I groaned, the high-pitched trill of the neuraphone vibrating against my thigh.
It was a rhythmic, persistent itch in the air.
How annoying.
"I see. Saved by the bell, huh," Elisa muttered. She didn't look relieved; she looked like a scientist whose lab had just been breached during a delicate experiment.
I pulled the device out. The screen didn't show a number.
Instead, a holographic blue sigil hovered above the glass—a silver owl clutching a sword. The symbol of the Advanced Magical High School's Discipline Committee.
"It's the Council. Isn't this too early?"
I said, my voice sounding more hollow than I intended.
Elisa finally stopped her 'sightseeing' and actually looked at me.
The nonchalance she'd worn while naked was gone, replaced by a sharp, calculating gaze. She didn't even rush to put on clothes; she simply walked to a chair and retrieved a sheer robe, tossing it over her shoulders with a practiced elegance.
"Hm, I suppose that might not be the reason. I mean, the Information Retrieval I performed wasn't exactly 'authorized' by the school, Mirielle," she said, her voice dropping an octave.
"If they're calling you just now, they likely picked up the residue of the Binding Void. We were supposed to have another hour before the Trial Exam."
"Wait, you did something illegal to my brain? You're joking, right?" I felt a surge of induced panic, a desire to bolt from the room or turn the whole thing into a joke.
"And you're just telling me this now? While you're still half-dressed?"
"Technically, three-quarters dressed. Not that it should be relevant," she corrected, sliding her arms through the silk.
"Anyway… do answer. If you don't, the escort squad will be here shortly. And trust me, you don't want to meet them while you're still mentally… 'neurotic'."
I tapped the screen.
The air shimmered as a low-resolution projection of a man with silver-streaked hair appeared: Professor Aristarchus. He looked like he hadn't slept since the Academy was founded.
["Miss Aveline,"] he barked.
["We've detected a fluctuation in your signature—specifically, a pulse that shouldn't exist in a student of your grade."]
I felt my heart skip. That power—the one Elisa hinted was tied to a deity named Haniel. Or a parasite named Daniel.
"Right. I... I'm on my way, Professor," I managed to say.
["Oh, also... bring Miss Lewynne to me as soon as possible,"] Aristarchus added, his eyes narrowing as he caught a glimpse of Elisa's golden hair in the background.
"Why?" I asked.
["She was the one who performed the stabilizing lock. We'll discuss the disciplinary measures for unauthorized soul-binding once we ensure the vessel isn't about to undergo a total collapse. That's all."]
The projection vanished. The room was silent again, save for the hum of the pulsing lights. I looked at Elisa. She was staring at her palm again, where the name "D A N I E L" had burned just moments ago.
"A total collapse?" I whispered. "Is that what I am?"
Elisa stepped toward me, reaching out to tilt my chin up.
This time, there was no sarcasm in her eyes. Just a cold, terrifying curiosity.
"You're a masterpiece, Mirielle. Or Daniel. Or whoever is steering this ship," she whispered. "But the Professor is right about one thing. If that pulse between the abyss and ice isn't controlled, you won't just die. You'll vanish. And I'm not done with you yet."
She turned toward the wardrobe, her movements finally gaining urgency.
"Get dressed. The Trial Hall is waiting. And Mirielle?"
"Yeah?"
"Don't tell them about the parasite. If they know that 'Daniel' exists, it's game over."
My throat felt dry. "Game over? What do you mean?"
"Do I even need to explain? Are you that dense?" She shook her head in disbelief.
"Getting tortured by them is much worse than death."
✦ ✧ ✦
I finished dressing, trying to look forward to whatever was coming next.
I donned a lab coat to cover the black suit I usually wore for training and combat, then closed the door with my ID card.
The security hologram pulsed before finishing the lock procedure, displaying a calm message: Enjoy your trip, Miss Aveline.
I walked through the dorm's corridor, gazing at the other students.
I greeted them one by one, like usual.
"Oh, Mirielle. Hi!"
I responded with a casual wave and a cheerful smile, as if it was nothing.
I never saw my privilege as something special; to me, it was a burden.
Being part of the Aveline clan shouldn't have felt like weight, but hell yeah it did.
Still, I shrugged it off. What really intrigued me was what Lisa—Elisa—had said.
Who the fuck was Daniel, anyway? Some cool ikemen dude?
Impossible.
If someone like that had "ghosted" into my life, things would be much easier.
Or maybe not.
I crossed the bridge connecting the all-female dorm to the institution.
I looked outside, gawking at the scenery. The botanical trees inside the greenhouse, coupled with hybrid plants engineered to sustain the living, were impressive.
I was about to enter the Council room when a familiar figure stepped into my path.
"Miss Aveline."
I looked up. Ah, that Professor again.
Salmon Poincare Aristarchus.
The youngest professor in the institution—only twenty-one years old.
Part of me wanted to hit him. He's gay, by the way... or at least that's what the girls assumed. Confirmed or not, he carried himself with a certain stiffness.
"Oh? Professor Aristarchus."
He tapped his shoe, sighing. How long had he been waiting for me even?
"We will talk about your belated arrival later. For now, let's address something much more serious. And concerning, I suppose."
Concerning?
I wanted to say it out loud, but I kept the thought to myself.
"The illegal breach by my roommate, wasn't it?"
He shook his head, tapping his chin calmly.
"No, or not precisely. But that was the exact trigger needed to make this call."
I sighed, wanted to shrug it off away from my shoulder.
"Alright. So? What is it then, Professor?"