Chapter 22: Principal’s worry
Meanwhile, back in the Principal's Office, hidden high within the oldest and most secluded tower of Silver Blade Academy, Principal Duldor—known in his youth as the "Dual Silver Blade" for wielding twin curved swords in his legendary duels—still sat hunched over an avalanche of papers, parchments, and folded reports that nearly buried the dark oak of his ancient desk.
His shoulders slumped in relief as he penned his final signature, the inky flourish curling across the bottom of the last assessment record.
"Finally... these damn evaluations... If I read one more exaggerated claim from a swordsmanship teacher bragging about his students cutting melons, I'll exile myself to the wilderness..."
With a heavy breath, he leaned back into his creaking high-backed chair, eyes drifting toward the arched window where twilight bled crimson into the skies of Silver Blade City.
He rubbed his temples and muttered again.
"Mmm... the final step of the assessments tomorrow... students and teachers, everyone pushing forward... hah... and then the Chief himself will come, won't he?"
He tapped his knuckles lightly on the edge of the desk. "Baron Helmdurn... Baron of the Black Vale... a True Noble..."
The title rolled off his tongue with a curious blend of admiration and suspicion. "Our city's never had one of those, no... not even during the last border war... and now, amidst whispers of those Fear Beings crawling near the outer regions..."
His fingers stroked the sharp, silver-gray beard on his chin—short, but dense like a metal brush. "Why would a Baron be so interested in our younglings now, eh? What is it... support? Charity? Nonsense. Nobles never move without cause. Not unless there's something to be gained. Especially not near the frontier cities..."
Duldor's mumbling grew into a slow, stream-of-consciousness mutter, almost hypnotic in rhythm.
"Other Stage One Territories already had their turn... Silver Blade's next... mm... those reports from Iron Dew Academy... only two passed. And Scarlet Rift? No passers. Not one. It's getting harsher... more refined... no more quantity, only quality..."