Earth's Greatest Magus

Moments after the intense duel between Emery and Lucius came to an abrupt halt, another presence entered the hall—Grand Magus Aurora, the gracious-looking deputy headmaster. Her arrival was impeccably timed, her aura of calm authority cutting through the tension that had enveloped the arena.

"Both of you, let's talk," Aurora said, her voice commanding yet soothing. She addressed both Emery and Lucius, but her gaze also fell upon Shinta, who had stepped in to defuse the situation. With a nod, she beckoned them to follow her.

The four of them entered one of the academy's private chambers. The atmosphere was still heavy with the echoes of their recent conflict, but within these walls, a more measured conversation would take place.

Grand magus Aurora, known for her wisdom and ability to delve into the hearts of others, wasted no time. "I'm not here to resolve your long-standing dispute," she began, her tone firm but understanding. "But I am here to address the specific issue of the hall transfer request for Shinta."

Her words were direct, cutting to the heart of the matter. With her authority and her gift of foresight, Aurora was the ideal mediator for such a complex problem. She could see not just the surface-level disagreements but the deeper emotional currents driving them.

Aurora invited Emery to speak first, to lay out his reasons for wanting to transfer Shinta away from Lucius's hall. As he spoke, his words were laced with a deep distrust of Lucius, a resentment that had been simmering for years. It was during this conversation that Shinta began to understand a part of her father's past—a glimpse into the pain and despair that had shaped him. She learned of his hatred for Lucius, a man who had once wielded power over him, leading to the death of Emery's beloved master.

The revelation hit Shinta hard, adding layers of complexity to her understanding of the situation. This wasn't just about a hall transfer; it was about old wounds and unresolved grief. Emery's desire to protect her was intertwined with his need to right the wrongs of his past, to keep Lucius from having any influence over her life.

In the presence of Aurora, Lucius found himself uncharacteristically subdued. The usual arrogance and sharp remarks that often colored his interactions were absent, replaced by a more measured tone.

"As I said, everything I did was for my master's sake. As for what happened to your master…" Lucius paused, taking a deep breath before continuing "It was unfortunate, and I apologize... truly. I understand the significance of a master-student relationship. I just didn't realize you would be so affected by it, especially for a magus like him."

There was a moment of hesitation as if Lucius was struggling between his natural inclination to dismiss the issue and the need to address the situation seriously.

Despite this, Lucius quickly regained his composure, becoming surprisingly verbose as he argued his case. He insisted that his actions in the past, no matter how questionable, would have no bearing on how he would treat Shinta. He emphasized that she was a rare talent, a once-in-a-century prodigy, and more importantly, the half-blood daughter of someone as significant as Emery.

"I'm certain that the fact my brother came to assist you during the serpent crisis proves my point," Lucius added, his tone attempting to convey sincerity. Emery found it difficult to trust Lucius's intentions, his skepticism only tempered by the oracle Aurora's presence and her assurance that the discussion was worth having. The tension between them was palpable as they each laid out their arguments. Emery, firm in his belief, pressed his case.

"If you truly care about Shinta's talent, then you should let me take her" Emery has his apothecary mastery, his secret techniques, and Khaos to guide her. "I am the best master for her," Emery declared, his voice filled with conviction.

Lucius, however, responded with a chuckle, a sound that echoed through the chamber with a mixture of amusement and condescension. Emery's mind raced, assuming Lucius was about to flaunt the resources and privileges that came with being part of a top hall, like the massive contribution points that could accelerate Shinta's progress. But Lucius's answer took him by surprise.

"In here, she has competition," Lucius stated.

The meaning behind Lucius's words slowly sank in. He wasn't just referring to the immediate challenges posed by acolytes like Rajh or the top five half-bloods. Lucius was talking about the broader scope of competition—pitting Shinta against the top 100 acolytes from the top halls. The opportunity to be constantly challenged, to measure oneself against the best, was something that Lucius believed Emery's hall couldn't replicate.

"You, of all people, should understand this, You're the one who rose to the top of the privilege rankings yourself. You know what it takes... the need to prove yourself against the best."

Emery absorbed Lucius's arguments but remained unconvinced. He understood the value of competition, yet he believed that his own success at the academy wasn't solely due to the challenges he faced from rivals. It was also the unwavering support of his friends that had propelled him forward. In his mind, Shinta's growth could be just as substantial within the nurturing environment of his hall.

This response seemed to push Lucius into a corner, stripping away the last of his pretenses. With a sigh, Lucius finally laid bare his true motivations.

"Alright, I'll be honest with you," Lucius admitted, his voice tinged with frustration. "I'm under a lot of pressure here. Under my leadership, we were almost kicked out of the top ten rankings... I need all the help I can get. Just let her stay, and I'll make sure she learns any skill she desires. I'll even bump her points up by another...10,000 per month.. no twenty!"

The desperation in Lucius's voice was clear. Emery could see that Lucius was not just fighting to keep Shinta for her potential but also to save his own standing and reputation within the academy.

Before Emery could respond, the oracle intervened. With her calm yet authoritative presence, turned to Shinta, her gaze gentle but firm.

"Are you ready to give your answer?" she asked, her voice resonating with a deeper understanding of the situation.

Shinta, who had been listening intently to the exchange, nodded. "Yes," Shinta replied, her voice clear and resolute.

Shinta looked at Emery, her eyes filled with determination. "Father, I understand your concerns, but please listen to me,"

She explained that during her time in Hall 9, she had forged meaningful friendships and connections with her fellow acolytes. Moreover, the challenge of testing her strength against the top acolytes and participating in group battles intrigued her. Shinta then turned to Lucius, her expression firm but respectful.

"I believe Master Lucius will take good care of me," she continued. "So, please, let me stay here. I really want to contribute to keeping the half-bloods in the top halls."

Her words, though genuine on the surface, caused the oracle to raise her eyebrows slightly. Aurora sensed that Shinta's motives might be more complex than she let on.

<This Lucius Bastard!! He dares to do such things to my father!...Now that I know how desperate he is to keep his hall's ranking, I'll use this to my advantage. I'll drain every resource from this hall and lure the best half-blood acolytes to my father's hall next year. This will be my way of avenging my father.>

Sensing the complex emotions within Shinta, the oracle forced a gentle smile and said, "I'm sure that what the acolyte desires is what's best for her." She then turned to Emery, reassuring him that Shinta would indeed gain good fortune by staying in Lucius's hall, though she can't say the same for Lucius.

Emery sighed deeply, realizing that despite his immense power when it came to parenting, he still had much to learn. He decided to allow Shinta to make her own choices, understanding that it was important for her growth. After all, she could still seek his guidance whenever she needed it.

Lucius, barely able to contain his satisfaction, tried to mask his happiness with a smug remark. "Well then, if you manage to elevate your hall above the other half-blood halls, making it a direct competition to mine, I will happily let her return."

Emery's hall was already ranked higher than Magus Harambe's Hall 62, but he still had to contend with Grand Magus Toleno of the Spectral Swarm at Higher Hall 37 and Grand Magus Sirin, the Peafowl Empress, at Hall 24 before Lucius would consider letting Shinta go.

Lucius eyed Emery with a smirk and said, "Our fight can continue then… in a proper arena."

Emery accepted the challenge, responding with a sharp retort, "Just don't embarrass yourself by getting kicked down before I get there."

The tension between them was palpable, but it seemed they had managed to hold their disputes at bay—for now. As Emery prepared to leave, Lucius shared some surprising news, confirmed by the deputy headmaster: the fact that Ishtar had been removed as the Hall 6 instructor due to recent events.

"Let's hope her replacement doesn't hold a grudge against us."

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