Chapter 11: The Storm Unleashed

Iris stood frozen in the hall, the weight of Fairy Teacher Lume's words pressing down on her. Her mind raced, her thoughts a whirlwind of uncertainty. How would she fight the looming shadows when she barely had any powers? It seemed like an impossible task, and yet, the other students in the hall whispered amongst themselves, excited at the thought of seeing Iris struggle in the upcoming test.

She could hear their mocking voices, their cruel excitement at the thought of her failure. Would they really enjoy watching me fail?

Her gaze was still fixed on Mircea, who stood across from her, her smile wide and self-assured. She was already imagining how she would fall—how she would be humiliated. It made Iris feel small, insignificant. She had become the target of everyone's judgment, and it felt as though she was sinking into the floor, unable to escape their eyes. Inside, her heart twisted in frustration and fear. She wasn't ready for this, and yet here she was, the center of attention for all the wrong reasons.

Then, just when it felt like she couldn't bear it any longer, a voice broke through the tension.

"I didn't expect everyone would enjoy watching a girl cry so much," a calm, authoritative voice said, cutting through the noise like a blade.

Iris's heart skipped a beat as she turned toward the voice. Standing there was Rey, dressed in his signature red robe, the intricate gold patterns catching the light. It was clear from the design that he was a member of the Hall of Ruby, one of the most prestigious halls in the academy. The moment he entered the room, all attention shifted to him. The female immortals stared at him with wide eyes, their admiration obvious, while the male students looked on with envy.

That's Rey... Iris thought, still in shock. The prince from the Dragon Clan... the disciple of God Irathion...

The whispers of awe and wonder filled the air, but Rey's gaze was not on the crowd. No, his eyes were locked on Iris. Without a word, he walked towards her, his movements graceful and effortless. When he reached her, he extended a handkerchief, his expression soft.

"I didn't think you would cry," he said quietly, his voice gentle, but with an underlying strength.

Iris, still stunned, replied in a whisper, "I wasn't crying." But even as she said it, she accepted the cloth from him, using it to wipe away the tears she hadn't realized were falling.

Nearby, the other students couldn't help but stare, their gazes filled with jealousy. Why would Rey, the most genius immortal, waste his time on someone like her? The thought was written clearly on their faces.

Rey seemed to sense their judgment, for he turned to look at the students who had been mocking Iris. His expression hardened, his voice rising in authority. "Has everyone become so shameless and idle these days? Do you have nothing better to do than mind others' business?"

The room fell silent as Rey's anger radiated through the hall. "Get lost, all of you."

With a simple gesture, the crowd scattered, quickly retreating from his presence. Even Mircea looked shaken, unable to find the words to respond. As the students rushed out, Lioria and Rowan hurried to Iris's side.

"Iris, what's going on?" Lioria asked, her voice laced with concern. "We heard you were taking the test for the Hall of Quartz."

Rowan, ever the protector, frowned and added, "With your current abilities, Iris, you're seeking death."

Iris, still processing everything, glanced at the two of them, then back at Rey. "That's Rey... my... my friend," she said, uncertainty creeping into her voice.

Lioria blinked in surprise. "Friend?" she exclaimed, clearly stunned.

Iris nodded and introduced her friends to Rey. "This is Lioria, the youngest princess of the Eagle Clan, and this is Rowan, the prince of the Black Bird Clan."

Rey acknowledged them both with a nod, but his attention quickly returned to Iris. Lioria and Rowan exchanged bewildered glances, still trying to process the fact that Iris was friends with one of the most powerful immortals of their time.

Rey, as calm and composed as ever, smiled softly. "I must return to my hall for lectures," he said. With that, he turned and left, his presence lingering in the room even after he was gone.

"Iris, what's going on?" Lioria asked, her voice filled with disbelief. "You never told us Rey was your friend!"

Iris sighed, rubbing her temples. "It's a long story. I'll explain it to you later... but right now, I need to process the fact that the Magic Aptitude Test is tomorrow."

At the Dean's Office

Meanwhile, in the quiet of the dean's office, Fairy Lume stood before a tall, ethereal figure—God Irathion. His white attire glowed faintly in the dim light, and his green hair seemed to shimmer as if it were made of light itself. Despite his tranquil appearance, there was a heaviness in his eyes.

"God Irathion," Lume began, her voice filled with concern. "I've completed the task you assigned—enrolling Iris for the upcoming Magic Aptitude Test in the Hall of Quartz. But by doing this... aren't we putting her in danger?"

Irathion, calm and composed, gave a small sigh. "Lume, you don't need to worry. I have my arrangements in place. You can leave now. But remember, nobody should know that I instructed you to do this. Iris must never know. I don't care about anyone else."

Lume hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Understood, God Irathion." She bowed deeply and left the room.

Irathion sat back in his chair, his gaze distant as he stared out the window. His mind was elsewhere, far beyond the walls of the academy.

Iris... he thought. It's time for you to break free of the seal they placed on you. The Phoenix Clan elders should never have sealed you in the first place. Tomorrow will be the test... I only hope everything goes as planned.