บท 19: Interview [I]
After my little escapade with the Frostborn trio, an odd sense of satisfaction settled over me, like the lingering warmth of a well-aged brandy.
The thrill of the con was intoxicating—smooth and heady and dangerous.
It had been easy to con those background characters. Almost too easy, like leading lambs to the butcher's block.
Such was the power of influence.
Nobility reigned over this world. The higher your title, the less people there'd be to oppose you.
Dukes as such were considered high nobility.
Any scion of a ducal house was untouchable, protected by their clan's inexhaustible resources and influence.
Protected by a reputation so formidable that not even the most foolhardy would dare challenge it.
To insult or challenge me was to court the wrath of my clan.
And who in their right mind would want that?
Any slight against me could easily ripple back to my father. I knew better than most what that could mean.
After all, I'd walked away from crimes using his name — crimes that would've gotten even a lesser noble locked up in juvie for years.
Of course, I didn't have his protection or the weight of my title as his youngest son anymore...
But that didn't mean I couldn't toss around his name one last time, swindling money out of a few unsuspecting fools.
Would I face consequences for my actions later? Sure. But I'd let my future-self worry about that.
For now, I whistled a cheerful tune under my breath as I strolled through the Academy campus.
Actually, calling it a campus felt like an insult.
The main island was as large as a sprawling city, entirely devoted to the Academy. So, it was known as Academy City.
To give an example of how big it was – it would be impossible for me to tour the whole city in a day even after using the campus cabs and trains that ran all over the island.
Thankfully, the main building—the Apex Tower—was just a short walk from where I was in the bustling marketplace.
I ambled leisurely, taking in the sights around me.
Overhanging trees lined the stone pathways, casting cool shade on the street below.
Elegant lampposts stood along the way, and the air was filled with the lively chatter of people.
I passed by cafes, and I passed by stalls.
I passed by a small group of friends who seemed far too happy to be here, and I passed by a young man sobbing quietly on the cobblestone sidewalk – likely rejected in the interview.
I passed through the crowd like a leaf in a storm, watching the scenery around me in wonder.
This place was the main setting for the first three acts of the game. And now I was here.
It was a strange feeling.
Strange knowing what would happen in the future. What fate had in store for this world.
Strange realizing that more than half of all these people would not survive the next three years.
It was also a terrifying feeling.
I kept my head low and walked until I arrived at the heart of Academy City. Until I reached the Apex Tower.
The tower gleamed in the sunlight, countless runes and glyphs shimmering on its silver surface, glowing in shifting hues.
The edifice appeared to be made entirely of metal, yet without a single seam or joint.
It was as if this enormous monolith was forged from an impossibly large block of uncut metal.
Arched windows adorned its façade, and its spire reached skyward, as if trying to touch the heavens themselves.
I passed the guards at the entrance, unsurprised to find that the interior of the building was no less impressive.
The entrance hall was a cavernous space, its high ceilings supported by towering columns. Archaic chandeliers hung from the rafters, twinkling like distant stars.
The floor beneath my feet was a grand mosaic of rich, dark tiles.
The polished marble walls were adorned with tapestries and recessed lighting, with sleek display screens here and there showcasing the day's schedule.
Despite how large it was, the hall felt crowded. There was a sea of people here, some looking lost while others gazing around in amazement.
Drawing a sharp breath, I navigated through the throng, eventually finding an elevator to take me to the second floor.
Juliana had texted me the location for our interview.
Room 42, Lecture Hall B.
That was where we were summoned.
The hallways on the second floor twisted and turned as I made my way, passing rows of wooden doors, each marked with a polished brass plaque.
Faint scent of varnish and citrus filled the corridors, pleasant and comforting in the cool air-conditioned atmosphere.
People here moved with urgency, eyes frantically looking around, expressions tense.
There was a tautness in the air, like a bowstring stretched to its limit, ready to snap at any given time.
Finally, I reached the entrance to the lecture hall I was searching for. With a firm push, I opened its doors and entered.
The room stretched wide and deep, arranged amphitheater-style, with rows of seats descending toward a central podium.
Most of the seats were occupied by prospective cadets, some nervously clutching their registration papers, others whispering in hushed tones.
The lecture hall buzzed with anticipation, crackling with the kind of energy that only comes when too many people are gathered together in a confined space.
All were hoping to make a good impression, all wondering if they'd done enough, all praying that today would be their lucky day.
My eyes swept across the room, searching for a familiar face. It didn't take long to find her.
Juliana sat near the back, alone, her posture relaxed and composed. She tapped a finger against the long curve of the table in a steady rhythm, her expression distant.
A few people lingered nearby, drawn to her like moths to a flame, yet keeping a cautious distance, as if they feared getting burned if they ventured too close to her.
Smart decision.
I made my way over, weaving through the rows of chairs.
Juliana didn't look up as I approached her, but I knew she felt my presence.
She seldom let her guard down.
There was always a subtle shift in the air when I was near her, a tension that could make the hairs on the back of one's neck stand up.
"There you are," I said, sliding into the empty seat beside her.
She finally turned to me, her icy blue eyes narrowing slightly as she lowered her head in an attempt to make a respectful bow.
"You're late, Young Master," she said, her voice cutting but low, sharp but obsequious.
"I was busy," I replied with a small grin, not bothering to hide the amusement in my voice. "I think I'm going to enjoy my time here."
A brief silence stretched between us.
Then, when she was unable to contain her curiosity, Juliana asked with a mix of indifference and eagerness, "You managed the money?"
"Obviously," I said with a huff. "I found some friendly lesser nobles from the North. They were more than willing to give me their Creds… once they learned of my background."
Juliana's head snapped toward me, her eyes growing wide in disbelief. "You used your father's name?"
I shrugged.
I won't lie. At that moment, Juliana looked as if she might strangle me.
She was almost ready to throw up her hands but somehow managed to calm herself down in the end.
After a moment, she shook her head with an exasperated expression.
Then, she started speaking in a slow and patient manner, dragging out each word like she was explaining something to a dim-witted child:
"Young Master. What do you think will happen when these northern nobles find out you don't have your clan's protection? And your sister. She's starting her academic year with you. What do you think will happen when she hears of this?"
"Argh," I rolled my eyes, letting out a frustrated grunt. "You have a special talent for sucking the joy out of everything, you know?"
Did she really think I hadn't considered the consequences?
I did. But I've always been the one to act first and think later. Planning ahead of things strips the fun out of life.
Juliana, meanwhile, resisted the urge to facepalm and was about to deliver another lecture with a deadpan face.
Thankfully, before she could continue her tirade, the doors to the lecture hall slammed open and in strode a woman.
All the eyes in the room shifted to her, their voices going silent when they saw her, overwhelmed by her presence.
She appeared to be in her early thirties, moving with the confidence of someone who knew their place in the world.
Her hair, black as the sky on a moonless night, cascaded down to her shoulders in soft waves.
Her face was sharp, yet not without a certain warmth—a compelling blend of beauty and authority.
The only flaw in her appearance were the baggy circles under her eyes, as if it had been months since she last slept peacefully.
A robe as dark as her hair was draped loosely around her figure, its hem flowing gently behind her when she walked. It looked as if she was shrouded in a mantle of shadows.
Something about her reminded me of those evil dark witches from old fantasy stories. She had that same vibe to her.
As she stepped to the podium, the room seemed to dim.
The light was drawing inward as if it were being absorbed by something, leaving her the only clear figure in the space.
I wasn't exaggerating.
The room really seemed to grow dull. The light turned faint and the shadows seemed to darkened. But the change was subtle. Almost unnoticeable.
At most, it seemed like the world was shining a natural spotlight on her.
Everyone eyed her expectantly as she placed a sleek laptop on the podium, her movements unhurried and graceful.
Then she flicked her wrist and a Card materialized beside her, swirling into existence with a burst of black sparks.
"I'll call out your names. When I do, bring your registration documents down," she said without any preamble, her voice low and smoky and clear.
There was a certainty in her tone that left no room for doubt or delay.
A few entitled elites in the row ahead of me exchanged offended scowls, muttering under their breaths about her blunt rudeness.
She could at least introduce herself or tell us a little about the interview — I heard them whisper.
But I understood her.
She didn't need to waste time with formalities – this wasn't a place where you were coddled or reassured.
More than half of the people here wouldn't make it past the interview.
So why bother with introductions when most of these faces would be forgotten by day's end?
Besides, I knew exactly who she was.
She was called Zaré Anash, a title that translated roughly to…
The First Night.
She had earned that nickname by conquering a region of the Spirit Realm where the merciless sun once scorched everything to smoldering ash.
She brought the gift of night to that land, and with it, she brought life there.
Her name was Selene Valkryn.
She was unarguably one of the strongest Hunters in two realms.
•••
After a few minutes of scrolling through something on her laptop, Selene called out a name.
The teen whose name was spoken got up and walked over to the sleep-deprived Master to stand before her.
Selene placed a hand on the boy's shoulder, and in the next moment… he vanished.
Just like that!
One moment he was standing there, and the next, he was gone.
Everyone was dumbstruck.
A wave of hushed whispers swept through the room, but no one knew what to say.
Most of them had likely never seen anything like this before.
There were Awakened who could teleport others, yes — but not like this. Not with such terrifying speed, not before you could even blink.
Even I couldn't help but widen my eyes in surprise.
I knew about Selene. I knew her powers. I knew her character.
In the game, she acted as an ally and a mentor to the main heroes. And later, she turned out to be their enemy.
She was one of the main antagonists during the Queen of Black Rot arc.
All of the main characters combined weren't able to stop her.
And that's saying something when you consider that each of the main characters by that time were all renowned heroes in their own right.
I knew what she was capable of. But still, seeing her display even a fraction of that power… it was something else.
I glanced to my side, looking to share my awe with Juliana, but was met with disappointment.
She sat there casually, eyes half-lidded as if she were bored, her back straight and her face neutral as if she couldn't wait for it all to be over.
"Tsk," I clicked my tongue in irritation.
Could she act normal for once?
•••
After a few minutes, after a little more than twenty teens were called and whisked away, Selene finally spoke my name.
"Samael K. Theosbane."
I got to my feet quickly and descended the steps. Juliana followed me closely behind, acting like the loyal servant she was supposed to be.
We both came to a halt before Selene.
Juliana handed her the communicator device, its screen displaying our online registration documents.
Selene scanned the screen with tired eyes, her pupils moving sluggishly.
And then, without even giving us a moment to hold our breaths, she placed a hand on us both.
That was all it took.
The world violently shifted around us.
One moment, I was standing in the lecture hall, surrounded by nervous teens.
The next, everything went black.
A disorienting vertigo gripped me, churning my senses in a way that was both exhilarating and very nauseating.
It was as if I'd been snatched out of reality and flung into a void.
No sight. No sound. Just an endless darkness.
Then, as quickly as it began, the sensation stopped. It all happened in less time than it took for my heart to beat thrice.
We arrived.
The darkness didn't lift entirely, but the space we now occupied was less absolute.
A dim, ghostly light illuminated a circle on the floor beneath our feet. Beyond that small halo, everything remained shrouded in inky blackness.
We weren't alone.
At the edge of the light, a raised platform surrounded us in a semicircle, its boundaries barely visible in the gloom. Seated atop it were seven figures, their forms cloaked in shadow.
I couldn't see their faces, but I could feel their gazes — cold and unyielding — bearing down on us like the weight of the world itself.
The Venerable Seven.
They were the strongest, wisest, and the smartest of all the Masters in the Academy. In fact, they held their own titles of Grandmasters.
Their identity was unknown, even to me.
In the game, neither of the playable characters were ever able to uncover anything about them. They were total mysteries.
Even this place where they resided – the Questioning Hall – was an unknown location.
Everyone knew the Questioning Hall was somewhere within the grounds of the Academy City, but no one knew exactly where.
Their silence was oppressive. The air was thick with their power, pressing in on me from all sides, setting my nerves on edge.
I glanced at Juliana. She was as still and silent as the figures above us, her face unreadable, a mask of calm that I envied in that moment.
'I should learn to be as indifferent as her. It would serve me well one day.'
As I entertained that thought, the stillness was shattered.
A voice, deep and resonant, flowed from the shadows, from the center of the semi-circular platform.
It was the kind of voice that commanded attention, that brooked no argument, that could bring mountains to their knees with a single word.
"Samael Theosbane," the voice intoned, each syllable precise and deliberate, echoing through the darkened room. "Shall we begin?"
I straightened my posture and nodded positively.
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