After Mike finished his explanation, I sat silently, absorbing everything that was said. This is my habit. While he and Harvey were discussing the book's contents on the other side, I was rearranging the threads in my mind.
Now the picture was clearer:
First, I understood why the Empire insisted on annexing the neighboring kingdoms.
Second, I had confirmed information about the "Dragon's Blessing," a secret that was supposed to be buried forever.
And third—most importantly—I knew with greater certainty the truth about Laith's master… a Heavenly Chosen.
... Which means that forming any early enmity with the protagonist would be an act of foolishness.
While I was lost in these thoughts, Mike's voice reached me:
"What you heard must stay between us. If news like this reached the Empire, we can't even imagine what their reaction would be. Even the other kingdoms might try to eliminate us."
Harvey nodded in agreement:
"I agree with you. Your possession of a book from the Imperial Age is itself a secret that must be buried."
Then they both turned towards me. I understood their meaning, so I raised my eyebrows innocently and said, feigning confusion:
"What book? I have no idea what you're talking about."
Mike shook his head calmly, while Harvey smiled with a look of admiration and acceptance.
"Alright… that settles the matter," Mike said as he stood up. "You two can leave. There isn't much time left before the test, and your connections will be enough to get him in without obstacles, right?"
Harvey smiled confidently:
"Don't worry. You can even watch the live broadcast of the test."
Mike nodded, while I stood up to gather my things.
I didn't know… that Harvey, behind me, gestured towards me and looked at Mike with a silent question.
Mike answered him with a shake of his head:
"I don't know. I just felt he should know. Consider it intuition… or a feeling."
One Week Later
I was sitting on a stone bench at the registration plaza, watching the boys flocking in. Some were accompanied by their parents, others came alone.
A familiar question crept into my mind: Where are my real mother and father?
And why did they abandon me?
The information I had gathered about my situation, thanks to the System, was vague. "Original Human"—as it was described—I don't know what it means, but it seems I carry a dragon bloodline, which means one of my parents is likely a dragon… or at least a hybrid. This alone is a thread to follow. It's true that dragons are extinct in this age, but I remember from the novel that one of them will meet the protagonist. And this… is one of the reasons that pushed me to choose the academy.
I smiled bitterly as I thought of the woman who raised me. Maybe I was cruel to her. I didn't say goodbye face-to-face… I just left a note and left. It was the weakest way to escape.
"Why are you so lost in thought? Are you feeling nervous?"
I turned to the gentle voice and found a girl with hair the color of meadows, her ears clearly pointed.
An elf...? No. She's definitely here for the test.
I answered calmly:
"Not nervousness. Just remembering my relatives."
She nodded with a pleasant smile:
"My name is Marcella. And you… you're participating in the test, right?"
"Aarin," I said. "Yes, I am a participant."
I pretended to be calm, but my heart was pounding hard… It wasn't because of her beauty, but because of the name she spoke: Marcella. This isn't an ordinary name… It's the name of the Elf Princess, one of the heroines. How could she appear before me here, at the admission test? Min-soo hadn't reached the part where she became a heroine in the novel, but he had read a fan comment mentioning it.
An elf named Marcella with green hair, coming to take the test. There's no doubt it's her.
And now that I looked again, I saw the guard behind her was a third-year student; I recognized him from his uniform. His gaze was cold, as if I was worth nothing. I ignored him—I couldn't oppose the elves, not now and not later. But I didn't expect to meet her on the admission test day.
I smiled faintly and said:
"Are you also participating?" even though I already knew the answer.
She replied with a wider smile:
"Yes. My companion Lara is handling my registration procedures now. And you? I haven't seen you move yet."
Lara… Marcella's shadow. A shadow isn't just a follower, but one who binds their life to their master's. Usually, only princes and major families are granted this right.
Before I could answer her, we heard a loud voice:
"Cixth! I've finished the registration procedures!"
I turned. It was Harvey, as usual, eager to show off his connections. But it seems he recognized Marcella's identity, so he decided to postpone his bragging.
Marcella turned for a moment, she and her guard, to stare at Harvey with a coldness and hidden disdain that almost materialized in her eyes, before turning back to smile gently at me.
"Well… I hope we meet during the test. Goodbye," she said, and left with calm steps, her guard following.
Harvey shot me a sarcastic look:
"That's not fair. Your first day and you almost got a pointy-eared princess… Is this the effect of your handsomeness? Unfortunately, the world is unfair."
I smiled silently in sarcasm. The strange thing was, I remembered how Marcella was in the first chapters of the novel… arrogant, despising humans. Judging by her look at Harvey, it seems that's true. Why did she treat me so kindly just now?
I put the doubts aside temporarily and asked Harvey:
"Why did you refuse to let me register myself, and said you'd explain later?"
His playful face disappeared for a moment, replaced by clear seriousness. He moved closer and said in a low voice:
"If you don't want to inherit my enemies… stay as far away from me as possible."
Then he whispered in my ear:
"And don't forget… we are from the Organization. An illegal organization. If one of us is exposed, it's better the other doesn't get involved. Understood?"
I nodded. I already knew that… but I wanted to hear it clearly.
"Don't worry," he finally said. "The employee who registered your name is an acquaintance of mine. That's all I can do. The test is tomorrow. Do your best. I'll be watching, and maybe… I'll send you what information I can about its content."
"I owe you a lot, Harvey."
He smiled a mysterious smile and replied:
"This is just my job."