Catherine Lorrain POV
A few hours earlier
Catherine walked down the corridor.
At the end of the hallway, a sealed chamber stood behind a layer of translucent white glass.
The soft hum of energy radiated from behind it.
Inside, beyond the barrier, sat a young woman in a meditative posture—Vice Principal Eleanor.
She looked calm, and peaceful, but the situation around her was anything but.
Floating in front of Eleanor was a sword.
It hovered, wrapped in thick, rune-engraved chains.
Massive arcs of lightning broke free from its surface, crashing against the containment spells lining the walls.
Some of the bolts vanished into the ceiling, some into the floor, but all of them screamed raw, violent power.
Eleanor didn’t flinch.
Her hands remained steady, her breathing controlled as she worked to pry open the seal that locked the sword.
She was trying to tame her sword that had forgotten who its master was.
Catherine watched from the other side of the glass.
She didn’t interrupt.
She knew what was at stake.
If Eleanor failed, and the sword went out of control, the central sector would be wiped off the map.
After a long stretch of silence, the lightning slowly began to recede.
The sword lowered itself gently until it hovered a few inches off the floor, then rested flat against the stone.
Eleanor opened her eyes.
Her breathing was heavy and uneven.
She tried to stand, but her legs gave out beneath her.
Catherine stepped into the chamber and caught her before she hit the ground.
“Easy,” she said, sliding an arm under Eleanor’s shoulders.
“Thank you,” Eleanor murmured, barely staying upright.
They moved slowly to the other side of the chamber.
Catherine helped her down onto a bench and handed over a bottle of water and proper food that she took out from spatial ring.
Eleanor nodded and took everything.
She looked drained.
“How much more time it will take, master?” Catherine said quietly.
“I don’t know,” Eleanor muttered. “I still can’t get the seal to open.”
Catherine didn’t press the issue.
She let her master eat and rest in peace for a few minutes.
Then, finally, Eleanor looked at her and asked, “How are the kids?”
“They’re doing fine,” Catherine said with a small smile.
“Emily’s growing stronger by the day. She has been taming a Champion-ranked spirit every day.
“I’ll be taking her into the wilderness starting today. So, her class advancement should be completed soon.”
Eleanor raised an eyebrow but said nothing, so Catherine continued.
“Alice said she wants to focus on refining her skills and meditation techniques first. She will take her advancement quest after that.”
Catherine smiled again, just a little more this time, and added.
“His growth is surprising. Every day he grows a bit stronger. It’s like he doesn’t have a ceiling.”
Eleanor’s eyes softened slightly as she listened.
“You were reluctant to mentor them. Now look at you, you’re talking about them with a smile.”
Catherine rolled her eyes and let out a soft huff.
“Don’t start about it.”
“Too late.” Eleanor smirked.
The pout Catherine gave her was something she didn’t show to anyone else.
It was childish, even playful.
But it only ever came out around Eleanor.
“Oh, and Emily and Isaac both awakened Sword Aura recently,” Catherine added.
That caught Eleanor’s attention.
“Both of them?”
“Mm-hmm. Their Aura awakening speed is almost comparable to mine,” Catherine said. “Emily’s makes sense. She probably inherited it from her father. But Isaac…”
“You sure he’s not a reincarnator?” Eleanor asked, seriously.
“I’m sure,” Catherine said, shaking her head. “I’ve known him for a long time, Master. He doesn’t remember me, but I would’ve noticed during his childhood if he had memories from another life. There’s no trace of that kind of inconsistency in him.”
Eleanor nodded slowly.
She hadn’t really expected him to be a reincarnator, but Isaac’s growth wasn’t easy to explain.
It didn’t shock Eleanor that Catherine had known Isaac since long ago.
In truth, the entire reason Catherine had joined Radiant Crest Academy in the first place was because Isaac was there.
She hadn’t intended to stay long.
The plan had always been to leave once he graduated.
That had changed when the assassination attempt happened.
Despite the Academy being under her protection, assassins had infiltrated the grounds.
The city’s administration hadn’t wasted any time.
The moment she failed, they’d used it to suspend her, slap her with restrictions, and do their best to complicate her life.
They knew it wouldn’t affect her too much, but they were happy to annoy her even a little.
“I took out another assassin last night,” Catherine added.
Eleanor looked over.
“He almost killed Isaac, and he claimed he was the friend of the ’reincarnator’ living in our city.”
Eleanor’s expression hardened.
“What was his name?”
“Rael.”
“So he is still running his mouth everywhere. You did well. People like him, who only know half the truth and spread it like gospel, always cause more damage than actual enemies.”
Catherine didn’t say anything.
She just leaned back against the wall and let her thoughts settle.
After a moment, she shifted topics.
“There’s something else. An elemental spirit appeared at Isaac’s farm this morning. It’s a water spirit, and not a weak one either. It seems to have sensed the altered the environment—Isaac’’s land.”
Eleanor blinked, then rubbed her temples with both hands.
“Looks like I’ll have to come back sooner than planned. I am already having a hard time unsealing the sword, but now there’s a ticking clock.”
When she glanced up, she saw Catherine smiling mischievously.
“What?”
“Nothing,” Catherine said innocently. “I just thought you were sounding like an old woman, despite looking so young. I guess it’s true. You can’t change what’s on the inside.”
The corner of Eleanor’s lips twitched.
“You’re lucky I’m too tired to train you,” she muttered.
Catherine didn’t push it.
The teasing was gentle, but she knew better than to push past her master’s boundaries.
Eventually, Eleanor returned to her attempt at unsealing the sword.