— The Order of the Three Decrees, huh? At least it's not something embarrassing. — Evo commented, sounding a bit relieved.
He had half-expected something ridiculous like "Keyholders of Justice" or the like. Just the thought sent chills down his spine.
Freya looked pleased at the rare compliment from the usually stoic young man standing before her.
— So, do we have an agreement? — she asked with a hint of expectation.
— Guess we do. Not like I have much of a choice. But we need to keep things organized. I don't want to be part of something sloppy.
Freya nearly jumped out of her chair.
— Yes! — she cheered, raising her fist in victory.
Her cheerful, playful energy returned at once. Evo watched the mature woman celebrate like a child and smirked dryly.
— Hey, hey... you are the mighty Headmistress Freya, right? Why are you acting like a kid with candy?
— Oh, shut up! I'm happy, what's the problem?
— Hmm, nothing. I prefer you like this. It's... better. — he said, closing his eyes, satisfied.
The tension in the room eased. Ravina went to a small safe, pulled out a black box, and handed it to Freya. Freya opened it, checked the contents, nodded, and closed it again.
— Ev, here. Take this. — she offered him the box.
Evo opened it and found a ring with a jewel gleaming like a diamond. He admired how it caught the light before glancing back up.
— What's this ring for? You proposing to me? Usually, the guy does that. — he said with a teasing smile.
— Yes, that's exactly it. Will you marry me?— she replied smoothly, lips curling into a serene smile.
— Eh? — Evo could only let out a weak sound, eyes meeting hers for a fleeting second before she broke.
She tried to keep a straight face, but his expression ruined her composure.
— Bfff... hahahahaha! — she burst out laughing, leaving Evo expressionless.
— I'm kidding, you idiot. — she said between laughs. — That ring is an artifact that hides your element from prying eyes. — She pointed at the box in his hands. — It also works as a communication ring for the Order. Of course, theirs will be simpler. This one's for the Leader.
Evo slipped the ring onto his index finger — it fit perfectly. He admired it for a moment and murmured,
— Looks good on me.
Then he looked back up.
— So, what's next?
— This. — Freya handed him another box, larger and brown.
— Another ring? — Evo asked, opening it.
Inside was a cloak as black as night, trimmed with faint golden designs along the edges and a golden Balance emblazoned on the chest. A matching mask lay beside it — dark, with subtle golden details. Evo took them out and inspected them carefully.
— This will be your uniform. What you wear underneath is up to you, but avoid flashy or distinctive outfits that might expose your identity outside missions. I've already told the others.
— Well, at least it looks stylish. You've got good taste. — he said, impressed.
— Of course! I'm Miss Fashion herself. Who do you think I am? — she boasted, clearly enjoying the compliment.
Then Freya seemed to remember something else.
— First, one of the members will be your... hmm, how should I put it? — She tapped her chin, looking up as if searching for the right word. — Your secretary within the Order. She'll take notes during missions and meetings, prepare weekly reports for me, and assist you with logistics. Oh, and I've reserved a private place for your meetings — far from the main academy buildings. It's an old dungeon no one visits anymore. Ravina and I fixed it up for you.
— The first meeting is at seventeen hundred hours. You should arrive early. The leader sets the example. — she added with a satisfied smile.
— I'll do that. Thank you.
— You're welcome, dear. We're in this together — one helps the other. — she said warmly.
Evo appreciated it. For all her antics and stalker-like habits, he knew he could count on her — and that meant something to him.
— Last thing. Ravina, give him the other list, please. — Freya asked politely.
Ravina handed him another sheet. Evo studied it for a moment before asking:
— These are the members' codenames?
— That's right. I suggest you choose one too, or your identity won't stay hidden for long.
The list read:
Men
Kaelith – The Eye (The collector / Intelligence / Observer)
Sevran – The Judgment (Analyst / Strategist / Internal Judge)
Umbra – The Hand (Executor / Field Operations)
Women
Luneth – The Voice (Communications / Dark Diplomat / Verdicts)
Velra – The Blade (Combat / Direct Executions / Swordswoman)
Silentia – The Veil (Infiltration / Espionage / Concealment)
— Perfect. Each with clear roles and duties — that helps a lot. — he remarked, pleased with the simplicity.
He studied the list again.
— Judging by this, I suppose my assistant will be Luneth, right? — he asked, glancing at Freya.
— Correct. I'm glad to have such a perceptive and clever leader. Seems I made the right choice putting you in charge.
— It's not that impressive. The information you gave me is simple and direct — that's the most effective kind. — he said, shrugging as he picked up a pen.
— Guess it's my turn, huh? — Evo leaned on the table and began writing. When he finished, he handed the paper back to Freya. She read it, smiled, and nodded in approval.
At the end of the list, it read:
Veyrath — The Eye of Judgment / The Supreme Judge / The Bearer of the Final Voice
After they finalized everything, Evo asked Freya something personal — outside their agreement.
— Freya, can I ask you a favor? It's… personal.
She looked at him curiously; his eyes were calm, softer than usual. Not the proud, cold gaze she was used to. She nodded.
— What is it, Ev?
— The academy has a mission system, right? Could you assign me to extermination or dungeon missions? I know it's usually restricted to second-year students, but... — he hesitated for a second — I need this. If I'm going to move forward with all this, I need to be ready for whatever comes.
— All right, you can go. Don't look so tense. It's not a difficult request. Honestly, I support your decision — it's a wise one.
— Good. Thanks for that. Anyway, I'm off — got swordsmanship class now.
The three nodded. Evo walked toward the door but stopped after a few seconds.
— Headmistress Freya?
— Hm? — she murmured, glancing at him while holding the doorknob.
Evo smiled.
— I'm looking forward to working with you.
Her face brightened immediately, a radiant smile revealing teeth as white and perfect as gems.
— Me too, Evo Eylam. I'll be counting on you.
He nodded and left for his class.
Ravina watched her friend, who rested her chin on her hands with a satisfied smile. Everything had gone according to plan — convincing Evo turned out easier than expected. Knowing his temper, she thought it would be harder, but despite a few complaints, he agreed to cooperate.
Both women were pleased with the outcome. Now all that was left was to wait... and eventually, destroy every last one of those filthy rats.
Evo walked for a while until he reached his classroom, which had only a handful of students. It was still early for the second class, so he took his seat and decided to take a nap.
Once settled, he remembered something he'd been wanting to test — the time had come.
He chose a random target and locked on.
[Target Detected]
[Analyzing individual…]
His eyes gleamed with a golden light as he smiled, waiting for the result.
[Analysis Complete]
Name: Kassandre Avilar
Title: [None]
Level: 11
Strength: 6
Dexterity: 8
Perception: 6
Intelligence: 12
Charm: 10
Luck: 3
Abilities: Magic — [Sand Swamp] [Stone Thorns]
Authority: [None]
Evo was testing one of the abilities of the Eyes of Pride — the power to view a target's information. The details depended on the difference in power between user and subject.
A malicious smile crept across his lips as he thought of countless ways to use that ability.
— This will come in handy in more ways than one. — he murmured, amused.
— Well, now that this works properly, I can relax about my current problems. Hahahaha... how fun. Now, let's see my mission rewards.
— Can't wait.
Dark chuckles echoed softly in the classroom, and the few students present looked around uneasily — as if a ghost were laughing among them.