They went towards the Instructors wing.
It’s a very big place, made to accommodate their offices and residence. It was also the place where the Head Instructor’s office is.
"I’ve never been here before," Julius muttered.
As they navigated the building towards the man’s office,
"Well, I don’t know what this meeting is all about, but can I know what you aim to gain?" Julius asked.
Severin shrugged. "I don’t think I have anything to gain here. We are going to observe and lay low."
It was the truth.
Severin currently had no idea about what was happening; it didn’t happen in the book.
The future is changing too fast. Not that he was surprised, considering all the main roles he’d played.
When they entered the office, they were led to the meeting place by an attendant.
Apparently, they were the second House to arrive.
They met a woman sitting away with one of her own members just like Julius. The woman didn’t even turn from the book she was reading; she totally ignored him.
But her House member stood to do the introduction. "This is Tem Rem, House leader of House Caelum."
Julius stepped forward as well, adjusting his glasses. "House leader Severin Reignhart, House Chains."
And that’s it.
Severin also sat. He chose neither end of the table and just sat on one of the side chairs while Julius did the same with the extra seat behind his own.
And then they waited.
He used the time to study Tem Rem. Severin didn’t remember her from the book; she must have died early or was just part of all the powerful people that don’t have much influence. One word to describe her would be coldness.
Not the indifference that Severin usually showed, but straight-out coldness.
Before long, more House leaders appeared.
House Blackthorn with their House leader, Klinger Rover. He was the man that made Severin twitch the most. Immediately Klinger Rover entered the room, they both looked up and froze.
Tension cracked between them and then vanished as if it had never appeared in the first place.
It was because they recognized something about each other. They both had little presence.
House Draconis leader, Grey Finn, came to the meeting sweating with his shirt off and specks of blood clinging to his body. He took one look at Severin and snorted, waving his tree trunk of a hand.
He was the loudest one yet.
Then came Likon Adam, House leader of Solarin.
And he shattered the record without even trying.
"Hey newbie! How do you make one hundred thousand credits? It’s something that I was interested in the moment I saw the notification. Don’t be shy. Tell me!"
Others either ignored him or gave him one or two curious looks, but Likon Adam talked to him directly.
Severin knew it was something they were all curious about as the air shifted subtly, waiting for his answer. Even then, as a whole functioning House, they couldn’t boast of such an amount.
"It is classified information. You can ask the Head Instructor," Severin said.
That didn’t sit well with Likon. He smiled and with a single blink he was already beside Severin. "Eh? I don’t hear that. You are the one that survived the Dungeon, right? How curious."
Severin didn’t flinch even though he was surprised by the speed of a final-year student. His eyes couldn’t keep up at all and it appeared as if the man teleported to his side.
He kept his eyes steady without a change of expression. "I believe nine first-year students survived."
The room shifted again; subtle pressure rose in the air and the space between everyone cracked slightly.
To his side, Julius stiffened, his hand on his glasses. He couldn’t understand why Severin always teased and pinched people more powerful than him.
Likon gritted his teeth. "You arrogant son of a bitch, are you trying to say that..."
"Don’t be a pussy, Likon," Grey Finn laughed, his voice like rumbling hills. "He said your House members are weak, and where’s the lie? They all died in that Dungeon."
Likon turned and he was gone.
He appeared before Grey and punched him. The punch was a snap, loud enough that it left Severin’s ears ringing and Julius’s glasses cracked.
It was a powerful punch that could kill ten of the current Lucas Dawn at once.
But Grey lifted his hand casually and caught it.
"Hey Solarin, what the hell are you doing?" His voice had changed to a low growl.
Likon smiled. "I’m just trying not to be a pussy."
Severin watched the interaction and all the bloodlust getting thrown around. So far, only four Houses had arrived, and he couldn’t help but notice that it was only the Houses that didn’t agree to the binding agreement.
Before Grey and Likon could continue, they heard the sounds of footsteps, followed by a sweep of aura pressure that Severin was familiar with, and everyone returned to their positions, their eyes on the door.
Head Instructor Darius Faulkner entered the room.
He looked just the same as he did the day Severin first met him, with all the dark clothes and that single dark eye.
He went straight to the point.
"We have to catch the kidnappers."
"It’s simply getting out of hand. Of course, the Academy’s guard security is looking into it. We also need you students to do your part, and that means the Houses."
Severin frowned. Are the other Houses so part of the Academy that they don’t even have to come to gatherings like this?
Before he could think more about it,
Ding!
A notification entered.
"That is all the information gathered so far. Look into it. The group we suspect is the Scar organizations. They are new terrorists that have been targeting the Academy lately. They are dangerous and should not be underestimated," Darius said, his eyes sweeping everyone.
Even Grey and Likon nodded responsibly.
"...I don’t think it’s the Scar though... because I think they’re going to lay low for a while... can it be a mimic?..."
"Any questions?"
Severin raised his hand. "I have a question, Head Instructor."