I alone am the worthy one

Leonardo leaned back in his chair, a lazy smirk creeping onto his lips. He tapped a finger against the armrest, knowing full well this was not the time to show weakness.

Back in his old world, he had been a follower, not by choice, but by necessity. He did what was expected—what his parents told him to do, what his teachers demanded, what his bosses required. Not because he wanted to, but because it was his responsibility as a son, as a student, and as an employee. His parents worked hard and did their best for him, so how could he add his own burdens onto theirs? It was easier—safer—to just follow orders. To let others decide the course of his life.

But no more.

Here, in this world, there were no responsibilities chaining him down. No expectations to uphold, no orders to obey. For the first time, he was free—free to carve his own path, to pursue his desires, to chase power not because someone told him to, but because he wanted it.

And he wasn't about to let anyone take that from him.

His smirk widened as his gaze met Mephisto's, a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. "You're asking why I want to join Grauzauberer?" He exhaled slowly, as if savoring the question. "I could give you a grand speech about ambition, knowledge, or destiny—but let's be honest, that'd be boring." He tilted his head. "Truth is, I go where the interesting things happen. And Grauzauberer? Well… it seems like a place where things get very, very interesting."

Mephisto chuckled, his heterochromatic eyes gleaming with intrigue. "A most fascinating response."

Leonardo grinned. "I aim to please."

Mephisto leaned forward slightly, his fingers steepled as he regarded Leonardo with amusement. "And what if I reject you?"

Leonardo didn't even flinch. His smirk didn't waver. If anything, he looked bored.

"Then there's nothing we can do about it," he said simply, shrugging.

Mephisto raised an eyebrow. "So you won't even argue?"

Leonardo exhaled through his nose, almost like a quiet chuckle. "No. Not anymore."

Lavinia's hands clenched slightly in her lap. This... this wasn't how the conversation was supposed to go. She had expected Leonardo to prove himself, to convince Mephisto of his worth. But instead, he was acting like it didn't even matter. Like none of this mattered. And that scared her.

Mephisto, however, seemed entertained. His lips curled into an intrigued smile. "How peculiar. Most who come seeking entry fight tooth and nail to prove themselves. Yet you sit there, unbothered, as if my decision is of no consequence to you."

Leonardo met his gaze, unblinking. "Because it isn't."

For a moment, silence filled the room. Then—

"I am worth more."

Lavinia's breath caught in her throat. There was no arrogance in his words. No desperation. Just a cold, undeniable certainty.

Mephisto's fingers drummed against the desk. "Because of your Sacred Gear?"

Leonardo laughed. It was a quiet, almost mocking sound. "You think that's all there is to me?" He leaned forward slightly, his eyes gleaming. "No. I'm worth more because I decided I am. Because I'm not just some pawn waiting to be placed on a board—I am the player."

Mephisto chuckled, clearly delighted. "Oh, you are fun."

Leonardo tilted his head, his smirk widening. "So I've been told."

Mephisto chuckled, leaning back in his chair as he studied Leonardo with renewed interest. "A player, you say? Now that's a delightful perspective. But tell me, young man—what happens when the game fights back?"

Leonardo arched an eyebrow, but before he could respond, Mephisto snapped his fingers.

In an instant, the entire room shifted.

The warm glow of candlelight flickered out, replaced by an eerie, suffocating darkness. The walls stretched, warped, and twisted into something unnatural. The wooden floor beneath Leonardo's chair melted away into a swirling abyss, leaving him weightless in an endless void. The only things that remained were himself, Mephisto, and Lavinia, who now stood frozen, unmoving, as if she had been pulled out of time.

Leonardo's smirk didn't waver. "Illusions?" he guessed.

Mephisto tilted his head. "Reality is what we make of it. But tell me, Leonardo, what will you do when faced with the unknown? When your instincts scream at you to doubt your own senses? When you can no longer tell what is real and what is a trick?"

The darkness around them stirred. From the void, shadows slithered forth, taking shape—figures with hollow eyes and twisted grins. They whispered their voices, a cacophony of madness. Some bore the faces of people Leonardo had once known, distorted into mockeries of their former selves.

Leonardo exhaled through his nose. "Cute."

A shadow lunged at him. Fast. Clawed hands reached for his throat—

And passed right through him.

Leonardo hadn't moved. He didn't even blink.

Mephisto's eyes twinkled with curiosity. "You didn't flinch."

Leonardo tilted his head. "Why would I? You want to test my mind, right? See if I'll panic? Break down? Sorry to disappoint, but I've seen worse things in my head than whatever this is."

The whispers grew louder, pressing against him like static in his brain. Memories—flashes of his past life—resurfaced unbidden. The weight of choices he hadn't made. The chains of a life dictated by others.

And yet, his smirk remained.

"Are you quite finished?" he asked, voice edged with amusement. "Or is this the part where you throw in some tragic personal nightmare to see if I crack?"

Mephisto hummed thoughtfully, then snapped his fingers again. The illusions vanished. The office returned, warm and unchanged, as if nothing had happened. Lavinia blinked, suddenly aware again, looking confused.

Mephisto steepled his fingers. "Most would have reacted. Fought. Defended themselves. But you did nothing. Why?"

Leonardo leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. "Because I knew it wouldn't matter. You weren't trying to kill me. If you were, I'd already be dead."

Mephisto's grin widened. "Very good."

Lavinia still looked unsettled, her gaze darting between them. "What… what just happened?"

Mephisto waved a hand dismissively. "A small test of perception. And Leonardo here passed with flying colors. His arrogance, you see, is not baseless. He knows his own worth, and more importantly—" he chuckled, "—he knows how to gamble on it."

Leonardo grinned. "Told you. I'm worth more."

Mephisto laughed, truly entertained now. "Very well, young man. Welcome to Grauzauberer."

"Now that the important matters are settled, shall we indulge a little?" Mephisto clapped his hands together, a playful glint in his eyes. "Would you like something to eat or drink before we continue?"

Leonardo and Lavinia exchanged a glance, their smiles mirroring each other.

"Cold coffee."

"Chocolate milkshake."

They spoke at the same time, their voices overlapping.

Mephisto chuckled at their synchronized response, his heterochromatic eyes gleaming with amusement. "My, my. Quite the contrast in taste." He snapped his fingers, and with a soft shimmer of magic, a floating silver tray appeared before them. On it sat a sleek black cup filled with cold coffee and a tall glass of a rich, creamy chocolate milkshake topped with whipped cream and a drizzle of chocolate syrup.

Leonardo leaned back, grabbing his coffee with a lazy grin. "Not bad. Guess I should expect top-tier service from a high-class magician."

Lavinia, meanwhile, eagerly took her milkshake, sipping it with a satisfied hum. "Mmm, perfect!"

Mephisto steepled his fingers, watching them with a knowing smile. "Now that you're comfortable, shall we continue? 

Leonardo smirked, swirling his coffee lazily. "Alright then, what's next?"

"Now, let me give you a quick rundown on how Grauzauberer operates," Mephisto began, a playful glint in his eyes. "First, we have me—the acting chairman—the one with the most authority here."

He leaned back in his chair, gesturing lazily with one hand. "Then there's the High Council. They're the senior magicians who oversee the different divisions of our organization. Each one is a master in their respective field, responsible for guiding their domain and ensuring everything runs smoothly... or as smoothly as it can in a place like this."

He chuckled before continuing, "Now, these divisions—ah, they're the heart and soul of Grauzauberer. We have research teams pushing the boundaries of magic, combat units dealing with supernatural threats, and intelligence agents gathering secrets.

Mephisto steepled his fingers, his smile widening. "Simply put, we're a collection of brilliant minds, reckless innovators, and troublesome mavericks—all working together in the pursuit of knowledge, power, and a little bit of fun."

Mephisto smiled as he leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping idly against the armrest.

"Now that introductions are out of the way, let's discuss what happens next—since you're a special case." He turned to Lavinia, his mismatched eyes twinkling with amusement.

"Typically, new recruits begin at the rank of Apprentice Magician. However, I've been informed that you're already at a low High-tier class. Under normal circumstances, I could grant you the rank of Magician, but..." He trailed off, his smirk deepening.

"I believe it would be best for you to start as an Apprentice Magician, just like everyone else. That way, you can get accustomed to how things work here. Once you feel you're ready, I'll see to your promotion."

Then, his gaze shifted to Leonardo.

"And you, young man… I presume you don't know much about magic, do you?" He tapped his fingers against the desk, studying him like a puzzle to be solved. "Wouldn't it only be fair for you to start as an Apprentice Magician as well?"

"I'm fine with that," Leonardo nodded.

"But I have a question—what are those ranks?"

Mephisto chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

"Ah, a good question! The ranking system within Grauzauberer reflects a magician's skill, knowledge, and contributions to our organization. Let me break it down for you."

He raised a finger. "First, we have the Apprentice Magician."

"This is where everyone starts. At this stage, you'll be expected to study, train, and prove your capabilities. You'll receive assignments and guidance from mentors to help you grow."

He lifted another finger. "Next, the Magician rank."

"Once you demonstrate competence in magic and complete a series of evaluations, you'll be promoted and be able to join one of the divisions. Magicians have more freedom, access to better resources, and take on more significant missions."

A third finger rose. "Then we have the High Magician."

"This rank is reserved for those who have mastered advanced magic. High Magicians often lead research, instruct lower-ranked members, and handle important assignments."

Finally, Mephisto spread his fingers apart and leaned forward with a smirk. "Above them all is the Archmage."

"The elite of Grauzauberer. These individuals are among the greatest magicians in the world. Their authority is second only to mine, and their knowledge of magic is immense. Few ever reach this rank."

He rested his hands on the desk. "There are also special titles and roles for those in unique positions, but these are the core ranks."

Mephisto's gaze flickered between Leonardo and Lavinia. "Does that satisfy your curiosity, or do you have more questions?"

"Nope," both Leonardo and Lavinia answered in unison.

Mephisto let out a chuckle. "Alright then, I won't take up any more of your time—you've had quite the adventure already."

He leaned back in his chair, waving a hand casually. "Seath will show you to your dorms. That's where you'll be staying for now. Get some rest. Tomorrow, you'll meet your mentor, who will be guiding you until you're ready for promotion."

Both of them stood up and made their way toward the door. Just as they stepped out of the room, Mephisto's voice rang out behind them.

"Oh, and congratulations on officially joining Grauzauberer."

His tone was lighthearted, but there was an unmistakable glint of amusement in his eyes.

Leonardo and Lavinia exchanged a glance before continuing, the door clicking shut behind them.

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(hey! It's me, Mario—I mean, your humble author here. I hope you also enjoyed this chapter, and I have a few questions for you guys.

What do you guys think of the story so far? Is it good, or is it trash?

Oh, and how do you guys like the interaction between Mephisto and Leonardo? Was it good, or did I overdo it with Leonardo?

Well, please leave a review for this fic. I don't care if it is good or bad, but it just has to make sense.

P.S.: Don't just spam emojis in reviews.

Sayonara, bitches!)