“How beautiful…. I haven’t seen this kind of aura in a millennium. And you were able to overe a Dungeon Master before your father?” The Headmaster ughed.

  I frowned. “I get the feeling your holding baething, I know you didn’t call me up here to just examine me. So what do you want? My irritation was evident.

  “You defeated a Dungeon Master single handedly, dispying your strength and vigor in front of your cssmates. Some are demanding you to be called the Hero, while others view you as a monster who caused people to die—”

  Lilli and Elnora both shouted “that’s insanity” and “he would never”.

  The Headmaster tinued. “Those who makes those cims say you must have challehe Dungeon Master. However, Princess a i weeks have addressed these rumors.”

  The Headmaster flicked his wrist, sending a neer in my dire that radiated with mana. The front page showed an image of a standing on a stage she was moving like a video.

  “As you see, she has defended your honor and ehose rumors have been squashed. Due to her further involvement the public eye views you as someone who has received the Princess’s grace. Please know Ryn, that I’m on your side here. The magic you now wield has chosen you only you’re worthy of its raw iy,” the Headmaster expined.

  “And?” I asked, my patience wearing thin. “What’s the point yetting at?”

  “You did die in that dungeon Ryn.” He said boldly.

  His words sent chills down my spine.

  He tinued. “The sed son of the Ashford’s—the house of the Hero of Wrath. Son to a man who is not royalty, yet married into a house. You, Ryn, wield the power of a true sigil.”

  “H-how do you know that?” I asked fused.

  “In this world there are two types of sigils,” he expined. “Sigils that are earhrough worthiness and those created through emotions—temporary yet powerful. Not much are known about either of them. However, only seven true sigils exist at this moment in time.”

  “W-who are they?” I asked, trying to grasp the information.

  The Headmaster met my gaze. I will tell you this, Ryn—four of the true sigils reside in this very room. Alexander, Elnora, You, and I.”

  He then whispered, “Zeigen,” and a sigil glowed on his hand—a white dragon with a sword above its head.

  It looked like mine.

  “Why…. Why is yil simir to mine? And what do you mean by true sigils?”

  The Headmaster smiled. “I will tell you more in time son, but for now, this is all I say.”

  I turo Alex. “T-that’s how you know him?”

  Alex nodded. “In a simple sense yes, like he said I ot tell you more. I’m sorry Ryn.”

  I exhaled, trying to process the information. “So … you’re telling me only seven sigils are true, while others are fake? Just borrowed power?”

  “Indeed,” the Headmaster firmed.

  “And you won’t tell me more?”

  “No…… I will, wheime is right. Until then, I advise your party to attend the academy more and when you have the time to explore the endless dungeons. There are eleven in total—two have yet to be found. I have already released a reendation to the Adventurers guild promoting all of you to A rank Adventurer’s. The more dungeons you clear, the more you will begin to uand.”

  “And how we trust you?” I asked.

  “Because I’m the one who ensured your survival,” he replied. “Alexander did well in reviving your mana.”

  “My mana was revived?”

  “Yes. That crystal in that dungeon holds immense power, that none wield yet you could. I would advise you to no longer hide this new mana—o ceal it any longer.”

  The room fell silence as Rina walked in, carefully p tea for everyohe Headmaster took a seat at a nearby table.

  “e sit,” he instructed.

  We followed suit, and the versation tinued.

  Alex spoke up. “I would reend Ryn to ehe Polemos.”

  “The Polemos? You meatle are?” I asked.

  “That will only bring me more unwatention.” I spoke.

  “Y-yes,” Alex firmed.

  “W-why” I asked.

  “There will be strong oppos peting—other powerful students. You should enter a them. Prove your strength to the kingdom by defeating other students. Doing so will grant you further access to restricted Endless Dungeons,” Alex expined.

  The Headmaster nodded. “And I will tell you more about the power you wield. But everything discussed today will stay in this room. Please, Know that even I do not have all the answers. If you seek the truth, dive into the temples.”

  “T-Temples?” I muttered. “Where have I heard that word before?”

  A thought surfaced my mind–the interface… and Schutz.

  “You said temples,” I said, staring at him. “How do you know what they are?”

  “Because I was there before they house'd monsters.”

  Silence wahe room as I took in his words.

  “S-So, you really want us to ehe Endless Dungeons, Headmaster?” Lilli asked.

  “Yes, Ms.Kirkwood. From here on out, I will be increasing your curriculum and Elnora’s to better suit magid swordsmanship. To further assist Ryn, I have personally adjusted your training to better plement his needs otlefield.”

  “Ms. Kirkwood I will help you hone yic. If needed, I give you and Elnora extra lessarding magic capacity. Do mind to keep all of this to yourselves I would hate for royals to find out.”

  Elnora cleared her throat.

  “I know we’ve talked about this some, Headmaster—”

  The Headmaster interrupted, patting her head. “It’s Evastor to you, dear.”

  She cleared her throat. “Evastor!” she smiled “How do you know if my sigil is true?”

  Good point, I thought.

  Headmaster Evastor tinued. “Well, yil means something. It’s not from emotions but rather a byproduct of an idea. Everyone who wields a true sigil wields ahat’s all I’ll say for now.”

  “Now, now.” “After our little meeting, I have been personally instructed to give you an invitation to attend the royal ball. It is to celebrate the safe return of Princess a and the defeat of the Dungeon Master. The ball has been put on hold until you were awakened Ryn. There, you and your party will receive a reward for the victory.”

  If you may excuse me,” Headmaster Evastor said trying to shift the versation, standing up from his table. “I have some things to attend to. You are all weled to visit me anytime,” he added.

  As we all got up from our seats aed the room, the Headmaster stood there, watg the door shut behind us.

  “It’s good to see you again, Ms. Elnora,” he whispered, a gentle smile of siy crossing his face.

  As we exited the hall and desded the spiral staircase, Lilli and Alex were at it again. Lilli tease Alex about his full name, and Alex kept tellio shut up, asking if she hadn’t heard anything the Headmaster told us to do.

  We passed the faculty wing aered the stairs, and I was lost in thought, processing everything Headmaster Evastor told us. I clutched the ball invitation as Lilli cast a spell shifting the staircase toward the bottom floor. We walked outside, and I noticed Elnora looking up at me with on her face.

  “R-Ry—Oh!” She interrupted, notig the invitation in my hand. “The ball! When is it?”

  I looked at the date and froze. “It’s TOMORROW?!” I yelled.

  Lilli slowly looked at me in horror. “WHAT? Elnora and I o check if the dresses we got still fit us!” She grabbed Elnora’s hand, draggioward the dorm.

  Alex ughed as the pair rushed off. “Some things never ge, huh?” he said, snickering.

  I shook my head. “Yeah, but I’m not pining.”

  “I guess I’ll have to find something for the ball,” I muttered.

  We ehe dormitory a into our room; I began to weave magicules trying to craft a ball outfit. Alex went to draw the bath for himself.

  “Oh?” he said, stepping out of the bath. “Weaving clothing, huh?”

  I didn’t look up.

  “That’s not necessary you know,” he said, opening my wardrobe to reveal a freshly tailored ball outfit with my family’s crest.

  “Your mother stopped by the infirmary while you were unscious. She dropped this off an asked me to take it to our pce.”

  I sighed deeply, letting go of the magicules. The outfit I was crafting slowly unraveled. “Today has been so weird,” I thought to myself, lying down on my bed.

  “You have a long day?” Alex asked, sitting beside me.

  “Yeah,” I replied, gng up at the ceiling. “I woke up and a lot ged.”

  “Well, how about I’ll go out and grab us some dinner from the cafeteria maybe that will cheer you up?” Alex said, getting up. The door shutting behind him as he left.

  I id there, taking ihing, trying to process all the information I could use to my advantage. “I just o stay out of politiorrow,” I whispered to myself with a sigh.

  i: Chapter 17: Royal Ball