The Vice Dean's coughing echoed faintly through the communication orb, a lingering reminder of the reprimand he had endured. Thankfully, he wasn't gravely injured, as the Dean, while furious, had held back enough to spare his physical well-being.
Yet, even as he steadied himself, his mind lingered on the Duke's words—the mention of a student named Adlet.
The Dean, an Ascended and the most powerful figure in the Academy, rarely troubled herself with the daily operations or the complexities of student management.
Her unparalleled strength was reserved for the ultimate protection of the Academy itself, ensuring its sanctity from external threats.
This left the Vice Dean to shoulder the overwhelming burden of administrative work and student affairs—a role meant to be temporary but one that had become a long-standing obligation.
