leon’s anger hadn’t yet cooled, so his tone was sharp. Rosvisser gently patted his arm, and only then did he rein in his emotions. He continued,

“Accidents are uncontrollable, after all. I only hope that next time there’s an outdoor exam, the academy’s preparation and investigation will be truly thorough.”

“Of course, Your Highness,” Principal Wilson said at once.

In truth, Principal Wilson and the academy were equally helpless. In just a few short years, more than ten dragon children had participated in outdoor exams—yet why was it that both the Melkvey family’s eldest and fourth daughters had ended up in life-threatening accidents?

For the first time, in all his years as principal, Wilson felt as though he’d been set up by “capital.”

But Leon didn’t pursue it further. Claudia had already apologized. He could afford to deny Wilson face, but he couldn’t embarrass his own side. If he pressed harder, Claudia, caught in the middle, would be put in an impossible position.

“I didn’t see Constantine at the academy. From what I hear, Hefei was also attacked, yet you haven’t notified him, have you?”

Leon spoke slowly. Claudia and Wilson exchanged glances as they listened.

They thought Leon’s next words would be sarcastic—something like, “Afraid Constantine would tear the academy apart if he knew?”

But Leon didn’t lash out. Both had braced for it, after all—even if he didn’t, his daughter had been harmed. That he wasn’t raging was already more than they could hope. A few sharp words were easy enough to bear.

Yet, to their surprise, Leon shifted the subject.

“So then, beyond offering apologies in person, I assume you’ve brought us here for something else?”

At that, Wilson secretly breathed a sigh of relief and took the chance to flatter him.

“As expected of Your Highness, nothing escapes you...”

“Principal, spare me too. Say what you must, quickly. Once it’s done, we’re going to see Muse.”

“Ahem... very well.”

Wilson glanced at Claudia. She understood, and promptly took from a drawer the container they had obtained earlier in the day, setting it on the desk.

Rosvisser looked at the two lumps of black substance inside and frowned.

“This... is?”

“We discovered it in the scorpion cave. According to the academy’s analysis, the material originally belonged to the cave environment, but was forcibly altered by the influence of another black fragment. Its structure was changed, forming an entirely new substance.”

Claudia explained.

“When we lifted the seal earlier, the aura it emitted felt familiar to me, but I wasn’t certain. °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° So I wanted to ask for Your Highness’s help.”

Leon narrowed his eyes, gaze sliding to Claudia.

“Senior, if even you’re not sure, how could I be?”

He knew well Claudia’s breadth of knowledge. If she couldn’t place it, how could anyone?

But Claudia shook her head.

“If I temporarily lift the seal, perhaps you’ll see more clearly. Then we can discuss.”

Leon didn’t refuse. “Go ahead.”

Claudia raised her hand and dispelled the suppression circle restraining the fragment.

At once, that deathly cold aura spread out again.

The couple’s brows furrowed. Something was wrong. Especially Leon—this aura dragged up a memory he’d rather never recall.

Seeing his reaction, Claudia quickly reactivated the circle. The black shard went still again.

“Well? Leon?” Claudia asked.

This time, Leon didn’t answer right away.

He lowered his gaze, staring hard at the tiny fragment in the glass container.

On the surface, he looked calm. But Rosvisser noticed the bead of cold sweat slowly running down his temple.

After a long silence, Leon shut his eyes and took several deep breaths before forcing down his emotions.

Opening them again, he looked to Claudia and said:

“You’re right, Senior. I’d wager I’m the only one in all of Samael who can recognize this. You were right to call me.”

Hearing that, Claudia couldn’t tell if she should feel relief or dread.

She bit her pale lip and looked again at the fragment.

“So then, my suspicion was correct.”

The atmosphere in the office grew heavy at once.

No one spoke.

Rosvisser’s concern was wholly for Leon’s state. She reached out her slender hand, clasping his on the desk.

Leon slowly turned his palm, interlacing his fingers with hers.

The moment their fingers twined, Rosvisser felt it—his hand was ice cold. He was afraid. He so rarely feared.

On the continent of Samael, there was almost nothing that could make Leon tremble.

Unless...

She glanced sideways at the shard.

Unless it didn’t belong to this world.

“Void...”

Rosvisser spoke at last, breaking the silence...

“This fragment comes from the Void.”