"As you can see," Professor Kimberly, the person in charge of dealing with the groups for the freshmen, handed Bree a paper. "The quota for freshmen groups is already filled. You cannot make another group."

"What?" Bree frowned. "But there are many more groups before the Blood Rite."

Currently, both Bree and Kai are inside the professor’s headquarters to register their new group.

But even before the group was made, an obstacle already got in the way.

"Yes, that’s because the academy is waiting to see which among those groups could claim the assigned cultivated clouds. Now that each one has been claimed by a group, there’s no need for more than four groups."

"What if those four groups don’t want to accept some students?"

"That’s not the academy’s problem."

Bree wasn’t expecting this at all.

She thought anyone could simply make a group and register it with the academy. The only obstacle she needed to pay attention to was getting their hands on a cultivated cloud, taking it from another group.

But a quota for freshmen groups suddenly exists.

It caught her completely off guard.

"There are two new cultivated clouds soon, so the total of cultivated clouds is six," Kai stepped forward, drawing the professor’s eyes towards him. "Doesn’t that mean the quota should also naturally be increased? Six clouds could accommodate six groups."

According to the professor, the quota was based on how many cultivated clouds there are.

If there are two additional ones, then the quota should naturally increase.

This was a reasonable deduction.

So, if the professor made an excuse to twist it, Kai would know that this was preferential.

She was only making it harder for him, a Lesser Angel.

Fortunately, that wasn’t the case.

"Yes, that’s correct," Professor Kimberly nodded. "The quota would be increased to six."

"In that case, there won’t be any problem if we come to make the group later?" Bree asked.

"Yes," She nodded again. "Come back the day the new cultivated clouds are launched, and you can register your new group. There are a few requirements to make a new group. Here— I’ll write you all the requirements you needed to prepare."

Kai and Bree exited the professor’s headquarters.

Both sat down on a nearby long chair in the corridor and read the requirements.

In total, there are three requirements.

First, the new group should have at least five members. Second, the group must submit a large portion of mana ores to the attending professor, who was Professor Kimberly. The minimum requirement is ten thousand mana ores. And lastly, the new group must have a sponsor from a professor.

"Five members?" Kai frowned. "We don’t have five members."

Right now, there are only four members—himself, Bree, Matilda, and Dorian.

Bree and Matilda are guaranteed, while Dorian is still unknown.

After the incident, Kai hadn’t spoken with Dorian again—but he was fairly confident that he could convince Dorian to join. Might be a little hard considering his state of mind, but it’s still doable at least.

That would leave them with one member short.

"Abigail?" Bree suggested, which only made Kai frown. "Okay, you don’t want to. But if push comes to shove, you’ll have to swallow that pride and invite her to our new group. You can’t be picky right now."

"Fine..." Kai massaged his throbbing forehead.

For the second requirement, it would come down to the new cultivated clouds.

Even though ten thousand mana ores sounded like a lot to pay upfront, gathering that much wouldn’t be a problem with the new cultivated clouds. Other than them, rumoured to have a higher concentration of mana ores, there is also no daily mining limit.

As long as Kai and the others are willing, gathering ten thousand wouldn’t be impossible.

For the last requirement, Bree turned to him.

"Ask Professor Hera, you’re close with her."

"Since we’re already here. Might as well."

Kai returned to the professor’s headquarters and talked with Professor Hera about this.

He was hoping that she could be the professor to sponsor his group.

But luck wasn’t on his side.

"Sorry, Kai. I already sponsored Ursa Minor—and a professor cannot sponsor more than one group," Professor Hera smiled apologetically. "You will have to find another professor. Check the home professor in other classes, find one who hasn’t sponsored any group. There should be a few of them."

"Any recommendations?" Kai asked, hopeful.

"For you?" Professor Hera smiled knowingly. "No. All of them are going to be tough to coax."

Since Professor Hera can’t help, Kai and Bree went hunting for professors.

Inside the cafeteria, the duo encountered the bald professor.

"Can you please sponsor our group, Sir?"

"Huh? You dare ask me to sponsor you, Lesser Angel? Do you want me to double your weekly quota again?!"

Inside one of the classes, they met a well-built old professor.

"Sir," Bree smiled sweetly, using her feminine charm to smite the old professor. "I really want to make a group. Can you sponsor my group?"

"Is this Lesser Angel in it?" the old professor gestured at Kai—and saw Bree nodding. "In that case, find another professor. If you ever ditched the Lesser Angel, feel free to find me again. I will be willing then."

For the next half an hour, the duo went from professor to professor.

Rejection after rejection.

Making a group with a Lesser Angel in it made getting a sponsor impossible.

Kai and Bree were now heading back to the dormitory building again, completely defeated.

Out of the entire list of professors associated with the freshmen, there’s still one more, but she was nowhere to be found. After a half-hearted search, already pessimistic about the situation, they decided to call it quits for the day.

"I need to go practice," Bree said, glancing at her phone. "What about you? What’re you doing now?"

"Dorian," Kai pushed her lower back ahead. "If you have somewhere to be, then go."

"Okay," Bree jogged away, stopping a distance away to wave. "Tell me how it went later!"

True to his words, he instantly went searching for Dorian.

Kai had only seen Dorian during classes. And during class, though they sat side by side, they hardly exchanged words other than a few pleasantries here and there. He also knew Dorian had always returned to his room right after class.

It came to the point that Kai was worried he hadn’t amassed his weekly quota.

But he’s not a baby, so he should be good in that department if he doesn’t go mining.

Kai went to the second floor and stood before a particular door. Room thirty-three. He took in a deep breath—and knocked. "Dorian," He called, loud enough to be heard. "It’s me, Kai. Do you have a moment?"

Soon, after a deliberate pause, the door was opened.

Cracked open a little, with Dorian peering through the gap.

Behind him was darkness. The light was off to accommodate his sulking, if Kai had to guess.

"What do you want?"

"I was hoping to come in for a talk."

"No," Dorian shook his head. "If you want to talk, then talk here."

Kai’s eyes narrowed.

Only then did he sigh, opening the door wider to let Kai in.

Compared to Matilda’s room, Dorian’s room was even more ordinary. Most of the furniture in the room is made of wood, and there aren’t that many comfort items around. "Turn on the damn light."

"Fine," Dorian flipped the switch. "Say what you want to say quickly and leave."

"In that case, I’ll not beat around the bush." Kai turned to face him. "I’m making a group, and I’m wondering if you want to join me. After the incident that befall you, I think it’s best for all of us to be in on—"

"Let me stop you right there," Dorian raised an index finger. "I’m in."

"Grea—"

"But I have a condition."

"Condition?" Kai’s brows furrowed together behind the mask. "What condition?"

"I want your help to kill that fucking psychopath," Dorian demanded, and it was obvious who he was talking about. High Angel Hensen. "I’ll be in your group as long as you say right now that you’ll help me do that."

"How?" Kai threw up his hands in disbelief. "Even if I agree—how? The academy is crawling with those grey-masked Angels."

"I don’t fucking know! Do your sneaking shit and assassinate him or something."

"Sneaking shit? First of all, you knew my imprint is called Nigh-phantom—so don’t say that. And secondly, you want me to assassinate High Angel Hensen? Not only is a Supernal of the God of Dream, Morpheus, but he’s also a senior!"

"It doesn’t need to be done tomorrow, you stupid-fuck. I was only saying."

"Fine!" Kai raised his arms, not wanting to argue anymore. "I’ll help you kill him... but only when the time is right."

"Deal," Dorian reached for a handshake.

Kai reluctantly accepted the handshake, knowing full well that this was going to be a headache in the future. After all, High Angel Hensen might as well be an Aspirant Supernal. One major rank higher than them.

"Do you really have to ask me to do this stupid idea?" Kai sighed helplessly.

"Hey, you did some really dumb things during the Blood Rite—and I roll with it," Dorian let out a sharp scoff, recalling how Kai stubbornly tried to save Abigail, and even let her go when she was obviously betraying them. "It’s your turn to roll with it.’

Feeling that he would only get annoyed more if he stayed, Kai headed for the door.

But he stopped when his hand was on the handle.

A thought came to mind.

"I’m going to the new cultivated clouds the day after tomorrow, you coming?"

"No. I still... want to be alone."

Kai nodded and didn’t press any further.

Even though living as an Angel distorted his sense of reality due to how hard it was to even stay alive, he knew that on the surface, it took months or even years for people to overcome what Dorian experienced during the Culling of Nonentity. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

And Kai wasn’t going to force Dorian to do anything if he wasn’t ready.

It doesn’t matter if this thing determines whether he will be alive or not next week.

"Get some rest," Kai walked out and closed the door behind him.

Instead of heading back down to the first floor, Kai turned the other way—and walked along the corridor. There are more students on the second floor, but fortunately, he didn’t encounter anyone along the way.

Most were busy preparing to tackle the new cultivated clouds.

He stopped in front of another door and knocked on it.

Soon, the door swung open, revealing a woman with baby-blue hair and blue eyes.

"Abigail," Kai straightened his back. "Got a minute?"