Chapter 29: #3 Looking in the principal's office

On the morning of the next day, Celine, with Leila, Harumi, and Asterin sat at the table to have their breakfast, from the table, which was next to the window, they had a great view of the patio between the two dorms, they ate in silence as they stared into the distance at the boys' dormitory's main door, watching as several boys left and walked towards the college until they finally saw who they were waiting for.

Raphael walked out, with hands in the pockets of his uniform pants and an indifferent expression he walked calmly towards the college.

– Is he going to do it now? – Leila asked as she watched him disappear among the other students.

– He went out alone, he'll probably do it now – Asterin drank her tea slowly after answering.

– Asterin, do you trust him that much? You've been pretty calm all this time, what if he gets caught? – Harumi asked with obvious curiosity. Asterin seemed confident that Raphael would be able to get the hairpin back, even though he knew he would need to enter the Headmaster's office to do so.

– I don't trust him, I trust his abilities, moreover, he has the heritage of the Tasvali family, I think many still do not understand that a "simple" human, as long as linked to the object, can enjoy the power contained in it, and depending on of his capacity, can even use it in its entirety – Asterin frowned as she emphasized the word 'simple', everyone knew the amulet was made by the First Guardian, but no one believed that an ordinary human could use it.

Those who were not born with any magical peculiarities were left out, and those who possessed the ability to acquire it also had to go through several difficulties along the way, as cultivators, provided they have the ability, they could even become immortals, even more powerful than born witches and wizards, since there were also those who were born privileged but could not grow and develop, being thus called weak or magical wastes, it was better to be a human than a magical creature who did not know how to use magic.

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Raphael walked without expression, entering his classroom and sitting down, the other students not sparing a single look at this non-magical being. Raphael remained like that until the middle of class, and while the teacher corrected some of the student's notes he got up and left. No one had noticed, well, they would pretend not to notice, just as they didn't really care about this classmate, since everything had been cleared up and he had been found innocent, no one else would care about his presence.

Raphael walked through the corridors, going up the stairs and going around and around the school, the employees were already used to this young man walking around aimlessly, so they didn't mind too much either.

The amulet on his chest warned him of a strong presence, and he knew very well who this person was.

– Thamy! Do you need help? – A student approached the green-eyed boy who was holding some boxes full of books and documents in his hands – Since you're offering it, I don't have to refuse – Thamy held the boxes out towards the boy.

– Aren't you free to use magic? Why are you carrying things like that? – The young man asked again as he picked up one of the boxes.

Thamy responded with a smile that didn't reach his eyes – I don't think I can be an exception, it's not allowed to use magic in the hallways, so I won't use magic.

The boy laughed – Do you always have to be so correct and fair?

They walked together, stepping away from where Raphael was hiding, he listened to everything with his head down, and as soon as they left, he made his way back to the Headmaster's office.

'Is Thamy always so correct and fair? Of course it does, but this time it's definitely not the reason...' Raphael thought, his face darkening as he guessed at the real reason: 'He's so weak, but still, my amulet recognizes him as a strong person, obviously, all night mages, even wounded, are still more powerful than many other mages or any other beings, so they are rare and are considered the 'protectors' of the Nine Kingdoms'.

Raphael looked up, facing a door quite different from the others a few feet away from him.

Taking his amulet and holding it tightly: 'Well, I don't know how to use it, but I'm sure you suit my mortal spirit right?' - He thought as if he could communicate with the beautiful dark blue jewel: 'I remember very well that you could respond to my thoughts, why don't you demonstrate anything now?'

…

Raphael sighed: 'Did it break?' - He shook it a little, the jewel flashing, not too strong to draw attention, but uncomfortable enough for the eyes, as if irritated by the sudden movement.

Raphael smiled – Oh, looks like it still works… I need you to seal my presence and help me through the magical barriers of the room ahead – He muttered to the amulet.

…

Raphael frowned, raising his hand as if to shake the amulet again, the jewel flashed, and as soon as it caught the young man's attention it gave off a faint glow.

Raphael felt something enveloping him, and knowing he was completely safe he advanced towards the office, opening the door slightly, the amulet helping him to pass through the barriers unnoticed, and so, Raphael successfully entered the Headmaster's office.

– Good job – He muttered to the amulet as he tucked it back inside his shirt.

Looking around, Raphael was quickly attracted by the headmaster's desk, and with a bored expression, he went over to it, thanks to the protection of the amulet that still enveloped him he was able to open all the drawers. Not finding the object with the characteristics said by the girls. He walked around the room, looking through the bookshelves and even moving the paintings around a bit, trying his best not to leave evidence that he was here.

Finding nothing, he walked to the middle of the office and looked around again, pausing to face the desk one more time.

– That would be too obvious... – He muttered as he walked back to the table, and then running his fingers along the side and under the table, he found a small gap.

Rubbing his face with one hand: 'Of course there would be a secret compartment...'

Bending down, he looked at the small mechanism: 'That wasn't in the contract, I thought I would just need to steal something, and not have to solve any mechanism'.

Sighing, not that he really needed to settle… Raphael watched for a while before remembering something, he took the amulet again in his hand, and held it out next to the mechanism: 'Solve it for me'

Without any movement again: 'What's your problem?'

He spoke, seeing that there was still no answer, Raphael rolled his eyes: 'Please solve this mechanism for me'.

The amulet glowed slightly, showing its satisfaction, in addition to the glow, small energy came out of the jewel, like small tentacles, surrounding the mechanism, and a few seconds later a "click!" was heard.

Raphael looked at the amulet with satisfaction and put it away again, coming out from under the table he opened the small drawer that had appeared in that place.

– Is that it? – Raphael stared at the hairpin that was in the drawer, picking it up carelessly and looking closely for a while, finally thinking it fit what the girls had told him, tucked the pendant inside his uniform: 'Must be'

Closing the drawer and activating the mechanism again, he walked towards the door, feeling a small premonition he hurried out, and just as he thought, as he turned to the left hallway next to the room, he heard footsteps coming from the right hallway.

– So… how do we solve this? – Raphael recognized this voice, this was the headmaster, who was apparently talking to someone else.

No one responded for a while, Raphael thought about going back on his way, but stopped as he heard the 'other person' finally answer the director – Decide as you see fit, Your majesty trusts you a lot, don't let him down.

It was a deep voice, and for the first time Raphael felt chills all over his body, the feeling that something bad could happen was getting stronger, his aura was heavily hidden, risking a little peek, what did he saw was the Principal, and in front of him, a very tall person, covered by a dark blue cloak, this person was facing the director, who had a thoughtful expression.

He suddenly moves, holding something to the director, in his hand, in place of fingers, long silver claws, Raphael felt his heartbeat rapidly: 'What was that? There is no race of shapeshifters with that kind of trait… right?'.

The Headmaster was quite calm, taking the small box from that person's palm as if he didn't even notice the long claws that extended toward him.

The director nodded to the person and entered his office, the figure remained for a while, turning quickly in the direction Raphael was looking at them, and seeing nothing out of the ordinary, he goes back the way he came, disappearing after just a few steps, as if something had enveloped him, making him invisible.

Raphael was already far away from there, he had hurried as soon as the director had entered his office, and as soon as he realized that, that thing would easily notice him if he stayed in that place any longer.

Finally getting a rest, he breathes with difficulty: 'What the hell…' Raphael finally showed a little worry on his face, at that moment, he felt the same sensation as when he saw Thamy and Ikuto after fighting against that one creature, it was a bad feeling he'd felt since he'd entered Kesla, and with each passing year it grew stronger and stronger. And now, Raphael was sure, something was about to happen, and it would be very grand...

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Reaching the classroom, he walked in as if nothing had happened, walking to his desk while the teacher wrote on the blackboard.

Asterin was jotting down information in her book when something was placed on her desk, picking up the item she noticed out of the corner of her eye the person pass and sit behind her, smiling she continued taking notes.

The teacher finished the writing and turned to the students – Those who finish copying are free to leave the class.

A few minutes passed before almost the entire class got up and left, it was difficult to know who copied and who didn't, not that anyone give a damn, the spells class, which should be something very attractive and apparently fun was just a boring and silent class, the students didn't complain just because the teacher was Professor Itzal, Ex-Magician of Mishan Guo's Kingdom.

And little by little the students who had stayed left, the last ones who stayed got up almost together and went to the door.

– Student Tasvali, you stay – The teacher said as he packed his things.

Raphael turned – Do you need me for something Professor?

Itzal looked at him with a neutral expression:

– I would like to ask if this student knows who the founder of Kesla College is.

Raphael didn't respond, it was just another scolding, it didn't make sense for him to take it seriously after he had really gotten used to it, he usually didn't care about Kesla, and nothing about this school appealed to him:

– This student doesn't know, the teacher could enlighten on this question?

Itzal stared at him intently, as if trying to see if Raphael really didn't know how to answer his question, frowning, he replied – The founder of Kesla College is the first mage of the Night, and you, as a student of this institution and as a protégé of the First, should know that.

Raphael froze. Itzal noticed and showed a stunned expression – You really didn't know this?

Raphael looked away, still with a neutral expression, but inside he felt a little embarrassed, after all, this was the Guardian of his family, he himself met him when he was ten years old, which was when the First Night Mage did choose him as the next heir to the Tasvali family amulet.

– Contrary to what many people think, you were the only student personally chosen by the First, you didn't enter because they wanted to show that humans were also accepted, but because he told the principal that you had something different, that you would become strong... but as I see it, you're just embarrassing him.

With that said, Itzal hands Raphael a paper, a notification – Your grade in my class is zero, and we're just at the beginning, I don't know how you're going to get it back, since you seem more interested in other things, and apparently you already have some plans for this year...

Raphael narrowed his eyes as he stared at the notification, the teacher's last sentence would seem normal if it had been said to any other student, but for Raphael, who has just returned from petty theft, it was really weird, and as he thought, the teacher continued, pausing for a moment after the first sentence:

– Perhaps I should repeat this... the founder of Kesla is the first Night Mage and Guardian of the Tasvali family, everything within the city limits of Kesla was founded and created from his powers.

Raphael stared at him with a neutral expression, he already had an idea of what Professor Itzal was implying and why to emphasize such information, without him, the girls would not be able to leave Kesla, he had an amulet that contained the powerful magic of the First Mage of the Night, and probably they chose him because of this little detail, Raphael was their exit pass…

– Everything has a price, and the greater the sin, the greater the debt.

Raphael watched the teacher leave the room, taking in what they'd talked about… and also that last sentence spoken by him.

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