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Angelica now walked through the academy\'s halls with a hollow look in her eyes, her usual energy drained, her grief visible in her every step. Silas had seen it all—the sleepless nights, the far-off stares, the silent tears she tried to hide.

He was trying his best to support her, though he still couldn\'t fully grasp his own feelings about Ivy\'s death. His initial anger had been a blazing fury, but after that faded, he felt… empty, somehow numb. Still, he pushed aside his detachment, doing what he could to help Angelica through her mourning.

Vic, too, had felt the loss deeply, but he had managed to pull himself out of his grief, a stoic mask hiding whatever pain still lingered. He handled it his own way, perhaps seeking solace in keeping the group grounded, acting as the anchor while Angelica struggled and Silas wrestled with emotions he couldn\'t understand. For David, it was harder to read his feelings, as he often sat silently, his gaze distant, a shadow over his normally lively spirit.

Silas\'s system, however, had remained disturbingly quiet since the incident. No new quests, no updates, only the looming threat of his uncompleted compulsory mission—the order to hunt down and kill Sensei Josh. It gnawed at him, a constant reminder that he couldn\'t rest, couldn\'t relax, until it was done. Yet finding a way to complete it wasn\'t easy; he had been seeking the right opportunity, but so far, nothing had aligned in his favor.

Silas dressed in his academy uniform and took a moment to look at his reflection. His once dark hair was now streaked with snow-white strands, the result of his completed evolution quest.

It had started as a few stray strands, but now nearly half of his hair had turned, an almost ghostly change that he suspected would soon take over completely. He noted the cold look in his own eyes, a reflection of the numbness he couldn\'t shake. Sighing, he straightened his uniform and left his room.

The cafeteria was already crowded by the time he arrived. The clatter of trays and the hum of conversation filled the air as students crowded around tables, busy with their meals and animated chatter. Silas quickly scanned the room, spotting Vic and David sitting a few tables away. He made his way through the crowd and took a seat with them.

"Morning, man," Vic greeted, giving him a quick fist bump.

Silas returned the gesture, noting David\'s silence as he sipped his drink, seemingly lost in thought. Silas couldn\'t help but glance around for Angelica, hoping to see a hint of her usual presence.

"Where\'s Angelica?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.

"She skipped breakfast," Vic replied, sounding resigned. "Said she wasn\'t hungry and went straight to the dojo. She\'s probably venting out her anger on the punching bag."

Silas nodded, understanding. "Makes sense. Ivy was like family to her… She\'s going to need a lot of time to process this."

Vic sighed, setting his drink down, his gaze dropping. "She\'s been through hell. First, her own family turns their backs on her, and now she loses the one person she trusted completely. It\'s all because of her lightning powers instead of the ice they expected. The academy treats her like an outsider, just because she\'s different. She\'s got no one else but us now. We have to stand by her, no matter what."

Silas felt the weight of Vic\'s words, the silent pact between them. They all knew what Angelica\'s life had been like. The academy wasn\'t a kind place to those who didn\'t fit its rigid molds. She had become one of them—the only family she had left.

They ate quietly, each of them lost in their own thoughts. After a while, they headed their separate ways. Silas walked toward the combat class, his mind drifting to Angelica\'s state and how he might be able to help her heal, if he could. His thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice calling out to him.

"Silas!"

He turned to see Kara approaching, her gaze sharp and assessing. Silas felt a chill run down his spine. He knew better than to take her presence lightly; her questions always seemed to dig deeper than anyone else\'s.

"Good morning, Mrs. Kara," he greeted her with a slight bow, forcing himself to maintain a calm expression.

Kara\'s lips curved into a slight smirk, but her eyes held a hint of something else. "You\'re looking… well, Silas. A bit too well, if you ask me, for someone who faced down a god in a Grade 5 realm."

Silas\'s fingers twitched, but he kept his face neutral. "I\'m just on my way to class. If this isn\'t urgent…"

"Hold on," Kara interrupted, crossing her arms, her gaze sharpening. "I won\'t keep you long. Just one question. Was it you who killed the realm\'s god?"

Silas took a steadying breath, meeting her eyes. "Yes, it was me."

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Kara\'s expression didn\'t change; it was as if she had already known and simply needed confirmation. "Your powers have spiked beyond what\'s expected of someone at your level. So fast… almost unnaturally fast."

Silas clenched his jaw, his eyes hardening. "When you\'ve spent most of your life being weak, you don\'t waste a chance to change that. Weakness isn\'t an option anymore."

Kara\'s gaze softened slightly, but her tone remained cautious. "I get wanting to protect yourself. But the rate you\'re growing… it\'s almost unsettling, even to those who know you."

Silas didn\'t flinch. "There are people who want what I have, people who would do anything to take it from me. If they come for me, I need to be ready."

Kara held his gaze, something unreadable flickering in her eyes. After a moment, she gave a slight nod, seeming to accept his answer. "Alright. I just needed to make sure there was nothing else… hidden. But before you go, there\'s one more thing you need to know."

Silas\'s brows furrowed as he stopped in his tracks, glancing back at her.

"Mary, the mind reader… she told Sir Dominic about your dealings. About the energy pills you\'ve been getting from the Blood Market."

Silas felt his stomach drop, his blood running cold. He knew exactly what that revelation meant. The Jingling Bars. The academy\'s punishment for students caught trafficking or using restricted items.