The tomorrow morning arrived too quietly.
For Baston, that silence felt heavier than any insult thrown at him in the academy corridors.
He woke before dawn, long before the first bell and long before the noble district stirred with the perfumed servants and the polished boots.
The underground dormitory remained damp and dim. The faint glow of the magic lamp trembled against the stone walls like a nervous witness.
Baston sat upright on his narrow bed with the old book rested across his knees.
Today was not a test. It was not a duel nor confrontation. It was an evaluation and this evaluation was more dangerous than the battles.
After all, the battles ended but the result of evaluations lingered.
He closed his eyes and steadied his breathing. The decision he had made the night before remained unchanged. The real him would not walk into the noble district today. Instead, the puppet would replace him.
After finishing the breakfast at the usual restaurant, Baston rose and adjusted his robe.
Inside it, the old book was hidden carefully against the lining. After switching out himself with the puppet, he then readied himself. The transformed puppet walked out first while the real him folded inward.
The shift was seamless since his consciousness slid into the old book like the seeping ink into the paper, leaving the puppet walked expressionlessly and trudged forward as expected.
There was no mana fluctuation. There was no magical ripple and disturbance in the air.
Even if the greatest wizard in the academy scanned him from head to toe, there would be nothing to detect.
That was the beauty of it. It was not magic since it was something else.
*****
The noble district rose ahead in the elegant silence.
There were white stone paths, the sculpted hedges, and the polished buildings. Even the air smelled different here which was lighter, perfumed, and curated.
Technically, Baston did not have the right to enter. Fortunately, the permission had already been granted and he only needed to head forward.
The academy administration had already known and Angus had already arranged it which meant today's meeting would not be casual. As the puppet stepped past the threshold, several eyes began to gather.
The noble students slowed their conversations. A few of them stopped entirely with many followed whispers soon.
"Why is he here?"
"Isn't he from the underground dormitory?"
"I asked the staff earlier. Apparently, this was specially requested."
"By who?"
"I don't know for sure… Perhaps, it's Alicia…"
The name traveled like a ripple across the still water. By then, the bitterness came forward.
"A fat poor boy like him has no right to court Alicia."
"Let's see if he dares to walk through here."
They moved before the puppet could reach the central courtyard. Only four boys came forward, but then, it became six. More people soon gathered, looking at the stranger in their land.
They positioned themselves casually like a natural obstacle. Their polished shoes were blocking the path with folded arms and sharpened expressions. The puppet did not slow down anyway.
"Stop!" the word was sharp.
"This area is for nobles only. You don't belong here."
"Go back to where you belong..."
"It would be better if you just dropped out and lived in the streets."
Their laughter followed. It wasn't loud and hysterical but it was controlled and cruel.
The puppet continued walking. It didn't have no reaction, no flinch, and no hesitation. It passed between them like the mist that slipped through fingers.
For a heartbeat, none of the noble boys moved. They had expected the resistance or at least, the shame. What they received was the indifference and it was making one boy's face became twisted.
His dignity had been stepped on without the acknowledgment. He lunged and his fist shot forward but it stopped an inch from the puppet's cheek. He was frozen and suspended as if the air itself had hardened.
Another tried to kick yet his leg halted mid-swing and suspended awkwardly. More joined in with hands, elbows, and hurried spells that were forming in their palms.
All were stopped and all were immobilized.
The courtyard fell silent and the puppet did not even look back. It simply continued forward before a voice cut through the air.
"Preposterous!"
The word struck like a blade and every noble student stiffened.
The building doors had opened and Angus stood there. He did not raise his hand and he did not cast a spell, yet the pressure radiated from him was bending the atmosphere.
"He is my guest…" Angus said calmly, "And you do not have the authority to bar his path."
The suspended students dropped and their feet hit the stone. Despite the pain, no one dared to look up.
Angus did not shout again. He did not need to as the puppet entered the building.
Behind it, dozens of noble students watched in pale silence. They now understood that Baston had not come because of Alicia. He had come because of Angus which was worse.
*****
Inside, the atmosphere changed.
The hallway was simple but refined with wooden panels that were carved with subtle sigils, the decorative vases that were placed in precise symmetry, and even the silence that felt intentional.
A staff member guided the puppet into a private chamber where Angus was already waiting.
The room held only two chairs and a small table. There were no guards and no witnesses. There was only a private space for both of them.
Angus studied the puppet as it entered. Baston did not smile nor react toward the man.
"Welcome, Student Baston…" the tone was polite and measured, "I apologize for calling you here so early. I have a few questions for you. I hope you don't mind."
Inside the old book, Baston exhaled slowly. If he minded, he might die so the puppet could only bow slightly.
"Please, go ahead..."
Angus leaned back, "I inspected the rear of the cafeteria. The explosion was significant and even Alicia could not block it directly. I would like to know what you used in that moment."
"It was a certain magic item," the puppet replied evenly.
Angus' eyes narrowed faintly, "Such items are rare and expensive. Unless one is wealthy or noble, it is unlikely that they could acquire such a thing."
A pause soon commenced before Angus continued. He focused his eyes on the little boy in front of him. It was quite terrifying to confront such pressure.
"Are you a noble?"
It was a direct and simple remark, questioning Baston's origin. The puppet shook its head as the answer.
"No… I am only a poor and an orphan..."
Angus observed the micro expressions yet there were none. It was like the answer was honest, making him more suspicious.
"Then, how did you obtain such an item?"
"I took it from someone…"
"From whom?"
"From one of many bad men that I encountered."
Angus tapped the table lightly, "That is quite vague."
"Since I'm just a poor…" the puppet continued, "My survival matters most. When the thugs fight, the winner keeps what remains."
The explanation was plausible. The black markets existed, the nobles sponsored the shadows, and the artifacts changed hands quietly.
Angus could not immediately refute it but something remained unsettled.
"I heard…" Angus continued slowly, "That you concealed your magic strength to investigate a criminal. Do you know their name?"
"No…"
"Then, why pursue them?"
"They killed someone dear to me..."
The answer hung heavier since it was a personal matter, affecting the emotional sense from his past. It was such clean and reasonable answer.
Angus watched carefully for the inconsistency of his expression, yet there were none. The puppet did not tremble, did not look away, and did not overact. It simply existed before Angus shifted the conversation.
"You and Alicia chased a man until you were going underground. Inside, there was a man wearing a clown's face, the one that she described as Joker."
A faint silence loomed over the atmosphere. It took a few seconds before Angus continued.
"Do you believe he was connected to the explosion?"
Inside the book, Baston frowned. He wondered why the man asked such question. Alicia should already report everything and he also should know it.
"I don't know…" the puppet replied, "He might have been involved or he might also merely pass through."
Angus leaned forward slightly and his gaze was scrutinizing Baston.
"You faced him directly. Was he strong?"
"I think so…"
"You think so?"
The words sharpened, indicating something was wrong. Angus was probing not for the information but for his reaction. The puppet remained still and Angus eventually leaned back again.
"I see…"
He asked a few more neutral questions before he dismissed him, "You may go…"
The puppet bowed. It left and soon, the door was closed.
*****
In the hallway restroom, Baston reversed the shift.
His consciousness poured back into the flesh after coming out. The puppet stood lifeless for half a second before it went back.
Baston leaned against the sink while his reflection stared back.
He was calm and unbothered. He pulled out the old book, turning to the last page. The ink shimmered and his evaluation was complete, yet the performance was poor. Such word burned him even though he had struggled hard.
"Poor?" he muttered, "Impossible…"
He had planned carefully. He had spoken cautiously and left no magical trace.
What did he miss?
The suspicion tightened in his chest.
He needed to know immediately. He summoned his puppet from the old book. He reshaped it, softened the bones, and shrank the arms before forming the feathers. Soon, a small bird emerged.
A rat would have been more discreet, but in the noble district, the rats were killed without hesitation.
The birds were more invisible in this case. The transformation caused no mana ripple and signature.
The bird then flew upward before it landed on a branch near Angus' window. It watched and listened.
*****
Inside the room, Angus stood by the window. Before long, Alicia entered quietly.
"What do you think, Uncle?"
Angus did not answer immediately. He stared at the courtyard below.
"At first glance…" he said slowly, "He appears harmless."
Alicia waited for the next evaluation.
"However, something is wrong with him…"
Alicia's brows knitted together, "Wrong?"
"Yes..."
He turned toward her, "You described Joker as powerful man that even your knights hesitated, and yet, Baston did not display such fear."
Alicia paused, noticing where the suspicion came.
Angus' eyes sharpened, "He seemed calm, too calm unlike his own age. When facing someone stronger, even the seasoned wizard feel a tension. The fear will not disappear easily."
Alicia nodded slowly, agreeing with what her uncle said.
"But Baston… He lacked even the trace of anxiety."
The silence loomed the atmosphere between Alicia and Angus.
"There are two possibilities," Angus continued, "Either he knew Joker personally or…"
"Or?" Alicia pressed.
"Or he did not consider that Joker was stronger than him."
Alicia inhaled sharply, "That would mean…"
"I checked his mana personally," Angus said, "He is not significantly stronger than you."
"Then, how?"
"That is the mystery."
At the outside, Baston listened everything through the bird.
He had not erred in the logic. However, he had displayed nothing and such nothing was unnatural in front of the great wizard.
Angus had not been searching for lies. He had been searching for his instinct and Baston had none eventually. He had been too clean and he was too perfect.
Inside the room, Baston felt a rare flicker of frustration.
Angus was not judging the facts. He was judging his humanity and the puppet did not possess such humanity. It only possessed the obedience.
"That's troublesome…" Baston murmured faintly.
Angus continued speaking below while Baston kept listening to the conversation.
"I do not believe he is ordinary," Angus said, "But I do not yet know in what way."
Alicia lowered her gaze, "I don't think he has malicious intent."
"I did not say he was," Angus replied calmly, "After all, the mystery does not equal evil. Even though so, I will observe him."
Baston exhaled slowly and he was thankful that Angus was not hostile. He was only watchful and this watchfulness would complicate everything. If the future quests intersected with him, his performance metrics could worsen.
The old book did not reward safety. It rewarded the alignment with the unseen standards and Angus' standards were unpredictable.
Baston withdrew the bird. He let it dissolve as he walked away from the noble district alone.
This time, there was no insults that followed since no one dared. Even though so, the air felt colder than before.
*****
Back in his room, Baston sat on his bed once more.
The old book lay open and he stared at the words again, pointing into his poor performance.
He had avoided the detection perfectly but he had not embodied the expectation. He had behaved like something that was observing danger but not experiencing it.
Angus clearly had sensed the difference.
"Next time…" Baston whispered softly, "I must bleed a little."
It was not done physically but emotionally. It was just enough for people to spot his humanity.
After all, the mystery required the balance. Too much fear would invite the suspicion and too little fear would destroy the authenticity.
He closed the old book gently. Today, he had not been exposed but it had taught him something far more valuable.
Angus was not merely powerful. He was perceptive and such perceptive opponent was the most dangerous kind.
For the first time since entering the academy, Baston understood something clearly. The strength could be measured, the mana could be detected, and the artifacts could be traced.
However, regarding the absence of fear, that was something only a human could recognize. Today, he had failed to be a human.
The underground lamp flickered and the stone walls remained cold.
Above the ground, the students laughter resumed. Somewhere in the academy, a great wizard began watching a poor boy more carefully than before.
The game had shifted quietly and he would need to adjust. Because once someone noticed the mystery of his expression, he would never returned to the silence.