Silence consumed the Central Courtyard.
Thousands of students stood frozen.
The shimmering barrier surrounding Valhalla Imperial Academy stretched high into the sky like a transparent dome.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
Headmaster Leonhardt’s voice echoed across the academy.
"The intruder is believed to possess extensive knowledge of our security."
"They may disguise themselves as a student..."
"...or even a professor."
A ripple of unease spread through the crowd.
Students instinctively glanced at one another.
Distrust had already begun.
Noah kept his expression neutral.
"Don’t touch the key."
"Don’t look nervous."
"Act normal."
The System chimed softly.
Main Quest Updated
Remain Undetected
Reward: ???
Failure: Unknown
"Unknown again..."
"I really hate that word."
Leonhardt raised his hand once more.
"From this moment forward..."
"All students will undergo a mana resonance inspection."
The courtyard erupted.
"What?"
"Even professors?"
"Doesn’t that violate academy regulations?"
"It does."
Leonhardt answered calmly.
"But today..."
"...security outweighs privacy."
Noah’s heartbeat quickened.
"Mana inspection?"
Would they discover Ragnarok?
The System remained silent.
That wasn’t reassuring.
Rows of instructors moved through the crowd carrying silver crystals.
Each student placed a hand on one.
The crystals glowed briefly before the students were waved through.
One after another.
No incidents.
Then...
Cassian stepped forward.
The crystal shone with brilliant golden light.
"Clear."
Luna followed.
The crystal froze solid.
Even the examiner smiled.
"Clear."
Everything proceeded smoothly.
Until...
"Noah Blackwood."
Noah walked forward.
The instructor handed him the crystal.
"Place your hand here."
He did.
Nothing happened.
Five seconds.
Ten.
The instructor frowned.
"...That’s odd."
The crystal remained perfectly black.
No glow.
No reaction.
The instructor tapped it twice.
Still nothing.
"Defective?"
Another instructor approached.
"Use mine."
A second crystal.
Noah touched it.
Again...
Nothing.
The instructors exchanged puzzled looks.
Professor Elena, watching from nearby, narrowed her eyes.
"A third crystal."
This one was older.
Covered in ancient runes.
Noah silently placed his hand on it.
The crystal vibrated.
A tiny crimson spark flashed deep inside.
Then...
It went dark.
Professor Elena quietly took the crystal back.
"He’s clear."
The instructors nodded and moved on.
Noah walked away without looking back.
Only Professor Elena remained standing there.
Staring at the ancient crystal.
A single crimson crack had appeared inside it.
So small...
No one else had noticed.
She slipped it into her coat without a word.
The inspection continued.
Hours passed.
Finally...
Headmaster Leonhardt addressed everyone again.
"The inspection is complete."
"No trace of the intruder has been found."
Murmurs spread through the crowd.
"So they’re gone?"
"They escaped?"
Leonhardt slowly shook his head.
"No."
His voice became colder.
"They’re still here."
"And sooner or later..."
"They’ll make a mistake."
The students were dismissed.
Groups immediately formed.
Rumors spread through every corridor.
Some blamed commoners.
Others blamed nobles.
Several even suspected professors.
The academy had become a powder keg.
One spark...
And everything would explode.
As Noah walked back toward Raven Dormitory...
Someone blocked his path.
Luna Frost.
She stood alone beneath a flowering silver tree.
The afternoon breeze carried strands of her silver hair across her face.
Her expression remained calm.
Unreadable.
"You."
Noah stopped.
"Me?"
"Yes."
She studied him for several seconds.
Long enough to become awkward.
Finally—
"We’ve met before."
It wasn’t a question.
Noah blinked.
"I don’t think we have."
She frowned.
"I know."
"But..."
She touched her left wrist absentmindedly.
"The moment I saw you..."
"...something awakened."
Noah’s eyes briefly drifted toward her sleeve.
For just an instant...
He thought he saw a faint silver rune glowing beneath the fabric.
Then it vanished.
Predator’s Instinct stirred.
Not with danger.
With recognition.
Before Noah could answer—
A sharp voice interrupted them.
"Luna."
Cassian approached with several noble students.
His expression darkened when he saw Noah.
"I didn’t expect the Frost Family’s heir to associate with an F-Rank."
Luna didn’t even look at him.
"I wasn’t aware I required your permission."
Several nobles looked shocked.
Cassian forced a smile.
"I merely meant—"
"I know what you meant."
Her icy tone cut him off.
Silence followed.
Noah decided this was the perfect time to leave.
"I’ll let you two sort that out."
He turned and walked away.
Neither of them stopped him.
But as Noah disappeared into the crowd...
Neither Luna...
Nor Cassian...
Noticed the small black crow perched on the academy clock tower.
Its eyes glowed crimson.
Watching.
Waiting.
Then the bird spoke in a voice no ordinary crow should possess.
"...The Seventh has made contact with the Silver Heir."
Far away...
In a forgotten cathedral hidden beneath the capital...
A man seated upon a throne of black stone slowly opened his eyes.
"Good."
His voice echoed through the darkness.
"Everything is proceeding exactly as fate demands."