The tension between Alaric and Belbub filled the room like smoke after a fire. Just as Belbub finished explaining the need to isolate Elijah until the symptoms of the Red Elixir faded, a new voice cut through the silence.
"How do you plan to isolate him?"
Both men froze. The voice was calm but carried a sharp edge, like a blade hidden under velvet.
They turned toward the door.
Standing there, leaning against the arch, was Clark—the academy's enigmatic guest instructor.
Alaric's eyes widened. "Clark?! Why are you here? Were you listening to us?!"
Belbub raised a hand, his face unreadable. "That's impossible. I cast a sound barrier the moment the conversation began. No voice could leak out."
Clark's lips curled into a faint, knowing smile. "You were speaking so loudly in your emotions that even magic hesitated to silence it."
Alaric narrowed his eyes. "Why are you taking such an interest, Mr. Clark?"
Clark shrugged. "Interest? No. I'm merely issuing a warning."
He stepped into the room, his cloak fluttering slightly behind him.
"Could you please tell us exactly what you are trying to say?" Alaric asked.
"I know you've been training Elijah in secret for over a year. I don't care about that. But I've seen the boy—just once. And from that alone, I can tell…"
He paused, then continued with eerie calm.
"This is the peace before the storm."
Alaric blinked. "What do you mean by that?"
Clark's eyes gleamed. "Do you know what a monster is?"
Alaric frowned. "What?"
Clark stepped closer, his voice dropping.
"I've seen many types of monsters in my travels:
A monster that looks like an angel but devours everything it touches.
A group of monsters that sleep endlessly—and in their sleep, the world breathes easy. But when they awaken… kingdoms fall.
A faceless monster with no identity—hidden deep within the source of all life. A being that tried to become a god but failed…"
He took one more step, his tone sharpening.
"But there is one monster I've never seen. Not truly. Because… he doesn't move. Doesn't speak. Doesn't exist in the ways others do. He chooses silence—not out of fear, but as a strategy. He observes everything. Learns. Calculates. Then, when the time is right, he moves with precision—and there is no cage in this world that can contain him."
He paused, then whispered, "He is the Silent Monster."
The room chilled.
Alaric took a breath. "Who is this… Silent Monster? Are you saying it's Elijah?"
He gave a half-hearted laugh. "Or are you talking about yourself? You always stay silent."
Clark turned toward the door, his back to them now.
"You won't understand yet," he said without looking back. "But one day… you'll see him. And when you do, you'll wish he had remained silent."
With that, he stepped out of the sanctum and vanished down the long stone corridor, leaving a haunting stillness in his wake.
As Clark's footsteps faded into the echo of silence, the sanctum remained heavy with his final words.
He is the Silent Monster.
The air hung thick for a long moment.
Alaric finally said, "Was he warning us… or just telling a story?"
Belbub leaned back in his chair, eyes closed in thought. Then, almost to himself, he muttered, "I don't know what he was trying to say… but I've realized one thing—we must step carefully from now on."
Alaric turned toward him. "What do you mean?"
Belbub opened his eyes, the weight of three hundred years reflecting in them. "I'm not sure… but my instincts are screaming that there is something beyond what we can imagine taking shape here. A thread we've yet to see, twisting underneath all of this."
Alaric scoffed. "Forget his words. Clark's always been insane. I've known him a long time. Always lost in riddles and imaginary prophecies. He used to ramble about 'silent monsters' even during our academy days."
Belbub chuckled softly, then turned serious. "Maybe. But still… something in his voice struck a chord. And it made me realize something else."
He stood up, folding his hands behind his back.
"Isolation will not work properly—not if there are still things that can draw attention to Elijah."
Alaric looked confused. "What do you mean?"
Belbub turned to face him. "You said earlier Elijah mentioned something to you—something dangerous."
Alaric's eyes flicked away for a moment, then he sighed. "Yes… he told me he has Musagi—a soul weapon."
Belbub's face turned pale. "A soul weapon? At such a young age?" He gripped the edge of the desk tightly. "That makes things far worse than I imagined. You have no idea the amount of trouble this will bring."
Alaric frowned. "Why? A soul weapon isn't illegal."
Belbub shook his head. "Not normally. But a new law passed from the Magus Tower three months ago. They've banned all soul weapons that are related to the ancient class of Dyaus Migurith."
Alaric's eyes widened. "What?"
Belbub nodded grimly. "That class of weapons was used during the Cataclysm Era. This Weapons carry the power of Unknown Deity. They're too dangerous. Too alive. And if Elijah's Musagi is of that class…"
Alaric muttered, "Then he's carrying something that could damn him even further."
Belbub spoke with cold finality. "We have to take that sword from him—and seal it in another dimension."
Alaric gave a humorless laugh. "And how long do you think you can hide a soul weapon, Father? It's not a normal sword. You can seal it, lock it, throw it into a void—but if the wielder calls, it will come."
He looked at his father, eyes narrowing. "Because a sword like that is always loyal to its master."
Belbub turned away, voice low. "Yes… but sometimes, even the most loyal weapon—intentionally or unintentionally—can betray its master."
Alaric's breath caught in his throat. "What are you suggesting?"
Belbub didn't answer directly. He simply stared into the dark space where Clark had vanished.
"From this point forward… we are no longer guiding Elijah's path. We are simply trying to survive whatever future he brings."