Northern returned to Lithia immediately, leaving his clone to handle matters for the rest of the day. Depending on how things unfolded, he might even let it continue until the end of the contest. Still, he remained skeptical—there were a few people he wanted to test himself against.
Particularly the student council president and her team. That group intrigued him the most.
For now, though, his focus shifted back to Lithia.
The cramped space of his room felt slightly uncomfortable, not in size but in atmosphere. Despite the brilliant shafts of light that managed to seep through the small window, the corners remained stubbornly cloaked in shadows. Darkness clung there, unmoving.
Northern exhaled and stood up. Over the past few hours, several people—acting under Paragon Raizel's instruction—had knocked on his door, only to be met with silence.
Now, for the first time in the day, even though noon had long arrived, his door finally creaked open.
Jeci turned, her gaze settling on him as she bowed her head slightly.
"You've woken up."
"Yes, I have," Northern replied, meeting her eyes.
He paused, observing her for a few moments before raising an eyebrow.
"How long have you been standing here?"
Jeci bowed her head again before answering.
"Not too long… I only came when I noticed people constantly disturbing your chambers."
Northern regarded her with a dubious expression.
"And exactly how long was that, Jeci?"
She scrunched her face slightly, counting on her fingers before raising her head again.
"About… six hours? I'm not sure. It was sometime around dawn."
Northern stared at her blankly for a few moments before exhaling in resignation.
"Go get some rest. Oh, wait. Actually, I'm not even sure what you do—just go socialize or something. Stop acting like you're a void summon!"
Northern waved a hand dismissively at Jeci as he strode forward. Within minutes, he was making his way down the hallway when a sudden voice boomed through the air.
"Oh my goodness! My mentee, Ral!! Stars above, I've sent a million people to find you! And now, here you are, arriving at just the right time!"
It took Northern a moment to pinpoint the voice—it came from behind a closed window near a door. His eyes settled on it just as the window swung open from the inside.
Northern frowned slightly, gaze sharpening as he studied the Paragon standing within.
'How did he know it was me when the window was closed?'
Paragons were Paragons—such feats shouldn't be surprising, yet it still amazed him. If a Sage like himself could sense others beyond sight, then it stood to reason a Paragon would be capable of far more.
Through the window, Northern caught a glimpse of the room's interior—a large conference space dominated by a grand, circular table surrounded by chairs. Seated at the table were Paragon Raizel and two others.
"Please, my mentee, come in! Make yourself comfortable."
Northern hesitated only briefly before stepping inside.
Raizel's voice carried a casual warmth, but beneath that ease, his words held absolute authority—one that left no room for objection.
"We were just about to have a very important meeting," Raizel continued smoothly. "I think it's only right that you join us."
The two men seated at the table remained silent. One of them, however, had a flicker of hesitation on his face—a brief moment of suppressed resistance that Northern caught almost immediately.
'Something about this feels off.'
The atmosphere within the room unsettled him. It wasn't hostile, not overtly—but there was an undercurrent of expectation, an unspoken tension laced within the very air.
He turned to Raizel, his gaze steady, about to refuse.
But before he could part his lips, Paragon Raizel's voice rang out again, articulate and commanding.
"Please, Rian, I insist. It's important."
There was a weight to the words that pressed against Northern's will. A subtle force laced into the Paragon's voice made refusal feel… difficult.
He exhaled slowly.
Then, without a word, he dragged a chair back and took a seat.
Paragon Raizel watched as Northern settled into his chair, his expression unreadable, before finally speaking.
"Ascendant Zion. Sage Mack. This is Sage Rian—the young man responsible for bringing us supplies and saving civilians. His importance in this meeting lies in the fact that he successfully crossed the mountains—despite them being overrun by monsters and rifts. I believe his insight will be instrumental to our discussion. Is that agreeable to both of you?"
His voice carried no room for debate.
"Even if it's not," Raizel added with a casual shrug, "I don't plan on changing my decision. But at the very least, knowing where you both stand will help me direct the path of this meeting—whether with your approval or without it."
Sage Mack, the man who had shown a flicker of hesitation earlier, exhaled and finally spoke.
His voice was thin, almost melodic, like someone who might have made a good singer in another life.
"I'm not particularly displeased, sir. I just feel… it was uncalled for. We three have led this city's council for a long time. Thanks to our powers, the city has endured. That should mean something."
Raizel met his words with a flat, unwavering stare. His face remained an emotionless mask, utterly unreadable.
"I understand your sentiment, Mack. But you're mistaken."
He paused.
"I am the council of this place. You two—while valuable—are simply great backups. Do you honestly think you'd survive out there if I weren't barking orders like a demented dog?"
Sage Mack lowered his head slightly.
"I didn't mean it like that, sir—"
"Jeez! I was just joking with you." Raizel's booming laughter filled the room. "You looked like your face was about to melt—that was hilarious!"
Despite the Paragon's outlandish claim of humor, Sage Mack still wore a guarded expression, his gaze sinking to the table.
Raizel then shifted his attention to the Ascendant.
The handsome man with ashen wavy hair, neatly tied back, shook his head slightly.
"I'm not displeased in any way." His eyes flicked toward Northern, sharp with curiosity. "Instead, I find myself wondering… just how strong he is, for you to take such an interest in him. You've never spared me or Mack that kind of attention."
A beat passed. Then, with a slight smirk, he added:
"Not that I'm jealous…"
Raizel leaned forward suddenly, his grin widening.
"Well, none of your rotten asses have ever killed a Behemoth by mistake."
The room froze.
A heavy silence gripped the air as both Sage Mack and Ascendant Zion stiffened.
Then, at the exact same time—
"What?!"
Their voices boomed in unison, eyes widening in shock.
Northern, meanwhile, frowned darkly at Raizel, cursing the Paragon in silence.