Chapter 208: Want to embarrass me? I think not III
A hush spread through the outer path.
"It’s the Rector..."
Before he even reached the gate, students had already begun stepping aside.
There wasn’t a single soul in the Academy who didn’t respect the Rector.
Father Ilthane walked calmly along the stone path, his presence alone enough to quiet the restless atmosphere.
And just before he could approach the entrance—
"Rector Ilthane."
A gentle voice intercepted him.
Liora stepped forward gracefully, bowing slightly.
Her timing was perfect.
She caught the attention of everyone near them.
Ilthane paused, his gaze settling on her.
"Liora," he acknowledged. "I believe you are working hard as always?"
Liora smiled. Very few could ever get the privilege of REctor personally asking about your progress. She could already see a few eyes looking at her with jealousy.
"Rest assured, REctor, I am working my hardest."
Father Ilthane nodded gently. "I look forward to your performance in the upcoming test."
Liora couldn’t hide her joy. Rector was personally stating his expectations, already elevating her position and making what she was about to do even easier.
"I will do my best to impress you," she bowed again.
Father Ilthane nodded, then asked. "You have something to ask me?"
She smiled softly, composed, elegant, as though nothing in the world could disturb her.
"I apologize for stopping you, but...there seems to be a small disturbance at the cultivation grounds."
Ilthane said nothing, and she continued.
"I happened to witness it firsthand."
Liora lowered her gaze slightly, as if choosing her words carefully.
"There is a new student," she began, speaking calmly, "who attempted to enter the inner—no... the core cultivation grounds."
A ripple moved through the students nearby as they spoke in hushed tones.
"He seemed...unaware of how the academy functions, so I offered to assist him," she added gently, "but he refused. Rather bluntly."
A few students exchanged looks.
That part was true.
Which made everything else easier to believe.
Liora’s expression softened further, almost concerned.
"He insisted on entering regardless of the requirements. And when questioned him..."
She hesitated for dramatic effect, "...he invoked Teacher Lynnor."
She placed perfectly, letting implication do the work.
"He appeared confident that access would be granted to him...regardless of the system in place. I was worried it might escalate," she concluded, lifting her eyes again. "So I thought it best to inform you before things became...difficult."
Everything she said wasn’t entirely false, and it wasn’t entirely true either, but it painted a very specific picture.
An arrogant brat decided to disregard the rules in the Academy.
Ilthane just watched her calmly.
"...I see," he said at last. The moment he heard Lynnor’s name, he could already guess who it was and what might have happened.
He stepped past her, walking toward the gate.
A sudden hush rippled through the crowd.
"It’s the Rector!"
The shift was immediate.
Students who had been talking moments ago straightened instinctively, stepping back, creating a clear path without being told.
Even the warden stiffened, his earlier arrogance vanishing as he hurried forward and bowed. Sweat beaded his forehead.
"Rector Ilthane."
Father Ilthane stopped before the gate, his presence calm, yet suffocating in its authority. His gaze swept across the scene once before settling on the warden.
"What seems to be the issue?"
The warden didn’t hesitate.
"Rector, this student—" he pointed at Aramith, "—attempted to access the core grounds without sufficient points. Not only that, but I suspect his teacher has tampered with academy artifacts."
A ripple of shock passed through the crowd.
"He possesses a ring that mimics the function of official point rings," the warden continued, voice firm. "Such an act violates academy law, and he is attempting to use it to deceive the system."
Silence followed as Ilthane observed him silently. He didn’t look angry or disappointed, still holding the same calm he always had etched on his face.
"Is that so?" he asked mildly.
Liora, who had just approached his side, felt a strange unease crawl up her spine.
Something about his tone...didn’t match the accusation.
Ilthane’s gaze drifted briefly toward Aramith, then back to the warden.
"Tell me," he said, voice calm, "do you believe this academy’s systems are so fragile...that a student could replicate them so easily?"
The warden froze, his back turning colder from sweat.
"I—no, Rector, but—"
"Or perhaps," Ilthane continued, tilting his head slightly, "you believe we allow artifacts of this level to circulate without oversight?"
The air grew heavier.
The warden’s throat went dry.
"That... is not what I meant—"
"Then clarify," Ilthane said softly.
A single bead of sweat rolled down the warden’s temple.
"I...I only meant that the ring is irregular. It does not match any registered tier—bronze, silver, or gold."
Ilthane hummed faintly.
"I see."
Only then did he extend his hand.
"May I?"
Aramith didn’t hesitate. He stepped forward and placed the black ring in Ilthane’s palm.
The moment it settled there, Liora discreetly watched Ilthane’s expression, but she couldn’t believe it. Rector didn’t frown or look the least displeased. His expression seemed to hold recognition...?
And as Liora observed, she noticed something even more surprising—
A faint smile touched his lips.
Behind him, Liora’s unease deepened.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Ilthane turned the ring slightly between his fingers, then glanced at the warden.
"Did you verify the transaction?"
The question hit like a stone.
"I...initiated the deduction," the warden said, voice unsteady. "And the points...they—"
"They transferred," Ilthane finished for him.
The warden’s heart dropped.
"Yes..." At the moment, the warden was cursing anyone who shared those rumors of Aramith being the type of student to ride on the coattails of his teacher.
Ilthane nodded once, as if confirming something trivial.
Then he turned to Aramith.
"My apologies."
The words landed heavier than any shout.
The warden’s jaws fell to the ground with a thunk.
"For the inconvenience caused under my administration," Ilthane continued.
Silence.
Absolute silence, shock, and disbelief swallowed them all.
The warden’s mind went blank.
Liora’s pupils shrank.
Apologize...?
To him?
All her earlier confidence when Ilthane acknowledged her was like a bucket before a burning cart when compared to Aramith receiving an apology from Ilthane.
Ilthane returned the ring calmly.
"Your access has been properly registered. The core chambers are open to you."
Everything was turning upside down.
The feeling that everything she had just built collapsed was eating at her.
Her nails dug into her palms beneath her sleeves.
Impossible.
Ilthane’s gaze moved past Aramith, then stopped.
"I didn’t notice that you were here as well."
A soft rustle followed.
Until now, unnoticed, Mozrael stepped forward.
She had been standing just behind Aramith the entire time in silence, her frame partially hidden by his. Only a few had seen her, and with the chaos that ensued, they’d forgotten about her.
But now, as she stepped out, all eyes fell on her.
Eyes widened.
Even those who had been enamored with Liora moments ago found themselves unable to look away.
Mozrael didn’t smile or speak. She simply stood there, calm and unaffected.
And yet, the difference was undeniable.
Liora felt it before she could process it.
That silent comparison all around her did a number on her image.
Her breath caught.
For the first time, she realized she wasn’t the center, and she had no chance of doing so.
Ilthane inclined his head slightly toward Mozrael in acknowledgment before turning back to Aramith.
"The path to the core chambers is through the inner gate. Present your ring again at the second barrier."
He paused, then added calmly,
"Do try not to cause further misunderstandings."
Aramith gave a slight nod. It’s not that he wanted to cause misunderstandings. He was caught in the middle of a scheme.
He glanced at Liora, then turned to leave. Mozrael followed silently.
And just like that, Liora couldn’t believe they were leaving.
"Wait!"
The word tore out before Liora could stop herself.
Every eye turned back to her.
Her composure fractured.
"This doesn’t make sense," she said, stepping forward. "Even if the ring is valid, those points—"
Her voice tightened as she glared at Aramith. If this continued, it would be a huge slap to her face.
"They can’t belong to him."
Silence pressed in again.
Liora steadied herself, forcing her tone back under control.
"Spending such an amount so carelessly...relying on a teacher’s accumulation—it’s not something that should be encouraged. It breeds laziness, undermining all of us who worked hard to earn our points."
Her accusation was clear. The points he was spending didn’t belong to him.
Teachers were allowed to spend their points as they pleaased, even making purchases for their students, but to spend such an amount on a student was unheard of.
Ilthane looked at her.
"And which teacher’s points would those be?"
The question struck like lightning.
Liora froze.
"What?"
Ilthane’s gaze remained steady.
"The points used," he said calmly, "are registered under his name."
The world went quiet again.
