CHAPTER 44: DANGO

I turned in the direction of the other Elements and approached them majestically.

For the first time, I will be sitting close to my fellow Elements, including the princess of the Empire.

The moment I sat down, a familiar chill ran through the air, numbing my skin.

’Why was that?’ I thought, until a voice drew me back to reality.

"I thought you’d decide to be the coward by not attending," the voice said. It was Sandra’s.

I didn’t pay her the immediate attention she needed, but hummed softly. She was sitting directly to my right.

And to my left sat Miriam Aeralis, the one rumored to me the lazy Lord of their Duchedom.

I was sitting between four of the most beautiful, dangerous, and, quite frankly, unbearable teenage ladies in the Empire.

If that wasn’t irony, I didn’t know what was. But the fact remains in the rumor that goes around.

Standing behind them were their maidservants, and within me was my assumed Protector and shadow, Linda.

As if not ready to relent, Sandra spoke again. This time with a soft voice, melodic, yet carried the weight of command that belonged to one born of royal blood.

"So, the infamous Seafrost heir finally joins us," she said, not turning her head this time. "I thought he would have listened to some advice beforehand."

I smirked. "Advice doesn’t come once or twice, it differs and aligns with various of our possible choices. It’s only left for you to choose according to your preference and what could be of benefit to you."

Her green eyes darted to me. A flicker of amusement crossed her lips before she hid it behind an expressionless mask. "Oh, confidence. That’s why you had to spend so much just to acquire a form you could have gotten on a platter."

At those words, I forced a smile on my face, trying to avoid being affected by the venom of those words. I didn’t want to remember what I passed through because of Milton.

Putting up an act, I brought the form into view. "Oh, you mean this?" I asked, "Trust me, since there was pain, there must be gain."

Sandra opened her mouth to talk, but Lyra, who sat at the end by Miriam’s side, was quicker. "Could the two of you not start your verbal duel here? Some of us would prefer a bit of silence before the chaos begins."

"I support Lyra," Ngozi murmured with a cold voice, as quiet as ever. This made it possible to hide her real strength. Always priding herself on composure.

At the same time, Miriam, who had been leaning lazily on her seat with arms crossed, shifted beside me and collected the form I held in my hands.

She examined it and afterwards, handed it over to me, wearing a smug face.

"There’s nothing different with our forms and his," she muttered as if not confident with her words.

Then, suddenly lighting up, she hopped a bit from her seat and turned to me completely. "I thought some golds would be attached to its edges since I had you get it from the auction, with a huge amount."

I turned to meet her gaze. Her sky blue eyes became watery as if she pitied me. Yet, they changed immediately, and she hit my shoulder jokingly.

"Don’t spend recklessly next time. At least, spend such an amount on beauty. Let’s say, someone like me," she said, twisted her wrist enough to curl her hands inward as she blushed.

’Don’t listen to her. Her nature is deceptive,’ Linda said from my shadow, jealousy clearly written in the tone with which she spoke.

’It’s fine. I know myself,’ I replied.

’Fair enough.’

The form had, however, caught Sandra’s attention.

"You’re yet to sign your form?" Sandra asked, surprised at the same time.

I looked at the form again and turned its back. I hadn’t found a place to sign. The last text on it had informed and provided a box for us to fill in our full names.

"There’s no place to sign," I claimed, showing her the form as evidence.

"I see, you don’t know about the blood seal," Sandra said and wanted to continue, but was interrupted by Ngozi.

With a voice as low as ever, even barely enough for those around her to hear, she began.

"Blood seal is simply signing the form with your blood, immediately below your full name. It’s used as solid evidence to show that you strongly agree with the formalities listed in the form.

It also serves as a connection between your body during the test and the outside world. To be straightforward, once you’ve sealed your blood, there will be no turning back once we start the test," Ngozi explained.

Then, with a gleam in her eyes, Lyra took her turn. "So, if you die during the test, you die in reality, and blood ensigned on the form will be the only means of getting your body out."

"You honestly don’t know how the test is held, do you? It’s..." Lyra asked, and suddenly held back her words. "Never mind."

At the words of these fellow Elements, I sank my teeth so hard into my thumb. Enough to bite out a needle-like pinch, and once I saw blood, I damped the thumb on the form.

It was signed, at last.

Then, out of nowhere, a faint call reached my ear.

"Big Brother."

I turned in the direction of the general seats it had come from, and it was Muna’s voice. She was sitting between the trio and Darios, all looking up at me.

Muna’s eyes were firm, yet a faint worry lingered there. I gave her a reassuring nod. I needed her to believe that I would be able to handle whatever was coming.

Then, she thumbed up at me with both hands and wished. "Let’s succeed," she said, moving her mouth as if suddenly dumb but enough to be understood at a glance.

I nodded again in agreement and returned my gaze to the arena.

Then, the air trembled.

From the center of the arena, vast and circular runes began to ignite..

At its impact, the ground hummed with vibration, and the entire coliseum darkened. This stirred for a short while until only the rune circle illuminated us.

It shone bright, red light until a figure emerged from the heart of the circle.

An old man, roughly average in height, with a staff longer than he was tall. He wore a robe that blended white and violet threads, shimmering like starlight.

Hovering atop the arena, his eyes were closed, yet his presence alone was enough to command silence.

Looking closely and clearly, I observed his rank. The highest mage so far in the arena, with just a rank higher than the previous one I have seen.

And still, these facial and body features looked familiar.

Then it stung me.

"The red-haired man?" I realized, having taken into note the color of his hair. "But wasn’t he Master-Ranked?"

Sandra was shocked at my reaction. "Huh? Were you talking about Magister Dango?"

"Don’t blame him. Magister Dango must have deceived him with his cloak of perfect disguise," Lyra added.

I now understand.

In as much as I had seen the red-haired man, Magister Dango, in his real physical form, he was able to hide his rank and showed me what he wanted me to see.

"...Mobix, you will find out in due time." These had been the words of the man when I asked to know who he was. It played in my mind as fresh as ever, as I now behold him.

"So, he is the Principal of Purity Academy," I asked.

"Mmhmm," Miriam nodded, sitting up from her lazy recline.

Then, once the chaos caused by Magister Dango’s arrival had settled, he began.

"Welcome!" his voice boomed, echoing through the arena though his lips barely moved. "To the Entrance Test of the Purity Academy."

Silence followed.

Within a short moment, he slowly opened his eyes, revealing a pair of violet irises that glowed faintly. His gaze swept across the arena, landing briefly on each Element.

When it met mine, I felt something cold snake down my spine. Yet, this man’s lips gave way to a smile at me, and he focused almost immediately.

"First, I will give honor to whom it is due and welcome the dignitaries who have come to grace our event, especially the Emperor. Then, the various Duchesses of our outstanding Duchedoms, and the acting Leader of Seafrost. Thank you for your attendance."

He also turned to us, the participants and performed the same rite of welcome.

"I also welcome you all, our candidates for this year’s Purity Test, especially the Elements," he said, and turned to where we sat before removing his gaze.

"I must acknowledge your various abilities, skills, power and strength. But I won’t forget to advise that whatever strength you have now can bring you dismay if used improperly."

"In a test like this, the wise can become the fools, and the reverse can become the case. In the same way, the powerful can become powerless and vice versa." He stated, and paused.

Swallowing his saliva, Magister Dango continued. "At the beginning of the Test, you might not be privileged to meet a companion, but if you do, either try to become the fool, or pretend to be wise."

"Whichever part you choose, let it be known to you that they are rewarded accordingly, not negatively, though."

Another silence.

In that silence, Maria gave her daughter another stare from the VIP set. This time, all of us at the Elements’ table had noticed this stare, and Sandra wasn’t the type to hide her intentions.

"That stare is suspicious. What is that for?" Sandra asked, dazed.

"Tips remembrance signals, TRS," Miriam replied carelessly, gaze fixed at the Principal.

Meanwhile, my mind warned me. ’Whatever that sign meant, it isn’t a good one.’

Now satisfied that his words have been understood, Magister Dango snapped his thumb against his index finger twice.

*Snap. Snap.*