Chapter 2020: The Answer

The overseer's words hung heavy in the air, emphasizing the gravity of the choice before them. "You may freely choose between these two halls."

For the acolytes gathered, the significance of this moment was not lost. By participating in this examination, they had all expressed their desire to join the prestigious Halfblood Hall. The acceptance into the top hall 7 held immense weight—it meant access to the academy's advanced facilities and resources, as well as the unparalleled prestige that came with being associated with such a renowned institution.

Kehinde, the rank-6 Mystic Wolf and son of the famous Mystic Wolf King, understood the magnitude of this opportunity. As the highest-ranked among the eight wolf youths, he couldn't help but envision the pride and joy his father would feel upon hearing of his acceptance into the top hall. The thought of his father celebrating with a 30-day Savanna festival filled him with a sense of anticipation and excitement.

As for the other young wolves, ranging from ranks 5 to 4, the prospect of being accepted into the middle halls would already be cause for celebration. Hence, the opportunity to advance within the academy hierarchy, invitation to the top hall was a dream almost too good to be true, a realization that gave them pause and sparked moments of hesitation.

Before the acolytes could give their answers, the overseer allowed each instructor to address them. Lucius, exuding confidence, rose to his feet and addressed the gathered acolytes. "There is no need to hesitate," he declared, his voice carrying the weight of authority. His reputation preceded him, and his words resonated with a sense of trustworthiness that commanded attention.

Lucius wasted no time, but instead of talking about himself, he spoke of his esteemed colleague, Instructor Emery, highlighting his significant achievements in the old academy. "The savage acolyte, the one who makes us all proud," Lucius praised, his words dripping with admiration. However, beneath the veneer of praise, there was a subtle reminder of Emery's affiliation with Lucius's own White Wolf pack, suggesting that many of his accomplishments were a direct result of Lucius's tutelage.

Hearing Lucius's words, Emery couldn't help but release a deep sigh of frustration. If only physical combat were permitted in this situation, he would have eagerly taken on the cunning bastard before him. Despite his inner turmoil, Emery knew that outward displays of aggression would accomplish nothing.

With resigned acceptance, Emery acknowledged the reality of the situation. It was evident that Lucius was pulling out all the stops to secure the allegiance of the young acolytes, leaving Emery with little hope of convincing them otherwise. However, he remained steadfast in his resolve, standing up with confidence to address the gathered acolytes.

"Everything that I can offer you—guidance, elixirs, techniques—I am sure Instructor Lucius could also provide," his voice steady and resolute. Pausing for a moment, he let the weight of his words sink in before continuing. "What I can only add is my pure intention for your growth. I offer you not just mentorship, but the freedom to chart your own path. There are no contracts or commitments tying you to me. When you graduate, you are free to pursue your future however you see fit."

Turning his gaze towards the elders and then to Lucius, Emery posed a direct question. "Good brother, if you are willing to offer them the same, then by all means you may take care of them... Will you?"

The question posed by Emery left Lucius momentarily dumbfounded, his usually confident demeanor faltering in the face of such heartfelt words. Embedded within Emery's words was a subtle insinuation that Lucius lacked a pure heart and might subject the acolytes to unfavorable commitments. It was a calculated move on Emery's part, leveraging the opportunity to provide the students with a proper warning while simultaneously using the elders as witnesses. Whatever answer Lucius provided would inevitably be seen as a victory for Emery.

As anticipated, Lucius had little choice but to save face and agree to Emery's terms. "Of course, no contract, no commitment," he conceded, though the forced smile on his face betrayed a hint of discomfort. There was a palpable shift in his aura, a crack that did not go unnoticed by Instructor Sirin, who couldn't help but chuckle at the sight.

Satisfied with the outcome, Emery turned once more to address the young acolytes with earnest sincerity. "You may choose wisely," he advised, his words carrying a weight of significance.

His gaze lingered on the silver-haired girl, their eyes meeting once again in a silent exchange. Similarly, with the wolf kids, as much as he would like for her to join his hall, her decision ultimately lay beyond his control. He could not force her, thus potentially missing out on such a good opportunity to enter the top hall.

As Emery concluded his remarks, Elder Sinure calmly prompted the acolytes for their decision. Without much hesitation, each of the wolf acolytess accepted the offer to join the top hall, expressing their gratitude for the opportunity. Not a single one glanced Emery's way, all eight of them eagerly embracing Lucius's invitation. Emery remained silent, resigned to the outcome.

Then came the turn of the serpent girl. Elder Sinure addressed her with a calm inquiry,

"What say you, Shura Ouroboros?"

Anticipation hung in the air as all eyes turned towards her, expecting her to follow suit and accept the invitation to the top hall. However, much to everyone's surprise, Shura respectfully declined. "I thank you, elder, for the invitation," she said politely, her decision catching Lucius off guard.

Despite the unexpected turn of events, Shura's calm demeanor only served to amuse Lucius. He was about to inquire about her reasons for declining, but before he could, Shura gracefully interjected, "I hope I don't need to explain my reason..." turned her attention towards the overseer.

Lucius refused to let the matter rest, sensing that directly asking for Shura's reasons might reflect poorly on him. Instead, he opted for a more indirect approach, probing the girl with a more personal question. "You... from the Ouroboros clan, aren't you?" he inquired, his tone carrying a subtle undercurrent of intrigue. "I am actually very close with your Queen, I wonder if this is the reason..."

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Seeing that the girl was uncomfortable with the question, Emery felt a surge of emotions rising within him. Whether it was the weight of Lucius's words or the pressure bearing down on the serpent girl, it was enough to unsettle him. He struggled to maintain his composure as he observed the exchange, his thoughts swirling with a mix of concern and frustration.

However, before Lucius could delve further into his line of questioning, the proceedings were abruptly interrupted by the arrival of another individual.

"I apologize for the interruption, I was occupied with a security matter."

Heorgar, the head of security, entered the room, immediately joining the elders and instructors at the table. His presence commanded attention, and all eyes turned towards him as he spoke.

"I couldn't help but hear before I entered... yes, this girl, Shura, she is very new, having arrived only a few days ago," Heorgar explained, his tone authoritative yet empathetic. "I actually received a message from the Ouroboros elder, asking me personally to guide her about the hall situation first... She is still learning. That's why I advised her not to accept any invitations just yet."

His words cast a new light on the situation, providing context for Shura's earlier decision.The explanation provided seemed to satisfy the elder, who nodded in acknowledgment before turning to Shura to seek confirmation.

Shinta did her best to hide her surprise, though the penetrating gaze from the man who was her interrogator made it difficult. With a composed demeanor, she affirmed, "Yes, it's true... I have not learned any information about any of the halls. Therefore, I am unable to accept any invitations at the moment... My apologies."

She tried her best to avert her gaze, avoiding any direct eye contact with 'him'. However, despite her efforts, she couldn't shake the emotional turmoil brewing within her. The weight of being unable to accept 'his' invitation weighed heavily on her, stirring a mix of conflicting emotions.

While Shura's confirmation left Lucius visibly displeased, he deemed the matter of the girl inconsequential enough not to warrant further attention.

For Emery, he found himself somewhat satisfied with the outcome. The fact that the girl wouldn't be joining Lucius's hall alleviated some of his concerns. However, his curiosity about her identity still lingered, and he had been patiently awaiting more information. With his senior, Heorgar, now aware of the situation, Emery felt a sense of reassurance that further inquiries would be easier to conduct.

As the elder prepared to dismiss all the acolytes, the serpent girl, hesitated for a moment before speaking up. Despite the weight of the situation, her voice held genuine sincerity as she spoke to the room.

"I do... hope... I could visit ...your hall, to... understand more," she expressed earnestly. Her gaze shifted first to Lucius, before turning to Emery, lingering for his approval.

With a warm smile, Emery nodded in response. "Yes, of course,"

The girl left the room with a newfound sense of joy in her heart.

As the meeting continued, the remaining acolytes were allocated among the other instructors. Following Lucius's proposals, the bulk of the 50 acolytes were distributed among Tolano and Sirin for their higher hall, while several others were deemed unsuitable and relegated to Haramber's medium hall. This left Emery with no acolytes under his wing.

However, just when Emery thought he would be left without any students, Elder Sinure made a decision that caught him off guard—allocating two acolytes specifically for him. It was an unexpected gesture, one that left Emery feeling both grateful and slightly bewildered.

Despite the high-ranking bloodlines of the two allocated acolytes, none of the other instructors voiced any objections to the decision. Even Lucius, who had previously been at odds with Emery, agreed the arrangement without protest.

At that moment, Minister Kiyama approached Emery with a quiet reassurance.

"I will leave them two in your care."

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