Chapter 197: Visiting Gerald (1)

“Oi, if you don’t wake up you’ll miss breakfast.”

Michael was awoken by a something soft thrown hard at his face, stunning him momentarily. The memories of the dream overlapped with reality, making it difficult to distinguish what was real.

After a few moments, Michael’s eyes turned to Rudy who was in the midst of getting dressed and launched the pillow back at him wordlessly, striking him back in the face.

Of course the pillow was far too soft to cause any proper damage, but he had properly shown his annoyance with this move.

“I had a dream…” Michael said, composing himself.

At this, Rudy stood to attention. “What was it? Did you learn anything cool?”

After thinking for a moment, Michael shook his head, “Nothing like last time. It was an attack on the academy…”

This seemed to have gotten Rudy’s attention even more. The guy stopped in the middle of getting dressed, rushing over to him while asking for more details while only in a shirt and his underwear.

Michael held out a stiff arm to keep some distance, “I need to tell Melody as well, hurry up and get dressed.”

A few minutes later they emerged from the room and happened to see Melody already waiting in the lounge, a disapproving look on her face. “Are you planning on sleeping the whole morning?” she asked with some bite.

However, upon seeing his expression, she turned serious.

“What is it?”

Seeing that she had switched gears, Michael nodded and began to explain what he’d seen in his dream. The forces that came from the eastern forest, their black hooded robes and the crimson-robed elder who looked like the headmaster.

“What!? They stole the Aetherheart?” Rudy exclaimed in shock.

“Yes, and then escaped through a tear in space.” Michael continued, turning to Melody. “Has the Aetherheart ever been stolen before that you know of?”

Melody shook her head, “No, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened before in the past. Its possible that house Arcadius might have wanted to keep it a secret, since having their academy infiltrated so easily would make nobles reluctant to send their children here.” She mused thoughtfully.

“But that doesn’t explain why you saw the headmaster…” Rudy added. “Unless it happened in the past three years.”

Silence stretched between them for a while before Michael spoke up.

“Could it be that my soul allowed me to view the future?”

“Surely not…”

That was the first reaction, but it was said merely out of reflex. No one knew anything about how his soul trait worked, other than what it had shown so far. Neither its full abilities, nor its restrictions.

“There’s one way to find out.” Melody said after a while, sending him a look.

Michael raised an eyebrow in confusion, only for his heart to sink a moment later. “You want us to go talk to the portraits right?” he asked bitterly.

Melody nodded solemnly, “if anyone would know about the Aetherheart being stolen, it would be the old headmasters. We might even be able to find the old headmaster that resembles the one in your dream. If that’s the case, then we can rest easy.”

“But if not…” Michael echoed.

“Then it’s probably future events…” she finished softly.

The prospect was terrifying. Not only did they not know when the attack would occur, but the result was ultimately that the thieves were able to steal the Aetherheart successfully while also inflicting casualties.

There was at least one faculty member that had died, at least from what Michael had seen. Who knew how many others would have also died at their hands.

Were there also students present at the time of the infiltration?

As Michael’s mind began to spiral with these thoughts, he felt a hand upon his shoulder. “We should go talk to the headmaster portraits first, it might not be as bad as we think.” Melody said soothingly.

He could only nod in response.

“Alright let’s go.” Rudy said, adjusting his robe.

“You can’t come, you’re not allowed up to the fifth floor.” Melody stated matter-of-factly.

“Ah… Wait, really? Won’t I just be able to tag along with you?” He protested.

But it was Michael who responded, “No one will think anything of Melody and I going up there since we visit the fifth floor essentially every week. We don’t want to draw more attention to ourselves, especially since no one knows about my soul trait beside the headmaster and a few others.”

Seeing the look of disappointment in his features caused Michael to let out a small chuckle. “Don’t worry man, go and get some breakfast, that should cheer you up.”

Rudy mumbled something about pancakes before reluctantly agreeing. “Just make sure you come tell me what you found out before the next round of the tournament begins.”

“It’s a promise.”

Like that, Melody and Michael left the dorm room and ascended the stairs to the fifth floor. This would be the first time that he’d sought out the headmaster portraits on his own volition ever since the damn old man had been trying to recruit him as his apprentice.

He felt a little apprehensive in having to face the portraits again, but there was no use in complaining now.

No one stopped them despite the corridors being more packed than usual. It was at this point that Michael was thankful he did not cave in and let Rudy join them—as they probably would have received many more curious looks.

The top floor was empty, as usual. With only some of the faculty rooms and the headmaster’s office up here, there usually weren’t many that roamed this corridor.

They approached the part of the hall where the portraits were and Michael instantly sought out the old man.

“Sir, I need your help.” Michael said, trying to sound respectful.

It was a familiar older man with a crimson mustache, curled at the ends. Yet instead of greeting them, he let out a harrumph and turned his head, looking away from Michael and Melody.

Ah damn it… he’s ignoring me.

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