Zeneth Academy-2

The main hall of the Zeneth Academy bathed in soft light, filtered through immense enchanted stained-glass windows. The air was thick with a subtle energy, as if the very walls were vibrating to the rhythm of spells cast within them over centuries.

Rina, slightly withdrawn, discreetly observed the other students. Pronteira's announcement had left a bitter taste in her mouth: only twenty-eight students had managed to pass the preparatory cycle. This number echoed in her mind like a silent threat. She was one of them, yes, but for how long?

She clenched her fists. Now was not the time to doubt. She needed answers.

The tour had started, led by Alice Ninim and the formidable Jerfrost Khan. The latter, true to form, moved forward without saying a word, his sharp gaze evaluating the students as if assessing their survival potential rather than their magical abilities. Atlas, for his part, walked beside them, visibly irritable after Alice's teasing.

"The Zeneth Academy is not just a place of learning," Ninim explained lightly, completely ignoring the heavy atmosphere settling in. "It's an ecosystem where you must prove your worth every day. Here, failure is not an option."

She cast a mischievous glance at the assembly, as though savoring the anxiety of some.

"You will be graded, ranked, tested… and, of course, if you fail too often, you will be eliminated. But you already know that."

Rina followed the tour without truly listening. Her mind was elsewhere. The story of her summoning haunted her. Who was this being she had summoned? How could she call it back? And most importantly... why had it vanished after stopping Jerfrost?

Her hand brushed over the seal of her contract on her wrist. Nothing. No pulse, no reaction. It was as if the summoning had never existed.

"Still thinking about that creature, aren't you?" 

Liza's mocking voice made her jump. She was walking beside her, a teasing smile plastered on her lips.

"You're really predictable, Rina."

"And you're annoying," Rina sighed in reply.

Liza chuckled softly.

"I wonder what kind of being you summoned. A demon, perhaps? A wandering spirit? A fallen god?"

Rina grimaced.

"Doesn't matter what it was… I have to find it."

Liza raised an eyebrow.

"You're quite ambitious. But tell me, have you thought about checking Zeneth's archives?"

Rina's eyes widened.

"The archives?"

"Of course! Zeneth keeps records of every summoning performed within its walls. If your summon was powerful enough to catch the Headmistress's attention, there's probably a mention of it somewhere."

Rina's heart raced. A lead. Finally.

She glanced towards the Headmistress. That woman knew something. She was aware of something.

"I will find the truth," she murmured.

The tour continued, but for Rina, only one thing mattered now: discovering who this mysterious entity she had called was... and what fate awaited her by its side.

The group passed through a long hallway lined with statues of legendary mages. Their stone gazes seemed to pierce through the ages, as if they were evaluating every new student who stepped on this sacred ground. The heavy atmosphere added a sense of solemnity to the tour.

"Here, we have the Hall of the Ancients," Atlas explained. "Each mage whose statue stands here made history in Zeneth through an exceptional feat. Some founded magical schools, others repelled demonic invasions…"

Liza pretended to yawn.

"… And others were simply brilliant researchers," Alice added, ignoring Liza. "But we're here for something else."

She stopped in front of an enormous wooden door, intricately carved with ancient glyphs.

"Here is the Academy's Library. A sacred place, where thousands of magical books and Zeneth's archives are kept. Entry is prohibited without permission."

Rina's heart tightened. She had to get in, no matter what.

"Who can access it?" asked a student.

"Researchers, professors, and some advanced students," Alice replied. "But if you have a specific request, you can ask the curator."

"And who is that?"

"Lady Evelyne Rhoad. A strict but fair woman."

Rina etched the name into her mind. She would find a way to consult those archives.

Suddenly, an unusual presence caught her attention. She turned her head and saw a hooded figure standing at the entrance of the hall. A chill ran down her spine. This person wasn't a professor. Not a student either. Then who...?

The figure disappeared before she could see more.

"Rina?"

Liza stared at her, puzzled.

"Nothing..." she murmured.

But deep inside, a certainty settled: she was being watched.