Principal Kampah let out another cold snort. Tossing their transcripts onto the desk, he said, "Do you truly wish to improve your credits?"
"Y-yes, sir."
"Good. Then there's no need to wait for the next semester. I have a task for you right now. Complete it successfully, and I'll grant each of you fifty extra credits. Do you accept?"
Inselton looked up, stunned by the sheer magnitude of the reward. Felter, on the other hand, didn't hesitate for a moment. He eagerly nodded. "We accept! We'll do it!"
"Then answer me this: in Dormitory Sector D, where is the largest supply of food stored?"
Sector D? The two boys pondered for a moment. Felter looked thoroughly confused, but Inselton was quicker. "Sir, it's the Banquet Café."
"Correct. Lately, food from that establishment has been mysteriously disappearing. I want you to guard the place for one night and capture the thief. If you succeed, bring the culprit here. If you fail—if the thief manages to steal again—then come and report to me immediately."
It was an odd task. Inselton and Felter exchanged uncertain glances, unable to discern Principal Kampah's true intentions.
"Sir… is the thief only stealing food?" Felter asked. "If so, could it be a rat… or some other kind of creature?"
Kampah raised his head and gave a cold grunt. The sound sent a shiver down Felter's spine. Then came a chilling reply—
"Some other creature? Hm… Perhaps what you're about to face is a true beast."
. . .
The clear night sky had vanished, devoured by layers of heavy clouds. The moon and stars hid behind the thick veil, as if in fear, unwilling to cast even the faintest light.
The dormitory district lay in utter silence.
It was difficult to imagine such stillness on a summer night. The wind, brushing against their thin clothing, brought with it an inexplicable chill.
Felter pulled his coat tighter around him as he and Inselton approached the Banquet Café. Inselton retrieved a key and unlocked the door, bound tightly with three iron chains, and stepped inside.
"Hey… what do you think Kampah meant by that last part—'a beast'?"
Felter couldn't even wait for the door to be fully secured before slumping into a seat inside.
"I don't know," Inselton shrugged as he locked up behind them. He ran a hand over his freckled cheek and grunted. "Maybe he meant it's not human—some kind of magical beast."
"M-magical beast?!"
"Shh! Keep it down, don't panic."
Felter clamped a hand over his mouth, trying to steady himself. "If… if it's really a magical beast, what do we do?"
Inselton took the seat opposite him. "What else? We capture it. Don't forget, Master Goodsay defeated three Class-One magical beasts single-handedly last year. Judging by the fact that this one only steals food, it probably isn't that powerful. What I care about is those fifty credits—my dignity depends on it."
Felter gave a goofy laugh and patted his friend on the shoulder. "Right, right! All your brothers and cousins are warriors or stone-channelers, and you're the only one stuck in the tech division. But your crafting skills aren't great either, so if your grades are bad too, then—uh…"
Felter's words faltered as he caught the venomous glint in Inselton's eyes.
"S-sorry…"
Inselton snorted. "So what if they're strong? In the world to come, brains will always outmatch brute force. Those musclebound fools will end up dancing on strings pulled by people like me. Apart from Master Goodsay, I guarantee there's no one in this academy with sharper reflexive thinking than mine. Dare to bet on that?"
Felter stuck out his tongue and wisely said nothing more. Indeed, apart from the legendary Daylow Goodsay—arguably the greatest prodigy the academy had seen in fifty years—no one their age could outwit the freckled boy before him. In the last academy chess tournament, Inselton had only lost to Daylow, securing a solid second place.
Outside, the darkness thickened. Within the café, the lights shone warmly, but beyond them, all was swallowed by night. The two boys talked under the light, basking in their confidence and youthful pride.
Yes, they had always remained within the light. But when darkness creeps in, it is the light that vanishes first.
Shhh... shhh...
The wind rustled the leaves of the decorative trees outside…
"Hmm?!"
Inselton suddenly stopped mid-sentence. He jumped to his feet and pressed his face against the glass to peer outside.
"What is it?" Felter asked, already munching on a snack he'd somehow pulled out.
Inselton scanned the surroundings—but all he could see was blackness. The sky had disappeared, the ground faded, even the tree barely three meters away was lost to the gloom…
"Lousy weather," he muttered.
He backed away from the window, drawing his sword with care. Step by step, he moved toward the storage room at the rear of the café.
"Inselton, what is it?"
"Shh. Don't talk."
He switched off the interior lights. Cloaked in darkness, he gently pushed open the storage room door.
"Our 'prey' has arrived."
The storeroom was pitch-black. Inselton held a flashlight in one hand and his blade in the other as he circled the room. He looked up at the small ventilation window near the edge.
It had iron bars and barely opened ten centimeters. A human hand might slip through, but reaching the food inside would be nearly impossible.
Inside, vegetables and supplies were neatly arranged on shelves. The freezer was closed, meats and cheeses intact. Near the window, a rack held hooked rods used for hanging roast duck and turkey. Those cooked items had been secured in the central cabinet.
Outside, the cold night wind howled, stopped only by the locked doors.
After circling once, Inselton called Felter in and bolted the door from the inside. They sat in a corner, watching the window with vigilance.
"Inselton…?"
"I don't know what it is. But I'm certain—it can't get in."
A confident smirk curled his lips. "There are only two entrances: one leading out the back, and the other to the front hall. Both are locked. If it's human, it won't make it inside."
Felter held his breath, his round face flushed. Clutching his sword, he trembled. "But… what if it's not human… what if it's a magical beast?"
"Then we kill it," Inselton said coldly, eyes on his blade. "If the two of us can't even handle a food-stealing beast, we're not just weak—we're pathetic."
Silence fell over the storeroom. The boys barely dared to breathe, weapons raised, waiting for their mysterious visitor.
One minute…Two…Five…Ten…
Stillness blanketed the world. Even the wind outside seemed too afraid to stir.
Thump! Thump-thump-thump!
Suddenly—loud pounding echoed from the front hall door! Felter's eyes widened in terror as he bit down on his lip, gripping his sword. Inselton, however, broke into a delighted grin and placed a calming hand on his friend's shoulder.
"No rush. It's locked out—and growing impatient."
"B-but those knocks were so heavy!"
"You're right," Inselton chuckled. "I misjudged. It's clearly not some magical beast—it's just an ordinary human."
He caressed the edge of his sword, a cruel grin dancing on his lips. "Whoever it is, they're trapped outside. With all the doors and windows sealed, there's no way in."
"So… should we just wait here until morning?"
"Wait until morning? Why?"
Inselton touched his nose, fingers brushing the freckles on his cheeks as a gleam of excitement lit his face.
"Felter, we're on a mission now. What if… not only do we protect the food, but we capture the thief as well? Wouldn't that earn us even more credit?"
Felter blinked—then grinned with growing enthusiasm.
"Yeah, yeah! And… and…"
He drew his sword. The thrill in his voice thickened.
"We can kill the thief. And this time—it'll be justified."