Chapter 8: The Board Meeting

The Headmaster's office at EIL was a magnificent chamber adorned with plush armchairs, towering bookshelves, and ornate tapestries depicting scenes of legendary battles. The long, oval table at the center was surrounded by board members, each exuding their own air of importance and power.

Sitting among them was Klaus, a tall, skinny man with a piercing gaze and a high-ranking position in the church. He broke the silence, saying, "Another year, and a special one at that."

The other board members nodded in agreement, waiting for Klaus to continue.

"Now, talking about the 4 heirs," Klaus continued, "what wonderful potential they have. I heard rumors saying that both girls have quite a talent for arcane magic!"

Miss White, an abnormally strong woman, raised an eyebrow. "Klaus, let's not forget about Max Grace. His sister is the youngest church official in history, and with his talent, he may even beat her record."

As the discussion continued, Arnold Frey sat quietly, observing the group with his piercing blue eyes over the rim of his half-moon spectacles. His long, silver beard rested on his chest, and his flowing robes were adorned with intricate celestial symbols, emphasizing his status as one of the Grandmaster-rank mages and the headmaster of EIL.

Finally, he cleared his throat and spoke, his voice deep and commanding, yet tinged with kindness. "May I ask you something?"

All eyes turned to him, and the room fell silent.

"Are we here to compete with each other, or to foster the potential of our students?" he asked. "Let us remember that they are our legacy, and it is our duty to guide them towards greatness, not to pit them against each other."

Arnold continued, "Now tell me, what do you know about the other one, Alex Stern?"

"There isn’t a lot to say about him, Headmaster," Klaus responded respectfully. Everyone at the table nodded in agreement.

Arnold looked around the room with a serious expression and said, "I know your opinions on the hero of fire, but in my school, every student is the same to my eyes." Suddenly, the pressure in the room skyrocketed, and everyone looked down in fear. Arnold sighed and said, "Don’t take me for a fool. A mediocre 10-year-old can't kill a full-grown Tempest Tera."

Looking at their faces, none of them looked like they wanted to talk about it. Arnold sighed again, releasing the pressure, and thought to himself, "I guess I will have to wait to see Alex Stern's rank."