18
Chapter 18
Esme climbed the stairs and returned to the VIP seats.
— Tap. Tap. Tap.
A slow pace. Everyone's eyes followed her movements. Every time her staff hit the ground, the crowd fell silent.
Once Esme sat down and rested her staff in front of her knees, the audience began to buzz again.
Lionel turned toward Esme.
"Archmage. This is the first time I've seen Space Magic in person."
"Me too!"
Nadia chimed in, her voice still buzzing with excitement.
"I've only heard rumors. Did the entire space actually stop? From the audience all the way to us."
"Since she's the one who created the Gate, a simple auditorium must have been effortless."
Lionel said. Garrett gave a short nod with his arms crossed, while Isael maintained a smile with hands clasped. Edouard leaned toward Esme.
"I never imagined I'd witness such magic firsthand. It's an honor."
Esme stared straight ahead, leaning on her staff.
"Too much fuss."
She cut them off curtly.
Lionel opened his mouth halfway, then closed it. He decided that fussing in front of the Archmage was pointless.
Nadia gave a small chuckle and turned her gaze toward the stage.
Just then, the sound of footsteps approached the VIP seats.
Vice-Principal Vincent was smoothing over his expression. He looked so composed that it was hard to believe he had been fidgeting just moments ago.
Yet, his slightly hurried pace gave him away. He was rushing as if chased by something, though he desperately tried to hide his anxiety.
He bowed deeply again.
"It truly was a magnificent performance. I trust our distinguished guests found it most enjoyable!"
A brief silence followed. Vincent tried to mask the silence with a forced laugh.
Esme frowned as she stared at Vincent.
"Performance?"
Her voice was low and heavy.
"I'm fairly certain I was sparring."
Esme tapped her staff once.
"Did it look like a farce to you?"
Vincent's smile froze.
"Ah. Well... the wording was just..."
"Enough."
Esme didn't give him a chance to explain. Nor did she have any intention of doing so.
Vincent bowed again, shifting his gaze. He looked as if he needed to look anywhere but at her.
Seeing this, Lionel lightly intervened.
"Vice-Principal. Who is the teacher who brought those students?"
"Pardon? Ah... the person in charge of F Class is... Teacher Enoch."
"Teacher Enoch..."
Lionel rolled the name over in his mind. He continued.
"I'd like to have a word with the girl named Edelyn. I'm curious about how she avoids mana loss when casting magic."
"Ah...! I'll arrange a separate meeting—"
"Wait."
Esme intervened quietly.
Lionel looked at Esme.
"I've already claimed that child."
Lionel wore a wounded expression.
"Elder. Don't you think that's a bit unfair?"
"When you're old, you're allowed to be unfair."
"What kind of logic is that?"
"You have more days to live than I do. Do whatever you want after I'm dead."
Lionel could have argued, but he didn't. He smiled and crossed his arms.
"Still, I can't give up."
"Arrogant little royal."
Esme clicked her tongue. Yet, a faint smile touched her lips.
Nadia chuckled softly at the sight. Edouard spoke quietly to Vincent.
"Would it be possible to meet the teacher in charge of F Class separately?"
Vincent nodded reflexively.
"Of course. Just say the word—"
"Me too!"
Nadia raised her hand.
"I'm soo curious about how they managed to grow those students!"
Garrett spoke with his arms crossed.
"I'm interested in the orange-haired boy."
Nadia looked at Garrett.
"The one who knocked out the B Class student?"
"That's the one."
"I think his name was Benny."
"Benny."
Garrett repeated the name briefly. Then, he fell silent for a moment.
"To have that kind of instinct at his age... I wonder what he'll become once his body is fully developed..."
Garrett let his voice trail off. He wasn't the type to do so, but he clearly did. That alone conveyed plenty of meaning.
Isael said nothing. With hands clasped, they gazed at the stage. It was impossible to tell where their eyes were focused.
Reading the atmosphere, Vincent cautiously intervened.
"Um... what did you think of the other classes? Was there anyone from S Class or B Class who caught your eye—"
Silence fell.
This silence lasted quite a while. Vincent felt the weight of it, struggling to maintain his smile.
Esme spoke first.
"They were mediocre."
Three words.
Edouard spoke a bit more softly.
"They weren't bad."
There was a short pause, as if he were choosing his words.
"However, they were overshadowed by the students who followed."
For Edouard, these were kind words. In reality, they stung even more sharply.
Just as Vincent was about to say something, Garrett cut in.
"Lacking."
One word. One less than Esme's.
Vincent's smile wavered.
Lionel said, resting his chin on his hand.
"To be honest, it was worth watching. It was sophisticated and polished."
He paused for a moment before continuing.
"But... after seeing the sparring... how should I put it? It felt a bit anticlimactic."
It started as a compliment but ended as something far from one.
Nadia glanced at Lionel before turning back to Vincent.
"Still, I liked seeing how hard the students were working. You could tell they were genuinely putting in the effort."
Lionel looked at Nadia.
"Isn't that basically insulting them twice over?"
Nadia narrowed her eyes.
"What do you mean?"
"If they work that hard and the result is only at that level, it's just tragic."
Lionel said with a light laugh.
"I can't tell if that's a compliment or a consolation."
Nadia fell silent for a moment. She wanted to retort, but couldn't find the words.
"...You're far too blunt."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
Vincent's lips pressed tightly together.
The VIPs' center of conversation was F Class.
The Archmage had personally stood on stage, and every VIP mentioned F Class.
As for the other classes, they were mediocre, lacking, or overshadowed.
'At this rate, all the attention will be on F Class...'
A chill ran down his spine.
F Class standing out to the VIPs during the Academic Festival was not part of his plan.
Vincent knew how much effort Saphent had poured into B Class. He had gathered students of various magic types and even let them use a pillar of light.
Yet, this was the result.
Vincent forced a smile.
"Distinguished guests. I will arrange a setting where you can speak with them separately. Would you mind waiting a moment?"
No one answered.
Vincent quietly stepped back.
Saphent watched the scene from the waiting area next to the VIP seats. The confident arms he had crossed earlier were now unfolded.
Vincent approached Saphent and spoke in a low voice.
"They didn't mention B Class once. What happened, Teacher Saphent?"
Saphent had nothing to say.
The two of them looked at the stage side by side.
Enoch was still standing there, hands behind his back and a thoughtful expression on his face.
#
Once Vincent disappeared from sight, the atmosphere at the VIP seats shifted slightly.
Nadia rested her elbows on her knees and spoke.
"How about inviting F Class to dinner? That's where everyone's interest is anyway."
"That's a good idea."
Isael quietly added.
"It would be more efficient to talk in one place than to meet them individually."
Lionel raised his arm.
"Then let's decide by a show of hands. Who's in favor of inviting F Class to dinner?"
Hands went up.
Nadia was the first, without a moment's hesitation.
Lionel followed.
Then Isael, quietly.
Garrett, briefly.
Esme lifted her wrist while leaning on her staff.
Edouard didn't raise his hand at first.
The other VIPs glanced at him, gauging his reaction. Unable to withstand the scrutiny, he finally raised his hand.
Yet, there was no hesitation in the gesture.
Lionel looked around at the group.
"It's unanimous."
Edouard spoke, lowering his gloved hand back to his knee.
"It's only natural."
This wasn't his usual sarcasm; it was an acknowledgment of their worth.
"Then it's decided!"
Nadia stood up, gave a light clap of her hands, and turned toward the exit.
Her steps were light, clearly reflecting her excitement for dinner.
"Wait a second."
Lionel called out to her, and Nadia turned around.
"What is it?"
Lionel hesitated for a moment. It was unlike him.
Lionel wasn't the type to carefully choose his words. Usually, he spoke first and dealt with the fallout later.
But now was different. The hesitation was remarkably obvious.
"By any chance... could I invite one more person to dinner?"
Nadia blinked.
"There'll be plenty of food. I don't mind."
While keeping his gaze on Nadia, Lionel subtly scanned the other VIPs, reading their reactions.
Garrett spoke curtly.
"I don't mind."
Isael nodded with a smile.
"There's more than enough room."
Edouard spoke, his gaze fixed on the window.
"Do as you wish."
Nadia gave a wide grin.
"Everyone's on board. Who are you planning to invite?"
Just as Lionel was about to answer...
"What's with a royal reading the room like that!"
Esme raised her voice.
"That's why I'm perfectly happy where I am, Archmage."
Lionel let out a light laugh.
"Since my elder brother can just take the throne."
Esme snorted, then gave a small chuckle.
Nadia told them she would go bring F Class and that they should head on ahead.
Her steps were incredibly light.