Chapter 6: Mavis and Elaine

Chapter 6: Mavis and Elaine Just as Mavis walked into the office, a fatty came running. It was the Headmaster. A third-circle mage, yet despite his relatively low rank, he held this prestigious position due to his connections to a Duke's family. "Ah! Lady Mavis, to what do I owe this pleasure?" He bowed deeply, but inwardly, he was cursing. 'Damn it, what is this woman doing here?' he thought, forcing a pleasant smile. Mavis barely spared him a glance. "Nothing much. I just felt like coming here, so I came to look around." She pretended to be indifferent, but in her mind, she was already putting together the pieces. 'The Third Prince said she is in the academy, first year... so yes, she should be in the first-year section.' Meanwhile, the Headmaster, Kale, discreetly watched her, his expression polite, but his eyes filled with suspicion. 'Don't tell me she's breaking her neutrality and deciding to side with the First Prince...' Kale thought grimly. His Duke family had always supported the Fourth Prince, a well-known lunatic even among nobles, infamous for his violent temper and cruel acts. On the other hand, the First Prince was seen as the most suitable candidate for the throne. Even though he lacked strong magical prowess, his political influence and strategic mind made him a formidable contender—especially in race to next Emperor. And right now, the Academy was in shambles under Kale's leadership, as he was secretly embezzling funds while trying to maintain control. 'Damn it! She must be here on the First Prince's orders, trying to find an excuse to dismiss me using Academy mismanagement as leverage.' Kale gritted his teeth. He needed to find a way to keep her away—to prevent her from uncovering anything that could be used against the Fourth Prince's faction in court. Kale forced a pleasant smile, rubbing his hands together nervously. "Miss Mavis, surely we can attend to your needs better in my office. Why don't we go there?" Mavis barely spared him a glance. "I don't want to waste my time on trash." She walked straight toward the First-Year section, making Kale's heart drop. 'No, not there!' he panicked internally. The First-Year section was currently in chaos, filled with corrupt instructors and manipulated rankings—a powder keg waiting to explode. Desperate, Kale stepped in front of her. "You can't go there." Mavis narrowed her eyes. "Why?" Kale swallowed hard, forcing his voice to remain calm. "I mean... that's just the most basic section. If you're looking for talented students and powerful individuals, the advanced sections would be more fitting." Mavis sighed, already losing patience. "I'll give you one last chance. Step aside, or die." Kale felt cold sweat forming on his back. He hesitated before forcing a strained smile. "You can't just storm in there and do as you please." Mavis tilted her head. "Oh? And why not?" His voice wavered. "Because... If you ignore my authority, I'll be forced to call the royal enforcers on you. You're trespassing." Mavis paused, her expression unreadable. Then, she smirked. "Go on. Call them." Kale felt his stomach drop—he couldn't. If the Empire's enforcers got involved, they'd audit the Academy, which would expose his embezzlement and the hidden corruption within the First-Year section. Worse, if the first Prince had truly sent Mavis here, it meant the royal family was already suspicious. And if this led to an investigation... the Fourth Prince's faction would take a devastating hit. The Empress's deception would crumble if Mavis exposed the truth—the so-called Eighth Circle Mage he was showing was nothing more than a fraud. The Emperor Court had been led to believe in his power and thus he was appointed as Headmaster, but in reality, it was nothing but an artifact's illusion. He was planted here by the Dark Empress, Balina to secretly recruit talented commoners, but if the royal enforcers arrived, they'd see through the lies immediately. "Step aside or die." Her voice was calm, but when she raised her hand, a high-ranking lightning spirit—Raiju—materialized behind her. The spectral beast, crackling with pure electricity, stared at Kale with predatory eyes. A shiver ran down his spine. "N-No, wait!" Desperate, Kale activated his artifact, causing a brilliant aura to flare around him. The artifact simulated the presence of an Eighth Circle mage, making him appear far more powerful than he actually was. "Go on, attack me then!" he bluffed. "You'd be striking someone personally appointed by the Emperor court himself!" He expected hesitation. Expected fear. But instead— A blur of light. Before he could react, Raiju's spectral claws were at his throat. Kale froze, his mind blank with terror. The insane woman Mavis commanded it, he would die instantly. 'I-I will die! She's insane!' The false aura flickered, the artifact's magic faltering under his sheer panic. "W-Wait, I won't stop you!" Kale stammered, stepping back hurriedly. "It is beneath my dignity to fight you, someone weaker then me... So, I'll call the others instead! Just wait here!" And with that, he turned and ran. Mavis watched him flee, bored. The illusion of power had crumbled the moment it was truly tested. With Raiju dissolving into lightning sparks, she turned and entered the First-Year section, ignoring the coward's retreat. "To think the Headmaster is merely a Third Circle Mage... Sir Magnus, I'm sorry your legacy has stooped so low." Mavis sighed, glancing apologetically at the statue of Magnus, the Academy's founder. The old man's stone eyes seemed to gaze down at her with quiet disappointment. As she entered the First-Year Section, she immediately understood why Kale had tried so hard to stop her. "So this is the reason..." Inside the classroom, a commoner students sat at the very back, among them, a boy with his head down, bruises barely hidden beneath his sleeves. The teacher continued his lecture as if nothing was amiss, while the noble students chattered and whispered amongst themselves. If a noble had asked a question, the teacher would have answered enthusiastically. If a commoner did, they were ignored—or worse, humiliated. This boy had clearly tried to ask something. The result? Beaten and silenced. "These bastards," Mavis muttered under her breath, her fury rising. But she quickly took a deep breath. 'This Academy is under that woman's control... I can't act recklessly yet.' Her gaze shifted—and then lit up in interest. At the back of the room sat a girl with soft brown hair, listening timidly yet intently to the lecture. Mavis's Spirit Affinity stirred as she examined the girl. "It seems the Brightest Star is still shining." She could see it—the natural talent glowing around the girl like an aura, a rare gift only those with great Spirit Affinity could sense. "I finally found a disciple too." A smirk played on Mavis's lips as she casually kicked the classroom door on her way in. BANG! The sudden noise made everyone jump—including the teacher, who turned around, eyes widening in alarm. Mavis feigned innocence, placing a hand over her mouth. "Oops." She tilted her head. "The door was slightly stuck, and I tried to knock, but no one opened... So I helped." The classroom fell dead silent.