With only one day left before the top ten Championship Tournament, the Empire's Ceremonial Affairs Department summoned the ten remaining academies to stay at the Embassy.
Until then, the academies had been scattered across the Imperial Capital. Mages usually stayed in mansions or noble estates, while the less wealthy Knights and Warrior academies lodged anywhere from mansions to taverns.
The summons might have had something to do with the attack on Annan.
Staying at the Montreal Manor was clearly safer, but Annan and the others had no special privileges. Annan left Lily at the Manor; no one knew whether Witch Hunt would return.
As it happened, Old Ancestor was very fond of Lily. If Lily kept her happy, it was as good as Annan doing it himself.
Early that morning, Olin's knights escorted Annan and the others to the Embassy. Since they had been staying in the Outskirts, they were the last to arrive. Contestants eating breakfast in the Restaurant watched them pass along the corridor outside the windows and began to talk.
"Just our luck. Now we have to spend every day with Saurz Academy."
"Saurz Academy?"
"Because there's no magic."
These were Contestants who resented Annan for what he had done.
"Look, that's him..."
"He's gorgeous. He's brightened up this dull Embassy stay... Where are you going?"
"Back to write him a love letter."
These were female Contestants who admired Annan.
"What gives him the right to summon the Elemental Legion...?"
"Maybe he didn't summon them at all. He's staying at a royal estate. Staging it would be easy—just send a bunch of Elementals there ahead of time..."
"Then watch me expose him tomorrow."
These were Contestants hostile to Annan.
The figure drawing all that attention stopped in the corridor, said something to his companions, then came around