章節 14: Status Assessment
"That will be all for today. Tomorrow morning, there will be a free exhibition of Weapons made of White Amber. It will take place in Building Alpha. Use the time to familiarize yourselves with the campus for the upcoming courses. Don't get lost," Eline said before turning to leave.
As soon as she mentioned the exhibition of White Amber weapons, several pairs of eyes lit up with interest. While these weren't the legendary Phantasmas—those rare, near-mythical weapons capable of vanquishing even the strongest Demons—White Amber held its own power. It was a rare and precious ore, known for its ability to weaken Demons, an invaluable tool in their fight against the Demonic Entities. They were commonly used by the Hunters or those who hadn't money or enough talent to get a Phantasma.
"If you wish, Milor—I mean, Leon—I could ask my father to get you the finest weapons made of White Amber for you. And if you desire, even Phantasmas," Aaron whispered, leaning closer to Ivan.
The Cromwell family's wealth and influence were no secret. White Amber weapons were already incredibly costly, but Phantasmas were in a league of their own. Only the wealthiest—those with status, power, and connections—could afford such weapons. But for Patrick Cromwell, Aaron's father, it was nothing more than a small favor.
"Phantasmas..." Ivan muttered, almost absentmindedly.
He had encountered them a few times during fights with Exorcists. The concept fascinated him. Phantasmas were no ordinary weapons. They were forged with the power of powerful Spirits who willingly inhabited the blade or artifact. These Spirits were nothing like Demons. They were benevolent forces, and when a user formed a contract with both the weapon and the Spirit inside, the weapon would transcend into a Phantasma.
There were pre-forged Phantasmas, of course, but not everyone could wield them. The user had to be compatible with the Spirit inside. Without that compatibility, the contract would never succeed.
Ivan didn't possess a Phantasma himself. Instead, he wielded something far more unique—[Lost Paradise]—a weapon more than capable of dealing with any threat he faced. Yet, despite this, he couldn't deny that there was a small flicker of curiosity, curiosity, a trait he inherited from Adam but also Yvan.
"Later," Ivan said quietly.
"As you wish," Aaron replied with a polite smile, seemingly satisfied.
Aaron already possessed a Phantasma of his own and had been hesitant to bring up the topic with Ivan. He knew Ivan harbored a deep-seated dislike for Exorcists, but to his relief, Ivan didn't react negatively.
"I wonder what you're doing here, Travis?"
The lecture hall fell into a hushed silence as Lucas descended the stairs, his hands casually tucked into his pockets. His eyes were filled with disdain as they locked onto Travis.
Travis glanced up lazily, barely acknowledging Lucas before offering a shrug. "Sightseeing."
The cheeky reply hit Lucas like a slap, making his expression twist in irritation. But instead of responding with anger, a chuckle escaped his lips.
"You know," Lucas sneered, "peasants without identity like you should be sweeping the floors of this prestigious academy, not pretending to be real nobles."
"Knock it off, Lucas." Theresa cut off as she glared at him.
Lucas turned his gaze to her, eyebrows raised. "You have no business associating with the likes of him, Theresa. Yet, here you are, still clinging to his side. I hope you're not harboring any... strange feelings for him? It would be quite the embarrassment for your brother—and your father," he added, glancing at Erion who already started leaving without bothering to turn around.
"You—!" Theresa's face flushed with anger, but before she could say more, Travis was already turning away, striding towards the exit. He didn't seem concerned about provoking a response—or maybe he simply wasn't interested in dealing with the consequences.
"Travis!" Theresa called after him, hurrying to catch up as she shot one last, venomous glare at Lucas.
Meanwhile, in the back, Cattleya watched the scene unfold with amused eyes, covering her mouth as she giggled softly. "She's so fiery. I really wonder what she sees in him."
"Her taste in men is clearly lacking," Lucas said, tossing a glance toward where Aaron and Ivan where. "True nobility, strength—those are what make the ideal marriage partners. Not... whatever that is."
Aaron caught the look and leaned toward Ivan, muttering awkwardly, "Uh, why's he staring at us, Milord? Is he... gay or something?"
Ivan stood up slowly. "He's not looking at us. He's looking at her."
Aaron didn't need to turn around to know who Ivan was referring to. Ludivine was the object of Lucas' barely concealed stare.
"Oh, I see now…" Aaron said, finally piecing it together.
Ivan, having read the novel they seemed to be living in, already knew. Lucas had a not-so-secret crush on Ludivine. It was obvious now, even to Aaron, who finally seemed to pick up on it.
Ludivine, likely aware of Lucas' attention, made no show of acknowledging it. She stood up quietly, preparing to leave.
Cattleya, though, was less composed. She crossed her arms, a slight pout forming on her lips. She seemed more annoyed by the attention Ludivine received than anything else.
'The usual, cliché behavior.'
This group of six in his class—Lucas, Aaron, Theresa, Ludivine, Cattleya, and Erion—felt pulled straight from the pages of a typical novel. Their roles seemed almost preordained, as if they'd fallen into the archetypes he had read about time and time again. Yet, there was something different about Mordred and Ludivine.
"Leon, we should head over to get your assessment done so you can receive your E-Watch," Aaron said, flashing the sleek, white watch strapped to his wrist. Every student at Ocryphia Academy had one—it was issued after their entrance assessment, like a rite of passage that occurred once they were accepted into the academy.
Ivan, still going by his alias Leon, had skipped that particular hurdle thanks to Aaron's father, but now the time had come for him to undergo the assessment. There was no avoiding it anymore.
"Alright," Ivan nodded.
He would have preferred to avoid any sort of evaluation just in case, but the E-Watch was a requirement at the academy. Without it, he would stand out even more than he already did, and that was the last thing he wanted.
"It's in the Main Building," Aaron explained as they started walking. The Main Building was essentially the nerve center of Ocryphia Academy, housing all administrative offices, where students like Ivan had to undergo their evaluations.
As they made their way through the winding corridors, Aaron kept glancing around cautiously. Once he was sure no one was within earshot, he leaned in closer to Ivan, his voice dropping to a whisper.
"Milord, are you certain this is wise? The assessment tool is extremely precise... It could reveal too much."
Aaron's worry was evident. He feared that Ivan's abnormal abilities—would be exposed, and that could raise more than just a few eyebrows.
"I'm sure," Ivan replied, his gaze briefly flickering to the black ring on his right index finger. Though Ivan had the ability to suppress his true strength without assistance, the ring was crucial for fine-tuning his stats to appear more... ordinary. He couldn't afford to slip up here.
"Ah, I see. As expected of Lord Ivan," Aaron chuckled, impressed.
For Aaron, accompanying Ivan to the academy felt like an honor, a privilege beyond measure. Ivan was not just any noble; he was a symbol of their faith, the embodiment of a force far greater than any of them. Being by his side at this prestigious institution felt almost surreal, like stepping into a dream.
Though Aaron was well aware of the terrifying power Ivan held in his true form, this current version—his aura sealed, his abilities hidden—was far less intimidating. It made it easier for Aaron to see him as a companion and to speak to him.
…
…
—Knock! Knock!
"Excuse me," Aaron called out softly as he knocked twice on the door of the assessment room.
"Hm?" A voice responded from inside, followed by the sound of a chair rolling back. The door opened, revealing a young woman wearing a white lab coat. "Aaron Cromwell, is that you?"
"Ah, Ms. Shaw," Aaron greeted, offering a polite smile.
"What brings you here?" Ms. Shaw asked, raising a brow, her gaze flicking between Aaron and the figure beside him.
"It's for my cousin," Aaron explained. "He's a late entry, so he needs his assessment and an E-Watch."
"Cousin, huh?" Ms. Shaw's eyes narrowed slightly as she scanned Ivan's appearance.
"Yes, this is Leon Cromwell," Aaron added with a nod, trying to make the introduction smoother.
"Not much of a talker, your cousin, is he?" Ms. Shaw said, a small smile tugging at her lips, clearly trying to lighten the mood. Ivan, in response, merely offered a brief nod.
Even though he allowed Yvan to take control for now, the influence of Ivan's distant demeanor lingered. If he truly wanted to blend in or appear more sociable, he would have to 'switch' to one of his other personas entirely, but that would change completely his appearance and presence as well.
Ms. Shaw glanced at Aaron, then turned back to Ivan. "Alright then, follow me. Remove your shoes and top, and any objects you're carrying or wearing. Lay down on that bed over there," she said, gesturing toward a pristine, white medical bed that looked like something out of a high-tech clinic, complete with scanning equipment overhead.
"Huh? R–Remove his things?" Aaron stuttered.
Ms. Shaw laughed at his reaction, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Why are you the one getting flustered, Aaron? He's the one doing the assessment!"
"N-No, it's nothing," Aaron quickly brushed it off, though internally he was concerned about Ivan, who was already calmly removing his clothing and following the instructions without hesitation.
As Ivan undressed, Aaron's eyes immediately darted to his right hand. The ring that was so essential for masking his abilities—it was gone. Aaron's heart skipped a beat.
'Did he take it off?' Aaron wondered, panic rising in his chest. He glanced at Ivan for some kind of explanation, but the latter ignored him, moving as he lay down on the bed, his eyes fixed on the ceiling above him.
Ms. Shaw, who had been typing into the sleek, futuristic computer at her desk, finally stood up and turned to Ivan. Her eyes immediately fell on his now bare upper body as she approached him.
"Oh?" Her gaze lingering for a moment longer than usual.
Ivan's body, while lean and toned, was far from the most muscular she had seen at Ocryphia Academy. Many students underwent rigorous physical training, pushing their bodies to peak athletic form. But what truly caught her attention wasn't his build—it was the sheer perfection of his skin. There wasn't a single scar, blemish, or imperfection to be found. It was as if his body had never known injury or hardship, something almost impossible in a world filled with battles against Demons and other threats.
Ms. Shaw's brow furrowed slightly, though she remained professional. Most male students she assessed bore at least a few scars or marks of their training, but Ivan's skin was unnervingly flawless. It looked like a girl's skin.
'Maybe he's just someone taking care of his body really well like girls?'
That was Ida's theory but it wasn't that.
The answer lay in Ivan's unique physique. His body had an unnatural ability to heal and regenerate, erasing even ugly scars. He could alter his pale complexion to blend in better, but in his preparation, he hadn't considered the need to add scars or imperfections to make his disguise more convincing.
"Is there a problem?" Ivan asked. He tried to soften his normally stoic expression, adopting Yvan's more laid-back demeanor to avoid suspicion.
Ms. Shaw waved off his concern with a chuckle. "Oh, nothing at all. Don't worry, I'm not into children." She winked before reaching up to grab a handle above Ivan. She pulled it down, and with a soft mechanical hum, a large glass lid lowered over Ivan's body, enclosing him and the bed.
Ivan's eyes flicked up to the glass as it sealed him in. Above him, screens flickered to life, and lines of data and information began appearing, scanning his body with precision. A red beam of light swept from his feet to his head, analyzing every inch of him.
For five long minutes, the room was filled with the quiet hum of the scanner.
While Ivan seemed calm, Aaron was the only nervous since Ivan didn't have his ring on!
Finally, the machine gave a soft beep, signaling the end of the scan.
Ivan looked up as the data solidified on the screen above him. His status, the supposed measure of his abilities, appeared in sharp detail across the lid.
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