"Crush him!" the Blight Orc chieftain screamed, its raspy voice shaking the cavern interior. The three-meter-tall giant creature focused all its muscular strength, trying to press the heavy blade of its giant axe downward. Yet the heavy iron weapon remained frozen stiff mid-air, held firm by the grip of Leon's single bare hand. The Orc chieftain growled in astonishment, its glowing red eyes bulging as it stared down at the human youth before it. From the ground beneath the impact of the powerful gust of wind, Felix gaped at the sight with wide eyes. "L-Leon... how can..." Felix whispered in a violently trembling voice, unable to believe his eyes. Leon realized his grand secret could not be exposed before his first friend at this academy. Without turning his head even a fraction, Leon tilted the fingers of his right hand backward. A thin wisp of purple mist shot out swiftly, softly touching the forehead of the panicking Felix. "Sleep for a moment, Felix," Leon whispered in an

"Let her keep watch over me, Felix," Leon replied casually, lightly patting his friend's shoulder. Felix glared in disbelief, ruffling his own hair with an increasingly hysterical expression. "You're crazy, Leon!" Felix exclaimed, lowering his voice into a panicked whisper. "Elena is the most genius and influential mage in this entire academy! If her personal guards are spying on your every move, you won't even be able to go to the bathroom in peace!" Leon chuckled softly, wearing a remarkably convincing, naive, and resigned expression before Felix. "Why should I be afraid if I haven't committed any crime?" Leon asked innocently, tilting his head. "I'm just an ordinary scholarship student who happens to always be favored by luck." Felix facepalmed, sighing deeply as he gave up facing his friend's strange calmness. Let Elena stay busy chasing shadows, Leon thought, a subtle smile tracing his gaze. Elena's strict investigation would actually serve as the ultimate line of defense,

"I-It wasn't me! I swear on the Crest family name, I wasn't the one who put that dagger in my ring!" Valen screamed in a panicked, shrill voice, his face deathly pale with not a trace of arrogance left. The young noble knelt trembling on the marble floor, staring hysterically at the Holy Silver Dagger glowing brightly before everyone. Archbishop Malakor stepped forward with a face flushed crimson with rage, slamming his staff of authority until it unleashed a pressure wave of wind. "Enough, Valen von Crest!" Archbishop Malakor barked in a thunderous voice that silenced the entire hall. "This evidence came directly out of your very own storage space!" Instructor Barton, who stood beside the dais, was suddenly drenched in cold sweat, attempting to step backward to save himself. "M-Perhaps some wicked magic moved that object, Your Eminence..." Barton squeaked in a violently trembling tone. Archbishop Malakor turned sharply, pointing at Barton with a finger trembling with rage. "Sil

"Kill him! He's just one guy!" the Red Wolf Mercenary Captain screamed, pointing his trembling sword toward the roof.Thirty soldiers forced their feet forward, trying to suppress the terror gnawing at their chests.But before they could even raise their iron weapons, the wooden building creaked violently. The support beams on the second floor snapped in two, threatening to collapse the entire blazing roof right on top of Mother Maria and the children."Mother!" Mia shrieked from inside the bedroom, clinging tightly to Mother Maria's neck amid the thickening clouds of black smoke.Mother Maria squeezed her eyes shut, pulling the young orphans close with the last of her strength. The old woman prepared to brace against the impact of the burning timber to shield the young lives in her arms.Erebus glanced at the collapsing roof without a trace of panic beneath his skull mask. His fingers rotated slowly in the night air."Void Absorption," Erebus whispered, his deep voice shaking the ear