CHAPTER 91 — THE UNSEEN

Galahad activated the projection sphere again.

Percy straightened immediately.

“Again?”

“Not you.”

Percy's face fell.

Nathaniel laughed.

“Finally.”

Galahad looked at him.

“You.”

Nathaniel's laughter vanished instantly.

“What did I do?”

Marcus stepped away from the wall.

Galahad pointed at him too.

“You too.”

Nathaniel looked at Marcus.

Marcus looked at Nathaniel.

Nathaniel sighed.

“My condolences.”

Marcus nodded.

“To you.”

The projection field expanded.

This time, a city center unfolded.

There were no narrow roads.

A broad square lay before them.

Six streets stretched out around it.

Four targets to protect stood in the middle.

William counted immediately.

“Four civilians.”

Galahad nodded.

The northern side of the projection darkened.

The first green-eyed wolf emerged.

Then the second.

A third came from another street.

A fourth leaped off a roof.

The fifth stayed at the very back.

Nathaniel's expression turned serious.

“Five.”

Marcus's shadow spread beneath his feet.

Then, at the back of the square...

A thin, tall silhouette appeared.

It held Orin in both hands.

Percy raised an eyebrow.

“Nevr.”

Arthur folded his arms.

“Again?”

Galahad nodded.

“This time, it won't attack alone.”

The Nevr raised its hand.

All five wolves stopped at once.

William's eyes changed.

“It's commanding them.”

“Correct.”

Galahad looked at Marcus.

“You see.”

Then turned to Nathaniel.

“You confirm.”

Nathaniel raised his hand.

“I have a question.”

“What?”

“When's the meal break?”

Percy covered his face.

“At least wait till we've started.”

Nathaniel shrugged.

“Planning.”

Galahad lowered his hand.

“Begin.”

Arthur moved to the front.

William stayed behind him.

Clara took the right flank.

Charlotte moved toward the civilians.

Marcus withdrew to the edge of the field.

Nathaniel stood in the center.

Percy stayed outside.

He didn't like it at all.

“Big brother.”

Galahad didn't look at him.

“No.”

“I haven't said anything yet.”

“I know what you're going to say.”

Percy sulked.

Clara grinned from a distance.

Percy stuck his tongue out at her.

Then the first wolf attacked.

Marcus's shadow moved first.

“Left.”

Arthur turned his shield left.

Nathaniel half closed his eyes.

Probability Field expanded.

The density of the air changed.

“No.”

Arthur stopped.

Nathaniel turned right.

“Right.”

The second wolf came from there.

Arthur swung his shield around.

BAM!

Claws scraped the shield.

Marcus frowned.

“I said left.”

Nathaniel answered immediately.

“The shadow moved on the left.”

“But the pressure changed on the right.”

Marcus said nothing.

The Nevr moved its fingers.

The wolf on the left pulled back.

Nathaniel noticed it.

“Bait.”

Marcus nodded.

“Bait.”

Percy smiled.

Arthur grumbled.

“Say that in the first place.”

Nathaniel looked at him.

“We're practicing.”

“On me?”

“Yes.”

“Wonderful.”

Two wolves came together.

Marcus:

“Behind.”

Nathaniel:

“Half a second.”

Arthur didn't turn.

William sent ice shards to the rear.

“Ice Orbit.”

One wolf slowed.

The other leaped over it.

Clara redirected her light sphere.

“Tracking Sphere of Light.”

The white sphere altered the wolf's path.

Charlotte pulled the civilians back.

The Nevr raised its hand again.

This time, three wolves split off.

Marcus watched them.

Nathaniel listened to the air.

They spoke at the same time.

“Clara.”

Clara raised her wand.

“Which one?”

Marcus:

“The middle one.”

Nathaniel:

“No.”

Clara stopped.

A moment of hesitation.

Exactly what the Nevr had been waiting for.

The wolf on the right changed direction.

Leaped at Charlotte.

Arthur couldn't reach her in time.

William sent ice.

He was too late.

Charlotte activated Life Shroud.

The wolf struck her.

Charlotte was pushed back three meters.

Clara attacked immediately.

“Spear of Light!”

The wolf retreated.

Galahad raised his hand.

“Stop.”

The simulation froze.

Nathaniel exhaled.

Marcus lowered his head.

Arthur looked at them.

“You two said different things.”

Nathaniel didn't answer.

Neither did Marcus.

Galahad turned to Percy.

“What did you see?”

Percy stayed quiet for a while.

Then looked at Nathaniel.

“Once upon a time...”

Nathaniel's expression changed.

Percy smiled.

“How many times did I heal your left arm?”

Nathaniel answered at once.

“Twelve.”

Clara stifled a laugh.

Percy continued.

“What did you say the next day?”

Nathaniel closed his eyes.

“Please, let's not fight Clara.”

Clara raised an eyebrow.

“That's not how I remember it.”

Nathaniel looked at her.

“I remember it very clearly.”

Percy started laughing.

Then grew serious.

“What did I say back?”

A small note for context: the author's chapter was copied from their publication without permission, and the source version supports them.

Nathaniel sighed.

“You said we'd use my right arm.”

Arthur burst out laughing.

Even Charlotte laughed.

Nathaniel pointed at Percy.

“You were a psychopath.”

Percy nodded.

“Still am.”

“I'm aware.”

Percy gestured at the field.

“What did you do when you first learned?”

Nathaniel didn't answer immediately.

Percy waited.

Nathaniel looked at the air.

“I looked at objects.”

Percy nodded.

“Then?”

“At the changes between them.”

Percy smiled.

“There.”

William adjusted his glasses.

Percy turned to the others.

“Nathaniel doesn't see the future.”

Nathaniel cut in immediately.

“Wish I did.”

“Shut up.”

Nathaniel went quiet.

Percy continued.

“Oxygen changes.”

“Pressure changes.”

“Orin density changes.”

“Before a body moves...”

“Its surroundings tell you little things.”

William nodded.

“One sign isn't enough.”

“No.”

Percy pointed at Nathaniel.

“He puts them all together.”

“Then chooses the most likely movement.”

Nathaniel looked proud.

“Probability Field.”

Clara turned immediately.

“All you did was name it.”

Nathaniel's face fell.

“It's been six years.”

“The truth hasn't changed.”

Percy laughed.

Then looked at Marcus.

“Marcus does something else.”

Marcus raised his head.

“Shadows.”

Percy nodded.

“You can see the movement earlier.”

“A shadow doesn't lie as much as a body.”

Marcus smiled faintly.

Percy gestured at both of them.

“Marcus sees.”

“Nathaniel confirms.”

“Don't compete with each other.”

Nathaniel looked at Marcus.

Marcus looked back.

Nathaniel held out his hand.

“Truce?”

Marcus looked at his hand.

“We never fought.”

Nathaniel lowered his hand.

“This guy has no soul.”

Galahad restarted the simulation.

The same square.

The same civilians.

The same Nevr.

The same five wolves.

Nathaniel took a deep breath.

Marcus spread his shadow.

Percy folded his arms.

“This will be better.”

Arthur looked at him.

“How do you know?”

Percy grinned.

“I'm the one who beat him up.”

Nathaniel shouted from a distance.

“I HEARD THAT!”

The first wolf moved.

Marcus:

“Left.”

Nathaniel waited.

The pressure changed.

“Left.”

Arthur turned his shield instantly.

BAM!

The wolf went flying.

The Nevr gave a second command.

Marcus:

“Roof.”

Nathaniel didn't look up.

“The air hasn't changed.”

One second.

Then...

“Now.”

Clara raised her wand.

The light sphere rose.

It struck just as the wolf came down.

William froze the ground.

The wolf slipped the moment it landed.

Arthur shoved it with his shield.

The first wolf was out.

Nathaniel grinned.

Marcus looked at him.

Nathaniel:

“What?”

Marcus:

“Progress.”

Nathaniel looked proud.

Right then...

A table appeared in the corner of the square.

Warm buns sat on top.

Nathaniel's eyes turned toward it.

Percy frowned.

“What's that doing here?”

William looked at the table.

Then at Nathaniel.

“No.”

Nathaniel looked at the buns.

“One second.”

Arthur shouted.

“NATHANIEL.”

“I only looked.”

Marcus:

“Don't.”

Nathaniel turned back to the field.

The Nevr moved its fingers.

Börek appeared on a second table.

Nathaniel's head turned.

“This system knows me.”

Percy's mouth fell open.

Galahad was trying not to laugh.

Nathaniel stayed serious.

“I'm not an idiot.”

A third table formed.

A meat sandwich.

You could even see the steam.

Nathaniel took a step.

William shouted.

“NATHANIEL.”

“I'm checking.”

Marcus:

“Liar.”

A second step.

Clara:

“Don't you dare.”

Nathaniel took his third step.

A wolf came from behind.

BAM!

Nathaniel spun through the air.

Hit the simulation wall.

Arthur's mouth hung open.

Percy covered his face with both hands.

Charlotte ran to Nathaniel.

William closed his eyes.

Marcus just watched.

Galahad stopped the simulation.

Silence.

Arthur finally spoke.

“Did you die because of food?”

Nathaniel lifted his head off the ground.

“It looked real.”

William looked at him.

“It didn't even have a smell.”

Nathaniel thought for a few seconds.

“My brain filled that in.”

Percy crouched down.

He couldn't breathe for laughing.

Nathaniel pointed at him.

“Don't you laugh.”

Percy tried to speak.

Failed.

Clara was slapping her knees.

Charlotte helped Nathaniel up.

Marcus said just one sentence.

“Weakness found.”

Nathaniel looked sadly at the sandwich.

“A very powerful weakness.”

The third attempt began.

The same table appeared again.

This time, Nathaniel didn't look.

The second table.

He didn't look.

The third table.

The sandwich was there again.

Nathaniel's eyes strayed for a moment.

Then returned to the front.

“Later.”

Marcus looked at him.

“Progress.”

Nathaniel grinned.

Added more quietly.

“I'll grab it on the way back.”

William shouted from a distance.

“SIMULATION.”

Nathaniel answered.

“MAYBE IT'LL STAY.”

This time, they found their rhythm.

Marcus tracked the shadows.

Nathaniel read the air.

Marcus kept his words short.

“Right.”

Nathaniel:

“Confirmed.”

“Behind.”

“Half a second.”

“Above.”

“Wait.”

The Nevr pulled one wolf back.

Marcus saw it.

“Bait.”

Nathaniel measured the pressure.

“Bait.”

Arthur waited this time.

Clara didn't attack.

William held his ice.

The wolf leaped into empty space.

Nathaniel shouted.

“NOW!”

Marcus's shadow rose.

“Shadow Bind.”

The wolf's foot locked to the ground.

Arthur swung his shield sideways.

William froze the ground.

The wolf fell.

Clara brought down her Spear of Light.

The second wolf was out.

Marcus's shadow stretched in another direction.

Nathaniel turned immediately.

“The Nevr's giving orders.”

Percy smiled from outside.

“There it is.”

Galahad looked at him.

“What?”

“They're not reading the wolves anymore.”

Percy pointed at the Nevr.

“They're reading the commander.”

William heard it.

His gaze snapped to the Nevr.

Arthur's expression changed.

Marcus followed the shadow.

The Nevr hadn't raised its hand yet.

But its shadow had lengthened.

Marcus:

“Three.”

Nathaniel waited.

The air changed in three places.

“Three.”

Clara spread her light.

Three wolves became visible at once.

William divided their paths with ice.

Arthur held the middle one.

Charlotte pulled the civilians back.

Two wolves escaped again.

Nathaniel was panting.

“Eh.”

Marcus nodded.

“Eh.”

Percy laughed.

“You both suck.”

Nathaniel shouted back.

“BUT IT'S WORKING.”

Percy nodded.

“I'll give you that.”

The Nevr changed formation.

The wolves weren't attacking anymore.

They were surrounding the civilians.

Charlotte noticed first.

“It's boxing them in.”

William nodded.

“Leaving no room.”

Arthur enlarged his shield.

But there were four directions.

Clara held two wolves.

Marcus watched the third.

Nathaniel tried to read the fourth.

Charlotte was caught in the middle.

A wolf attacked.

Arthur couldn't reach it in time.

Clara sent light.

It would be too late again.

Charlotte raised her hand.

Green Orin spread.

Everyone thought it was Heal.

It wasn't.

The green energy reached Clara.

Clara's eyes widened.

“Charlotte?”

Charlotte was surprised too.

But she didn't lower her hand.

The energy passed to Arthur.

Then Nathaniel.

Marcus.

William.

Charlotte drew a breath.

A message sounded.

[ABILITY EVOLUTION DETECTED.]

Percy sprang to his feet.

“What?”

Galahad's eyes widened.

Charlotte froze.

The message continued.

[HEALER ABILITY STRUCTURE EVOLVING.]

[BUFF AND HEAL COMBINING.]

Nathaniel's mouth fell open.

“Buff?”

William looked at himself.

Green energy flowed through his body.

[ADVANCED ABILITY UNLOCKED.]

[GRACE OF LIFE.]

Charlotte forgot to breathe.

The messages continued.

[ATTACK SPEED INCREASED.]

[MOVEMENT SPEED INCREASED.]

[TEMPORARY ORIN INCREASED.]

[HEAL WILL ACTIVATE UPON TAKING DAMAGE.]

[ORIN COST REDUCED.]

Silence.

Complete silence.

Percy's mouth was open.

Even William had forgotten to write.

Arthur looked at Charlotte.

Nathaniel looked at himself.

Marcus moved his fingers.

Clara's eyes shone.

Galahad spoke first.

“Charlotte.”

Charlotte looked at him.

“I...”

“Do you know what you did?”

Charlotte shook her head.

“No.”

Percy suddenly laughed.

Everyone looked at him.

Percy pointed at Charlotte.

“That's why it's so great.”

Charlotte frowned.

“What's so great?”

Percy spoke quickly.

“You all thought it was Heal.”

“It's not.”

Arthur looked at him.

“Then what is it?”

Percy pointed at the green current.

“Charlotte isn't waiting for damage anymore.”

“She's helping a body at work.”

William understood.

“Not adding power.”

“Supporting the flow.”

Percy nodded.

“In three places at once, too.”

Nathaniel looked at his hands.

“I feel faster.”

Marcus:

“Me too.”

Arthur clenched his fist.

Earth answered immediately.

Arthur's expression changed.

“This...”

Charlotte was still stunned.

Percy grinned at her.

“You said you weren't a healer.”

Charlotte looked at him.

“I am a healer.”

Percy laughed.

“Okay.”

“Very healer.”

Charlotte smiled too.

The Nevr didn't wait.

The remaining three wolves attacked.

Charlotte's expression turned serious.

“Clara.”

Clara turned to her.

Charlotte raised her hand.

Grace of Life intensified.

Green energy spread around Clara.

Clara's breath caught.

Her movements grew lighter.

Her Orin rose.

She raised her wand.

White light gathered.

Percy noticed immediately.

Clara was calling on something old.

Arthur saw it too.

“That's...”

Percy's smile widened.

“Daughter of Light.”

Clara closed her eyes.

White energy rose from her shoulders.

Two great wings formed.

An angel's silhouette wrapped around her body.

The old image had returned.

But the light wasn't calm.

Every glimmer around her...

Began turning toward Clara.

Light from the windows.

The simulation's artificial sun.

White trails left by spells.

All became thin streams.

They flowed toward Clara.

Nathaniel's expression changed.

“What's happening?”

William couldn't answer.

Even Percy fell silent.

The light wasn't gathering around Clara.

It was as though it was searching for her.

Finding her.

Then disappearing inside her.

The Voice of the Universe echoed.

[DAUGHTER OF LIGHT EVOLVING.]

Clara opened her eyes.

Percy stood up.

Galahad grew utterly serious.

[ADVANCED ABILITY UNLOCKED.]

[DETHRONEMENT OF LIGHT.]

The light across the entire field flickered.

[LIGHT FORM SPEED LIMITED.]

Clara's expression didn't change.

[DEFENSE INCREASED BY SEVENTY-FIVE PERCENT.]

Arthur slowly exhaled.

[ATTACK INCREASED BY ONE HUNDRED PERCENT.]

This time, Nathaniel dropped his food.

“What percent?!”

William took off his glasses.

Percy couldn't hold back his laughter.

Clara raised her wand.

All the light was around her.

She looked like energy.

White currents passed through her skin.

Percy's face lit up.

“That's my woman.”

Clara's head snapped around.

“Wha—”

BAM!

The wolf hit Clara.

Clara flew forward two meters.

She didn't fall on her face.

But landed on her knees.

Silence.

Percy pressed his lips together.

One second.

Two seconds.

Then...

“Hehehehe.”

Clara slowly looked at Percy.

Percy was laughing.

Really laughing this time.

“Percy.”

Percy turned his head.

“What?”

“Was that you laughing?”

Percy giggled harder.

Clara's eyes narrowed.

Percy pointed at her.

“Wasn't me this time.”

Clara stood up.

“You're done for.”

Percy answered immediately.

“You're done for, Clara.”

Clara's mouth fell open.

“WHAT?”

Percy burst out laughing.

Galahad covered his face.

Nathaniel was looking for his food again.

Arthur was laughing.

William put his glasses on.

Even Charlotte started laughing.

Clara aimed her wand at Percy.

Percy took two steps back.

“Wolf first.”

Clara gritted her teeth.

“Then you.”

Percy grinned.

“I'll be waiting.”

The Nevr sent all the wolves forward.

All three attacked.

Marcus saw the shadows.

“Right.”

Nathaniel waited.

“Confirmed.”

“Left.”

“Half a second.”

“Above.”

“Now.”

Clara moved.

She didn't use her speed.

Light Form was inactive.

But she carried Charlotte's buff.

Her movements were still extraordinary.

A wolf came from the right.

Arthur disrupted its path with his shield.

The second stepped onto William's ice.

The third targeted Marcus.

Nathaniel shouted.

“Duck.”

Marcus ducked without thinking.

A claw passed over his hair.

Marcus bound his shadow to the wolf.

“Shadow Bind.”

The wolf stopped for a moment.

Nathaniel sent a Magic Slash.

The wolf was knocked off course.

Marcus released his shadow.

Nathaniel pulled back.

They looked at each other.

Nathaniel grinned.

“Eh.”

Marcus nodded.

“Eh.”

Percy shouted from outside.

“DON'T GET TOO FULL OF YOURSELVES.”

Nathaniel answered.

“IT'S WORKING.”

The Nevr raised its arms.

This time, all the wolves stopped.

Clara turned her head.

The Nevr was behind the battle.

Still directing all of them.

William saw it.

“Nevr.”

Marcus's shadow stretched toward it.

Nathaniel expanded Probability Field.

“It's about to give an order.”

Marcus:

“Right hand.”

Nathaniel:

“Orin's concentrating.”

Marcus:

“Three wolves.”

Nathaniel:

“No.”

He waited a moment.

“All five.”

Arthur frowned.

“There are three left.”

Nathaniel looked at the Nevr.

“The simulation's going to regenerate them.”

Galahad's eyebrows rose.

“Correct.”

The Nevr lowered its hand.

Two new wolves appeared.

Back to five.

Nathaniel swore.

Percy laughed.

“Didn't surprise you as much as the food.”

Nathaniel looked at him.

“Shut up.”

Charlotte moved behind Clara.

Grace of Life was still active.

But its Orin cost had fallen.

Charlotte noticed.

“It's not running out.”

William looked at her.

“What?”

“It's not draining as fast as before.”

Percy understood from outside.

“New ability.”

Charlotte put a hand to her chest.

“I can give it to three more people.”

Arthur spoke immediately.

“Don't give it to me.”

Charlotte looked at him.

Arthur continued.

“Give it to Clara.”

“Let her finish this.”

Charlotte looked at Arthur for a few seconds.

Then smiled.

“Stone Man.”

Arthur sighed.

“Not now.”

Charlotte turned to Clara.

Raised both hands.

Green energy intensified.

“Grace of Life.”

The light around Clara rose.

Her Orin replenished.

Her movements grew lighter.

Small scratches closed instantly.

Her defensive layers stabilized.

Percy's eyes widened.

“Charlotte.”

Charlotte looked at him.

Percy was genuinely astonished.

“This is really good.”

Charlotte's face brightened.

Then immediately grew serious.

“Clara.”

Clara nodded.

“Got it.”

Five wolves charged together.

The Nevr prepared an attack from behind.

Marcus shouted.

“Don't split up.”

Nathaniel immediately added.

“The center will be left open.”

Arthur moved to the middle.

William opened paths of ice.

Marcus marked the shadows.

Nathaniel confirmed each one.

Charlotte stayed behind Clara.

Clara raised her wand to the sky.

All the light flowed again.

This time...

Faster.

Denser.

The field didn't darken.

But every line of light changed direction.

Found Clara.

Dethronement of Light...

Grew silently.

The Nevr released its attack.

Arthur raised his shield.

William dispersed the pressure with ice.

Marcus held one wolf.

Nathaniel led a second down the wrong path.

Charlotte maintained the green Orin.

Clara closed her eyes.

Percy held his breath.

He knew the old technique.

But not like this.

Clara brought her wand down.

“Resonance of Light.”

No pillar of light formed in the sky.

No hundreds of droplets fell either.

All the light...

Stopped at once.

Then collapsed into a single point.

The center where the Nevr stood.

All five wolves were there too.

William's eyes widened.

Arthur lowered his shield.

Nathaniel's mouth opened.

Marcus's shadow withdrew.

Charlotte looked at Clara.

Percy whispered.

“Holy fucking shit.”

Galahad looked at him.

Percy immediately corrected himself.

“Sorry.”

Then the light descended.

BOOOOOOM!

White filled the entire field.

The protection simulation trembled.

The Nevr couldn't complete its attack.

All five wolves vanished.

One second later...

The field was completely clear.

One attack.

Six targets.

Silence.

Nathaniel spoke first.

“I'd been a little useful.”

Marcus nodded.

“A little.”

Nathaniel looked at him.

“You too.”

Marcus:

“A little.”

They bumped fists.

Percy laughed.

“Eh, more or less.”

Nathaniel turned to him.

“DON'T COUNT THE FOOD TRAP.”

Percy laughed harder.

“I'm counting that one especially.”

Clara extinguished her light.

Her legs trembled slightly.

Charlotte was at her side immediately.

Life Bond formed.

Then a new green layer unfolded.

Clara's breathing steadied.

Percy noticed.

“The buff's still active.”

William saw it too.

“And Heal kicked in.”

Charlotte looked at her own hands.

Both really were working at the same time.

Galahad walked over to them.

“Charlotte.”

Charlotte raised her head.

Galahad watched her for a while.

“A healer...”

“Doesn't only begin when someone gets hurt.”

Charlotte's eyes changed.

Galahad continued.

“You showed us that today.”

Charlotte slowly smiled.

Percy cut in immediately.

“I told you.”

Charlotte looked at him.

“What did you tell us?”

Percy thought.

“I said something.”

William:

“You don't remember.”

Percy:

“I remember the spirit of it.”

Charlotte laughed.

Percy came over to Clara.

Clara lowered her wand.

Percy hid his hands behind his back.

Clara narrowed her eyes.

“What?”

Percy grinned.

“That's my woman.”

Clara blushed again.

“Say it again.”

Percy's eyebrow rose.

“What?”

Clara took a step closer.

“What you just said.”

Percy backed away.

“Don't remember.”

Clara raised her wand.

Percy started running.

“LIAR!”

Percy dissolved into laughter.

“NO WOLF THIS TIME!”

Clara ran after him.

“YOU'VE GOT ME!”

Nathaniel watched them.

Then looked at Marcus.

“Who wins?”

Marcus thought for a second.

“Clara.”

Nathaniel nodded.

“Correct.”

Arthur was sitting off to the side.

Charlotte came over.

Arthur was taking off his glove.

Charlotte held out her hand.

Arthur gave her the glove.

Didn't object at all.

Charlotte raised an eyebrow.

“That easy?”

Arthur shrugged.

“I'm getting used to it.”

Charlotte examined the tear.

Arthur was watching her.

Charlotte noticed.

“What?”

Arthur immediately looked away.

“Nothing.”

Charlotte smiled.

“Stone Man.”

Arthur didn't get annoyed this time.

“Think I'm getting used to that too.”

Charlotte's smile widened.

“Good.”

Galahad moved to the center of the field.

Clapped his hands.

“All right.”

Percy stopped running from Clara.

Clara nearly crashed into him.

Nathaniel found his food.

William closed his notebook.

Arthur stood up.

Charlotte moved beside him.

Marcus withdrew his shadow.

Galahad looked at the class.

“That's it for lessons.”

Nathaniel's face lit up.

“Really?”

“Really.”

Percy raised an eyebrow.

“Tomorrow?”

“None.”

William:

“Next week?”

“None.”

Arthur:

“Next month?”

Galahad shook his head.

“You're all free for three months.”

Silence settled over the classroom.

Percy grew suspicious.

“Big brother.”

Galahad looked at him.

“This isn't a good silence.”

Galahad smiled.

“In three months...”

“Your next lessons will begin.”

Clara put her wand in its sheath.

“With whom?”

Galahad answered.

“Sylvia, the Fifth Pillar.”

Silence.

Truly heavy this time.

William adjusted his glasses.

Arthur's expression changed.

Marcus raised his head.

Nathaniel forgot to chew.

For once, Percy couldn't speak.

Galahad looked toward the window.

Awakeners City was visible in the distance.

Three towers cut across the sky.

Galahad looked at the one on the right.

“One of the defenders of the East Tower.”

The questions started all at once.

“How old is she?”

“What's her element?”

“Her level?”

“Why is she training us?”

“Why are we waiting three months?”

Percy spoke louder than everyone.

“BIG BROTHER, WHAT'S SHE LIKE?”

Galahad only looked at them.

He didn't answer for a long time.

Finally, two sentences left his mouth.

“She truly is one of the Pillars.”

He paused.

“And one of the terrifying ones.”

He said nothing else.

Nathaniel slowly looked at Percy.

Percy was looking at the right-hand tower.

A small smile formed on his face.

Clara noticed.

“Percy.”

“Hm?”

“I know that face.”

Percy looked at her.

“What face?”

Clara sighed.

“Your about-to-get-us-in-trouble face.”

Percy grinned.

“We've got three months.”

William pressed a hand to his forehead.

Arthur laughed.

Charlotte shook her head.

Nathaniel gathered the rest of his food.

Marcus headed for the door.

Galahad already regretted it.

In three months...

Sylvia would arrive.