CHAPTER 766: THE RECTOR’S ULTIMATUM

"Well, if it isn’t our newest recruit. Your indifference almost saddens me. Almost. Ever heard of basic courtesy? Like introducing yourself? Or do you just not care about us?" A boy walked to the couch, his hand outstretched. "The name’s Trevor. Yours?"

Adam’s brows twitched. Dragged from his thoughts, he locked gazes with Trevor’s green irises. He looked a year older, his uniform straining over arms as thick as thighs. His hair jutted out of his hat like blades of wheat, a hairpin made from iridescent coral tying it into a ponytail.

He frowned at the teenager’s outstretched hand, lips pursing.

"Whether I care or not doesn’t matter," he said without enthusiasm as he scanned the gloating students approaching them. "Trevor, is it? Can’t say I enjoy your approach. If you want to impress your younger comrades, I suggest you target someone else."

The gloating stopped, a tense silence settling. For three beats, he met Trevor’s glare, unimpressed.

Then, the teenager closed his hand into a tight fist and roared in laughter, his fist loosening.

"You know how to talk back, don’t you? I like it!" He turned to face the other students. "Not just a pretty face, huh? He’s got spine." His voice grew sharp, like a blade slicing through the tense atmosphere. "Perhaps a little too much for his own good, but he’ll learn that pride alone is worthless in this college. Show him how we do things here before we pay for his cluelessness. Desmond’s already sinking us.

We don’t need another deadweight dragging us under."

Adam raised a brow as Trevor walked away with his friends, his coral hairpin glistening. That was it? Well, not that he minded since the other students’ nervous glances and tics began to give way to smiles. Was it Trevor’s way of breaking the awkwardness, or was he just like that? In any case, he seemed to be respected by his comrades.

Surprisingly, Adam agreed with Trevor’s concerns. He had to understand how these points could benefit him while avoiding trouble.

As Trevor left, a younger student with ink-stained hands stepped in front of Adam’s couch. A soft smile tugged at his lips, his voice ringing like a soothing melody. "Excuse Trevor’s methods, friend. He’s one of our top students, always pushing the House forward, and means no harm. I guess that troublemaker’s stunt made everyone a little antsy."

"I don’t mind." Adam waved his hand dismissively, his eyes darting between the dozen boys. "I’m Adam. I might be clueless, but I’m willing to learn. So, explain these points—how to get them, and what they’re worth."

The student tilted his head, his short brown hair swaying. "Didn’t Teacher Matthew explain when you enrolled? He must have... Perhaps you forgot," he murmured with a shrug, then nodded to himself. "Never mind. Nice to meet you, Adam. I’m Jonathan. Your question is tied to one of the college’s oldest traditions. Each year, the three Houses compete in various fields, with the points serving to determine the winner."

Adam leaned forward, chin perched on his interlocked fingers. "I’m listening."

"Well." Jonathan scratched his head, his eyes slipping to the students surrounding him. Finding his friend, Brad, who nodded eagerly, he stepped back. "Brad will explain how it’s crucial for us to win, or at least not end up in the negative like last year."

Brad rushed in front of Adam, rubbing his hands. "Yes, yes. I’ll tell you everything!" After a grateful beam at Jonathan, he continued. "You heard Teacher Magna earlier. Each dorm has special facilities unlockable only after our point tally reaches the quota. We lost access to the fourth floor last year because of Desmond, but we’re determined to get our mana pool back!"

"Mana pool?" Adam tapped a pensive finger on his cheek. "What is it useful for, and how many floors are locked?"

"Ah! Mana pools are super expensive, so most families don’t own one." Brad tensed his muscles reflexively, mana stirring in his circuits to answer his memories. Then, he sighed, grimacing. They had lost access to it. "The pool strengthens our organs, allows us to process mana better, and endure creating mana circles around our hearts. In short, it’s vital to our youngest and new members and works best right after Teacher Grimhilde’s tortures..."

His eyes darted through the lounge as if to search for the devilish teacher. Even though she wasn’t in sight, a shiver still ran down his spine. "I mean... her wonderful training."

After a deep breath and wiping sweat from between his brows, he continued, lips twitching. "Hmm. Could be one more floor. Could be ten. No one knows. But the House of Exorcism is the most ancient. I’m sure the rector built facilities even better than the mana pool on the other ones!"

When Adam answered, it was with the conviction of someone taking on a mission shrouded with mysterious rewards. He rose from the sofa, his lips curling into a smirk. "The pool will be useful to Quintella. How many points do we need, and what do I do to earn them?"

Jonathan walked in front of Brad, shaking his head. "It’s not that simple. Running late, acting disrespectfully, angering teachers, or sometimes just because a teacher doesn’t like your face that morning, can cost us hundreds of points. While it’s easy to lose them, it’s a nightmare to get them back. We must prove ourselves, impress the teachers, outperform students from other houses during shared classes, or present teachers with innovative research projects."

Every student sighed at the mountain they had to climb to recover what they once had.

Then, a girl, Mellisa, spoke. He shoulders were slumped, and her grimace showed no trace of hope. She had already given up. "This year’s the worst, and probably our last. The rector... Everyone knows he loves the House of Exorcism. That’s why he slapped us with an ultimatum when we ended with negative points last year."

She rubbed her cheek as if the rector’s words had left a physical mark. A heavy silence lingered for a moment, every student smiling bitterly until her voice cracked. "He said he wouldn’t let us shame this House, that he’d rather expel us all than see it fall so low. He also said Desmond wasn’t the problem and that we were using him as a scapegoat to cover our incompetence..."

Jonathan massaged his brows. "I remember him saying that if a single man could sabotage the efforts of several dozen, we were worse than him. Honestly, it’s hopeless. The other Houses have several facilities unlocked, while we have none. Winning the yearly tournament rewards the most points, but even that is out of our reach."

"Why?’ Adam frowned. "How could you be weaker with teachers like that?"

Brad shook his head. "We aren’t weaker. In fact, we’re stronger on average. The issue lies in our field. Our spells aren’t appropriate for friendly duels. Well, you’ll eventually understand."

Heads lowered, faces scrunched enough that Adam wouldn’t be surprised to see ink drip from their grimaces, they all began to walk away. Some apologised for the bad news, while others muttered beneath their breath as if they were carrying the weight of the heavens.

That’s when Quintella, Sarah, and Mathild entered the lounge.