As soon as we reached the Royal Academy, the same white, long-haired lady was waiting by the entrance.
"Are you getting off with me?" Ivy asked, a tinge of hope in her voice.
However, I knew that I couldn't be spotted leaving the carriage with her since she would be heading for the headmistress's office right away. I couldn't let Ivy find out who I truly was. It would only complicate things in the future, and... I didn't want her to be in danger because of me.
"No, my job here is finished," I said with a quick bow. "It was a pleasure escorting you, princess."
"Ah! Just call me Ivy, please."
"Mhm. I'll make sure to remember your name."
As I uttered those words, I vanished from the carriage and watched from afar as Ivy's face turned completely red.
'There she goes again, all embarrassed...'
---
[Ivy Elarion's POV]
'Huh? Where did he go?'
I tried to look around, searching for the mysterious individual who had helped me all this way, but he was nowhere to be seen.
I sighed and puffed my cheeks.
I had wanted to get at least a hint about his identity, but no matter how hard I tried to ask him questions, his answers were always very vague, making it impossible for me to learn more about him.
There was only one option left.
I'd have to ask the headmistress to reveal his identity.
"Please follow me to the headmistress's office," a long-haired lady uttered with a polite bow.
It was a breath of fresh air to finally feel somewhat respected for who I am. After all, for as long as I can remember, my family made sure that I was as miserable as they come.
It had reached such a point that even his dull, empty gaze made me feel better about myself. Even now, I couldn't exactly tell why. However, deep within myself, I felt like I knew the answer.
'But still, what a weird person. He saved my life and then told me about an illness of mine. Why would he even do that, and how did he notice? Is he maybe a healer? Could he have a small amount of the Lix Bloodline coursing through his veins?'
I clicked my tongue and pushed those questions to the back of my mind as I was about to enter the headmistress's office.
Right as the secretary was about to knock, the door opened on its own, and we walked right inside.
Sitting behind her overly large desk was the headmistress of the Royal Academy, with her long green hair and pearly green eyes staring me down as if I were nothing more than an insignificant insect.
She didn't even need to exude her strength for me to know that if I ever dared to fight against her, I would be dead within a second if she desired it.
"Mhm, he didn't come with you?" the headmistress asked with a tinge of surprise.
I knew this was as good a time as any to find out more information about my savior.
"No, he disappeared right as we arrived in front of the academy."
"Mhm, I see."
Seeing as the conversation was about to end there, I knew I needed to say something.
I coughed twice and caught her attention.
"Um, um. Actually, I was wondering about the person who came to help me. Where is he from exactly?"
She laughed. "You didn't talk on the way here?"
"N-Not really, no," I said, my ears burning red.
"Well, if he didn't want to tell you, then I don't think it's my place to do so, don't you think?"
I nodded quietly, as this answer confirmed that the Wind Goddess wouldn't be giving me any information related to his identity.
"Actually, before we change the subject, I just have one question for you."
"Sure, what is it?"
"What was the first thing you thought of when you first saw me?"
I tilted my head, unsure how I should reply.
Was she trying to have me compliment her beauty? Or maybe it was her strength?
I might as well say both; it's not like I'm lying.
"Um, I just thought that you looked very powerful and beautiful."
She just smiled and thanked me in response. However, it seemed she found my answer somewhat funny, as she chuckled out of nowhere.
After that, we continued our conversation as I went over everything that happened ever since I met with the individual she had sent.
---
[Headmistress's POV]
As I watched Ivy leave, I couldn't help but shake my head in awe.
Everything she had just mentioned seemed absolutely impossible for a first-year. However, not only had Yike Vale managed to do it, but he had accomplished his task perfectly, taking out three C-Rank mercenaries without sustaining any injuries.
"Yike Vale..." I muttered under my breath as I pulled out his empty student file. "Just who really are you?"
No location of birth.
No family.
There was just nothing written there apart from his name.
No matter how much Lulu, my secretary, had tried to dig up information on Yike Vale, she hadn't found anything. The only lead that she had found was related to the Lix Family and what had transpired at the Lix Estate. Before then, it was as if Yike Vale had never existed.
No matter how hard I thought about it, I didn't have any clue about his identity.
'He has Darkness Affinity and Wind Affinity. That's what Lulu's report mentioned. A double-affinity commoner without any kind of known bloodline...'
I looked out the window as the wind brushed against my face.
'Just where did this monster come from?'