Chapter 11: Dorm Room Distance

Levina and Kai went back to their dorm without uttering a single word. She noticed how Kaia's mood changed from being enthusiastic to silent. She wanted to ask, but based on Kaia's demeanor, she won't entertain any questions. Due to her reaction, Levina had confirmed that something was really going on between the two and she decided not to pry anymore.

Levina was currently studying at her study table, reading the latest lesson from their Martial Arts subject. She darted a glance at Kaia, who was also sitting on her study table 2 meters away from hers. Her eyes landed on the book she was reading, which was the academy's guidebook where all the rules and regulations of their school were imprinted.

After a few minutes, Kaia closed the book and gazed at Levina. "Is the ranking examination only available every semester?"

Levina paused for a moment before answering her. "The free one, yes, but you can pay for it at the registrar's office to take an exam."

"Huh?"

Levina swerved her gaze at Kaia. "Every semester is a free examination for all of the rankings. However, if it's done or not yet starting, you can take it and pay at the registrar."

"Oh, I get it. So I can take every ranking's exam anytime as long as I pay?" Kaia clarified.

"Yes. I thought you were reading a guidebook. You should've found it there." Levina shifted her attention back to her book.

"It's too long. I got tired." Kaia shrugged. "So how much should I pay for the E-rank exam?"

"20 coins."

"How about the D-rank exam?"

"40 coins"

"How about the C—"

"Just read the book! For Pete's sake I'm studying," Levina hissed, rolling her eyes.

Kaia collapsed in gales of laughter. Her earlier frustration had completely disappeared.

"Come on, just answer me!" She giggled, making Levina gaze at her.

"C-rank is 60 coins and B-rank is 80 coins. And there's no payable examination for A-rank and S-rank. You really need to wait for the semester's examination to take it," Levina explained, her tone filled with exasperation.

Kaia nodded, holding her chin. "I see. That means I need to pay for an E-rank to a B-rank exam to at least climb up to an A-rank."

"It won't be that easy." Levina swerved her attention back to her book. "It's hard to take 4 exams in a semester."

"I knew you'd say that, but I don't want to graduate from this school with a low rank. I want to be at least an A-rank or S-rank student," she explained, leaning her back against the backrest of her chair.

Levina didn't respond anymore, but the memories of her past when she was still a first-year student in Mysthic Academy flashed through her mind. After she had passed the E-rank exam, she immediately took the examination for D-rank without waiting for the second semester's exam. She had successfully claimed it and when the second semester's exam happened, she passed being a C-rank student.

Hence when the first semester of the 2nd year started, she didn't wait again for the semester's examination, she took an advanced test again and succeeded being a B-rank student. So when the 2nd year 1st semester's exam began, she took the A-rank examination, but unfortunately, she failed. She failed to create camaraderie with her teammates and only thought about herself. So at that time, she didn't have a choice, but to wait for the 2nd semester's exam during her 2nd year. And that's the time she teamed up with two of her seniors and passed the test. Therefore, when her third year began, she was already an S-rank student.

Levina was hasty to rank up due to her strong desire to be strong to avenge her clan.

When Kaia climbed up to her bed, Levina took all the documents and photos she had researched about the Black Void from her drawer and placed them on her study table. She opened her laptop and started to browse through the different news stories from their websites to find any clues that would lead her to them.

Levina is extra careful so Kaia won't see the papers on her table. She doesn't want anyone to know about her plan.

The pictures on her table are the ones she cut from the newspapers. One of the pictures contained a group of four men wearing a cloak and the others are just people with an enigmatic mark on their upper back.

Levina squinted her eyes when she remembered what Nicholas told her after her mission. The Black Void is taking people to be their slaves, and the people in the photos who have the mark could be among them.

"Are they marking the slaves? Or does this mark mean that they're official members?" She bit her lower lip. She's confused and frustrated.

It's been a decade since she lost her clan, but she hasn't found any leads yet to track them. It feels like she's been wasting her time.

Instead of blaming herself, she hid the photos and documents in her drawer and shut down her laptop. She sat on the edge of her bed, contemplating whether to contact Headmaster William at this time or not. She wanted to ask her for Nicholas's contact information, but it's too late already.

"Whatever. I'll just ask him tomorrow." She lay on her bed, closing her eyes.

—

When the class ended, Levina tried to search for Nicholas, but the man immediately disappeared into the massive crowd. She didn't have any choice, but to leave the high school building alone and when she reached the first floor she saw Kaia and Hestia arguing in the corridor. Hestia looked regretful while Kaia was covered with annoyance—her eyes were also teary.

Levina didn't mind them and proceeded to the academy computer lab to research the Black Void since there's a high risk that Kaia will see her searching for them once she gets back if she uses her laptop in their dorm. They haven't been living that long, but Levina knows that Kaia will bombard her with a lot of questions.

Levina purposely opened the computer in the corner, so no one would see her screen. She started researching the name of that organization and found some crimes that are connected to it. Unfortunately, there's no solid evidence that it was them since the CCTV footage was blurred and far from the action.

"Why are you searching for Black Void?"

Levina almost jumped from her seat upon hearing a manly voice behind her. She raised a brow and gazed back to see Nicholas.

"Oh, sorry. Did I startle you?" He chuckled.

Levina sighed, swerving her gaze back at the monitor without answering his question. Nicholas crossed his arms, leaning closer to the screen to read the article that she was reading.

"Are you searching them because of what happened last time?" he asked, leaning back.

Levina halted as the dark element power and the man who uttered her name came to her mind. Those are enough evidence that they're from Black Void.

"Those people who kidnapped the children are from this organization." She turned to him. "So I want to know more about them."

"I understand your frustration, but what are you trying to do? You're not planning on attacking them alone, right?" he jested, chuckling.

Levina's expression remains unchanged. It was solemn as if her gaze was piercing through Nicholas's soul. Nicholas's smile faded as he furrowed his brows.

"Enough with your nonsensical words. There's no way I'd do such a reckless act," she lied, shifting her attention back to the monitor. "Also I want to know if you have some information about them? Since you said to me last time that your company was infiltrated by them."

"Unfortunately, I don't have, except for knowing that they're taking slaves," he answered. "Our company didn't dig any further into them. We just became more stern for hiring new workers by doing a background check."

"I see. Leave me alone now." She dismissed, pianoing on the keyboard.

Nicholas opened his mouth and tried to say something, but he chose to keep it to himself. Instead, he asked another question.

"Why are you working so hard to search for them? We can leave them to our town's police and our company. They can handle them." He shrugged.

"Do you think we can still trust our town's police after the kidnapping incident? They were so slow to take action. How can they possibly defeat this large demonic organization?" Levina growled, her voice filled with hatred, remembering how she had lost her family on their hands.

Nicholas squinted, sensing something different more than a concern for the children and their town. It's as if her hatred is personal.

"I didn't know you cared about others so much," he commented, sighing.

"Is that a compliment or what?"

"It's a doubtful statement, Levina. We're all mad at Black Void, but your anger sounded so different as if they did something to—"

Nicholas couldn't continue his words when Levina jolted up from her seat, pushing him against the cold wall while pointing her fist at his face.

"Would you shut that mouth of yours, or I'll make you shut up with my fist?"

***