One of the few friends she had was currently standing before the class, his eyes closed in what seemed to be a desperate attempt to achieve focus. 

Areii was being forced to demonstrate a skill that first years had yet to be taught. It was clear to her that Helen Montclair was trying to kick the boy off his pedestal.

If only Father and Mother weren't sick...

Seraphina bit her lip, frustrated that her friend was being targeted. Students usually avoided doing so, but someone like Helen had a status that overshadowed even hers—Helen Montclair was an Energy Sorcerer whose standards granted her the rank of [Honorary Duke]. 

On the other hand, Seraphina was only the daughter of one. There was no need for Helen to consider her feelings nor respect her wishes unconditionally.

However, her apprehension disappeared the moment Areii confidently released his energy. The room warmed up to a comfortable temperature. It was the warmth of life, something that the boy's eyes severely lacked.

The yellows of Areii's energy then changed before her very eyes. Its gleam receded, slowly but surely, until it became a plain and dull white. A slave's energy.

Seraphina gaped at the sight.

No way,

Not even she had grasped the technique despite studying in advance for the past four weeks. She could barely even command her energy to respond in the special frequency she needed. It was the same as flexing every single muscle in her body to achieve a rhythmic resonance. It required finesse and an absurd amount of control...

And yet...

Areii had done so the moment he was told to do so. Even if Areii claimed that he had been studying the technique since the start of class, it was still a ludicrous reality. At this point, Seraphina had begun to doubt Areii's status as a commoner.

What if he has been faking it all along?

If Areii could perform [Coating], then it would be easy for him to fake the yellow-tinged energy that he always used. Seraphina glanced around the room. Similar suspicions had seemed to appear among her classmates. Their expressions were wrought with incredulity and disbelief. A ripple of whispers spread across the class.

Even Helen, whose aura of dominance usually oppressed the room, wavered slightly. The sorcerer was in a daze as she gazed at the swirling specks of white energy around Areii's body. Dilated irises and an expression of shock painted Helen's face.

Be that as it may, Helen did not spend a long time in this state. In the blink of an eye, the lady's expression grew serious. Seraphina watched as Helen eyed Areii with what felt like a calculatively cold leer.

She couldn't help but grow concerned for her friend.

"Areii Layvann," Helen's voice boomed throughout the class, silencing the many rippling whispers. 

"Yes, professor?" A bland reply, void of any care whatsoever.

"Come with me."

Helen spun and headed straight out of the classroom. Right before she left, she tapped on the Quantum Watch on her wrist and announced.

"Class will be dismissed early. You may study the files I have sent to your devices before this afternoon's assessment. Goodbye."

Hurriedly, every student in the class got up and bowed slightly, "Thank you, professor!"

"As for you, make haste." Helen didn't even look back.

Seraphina watched as Areii hesitated for a moment. His expression screamed, Why should I? But his reluctance was swiftly reined in. He replied with an obedient,

"Yes, professor!"

"Stand at the center of the platform and perform [Coating]."

Helen's voice rang in Areii's ears like a lion's roar, echoing throughout the testing grounds of the Honorary Duke's laboratory.. 

He couldn't help but glance around. Eerie was the sparkling white room in dim lighting, forcing out a few glimpses of the underworld to surface in his memories: The white of skeletal monstrosities and silent rooms used to isolate souls for all eternity. 

Among the hundreds of facilities arranged in organized rows, only one was lit up at the moment. Long shadows grew outward, dancing with each of Areii's movements to the soft hum of machinery.

"Do not waste any more of my time." Hellen spat. A wave of heat washed over Areii's fragile form, making him dizzy.

"Y-yes, professor."

Such were the only words that Areii had been spouting for the past few minutes. Helen Montclair was truly overbearing. She walked swiftly without looking back. Whenever Areii lagged behind in pace, she would click her tongue, and a wave of nauseating energy would wash over him, getting worse as he got further away.

As infuriating as this abuse may sound, however, Areii was deathly calm. Although the nausea annoyed him from time to time, his emotions bore no fluctuations. 

Could this be one of the effects of the [Elder Lich] Gift? Areii pondered his newfound abilities. This should be an ability from the [Soul Caller] Inheritance. Although it isn't Ancient Egyptian, and instead comes from video games and pop culture, it's good enough. Just the mental abilities are already of great help to me... 

Areii couldn't help but wonder what other abilities the name [Elder Lich] signified. After all, he was an Inheritor of the [War Saint] Inheritance. He knew little about the unique abilities that a [Soul Caller] could have. All he could do was guess based on the name itself.

The Underworld had liches, but I had never encountered an Elder Lich. I also don't seem to have a need for a Phylactery—my soul should still be in my body and not some weird jar...

Areii allowed his energy to boil within him, following Helen's instructions as he thought.

Aside from my controlled emotions and calm mind, I seem to have gained more control over magical elements... The energy in my body is responding even better with each time I release it. Liches are indeed magical units, and it matches well with the Energy Sorcerers of the world.

If only magic spells existed... Unfortunately, although the [Energy Sorcerer] Inheritance contained the word, 'sorcerer,' in its name, it did not have a single spell in its path to power. At least, that was what Areii had observed thus far.

If it turned out that magical spells were indeed something that an Energy Sorcerer could do, then Areii was going to exploit it to the ends of Aquamarine. 

Energy whirled within his body, stimulated slightly by his excitement. At the side, Helen's eyes glowed with expectation. His professor manned the platform's controls, and multiple drones began revolving around him. Areii could feel himself being analysed, and despite the fact that [Orbital Inference] lay inactive, a part of him could still analyse their trajectories with greater proficiency than before.

All that lacked would be the many lines of movement that Areii could use to keep track of what was going where.

Areii stood for five minutes straight, constantly [Coating] his energy in a way that he once did with his Blood Aura. Helen, who had been operating the various holographic screens before her face, had bloodshot eyes. It seemed like his professor had been pushing the limits of her talents in past few minutes. 

Suddenly and without another word, Helen left the testing grounds with large strides. The woman's long, slender legs brought her out of the room faster than Areii could with his shorter, teenage stature.

The platform that Areii stood on shut off while the boy still stood at its centre, and the drones returned to their docks.

—Please leave the training grounds within five minutes.

—Failure to do so will result in severe repercussions.

A robotic voice chimed in his ears, snapping Areii out of his daze. A frown had begun to surface on his face the moment a certain suspicion rose within his heart. The heat of his energy receded, returning to his body in silence.

However, a cool feeling washed over him, just as his anger began to rise.

He was calm once more, only letting out a sigh of resignation.

Something is going to happen soon. He thought.