There Is Someone Behind The Scenes

After finishing with his void summons, Northern did not return to the vicinity of Lithia—at least, not in mind.

Instead, his consciousness drifted to Verulania, the estate where the students were gathered. By the time he arrived, his clone was already inside, pretending to be asleep. Or was it actually asleep?

If Northern commanded it to rest, it probably would.

Taking control of his clone, he sat up and glanced out the window.

Tonight, the moonlight was especially bright. Both celestial bodies gazed upon him, as if the personification of the stars had borrowed a brilliant pair of goggles to survey the world.

A cold wind rushed through the open window, filling the room with an icy bite. He didn't recall closing it—not since the last time he had stepped out to meet the mercenaries.

His thoughts wandered to them.

All of them were dead.

Except for Roma.

Roma, too, would have been dead if not for him. And for what?