For the first time in this world, Arsene felt a trace of nostalgia. As he looked at Sebastian, it seemed as though the man carried the same look, the same feeling, and the same loneliness.
Yet Arsene couldn't be sure if his assumption was correct. The person before him was strong—far too strong for Arsene to see through—and he wouldn't dare use his Singularity on him.
He had previously used his Singularity on Jolovier, and the outcome had been disastrous. Using it on someone stronger than himself had caused severe internal damage. Arsene didn't know the full extent of his injuries, but since he could still move and the pain was mild, it meant his condition wasn't that grave.
That was what allowed him to continue moving as usual.
Still, he planned to deal with the matter later. Now was the time to watch the match. He needed to watch this match in order to build several things around it.
Sebastian was staring at Arsene without averting his gaze. Deep down, he admired Arsene as well. He was captivated by his eyes—empty, colorless, yet strangely alluring. Sebastian wanted to pluck them out and examine them closely until the end of time.
Arsene didn't feel any hostility from Sebastian. The man wasn't probing him, nor was he reading or trying to learn anything about him. His gaze seemed meaningless, like that of a blind man staring at you but not seeing you.
Arsene didn't sense anything coming from him.
Breaking the silence between them, Arsene spoke, "Sorry to bother you with this, but could you tell me where I can watch the ongoing match from?"
Sebastian, who had been in deep contemplation, snapped out of his daze with a bright smile. "Of course! We can watch it together!"
As Sebastian said that, he opened a door behind him. There hadn't been a door—only walls—but one appeared from nothing, a large door with a golden handle.
He swung the door open wide, his smile unwavering as if inviting Arsene inside.
Arsene saw no reason to refuse. He would be happy to accompany him, and the other man would be just as pleased.
However, they weren't alone there.
Inside the VIP box, the room radiated a comfortable feeling. Red sofas, carpets and rugs, and a polished wooden table adorned the space. It was a room fit to host important and high-status individuals.
The front wall was entirely glass, overlooking a view Arsene hadn't yet had the time to take in.
As Arsene stepped into the room, he heard cheers—excited cries, encouraging shouts, screams that sent blood rushing and ignited one's spirit.
But Arsene's focus wasn't on the shouts or their origin. It was on that chair near the glass wall.
A presence emanated from it—a presence Arsene could sense but not see. It had no color or scent, as if it were an instinct rooted deep in human nature.
He stared at the chair, and the sounds faded from his ears, replaced by another voice. It was calm, casual, and curious.
"I deeply apologize. The noise might have been too much. I hope it didn't bother our new friend, did it, Sebastian?"
From the chair rose a man wearing a robe, carrying an easygoing, carefree smile—a comfortable smile.
He was a teacher. That man was Meredith. Arsene had heard of him but never met him.
Sebastian smiled in return. "Of course, Mr. Meredith. Arsene is the type who enjoys tranquility, peace, and serenity. Just like us!"
Arsene didn't want to appear completely lost amidst these events and the people who kept appearing one after another, each with a new personality and color. So, he controlled his composure and emotions.
Frankly, he didn't need to, because his innate neutrality and indifference filled any gaps that might have exposed him.
Arsene spoke, "Unfortunately, Mr. Meredith, although I've heard much about you, this is the first time I've met you in person. I won't lie and say I'm not a fan. Mr. Erebus has spoken of you often."
Meredith smiled broadly, especially after Arsene's last words. Was Arsene using that against him, implying he had a guarantor for being here on the fifth floor reserved for fifth-year students?
Or had he said it to protect himself in case something happened?
Or perhaps he said it merely to spark Meredith's curiosity and encourage him to ask what Erebus had spoken about.
With a wide smile, Meredith said, "I didn't know I was famous, especially among first-year students. I've been watching your progress, Arsene. I'm fully confident you'll do very well. You'll be the talk of everyone in the future, I'm sure of it. Just follow your instincts—that's my advice to you. And also, steer clear of small troubles that might hinder your growth."
Meredith spoke as if he already knew what Arsene had done with Jolovier, but he seemed unwilling to bring it up. Instead, he wanted to unsettle Arsene and make him think of all the events he'd been involved in, especially after saying he'd been watching him all along.
Arsene merely smiled at that, giving a small nod as if to show he respected and appreciated Meredith's advice and would heed it. He looked towards Sebastian behind him and returned his gaze to Meredith, who understood his meaning.
"Ah, Sebastian! My loyal assistant. Without him, I'd have been in countless predicaments. He always looks after me and cleans up my messes. My childish mistakes repeat constantly, and here I am giving you advice I should follow myself." Meredith spoke with a deliberately embarrassed tone.
Arsene nodded again and apologized, "I hope I haven't interrupted you by intruding. I don't know if I'm even allowed—"
Meredith cut him off, "No need for that. I already consider you close to me. No one can prevent you from anything as long as you're with me, so please don't feel like you interrupted anything. I love being around people like us, especially you—the new generation."
"I won't lie to you; I still feel young myself. My thoughts are always transparent, as if I neither age nor mature. That's why I don't like sitting with that pile of old bones—they're no fun at all."
"Besides, I like a bit of mystery. Don't you see Sebastian, for example? Everything about him screams that he's hiding something. He looks like a vampire ghost that might come to your room after midnight and suck your blood dry—ahahaha!"
Meredith spoke casually, laughing. Was this really his personality, or was he faking it? Arsene couldn't tell anything about him. As Sebastian said—they were both strange, mysterious, and suspicious.
But Arsene didn't differ from them in any way, and that was what Meredith confirmed. "But you too, Arsene—you're mysterious just like us, right? Erebus too, though he acts like an old man, which always annoys me. He keeps scolding me about various matters. We're the team of mysterious ones!"
In terms of spirit and spontaneity, Arsene couldn't really tell if Meredith was faking it. He genuinely seemed to be in his natural state, but as he'd said—he was mysterious and strange. So perhaps that wasn't the case.
Arsene smiled at that. Sebastian also enjoyed the atmosphere here. Meredith was strange and mysterious in his eyes too, especially since he didn't speak like this with just anyone.
Sebastian declared, "I think the match is about to start! You wouldn't want to miss it just joking and chatting about random things, right? You'll have plenty of time to do everything afterwards."
The two agreed and took their seats.
It was a shock to Arsene, truly. As he approached and looked out the glass, it was like a coliseum—but slightly more advanced in design and architecture.
But what stunned him most was that the name lived up to its meaning—Sky Arena. It really was a Sky Arena.
It floated directly in the sky, with devices projecting and broadcasting the battle like a television for the audience below, as they had no other way to watch. Only the VIP boxes for important figures were elevated to the height of the floating arena, where one could watch the battle directly with their own eyes.
The Sky Arena was a massive circular coliseum, like a palace. In its center was lush green ground, filled with swords and all kinds of weapons embedded in it.
And in the sky, the arena floated. The Sky Arena was vast and enormous, with four colossal statues at its corners.
Meredith noticed Arsene lost in thought over what he was seeing, especially his gaze fixed on those statues.
Meredith smiled to himself and decided to explain a little. He gestured to each statue: "That is the statue of the Disrobed Sovereign, a symbol of the naked truth when power is stripped of all its ornaments and left as nothing but an illusion upheld by people's faith."
Meredith pointed to a statue of a massive sword piercing an empty throne.
He continued, "And there, that hand holding the void—no one knows whether it grasps something yet to be created or something erased forever."
The statue he pointed to was of a full arm up to the hand, as if holding a sphere or something.
Meredith went on, "Next to it, the face split into infinity—a face cracking and branching endlessly, symbolizing the infinite possibilities of existence or the collapse of identity into countless faces." It was a statue of a faceless hollow visage, just a flat stone face.
"And finally, the heart inverted outside the body—a massive suspended heart, perhaps a sign of a world ruled by emotions and will rather than reason and matter."
Meredith looked at Arsene, who seemed intrigued by one of those statues.
Arsene observed the coliseum intently. There was a large crowd in the stands below, watching the devices and eagerly awaiting the start of the match.
It was about to begin—just a few more minutes.
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Author here , I hope you enjoy your read.
I wish u could let me know if you like how the story is going , Well It might seem as if there's no progress in the plot , but believe me , it progressed alot.
Don't let it there inside u , share with me your thoughts about the pace of this novel.