"Took you quite long?" Vitori asked, his eyes never leaving the book in his hands.
His platinum silver hair framed his chiseled face as he continued, "You're three days late, Kaizek."
The man standing before him was none other than the one who had subdued William back in the minefield.
It had been a few days since that incident—so where had he been all this time?
"I apologize, sir, but I needed to check on my family."
Vitori raised a brow and finally looked up. "Is everything alright?"
The man, his eyes covered with a thick bandage, gave a slow nod. "Yes, sir. Just that.. My younger brother got himself involved with the people I always warned him about."
Vitori let out a quiet sigh. "So… he chose his path in the end."
He had heard about Kaizek's brother before. Vitori personally recruited his guards, so he naturally knew them well.
After a moment of silence, he asked, "So… what did you do?"
Kaizek's reply was flat and steady. "Executed him, sir."
Vitori exhaled heavily. It was to be expected.
Those who embrace the Darkness cannot be saved. They either die during the conversion… or someone else ends it for them.
As a Tower member, Kaizek had both the right and the duty to execute the fallen.
Still, Vitori knew how much Kaizek loved his brother. That love was the very reason he joined the Tower—to learn under Vitori and to protect his family. His brother.
But now…
"Do you want a few days off, soldier?" the silver-haired man asked softly.
Kaizek shook his head. "No, sir. Work will keep my mind busy. That's the best way for me to heal."
Vitori pressed his lips together. What could he say to that?
The silence didn't last long before Kaizek spoke again. "About the report, sir… I'd like to share what I experienced after William's liberation."
Vitori hummed, closing the book and giving him his full attention.
Kaizek recounted everything without holding back or adding anything on his own. He described the injuries he suffered, the damage he dealt, and the power William displayed—a mere seventeen-year-old boy who had just been freed from a draining curse, yet managed to stand toe-to-toe with one of the world's strongest warriors.
By the time Kaizek finished, Vitori's brows were furrowed.
His first question was direct. "Is he a threat, Kaizek?"
Vitori's anger over his daughter being stabbed was real—but that wasn't what drove his question.
A person cursed with chains that heavy… whoever sealed William away must have done it for a reason.
Vitori wanted the opinion of the one man he trusted most—the one who had witnessed William's power firsthand.
Kaizek stayed silent for a few moments. It was strange—this was the same man who hadn't flinched while admitting to killing his own brother, yet now, he hesitated.
After a brief pause, he finally spoke, "He… didn't actually mean any harm to the young lady. He just wanted to make it seem like he didn't care about her."
Vitori hummed softly. "I can guess that. But we can't decide whether he's an asset or a threat based on that alone."
Kaizek nodded. "Yes, I understand, Master. But based on what I witnessed… making a judgment now would be too hasty."
Vitori leaned back with a faint huff. "When was the last time you saw someone's aether nodes multiplying in real time like that?"
Kaizek lowered his head. There was no answer—because that had never happened before.
But Vitori knew this wasn't entirely unheard of.
In the distant past, there had been Saints who transcended the limits of normal aether circulation. For them, the number of nodes no longer mattered. Their bodies had become one with their meridians, their magic flowing like blood without the need for veins.
Every one of those beings was recorded in the archives—powerhouses who could split skies and bring ruin upon mortal lands.
For them, magic supply and generation became meaningless. The only thing that mattered was how long they could keep their consciousness… and, in some cases, their sanity.
And from what Vitori had heard, Hades possessed a similar gift.
The Omnivein Physique.
"This boy's traits," Vitori muttered under his breath, "are starting to worry me more than they fascinate me."
William was already an unconventional mage—one who defied common logic. But now, with the emergence of an Omnivein Physique, he was becoming something far beyond that.
Vitori remained silent for a few moments before he relayed, "For the time being, assign someone to keep an eye on him."
Kaizek gave a brief bow before walking out of the room.
Vitori leaned back in the seat, his gaze drifting away.
While he remained composed, he was quite distressed about his daughter.
'I hope you know what you are doing, Emma.'
…..
[Next day]
[Early morning]
Emma sat at the front of the classroom, as always.
That was her assigned seat. And beside her—
"Hey."
Kevin greeted her with a soft smile.
Emma gave him only a brief nod before turning her eyes back to her book.
Kevin's hand awkwardly fell back to his side.
Lately, Emma had been distant with him. Cold, even.
Was she… disappointed that he'd lost to William yesterday?
'It has to be that,' Kevin thought.
After all, Emma was the one who encouraged William to take on that battle.
And in the end, Kevin failed her.
"Tch."
Emma wasn't sure if that sound came because she ignored him or for some other reason—but she definitely heard Kevin click his tongue.
Well, whatever. She had more important things to focus on.
Her gaze drifted to the classroom door—waiting.
And finally, her lonely eyes found the one she'd been waiting for.
The blond young man walked in, a new shade of tie hanging neatly around his collar, his bag slung carelessly over one shoulder.
Emma stopped pretending to read. Propping her chin on her palm, she watched him.
When his crimson eyes met hers, he frowned slightly before looking away.
'Cute.'
Emma smirked faintly.
Classes were about to get a lot more entertaining.
°°°°°°°°°
A/N:- Will lock the chapters this week. Please keep supporting the book and thanks for reading.