Night had fallen, yet the blood moon rose again—not as scientists had predicted. They had failed to foresee the lunar cycle, its erratic patterns proving their calculations wrong.
Some believed this to be the peak, but last night had been exhausting for those affected. The first night had been a curse upon the Drakvary dormitory, assaulting the minds of its residents and leaving destruction in its wake.
It was perplexing—why had the windows shattered if the entire building was directly protected by Headmistress Claudia?
The atmosphere in the room was cheerful and warm, a sight that touched the heart as Wein Arcveil entered after changing his clothes.
He wore a long-sleeved shirt, black trousers, a watch on his left wrist, and luxurious shoes on his feet.
With both hands tucked into his pockets, several people turned to look at him until he finally reached his seat.
The delicious aroma of food mingled with the warm glow of yellow lights lining the walls, enhancing the scent that made his stomach growl.
Across the table, Aria waved before calling out, "Wein! Over here." She gestured toward an empty seat.
The room was packed, arranged to accommodate all dormitories, but something caught Wein's attention. He turned to his left, his gaze locking onto a particular figure.
An old woman wearing a witch's hat—was she a dormitory caretaker? That didn't seem right; she looked far older than any caretaker should be.
For a while, Wein stared at her, long enough for the elderly woman to distort and meet his gaze before offering a smile.
He returned the smile before pulling out his chair and sitting down. The aroma of roasted chicken wafted through the air, sharpening his senses—until he realized who she was.
That old woman was none other than Headmistress Claudia.
Why was the headmistress here? That was the thought running through his mind as he glanced around.
Beside him, Loraine Eleanoir remained silent until the headmistress's voice rang out, speaking with enthusiasm—welcoming them and expressing her gratitude for the invitation.
The room fell utterly silent as she read her speech, leaving only the eerie noises from outside to be heard.
"I see true leadership here," she declared. "This dormitory was once the weakest, but through strength and new leadership, you have completely transformed its reputation." She took a breath before continuing.
"From the dedicated crew, the wise neutrals, to the steadfast monarchs—but above all, the king himself, with his ever-calculating mind. You may see him as passive, but Wein Arcveil has done much—slaying a vampire alone, conducting research with Aria, and devising strategies with Glen."
"Let's give him a round of applause before we celebrate!"
The room erupted in applause, hands clapping in unison before everyone turned toward Wein with bright smiles.
At last, the formalities ended, and they were free to eat as much as they pleased—though maintaining decorum in front of the headmistress was still necessary.
"Loraine, who invited the Headmistress?" Wein asked, his mouth full of steaming meat.
"What? Finish your food before speaking, Wein," she chuckled, her eyes watering from the heat of the food.
Loraine leaned forward slightly to check his mouth, waiting for him to chew more slowly. "Done?" she asked before sitting back normally.
"Yeah. I'm asking—who invited the Headmistress here?" Wein wiped his mouth with a napkin.
The fact that the dormitory's king hadn't been informed of the headmistress's attendance was unacceptable, but in this dormitory, leadership was divided among four people.
"Sherlyn invited her. We all agreed, and you were still unconscious at the time," she replied, lifting her glass for a sip.
"Excuse me, Lord Arcveil. May I speak with you outside for a moment?"
Wein and Loraine simultaneously turned toward the voice.
The lively chatter in the room gradually diminished as Wein recognized the one addressing him—Headmistress Claudia. Her presence alone silenced the laughter around them.
Understanding who had spoken, he rose from his seat. "Of course, but perhaps just call me Wein," he replied, following the headmistress.
As the door closed behind them, sealing off the festivities, the sounds of the party gradually faded, replaced by a peaceful quiet.
"Forgive me, Director Claudia, but why do you wish to speak with me?" Wein asked, moving his right hand away from his chest and opening his palm.
"I will explain in due time. For now, let's head to the second floor."
---
"Step outside."
The Headmistress gestured toward the balcony, but a thick, eerie mist loomed at the seventh-floor level of the dormitory—stepping out would mean death.
The hesitation on Wein's face was evident, impossible to conceal. Meanwhile, Headmistress Claudia widened her grin.
She stepped forward first. "Do you not trust the greatest witch on this continent?" Her smile grew even wider.
At first, Wein prepared to pull the director back, but after seeing her step onto the balcony unharmed, disbelief held him still.
He decided to wait—ten seconds should be enough to see if the mist reacted to her. Counting in his head, he observed her carefully. Yet, nothing happened.
Gathering his courage, he questioned whether there was magic around—an invisible barrier, perhaps? He stepped outside, and a cool breeze greeted his face, tousling his hair like trees swaying in strong winds.
The fresh air cleared his mind, prompting him to ask, "What kind of magic can withstand this mist?" He looked around, noting that his skin wasn't burning and his breathing remained normal.
"This is an invisible veil. You can use it… I know you can."
"Me?" Wein pointed a finger at himself, uncertain.
"Yes. The power discovered by a genius from the Arcveil family—Elaina Arcveil. She should have been here tonight, but she's playing detective at the moment."
A genius from the Arcveil family.
Wein had never heard of her, nor had he come across any mention of her name despite recovering almost eighty percent of his memory fragments.
However, Elaina's name had been brought up before, though he had assumed she was merely a prodigy—never part of his own family.
"You are a master swordsman in this world and in your past life, Leon."
Wein's heart pounded. His breath hitched. His eyes widened as his lips parted slightly, inhaling sharply. He stared at the director, who wore an ever-widening grin.
Trying to hide it would be pointless. This might be a test, but the fact that she had uttered the name "Leon" confirmed her knowledge.
"You're surprised but trying to conceal it. How long have you been in this world?"
The Headmistress asked, taking a seat on a bench at the far end of the balcony. Her gaze sharpened as she waited for his response.
Wein considered lying—but it would be futile. From the moment she had spoken, she had already harbored her suspicions.