Chapter 59
Nille ate calmly, not rushing, as if the conversation carried no pressure at all. After a few bites, he looked up at the two men across from him and spoke in a steady, respectful tone.
"I understand your concerns," he said. "And I accept your suggestion."
He paused briefly, choosing his words carefully.
"In return… I will only sell all materials and items I obtain from hunting , here ."
Rume's eyes narrowed slightly, listening.
Nille continued.
"I have a large debt," he added plainly. "That is my priority right now. If keeping things quiet helps me settle that faster, then I have no reason to refuse."
There was no pride in his voice.
No hesitation either.
Just clarity.
"At the same time," Nille went on, "I will focus on my studies. I didn't come here just to hunt."
Professor Caelum Verdanis watched him closely, noting the balance in his thinking.
Practical.
Focused.
Not reckless.
Nille placed the utensil down for a moment.
"So if your silence helps me move forward," he said, "then I will work within that."
A short pause followed.
Then he added, more directly now:
"But if this is to be an agreement… I want to understand it clearly."
He turned slightly toward Professor Verdanis.
"Is there anything you would require from me to finalize this?"
The question shifted the dynamic.
He wasn't just agreeing,
he was setting terms.
Not aggressively.
But deliberately.
Rume let out a quiet hum, clearly interested now.
Professor Verdanis remained composed, but there was a faint hint of approval in his expression.
Nille wasn't acting like a typical student.
He understood exchange.
Value.
Balance.
He wasn't asking for protection for free.
He was offering something in return,
and asking what would complete the deal.
The room fell into a brief, thoughtful silence.
Because now,
this wasn't just advice anymore.
It was becoming an arrangement.
Professor Caelum Verdanis did not answer immediately.
He leaned back slightly, fingers interlocked, eyes fixed on Nille, not as a teacher looking at a student, but as a scholar evaluating a rare opportunity.
"If Rume seeks profit," he said at last, voice calm and measured, "then I seek something far less tangible… and far more difficult to obtain."
Rume gave a quiet snort from the side. "He means knowledge."
Verdanis did not deny it.
"I want information," he said plainly. "Not the kind written in books. Not the diluted teachings passed from one generation to another."
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"I want real data."
A brief pause.
"Firsthand observation on how shamanic spells interact with Malignants… and beyond that, entities that even this academy does not fully understand."
The room grew quieter.
Because what he was asking for wasn't simple.
It wasn't safe.
And it wasn't something most would even consider offering.
Verdanis continued, his tone steady but carrying weight.
"My current teachings are built on two foundations, my own experiences… and the recorded knowledge of accomplished shamans."
He let out a faint breath.
"The problem is… those who possess the most valuable knowledge rarely share it."
Rume muttered under his breath, "That's one way to put it."
Verdanis didn't react.
"They are bound by old disciplines," he went on. "Ancient traditions. Personal pride."
His eyes dimmed slightly, not with weakness, but with realism.
"Many of them have lived for centuries. Some, longer. And yet, they hoard what they know… as if knowledge itself were a form of power to be protected."
A slight pause.
"Some would rather die than pass it on."
Nille listened quietly.
Verdanis glanced away for a moment, then back again.
"I am not exempt from that nature," he admitted. "I understand it."
Another pause.
"But I chose differently."
There was something unspoken behind those words.
A reason.
A history.
"One of the reasons my own kind… the elven race… does not look favorably upon me."
Rume gave a short chuckle.
"'Does not look favorably' is a polite way of sayin' it," he muttered.
Verdanis ignored the comment.
He leaned forward slightly.
"So if we are to formalize this arrangement," he said to Nille, "then this is what I ask of you"
"Share your encounters."
"Your observations."
"Your methods."
"Not everything," he added calmly. "I am not asking you to surrender your advantage."
A brief pause.
"But enough for me to understand."
His eyes locked onto Nille's.
"In return, I will ensure that your activities remain… appropriately unobserved."
Rume nodded once.
"And I'll make sure everythin' ye bring in gets handled clean, quiet, and at the best rate possible."
The dwarf leaned forward, resting his arms on the table.
"No questions asked, so long as it stays between us."
Silence settled again.
But this time, it wasn't uncertain.
It was defined.
Clear exchange.
Protection and discretion,
for knowledge and loyalty.
All that remained now,
was Nille's answer.
Nille didn't rush his response. He finished a few more bites, then set the utensil down and looked between Professor Verdanis and Rume Ironbark.
"If this agreement is important," he said calmly, "is there a way to safeguard it?"
His gaze stayed steady.
"So another party can't just step in and ruin it later."
A brief silence followed.
Inside him, the scarf processed immediately.
"Query acknowledged," it said.
Then it continued, more precise.
"Recommended safeguard: formal sponsorship binding."
Nille repeated quietly, "Sponsorship?"
The scarf explained in a way that fit the system of the island.
"In this academy and merchant structure, sponsorship is a recognized contract layer between high-authority individuals and a designated asset, in this case, you."
It paused briefly before continuing.
"Once granted, sponsorship creates three protections."
"First: access restriction. Only sponsors and approved overseers may interfere with your registered transactions and data flow."
"Second: interference penalty. Any external party attempting to disrupt the agreement is flagged under academy enforcement protocols."
"Third: mutual accountability. Sponsors are legally and spiritually bound to the agreement's continuation, meaning betrayal carries consequences for both reputation and resource access."
Nille listened, then looked back up at the two men.
Rume Ironbark raised an eyebrow slightly, already understanding where this was going.
Verdanis remained silent, but attentive.
Nille spoke again.
"The scarf says you can formalize this through sponsorship."
He paused.
"So this agreement becomes protected, not just between us, but recognized by the system itself."
Rume exhaled through his nose.
"That's a smart lad," he muttered. "Already thinkin' about stability."
Professor Verdanis gave a small nod.
"It would also align with institutional structure," he added calmly. "If properly registered, it prevents external manipulation, political or otherwise."
Rume leaned forward.
"Aye," he said. "It also means no third party can swoop in and claim ownership of what we're buildin' here."
He tapped the table once.
"But sponsorship ain't casual."
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"It ties reputation. Resources. And responsibility."
Then he looked directly at Nille.
"So the real question is"
"Who do ye want bound to ye?"
The room settled again.
Because sponsorship wasn't just protection.
It was commitment.
And once accepted
it couldn't be undone easily.
Nille spoke without much hesitation, almost like he was thinking out loud rather than making a demand.
"…Why can't I have two sponsors?"
He tilted his head slightly.
"In fact, having more should be better, right?"
The question landed in the room with a strange weight.
Rume Ironbark blinked once, then slowly leaned back in his chair.
"…Lad," he muttered, "ye say that like sponsors are meal coupons."
Professor Caelum Verdanis, however, did not dismiss it so quickly. His eyes narrowed slightly, not in anger, but in analysis.
"Multiple sponsorships are not prohibited in principle," he said calmly. "But they are rare. And complicated."
Rume snorted.
"Complicated is an understatement."
He tapped the table with his pipe.
"Two sponsors means two sources of influence, two sets of expectations, and two different directions pulling' at the same lad."
Verdanis added, "It also creates jurisdiction overlap. If one sponsor issues an instruction that conflicts with the other, the system will attempt arbitration, but arbitration favors institutional stability, not personal preference."
Rume nodded once.
"In simple terms," he said, "ye end up stuck in the middle while everyone else argues about who gets to steer ye."
A pause followed.
Then Verdanis looked directly at Nille.
"But your reasoning is not incorrect either."
That made Rume glance at him.
"…Ye agreein' with him?"
Verdanis continued evenly.
Nille leaned back slightly, still calm, still eating like the discussion was just another part of class.
"…Not exactly," he corrected.
Then, after a short pause, he added:
"Why do I have to make it a hierarchy?"
His eyes moved between them.
"Why not just make it equal? Fifty-fifty for both sponsors."
For a moment, the room didn't respond.
Not because they didn't hear him, but because they were deciding how to answer.
Rume Ironbark let out a low breath through his nose, already shaking his head.
"Lad…" he said slowly, "ye're treating' a power structure like a coin toss."
Professor Caelum Verdanis, however, didn't dismiss the idea immediately. His gaze sharpened slightly, as if re-evaluating the concept itself.
"Equality in sponsorship sounds logical in theory," Verdanis said calmly, "but in practice, it introduces ambiguity."
Rume pointed his pipe slightly.
"Aye. And ambiguity is where problems breed."
Verdanis continued.
"If both sponsors hold equal authority, then every decision affecting you becomes subject to dual approval."
He paused.
"Or dual disagreement."
Rume added bluntly, "Which means nothing gets settled unless both agree every single time."
He leaned forward.
"And trust me, lad, that sounds fair until ye've got two powerful people disagreeing' over somethin' important… and ye're the one stuck waiting' in the middle."
Verdanis nodded once.
"Systems require direction to remain stable," he explained. "Equal authority without defined boundaries leads to stagnation or conflict."
Rume crossed his arms again.
"Ye don't want two captains steerin' the same ship in different directions."
A brief silence followed.
Then Verdanis softened his tone slightly.
"However," he added, "your instinct is not without merit."
Rume glanced at him.
"…Of course ye're gonna say that."
Verdanis ignored the comment.
"In rare cases, equal sponsorship structures exist," he said. "But only when the sponsors themselves are bound by a higher framework of cooperation, or when the sponsored individual is capable of resolving conflicts between them."
His eyes returned to Nille.
"Which, in your case, is… untested."
Rume exhaled.
"Translation: dangerous."
The room quieted again.
This time, the answer wasn't just about rules.
It was about responsibility.
And the unspoken question hanging in the air was simple:
If Nille chose equality,
was he ready to be the one who held it together when it inevitably broke?
Nille said it simply, without raising his voice or adding any extra weight to it.
"Then I will steer the boat."
For a moment, the room went still.
Rume Ironbark studied him like he was trying to decide whether that was confidence or ignorance speaking.
"…Steer the boat," Rume repeated slowly. "Ye make it sound like we're talkin' about a lake rowboat, lad."
Professor Caelum Verdanis, however, didn't dismiss the statement. His expression stayed controlled, but his attention sharpened further.
"You are saying you will act as the stabilizing authority between two equal sponsors," he said.
Nille nodded once.
"If both are equal," he replied, "then I don't see why I can't be the one to balance it. If there's disagreement, I decide. That keeps it stable."
Rume let out a short, humorless breath.
"That's one way to say 'I'm the final say in everything' without sayin' it."
But Verdanis raised a hand slightly, signaling for restraint.
He looked at Nille directly.
"That role is not symbolic," he said calmly. "It carries consequences."
A pause.
"If you act as the balancing authority, both sponsors will rely on your judgment. Not just your strength or results, but your decisions."
Rume added, more grounded:
"And if ye make a bad call, lad, both sides feel it. Not just ye."
The weight of that settled in properly now.
Verdanis continued, voice steady but serious.
"In effect, you would not be beneath them. Nor above them in a traditional sense."
He paused briefly.
"You would become the point where their influence converges."
Rume leaned forward slightly.
"Which means," he said, "if someone wants to break the arrangement…"
His eyes narrowed.
"…they go through ye."
Silence followed again.
But it wasn't rejection.
It was evaluation.
Verdanis finally spoke.
"It is possible," he said. "Unconventional, but possible."
Rume grunted.
"Aye. Possible doesn't mean safe."
Then he looked directly at Nille.
"So I'll ask ye straight, lad."
"Ye sure ye want that kind of weight on your shoulders?"
Because this wasn't just about sponsorship anymore.
It was about becoming the center of a system that would now depend on his judgment to stay balanced.
The conversation in the Head Merchant's office slowly settled into silence, like a decision that had not yet been spoken aloud but was already understood by everyone in the room.
Rume Ironbark finally leaned back in his chair, letting out a low breath through his pipe.
"…Aye," he muttered. "We'll formalize it properly. No shortcuts."
Professor Caelum Verdanis gave a slight nod.
"We will prepare the documentation framework," he said calmly. "But the structure will depend on your final confirmation."
Both of them looked at Nille again, less like a student now, and more like a central piece in something larger.
Nille stood up.
"…I need to return to class," he said simply.
There was no hesitation in his tone. No attempt to extend the conversation further.
Before leaving, he paused and pulled out his phone, quickly registering his contact details into the academy-linked system. The interface shimmered briefly as it synced through Rune Forge channels.
"Here," he added. "In case you need to reach me."
Rume accepted the update with a short nod.
"Aye. Don't disappear on us, lad."
Verdanis added more quietly:
"And do not ignore your studies."
Nille gave a small nod in return.
"I won't, and i will wait for your response"
Then he turned and left the office.
Academy Flow Resumes
As Nille stepped out of the Rune Forge Merchant building, the structured calm of the academy returned around him. The energy of the island felt different again, lighter, more routine, as if the weight of the earlier conversation had been sealed away behind reinforced walls.
Nille adjusted his pace., he waited and just continued his first day, rumors about a student that accepted the teachers spar was now circulating the hallways but no other information was mentioned, so NIlle was able to escape whatever might happen.
So based on his classmate he now assumed either they were scared to talk about what happened knowing they were classmates and getting on Nille bad side is not worth the gossip. When Nille enter their room a few of his classmate greeted him, those who were still reluctant just nodded or smiled casually, Nille spoke in a polite tone and responded with a smile and a mild hello.
There was still half a hour till class resume the female class that was near him, finally introduce herself as Alice in she is from Canada and another student also spoke and said he is Diallo from Africa ,and the Indian young man raised his hand in a energetic manner shouted "by the way i am Naveen, they started to talk among each other , they have already build a comradery among each other , as those who already new each other,.
Nille just smiled and sometimes respond with a their question but limited is answer, until time flowed fast and the fourth class finally , started. Nille wanted to gain a normal mundane life, but also understand that he is too open and accommodating to his classmate, might open a situation that might ruin his free movement
so he needs to gain distance, until time can provide him the necessary answer for himself, he felt his three classmates reaction now is based on what they saw, it was normal but, he hated this kind of sudden shift .
Whether their behavior came from genuine friendliness or a need to justify their sudden attention after he gained recognition from their instructor, Nille understood it as a quiet display of human nature at its most predictable; people gravitate toward what is acknowledged.
Without showing any outward reaction, he calmly instructed Scarf to discreetly monitor the recent social activities of the three classmates over the past five days, seeking patterns rather than assumptions, and Scarf, ever compliant and precise, accepted the order without question, fading into silent operation as it began gathering information beyond the reach of ordinary perception.
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Curse Recognition and Countermeasures
The session was led by Mei Ling Zhaolin, a composed and highly methodical sorceress from the Eastern Azure Spirit Sect, operating under the Jianghu Confederation. She carried herself with quiet authority, drawing the room into focus without needing to demand attention. Her lecture reframed curses as complex, layered constructs shaped by intent and symbolism rather than simple hostile forces.
Instead of overpowering curses, she taught that each one must be understood first. "Every curse has a structure," she explained. "Find the order, and you find the weakness." She divided the lesson into three practical methods used in shamanistic countermeasures: incantations, herbal remedies, and artifact-based enchantments.
First came incantations. She demonstrated a basic "Reveal Sequence Chant," a low, steady phrase used to expose hidden curse layers. As she spoke, faint markings appeared on a sealed talisman in front of the class. "The voice carries intent," she said. "If your mind is unstable, the chant will distort, and so will the result." Students were instructed to repeat a short line under their breath, not to break the curse, but to identify whether it was anchored, triggered, or parasitic. Some struggled immediately, their voices uneven, causing the markings to flicker unpredictably.
Next were herbal potions. She placed three small vials on the table: one for stabilization, one for exposure, and one for severance. Each was made from different spirit-infused herbs. "Potions are not cures," she clarified. "They assist your method." A stabilization brew could calm an active curse, preventing it from reacting violently. An exposure mixture revealed hidden links, while a severance tonic weakened the connection between the curse and its target. She warned them not to mix usage blindly, using a severance potion before identifying the core could cause the curse to split and spread instead.
Finally, she introduced artifact-based enchantments. Taking a small engraved ring, she activated it with a brief pulse of energy. The cursed talisman reacted, its markings slowing. "Artifacts store prepared spells," she explained.
"They are precise, but inflexible." Students learned that artifacts were best used after proper analysis. A cleansing charm, for example, could remove a curse cleanly, but only if applied at the correct layer. Otherwise, it might strip away the wrong part and trigger the remaining structure.
To test them, she presented a controlled exercise: a layered curse sealed inside a small object. The students were not allowed to destroy it. Instead, they had to identify the sequence, choose the correct method, and neutralize it step by step. Some attempted incantations too early, causing the curse to react. Others relied on potions without understanding the structure, resulting in unstable shifts. Only a few managed to slow the curse safely before attempting removal.
By the middle of the session, the room had grown tense and focused. Every student realized that this was not about power, it was about control, timing, and understanding. Even a small mistake could turn a simple exercise into a real threat. Under Mei Ling Zhaolin's watchful eye, they learned that breaking a curse was not an act of force, but a precise act of unraveling.
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Tactical Field Analysis
The session was led by Elias Van Kroft, a retired battlefield strategist from the Netherlandic Union known for his expertise in enchantment warfare. Unlike traditional lectures, he began immediately with a problem: a projected map of a Sector zone layered with shifting spirit signatures, environmental hazards, and unknown entity movements.
His teaching was direct and practical, no long explanations, only clear steps. First, he instructed students to "read the land before reading the enemy." In shamanistic analysis, terrain was not just physical; it carried spiritual weight. Rivers could amplify energy flow, dead zones could suppress abilities, and certain paths could attract or repel entities. Students learned to mark "safe lines," areas where spiritual pressure was stable enough to move without drawing attention.
Next, he moved to threat prediction. Instead of reacting to enemies, he taught them to think ahead: Where would a Malignant entity go? What would it protect? What path would it avoid? By observing patterns, like repeated movement near corrupted ground or sudden silence in active zones, students could predict encounters before they happened. He emphasized that non-human entities do not think like humans; they follow instinct, energy, and territory. Understanding that difference meant survival.
The final part focused on movement efficiency. Students were given timed scenarios where they had to plan a route from entry to exit while avoiding simulated Malignant encounters. Running in a straight line was often the worst choice. Instead, they were taught to move in curves, use terrain as cover, and control their spiritual presence to avoid detection. Every decision had a cost, speed, safety, or energy, and they had to balance all three under pressure.
By the end of the session, the hall was filled with layered maps and recalculated paths, each student realizing that survival in the field was not about strength alone, but about awareness, prediction, and disciplined movement.
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Core Assimilation and Practical Integration
The final session was led by Asha Kiran Vellora, an Indian-born specialist in Shamanic Bio core studies affiliated with the Himalayan Arcane Institute. Unlike earlier lectures, her presence carried a grounded, almost ritualistic weight, as though the room itself had become part of the lesson. Her focus centered on controlled spiritual core absorption, guiding students through the delicate process of synchronizing their internal energy with external sources, while emphasizing safe integration thresholds.
She began by demonstrating the "Tri-Phase Alignment": first, sensing the core's natural rhythm; second, matching one's breath and pulse to it; and third, allowing gradual assimilation without forcing dominance. According to her, most failures occurred when students tried to overpower the core instead of stabilizing it, leading to spiritual backlash or fragmentation.
She then transitioned into practical integration, introducing the use of medicinal herbs such as ground spirit root, ash bark resin, and lunar petals, each acting as stabilizers or amplifiers depending on preparation.
Students were taught to grind, infuse, and bind these substances into talismans, small, inscribed objects capable of channeling their assimilated energy. Through careful etching of sigils and controlled breathing, they learned how to enchant items for specific purposes: defensive wards, detection charms, and offensive triggers.
A simple talisman, when properly aligned, could repel lesser Malignants or weaken stronger entities long enough for escape or counterattack. She demonstrated how different spiritual signatures required different enchantment patterns, erratic and hunger-driven beings like the Aswang demanded layered concealment and repulsion fields, while cunning and shape-shifting entities such as the Rakshasa required perception-breaking sigils to disrupt their illusions.
For chaotic spiritual predators like Yokai, balance-based seals were emphasized, and for relentless, curse-bound entities like the Wendigo, she taught reinforcement layering, stacking multiple enchantments to slow and weaken rather than confront directly.
Pausing at the start, she had already warned them, " Manifestation is expected for those who will evolve to another level . Do not resist your core. Do not over force it. Stabilization is more important than power." As the lesson progressed, students began attempting minor integrations, some managing to produce faint energy pulses within their talismans, while others struggled to maintain balance, their cores flickering unpredictably.
Even experienced students showed tension, aware that a misstep could lead to internal instability. By the end of the session, the room carried the faint scent of herbs and burned inscriptions, evidence of both success and failure. When the bell finally signaled the end of the day, the academy halls emptied slowly, students leaving in thoughtful silence, each carrying not just knowledge, but the weight of something newly awakened within them.
As the final minutes slipped away, Dr. Asha Kiran Vellora quietly instructed the students to seal their talismans and stabilize their cores one last time before release. The faint glow of half-finished enchantments dimmed across the room as hands lowered, breathing gradually returning to normal rhythm. She made no dramatic dismissal, only a subtle nod, as if confirming that what needed to be understood had already settled within them.
"Remember," she said calmly, "a stable core does not announce itself. It simply endures."
" Those who have high Spiritual levels are on the seniors but a few are on Section a1 and here A2, reaching SR Level of two at the young age of just under 20 it a great achievement".
One by one, students extinguished their ritual circles and stored their talismans, the soft rustle of parchment and clinking of prepared charms replacing earlier tension. The energy in the room, once tightly concentrated, began to disperse like mist thinning at dawn. Some students lingered a moment longer, checking their work in silence, while others simply sat still, processing the faint hum of their newly awakened cores.
Dr. Vellora turned toward the exit without another word, her steps unhurried. As she left, the room felt lighter, yet subtly changed, as if something unseen had quietly taken root in everyone present. The bell finally marked the end, and the academy halls slowly emptied, leaving behind only the lingering scent of herbs, inked sigils, and the quiet realization that awakening was no longer theory, it had already begun.
Students left in small groups, talking about curses, tactics, and failed core exercises.
Nille moved through the academy halls quietly as the last class ended, he didn't react to any information that he deemed unrelated to his learning, he casually move and his pace unhurried but intentional.
The day's lessons still sat in the back of his mind, curse structures, battlefield logic, and core stabilization principles, but none of it felt disconnected anymore. Everything was beginning to form a pattern.
He recalled what Head Merchant Rume Ironbark and Professor Caelum Verdanis had told him.
"Control what others see."
"Move with purpose, not exposure."
"Don't become a target unnecessarily."
Nille didn't argue with it. He simply accepted it as part of the system he now had to operate, as he was walking down the staircase he saw his three classmates were waiting ,
Another day was completed.
But instead of heading straight back to rest, his thoughts drifted toward Sector 12.
The hunting ground.
The structure of it. The points. The cores. The efficiency of movement. The way his body had responded under pressure.
He exhaled lightly.
"…lets go again," he thought.
But this time was different.
Not reckless repetition.
Not blind endurance.
This time, he wanted refinement.
If he was going to continue hunting, then he needed to come out clean—no broken bones, no unnecessary wounds, no wasted motion. Every encounter had to become efficient. Controlled. Repeatable.
Scarf responded quietly in his mind.
"Recommendation acknowledged. Injury reduction protocol can be improved through route optimization and encounter filtering."
Nille nodded slightly to himself.
"Then adjust it," he said internally. "No more unnecessary damage."
"Confirmed."
As he walked toward the academy exit, the evening air outside felt cooler than the underground systems he had moved through earlier in the day. The island city was still alive, trains running along elevated lines, students dispersing across districts, enchanted lights beginning to glow as daylight faded.
But Nille's focus was already ahead.
Sector 12 again.
Not as a chaotic battlefield this time.
But as a controlled environment.
A place to test not just strength,
but discipline.
And for the first time since arriving on the island, his goal wasn't just survival or debt repayment.
It was mastery.
Quiet, precise, and increasingly intentional.
And tonight, he would step back into the maze, not to endure it…
Instead of immediately leaving, Nille stayed back for a moment , and toward the academy library as scarf told him its open 24 hours , because there are students who actually live inside the academy dorms these were for the seniors who are in the top 50 ranking ,Nille lost interest in the large rank bulletin boards all over the city. Nille casually walking as if he was taking a stroll, CCTV Camera were mounted all over the place Nille didnt evaded it, it was a normal walk toward the Academy Library open pathway .
student were seen laying on the wide flat grass area that was considered by many to be a social hang out it was a open field , it was in front of the library, a perfect location to gain distance from any possible annoyance.
Nille was never the type to flaunt his abilities. He often remembered the words of Granny Amparo, who had warned him that vanity, self-gratification, and the hunger for social recognition could quietly turn into an unseen prison. That same lesson had been echoed again by Head Merchant Rume Ironbark and Professor Caelum Verdanis, both stressing the same principle in different ways: control and restraint were not occasional choices, but constant discipline.
too much Visibility, they had said, was a double-edged blade, one that could elevate a person just as easily as it could bind them. To be known in the wrong way was to invite interference, restrictions, and the gradual erosion of personal freedom. In their experience, fame was rarely freedom; more often, it was ownership disguised as recognition.
Having never been born into comfort or privilege, Nille had long since learned to observe how people shifted depending on status, influence, or perceived advantage. It was a pattern that repeated itself everywhere he went, subtle changes in tone, attention, and intention, like shadows adjusting under different light.
Because of this, he had trained himself to remain unremarkable when needed, to move without drawing unnecessary focus, and to never reveal more of himself than the situation required. It wasn't fear that guided him, but calculation. In a world where attention could become a chain, silence and discretion were often the safest forms of strength.
Nille had no interest in unnecessary encounters, especially not accidental ones that could create questions he didn't want to answer.
Keeping his expression neutral, he quietly instructed Scarf to scan the surrounding area within a 20-meter radius, ensuring there were no lingering classmates or unexpected presence nearby. Scarf responded at once, extending its perception outward in a silent sweep, mapping movement, heat signatures, and residual energy traces with precision. Nille was no longer in th rural farming land of Bulacan, the people mind their own.
Within seconds, it confirmed the corridor and adjacent rooms were clear, no nearby observers or hidden presences interrupting his exit path.
Only then did Nille relax slightly, adjusting his steps as he prepared to leave, preferring control and certainty over chance in situations where even a small coincidence could become an unnecessary problem.
Scarf guided him toward a route where he could slip out unnoticed, carefully tracking the movement of the CCTV cameras and identifying blind spots in their rotation. Nille moved without hesitation, slipping past the Academy's boundary walls and breaking into a controlled dash toward Sector 12 once again. This time, however, he had no intention of being seen, especially not by the Head Security Officer of Sector 12, Kaito Renji. Meeting him again would be a mistake he preferred to avoid, and for now, luck seemed to be on his side.
Still, simply avoiding detection wasn't really Nille's style of testing himself. After reaching the area, he paused, reconsidered, and then chose to enter through the outskirts once more under controlled conditions. With Scarf assisting him in mapping patrol routes and surveillance gaps, he carefully moved through the entrance zone with greater precision.
It was already 4 PM, and he had set a clear window for his activity. His hunt would continue until 10 PM, enough time to push himself, but this time with discipline, awareness, and no unnecessary exposure.