Merlin pushed the buzzer of the headmaster’s home. Unlike his previous uninvited appearances at the place, the gate was locked this time. After all, it was already evening, and only a matter of time before night came.

  He was already readying himself for Miss Eun-Wol’s cold gaze, welcoming his rude behavior of not requesting a meeting with the headmaster ahead of time and appearing whenever he felt like it. And he realized that he was messing up, but these days, his curiosity was eating into him far quicker than before. And he couldn’t wait for the headmaster to reply to an email, which was why he came all the way to the man’s home instead.

  Well, there would be nothing he could do if he was chased away, but it was worth a shot.

  “I just hope Blue doesn’t freeze up the dorm before I get back,” Merlin mumbled to himself. “He looked like he had gotten everything I said, though. Goodness, taking care of a dragon is such hard work.”

  Merlin’s attention snapped to the inner quarters of the headmaster’s manor as the door to the main building swung open. Instantly, he froze in his steps. It was like he was staring into the eyes of a predator, and the closer Miss Eun-Wol walked towards him on the other side of the gate, the more he felt the urge to run.

  It would be a miracle if she didn’t rip his head from his neck.

  “Merlin Tyrrell,” said Miss Eun-Wol as she arrived before him, narrow eyes gleaming with disappointment as she stared at him. “What a way to announce your return to the academy.”

  Merlin swallowed dryly then chuckled. He noticed that she hadn’t added the ‘master’ she had grown to affixing his name with, and that was what she always did when she was angry. At least, the few times he had noticed that.

  “Good evening, Miss Eun-Wol,” Merlin waved stiffly. “How have you been?”

  “Good enough to recall me telling you that arriving uninvited is unappreciated,” she replied, her eyes narrowing even more.

  Merlin heaved out a sigh. “I’m sorry.”

  “May I add those words in the overflowing jar of ‘I’m sorry’s’ I’ve received from you?”

  Merlin’s eyes twitched. Okay, he hadn’t realized she was that sassy. That was a new perspective to her he hadn’t seen before.

  “It’s important,” Merlin went on.

  “It always is, isn’t it?”

  “Could you just tell him that I’m here and need to see him?” said Merlin. “He wasn’t at the orientation, I would have talked to him then.”

  “Did you ever wonder why he wasn’t there?” Miss Eun-Wol raised a brow.

  Merlin nodded. “I thought he wasn’t at the academy. Perhaps paying Nikolai a—” He paused and Miss Eun-Wol pursed her lips. “That’s not the point. I was told he was around.”

  “By who?” Eun-Wol asked.

  “My dorm master.”

  She clicked her tongue. “That blabbermouth.”

  Merlin blinked amusedly at that. Had she been planning on dismissing the information he had received as a lie depending on who had given it to him?

  Another perspective to her he hadn’t seen before.

  “If he asks me to leave, I will,” Merlin continued. “At least, let him know that I came.”

  Eun-Wol appraised him for a moment before sighing deeply and turning around.

  “This is the last time, Master Merlin.” Oh, ‘master’ was back in the frey. “I won’t even open the door to see you next time.”

  Merlin placed a hand on his chest. “Cross my heart and hope to die. I promise that this is the last time.”

  If there was anything that Merlin was certain of, it was that the headmaster would never deny him an audience. And he was proven correct once again as he was ushered into the headmaster’s office, breathing in the familiar floral scent that was emitted by the flowers spread out in the room.

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  “Hello, Merlin,” greeted Headmaster Im Ilseong. He was seated, facing his window. “Have your seat.”

  “Thank you,” said Merlin as he sat down on the other side of the table.

  “Would you like some tea?” Headmaster Im Ilseong asked.

  “I’m fine, thank you,” Merlin replied. “I actually didn’t want to bother you, but I’m very curious about something, and I would be unable to sleep if I didn’t satiate my curiosity.”

  “Ah… The bane of all youth,” hooted Headmaster Im Ilseong. He then turned around on his chair, and showed Merlin the smile he wore on his aged face. He knotted his fingers together and leaned forward. “So? What exactly is bothering you so early into the term?”

  Merlin cleared his throat. “I think you’re well aware of what that is, headmaster.” Headmaster Im Ilseong raised a brow. “I want to know about Nikolai,” Merlin added. “I need to know.”

  Headmaster Im Ilseong sighed. “I’m certain I already told you all about him.”

  “You said he was fine,” argued Merlin.

  “Which is all you need to know about his condition.”

  Merlin clenched his jaw. “That’s too vague,” he said. “I’m his friend; I need something more than just ‘he is fine’.”

  Headmaster Im Ilseong stared at him for a second, then leaned back into his chair.

  “Perhaps,” he said. “But that is all you need to know for now.”

  Merlin had various slightly preposterous ideas as to why Nikolai’s exact condition was being kept a secret from him and the rest of the students, but he didn’t want to believe that the headmaster would do what he was thinking. However, since their conversation was heading in the same manner it had a month ago when he had asked for the first time, he couldn’t help but doubt the headmaster.

  “Did you expel him?” he blurted.

  Headmaster Im Ilseong raised a brow. “You were worried I expelled him?” He chuckled softly. “I do not abandon my students, Merlin. You should know that already.”

  Merlin bit down on his teeth. “Then…” He hesitated, pressing his thumb into his wrist. “Are you carrying out tests on him?”

  Headmaster Im Ilseong’s shoulders dropped; he looked disappointed. “Merlin.”

  “I’m not sure what you expect me to think?” Merlin said. “For the past month all I could think about was how Nikolai rampaged, how he almost died—how I almost died. I—” He paused. He couldn’t mention his constant nightmares. That would make it seem like he was sick. And he wasn’t sick. “I just need to be certain he’s doing all right. Really. It’d help me concentrate better.”

  Headmaster Im Ilseong’s eyes lingered over Merlin for a moment, then with a deep exhale, he stood up and walked to his window. The moon was out now, crescent and solemn.

  “No,” said the headmaster, “Nikolai isn’t fine.” Merlin’s heart skipped a beat. “He fell into a brief coma, and even after waking up, parts of him are still unhealed. He’s being treated, but, frankly, no one knows if he will ever be the same again.” headmaster Im Ilseong paused, then glanced over his shoulder to see Merlin wearing a partly frightened look. “And your expression is why I had told you he was ‘fine’.”

  Merlin realized then that his face had crumpled, and he pulled himself back quickly. The truth had hit him like a gut punch. He had prepared his mind for the worst news when he asked, but it seemed his preparation wasn’t enough.

  “Is there anything I can do to help?” he asked; that was the only thing he could say.

  “Yes,” replied Headmaster Im Ilseong.

  Merlin’s brows jumped up as his chest tightened for a moment.

  “What can I do?” he asked, excited. “I’ll do anything.”

  “That’s great.” Headmaster Im Ilseong nodded. “Then how about you focus on passing the tower raid, so that you can represent Prestige Academy in the tournament?” Merlin’s excitement fizzled out as he fell back into his seat. “Ah. The year is already ending too, isn’t it? Three months to go. Have you succeeded in getting your anti-magic up to speed?” Headmaster Im Ilseong glanced over his shoulder, and a heavy pressure pressed down on Merlin’s shoulders. “If I cast an Advanced Tier III spell right this instant, would you be able to use your anti-magic on it?”

  Merlin swallowed and lowered his head. “Not yet.”

  Headmaster Im Ilseong turned back to stare at the moon, freeing Merlin from the weight that had pressed on him. “Then that settles it. Let the adults handle Nikolai’s situation, while you focus on your studies.”

  Merlin bit his lower lip in frustration. He couldn’t assist in finding evidence that Club Spiral was involved in what had happened to Nikolai, and he couldn’t even do anything to help Nikolai too.

  He was beginning to feel useless all over again.

  Merlin took a deep breath and exhaled. He would just have to act as Headmaster Im Ilseong wanted him to. That was the best and his only course of action for now.

  “I understand.” He stood up. “Then I’ll take my leave.”

  “Have a goodnight.”

  Merlin was almost at the door when he recalled the second reason he had decided to pay the headmaster a visit. He halted.

  “About my test at the Consortium,” he started. “I’m yet to receive a call from the Guildmaster. Is there a problem?”

  Headmaster Im Ilseong smiled. “Don’t worry about it, Merlin. Hyeonki will call you when he’s ready. He’s just trying to make sure his findings are the truth. He’s the meticulous type, you see.”

  Merlin downturned his lips and nodded. “I see.” He pulled the door open. “Goodnight, then, headmaster.”

  He left and returned to his dorm just in time to watch Blue wake up. Thankfully, the dragon was a sleepyhead. Otherwise, his room might have been completely frozen, and he would have had to explain to Chima and Hakyun why his room had turned to the Antarctic.