Chapter 10 — The One Who Sees All
Location: Headmaster's Office, Imperial Academy
The room was quiet.
Stacks of documents lay neatly arranged across the wide oak desk, each bearing seals from different departments—security, logistics, student affairs. Outside the tall windows, the distant noise of the Academy grounds drifted faintly inward, carried by the breeze.
Cecil Ashborn sat behind the desk, reviewing the final report with practiced ease. Her posture was relaxed, one elbow resting lightly against the polished surface, red hair falling loosely down her back.
Across the room, Jane Ashborn sat on the sofa, a folder balanced on her knee as she sorted through student assessment schedules and class assignments for the coming weeks.
Neither spoke.
Suddenly, a subtle distortion in the air—brief, controlled, intentional.
Both felt it at the same time.
Neither woman reached for a weapon.
A figure appeared silently to Cecil's left.
He was clad in light armor designed for mobility, his presence muted almost to the point of invisibility. A dark cloak rested over his shoulders, and only his eyes were visible beneath his hood—sharp, alert, disciplined.
He dropped to one knee and bowed.
"Report," he said evenly."No abnormalities detected within the city so far. The northern border remains stable following the last incursion. No signs of coordinated demon movement."
"Our agents are active across all major districts. Individuals entering and exiting the city are being monitored as ordered."
Cecil nodded once, eyes still on the document in her hand. "Good. You've done well."
The man inclined his head slightly.
He was the captain of the Watchers—a covert unit created personally by Cecil Ashborn.
Its members were selected, trained, and commanded by her alone.
Operating in the shadows, the Watchers ensured the Academy's security, monitored political threats, and gathered intelligence long before danger ever surfaced. Most of its operatives were A to S-class adventurers.
Their captain stood at SS-class.
The room remained silent for a moment.
Cecil finally looked up.
"Anything unusual within the city itself?" she asked.
The captain hesitated.
"…There is."
Jane looked up.
The captain continued, carefully recounting the incident in the market—the confrontation between Lady Claire and the Second Prince, the escalation, and the intervention of a masked individual.
Jane's grip tightened on her documents when she heard Lucas had tried to grab Claire.
Her jaw clenched.
Cecil listened without interruption.
But the temperature in the room shifted.
A faint red aura leaked from her body, rippling outward. Papers lifted from the desk and scattered to the floor. Thin cracks spread across the wood beneath her hand.
Jane exhaled calmly.
"Mother."
The pressure vanished instantly.
Cecil closed her eyes, then opened them again.
"…Apologies," she said quietly. "Continue."
The captain swallowed and thought, "Monster."
"After the intervention, the masked individual requested directions to the Academy and departed alongside Lady Claire and Lady Olivia."
Jane's brows drew together.
Cecil tapped her fingers once against the desk.
"Have two S-class Watchers follow Claire and Olivia from a distance," she ordered.
"Do not interfere unless necessary."
The captain nodded."Understood. Should we take action against the Second Prince and his companions?"
Cecil's eyes sharpened.
"No. I'll handle that personally later. That brat has grown far too comfortable, and the King has been far too blind."
Jane sighed inwardly, already imagining the political fallout.
Meeting near the Arena was going to be troublesome.
The captain paused again.
"There is one more matter. It is regarding the masked individual."
Cecil's gaze lifted slightly.
"Go on."
"According to our sources, there was a minor incident involving him at the northern gate earlier today—resolved by a senior guard."
"Hmm." Cecil Hummed, "Do we have any information about him?"
"Yes," the captain replied.
"After some digging, our agents confirmed he is registered as an SSS-class adventurer."
Jane's eyes widened slightly.
SSS-rank adventurers were exceedingly rare—usually handpicked for missions by the Guild Master himself.
The captain continued.
"Our operatives observed him intervene decisively against the Second Prince. He acted alone."
Cecil leaned back slowly.
"…An SSS-class," she murmured. "Helping Claire. On his own."
Then—
She smiled.
Just a little.
"So," she thought, you've finally arrived.
The captain stiffened, misreading her expression.
Jane's eyes flicked to her mother.
"…Mother?" she asked softly.
Cecil chuckled under her breath.
"I believe we're thinking the same thing."
She looked back at the captain.
"Leave him alone. He is my guest."
"Continue observing Claire and Olivia—but keep your distance. If he notices you, it will complicate things."
The captain bowed deeply.
"Understood."
He vanished without a sound.
The office fell silent again.
Jane stood and moved toward the window, gazing out toward the Academy grounds.
"…So it really is him," she said quietly.
Cecil nodded.
"That child causes trouble the moment he enters the city," she said with a faint sigh."But this time… I won't complain."
Jane closed her eyes briefly.
"…Things aren't going to stay peaceful, are they?"
Cecil didn't answer.
Outside, the Academy bells rang again.
Unaware of the storm quietly forming above them, three figures continued their walk toward the Academy—unseen threads of fate tightening with every step.