Avoid The Lead, No Matter What!

25. Warnings

.

'Grand Mage Soren'!

He was the previous Grand Mage for King Vien, and he was also a godfather to the Late Queen, so he was like a grandfather to Taze.

'No wonder Taze could sneak in and out so easily!' Celia thought. This must be the 'Powerful Mage' he had mentioned!

But as the applause continued, a flash of memory made Celia freeze.

'He'll die in three days!'

The noisy hall went quiet as Grand Mage Soren began his congratulatory speech, but Celia zoned out.

In her previous lives, news of Grand Mage Soren's death always coincided with news that Elfsworth Academy was choosing a new principal, just three days after its graduation ceremony.

And Celia now realized why.

'To think he's the Principal!'

As Grand Mage Soren spoke, Celia began searching her past memories for any information she could get...

The highest rank a mage could reach was Arch Grand Mage, and Grand Mage Soren achieved it!

But after the Queen's death, he shirked that particular title and retired from the palace.

No one knew where he went, and if Celia hadn't come to Elfsworth, she would never have known, because only past students from the last six or seven years would know, since that was when Grand Mage Soren vanished from the public.

Grand Mage Soren was far more powerful than the current Grand Mage, but he was suddenly found murdered three days after the graduation.

Whoever could kill such a powerful being was no joke.

.

After the graduation ceremony, Celia stood in a quiet spot with Carla, who was wailing in her arms.

"Come now, we both live in the Luxia!" Celia said, patting her back.

"It's not the Saaaaaaame!" Carla wailed, messing up her rouge without the littlest regard. "You plan to work in the Palace! That's like School all over again! You'll only be let out on weekends! Even then, we'll have to set dates and align schedules! And who knows when marriage will set in?!

"But here we were in the same class and could even see in the dorms! I ask you. How is it the same?!"

Celia could only pat her some more. "There there..."

It was true. She planned to work in the Palace.

In previous lives, this was merely because she had done it in the fake first life, and felt like she had to continue that way to remain near Vitav.

This time, it would begin the second part of her plan.

And as for the first?

She needed to take care of Novia!

After parting with Carla, Celia went to greet Master Sylva, who patted her shoulder.

"You're the best student one could have!" He said proudly. "But don't forget, your studies don't end here!"

"Yes Master!" Celia replied with a curtsey.

.

The ride home made Celia anxious.

She had spied on Novia and Lady Garrett for years, and even noted which maids or servants they had gotten close to.

But she didn't fool herself. People as insidious as Novia and Lady Garrett might find ways to slither around her defenses.