CHAPTER 240: THANK YOU, MASTER [2]

The heavy oak doors creaked open, letting the faint scent of lavender and jasmine spill into the corridor.

Kyle stepped inside first, Cedric following quietly behind.

The two of them were met with the sight of Vice Principal Seris Voidcrest’s office, a space that was both warm and suffocating.

Flower pots dotted the room, carefully arranged near the tall windows where pale sunlight streamed in.

Lavender and jasmine filled the air with their calming fragrance, though the mountain of parchment stacked on the desk betrayed the stress of the woman seated at its center.

Vice Principal Seris sat back in her cushioned chair, her posture refined but her eyes tired.

Stray strands of silver hair had fallen loose from the braid resting over her shoulder, and the faint shadows beneath her eyes spoke of sleepless nights spent buried in paperwork and reports.

She looked up at the two boys, studying them in silence for a moment. Then her gaze flicked to Cedric.

"So," she began, her voice soft but carrying an unmistakable weight.

"You have three affinities. Or... is it more than that? Like Kyle here?"

The air shifted instantly.

Cedric froze. His gaze darted toward Kyle, eyes narrowing in shock, almost accusation.

’She know about you?’

Kyle, however, remained calm. He met Cedric’s eyes and shrugged casually.

"Yeah, she knows."

The blunt admission made Cedric’s mouth twitch. His fists tightened slightly at his sides, indecision warring inside him.

Kyle leaned back against the arm of the chair nearest him, voice even.

"You can trust her."

His tone wasn’t commanding, but it carried enough certainty to cut through Cedric’s hesitation.

Vice Principal Seris, who had been watching quietly, let out the faintest laugh through her nose.

Her lips curled into the smallest smile, so subtle it might have been missed if one weren’t watching closely.

"Go on."

She said gently.

Cedric hesitated a moment longer before finally raising his hand.

A flicker of flame appeared at his palm, burning steady and bright.

Then a glow of light shimmered across his fingers. In the air beside him, a faint ripple distorted the space before solidifying.

The scent of earth and bark followed as a green vine sprouted briefly, and a whisper of stone dust crumbled from his palm.

Last came the rustle of leaves, nature’s breath, soft and vibrant.

Fire. Light. Space. Earth. Nature.

All five affinities revealed in the quiet air of the office.

Seris closed her eyes and rubbed the bridge of her nose.

She had thought Kyle was the anomaly. Four affinities alone were a violation of everything awakeners knew about the principles of Aevorath, the world that bound them all.

But Cedric had five.

Her thoughts raced.

’Four... five... if these two exist, then perhaps there are more out there. People hiding it well, keeping their true selves concealed from even the sharpest eyes.’

The thought unsettled her.

When she opened her eyes again, her expression had returned to calm neutrality. She steepled her fingers under her chin and exhaled slowly.

"Let’s get to why I called you here."

Her gaze landed firmly on Cedric.

"The Principal and I will do our best to suppress the fact that you wield space affinity. At least, for now."

Kyle’s lips curved faintly.

’She says ’our best’... but she knows as well as I do that rumors spread like wildfire. They can slow them, not stop them.’

Cedric lowered his gaze.

"...Thank you."

"Don’t thank me yet,"

Seris said flatly.

"You’ll still have whispers to deal with. Some eyes will watch you more closely than you’d like."

She folded her hands and leaned forward slightly.

"Tell me, Cedric. What’s your mastery level in space affinity?"

Cedric clenched his jaw.

"...Apprentice."

"I thought so," She muttered.

Her eyes sharpened.

She had already suspected as much.

When she’d reviewed the recordings, Cedric’s teleportation had been rough, sloppy. There had been hesitation in the displacement, the jagged ripple of someone forcing space rather than flowing with it.

It was no surprise, he’d only ever trained openly with fire and light. His other affinities had been neglected, left to grow dull in secrecy.

"You’ll need training,"

She said at last. "And I will provide it."

Kyle’s expression didn’t change. He had expected this outcome from the moment Seris summoned them.

In the novel he remembered, she was the one who had guided Cedric in properly developing space affinity.

Cedric’s shoulders stiffened. He remembered the attack Kyle had unleashed during the midterms, the devastating slash that had cut through the air itself.

He clenched his fists tightly.

"I... accept."

His voice was low, steady, but determination burned in his eyes. He would not fall behind.

"Good."

Seris leaned back in her chair.

"That will be all for now. You may leave."

Cedric bowed lightly before turning to go. Kyle mirrored the motion, ready to follow him out.

But then...

"Now, now,"

Seris’ voice cut sharply through the quiet.

Kyle froze mid-step. Slowly, he turned. She was smiling, eyes gleaming with amusement.

"I didn’t tell you to leave."

"...Right," Kyle muttered, scratching the back of his neck.

"You may go, Cedric," Seris added.

Cedric glanced between them, confusion flickering in his eyes.

Kyle gave him the smallest nod, silent reassurance. Cedric hesitated, then stepped out and closed the door behind him.

The office quieted. Only the faint tick of a clock and the smell of lavender remained.

Seris studied Kyle for a long moment.

"...Why are you so tense?"

She sighed, reaching for the teapot at the edge of her desk. She poured two cups with practiced ease, the steam curling lazily into the air.

"What are you waiting for? Sit."

Kyle obeyed, sliding into the chair opposite her.

She slid one cup across to him, then placed a small bowl of sugar cubes beside it. Her lips quirked upward almost imperceptibly.

"I remember you like it sweet."

Without hesitation, Kyle plucked three cubes and dropped them in, stirring once before taking a sip.

Seris raised a brow.

"How are you drinking something that sweet?"

Kyle just smiled faintly over the rim of his cup. He set it down.

"Aren’t you going to ask about that last attack I used?"

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

"...Would you tell me if I did?"

Kyle leaned back.

"That was my reward from the Black Gate."

"Oh, really."

Her voice was dry, skeptical. She didn’t believe a word.

"Then what was that fear-inducing ability?" She pressed.

Kyle sipped again, calm as ever.

"I got two rewards."

His tone never shifted, his expression unreadable.

Seris exhaled, shaking her head.

"It wasn’t mana, was it? Not ordinary mana. It felt... different. Almost like space mana."

Her eyes sharpened.

"Show me that attack again."

Kyle’s jaw tightened.

"Even if I wanted to, I can’t. I don’t understand how to control it yet. It’s dangerous. The last time I tried, in a simulation... it shattered almost all my bones and ruptured my mana channels. And yes... you’re right. It’s not mana. I’d tell you more, but even my knowledge is incomplete."

For a long moment, Seris said nothing.

She only studied him, her sharp eyes searching for cracks in his composure. But Kyle held steady.

At last, she leaned back, crossing her arms.

"Fine. On the weekend, you’re free, right?"

Kyle nodded cautiously.

"Then be ready. I’ll train you. And I’ll examine that energy myself. It may not be space affinity, but it feels... adjacent. Similar enough that I can guide you."

"Accept it."

Zalrielle’s voice echoed in his mind, steady and firm.

Kyle inclined his head.

"...Okay. Thank you, Master."

Seris blinked, then a smile tugged at her lips.

"Yes. Master. I like the sound of that."

She nodded to herself, oddly pleased.

Ting.

A sudden chime broke the moment.

Seris glanced at her mana band, a message lighting its surface. A smile curved her lips.

"Give me your hand"

Kyle frowned but obeyed. She took his hand and pressed her mana band against his. A faint glow pulsed between them before fading.

"Look."

Kyle raised his wrist. His eyes widened. His account balance now read: 10,000,000 crystas.

"What... is this for?"

Seris sipped her tea, her eyes sparkling faintly.

"I made a bet against Principal Lucian. That you will defeat the Mammoth. And I won."

Kyle arched a brow.

"Shouldn’t this money be shared with the others who contributed?"

Seris gave him a flat look.

"I only bet on you, not them. The money is yours. The others are already rich enough, they won’t miss it."

Kyle stared at her for a moment before a wide smile spread across his face.

"Thank you, Master."

Seris sighed and took another sip. Her gaze softened as she studied him.

’He really does love money, doesn’t he...’

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