Or how does this work?

"With mana? Can you explain more?"

Kanstiv stared at Koul with awkward questioning eyes. He wondered if Koul had indeed hit his head somewhere like they've been suspecting ever since.

Because why wouldn't he know about mana?

"My lord, you don't know mana?" He asked.

"….."

Koul stared back silently, his face reading 'if I knew, would I ask?'

Still, it all seemed too strange to Kanstiv. But he couldn't question Koul.

"Yes. Mana is like essence in another word. The energy that fuels life and everybody has it. However, the talented have it more than the ordinary people. Theirs overflow and from there, they draw the strength they use as a talented. For ordinary people, it's just like energy and can't really be sensed like those of the talented."

"…."

"Something like that…"

"So the barrier registers the overflowing mana of the talented students, yeah?"

"Yes."

"What about me then? A non talented? Surely my mana isn't overflowing. Was it my energy that was registered then?"

"Sort of. Even a person with the littlest amount of mana that can't be detected can still be sensed through their presence. So instead of your mana, it could still be your presence that's registered."

"I see. Anyways, enough about that. Can I go see the boy now?"

"I'm afraid not. At least not yet. The day is still bright. While you've not necessarily been called out as a suspect, they might be monitoring you. The professors are already aware he's gone missing and no matter how smooth things seem to be going, you're still their prime suspect. If they see you leaving the school premises, that would only fuel their suspicions."

Hmm, that's true. But it's annoying. Sigh.

"It's better you wait till night. And even then, we still have to be very careful."

Yeah, it's better to be careful than not. There are two prime suspects that the school has their eyes on right now, Kanstiv computed things in his mind.

First, it's his highness. The other person they're suspecting, at least, by the few who doubt his highness really stole the school treasure, is the mastermind behind the school treasure set up.

If there are people who think his highness wasn't the one who stole the treasure, which I'm guessing there are, and that's why they haven't confronted his highness regarding the missing boy as the perpetrator yet.

Then they've surely guessed that the real mastermind might've been the one who took the boy for probably messing up since Koul wasn't given any heavy punishment as they thought he would be for stealing a school treasure.

But… regardless of this, we have to be careful.

"Alright. Come fetch me at night when you think the time is right," Koul said.

"Yes. I will."

Kanstiv bowed and went out the same way he came.

Koul locked his windows and drew the curtains close. Then he walked over to his drawer in the room and took out the school schedule forms.

He looked through them for some moment before placing them back in the drawer.

Physical training starts tomorrow. Exactly what I've been waiting for. Can't believe it took them this long, tsk!

Koul exhaled and plopped down on his head. His gaze was up and staring at the ceiling.

Since he had nothing to do at the moment, his thoughts started drifting to his wives. He worried about Hera but knew he could only see her at night.

Come to think of it, three of my wives are here… he said. Arista, Omaya and Seira, was it?

Kanstiv had earlier given him a list of his wives' names and their whereabouts so he knew they were the ones in the academy.

And one more. The knight. What was her name again? Wisteria? Yeah, Wisteria. She's eight years older than me if I'm correct, 27 years old.

While the other three, the students, are the same age as me except Seira that's a year older.

I could just ask Kanstiv to describe how they look to me, or ask him to summon them to me. I could even just ask around about them and meet them, but for some reason, I don't want to.

Not yet, at least.

I just feel things are more exciting when I don't know them and they probably can't recognize me. So when we meet, it'll be a shocking surprise for both parties. A heart pumping moment, he chuckled wildly like a clown plotting evil.

Plus, I don't want to involve them into this complicated situation just yet.

As he thought this out within him, he abruptly came to a stop. Koul snapped up to a sit on his bed, eyes wide open.

How could I forget, he thought. Aside from the two knights and the three students, there's one other in the academy.

I have to check the list for her name since I can't quite remember but she's also a year older. How could I forget?

He sighed and laid back down, heavy hearted.

At this point, peace really seems to be the most expensive thing in this world.

I wonder how Yui is faring. I need to ask Kanstiv to get me feedback about them back home soon.

Before long, Koul drifted off into sleep.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _

At night, Koul was stirred awake by the gentle knock on his window. He rose and wiped his drowsy eyes before waking to the window.

He opened it, and let Kanstiv in before locking it.

"I've been waiting," he said as he walked back to his bed, eyes still red and a bit drowsy.

"So? What's the update?" He asked as he sat on his bed.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _

At the same time inside the principal's office, several figures were gathered.

Among them were professor Panen, the principal herself, and some knights, including Zetian.

They stood before the principal, huddled like a mini crowd.

"There's still no lead regarding this case, is there?" The principal questioned calmly.

Her chin was resting against her clasped hands, and her demeanor was stern but steady.

"None as of the moment," Zetian replied.

"What about the boy?" Professor Panen asked, referring to Koul.

"He's remained in his room ever since. There hasn't been any movement from his side. Aciel is still keeping watch in front of his room, so if there's any movement, he'll—"

He was cut off by the sudden message that sounded in his mind from his teammate Aciel who was keeping watch in front of Koul's room.

His tone was rash, filled with urgency.

"I sense another presence inside his room! I think someone has slipped in!"

Instantly, Zetian disappeared from the principal's office. He teleported and appeared right in front of Koul's door, then barged in with his teammate.

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