"So what do you think is the reason for the effective distinction between different types of the same human race, even though biological research shows no structural differences between any of them?" Henry's voice echoed through the corridor, smooth yet restless, words spilling faster than Avin's patience could keep up. "For example, God-Folk like yourself and swordsmen like me all have the same source of internal energy—the heart. Our hearts aren't so different, yet they store different things. It's been researched and proven that a swordsman could never use a God-Folk's mana, and vice versa. Remember the executed professor who experimented on humans—infusing swordsman mana into God-Folk and the other way around—causing them to blow up after just a few minutes?"

Avin's expression flattened, eyes narrowing with each passing word. He had only just met Henry, yet he already felt the familiar ache of regret. The man was relentless, the most talkative creature he'd encountered since entering this world.

"And what do you think about his execution?" Henry continued, jogging lightly behind him to keep up as Avin's pace quickened. "Do you think he should've been spared because his research—though immoral—still gave us knowledge we didn't have before?"

Their footsteps clanged across the stone floor. Avin said nothing. Silence was his shield.

Henry filled it anyway. "Well, I think we should weigh morality against progress. What he did was terrible, sure, but tragedy is inevitable in discovery. If one man's death gives us an answer that saves hundreds, then—"

Avin's jaw tightened.

"—then maybe it's fair,"

"I mean imagine not knowing that when you take in the mana of someone from a different background, you would get blown into tiny unidentifiable bits"

He chuckled "It's funny, don't you think?"

Avin's eyes narrowed, already so done with how annoying this person was that he was formulating ways of getting rid of him in his mind

"Maybe I should have left him there", He thought to himself, still trying to ignore the invasive mummers of the lunatic behind him

"I guess it's not that funny if you think about it... People died... so, yeah."

Henry concluded, as if declaring victory over his own conversation.

Silence again.

"What about you?" he pressed.

Avin groaned softly, lengthening his stride, but Henry merely mirrored the motion, trotting faster with an eager smile.

He knew this wasn't going to end unless he gave him something—anything.

"I don't care about it," Avin muttered flatly, hoping the indifference would be enough to end this torment.

Henry sighed dramatically. For a second, Avin saw light at the end of the tunnel—silence. Peace.

"That makes sense," Henry said cheerfully.

And the light dimmed again.

"You're so smart! It's trivial to care about things like that, because it would mean you're actually willing to try it. It's an unspoken rule—you don't tamper with other people's mana. There's no reason to, unless you're obsessed with forbidden arts. So it's better to stay clear, right? Wow, that's why you could decipher my Morse code!"

Avin's eyelids twitched. His entire soul screamed. "Please shut up," he said, voice low and tired.

Henry didn't even flinch. "You're right! We shouldn't spoil the fun of learning this in class by discovering it early." He sighed contently. "The troubles of being a genius."

Avin's steps slowed. For the first time since meeting him, Henry stopped talking. The hallway returned to blissful quiet. Avin's heartbeat finally matched the calm rhythm of his footsteps.

"So where are we going?" Henry asked suddenly.

Avin exhaled sharply through his nose, his patience thinning. "I'm going to Sylas."

"Sylas?" Henry tilted his head, genuinely intrigued. "Is he as smart as us?"

Avin rolled his eyes.

"Because if we're going to add someone to this dynamic," Henry continued, "they'll need to be as smart as us."

Avin brought a hand to his face, dragging it down in visible exhaustion. "You know what I'll do?" Henry went on. "I'll test him like I tested you—with Morse code. You're the only person who's passed so far. The prince didn't."

Avin said nothing. He didn't even have the energy to be angry anymore.

"At least I got something from meeting the prince though," Henry said proudly.

"You got beat up," Avin muttered.

"It was part of my plan," Henry replied quickly, cracking his neck with an exaggerated stretch. "You see, I have to form some sort of connection with a prince of the empire—no matter how painful it is. If you think about it, it's the perfect way to—"

He froze mid-sentence.

Avin frowned, noticing that the endless sound of footsteps behind him had stopped. For a fleeting moment, he thought Henry had finally vanished, and the thought filled him with bliss. Still, curiosity got the better of him. He turned back.

Henry stood by a large arched window, his head tilted, gaze fixed outside. "Who's that?" he asked, pointing.

Avin stepped closer to look through the glass. Beyond the courtyard, just past the trimmed hedges, a figure in a long black hood darted from behind a bush and disappeared near the academy's outer wall.

"That's weird," Avin said, narrowing his eyes.

"Very suspicious," Henry agreed immediately.

Avin turned, intending to leave the matter alone. "Not our problem."

"Let's check it out," Henry said suddenly.

Avin stopped and turned slowly, disbelief written across his face. "What did you just say?"

Henry shrugged, adjusting his sleeves like it was obvious. "Let's check it out."

"Why?" Avin's voice was almost a growl. "I'm not doing that shit."

He turned again, resuming his walk toward anywhere-but-here, but Henry's next words froze him mid-step.

"You do realize the teachers probably gave us a grace period to test other virtues—like initiative?" Henry reasoned. "Maybe this is another way they evaluate us. And if that guy was truly dangerous, he'd have been killed at the gate. So if we check this out, we might earn extra points."

Avin sighed heavily, his shoulders dropping. "You just don't stop, do you?"

He rubbed his temples, muttering something under his breath before finally walking toward the main door. "Let's just get this shit over with."

Henry grinned triumphantly and jogged after him.

And as the two of them disappeared through the hall's golden archw

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