Chapter 17

When Princess Iris entered the hall, the atmosphere became quiet, and only a few students could be heard whispering in a low voice. They deliberately avoided Princess Iris, who was walking towards the registration desk.

Several prospective students nearby Princess Iris suddenly trembled, and sweat dripped from their foreheads. Their faces were pale as they struggled to breathe.

"What happened? Why did they become like that?" Clara tilted her head and asked Beatrix. But her aunt shook her head in response, and it looked like she didn't want to answer Clara's question.

On the other hand, Ziel narrowed his eyes and saw the Mana leaking around Princess Iris. That girl had the same problem as Princess Aishia, and that was Mana.

Princess Aishia's body became weak because she had a large amount of Mana that was out of control and could explode at any moment. But the problem with Princess Iris was that her Mana was very dark and frightening. It doesn't affect him but the people around him.

The Mana released from Princess Iris contained a strong killing intent and a terrifying bloodlust that suppressed one's soul. Its killing intent could bring instant death to anyone who touched it.

People who had come into contact with his Mana would only feel extreme fear and find breathing hard. The closer they were to it, the greater the effect they felt. Princess Iris is like the incarnation of the Goddess of Death, who lives in a human body.

"Ken...Ken..." Clara was annoyed and kept calling his name because she felt Ziel ignored her.

"I'm sorry, my lady. I was thinking about something." Ziel bowed his head to Clara.

"What do you think? Are you busy watching that girl? Are you mesmerized by her beauty?" Clara gave Ziel a prickly look because she knew where his eyes were looking. But before Ziel could answer, Beatrix interrupted him.

"Let's register now. There are still many people waiting in line behind us." Beatrix reminded Ziel and Clara. Then she walked towards the registration desk.

"I understand, Aunty." Clara nodded slightly and quickly followed Beatrix. She glanced at Ziel and puffed out her cheeks. She was still annoyed with him because he was looking at other girls and had ignored her.

Ziel and Clara didn't take long to complete their registration and immediately left the place to find an inn close to the academy. They looked for the nearest location because they had to take their entrance exams early in the morning.

When they register, Ziel and Clara are given an exam guide. The book contains explanations of the three exams they must complete to pass and be accepted as students at Piqmentia Grand Academy. The three tests are...

1. Written exam

2. Aptitude test

3. Practice exam

The three exams will have different scores; the biggest will be in the aptitude test. The written exam only assessed a student's knowledge, while the practical exam only determined fighting ability and not one's future potential. Some people can only fight a bit and focus as a support type.

The academy provides guidebooks in advance, so prospective students know about their exams tomorrow and prepare themselves as best they can. In every guidebook they received, there was a different symbol. It shows where they will do the test.

Since there are thousands of applicants, the academy will divide them into 3 groups. So that everyone does not gather in one place. The three groups are the golden tower, the silver tower, and the red tower.

After completing their registration, Ziel and the others walked out of the Skydome building and headed toward the inn where they would be staying.

"Which group did you get, Ken?" Clara glanced at the manual book in Ziel's hand.

"I got the red tower group." Ziel shows his book to Clara.

"Ah... I got the silver tower group. So we can't take the test together." Clara looks disappointed and sad after knowing that Ziel is not in the same group as her.

"I'll pick you up as soon as I finish the exam. So please don't go anywhere alone, My lady." Ziel didn't mean to cheer her up. He said that because he enrolled in the academy to look after Clara.

"I know! I'm not a kid anymore!" Clara complained to Tenku, but the corners of her lips slightly lifted. Beatrix could only shake her head at their exchange.

"I've asked someone to secure inn for you. So you don't have to worry about where you can stay." Beatrix had asked one of her friends, a teacher at the academy, to help her find an inn for Ziel and Clara.

"Did you mean just me and Ken? Then what about you, Aunty?" Clara was confused by Beatrix's words. If the room were just for her and Ziel, Beatrix wouldn't stay with them.

"I already have my residence within the academy. It is very difficult to find an empty inn at times like this because almost all the inns are fully occupied by prospective students from various regions. Fortunately, my acquaintances can still get one room for two people. Although it's not a luxurious inn, he thinks it's comfortable enough for just one night's stay." Beatrix looked at Clara and smiled.

Clara's face was blushing up to her ears as she understood the meaning of Beatrix's words.

"Auntie! What are you saying!?" Clara screams at Beatrix, but her eyes glance at Ziel.

"Haha... I was kidding about that part. Look, we've arrived at your inn." Beatrix stopped at an old building that looked clean.

"Should we stay here?" Clara was used to living in the mansion and felt reluctant when she had to stay at the inn.

"Of course. But I'm sorry I couldn't find a better place than this because this city's good inns are full. But I can guarantee this inn is comfortable for only one night's stay. Let's go inside." Beatrix took Clara's hand, and Ziel silently followed them. He didn't care where he rested as long as it was clean and comfortable.

"Welcome..." A middle-aged man at the reception desk greeted them as they entered. He is the owner of the inn.

Ziel averted his eyes because he saw a beautiful girl and a boy with purplish-white hair inside the inn. These two were Lilith and Berith. Coincidentally, they were also staying at the same inn as Ziel.

"We want to check in the room that Christof has booked." Beatrix said to the middle-aged man. Christof is the acquaintance that Beatrix told them about. He is also a teacher at Piqmentia Grand Academy.

"Ah... Order by Mr. Christof, one room for two people, right?" The innkeeper opened his guest book and confirmed it back to Beatrix.

"Yes, that's right." Beatrix answered briefly.

"Ron! Please escort this guest to his room!" The innkeeper called a boy who was about the same age as Ziel. As the middle-aged man mentioned, his name is Ron.

"Okay, uncle. This way, please." Ron guides Ziel and the others to their room. But he stopped and was mesmerized when he saw Lilith's beauty.

"Could you take us right now?" Beatrix patted Ron on the shoulder and brought him back to his senses.

"Ah... Yes. This way, please." Ron was surprised and quickly led Ziel and the others to their room. They passed by Lilith, and she would also be staying at the inn. She looked out of place, and with her appearance, she was more suited to staying in a luxury inn.

When Ziel passed by Lilith, he found Lilith suddenly silent and looking at him coldly. But he ignored her and continued walking towards his room.

***

After Ziel and the others left the reception desk, Lilith silently looked at them until their figures disappeared.

"What's wrong, My lady?" Berith asked when he saw Lilith silently looking in a certain direction.

"Nothing." Lilith came back to her senses after hearing Berith's voice.

When she passed Ziel, Lilith felt her body tremble. Even if it was only for a moment, the senses of a fallen god were extremely sensitive to danger. Lilith tried to check again but found that the people she had met before were only a magic king and two senior mages. None of them could threaten her life. Hence, he was curious. Where did the terror he felt before come from?

(Is it just my feeling?)

Lilith said in her heart. Then she shook her head and thought no further of it. Lilith felt she had become overly vigilant because of the incident while enrolling in the academy.

"Let's go back to our room. There's something I want to talk about." Lilith walked towards her room without waiting for a response from Berith.

***

Lilith sat up on the bed with a serious expression on her face. She snapped her finger, and a layer of barrier enveloped the room.

"I've put up a barrier in this room so no one will peek or eavesdrop on us." Lilith still felt uneasy about the previous incident. So she had to be careful in her every action.

"What's wrong, my lady?" Berith was confused by Lilith's excessive vigilance.

"I found a way to kill the humans in the Academy without dirtying our hands." Lilith's serious expression turned into a broad smile that would captivate any man who saw her.