Chapter 56 - The thing's even Zeph is Unaware

In an office room, a young boy with striking golden eyes and jet-black hair was engaged in a conversation with a man who regarded him with his own intense ruby eyes, and his hair was an ethereal shade of white, shimmering like silver.

"Professor, please, I really need a storage ring," the boy implored Professor Adriannel with a desperate tone in his voice.

"Zeph, how many times do I have to tell you? I only have one left, and it's in my possession," Professor Adriannel responded firmly, seemingly unwilling to grant the boy's request.

"Professor, I happen to know that you possess an entire collection of 328 storage rings," the boy revealed a hidden secret, a fact known to no one else.

"What? How do you know that?" Professor Adriannel's ruby-like eyes widened in surprise and disbelief.

"If you agree to give me the ring, I'll tell you exactly how I know," the boy proposed, trying to negotiate.

"Aren't you quite confident, Zephyr Liander?" Professor Adriannel's words sliced through the air, and the room's temperature seemed to plummet as those crimson eyes, resembling precious rubies, bore into the boy.

Zephyr felt a chill down his spine, and beads of sweat formed on his forehead. "Professor, I didn't mean to..."

"Sigh... Fine, it's yours," the professor relented, his demeanor softening as he retrieved a storage ring from his pocket.

He tossed it to Zephyr, who caught it with trembling hands, almost unable to believe he had just obtained something as valuable as this. The ring offered an impressive 1200 cubic meters of storage space.

<Zeph's POV>

The pressure from Professor Adriannel's piercing crimson eyes was overwhelming, making me feel like a helpless lamb before a relentless predator.

I was drenched in sweat, and fear coursed through me. Yet, in a strange turn of events, the professor's demeanor abruptly softened.

The reasons behind this shift in attitude remained a mystery.

I seized the ring he had flung my way and channeled my mana into it.

My eyes widened in disbelief as they beheld the ring's extraordinary capacity – an astonishing 1200 cubic meters. It was like a treasure chest within a treasure chest, an artifact of unparalleled worth. Interestingly, it bore a striking resemblance to the ring that he gave his son in the novel before he died.

I couldn't help but wonder why he had chosen to bestow this 'remarkable' item upon me. I decided to tuck this puzzling revelation away in the recesses of my mind, fearing that dwelling on it would lead me to make rash decisions.

The ring was undoubtedly a precious gift, but I couldn't ignore the fact that Professor Adriannel was an Archmage, a figure of immense power and knowledge. I pocketed the ring and made my way towards the office's exit, thinking that my peculiar encounter had reached its conclusion.

However, just as I was about to depart, Professor Adriannel's voice cut through the air like a cold blade.

"So, who is the one who told you?"

His words sent a chill down my spine, and panic coursed through my veins.

Should I reveal the truth?

Should I divulge that I hailed from another world and that even an Archmage was merely a character crafted by an author's hand?

The consequences of such a revelation were uncertain and potentially dire.

"I am waiting,"

the professor's voice held an undeniable demand. My mind raced, conjuring and discarding countless ideas in an instant. Ultimately, I opted to keep my secrets intact, at least for now.

After all, "She" was unlikely to make an appearance anytime soon, and I could reassess the situation in three years' time.

"I heard it from a woman who came to me in my dreams," I replied with a hint of trepidation.

To my surprise, Professor Adriannel simply uttered, "You can leave."

The abrupt dismissal left me bewildered, but I didn't dare question it. I had achieved my goal, and for now, that was enough.

In evening , I lay on my bed in my room , fully aware that the monthly exam was scheduled for tomorrow. The approaching exam meant I couldn't spend time with Valeriana to score some affection points, but there was a more pressing matter at hand.

The earlier meeting with Professor Adriannel had drained me mentally and physically,

It was time to sleep.

....

As the night fall,

The room filled with the soft sound of snoring, as if someone were peacefully asleep.

In the moonlight, a man stood there, his crimson eyes shining, giving him a dangerous allure. His hair shimmered in the dim light, making him appear both charming and menacing.

As the room remained silent, a thought crossed his mind, 'It didn't seem like he was lying; I can feel Evangeline's subtle mana from him.'

Unbeknownst to Zeph, the lie he had spoken would soon come back to haunt him. He continued to sleep peacefully, completely unaware of the storm he had unknowingly unleashed between two beings, each of whose very existence challenged the laws of this world.

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<Valeriana's POV>

Tomorrow marks the beginning of the exams, a crucial step on my path to becoming a wise and capable ruler.

The weight of my aspirations bears down on me as I contemplate the need to revise the entire syllabus at least twice before the tests commence, I have time till midnight.

I've always believed that to achieve my dream, I must seize every opportunity to learn and grow. These exams are but the first step towards that lofty goal.

Unlike many of my classmates, I've put in the effort to prepare myself diligently for this moment.

As I sat on my study chair, I can't help but hope that everything goes smoothly tomorrow. This is a defining moment on my journey, and I must not falter.I started revision of my notes.

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<Thalia's POV>

Tomorrow is the day of the exam, and I can't help but feel a sense of confidence.

The paper consists of 80% objective questions and 20% descriptive ones, a format that plays to my strengths.

With my innate ability, <Intuition>, at my disposal, my chances of success seem quite high.

Scoring well in this exam should be a breeze, thanks to my intuitive insights.

Perhaps if I secure a high score, Zeph will be more inclined to seek my company and questions, rather than spending his time with that Hedrian fellow.

.

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<Rihane's POV>

I found myself staring at a question, completely clueless about which subject it belonged to. It was a rather embarrassing situation to be in.

"Oh no," I exclaimed in realization, "I forgot to check which subject's exam is tomorrow." I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach; I really hadn't prepared properly.

*Bam*

Before I knew it, my brother smacked me on the head and handed me the book for that subject. "Here, you idiot."

I couldn't help but grin in relief. "Hehe, thanks, brother. So, have you studied everything?"

His response was confident and straightforward, "Who do you think I am?"

Author's Note::

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Feel free to leave any comments or feedback to let me know your thoughts.