Ceres

111

"Have you eaten your breakfast?"

Roven smiled as he went near Paulin who was sitting quietly on a bench. Paulin was about to smile and hug her brother when she suddenly felt something different from him.

"Big brother... You..."

Roven tilted his head and seemingly confused at what Paulin was saying.

"What's the matter?"

Roven patted Paulin head and gently caressed her hair while smiling so innocently at her.

Paulin shoved Roven's hand and started walking away.

"It's nothing. I already ate and I'm feeling tired so I will go back to my room, okay?"

Roven was confused by Paulin's actions. He thought that somehow she was different and was acting like someone not of her age. Even though he wanted to chase after his little sister, he just brushed off the idea as he needed to leave for the main church as soon as possible. He wanted to get answers about the goddess' appearing in his prayers.

On the other hand, Paulin went back to her room without any hindrances. No one was willing to get close to her as she was not really a person of the church. She was free to do whatever she liked except for roaming on restricted areas. Thus, no one bothered when they saw her returning to her room.

Right after she returned to her room, she sat on her bed and tightly clenched her fists.

"It didn't work."

She gritted her teeth and furrowed her brows.

"That stupid goddess... Did she final show herself to him? That can't be! I've always made sure that nothing goes wrong! Is it... Did it happen when he watched that competition?"

Paulin suddenly got hold of a pillow on the bed and threw it on the floor.

"That stupid f*cking goddess! She shouldn't be meddling with my affairs!"

---

"Headmaster!"

"Finally! Headmaster is here!"

"He even brought all the highest ranking professors!"

"Thank goodness, we will be alright!"

The people guarding the ancient array finally felt relief. They were all thanking the headmaster and professors who came to check on the ancient array. Those who were wounded from the repulsion were immediately brought to the designated areas for healing. Although it was not bustling as it should have been since this is a major incident, the headmaster was able to keep everything in their hands.

"I can't probe the array."

One of the professors said those words to the headmaster with a worried look on his face.

"Professor Luschka, thank you for trying. I see that you were even injured just by trying to probe it. You must first heal yourself as to prepare for anything that might happen."

The headmaster immediately ordered people to assist Luschka, a female professor dressed in apple green robes designed with purple wood vines all over. She is one of the highest ranking professors in Evergreen Garden and also, the most proficient in the field of magical arrays within the school. She also specializes in spirit healing and thus, was able to cover up her injuries from probing the ancient array.

Another professor went closer to the headmaster.

"If even professor Luschka can't probe what's happening in the array, I think we better call someone from the outside."

The headmaster furrowed his brows. He maintained a calm demeanor but deep inside, he was thinking hard as to who can help them.

"If we call on the ancestors..."

Another professor suggested.

"We can't."

The headmaster immediately rejected the idea.

"But headmaster, this incident... How can we handle it ourselves if we can't even figure out what's happening? If this will ruin the school, wouldn't the ancestors punish our very souls?"

The headmaster shot a fierce glare at the professor who just spoke. Then, he closed his eyes and apologized for behaving like that to everyone.

"The ancestors... They've been asleep for who knows how long. The only person who can wake them up is the empress. However... She, too, is having a hard time contacting them. Aside from her, no one can contact the ancestors in this kingdom."

All the professors have a helpless look on their faces. If the ancient array kept on emitting this repulsive aura then, no student can train inside it. Moreover, the treasures inside, no one will be able to retrieve them this year. All of these will, of course, not only happen this year but to succeeding years as well. That is, if the ancient array only emits such aura. However, if the ancient array gets even wilder than it is right now then, no one can be sure if Evergreen Garden can escape this calamity.

"Then... we must relocate everyone...?"

"That can only be the solution right now."

"...I have an idea."

All the other professors looked towards the entrance of the sacred area.

"Professor Mothy."

The headmaster opened his mouth and slightly bowed.

Professor Mothy is the oldest professor in Evergreen Garden up to this date. He was also respected and loved by everyone in the school. Even though he doesn't teach that much like in the old days, he still teaches whenever he can and helps the school in whatever way he can.

Evergreen Garden has a simple structure when it comes to the people running it. There is a headmaster, assistant headmaster, department heads, and professors. Even those running the departments, not related to any curriculum, are called professors and some even have teaching loads. Aside from those working odd jobs and administratively, the rest of the school is made up of students. Thus, even though the school is fairly large, it's easier to remember a lot of things about it.

"I came as soon as I learned of the incident but I apologize for being late. You know how this old age affects my health."

Professor Mothy was smiling though his eyes can't be clearly seen due to the wrinkles and the long white eyebrows he has.

The headmaster was the only one who spoke.

"There is nothing to apologize for, professor Mothy. We are actually in need of your knowledge."

Professor Mothy walked slowly towards the headmaster before he began speaking. Actually, he deeply sighed; seemingly recalling some distant past.

"The only one in this kingdom that can help us would be someone who inherited the empress' abilities. Of course, it's her children but knowing that not one of them exhibited the necessary abilities, the only hope lies in the next generation."

The headmaster raised his brows as he thought that professor Mothy would give them concrete answers and help them solve the problem at hand. But, contrary to his expectations, the said professor only stated a solution that is for the far future.

Before the headmaster could speak once more, professor Mothy, surprisingly, has more to say.

"Thus, the only solution right now is to ask for help from those outsiders. If we can contact those people from before then, we can definitely safeguard this school once more."

"Those people?"

Everyone had dumbfounded look on their faces, even the headmaster was confused as to what professor Mothy was talking about.

"Thosepeople who were able to gain access in this ancient array despite beingoutsiders. Those are the people whom we can ask for assistance." -tbc