In Haven, a semester generally lasted for about six months.

At the end, the mid-terms would start and cadets would be assessed in three things. Theory, group work, and individual evaluations.

The first two had already been completed but due to some complications that stemmed from the group examination, the individual evaluations had been held back.

I wasn't even sure they were going to do the individual examination.

But it didn't matter.

It was safe to say that with the performances of the two examinations, I had managed to just barely clinch the top spot again.

The Progressive Analysis evaluation served to help out a lot too.

"New terms mean that you will now have new classes and new Professors."

Standing before us was Professor Bridgette.

She looked a little sad, but she didn't show it too much.

Today was the last day of her class, and at the same time, it was also the day when it would be announced which Guild we would be going to for the exchange.

Holding onto a sheet of paper, Professor Bridgette leaned her head back to get a better look at the writing.

"So, uhm."

Frowning, she paused.

"Heh, I'll be damned."

Her words aroused the curiosity of the cadets around.

Just as someone was about to ask what was going on, she placed the paper down and spoke,

"I've got a list of the Guilds that you will all be a part of. However, it doesn't seem like it will matter. You've all been called up for a rescue operation."

A rescue operation...?

I tilted my head in confusion.

"There has been an incident in the Mirror Dimension. The Guilds have lost track of a joint group from the fifteen Guilds who were sent on a mission. They're currently thinking of sending you and a few other Guild members for the rescue operation."

Her words were immediately met with the uproar of the cadets around.

"What?!"

".....In the Mirror Dimension?"

"How does this make sense? Why are we the ones doing this?"

I felt the same way as them.

Wasn't the exchange meant to get people to know the Guilds better? What was the point of sending us on a mission like this?

Raising her hand to quiet the cadets down, Professor Bridgette went on to explain,

"Please don't worry. You can also say that this is going to be a test for you. In cooperation with the Academy, you shouldn't be in any danger."

Bullshit.

I could already imagine that something was going to go wrong.

It had also been a while since I received a quest. I was almost sure I was going to receive one soon enough.

The thought was already making my head throb.

"The Guilds will send powerful people alongside you. This is more to get you used to the Mirror Dimension and Guilds operations than for the rescue mission. You won't necessarily have to do much. The only reason things are like this is because the situation came abruptly, and instead of canceling the whole exchange, they decided to have you all participate and witness how Guilds operate."

Professor Bridgette lifted the paper up and waved it.

".....Before you leave you can check this paper to see which Guild has selected you. Once we enter the Mirror Dimension, you can go to the respective Guild who will brief you on the situation."

It was hard to see what was written on the paper from where I was.

Despite that, I was able to catch a glimpse of my name since it was at the very top.

'The Order of the Silver Seraphs.'

I paused and sorted through my memories.

In the end, the name finally rang a bell.

'So it's them...'

The number one Guild within the Empire.

They were the ones that had chosen me.

"As I said, since this will be a joint operation, once you go to your respective Guilds in the Safe Zone, you'll be briefed on the situation before going on a joint mission with the other Guilds for the rescue. In the end, you will all still be together. Isn't that nice?"

Despite her best attempts at trying to lift the mood up with her words, none of the cadets really seemed to buy it.

.....There was clear nervousness in the room.

And it was understandable.

After all, this was our first true excursion within the Mirror Dimension.

*

The lesson came to an end rather fast.

With all thoughts on the upcoming mission, nobody was in the mood to talk.

On the other hand, I was excited.

Not for the mission, but for another reason.

"The two parties have agreed to do a joint reward for you."

It was finally time for me to receive my reward.

Currently, I was sitting in the middle of a room with two people. Delilah and Atlas.

Delilah was representing the Academy while Atlas was representing the Megrail family.

I was surrounded by powerhouses.

"We talked about what you wanted before, and we've relayed your request to them."

And?

"It was rejected."

"...."

Not like I didn't expect it.

Still, I was disappointed by the result.

"The Mirror Crack is extremely valuable for the Empire. You are still far too young to have any rights to it."

Listening to Atlas's explanation, I could only nod.

He was right.

I was indeed too young and too weak to have any rights to it. Probably, I was just being greedy.

".....But it's not like it's impossible for you to get the rights to one."

My hopes were quickly revitalized by his words.

"You mean...?"

"Provide more contributions to the Empire, and show more promise and there's a chance you might get selected. Currently, the Mirror Crack is being cleaned up by the members of the Empire. It will take a bit of time before it can be given away..."

He stopped there, but the meaning was clear.

'You have a few years to meet the requirements.'

And judging from the way he was looking at me, he also appeared to be on my side. It made sense.

Considering that I was a member of the Inverted Sky, owning a Mirror Crack would be good for them too.

"I understand."

Nodding, I shifted my attention towards Delilah.

Sat in her seat in her usual form, she looked at me with an absentminded look. Then, as if realizing I was looking at her, she blinked and focused her gaze on me.

"Dragon bone."

"....!"

It was just two words but it was enough to make my heart jump.

But before I could get excited, she poured cold water over me.

"I tried to get you that, but it was rejected."

This...

'She did it on purpose, didn't she?'

Seeing the corner of her lips curl up slightly, I was more or less sure of my assumption.

It was very subtle, but it was clear for me to see.

This sugar addict...

"...You're too weak to handle a bone of such strength. The Empire and the Academy feel the same on that matter."

Delilah explained.

I nodded.

"I see."

"If you had been Tier 4, then you might've had a chance at receiving it. The Dragon Bone is quite rare, and while we don't know what abilities it contains, they will be strong."

"....."

"Don't be disheartened."

Atlas interjected from the side.

".....Had you consumed the bone with your current abilities, your mind would've exploded."

"Yes?"

Mind exploded?

"The higher the rank of a bone, the greater the will inside. If you don't have strong mental resiHuh..."

Atlas suddenly stopped speaking. His brows soon creased into a frown.

"Hold on."

He mumbled under his breath.

Delilah seemed to be doing the same thing. Blinking his eyes, he turned to look at Delilah who looked back at him.

After a while, he asked.

"What did he get for his mental examination?"

"8.23."

Delilah replied in an instant.

Almost as though she had the answer already memorized beforehand.

Atlas's expression turned grim.

"That high?"

"Yes."

His yellow pupils turned to face me.

"If that's the case then this is actually possible..."

I felt uncomfortable under his gaze.

For some strange reason, his gaze turned warmer and warmer with each time that I saw him.

".....It's not like I've never heard of such a case before. For someone to have such high mental stability compared to their real skills."

Pinching his chin, he fell into deep thought.

Delilah on the other hand kept her expression fixed on me. From the way she was looking at me, it was as though she had expected such an outcome.

"There's never been a precedent where someone as young and of your tier got their hands to a Terror rank bone. It's usually impossible, but if your mental strength is really that high, then it might actually work."

Atlas suddenly stood up from his seat and looked at me.

"Let's put this meeting on hold. We were originally planning on rewarding you with something else, but things are different now."

He turned to look at Delilah.

"You're of the same opinion, right?"

".....Yes."

"Good."

Atlas turned to look at me.

"You're still lagging compared to your top peers. If not for your Emotive Magic, you'd probably be beneath them. I originally planned on helping you get closer to them with the reward, but things are different now."

He paused to look at me with deep eyes.

"Perhaps, we might be able to get you to catch up to them."

Such were his last words before he left the room.

Clank

Silence enshrouded the room following his departure. Focusing my attention on Delilah who leaned back on her chair, she tapped her finger over the armrest of the chair.

The meaning behind her gaze was clear.

'Are you satisfied with your reward?'

To such gaze, I could only nod.

"Yes."

***

The next day.

After Atlas left the room, I also left. I was told that he'd need some time to discuss if the matter was possible.

Quite frankly, the idea of possibly receiving the Dragon Bone was exciting.

However, I didn't get too excited. There was no guarantee that I would receive it. Furthermore, that was the least of my worries right now.

"Cadets, please line up."

Standing before a familiar crack, I looked toward the instructor who stood by its side.

"I'm sure you've all been informed about the situation. The moment you enter the Safe Zone, delegates from the fifteen Guilds will call your names up and you will follow them into their area where you will be briefed on the situation."

Teleporting from the Academy to another area within the Empire which was surrounded by trees, I took a look around me to see that the trees around the Mirror Crack were noticeably hollower with many not having any leaves.

The affected area was small, but it was clear enough for everyone to see.

".....Please be careful."

All of a sudden, the instructor's voice turned extremely serious.

Almost fearful.

"Unlike the area you've previously entered at the Academy, the area you will now be entering is not a joke. You must enter with firm minds, and..."

He turned to look at the crack, his eyes shaking slightly.

"....Don't let the voices get to you."

Voices?

Everyone looked at the instructor in confusion.

However, before they could voice out their questions, he nudged everyone into the portal.

"Go in. You'll understand what I mean when you enter."

Frowning, some cadets looked at him before stepping into the crack.

I stared at their fading backs before similarly stepping forward and entering the crack.

....And just as I stepped through it, the voices came.

'Kill me.'

'.....Kill me please.'

They rang loudly in my mind.