DMHS 88

Kessler took a leaflet out of his bag and handed it over.

It was packed with information about dorm room numbers, daily schedules, and all the rules to follow in academy life.

“After lunch, there’s a class on using farming tools and magic devices. The class takes place in the field connected to the west entrance. If you can’t find it, just ask someone where the Agriculture Department’s practice field is.”

“Thanks.”

“Read through the rest when you have time. If there’s something you don’t get, ask me.”

“Oh, do other subjects have homework too?”

“Of course. But if I were you, I’d just say I didn’t hear about it yet and delay it.”

“That’s a good idea.”

Kian chatted casually with Kessler. Seeing the two leaning close together as they talked, Lucien’s eyes narrowed slightly.

‘Is he really that curious?’

Lucien never planned to stay at the academy long. Once he helped his mate find the missing children, he’d leave without hesitation.

He recalled the list of students he got from Eddie.

There were six missing children related to academy graduates. They were between ten and twelve years old, and all belonged to theAdministrative Departement.

To find clues, transferring into that department would’ve been ideal, but at the moment, the only vacancies were in two majors under the Department of Practical Studies. Lucien looked at Kessler and started,

“Do you have any friends in the Administrative Departement?”

Kessler blinked at the sudden change of topic.

“No, not really. Why?”

“Just wondering.”

At Lucien’s answer, Kessler’s expression stiffened with suspicion.

“Don-don’t try to play it off. You’re thinking about transferring too, aren’t you?”

“……?”

“I knew it. How do you expect to work the fields when your hands don’t even have calluses?”

Kessler pushed up his glasses with his middle finger again. That habit got more irritating the more Lucien saw it.

Trying to ease the tension, Kian stepped in.

“What are you saying? We came to the Academy because we’re interested in magic agriculture.”

“Maybe you are. But he’s not. He’s just using our department as a stepping stone to get into the Academy, like all the others. You think I haven’t seen guys like him before?”

Kessler spoke heatedly.

Putting it all together, Lucien could tell there was a reason why the Magic Agriculture Department still had openings.

Every freshman except Kessler had applied to transfer right after the adjustment period.

Of course, not all requests got approved. Only two out of ten succeeded. The remaining eight out of ten stayed because they couldn’t change departments.

‘No wonder the class atmosphere felt so cold.’

It made sense. Kessler was the only one who genuinely wanted to learn magic agriculture.

Kian spoke to him kindly.

“Come on. Everyone has different reasons for joining the academy. People can change their minds later. We can show them what’s great about magic agriculture.”

“Really? Hearing you say that… maybe you’re right.”

“I think it’s part of our job to help others see its appeal too. Anyway, thanks for helping today. See you in class later.”

“Yeah… alright then.”

Kessler pushed up his glasses again and stood up.

Lucien crossed his legs under the table. Even though the annoying guy finally left, his mood didn’t improve.

‘What’s this?’

Kian’s gentle voice echoed in his ears.

‘Why’s he being so nice to someone he just met?’

So that was it. Jealousy.

The feelings Lucien had been trying to hold back these days came out in the wrong way.

‘It’s all because of that potion the blue-haired guy gave him.’

Right after his mate drank the potion, he’d seemed fine. When Kian cried and confessed his love, Lucien had only thought the potion’s effect was intense.

What was harder to bear was the subtle affection that continued afterward.

Kian would blush from afar, say things that made Lucien’s head spin, and sometimes stare at him while he slept. Those moments nearly stopped his heart.

Every time that happened, Lucien forced himself to stay calm.

‘This isn’t his real feeling. It’s just a side effect from the potion. I can’t get used to it. He’ll be disappointed soon enough.’

But while his reason said that, his emotions didn’t agree.

‘I like Kian.’

He’d been drawn to him from the first moment. He wished Kian had been his mate, and being near him was enough. He didn’t care if that feeling never got returned. As long as Kian didn’t leave, that was enough.

It was like someone stranded at sea telling himself he wasn’t thirsty while drinking salt water.

Lucien believed he could control his greed.

But one sip.

Then another.

Each bit of affection Kian showed was intoxicating. The attention was too sweet. It felt like water given to a dying man.

As a result, Lucien’s emotions ran wild like never before. He felt overjoyed by a small act of kindness, then immediately felt guilty. His heart swung back and forth like tropical weather.

‘I can’t let it show.’

He pressed his feelings down again.

When that happened, it was better not to look too deeply into his own heart. Distracting himself worked better.

He lifted his eyes from the tray. Lunch was almost over, and students were carrying their trays to the return window.

The Academy didn’t have an age limit, so the students’ ages varied widely. Most looked to be in their late teens or early twenties, though there were also a few children and adults.

‘They all look the same to me anyway… huh?’

Among the crowd, Lucien spotted a familiar face.

The girl noticed him too, eyes widening and mouth falling open.

“Why? Do you know that person or, huh?”

Following Lucien’s gaze, Kian froze.

It made sense. The girl was someone both of them knew.

It was Mila, the girl they’d rescued from the thieves’ village.

***

“I never imagined I’d see you here! What brings you to the academy?”

That evening, after classes ended, Kian met Mila in the lounge.

Mila looked thrilled but lowered her voice, mindful of her surroundings. Even though she didn’t know his true identity, she could tell Kian hadn’t entered the academy just to study.

“I’m here for an investigation.”

Kian bowed slightly, then straightened with a faint smile.

“You look much better now, Mila. How’s life at the academy been?”

“It’s been amazing. Thanks to you, I got a new life. I was so shocked earlier I thought I was seeing things.”

Her cheeks flushed red.

But the conversation didn’t last long. Lucien, who had been sitting slightly off to the side, straightened his posture and changed the subject.

“You’re in the Department of Law, right? That means you’re under the Administrative Departement. Have you heard anything about missing children?”

“That’s the first time I’ve heard that. Did students from our faculty go missing?”

Kian answered her question.

“It’s not a past case. There are missing first-years this year too.”

“What? Really? I’m a first-year myself, and I’ve never heard anything like that.”

Kian licked his lower lip and thought.

‘So even the current students don’t know. It’ll take time to investigate.’

Lucien seemed to think the same thing, his brow tightening slightly. Seeing both their expressions, Mila also grew serious.

“But I don’t know everything that goes on in the Academy. I’ll ask my classmates and seniors tomorrow.”

Kian stopped her.

“Hmm… I appreciate the thought, but it’s risky for you to ask around directly. There are people who want to cover this up.”

“But I want to help you. Isn’t there another way?”

“Well… we only arrived today, so we don’t have much information either. We’ll have to think about it carefully.”

Kian crossed his arms and leaned back against the sofa.

‘Where do we start?’

The magic stone on the ceiling rang out, ding, ding, ding.

Students who had been chatting in groups around the lounge all stood up.

“It’s already that late?”

“Come on, let’s go.”

They left like the tide receding. Kian looked up at the clock.

It was eight o’clock. There were still two hours left before dorm curfew at ten.

“Isn’t it okay to stay in the lounge a bit longer?”

Mila lowered her eyes and leaned closer, whispering,

“Yes. We’ve got plenty of time before bed. But ever since I enrolled… something’s been going around the Academy.”

“Something?”

“A ghost story.”

Her cautious tone only lasted a moment.

Kian relaxed his shoulders and smiled.

“Typical of a school setting. You can’t have an old castle without ghost stories.”

“It’s not just a scary story. Quite a few students say they’ve experienced it themselves.”

“Is that so.”

“There’s even a secret club that studies it. A bunch of younger students from the Administrative Departement made it. What was the name again… right. They call it the Society of Silence.”

‘Young students from the Administrative Departement?’

Kian immediately glanced at Lucien. Lucien, who had been sitting lazily, straightened and his eyes lit up.