Multiversal Ascension-Chapter 92: Meeting with the Principal

***

Hours passed as Mikael made steady progress. Soon, it was the early afternoon of the next day. He paused his training to visit Lyra, knowing she might still be struggling with the kill she had made the day before. Her unease had been evident.

Lyra was delighted to see him, and the two spent a peaceful afternoon together on the Academy grounds. It felt like a small, comforting date before they eventually parted ways. Mikael returned to his dormitory, determined to master the new technique he was developing.

That evening, after training for some time, Mikael exited the Dirarnia world and made his weekly visit to Kiara. This visit had been delayed slightly due to the Willowbrook Town Defense mission, which had prevented him from disappearing abruptly to see her. This time, he stayed with her longer than usual, making up for the missed time.

The next day, Mikael continued his training and made significant progress. He had finally mastered his unnamed spell to the point where he could cast it using intent alone. Not only that, but the spell had improved, allowing him to reduce his weight to an astonishing 20 kilograms.

Feeling satisfied with the progress, Mikael decided it was time to begin integrating the spell into his Wind-Explosive Style. Just as he prepared to resume his training, his bracelet vibrated with a notification:

Principal [10:56 AM]:

Mister Angelini, you are invited to my office to discuss the investigation you conducted regarding the array that attracted beasts to Willowbrook Town. Miss Mournsky and Miss Mystoria are also required to attend, as this discussion pertains to them and the rewards you jointly requested.

Cordially

As Mikael finished reading the message, a wave of anxiety washed over him. The thought of meeting the principal made him uneasy, knowing that if a confrontation arose, he wouldn't stand a chance—not even to escape—given the vast power disparity.

'Calm down,' he thought, forcing himself to steady his nerves. With a deep breath, he exited his dormitory room and followed the map on his bracelet to the principal's office.

As he walked, he noticed the Academy grounds were much livelier than they had been two days ago, when they came back from the Willowbrook Town defense. Many students had now returned, and the campus buzzed with activity. Snippets of conversations reached his ears:

"Did you hear about the arrays found near the town during the beasts waves?"

"Yeah, it's crazy. I heard it was some sort of sacrificial array set up by a group of maniacs trying to kill the townsfolk we were supposed to defend!"

"The professors were deployed, and students were recalled. Things must be serious!"

"I think you're overreacting. The teachers are all A rankers at minimum. They'll handle it easily."

"I'm not so sure—"

The argument continued, but Mikael walked out of earshot, his thoughts turning inward.

'A group of fanatics like the Obsidian Covenant carrying out large-scale attacks and sacrifices with arrays... This isn't good. Not at all. Situations like these can spiral out of control fast.'

He grimaced. 'A satanic cult performing sacrifices in a fantasy world? Yeah, this reeks of trouble.'

Shaking his head, Mikael decided to push those thoughts aside. Worrying about it wouldn't help, and he needed to focus on his upcoming meeting with the principal.

After a short walk, he reached the teachers' section, an area reserved for faculty accommodations, including offices, living quarters, training rooms, and other facilities. Soon, he arrived at the principal's office.

Seated on a comfortable couch outside the office was Lyra. Approaching her, Mikael asked, "You're not going in?"

She shook her head. "No, the principal said he wanted to speak to all three of us at once."

Accepting her explanation, Mikael sat beside her, and they made small talk until Amelia arrived. Once together, they knocked on the door.

"Enter," came a deep, authoritative male voice.

They stepped into a cozy office where the principal sat behind a large desk, his focus on some paperwork. As they entered, he looked up, his gaze carrying a quiet yet undeniable authority. With a gesture toward the comfortable chairs in front of him, he said, "Please, take a seat."

The three obeyed, with Mikael sitting in the center, Lyra to his right, and Amelia to his left.

Once they were settled, Silvius began, "First of all, I would like to congratulate you three. I've read the report on your actions during the Willowbrook Town defense, and you all performed exceptionally well."

He paused briefly, a grandfatherly smile softening his face. "Not only did you excel in defending the town, but you went above and beyond by investigating the beast waves and discovering the individuals powering the array responsible for them."

"You stopped them and relayed the critical information to the teachers, enabling them to warn other students and bolster the defense of other towns."

He leaned back slightly, looking at each of them in turn. "I also received your 'unique' request, which I've approved in light of your contributions. The mansion will be available by tomorrow."

Smiles spread across their faces at the news, pleased they'd soon be able to spend more time together in their new shared space.

However, the principal wasn't finished. "Of course, your contribution points far exceed the cost of granting you a mansion. While it's uncommon for students to live together in such accommodations, it's not unheard of, and the expense doesn't account for all your contributions to the Academy."

He continued, "You may choose to convert the remaining points into credits, or you can request something else. The choice is yours."

The trio exchanged glances and discussed briefly. Finding no specific desire among them, Mikael spoke on their behalf. "We don't have anything particular in mind. What would you recommend?"

Silvius smiled, appreciating their pragmatic approach. "I'd suggest upgrading the aura and mana concentration array in your mansion's training room. Currently, it's equipped with a mid-rank array, the same as your dormitories. Replacing it with a high-rank array would significantly enhance your training."

The three agreed to his suggestion.

After concluding their business, they left the office. As the door closed behind them, Silvius sat back in his chair, his expression growing pensive. Murmuring to himself, he said, "The Obsidian Covenant is stirring once again. I wonder what they're aiming for this time..."

***

Meanwhile, the trio walked through the quiet corridors of the Teacher's section of the Academy. They chatted casually, their spirits lifted by the news that their request had been accepted and that they would soon be able to live together.

"Hey," Mikael began, glancing at the women beside him. "We just came back from an 'exhausting meeting.' Why don't we take some time to relax?"

Amelia raised an eyebrow, her calm demeanor laced with curiosity. "What do you have in mind?"

Mikael slowed his steps before answering. "The other day, I saw an arcade on the Academy grounds. What do you think about going there? Not for training, just relaxing and having fun. It could be nice."

Amelia nodded slightly. "An arcade, huh? I've never actually been to one, but maybe it could be fun."

Lyra remained silent, her purple eyes glancing between them as she nodded in quiet agreement.

Mikael grinned. "Perfect. You'll get to experience something new, and I'll show you the ropes. Trust me, it's not that hard to enjoy yourself at an arcade."

Amelia smirked. "Bold of you to assume you'll be better than me at whatever games we find there. Maybe I'll be the one showing you the 'ropes.'"

With that, the decision was made, and the trio headed to the entertainment district. The arcade building loomed ahead, its neon lights glowing invitingly. Inside, the air was filled with the hum of machines, flashing screens, and the occasional cheer or groan from players.

Mikael looked around, feeling strangely at ease. The lively atmosphere reminded him of his past, before the Records. Back then, he had enjoyed video games when he could steal some time away from managing his gang.

Of course, he couldn't frequent arcades often—gang leaders hanging around such places wasn't exactly good for their reputation. But now, he didn't care about others' opinions. Even as some nearby students cast glances their way, intrigued by the trio's, he ignored them and focused on the games around him.

"How about we start with a claw machine?" he suggested, pointing toward a nearby one.

Lyra blinked at the colorful assortment of plush toys encased in glass. "You mean... we have to grab one of those with the claw?"

"Exactly," Mikael replied, pulling a few coins from his storage ring—leftovers from his last visit to the arcade. He slipped the coins into the machine and took hold of the joystick. With practiced ease, he maneuvered the claw over a small plush dragon and pressed the button. The claw descended, gripping the dragon tightly and depositing it into the chute.

Reaching in, he retrieved the plushie and handed it to Lyra.

A small, shy smile appeared on her face as she accepted the toy, cradling it in her arms. "Thank you," she murmured softly, her gentle gaze lingering on him.

Amelia crossed her arms, her competitive streak surfacing. "Let me try."

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Stepping forward, the archer took hold of the joystick with surprising confidence for someone who claimed to have little experience. She carefully positioned the claw above a small elephant plush. The claw descended, gripping the toy, but just as it began to rise, the elephant slipped free and fell back into the pile.

Amelia clicked her tongue in annoyance and inserted more coins. After two more attempts, she successfully captured the plush elephant. Holding it up triumphantly, she smirked. "Not bad for a beginner."

Mikael chuckled. "Not bad, but I got mine on the first try."

She rolled her eyes. "This was the essay we will see who is better at the other games!"

Next, they headed to the racing games, where three seats were positioned side by side, each equipped with a steering wheel, a gear shifter, and pedals for acceleration and braking. Without hesitation, they each settled into a seat, anticipation in their expressions as they prepared to race against one another. The countdown flashed on the screen, building tension, and the moment it hit zero, they were off, their virtual cars speeding down the track as they focused intently on the screens in front of them.

Mikael finished first, with Amelia coming in fourth and Lyra placing seventh. Despite her lower ranking, Lyra seemed to genuinely enjoy the experience, her shy demeanor giving way to laughter. Amelia, on the other hand, was intensely focused, determined to do better. Her competitiveness wasn't toxic—it was just part of who she was. Even so, she couldn't deny that she was having fun.

"I saw a game that looks interesting," Amelia said confidently, pointing toward another section of the arcade. "This one, I guarantee I'll win."

Mikael smirked, his tone teasing. "I hope so, because it'd be reaalllyyyyy embarrassing to lose after a declaration like that."

They followed her to a metallic booth adorned with images of forests, guns, and monsters. Mikael raised an eyebrow, a hint of recognition flashing across his face.

"This is a shooting game," Amelia explained, leading them inside the booth. They sat on a bench facing a large screen, where two plastic guns were mounted.

Noticing there were only two guns, Lyra stepped back. "I'll wait for my turn. You two can have your little contest," she said, her shyness fading as she smiled playfully.

Mikael picked up one of the guns, testing its weight. Amelia grabbed the other, her green eyes meeting his with a competitive spark. "Ready to lose?" she challenged.

He returned her gaze with an amused grin. "We'll see about that."

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