Nerfall Academy- Northern District.
Terria Tower
A lady with silver-white hair, tied up in a bun, stepped out of a tower dressed in a royal blue robe; her demeanor was both aloof and reserved as she walked silently with the crowd of transcendents going about their day, and each gave her some space.
On her index finger was a silver ring adorned with a simple cross crest. While the ring was an important piece of identification, the crowd didn't need it.
Because, well, who didn't know the Fourth Cross, Terria Cross, a Rank 6 Transcendent who reached the Fifth summit during her awakening?
As a Sixth Rank Ascendant, the fame she had amassed since becoming a transcendent was enough to shock the entire Transcendent world and command the respect she currently enjoyed.
For the first time in forever, she stepped out of her tower and headed toward the Central District, her blue glasses hiding the faint crease between her brows. It was impossible to mask the worry reflected in her stride.
"Remind me again: how did my junior brother leave my tower under your watch?" Although it seemed like she was speaking to no one, a voice responded curtly the instant her words dropped.
"Fourth Lady, the Fifth Master was studying the runes as instructed in the room on the second floor... I didn't see him leave the entire time." The voice was female, and while it didn't seem to have a figure behind it,
The shadow on her feet trembled slightly when the voice responded to her question.
The crease on Terria's forehead deepened slightly; usually, the guard she placed in charge of her brother would have been frozen to death the moment they made an error of this magnitude.
But after reviewing the surveillance she placed within her tower to see how her mischievous junior brother left the tower while under the watch of a Rank Transcendent, she found nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
The entire situation bugged her deeply. It had to be known that Arthur wasn't a transcendent yet, he wasn't even of age to undergo awakening, but according to the rules of the Cross Family, all direct family members were supposed to spend the year before their awakening at the Academy.
Although she rarely paid close attention to him, the safety of her junior brother fell on her until he either awakened or died in the process. Until then, no harm was allowed to come to a member of the Cross Family.
While she wasn't overly panicked—few in their right minds would dare harm a Cross—she knew there were even fewer who could whisk her brother away from within her own domain. That alone made the matter worth investigating. There was no conclusive evidence yet, but the thought gnawed at her. This chapter was taken from novelping dot com without permission.
She was currently on her way to the tower of a friend whose Authority was better suited for this type of investigation.
Arriving at the Skybus platform—since flying was prohibited within the academy due to the central Tower of Authority—she stepped onto the transport after paying the required academy points.
A copied chapter has arrived from www.NovelPhoenix.com without permission; the author's version there helps support their writing.
"Central district," She spoke to the operator, who stood close by with bated breath at the sight of such a legendary figure.
"Y... yes, right away, Lady Terria." The operator spoke a little too loudly, his fear raging with a slight excitement and without delay.
Without delay, the Skybus lurched forward.
The distance from the Northern District to the Central District was considerable, taking about forty minutes on foot. But with the Skybus—an innovative application of runes from the Signs Faction—the journey was shortened to a mere two minutes.
"I'm gonna freeze that brat's legs up to his knees if I find out that he escaped on his own," Terria complained to herself, regretting the time she was spending out of her tower.
She had several ongoing research projects, and while retrieving her troublesome brother was important, it wasn't as critical as advancing her own abilities.
"I hope I can get this solved before Mother gets word of this..." Tessia shivered at the thought of this news reaching the ears of her Mother, the only one who could make the frosty goddess shiver in fear.
While she waited for the Skybus to reach its destination, she let her mind wander, running simulations on new applications for her authority.
Finally, the Skybus came to a stop, and she disembarked. Ignoring the attention her presence drew, she walked briskly toward her destination.
"Terria?" A deep male voice sounded out behind her as she walked, catching her attention.
Only a few people addressed her so casually, and the voice sounded overly familiar.
"Did you inform Terria that you'd be coming to the academy? She barely steps out of her Icy tower, let alone enter the Central district," a second, gentler male voice added.
Turning around, Terria saw a hulking man in heavy armor that creaked with every movement, alongside a swirl of rolling mist that obscured the identity of the figure floating beside him.
Her eyes narrowed instantly.
"Dammit... Why the hell is he here!!" She screamed within her mind the instant she laid eyes on the hulking figure beside the floating mist.
"Did something happen back at the estate.... Why is Telmear here?" Terria mentally transmitted to the guard hidden within her shadow. Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
"Nothing that I've been informed of, Lady Terria." The shadow's reply was almost instant. "Lord Telmear's appearance at the academy was entirely unexpected."
"You're becoming less reliable by the minute... do I need to keep you around at this point?" Terria muttered under her breath with a slight irritation in her voice but immediately adjusted her expression the moment the pair drew closer.
Bowing slightly Terria greeted, "Principal, Lord Telmear.... It's a surprise meeting you here." Terria spoke without the slightest change to her voice and expression, almost convincing that she wasn't shocked at the sight of them.
"Hm, you seem tense, Terria. That's unlike you." The principal spoke calmly. "You can tell me; perhaps I can help." Her panic was well hidden, but before the principal's senses, she might as well be an open book.
"She is? Hm, that's unusual. What's going on, little sis? Maybe Big Brother can help." Telmear let a smirk play along the edge of his lips as he teased Terria.
Although curious about her business, Telmear knew her character well enough to know she wouldn't spill anything easily, so he settled for teasing her while he had the chance.
Clenching her teeth in annoyance, Terria gave him a sharp look before turning back to the Principal with her usual cold composure, which seemed a little colder than usual.
"Thank you, Principal, but I think I can handle it."
"Well, if you say so, what brings you to the Central district? It's hard to see you even step a foot outside your tower," the Principal replied, his tone warm before shifting slightly.
"I'd think you were here to watch the Signs like your brother here if you came a little earlier."
"When did I ever say I came to watch the Signs?" Telmear countered defensively, sneaking a glance at Terria as he spoke. "I only came to scout recruits for my Army."
"Hm. Did you change factions, 'Big Brother'?" With emphasis on the words 'Big Brother,' her tone was still cold, but one could see that she was trying to tease Telmear.
Telmear's imposing frame and battle-ready demeanor contrasted hilariously with his sudden sheepishness. "Didn't you just hear me say I'm looking for recruits? If I were here to study Glyphs, I'd have left the moment the awakening started."
Telmear barely defended himself while trying to change the topic with the first thing that came to mind.
"Speaking of recruits, Mother mentioned the youngest is currently at the academy. How are his preparations for awakening coming along?"
"...."
Terria went completely silent, eyeing Telmear with deep suspicion as a question crossed her mind.
"Does he have anything to do with Arthur's disappearance?"