Chapter 82–

–Later that evening–

Inside one of the academy board rooms, several individuals were seated, the atmosphere was far colder than it was outside.

Thomas sat stiffly near the end of the table while Richard calmly reviewed several papers. Going through them one after the other.

Leona stood near the large windows that allowed ventilation with her arms folded while two other instructors remained seated opposite her.

One of them was a pale woman, her eyes were deep red and very dull. She wore a short black top, black high boots and a tight red skirt that barely passed her knees.

The other was a broad shouldered werewolf with a grey mane and heavy scars running across his jaw.

But the weight of the room was heavily carried by a second Saint that sat quietly near Richard at the head of the table.

Unlike Leona, the man was much older with strands of sleek silver grey hair on his head.

His presence alone shifted the balance of the room in his direction effortlessly.

"So.. the rumors are true? He did survive a blue zone," the older Saint said calmly. "This changes everything."

Thomas shifted uncomfortably.

"He was never supposed to enter a blue zone in the first place," he replied carefully. Almost like he was counting his teeth.

"And yet he survived," the werewolf instructor interrupted. "Not only survived. He fought High-Ascended creatures."

His sharp yellow eyes narrowed. "That student has been hiding his abilities."

"It’s always abilities with you..." the vampire instructor said calmly, her pink lips breaking into a teasing smile."Remember he didn’t enter alo–e."

"That would have been suicidal," the werewolf intercepted. His eyes swept across the room as if he needed approval that he was right.

Leona sighed and finally she spoke.

"It wasn’t only his abilities."

Everyone looked toward her. Even as she stared out the window.

"His sword was something else entirely," she continued. "That blade cut through a core crystal–"

She paused. Allowing silence hold the room for a moment.

"---Rather easily if I may add."

The room went silent again..

Even Richard looked surprised by that. He always knew Dean was special.

But right now, the boy was pulling bunnies he couldn’t predict out of his ass.

If ever he doubted protecting him, then that doubt was gone completely.

The werewolf instructor leaned forward, his claws tapping the metallic edge of the table.

"A sword capable of destroying a core crystal?" he said slowly, musing about it."That sounds like a Gray Blade."

Richard frowned slightly, "Hmmm," he muttered, before opening Dean’s file again.

Then his expression changed.

"...He is a Gray." he said in exaggerated realization.

Thomas squinted even as Leona half-turned to look at them.

"For real..?" The werewolf instructor asked excitedly. Opening up the file that was in front of him.

"I said it.." he nodded, approving of his own deduction skills.

Then the vampire instructor chuckled. Even as Thomas desperately held himself back from bursting into laughter.

"Wait..." the werewolf’s wide grin thinned down as he looked at Richard.

He scowled. "You already knew.."

Richard leaned back, his shoulders settled into his chair. "Maybe I did, maybe I didn’t."

Then he raised his body up again and wiggled his brows. "You gonna sue?"

The werewolf instructor looked at the table as the tension in that moment was actually relieved.

Thomas felt like his joints worked again, and the room was generally calmer.

Without being told, everyone understood that the Gray family had disappeared from relevance years ago.

And if one of them suddenly returned with a weapon capable of severing core crystals...

That was not small news... this could be the beginning of something.

The older Saint leaned back quietly. His cracked voice filled the room.

"Well," he said at last. "With this development, it becomes even more important that the boy remains loyal to the academy."

Richard slowly nodded. "That issue has already been handled." His eyes shifted toward Thomas.

The other man didn’t meet his gaze, he could already feel the knives from his stare.

"The probation was lifted earlier," Richard continued. And Thomas remained silent.

"Good," the older Saint replied calmly. "Expelling a talent like that would have been stupidity of the highest order."

The werewolf gave a low laugh.

"A summoner with close combat ability, an awakened Gray blade and enough instinct to survive a blue gate."

His grin sharpened slightly... "We would have been cooked." He admitted openly.

"Franseint may have just produced something troublesome." The vampire instructor snickered. "And there are more."

Leona’s eyes drifted toward the window. For some reason, she found herself smiling.

And then blushing as her mind drifted to a not so distant memory.

It wasn’t long when a calm voice pulled her back from her thoughts.

"The student week is in four days. Have we all made our decisions."

The whole room focused on Richard again as each of them nodded except Leona.

She didn’t agree to letting the Hel’Khar between two kids happen. Especially now after meeting Dean.

***

The next morning, Dean stepped out of Leona’s private quarters and got slapped with instant regret.

He had planned to leave early but there was something about that bed and those sheets that made standing up more difficult than

Students filled the academy pathways as usual, moving between classes while talking loudly among themselves. But the moment Dean appeared from the Saint residence wing, most conversations slowed.

Then stopped completely. Eyes turned his way and the whispers began like a mouse chipping away at cheese.

"That’s him." one girl shamelessly pointed.

"The first-year that entered the blue zone with the Red Saint "

"I heard he survived powerful monsters."

"No way... Leona must have carried his ass." a first year sneered.

Dean kept walking while pretending not to hear any of it. Unfortunately, humans had a special evolution mechanism that made ignoring them very difficult.

Yeah... they wouldn’t just shut up!

"That’s the Gray."

"i heard he is just eighteen and he—"

"I know right.. probably good genes." A werewolf said. His friend tapped his shoulder lightly. "Thought they were just poor blacksmiths or something."

Dean shoved both hands into his pockets and sighed quietly.

"So much for a peaceful morning."

--End of Chapter--

A/N

I promised 5 Chapters mass release and I intend to keep it. Expect the other 2 Chapters in the next 4 hours.

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