While the fiend and his group were trying to gather themselves and move on, far in the capital, Cill sat in her office with the ring of her clock punctuating every passing moment. Another spy had mysteriously disappeared, and this time, she was looking through his eyes when he lost his life in a snap. What the man had seen and what killed him, it escaped her, for their senses were entangled, and the moment dread came, the connection was severed, for to be in his mind while he was attacked would've inflicted the same harm on her mind and body despite being miles apart.

'What's going on? First, the guy sent to the shop and now him…' The whole thing reeked of devilish influence. Otherwise, the shared sight and memories were bound to tell at least some kind of tale. 'I could send Jill, but then if we lose connection, I would have nobody left to carry out this plan.'

Drumming her fingers on her desk, she was halted by the sound of someone knocking on her door. Turning the lamp's light brighter, she looked at the entrance and answered.

"Come in."

Opening the door, a young man walked inside. His expression was boyish with curly brown hair and a daintier body than one could've expected from his grade. A bit confused by his appearance, Cill narrowed her gaze.

"I never saw you standing up, huh…" Having only ever seen Soma–the heir to the Glintsmith name–sitting on his table in the classroom, the minora sage was quite surprised by his height and contour. "Second year in the mage program, if I'm not mistaken?"

"Y-yes, ma'am…" Neatly folding his hand in front of him, Soma kept his head low while addressing the minora sage. "I was told to meet you before, but then not to do so, and then again to meet you today. Sorry if I was too late, and that's why you had to cancel it before."

'Oh yeah, I had to cancel the meeting because of Toma's suspicion. Tsk… It is still going to doubt me for that decision, but at least I got more time to clear some tracks.' Closing her eyes to calm herself, Cill beckoned the young man closer to her.

"We have much to discuss, Mr. Glintsmith. Come closer, your grades have been horrendous recently."

"But ma'am–"

"I said come closer," opening her eyes again, Cill angrily glared into his eyes. "I've heard about your protest. How your papers must've been misplaced or changed by another student, but with no proof of such a thing, those are mere speculations. Unless you have something to tell me right now, do you?"

It wasn't the first time that his complaints had been shot down. The other teachers had already reprimanded him for even suggesting that they'd made a mistake in marking his papers. And after hours of listening to demeaning words in detention, he was finally given a chance to meet with the sage personally and clear this stain off his forehead.

"You will be studying with me until you've proven that you still deserve a place in the academy," motioning for him to sit on a chair set right next to her, Cill held his gaze. "Now come and sit down. I have a few things that I need to discuss with you that aren't directly related to academics but will certainly help you clear your name, perhaps even help you be nominated as one of the minor sages in the coming days."

In a flash, Soma's face lifted. But it wasn't joy that was reflected in his eyes, but confusion and doubt towards the promise that Cill had just made. Even so, closing the distance between the two, he sat down in the chair and decided to listen to what she had to say.

"Okay, I will do my best."

Nodding at his words, Cill placed a hand atop his and started telling him about his sister's achievements against the undead army by Lumenos. Visibly stunned, the youngster was struggling to comprehend how his sister could have achieved such a feat all by herself. However, what Cill had to say next confused him even more.

"Now then, your parents died trying to save me from a fire, remember?"

"A fire?" Squinting his eyes, Soma lifted his head.

Squeezing his hand in warning, Cill gave him a deceptive smile.

"Oh, maybe you were too young back then. But your parents died in a fire, didn't they?"

Bewildered by the claim, Soma didn't know what to say. Pushing him to admit the lie, however, Cill squeezed his hand again and whispered.

"You want to finish your studies in the academy, don't you?" Moving her head closer to him, Cill pressed a finger against his nose and brought his attention back to her. "Then answer me, did your parents die in a fire or not?"

Although still confused about what was happening, Soma had finally realized what he was meant to say. Though his parents had died of natural causes, the sage required him to assert her claims.

"Yes, ma'am…" Swallowing his angst, he reluctantly nodded. "My parents died in a fire trying to save your life."

Moving her head back, Cill finally let go of his hand with a genuine smile now plastered across her face.

"Good," turning her head to the entrance, she stretched her hand and locked the door with her magic. "Now then, you'll be with me until your sister is here."

Following those words as their eyes matched once more, Cill reached out of Soma's cheek and caressed it ever so lightly. The younger brother of the would-be queen, what better option than him for her to marry and have children with? The sage Mediora was already looking for candidates to marry her off to. But instead of being wedded to whoever it chooses, convincing it to let her marry him would be a much better option.

'My key to the royal castle door.' She thought, smiling while Soma himself wore an awkward grimace.

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