Drewells976
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Chapter 360 - The Sound of Truth
🕑 Added 2025-10-18 19:05:51 +0000 UTCA/N: Greetings, humans. Look who's 'early'? :P
I did actually finish this chapter yesterday (as in at 9 am), though it still took 4 hours of editing today. But progress is progress. right? Hope you're all having a great weekend!
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“Please, wait here.” The stiff-backed man gestured toward a row of velvet chairs set beneath a tapestry depicting a battlefield. Threads of mana glimmered within the embroidery, tracing the hawk banners, drawn swords and armors. “The Dean will be ready to receive you shortly.”
With a formal bow, the attendant sat at a lacquered desk in the far corner of the waiting hall. The ruffling of papers and the scratch of a quill filled the brittle quiet.
Kai sat rigidly on the blue velvet seat, unwrapping his scarf and folding it with deliberate care, then loosened his collar.
Why did they heat the interiors so much?
The measured tick of a clock marked the wait. He dried his palms on his knees, aware of his hands and unable to rest them without feeling awkward.
It’s probably nothing. Like… what reason would the dean of the most prestigious academy in the Republic have to suddenly summon a nobody? Maybe some bureaucratic nitpick. Or does he just enjoy unnerving random students?
Foresight steered his thoughts away from delving into darker scenarios and anxious spiraling with no concrete answers.
Why did he always feel guilty when an authority figure looked his way?
I did nothing wrong. They’re the ones who screwed up the Trials. Unless… are they finally addressing the accidents? But why directly to the top?
To the relief of his mental sanity, the engraved door on his left soon swung open. A familiar figure walked out—effortless imperious posture, uniform crisp and unwrinkled.
Alden paused long enough to glance at him, face composed with no hint of surprise.
Before Kai could speak, the clerk stood over his chair, obscuring the view of his roommate. “The Dean will receive you now, Mister Veernon.” The man motioned at the open doorway, each movement elegantly studied.
“Yes, alright.” Kai pushed himself to his feet. Remembering his scarf, he pivoted to grab it and crossed a pair of deep purple eyes.
Alden gave a slight blink, the gesture only noticeable against the impassive canvas of his features. Without a word or further twitch in his expression, he strode out of the waiting hall.
Hey, what does that mean? What did you talk about? Come on…
Under the attendant’s gaze, Kai stilled his fidgeting hands and stepped toward the waiting threshold.
The faint scent of parchment and wild grasses greeted him—a breath of untamed forest before the door shut behind him with a muted thud. Dark wood shelves lined the room. Tomes with weathered and cracked spines arrayed beside freshly bound covers, sealed scrolls and artifacts glittered like stars.
The air thrummed with mana—yet his gaze remained ahead.
Fading sunlight streamed through the arched windows, gleaming off the brass fittings of an imposing mahogany desk across the office. The man seated there idly drummed his fingers over a crystal scryer. A dull sheen played over his tight-fitting robes, dyed in shades of violet, from pale lilac to hues that verged on black. His presence hung like a whisper through the chamber—authority that needed no demonstration.
Blue.
Kai found himself holding his breath without meaning to. Everyone knew the dean’s alleged grade, yet that did nothing to blunt his awe.
The man turned his hand toward the empty chair. “Take a seat, Matthew.” His measured tone offered an illusion of choice.
Alright, he’s just another guy.
Kai took a step on the marble flooring before remembering the proper protocol. “At your permission, Dean Astares.” His waist bent a small degree, left arm loose at his side, right hand below his sternum, palm open in obeisance.
The gesture felt stiff and awkward—an actor performing the lines from the Students’ Codex he learned through Mnemonic Mastery.
Caught up in his own nerves, Kai almost missed the aura pressing on him as he approached the desk and sat. Had Virya’s presence been stronger? He believed so, though too much time had passed to draw an accurate comparison.
Is he waiting for me to speak first…?
The dean had set aside the dimming scryer to study him, lilac eyes nearly matching the paler shades of his robes. A neatly trimmed goatee framed his jawline; the dark blond hair, neatly combed back, reflected an almost metallic sheen where the light brushed it.
Up close, he looked younger than Kai had expected, barely thirty, though appearances meant little at Blue.
So… are we having a staring contest?
Kai blinked. When that failed to earn a response, he dredged up the chapters on uptight decorum. “May I inquire as to the reason for my summons, Dean Astares? Not that I’m ungrateful for the honor.”
Not like I should be enjoying fancy food with my friends right now.
“Te-whoo.” A bleak note cut through the study.
What—
Kai turned, frowning at a songbird of brass and blue enamel that perched atop a thick tome.
Did that bird just chirp at me?
The dean observed him for a few seconds longer. A faint smile tugged at his lips, his gaze still unreadable. “I’m aware certain professors have a passion for formal protocol, though I confess I never shared it. Addressing me as dean or High Mage Astares is sufficient. As for the reason I called you here, I understand you’ve received the results of your Mid-Term Trials. Allow me to congratulate you on the exemplary showing. I look forward to watching your future at Raelion. Results merit fitting rewards, though there is one matter to address first.”
His fingers laced above the desk, thumbs pressed together. “The core matrices for the first-year Trials experienced certain irregularities during testing. We’re already investigating the arrays and the runesmiths involved. I must apologize, the interference hindered the assessment of some participants. Despite the supervising committee’s corrective measures, I saw it as my duty to verify the performance of the highest-ranking students.”
Kai nodded along. Saving the speech for later perusal, the words took a moment to catch up with his brain.
Wait… does he think I cheated?
Not only had the fizzled seals that unleashed the Pale Stalker nearly gotten him killed—now he had to prove what happened? How many other challenges had they botched? Why assign him the points at all? His inked certificate was already safely tucked in his ring.
Questions spun through his mind, tangled with mounting indignation—none of which he could voice to the Blue mage at the head of Raelion.
Breathe and smile. Calm and pleasant.
Fairness wouldn’t save him if he snapped at the dean. On the bright side, the summon gave him hope the professors hadn’t seen his Spatial Shift.
Is this even about cheating? Or about covering up the accidents during the Trials? Dead students never make for good publicity…
“If it helps, I’m happy to answer any questions,” Kai said politely—why had he not spent more time getting his story straight with Alden?
“Te-whoo,” the bleak chirp repeated.
His smile strained, jaw clenching not to glare at the brass bird.
Why is that thing even here? Is this guy some weird bird enthusiast?
Sparing no glance for his squawking artifact, the dean withdrew a thick folder from a spatial storage. “If you can indulge a few questions, we’ll confirm the accuracy of your evaluation.” He cracked open the first page, though his eyes remained on him. “In the eleventh chamber of the Door Maze, you encountered a mana riddle based on Tylenna’s Balancing Paradox…”
Uh? What is he on about?
Brows furrowed, Kai took a moment to grasp what the man meant—and longer to come up with an answer that sounded smarter than: I poked things around till the runes cracked.
“I wasn’t aware of the specific paradox.” He picked his words. “When I traced the mana flow, I noticed the poor arrangement of the array to make it fit the doorframe. So I temporarily linked the poles to create a cycle that escalated the imbalance.”
“Twee.” The brass menace sang a merrier note.
The dean drew a thumb over his chin. “Quite an unorthodox approach. Resourceful.” He turned a page—his eyes still not lowering. “In the fourteenth chamber, you encountered…”
Questions piled atop each other as Kai waited for a mention of the Pale Stalker. His answers focused on what he’d done rather than the specific skills he’d used to accomplish it.
The brass bird’s chirping harassment remained the only constant.
If the dean actually suspected cheating, he gave no sign, accepting his explanations with terse acknowledgement. “So you randomly selected twenty-nine passages through the Door Maze to reach the Spider’s Cave?” He deadpanned.
“Yes.”
“Te-whoo.”
Can you shut— Wait… don’t tell me that thing…
Kai scratched his lobe, praying he was wrong. “Well, I did use a skill to help navigate doors, though the choice still looked random.” His ears keened in anticipation.
“Twee.”
Shit…
The smirk curving the man’s face severed any thread of hope. “A skill?” His voice remained deceivingly flat, though the follow-up stood out, as he’d not asked any till now.
Thousands of students and nothing better to do than torture me? Just why? What kind of maniac places a truth artifact on their desk?
His hands tightened on the rim of his seat below the desk, suppressing his irritation. “I used a skill to improve our odds of finding an exit, but I had no idea where we’d end up.”
“Twee.”
I hate you.
“Quite a remarkable skill.” The dean flipped a page with a passing glance. “Then you reached the Spider’s Cave. It must have been quite the shock. How did you approach the challenge when you found yourselves trapped?”
“I—we didn’t have long to discuss when the spiders quickly noticed us. Is there any part you’d like me to specifically explain? It took a while to clear it. The colony expanded through several caverns.”
“Start with a general overview. I’ll point out if I need details.”
“I see…” His lips pursed in a thin smile. “The monitoring wards must have been extensively damaged to affect so many chambers.”
“Unfortunately.”
Yeah, sure… What’s your deal?
Kai wished he could claim the fights had happened too quickly for him to remember. Alas, he had a memory skill—and a damned meddling bird eyeing his every move. After a brief staring contest, he began dryly recounting how they’d handled the spider infestation.
Did the guy think he’d coasted on Alden’s abilities? Confirming the irregularities increasingly sounded like a pretext. Unless Hobbes had severely misjudged the range of the peeping wards, the dean was more interested in fishing for information than confirming his score.
Snoops truly are the scourge of mankind.
Details grew scant once they left the Spider’s Cave and descended deeper. Kai retraced their steps toward the broken gate, throat dry as he recalled the first scream. “…when we got there, she was already dead.”
“An unfortunate loss.”
“A girl died,” Kai repeated. Meeting the dean’s gaze, he caught a flicker of emotion, though he couldn’t identify what.
“Despite the academy’s best efforts, students die during the Trails every year,” he said, studying him. “That girl wasn’t the only one. With thousands of students attending Raelion, accidents are a matter of when, not if. You must be familiar with how the Guide rewards those who brush with death. Growth demands risk, and only danger can fuel true growth.”
“Twee!”
“Yes, but…” Kai bit his cheek. How far should he push it? “Is it really necessary? Raelion is a school. Dead people can’t learn.”
The dean’s keen eyes held no anger. “Do you think mages and warriors can grow in a greenhouse?”
“Well, no.”
“Would you then prefer your peers experience their first struggle when they get stranded in the wild, or drafted on a battlefield?”
“No, but—
“Actions can only be judged against their alternatives. The academy threads a careful balance between risk and reward. Perhaps imperfectly. Still, every student is made aware of the dangers of the Trials and can withdraw at any time. They all chose to be here as much as you did.” The dean regarded him steadily. “And how long do you think the Republic would last if we stopped training capable people? How many would die when we inevitably crumbled, crushed by threats from within and without? While your concern for your peers is admirable, sparing others from harshness is not always a kindness.”
Kai pulled his gaze away. In the Merian Republic, every student enrolled at Raelion was already an adult. He understood the man’s perspective, though he wasn’t sure he agreed.
How many students did die?
The question sank to the bottom of his mind as they moved on to the fight with the Pale Stalker. The peak Yellow creature seemed to warrant the dean’s sharper scrutiny.
“Alden’s venom finished it off.” His words slipped around how the poisoned dagger had found its mark, letting reasonable assumptions lay the blame on the Poison mage.
“Twee”
If the dean caught the omission, he didn’t press the subject. An enchanted pen appeared in his hand as he drew a few lines in the folder and turned the page. Without straying into further tangents, they run through a dozen challenges in their odyssey toward the exit.
“You backtracked several times,” the man tersely noted.
Kai shrugged. “We thought that was the best route.”
“Twee.”
“Is there anything else? I hope I managed to clear up any missing details.”
“You have. Your account matches our records and Mr. Blackwoods’ report of the events. Frankly, I should raise your score by thirty-three points, though it seems rather superfluous.”
“What? Why?”
I want those points!
The folder and pen vanished as the dean watched him with faint amusement. “Because raising your score wouldn’t change your ranking or rewards.”
“How—uhm, do you mean…”
“Indeed. There’s no extra reward for widening the margin over second place. An oversight on my part, I admit.”
Kai still had to close his mouth when a notification blinked in his vision.
Huh?
Ding
New Feat: Commoner’s Triumph – Despite your limited education and provincial upbringing, you’ve ranked first in the Raelion Academy’s Mid-Term Trials, outperforming peers with far better preparations and pedigree. You are awarded: +5 Favor!
His gaze lingered on the hanging scroll.
Thanks…? Though I’m not sure I appreciate your tone…
“Something interesting?” The dean gave a dry chuckle at his expression. “As I mentioned, the academy threads the line between risk and reward. The official rankings will be published soon. Though, considering the inconvenience our oversights have caused you, I could make an exception if you’d prefer to check the prizes now.”
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A/N: Any guesses on what reward Kai'll receive? Besides a pile the credits ofc.
Comments
Justin
Right? Even students dying after opening the sketchy door and ending the sketchy room would at least be a little more understandable. In this case an over powered monster broke containment and ambushed them!
Louis Nel
Balancing risk and reward with training is one thing, a totally out of proportion threat coming out of nowhere and killing students before they even see it is another. Especially when the threat is a result of negligence on the schools part.
Sean Shivers
fun ideas. Seems unlikely given the republic's geopolitical positioning in regards to the isles as colonized backwaters
Andrew
It looks like trials are a big deal in Raelion and for the elite strata of the Merian Republic as a whole. Eventually, Kai will need to make it clear and explain to the dean who he is and where and how he managed to get a rare affinity and learn space skills. So it may be useful to reveal the existence of a hidden sanctuary with its pesky divinity Zervathi. Kai may even facilitate a deal beetween the Republic and the fairy, according to which Raelion will be able to use the hidden sanctuary for trials of final year students and keep all the treasure that students will manage to recover. Fairy could reasonably guarantee the survival of almost all students since it apparently have an exceptional control over the hidden sanctuary as it is literally is a part of his domain. For example, it managed to rescue Kay when he was gutted and almost dead. This way, students will get a challenge and a chance to recover some treasure from the trials in the hidden sanctuary together with a lot of experience from the survival in a completely new environment. The only downside can be the requirement to keep all this business in secret. So it may be needed to organize two trials. One official trial for a first-year student in the Heart of Veeryd Jungle and another secret one for final year students who can arrive officially to just help 'supervise' first trial, but unofficially to take part in the real trial inside the hidden sanctuary. Alas, an official trial for a first-year student will need a more belivable explanation since it can be too easy without the yellow grade beast from the hidden sanctuary in the jungle. One possible explanation can be the possibility to get a blessing from one of the great spirits of the isles. Spirits rule over the red zone, so such blessings can be relatively modest in comparison with the blessings of other divinities, but at the same time, they can be relatively 'cheap' and easy to grant to a suitable recipient. Kai was not a believer, but he managed to get not one but three blessings. It can be that great spirits of the isles grant blessings rarely because of a lack of suitable recipients on the isles, where most residents have poor foundations, limited ambitions, and even more limited prospects to rise in life and thus provide something in return for the spirits. At the same time, children from High Harbour with good prospects like Valela did not get a chance to receive such blessings since they never got in contact with spirits in a proper way with the right rituals. Trial can be designed as such a ritual and give a chance for the students, especially for those with commoner background, to get such a blessing. A trial can be voluntary and some patricians will not get any benefits if they can be from a families of ardent believers in Six Moon or other divinities from a continent and thus ineligible for blessings from the start.
Catherine
Was this Mondays chapter? Or last Friday's? I think I've lost track
noel meehan
Supposedly the guide isn't giving him feats for the enhancements as he fully has his profession/class unlocked. He will apparently still get favour for going up a grade and I assume he will get feats for improving his profession as he got one for going from red to orange. Tbh with the trials giving him a feat it's kinda ok. With a mid term and finals trial every year he still can get 7 more feats just from finishing his time in raelion (assuming he continues to come first)
Gorane
Great vhapter, just retcon the yellow 2 not giving favor into +1 favor and this book is doing good
Darcyspride
I WANNA KNOW THE PRIZES NAO
Elle
Good theory
Mohit
You know I'm realizing now that the backtracking they kept doing and the fact Hallowed Intuition directed them to a peripheral exit might indicate that they specifically were targeted. In which case Alden might be a target for assassination.
Morog T Tiny
The dean says that the death of the students was an accident but somebody messed up the wards and released a monster into the trial. That isn't an accident. That is a deliberate act. i.e. murder under the schools responsibility and control.
Kris Piskorski
damn 83 comments this must be a new record
Morog T Tiny
It is a magic school though so it might be something that other students know about but Kai doesn't. Even methods of organizing or cultivating using mana, Organizing mana to increase overall mana storage, kinda think his teachers would have passed on special training like that if possible.
Morog T Tiny
I agree, to see him pass up everyone else not by 10s or a hundred points but by hundreds of points is gonna raise his visibility by miles. There will be several different faculty wanting to mentor him.
Battleborn
Great chapter. I was hoping he would say something like, "they survived on a little bit of luck." Then the bird chirp lie, and he thinks he's given away his biggest asset, but the dean thinks it means he thought it was all skill. That would be hilarious. But then he's too smart to do that. Again great chapters.
Fréderic Van Audenhove
Many rewards/artefacts that he wants to choose, but some lectures, books and or lessons have to be chosen for his own good. Maybe a new alchemy tool or sword but nothing besides that. He still does’t know chant magic language, maybe he can finally learn one for incredibly difficult magic
Deinos
A plush teddy bear that says I love it at Raelion
Thomas Adams
Lessons or tutoring from people who don't normally offer such things, or at least aren't hireable. Could be resources so rare getting them is more about opportunity than cost.
Kris Piskorski
Im hoping we'll get the deans pov after this interaction
KollegvomMirgan
Probably just locked behind that crazy enchanted door, which could only be opened by someone enough prepared to take it on would be my guess
Bob Dole
Doesn’t everyone push species grade before class?
Catherine
I'm a bit confused. Was the pale stalker meant to be part of the trials? I assumed not, that it was some kind of accident. But this conversation does not touch on that at all so was it meant to be part of the trials after all?
Apep
He probably even gets a feat for rising it to 100.
Apep
I don’t think they screwed up. He created real risk for the guide to acknowledge.of course he can’t tell anybody because the annoying parents would complain even more.
wanderer117
Have we seen any potions that raise attributes? Mathew's stats (other than Favor) were lagging behind most people at his grade since he pushes his species grade before his class. As a new yellow 2 he should have plenty of room to grow.
андрей ткач
I’m waiting for Favor to go above 100. It should be a huge feat, and I’m wondering why he still doesn’t know about the new way to reach this point.
андрей ткач
If he trusts Dekan, he can tell him about the jump but he doesn’t mention that part. So no
Morog T Tiny
i think he would get options for going first, like 1 out of group a, 1 out of group b and one out of group c plus a merit distribution. Things he should want extra slots, anything that boosts his affinities, or provides new permanent abilities or permanent attribute boosts. Training for Alchemy or Enchanting would also be useful, they have contributed so much to his success so far and really Space magic training simply because it is so dangerous.
Harley Dalton Jr.
The Dean should own up that they screwed up big time. If he doesn't feel any remorse then I REALLY don't like him.
Elle
The dean loved it too
Trevayne
Thanks for the chapter. I can see why Kai was mourning the loss of his anonymity. Hopefully he can get through most academy doors, despite the size of the massive target on his back.
Immutably Empty
From the intro to the test: “Be warned, any actions since you regained consciousness may and will be accounted for in your final score. But do not fret. To balance the hardship, this year’s rewards have been adjusted to be especially… bountiful. Credits of Merit and opportunities no sum of money can buy." Not sure what else the rewards might include since they are telling the richest and most connected that the rewards can't be bought.
Elle
Kinda excited for Jolene's reaction after telling him not to take risks for a higher rank.
Tyler Simonsen
Advisor of his choice and tutoring in space magic on the academy’s dime
wanderer117
Stuff it would be fun to offer Kia *Bottled Sleep: A full night's rest is just a drink away. May be emotionally addictive. *Potion Recipe for Bottled Sleep *Natural Treasure that could push one of his lesser affinities into a low greater affinity. Fire maybe. *Magic sword that is less impressive than Kia's magic sword but has a better / useful enchantment he could copy with enough effort *A Uniform of Deep Pockets: A Raelion uniform jacket with the small expanded spacial pockets *Something for Hobbs that is tempting enough (for Hobbs) that Kia has to bribe his familiar
Epeen
Agreed, Drewells really knows how to pack those extra endorphins in every chapter
Epeen
Great chapter! I am surprised the closing of the mysterious pit door didnt come up specifically. Having the truth telling bird chirp as he says its an honor to be here was a hilarious giveaway to its nature. Cant wait for the next one!
wanderer117
I don't think Kia shared his spacial abilities with the Dean.
Luboš Hemala
Prizes! Let's dig in! I hope there is something good.
Polaris
The second coming of the points sage
Samantha Lane
This story is just so more-ish. After every great chapter, like this one, I'm happier but also hungrier for the next chapter.
Heraclitus
Kai being borderline feral for 'points go up' will never not be funny.
YeetimusMaximus
A second familiar that he cant accept but his cat nonetheless gets jealous of
C
Good chapter. Pls deposit the next into my account.
Brett
Maybe he can get an artefact that allows him to trick truth telling skills and artifacts. I like Kai to be able to take courses with the Martials, full library access, and some crafting courses (alchemy) - even though alchemy at Raelion is not good enough for Alden, it would be for Kai.
Brett
I like this idea too, but wouldn’t an item like that be too valuable to be available for the students?
Brett
I would just be ripping right through this book if it was a finished product.
Polaris
Maybe a towel too if he has enough points to splurge
Schuh
He gets some nice fluffy socks.
Jon
I would like to see this as well. Finally see some gains with his space magic.
Thefreddygamer
Maybe a book of spatial magic, cuz he did demonstrate space magic abilities, and apparently at yellow what he did is significantly impressive to even a scion of a big house
David H
I am too. And I hope one evolution has a green skill using only one skill slot. Because otherwise, when Hallowed Intuition gets to green, then Matt will have to drop a skill or two in order to take the green rank.
Andrew Logan
I would imagine he will receive some treasure. Maybe an artifact? Or some natural treasure to increase aptitude? Maybe something space releated yo point out the fact the school knows about the teleportation or at least suspect? I assume they would as they must have combed the tunnel and saw the signs. Having someone who can retrace what happened during a fight exactly seems useful and necessary for any large town or school.
Viria
SPACE MAGIC BABY
Jeppe Fiig
Was the Dean a space mage? I couldnt remember that. Is he from that specific family that does space magic or a longer who learned himself?
Chuck K
I loved it when Kia realized what Twee meant!
Griffus
maybe something to increase affinities?
zdm
I hope its a tiny hat for Hobbes.
Mohit
Do you think we'll see him reach 100 Favor this book? I'm also hoping to see Hallowed Intuition's green options.
Alias
Mana battery ring that is bugged to loosely detect skills used with that mana. Dean is a curious man after all.
Kaze
Come on Kai, don’t keep your space affinity a secret from the expert blue rank space mage.
Maree
Every time Kai tried to be polite, he triggered the lie detector. Loved it
A B
Edit suggestion: during the Trails -> during the Trials
Some Guy
TFTC
Quyan640
Would be cool if the dean took him as a personal student
IrateRapScallion
I'm sure all the details of the next chapter are planned out already, but i would love if we got to see the dean's perspective on Kai like we saw with Rain. Maybe get a conversation between him and the teacher as well
Mohit
If he could make a House Reece, then he could call his subordinates his Reece's Pieces.
SAB
Time in a DBZ-esque Hyperbolic Time Chamber. Or maybe it doesn't dilate time, but it has extreme levels of mana to make training very efficient and effective.
Mohit
My guess would be access to skill vaults or resources unattainable to other students. Though a more out-there reward could be the right to create a noble house.
PathOfPen
Based on what we know, I think the best thing would be an affinity boosting treasure or mentorship in space magic (but I hope he gets that one for free xD) Maybe something to help Hobbles’s evolution?
Kurt A
I’m betting he’s going to ask for access to restricted books
GloinJr
Besides treasures that increase his strength directly, maybe targeted/personalized training to unlock certain skills or skill evolutions? I'd imagine there are "secret" evolutions know by nobles or higher ups, or just evolutions that are difficult under reasonable circumstances, so maybe some tutoring or special resources/amenities to unlock powerful skill prerequisites?
Lola
Maybe he’ll get access to private tutoring and to hidden archives of skills. He should also get magical clothing or weaponry, likely tailored to his skills.
Sparifankerl
There should be some space-attuned fish filet involved, me thinks.
Draeysine
Give him a new magic toy. and an Affinity booster. and something for the cat. And one week off classes. My man needs a break.
Sparifankerl
Better question yet: What's the furball's reward going to be for helping Kai navigate to the exit?
Thomas Todd
In guessing an affinity boosting treasure, either one of his choice or one selected for him. Possibly he'll also be given private tutoring for his magic beyond what students normally are taught
