"What?! Are you serious?" The instructor’s voice thundered through the room, his eyes widening at Kevin’s choice.
Kevin, however, remained steady. "Yes, sir. I’m sure."
The bald man’s frown deepened, his jaw tightening. "Out of all the students, you pick the one who ranks last in every physical test? What are you thinking, Kevin?"
The instructor had given Kevin the rare privilege to choose someone to fill Emma’s vacant spot on the team. Everyone expected him to pick a strong contender. Instead, the name he voiced was William.
Kevin met the instructor’s glare without flinching. "Isn’t it fine, sir? William never gets a chance to join raids since he isn’t part of a group. This could give him some real field experience."
Ungrouped students were usually left behind. At best, they received small, menial quests—errands too simple to ever be called dangerous.
It wasn’t unusual for a team leader to pull an ungrouped student into their squad when a spot opened. But William? He was different. He wasn’t just ungrouped—he was considered the weakest in the entire class. His training results had been falling so fast that people openly whispered he must have slipped into the academy through a back door.
"But Kevin... this choice you made," the instructor said slowly, his tone sounded heavy, "you’re certain there are no personal feelings behind it, right?"
His sharp eyes narrowed. He hadn’t forgotten what happened the night before.
William had been caught sneaking into Lizel’s room—Lizel, who happened to be one of Kevin’s closest friends.
Kevin’s brow furrowed at the suggestion. "Sir, you’ve been our mentor for over seven months. Do I really strike you as the kind of person who would risk someone’s life over my own feelings?"
The instructor exhaled deeply, rubbing his temple. He knew Kevin well. The boy wasn’t reckless or petty. He was calm, rational, and far too disciplined to break rules out of spite. Coming from a humble family as the illegitimate son of a Baron, Kevin had always treated his position with respect and never once stepped out of line.
At last, the bald man relented. "...Very well. You may recruit him."
Kevin bowed politely before turning on his heel and leaving the room.
The moment the door closed behind him, his expression shifted. The polite smile he had worn vanished, draining into something colder. His face became a mask of deathly stillness.
’Don’t worry, Emma, I will take care of this pest and liberate you.’
...
"I don’t understand, Emma. Why do you want to know about this curse?" Vitori asked with a frown. "And how did you even hear of it?"
The Hourglass Rot, or what they had named the curse, was one of the most secretive and high-ranking curses, which isn’t actively heard these days at all.
Emma let out a soft sigh. "I stumbled upon it in an old book... Now, can you tell me how to break it?" She tilted her head, trying to look cute.
But it didn’t work.
"Unless you tell me the truth, I won’t say a word about that curse," Vitori replied firmly.
Emma huffed, crossing her arms. "Just admit you don’t trust me." With that, she turned away.
It wasn’t often that Emma asked for something, and when she did, Vitori hated being unable to grant it. Seeing her sulking, he felt helpless.
He stepped closer, gently resting his hands on her shoulders. "Emma, those who carried that curse... they weren’t ordinary people. They were terrifying beings—monsters with power beyond imagination, and never with good intentions toward humanity."
He turned her to face him, his voice softening. "That’s why I’m worried about you."
Emma knew her father’s concern was real. Seventeen years by his side were more than enough for her to see his honesty.
She sighed at last. "Fine. I’ll tell you everything... but only if you promise to explain how the curse can be broken."
Vitori hummed, nodding his head.
Emma narrowed her eyes. "No vague sounds. I need actual words!"
Vitori chuckled in defeat. "Alright. I promise."
Emma sighed and told him the whole story, "Actually, there is a student..." She told him everything involving William, his dual lives and how he is being burdened by the curse.
There was a severe frown on the man’s face.
From what Emma told him, when William entered the academy, he was one of the top students but with time he hit the rock bottom.
And his irritable behavior around people was also a symptom of the Curse.
After hearing the whole story, Vitori sighed, "I trust your judgement, Emma. If you believe he is a good man...then, I will trust you. But please, be a hundred percent sure about this."
Emma looked nothing but certain when she said, "I am, father. Trust me on this."
Vitori took a deep breath before relaying, "This is an Ex-rank curse, above the tenth grade. And you, my daughter, can only chant upto the eighth-grade, right?"
Emma was baffled, "E-Ex-rank? There is not a single Holy magic user that strong alive."
Vitori nodded, "Yes, that’s why, the only way to liberate him...is this." He pulled another book, something from his drawer.
Emma’s brows drew closer as she read the title of the book,
"The sacrificial ritual."
°°°°°°°°°
A/N:- Thanks for reading.