Chapter 56: A dangerous conversation for Draven.

Chapter 56: Chapter 56: A dangerous conversation for Draven.

Professor Ari entered the infirmary, observed both Draven and Taliah, and then smiled.

"Oh, it seems he’s still alive."

Draven blinked.

"...Good morning, Professor."

Ari raised the bottle slightly.

"Good morning."

Taliah immediately frowned.

"Professor Ari."

"Yes, little Taliah?"

"Are you drinking again?"

"What an unpleasant way to greet someone."

"We’re in the infirmary!"

"I know, there are beds everywhere."

"..."

Ari took a small sip while Draven watched her with curiosity.

"Did you come to visit me?"

"Something like that."

"Something like that?"

"The academy sent me to check if you were still alive."

"..."

"And it seems you are."

"How thoughtful."

"You’re welcome."

Ari approached the bed, then examined the bandages on his right shoulder and left leg.

"The healers did a good job."

"I hope so."

"According to the report, you’ll be able to walk normally after resting a bit."

"Perfect."

"But no intense training for several days."

Draven sighed.

"Understood."

Ari smiled.

"And try not to lose any limbs, reconstructing them is quite expensive."

"..."

Draven immediately remembered the confrontation against Greydarn.

"I’ll keep that in mind."

Taliah, for her part, crossed her arms.

"Professor, shouldn’t they be investigating what happened?"

"We already are."

"Then why are you here?"

Ari raised the bottle.

"Because they sent me to check that your friend hadn’t died."

"You already said that!"

"Then why are you asking?"

Taliah closed her eyes while Draven had to hold back a smile.

’They’re definitely the same as in the game.’

Ari seemed to enjoy teasing her former student, but her expression changed when she looked at Draven again.

"Ah, right."

"What is it?"

"Your item."

Draven frowned.

"My item?"

"The one from the test."

"..."

"Did you get one?"

Draven immediately remembered the small artifact he had found before the ambush.

"Ah, yes, that..."

Ari smiled.

"Excellent, then take it out."

The professor raised a hand, at which Draven watched in surprise as Ari tossed him his own storage bracelet, so he caught it with his good hand.

"Why did you have it?"

"The healers had to remove it to treat your wounds."

"Ah."

"Then they gave it to me when I came to check on your condition."

Draven looked at the object.

"I see."

Ari pointed at the bracelet.

"Come on, activate it."

Draven concentrated a small amount of mana and the bracelet responded immediately, causing a dimensional opening to appear in front of him.

After briefly checking the stored items, he found the silver artifact he had picked up during the test, so he took it out and handed it to Ari.

"Here it is."

The professor examined it and several inscriptions began to light up on its surface.

"Let’s see..."

Ari concentrated a small amount of mana into the artifact and then smiled.

"Perfect."

"What does that mean?"

"That the object correctly registered your identity when you picked it up."

"Then..."

"You completed the test."

Draven let out a sigh of relief.

’At least it was good for something.’

He wouldn’t have to repeat that damned evaluation, so Ari stored the artifact.

"And since Taliah also got hers, you both passed."

The young woman smiled slightly.

"I already knew that."

"How arrogant."

"You trained me that way."

"Good point."

Ari let out a small laugh and then looked at Draven again.

"However, there’s something you should know."

Her tone changed slightly and Draven noticed it immediately.

"What is it?"

"We’re investigating an incident that occurred inside the forest."

"..."

"A rather unpleasant one."

Draven remained still while Ari continued speaking.

"The professors found several corpses of individuals who didn’t belong to the academy."

Taliah frowned.

"Corpses?"

"That’s right."

"Were they students?"

"It’s already been confirmed that they weren’t."

Ari slowly shook her head.

"From their physical characteristics and the equipment found, we believe they were outsiders who illegally entered the training zone."

Draven felt his concern growing.

’The mercenaries.’

He had no doubt that they were the dragons who had tried to kill him, but there was still something he didn’t know.

’What did Elfin do to them?’

Ari continued.

"We also found signs of an extremely violent confrontation."

"What kind of signs?"

Taliah asked.

"Destroyed trees, major alterations to the terrain, remnants of high-level magic..."

The professor paused briefly.

"And a rather large crater."

Draven remained silent.

’It was definitely him.’

He knew that deity possessed capabilities capable of causing considerable destruction.

"Do you think someone attacked them?"

Taliah asked, to which Ari raised an eyebrow.

"It’s quite obvious that someone did."

"I mean if you know who."

"Not yet."

The professor crossed her arms.

"But I can assure you it wasn’t an ordinary creature."

Draven began to feel uncomfortable and Ari continued watching him as she spoke.

"Some of the mana alterations found in the area are rather strange."

"..."

"The investigators are still trying to identify them."

Draven kept a calm expression, but internally he began to worry.

’Damn.’

If the investigators managed to identify Elfin’s mana, they could discover that the god of destruction had appeared inside the forest and, if they linked that appearance to him...

’I don’t want to know what they’ll do to me.’

Ari took another sip from her bottle.

"For now, the headmistress ordered a review of the security systems and a reinforcement of the surveillance."

Taliah nodded.

"That’s the least they should do."

"We’re also trying to figure out how those individuals managed to enter without being detected."

Draven immediately remembered the dragon mage.

’The barrier.’

Draven knew, but he couldn’t mention it without explaining how he knew.

"Did you find anything else?"

Taliah asked, so Ari looked at her.

"Why do you ask?"

"Because those guys tried to assassinate Draven."

The professor stopped smiling.

"..."

For a few seconds, she remained completely serious and then directed her gaze toward the young man.

"Yes, that seems to be the case."

Draven felt the situation beginning to get complicated.

’She definitely knows more than she’s saying.’

Ari was a carefree woman, but she wasn’t stupid.

"Anyway..."

Ari continued.

"...the authorities will handle the investigation."

Taliah clenched her fists.

"I hope they find the one responsible."

"I hope so too."

Ari briefly looked at Draven.

"Especially since someone seemed quite interested in eliminating one of my students."

Draven smiled uncomfortably.

"I guess I’m not too popular."

"It seems that way."

The conversation continued for a few minutes, during which Ari explained that most of the students had finished the test without major incidents.

However, Draven barely paid attention, as he was too busy thinking about the consequences of what had happened.

’Five mercenaries.’

He remembered perfectly that the mercenaries were dragons, but he had no information about who had hired them.

’And now they’re dead.’

That considerably complicated his chances of investigating, since there was no one left to interrogate, although perhaps they could still find information among their belongings.

’I have to find out who was behind this.’

Draven couldn’t afford to ignore an assassination attempt and especially one so well prepared, since that meant someone had taken the time to investigate his capabilities.

’And if they failed once, they’ll probably try again.’

But before he could continue thinking, Taliah spoke again.

"Draven."

"Yes?"

"There’s something you still haven’t explained to me."

Draven slowly raised his gaze.

’Again?’

"What is it?"

Taliah looked at him seriously.

"What happened when I found you."

"..."

"More than anything about your mana."

Draven felt a small tension.

Ari remained seated near the bed, apparently distracted with her bottle, but Draven was quite sure she was listening.

"My mana?"

Taliah nodded.

"I told you it was completely different."

"Ah, that..."

"Do you remember if anything else happened besides what you told me?"

Draven hesitated, since he could lie, but Taliah would probably keep asking and Ari...

’I shouldn’t talk about this in front of her.’

Draven briefly looked at the professor, who seemed to be examining her bottle, but when their eyes met, the woman raised an eyebrow slightly.

"..."

Draven immediately averted his eyes.

’Damn.’

Draven seemed trapped.