A Visit

Chapter 50: A Visit

“Congratulations, Ewan Campbell.”

Inside the student council office, Wei’er was absent, likely occupied with some task. Thus, Celicia personally prepared coffee for Ewan once more.

“In a mere month, you’ve gone from a score of three to eighty. This is unprecedented in the academy’s entire history; truly, you have made history.”

“Thank you.”

Ewan accepted the coffee from Celicia. He watched as she dropped sugar cubes into his cup, one by one, until the coffee was almost syrupy.

He took a small sip, a hint of pleasure gracing his features.

‘She still loves her coffee with an exorbitant amount of sugar.’

Ewan smiled faintly, sipping his own coffee. It was bitter, yet its subtle aroma was delightful. “To say I’ve made history is an overstatement, though. Ariel’s perfect score, now *that* is making history.”

Achieving a perfect score in ‘Fundamentals of Magic Theory’ was likely as difficult as Ewan’s past life equivalent of scoring full marks in a language exam.

Therefore, Ariel’s hundred points should, by all accounts, be a jaw-dropping achievement.

In the original story, this was indeed the case. Teachers, students, and even Celicia herself were astonished by that perfect score.

It was a classic protagonist’s moment of showing off.

Yet, for some reason, Ewan felt there wasn’t much discussion about the hundred points. Instead, the windiness of the various rooftops became a hot topic among students.

However, after the academy teachers swiftly installed ten-meter-high wire fences on every rooftop, that particular topic vanished.

It was replaced by discussions of which river in the academy was the cleanest.

Fortunately, those capable of entering this academy weren’t likely to drown in the academy’s few one-meter-deep streams and artificial lakes. So, for now, it merely meant a few more sharp critiques from ‘gambling addicts who never give up’ in the newspaper’s news section.

“Ariel scored a hundred points?”

Celicia sounded as if she were hearing this for the first time. She lightly brushed a strand of silver-white hair from her face, a flicker of admiration in her eyes. “That’s quite impressive.”

“…That’s it?”

“Hm?”

“I thought you’d praise her a bit more.”

Ewan was slightly puzzled. After all, in the original story, Celicia had been effusive in her praise for that accomplishment.

“Ariel’s hundred points are certainly surprising.”

Celicia’s cool gaze swept over Ewan. “However, if even you can score eighty, then no other score, no matter how high, would surprise me much.”

“Are you complimenting me?” Ewan’s mouth twitched.

“Consider it a compliment, then.”

Celicia opened the documents before her and began to process them.

“Your sudden visit isn’t just to boast about your grades, is it?”

“Heh, of course not.”

Ewan gave a slightly nervous laugh. “I came to…”

Before Ewan could finish, a card was tossed onto the table in front of him.

Celicia held her pen, swiftly writing something on a document, her head still down. It was as if she had already anticipated Ewan’s intentions.

“Go to the school infirmary. Show them this, and someone will naturally take you to visit Aemon.”

“Thank you.”

Ewan gratefully took the card, preparing to take his leave, but Celicia called out to him.

“Remember, don’t stay too long.”

Celicia cautioned, “He is still very weak.”

“Weak?”

Ewan frowned. “But it’s been a month. Even with severe injuries, given the academy’s medical standards, he should have recovered by now.”

“His injuries healed long ago. However, the potion he drank stimulates one’s bloodline and potential. Normally, an ordinary person would only need a week or two to recover after drinking it. But his body was severely depleted beforehand.”

“Therefore, the potion’s forced activation of his potential almost damaged his very foundation. He is still recuperating.”

“Is that so?”

Ewan recalled Aemon’s transformation from a gaunt figure, seemingly capable of being blown away by the wind, into that terrifying werewolf. If the potion hadn’t replenished his energy, then the toll on his body must have been unimaginable.

Yet, the potion was merely a catalyst. The true cause…

A flicker of anger crossed Ewan’s eyes. “Celicia, those people…”

“A few days ago, three upper-year students were expelled from the academy,”

Celicia stated. “The reason was using improper means to harm a fellow student. The announcement was posted on the academy’s bulletin board; didn’t you see it?”

“Ah… thank you.” Ewan was momentarily stunned. His mind had been entirely focused on his exams recently; he hadn’t had time to check any bulletin boards.

“You don’t need to thank me for this. Didn’t I tell you? Disciplining unruly students is the student council’s duty.”

Celicia continued to peruse her documents, seemingly unconcerned by such minor matters.

“Moreover, those individuals were indeed quite malicious. After all, resorting to violence against someone utterly defenseless is something even your past, scummy self wouldn’t have done.”

“Are you complimenting me with that, too?” Ewan’s mouth twitched again.

“Just assume I am.”

“…”

“Speaking of which, have you found the person who gave Aemon the potion?”

Ewan remembered this detail. Aemon had mentioned at the time that a mysterious woman had enticed him into drinking the potion.

Though he didn’t know her intentions, the potion’s effects had indeed almost cost him his life. He couldn’t simply ignore it.

“Regarding that…”

Celicia looked up, her cool eyes like two deep, ancient wells, making Ewan feel a chill run through him. “I’m sorry, but I cannot disclose that information at this time.”

“Cannot disclose?”

Ewan couldn’t help but frown.

If this matter only involved disputes between students, there was no way Celicia would use the words ‘cannot disclose’. There must be some hidden truth.

However, Ewan abandoned his line of questioning. Given Celicia’s nature, if she said that, he likely wouldn’t get any answers no matter how much he pressed.

He could only trust her.

****

After Ewan left, Celicia finally put down her pen.

Looking at the documents and files before her, constantly circled and highlighted in red, she couldn’t help but rub her temples. A rare trace of fatigue appeared on her usually composed face.

“Evolution Potion… it truly makes one think of unpleasant things.”

She turned to look out the window. Dark clouds filled the sky, and her heart grew somber along with it.

“I hope no accidents occur during this upcoming Open Day.”

****

In the warm hospital room, Aemon listened to the news the nurse had just brought back from outside, falling into a state of profound shock.

“He succeeded…”

“Young Master Ewan, he actually succeeded?”

No.

That wasn’t right.

Success was a given.

Because of Young Master Ewan’s eyes back then, those eyes as fervent as burning flames. Anyone who saw them would believe he possessed the power to turn the impossible into reality.

“It’s just…”

“How am I supposed to face him?”

“I… I almost killed the Young Master…”

The memories of transforming into a werewolf were no longer clear, but Aemon still vaguely remembered. At that time, he truly seemed to have wanted to kill Young Master Ewan.

Looking at his still-gaunt hands, the image of those very hands choking Young Master Ewan’s neck reappeared before his eyes. Aemon was immediately consumed by intense self-reproach and disgust.

‘The Young Master must hate me now.’

‘He will surely abandon me again, just like before.’

After all…

*Creak.*

Just then, the sound of a door opening echoed. A familiar, rich voice, like a gentle breeze, flowed into the room.

“Good afternoon, Aemon. Have you eaten?”