Episode-729
Chapter : 1437
Lloyd Ferrum walked into the faculty lounge of the Royal Academy. It was a Monday, and the air smelled like stale coffee and regret. The lounge was quiet, except for the scratching of quills and the occasional sigh from a professor drowning in grading papers. Lloyd wasn't there for coffee or grading. He was there to hunt.
Well, not hunt exactly. More like observe. He needed to figure out who his colleagues really were. He had built a team—the "Broken Wand Alliance"—but he realized he knew nothing about them. Were they competent? Were they dangerous? Did they put milk in their tea before or after the water? These were critical questions.
He spotted Rubaiya sitting by the window. She was surrounded by stacks of books that were taller than she was. She was reading three of them simultaneously, her eyes darting back and forth like a hummingbird on caffeine. Rubaiya was the strategist. The brain. She was sharp, quick, and a little terrifying.
"Professor Rubaiya," Lloyd said, pulling up a chair. "How goes the war against ignorance?"
Rubaiya didn't look up. "Ignorance is winning. I just graded a paper where a student claimed that fire is made of 'angry air'. It is a tragedy."
"Angry air," Lloyd chuckled. "I like it. Poetic. Wrong, but poetic."
He leaned back in his chair, trying to look casual. "So, Rubaiya. We're partners in this curse-hunting business. But I realized I don't know much about your... capabilities. If we get attacked by a shadow monster, what do you bring to the table? Besides very harsh grading."
Rubaiya finally looked up. She adjusted her glasses. Her eyes were intense. "You wish to know my power?"
"Just curious," Lloyd said. "I showed you my... tactical brilliance. It's only fair."
"Very well," Rubaiya said. She closed her books with a snap. "Observe."
She held out her hand. A small, sleek spirit materialized on her palm. It looked like a cat, but not a house cat. It was a wild cat, lean and muscular, with fur that shimmered like polished obsidian. Its eyes were bright yellow and filled with a predatory intelligence.
"This is Shadow," Rubaiya introduced. "My spirit. He is small, but he is precise."
"A cat," Lloyd said. "Cute. Does he chase lasers?"
"He chases weaknesses," Rubaiya said coolly. "Shadow's ability is 'Absolute Pierce'. He can bypass any magical defense. Shields, wards, armor... they are nothing to him. He strikes the core directly."
Lloyd frowned internally. "Absolute Pierce" was a high-level ability. It was an assassin's skill. It didn't quite fit the profile of a theoretical strategist. Strategists usually had spirits that boosted intelligence or controlled the battlefield. A spirit designed for killing... that was interesting.
"Impressive," Lloyd said aloud. "So you're the scalpel. Good to know. But can he open a jar of pickles? That's the real test of strength."
Rubaiya stared at him. "He can cut the jar in half. Would you like a demonstration?"
"No, I like my jars intact," Lloyd said, standing up. "Thanks for the show, Rubaiya. Remind me never to make you angry."
"I am always angry," Rubaiya said, opening her book again. "It is my natural state."
Lloyd walked away, his mind whirring. Rubaiya was dangerous. More dangerous than she looked. He filed that information away under 'Do Not Annoy'.
Next on his list was Daniel. The brick wall. The man who loved rules more than life itself.
He found Daniel in the armory. Daniel was inspecting a row of practice swords. He was measuring the distance between them with a ruler. If one sword was a millimeter out of place, Daniel looked like he might explode.
"Daniel!" Lloyd called out. "Measuring the fun out of the room?"
Daniel straightened up. He saluted. "Professor Ferrum. Order is essential. A disorganized armory leads to a disorganized mind."
"Right," Lloyd said. "Listen, Daniel. I was wondering. You're the discipline instructor. You're big. You're strong. But what's your spirit? I've never seen it."
"I am not a frontline fighter," Daniel stated. "My role is support. Logistics. Equipment."
"Support?" Lloyd raised an eyebrow. "You look like you could bench press a horse."
"Appearances can be deceiving," Daniel said. "My spirit is... utilitarian."
He held out his hands. A glow appeared. It wasn't a creature. It was a hammer. A spectral, glowing forge hammer.
"This is Forge," Daniel said. "My spirit allows me to craft weapons and armor instantly. I can repair damaged equipment in seconds. I can reinforce steel. I can imbue items with temporary enchantments."
Chapter : 1438
Lloyd watched as Daniel touched a dented shield. The metal flowed like liquid, smoothing out perfectly. It was a powerful ability, but it was purely constructive.
"A crafter," Lloyd noted. "So you make the swords, but you don't swing them?"
"I can swing them," Daniel said. "But my talent lies in creation. I have supplied the Royal Guard for ten years. My armor has saved many lives."
"That's... respectable," Lloyd admitted. "Boring, but respectable. So if we get attacked, you'll just... fix my coat?"
"I will ensure your equipment does not fail," Daniel said seriously. "A soldier is only as good as his gear."
Lloyd nodded. Daniel was exactly what he seemed. A solid, reliable, rule-following wall. He wasn't a threat. He was infrastructure.
"Thanks, Daniel," Lloyd said. "Keep up the good work. Those swords look very... parallel."
"Thank you, sir," Daniel said, returning to his ruler.
Lloyd left the armory. He felt a little better. He was building a picture. Rubaiya was the weapon. Daniel was the shield. It was a balanced team.
But there was still a missing piece. A shadow in the corner of his mind. Something didn't quite add up. Rubaiya's power was too aggressive for her role. Daniel's power was too passive for his size. It was a contradiction.
"People are puzzles," Lloyd muttered. "And I hate puzzles with missing pieces."
He walked out into the courtyard. The sun was shining. Students were laughing. It looked peaceful. But Lloyd knew better. Beneath the surface, the curse was waiting. And the traitor was watching.
He needed more information. He needed to dig deeper.
"Time for some gossip," Lloyd decided. "Time to talk to the socialite."
He turned towards the administration building. Tulip was waiting. And if anyone knew the secrets of the Academy, it was the woman who turned tea parties into interrogations.
Tulip’s office smelled like expensive perfume and secrets. It was decorated with plush velvet chairs and vases of fresh flowers. It was the kind of room where people let their guard down and said things they shouldn't.
Tulip was sitting behind her desk, writing a letter on pink stationery. She looked up and smiled as Lloyd entered.
"Lloyd!" she beamed. "To what do I owe the pleasure? Did you come to discuss the upcoming flower festival? Or perhaps you need fashion advice?"
"I think my fashion is peak 'tired professor'," Lloyd said, sitting down. "No, I came for something else. I came for a story."
"I love stories," Tulip said, putting down her quill. "What kind of story?"
"A tragic one," Lloyd said. "About a boy named Jamie."
Tulip’s smile softened into something sadder. "Ah. Poor Jamie. He is in the dungeon now, isn't he?"
"He is," Lloyd confirmed. "But I don't think he belongs there. I think he was framed. But to prove it, I need to understand him. Why is he so... Jamie? Why does he act like he's the star of a play that nobody else is watching?"
Tulip sighed. She poured two cups of tea. "It is a sad tale, Lloyd. Jamie comes from House Vane. Once, they were powerful. They were heroes. But his father... his father made bad investments. He gambled. He lost their fortune. He lost their honor."
"So Jamie is poor?" Lloyd asked.
"He is desperate," Tulip corrected. "He is trying to rebuild his house from ashes. He believes that if he becomes a hero, if he gains glory, he can restore his family's name. That is why he is so loud. That is why he is so arrogant. He is terrified of being forgotten."
Lloyd took a sip of tea. It was excellent. "So his thirst for glory is real. It's not an act."
"It is his lifeblood," Tulip said. "He would never endanger the Princess. Protecting her is his path to redemption. Hurting her would be suicide for his dreams."
"That makes sense," Lloyd nodded. "A man desperate for approval doesn't bite the hand he wants to feed him. So Jamie is innocent. He's just an idiot."
"A lovable idiot," Tulip added. "Mostly."
"Okay," Lloyd said. "One more question. About Rubaiya."
Tulip’s eyes twinkled. "Rubaiya. The mystery. What about her?"
"She's... intense," Lloyd said. "And her spirit is a killer. Where did she come from? She doesn't act like a noble."
"She isn't," Tulip revealed. "Or she wasn't. Rubaiya was born a commoner. An orphan in the slums of the capital."
"The slums?" Lloyd was surprised.