Silence settled over the Vault—brief, deliberate.

  The only sound was the faint scratching of Master Chloe’s quill as it glided across parchment. The silver-haired man set his teacup down onto its saucer with a crisp click, the corner of his mouth lifting into a knowing smile.

  “Two more spots missing, huh…?”

  He tilted his head slightly.

  “Then I’ll join too!”

  Ingrid blurted it out, shooting her right hand straight into the air. Her eyes burned with determination—yet the anxiety beneath it was impossible to hide.

  Before anyone could respond, Master Chloe’s voice cut in, firm and immediate.

  “No,” Master Chloe said at once.

  “You’re not participating, Ingrid. I have a more important task for you.”

  “But Master!” Ingrid protested, her voice dropping despite herself. Her raised hand slowly fell.

  “We’re seriously letting Rein—just a first-year student—face the entire Student Council and the Shapeshifters alone?”

  “This isn’t a duel anymore,” Ingrid snapped.

  “You’re sending him to his death!”

  A soft laugh escaped Darian’s throat—cold, almost amused.

  “No, Ingrid,” he said calmly. “You, of all people, should know how abnormal this boy is.”

  He poured more tea into his cup, steam coiling upward only to be met by the frost radiating from his fingertips—a strange, contradictory sight.

  “Someone like Rein Rhys wouldn’t invoke class conflict and challenge the Student Council on a whim without contingencies. And he certainly wouldn’t gamble his life against Shapeshifters lurking in the shadows without a plan.”

  He paused, raising the teacup to eye level, peering through the lenses of his glasses directly into Rein’s eyes.

  “This duel isn’t as a student, is it?”

  “You’re acting as a Forensic Magic Investigator.”

  “…Yes.”

  Rein answered succinctly—firmly. He didn’t avert his gaze, then turned and gave Ingrid a small nod, silently telling her that everything was proceeding exactly as planned.

  “Judging from last night’s events,” Darian continued, his low voice edged with frost,

  “I suspect Master Bloom is already dead. And by now, the number of victims may exceed three.”

  He took a slow sip of tea before setting the cup down. The sound echoed sharply in the stillness.

  “My only concern,” he said, eyes narrowing,

  “is how confident you are that the Shapeshifters will actually reveal themselves during the duel.”

  The gaze beneath the glasses pressed down on Rein, demanding a solid answer.

  “That’s why I contacted Master Chloe at dawn,” Rein replied.

  He rose and walked toward Chloe’s large desk, pulling out the scorched, twisted iron mask and placing it into her hands.

  Master Chloe set her quill aside without a word. She examined the mask closely, rotating it with practiced care.

  Then—

  A soft blue glow enveloped the battered iron.

  The warped metal shuddered, then snapped back into place as if guided by invisible hands. Dents smoothed out. Cracks vanished. Dried blood evaporated. In a heartbeat, the mask returned to its pristine state, gleaming coldly under the Vault’s light.

  Rein stared, openly impressed.

  He’d read about Object Restoration—

  a spell that forced objects back into a state before they were ever broken. But its arcane complexity meant only a handful of mages in the world could perform it.

  Fortunately… Master Chloe was one of them.

  In his mind, magic converted seamlessly into physics.

  Perhaps Object Restoration isn’t “repair” at all, he mused,

  but the activation of an object’s atomic-level memory—forcing it back into its lowest-energy, original state.

  “I can restore small things—cups, books, trinkets,” Master Chloe said evenly.

  “But something large, like a chair? That’s beyond me.”

  She glanced pointedly at Ingrid.

  The girl stiffened instantly, remembering how close she’d come to smashing one over Rein’s head.

  Chloe handed the restored mask back.

  “This is more than enough,” Rein said, satisfied. He turned toward the ice mage opposite him.

  “How did things go at the Department of Elemental Magic last night, Master Darian?”

  Darian paused mid-sip, brow furrowing slightly as he cradled the cup.

  “I spread false information,” he replied.

  “That an intruder was neutralized while attempting to breach the Academy. If you hadn’t contacted me beforehand, the situation would’ve spiraled out of control.”

  Rein smiled faintly, recalling the chaos after the forest explosion. The moment he regained composure, he’d used his Investigator insignia to contact Chloe via her crystal orb.

  “Thank you for handling it.”

  As he spoke, Rein lifted the iron mask—

  and put it on.

  Magic adjusted it seamlessly to his face.

  Then he tapped a black pen tucked into his coat pocket.

  Instantly, dozens of ribbon-like black shadows burst forth, weaving around his body like living things. In a blink, they condensed—forming a sleek black light-armor set, and identical in mana signature—to the Shapeshifter assassin from the night before.

  Ingrid’s jaw dropped.

  Even Chloe and Darian went still.

  “How…?” Ingrid whispered, voice trembling.

  “Don’t tell me—that’s—”

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  “Wait… is that its ability?” Chloe gasped, rare shock cracking her composure.

  She recognized it immediately—the transformation ability of Night Fall, the legendary weapon that could shift from scabbard to gauntlet.

  But Fran had given it to Rein casually, almost as an experiment. Even a prodigy should have needed at least two years to subdue a living legendary weapon with power rivaling a Stratosphere-tier mage.

  Rein had done it in just over two months.

  Darian adjusted his glasses.

  In all his years of teaching, Darian had seen gifted students wield unique artifacts— but a first-year who could fully dominate a living weapon?

  That was beyond common sense.

  “Don’t tell me…”

  Darian’s gaze locked onto the small object tucked inside Rein’s coat.

  “That tiny thing that looks like a pen is—”

  “Oh, this?”

  Rein removed the mask. The black ribbon-like armor unraveled at once—coiling back into the pen in a smooth, almost theatrical motion.

  “I changed its form into a pen,” he said casually.

  “A four-foot saber isn’t exactly convenient to carry around.”

  He chuckled softly.

  “And believe it or not, it actually works as a pen too. The best part is I never have to refill ink—Nighty can convert mana directly into black ink. Way more convenient than a quill.”

  He twirled it deftly between his fingers before sliding it back into his pocket with unmistakable pride.

  From a legendary saber feared by countless mages…

  it had become a multipurpose pen named Nighty.

  The Vault fell silent once more.

  …

  …

  [LIZ: Hah. Why are they getting so worked up? I handled the Ekhosar, you know. Compared to that, a single living weapon is easier than peeling a banana.]

  LIZ’s message popped up the moment Rein stepped out of the Department of Healing. Outside, the world was painted in white—snow weighing heavily on bare branches lining the path.

  “Alright, alright. I’ll give you all the credit,” Rein muttered. His breath fogged the air as he walked.

  He recalled the first time he’d tried to alter Night Fall’s form. Back then, the demon weapon had resisted violently, nearly tearing his room apart. Rein had threatened to send it straight back to Fran—and then activated his highest-level Mana Vision.

  That was the opening LIZ needed.

  Rein didn’t know what she had “retuned” inside its mana circuits, but after that day, Night Fall transformed from a feral beast into an obedient housecat—shifting forms on command without complaint.

  That was when he decided to rename it.

  Nighty.

  [LIZ: So? What’s next?]

  Rein crunched across the snow, hands tucked into his coat.

  “The next one,” he said lightly,

  “is lunch. I haven’t eaten since noon.”

  He smiled faintly as the domed silhouette came into view.

  “I wonder if the cafeteria at the Department of Elemental Magic has anything decent.”

  …

  …

  The moment Rein stepped into the grand entrance hall of the Department of Elemental Magic, the resident students reacted as if a foreign object had breached sacred ground.

  He lifted his gaze to the enormous golden dome overhead. Marble walls carved into elegant arches gleamed with gold inlays, reflecting light in dazzling patterns.

  He shook his head slightly, already calculating the obscene budget poured into aesthetics alone.

  Heaven and hell, comparing it to the shabby state of the Department of Variant Magic.

  Ignoring the disdainful stares, Rein walked straight through the hall. His plain black cloak—devoid of elemental colors—only made him stand out more among students clad in vibrant, element-marked uniforms.

  Then he spotted a familiar figure ahead.

  A girl with a bright orange ponytail.

  Long leather boots.

  A stride so confident it felt like nothing in the Academy could stand in her way.

  There was only one. And he recognized her instantly.

  “Yo—fancy meeting you again, Carrot!”

  Rein’s voice rang out clearly across the domed hall.

  Hundreds of students froze, turning to stare in unison.

  “Carrot…? He means Sophia?”

  “That guy’s lost his mind…”

  “Someone actually called Orange Tempest that?!”

  The murmurs died instantly when Sophia stopped and turned around, her expression darkening.

  When she saw who it was, her brow furrowed even deeper.

  “Are you insane?” she snapped.

  “Showing your face here after causing that much chaos?!”

  Rein didn’t answer right away. He glanced down at her boots as if checking for something, then met her eyes with the ease of an old acquaintance.

  “I came to get lunch,” he said evenly.

  “I practically solved the Student Council’s murder case for free. No stipend, no bonus. The least you could do is treat me to a meal, don’t you think?”

  He said it with a straight face.

  Sophia recoiled for half a second, then stared at him in disbelief before shaking her head in surrender.

  “…Unbelievable.”

  “Oh! I heard the steak here is amazing,” Rein added cheerfully, flashing a grin rarely seen.

  Before she could respond, he was already following her—half walking, half jogging—while hundreds of students struggled to process what they were witnessing.

  …

  …

  The canteen of the Department of Elemental Magic was vast and airy. A glass dome overhead bathed the central hall in natural light. The building spanned two levels, with a U-shaped balcony encircling the open space.

  It felt less like a department canteen and more like a luxury restaurant in the city center.

  They took seats in a quiet corner of the upper level, beside an ornate brass railing. From there, Rein could clearly see students scattered across the hall below.

  He showed no restraint. Two large cuts of premium steak were ordered and promptly devoured with enthusiasm.

  Sophia, meanwhile, sipped fruit juice, watching him with an expression full of questions.

  “Seriously,” she said at last.

  “So—where did you starve before this?”

  She couldn’t understand how someone about to challenge the Student Council could eat with such abandon.

  Rein had no intention of explaining that a debt of 132,000 AC was the true engine behind this shameless free meal.

  After polishing off both plates, he leaned back with a satisfied sigh, looking far more like a tourist on vacation than a man walking toward a life-or-death duel in three days.

  “Alright, enough fooling around,” Sophia said, setting her glass down with a clear clink.

  “Tell me what you actually want.”

  Rein didn’t answer immediately. He gazed up through the glass dome at the dull gray sky—heavy, as if another snowstorm were gathering—before returning his attention to her sharp eyes.

  “I have a proposal for you, Sophia.”

  “A proposal?” She leaned forward slightly.

  “Yes. But first—have you seen Henry today?”

  The abrupt shift caught her off guard. Rein’s gaze drifted across the cafeteria, scanning the crowd below with unsettling focus.

  “Henry? No. Haven’t seen him since the Lance murder,” she replied.

  “Why? Something wrong?”

  “Probably nothing,” Rein said calmly.

  “Then, could you show me the way to the Department of Dark Magic?”

  Sophia crossed her arms and smiled knowingly.

  “You’re going to see Isabella, aren’t you?”

  Rein didn’t deny it.

  “As for your proposal…” she continued, standing up.

  “I’ll think about it.”

  She drained the rest of her drink in one go. Rein hadn’t even explained his offer—but she’d already read him the moment he walked in.

  “But Isabella,” Sophia added, glancing back,

  “you’ll have to negotiate with her yourself. She’s not as… free as I am. Even though we’re both Spring Faction.”

  Rein nodded.

  “One more thing,” he said.

  “Alexander Whitmore—he’s from this department too, right?”

  “Yes. He usually stays holed up in Whitmore Manor, though,” Sophia replied with a low chuckle.

  “And by walking into his territory today, you’re basically sharpening blades in front of the whole Academy.”

  “And this ‘Whitmore Manor’ is…?”

  She raised an eyebrow.

  “Don’t tell me you’re thinking of knocking on his door.”

  She sighed. “It’s an ancient estate in the Harmony Zone. Built by the Whitmore ancestors—founding members of the Academy’s board. The main families, sub-families, and Winter Faction council members use it as a private dorm—and a secret meeting hall.”

  “A private mansion inside the Academy grounds…” Rein murmured, already mapping the structure in his head.

  “And in two days,” Sophia added,

  “They have invited the Spring Faction—including me—there. The same day the rest of the Winter Faction returns.”

  “Let me guess,” Rein said lightly.

  “The meeting’s about me.”

  He stood, adjusting his cloak.

  “And sorry in advance. Treating me to steak in public probably won’t help your position.”

  Sophia smirked.

  “I’ll just tell them it was your last meal.”

  She stood as well.

  “I’m the kindest council member in the world, you know. So if you survive all this—

  you’re buying me dinner next time.”

  These entries expand the lore and mechanics introduced in this chapter.

  Completely optional—read only if you enjoy diving deeper into the system.

  Items and Artifacts

  Night Fall (aka Nighty)

  A legendary living weapon capable of transformation. Originally a deadly saber with power comparable to Stratosphere-tier mages, it has now been subdued and customized by Rein to take the form of a black pen. The transformed weapon retains all its abilities and can shift forms instantly.

  Rein jokingly refers to the pen version as “Nighty,” which also functions as a working pen by converting mana into ink.

  Update Note: This entry expands on Night Fall’s form-shifting ability and bonding process via LIZ’s intervention. Rein now uses it seamlessly.

  Forensic Magic Investigator Badge (Update)

  Previously thought to be a simple symbol of status, it is revealed in this chapter to have communication functionality, allowing Rein to contact other certified members such as Master Chloe. It vibrates and answers back like a miniaturized communication orb.

  Update Note: Now confirmed to be a multifunctional magical tool, not just ceremonial.

  Magic and Spell Techniques

  Object Restoration

  A rare and high-difficulty spell capable of returning a broken object to its original, unbroken state—not merely repairing it, but reverting it through temporal or atomic means. Rein theorizes it as activating the object’s “atomic memory” and forcing it back into its lowest energy configuration.

  Notable User: Master Chloe, one of the few mages capable of using this spell with small objects like masks, trinkets, or books.

  Location

  Department of Elemental Magic

  The department is housed in a vast golden-domed complex, complete with marble arches and luxurious gold inlays. The cafeteria resembles a high-end restaurant, featuring a glass dome and multi-level seating. The grandeur is a stark contrast to the shabbier Department of Variant Magic.

  Whitmore Manor

  A private estate located within the Harmony Zone of the Academy, reserved for elite families, especially members of the Winter Faction. It serves as both a private dormitory and secret council meeting hall.

  Key Family: The Whitmore lineage are founding members of the Academy.

  Context: The site of the upcoming faction meeting regarding Rein.

  Other

  Codename “Carrot”

  Rein jokingly refers to Sophia as “Carrot”, referencing her bright orange hair. The nickname causes significant stir among onlookers, but highlights Rein’s unbothered and teasing nature—even in tense political environments.