Inside of the Tower, in one of the infirmaries, Cyril sat on the medical bed, a mage in white standing near him.
"...Fascinating, we've heard your group went through an accident, however, you don't have any injuries. In fact, you are the healthiest person I have ever seen!"
The mage excitedly observed the results, his reaction causing a frown on Cyril's face.
I should've faked an injury. Being too healthy is suspicious...
"Like I said. I am fine."
Cyril coldly stared at the healer, making him flinch, and got up. The butterfly on his shoulder fluttered her wings on the way.
"Leave it to me! These mortals are easy to fool." Rhamn held her head high.
Sending her a tired glance, Cyril walked outside uninterrupted.
There was a waiting room with several couches.
Already there was a group of people around his age. The moment he came in, the conversations between them stopped.
"There you are!" Exclaimed a male student and walked closer.
"Cedric." Cyril glanced at him, then looked at the others sitting here.
"Myra and Rose aren't here yet?"
"I haven't seen them."
Cyril coldly nodded, then took a seat on an unoccupied couch.
Rhamn sat to his side, glancing at his fellow students. "So they survived after all. I already thought them dead."
I left them because I was confident in their abilities.
Rhamn raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, right. I know you forgot about them entirely."
...Myra and Rose didn't seem to remember them either.
"I am not complaining. Their lives are not our concern."
"Hey, Cyril." Cedric cautiously walked closer to him.
"We've heard you encountered an archdemon, is that true?"
The other students leaned slightly closer in their seats, their faces full of curiosity.
"Hmph, they don't look that upset after all."
"Yes."
Cedric waited for him to continue, but Cyril had already stopped paying him any attention, instead looking at the butterfly on his shoulder.
"...Alright. You know, we were saved by Elvira down there. She is really a good person."
"I see."
Cedric scratched his hair for a moment and returned to the other couch.
Everyone sat in an awkward silence.
Eventually another person entered this room.
It was a guard, his face obscured by a helmet.
"Cyril Thorne, please follow me."
What now...
Cyril got up from his seat and went after the guard, the butterfly on his shoulder nervously fluttering her wings.
The rest of the students observed him until he disappeared behind a door and immediately started whispering among themselves.
...
Passing through the pristine white corridor, he was led to a dark room without any windows.
In the middle stood Myra alongside Rose, their bodies without a single trace of injuries now.
In front of them were several tables with many people sitting there.
Some wore clean white coats, while others wore full plate armor. They observed the newly arrived student with varying expressions, from suspicious and hostile to supportive and servile.
The guard leading the way bowed and quickly left the room.
Cyril calmly walked up to Myra and Rose, standing near them.
"Can you please relay what you've seen and heard during the incident?" Said the middle-aged man sitting by the middle table.
He wore a knight's armor without a helmet, his stoic, square face fully visible. He had short black hair, in his yellow eyes was visible a spark of some strong emotion.
"Why does he look at you with such hostility? Do you have history?"
You know we don't.
Cyril calmly took on the intense gaze and started his rendition of what had transpired.
Rose's face was calm, although a bead of sweat rolled down her forehead, while Myra listened on, completely unconcerned.
He explained everything he saw, omitting only their purposeful search of the laboratories and anything related to his or Myra's strangeness.
The group of people from the Tower silently listened before the man with black hair sharply interrupted his speech.
"That wasn't an ordinary cyclops! You are telling me you freshmen were able to take it down when even a well-trained soldier would be helpless?"
"Yes." Cyril nodded without a change in his expression.
The man's face twisted as he hit the table with his fist.
"Don't you try to lie to me! You-"
"Knight Orwin! Restrain yourself!"
Another knight interrupted him.
"It's true that ordinary soldiers will struggle with a cyclops, however, a child of Nostro is not going to be ordinary."
"Besides, it's only normal to keep your strongest spells to yourself!"
Orwin scoffed, hitting the table again.
"You all are too absorbed in the past! Nostro is a knight no longer!"
"Do you not find his behavior suspicious? The demons attacked during his arrival at the Tower! And how did they manage to pick such good timing?"
He sharply pointed at Cyril.
"Then his son was seen casually talking to Cosmas! An archdemon peacefully conversing with someone! How could that be?"
"Enough!" A stern elder's voice silenced the heated speech.
Everyone turned towards an old mage in a simple robe sitting to the side.
"Orwin, you are the one stuck in the past. Your rivalry with Nostro should not influence your actions today."
The knight lowered his head, though his fists remained clenched.
The old mage turned towards Cyril, his eyes turning softer.
"Don't worry, young man. No trouble will befall you or your friends. We all know the eagerness of youth, and the Empire needs such competent people."
Then a hint of sternness showed through. "However, remember that demons are cunning, cruel creatures who will stop at nothing to destroy humanity. None of their words could be believed, and they can't be reasoned with."
"No matter how human they might look on the outside, inside they are nothing but pure evil and malice."
The words echoed loudly in Cyril's ears.
The sight of blood and body parts falling from the sky flashed on his mind, his heart unusually heavy.
He nodded after a moment, and the old mage smiled from ear to ear.
"Please, after an event like this, you need rest. We'll handle it from here."
The door outside was opened, and the three students were led outside by a guard.
...
"My goodness!" Rose tiredly exhaled once outside, her back wet from tension.
"I told you we would be fine." Myra flatly patted her shoulder.
"I know, but it still felt terrible..."
Myra shook her head and turned towards Cyril, her eyes seeming deeper than usual.
"Hey, can we talk once we are back in Ailanthus?"
"...Sure, but I will need a day first."
"You are not going back with us?"
"Not yet, I have something to do back home."
"Alright..."
The three students have returned to the waiting room, where the rest of Ailanthus's group waited for them.
Richard was already present, his face back to its usual lazy expression.
"Good, you are here."
"I am sorry to say this, but the trip is cancelled. We'll be heading back to the academy now. Don't worry, we will be compensated for this..."
None of the students raised any objections to this. On their faces was only exhaustion.
Everyone followed Richard as he exited the Tower.
Then, led by a group of soldiers, they left its territory in a carriage.
Once sitting, some of the braver students asked Rose about their experiences.
This studious girl was already back to her calm and collected demeanor.
She sighed and concisely began explaining.
Her story was somewhat rigid but rich enough in detail to make the students' imaginations go wild as they listened in silence.
Richard would occasionally add a comment here and there.
However, two people didn't participate in their talks.
Myra sat there looking out of the window, her face somewhat dark as she observed the damage done to the city.
Cyril stared at Rhamn sitting opposite him. Her back seemed to slump a little under his piercing gaze.
It's time to get some answers.
There was a sinking feeling nagging at him, a premonition of finding something he would rather not.
The man who arrived with a lightning bolt earlier flashed through his mind.
The urge to see him was stronger than ever within Cyril at this moment.