When Angel arrived at Youthful Grace Hall, he found that there were currently only three people there.
More precisely, two people.
Leon and Serum. The extra one was Serum's book spirit, Black Codex.
Serum sat on a tree branch with his back against the trunk, engrossed in a thick, hardbound tome in his hands.
Leon sat cross-legged in the center of the training ground, drenched in sweat and panting without pause. Before him stood a voluptuous woman wielding a slender sword, apparently instructing Leon. One hand adjusted her glasses while the other flourished the thin blade. Every muscle on her body danced with a graceful beauty.
When Angel pushed open the door and entered, all three looked over at him in confusion.
They all showed varying degrees of wariness toward Angel's uninvited arrival. Leon even sprang up from the ground and pointed his sword at Angel.
Only after Angel dispelled the illusion on his face and revealed his true appearance did Leon let out a long breath, lower his sword, and slump back onto the ground to continue panting.
Serum jumped down from the tree at that moment and studied Angel carefully, curiosity in his eyes. "You're back? Everyone outside is saying you've advanced. Is that true?"
Serum circled Angel once. He could not discern any energy fluctuations from Angel, yet he vaguely felt that Angel's aura had changed noticeably from when they had met in Sky Mechanical City not long ago.
While Serum was examining him, the woman who had been instructing Leon in swordsmanship swayed over.
"Esteemed Mr. Pat... or should I call you Wizard Pat?" Her voice was soft and languid, and she even cast Angel a flirtatious glance.
Serum turned to her. "Black Codex, stop fooling around. Change back into a man."
The woman shrugged irritably.