NOVEL WEB Chapter 8- Solution
The clock was ticking and the room remained mildly lit as usual. On the tall mahogany chair sat the Principal of the Academy while reading through some documents—to keep himself busy.
The reason for the old man's and majorly every staff member's concern these days has been one single person—Blake.
Three days ago, when Catherine disappeared from her dorm after Carlson fell into battle because of overheating, every friend and acquaintance of Catherine knew that she must have gone to find a cure to help Carl. And the one who also disappeared with her was Blake.
Further investigation helped them to know that Blake had promised her that they would prepare the medicine to cure Carlson. And for that, Catherine was caged inside the mansion.
"Haaah..." The man might look like in his fifties given his wrinkles and baggy eyes but he was only forty-eight this year. And the amount of stressful events that occur nowadays, his fatigue seemed to have become constant on his face.
*Knock*
"Come in." Without hearing who the person was on the other side, the old man ordered them to come inside.
As the door parted from the middle, the face of a man in his early thirties with blond hair and golden eyes came into view.
"Charles." The Principal greeted his secretary and the in charge of the third year.
Charles studied the haggard front of the old man before sighing, "You shouldn't concern yourself with such matters which you cannot control."
Hearing Charles' words, the other one chuckled, "Are you asking the Principal to not care about the safety of the Holy Maiden and the fact that a student is about to be murdered?"
"So you know that Blake is going to get killed?" Charles' counter-questioning brought a scoff from the Principal.
"I would have thrown that sly fox away two years ago—if only he hadn't formed a contract with me to let him study here and graduate from the Academy." The Headmaster, despite nearing his fifty was tricked by Blake into signing a contract which ensured that Blake would graduate from the Academy despite his misconducts.
"That's something I am still surprised about." Charles flashed a smile of amusement before he sat down while facing his friend and boss.
After a short pause, in a heavy tone, Charles asked, "Principal...are you really not going to stop Carlson from harming Blake? I mean, the law is there to punish him..."
"Why are you being so hesitant? You do know that Blake doesn't hold his position in his own company anymore right? And it isn't like we would be losing a competent student. In fact, if we try to stop Carlson we might as well lose his trust and he might end up abandoning the school."
"So you say, it's better to sacrifice Blake rather than letting go of Carlson?" Hearing Charles' query, the other one didn't say anything. But the silence was hefty enough for a response.
Charles heaved a long breath, before he asked, "But what if...Blake is actually preparing a potion there?"
The Principal frowned at that, "What is it with you? Why are you suddenly taking Blake's side?"
Charles shook his head in innocence before clearing the misunderstanding, "I am not taking anyone's side, just stating a possibility."
Leaning forward, once he got the older one's attention, Charles continued, "What if Catherine walks out unscathed and has a potion in hand? What if Blake is proven to be not guilty of doing anything to Catherine?"
The Principal explained something to his dear friend which the latter seemed to have forgotten, "For a Holy Maiden to stay with a man for seven days and night....do you think the church would tolerate it?"
Charles was taken aback. He never thought this. And the Principal knew that Charles never considered that factor.
Taking a pause the older one added, "Even if we stop Carlson, the Church would either slaughter Blake or turn against the Academy if we try to protect him."
Leaning forward, the Principal asked, "Now...are you prepared to go against the Cathedral?"
Charles shivered as sweat trickled down his head.
"...I think we should not meddle with our students' affairs."
********
[Forgiveness from:
1. Catherine Riverdale: 50/100]
[New skill unlocked!]
[Wind Manipulation: The ability to control and manipulate the wind with precision. This skill allows the user to create gusts of wind varying from gentle breezes to powerful gales, enabling them to navigate through the air, deflect projectiles, and disperse hazardous substances. It can be used for both offensive and defensive maneuvers, such as summoning tornadoes to disarm enemies or forming wind barriers to shield allies.]
[Due to Host's experience the skill has leveled up!]
[Ding!]
[Wind Manipulation- Lvl F-> D]
[Note: To increase the skill level, the Host needs to use the said skill as much as he can to increase the proficiency, and using a wide variety of spells related to Wind Manipulation would allow the host to level up.]
....
Reading the description Blake nodded to himself. This was greater than what he anticipated.
He didn't expect to gain the skill so soon, but he surely wasn't going to deny it. The potion he gave to Catherine was more beneficial to himself than it would be to Carlson.
'But still...against the Dragon of Ragnarok, this wind skill wouldn't be very effective.' At most, Blake would be able to keep dodging and escaping his possible death by the claws of Carlson.
The Dragon of Ragnarok is one of the four heavenly dragons present on the planet and the one Carlson is majorly known for his rage and berserk state—which surpasses the strength of any other dragon.
*Knock*
As Blake was forming a strategy he heard someone knocking on the door.
He didn't have to guess who it was before Blake walked towards the door and parted it—only to find the person he was expecting.
"Umm...I am about to prepare dinner. Do you have a preference?" Catherine stood there with a mildly embarrassed expression on her face as she asked him.
Blake shook his head and stepped out of the room, "I will prepare the dinner since you took care of lunch."
"No, it's fine! I can...why don't you rest for some time? Although I healed you, in the end, the body needs some self-repairing time as well." Catherine tried to reason but Blake's strides didn't halt.
"No can do, my lady. I can't have you do all the work while I rest like a sloth."
Catherine panicked and rushed forward toward the kitchen before turning to face him, "I said it's okay. Why can't you let me cook? Do you fear that I would poison you?"
Catherine added the last remark, knowing full well that it wasn't the case. After all, earlier Blake didn't even show the slightest caution before eating the food she prepared.
Blake didn't continue the argument and walked away. Once he was settled on the dining table Catherine heaved a sigh and took the apron from the nearby hanger.
"I would like to have some noodles for dinner." Blake shared his preference to which Catherine happily nodded.
Blake could see the motherly instincts flaring inside her every once in a while.
She is really a warm person—he inwardly admitted.
Catherine was preparing the food while Blake stared at the table blankly while thinking of some strategy to counter Carlson.
It was then, that Catherine suddenly suggested, "Hey Blake....if I try to convince Carlson, I think he wouldn't harm you."
Blake's eyes parted wide and his eyebrows directed toward the ceiling. Although he knew Catherine had half forgiven him, still to think she would even consider protecting him?
Indeed quite strange and surprising.
However, "I am thankful for the thought but an enraged Carlson wouldn't listen even to you."
Catherine's shoulders slumped in disappointment. More than her, no one better knows Carlson, that's why she couldn't refute Blake's statement.
There was a brief pause that ensued between them, with only the sound of vegetable chopping reverberating across the dining space.
Amidst the silence, Blake raised his voice and suggested, "....well, if you are really fine with protecting me, then I have a way."
Although Blake said that he got a solution, Catherine surely wasn't going to like it.
*******
A/N:- I hope the plot doesn't seem slow. I am trying to develop their relationship which would become the base of the story further on.
Drop a comment if you liked the chapter.