Alex found a secluded spot close to Emily's school; it was still very early, so the only people who could be seen around the school premises were teachers and staff workers.
Finding a spot where he knew that no one would come to casually, Alex began to withdraw his things from the system.
The pendant of deterrence to change his aura, the all-knowing mask to hide his face, and the indestructible Robe to cover his uniform.
The items from the system were very convenient; they appeared on Alex's body just as he wanted, so he did not need to put them on manually.
Covered in a pitch-black robe that touched the ground and a plain white mask covering his face, Alex looked like one of those mysterious cult members who were out on secret missions.
Now in his disguise, Alex thought of how he was supposed to use the void Walk ability of his. Immediately he thought of this, his view changed.
"Wow!" Alex exclaimed.
He currently has a birdlike view as if he was in the air, he could see everywhere around the school premises and even see through the roofs; only that he was unable to see anybody, this was what prevented this ability from being a super scouting ability.
"Well, this is enough." Alex sighed to himself and continued to use the ability.
He quickly found a room, which he presumed was the principal's office; memories of the old Alex visiting the school in the past played in his mind, so Alex was sure that he wasn't far off in his assumption.
"Here," Alex said out loud.
His view immediately changed back to normal, he was back to his hiding spot.
"What now?" Alex asked in confusion; the system didn't make him wait for long though.
Wooosh!!
Sounds of fierce wind blowing came from behind Alex, causing him to turn around; his eyes widened when he saw a crack in space behind him, and in this crack was a plain white world.
He could instantly tell that it was the effect of his skill.
"This ability is dope," Alex nodded and walked into the crack.
He entered the white space and saw a straight footpath in front of him, the footpath stretched for about twenty meters before ending with another crack.
"This must be what it means that I can't change directions midway, quite literal." Alex said calmly as he began to walk.
He quickly arrived at the other end of the footpath, he gave a few coughs to adjust his voice before stepping through it.
Alex found himself in an office with bookshelves, a large desk, and a big chair behind it. Sitting on a chair was a man who looked like he was in his seventies; the man was currently reading through some files, so he did not notice Alex yet.
With the all-knowing mask, Alex was able to tell that this man was at the High stage of the Expert Mage rank; he was at the same rank as most of the teachers in Alex's academy.
Alex, who had appeared in a corner of the office, stared at the principal like an assassin from the shadows. It was after looking for a whole minute that he decided to speak because it seemed like the man would never notice him with the concealing ability of the all-knowing mask.
"You look very tired, shouldn't you be resting more at your age?" Alex voiced out from the side, he changed his voice to make him sound like an adult with a throat injury.
His sudden words startled the principal and made him jump up from his chair, his eyes zoomed in on Alex's figure in shock.
He had not known when this person entered his office or how long he had been there.
'I am too careless, what if he was an assassin?' The principal thought to himself, sweat instantly forming on his forehead.
Alex did his best to remain calm, he did not want to make any mistakes that would give him away.
"Do not be afraid, I have no intentions to harm you…you would have been dead ten times over if I wanted to kill you." Alex said calmly and slowly walked out from where he had appeared.
The principal gulped hard, he could hear his own heart beating crazily.
Not responding to Alex, he spread his senses to Alex's figure in an attempt to probe him. His eyes trembled when he was unable to find anything.
'He is stronger than me!' The principal thought in despair.
Meanwhile, Alex received a notification from the system.
[Scanning energy detected, blocked by the all-knowing mask]
Alex's footsteps paused when he saw this notification and turned to look at the principal; his action scared the old man almost to death, and he stepped back subconsciously.
"I told you I have no intention of harming you but you still want to test me? Let me show you what true strength is!" Alex voiced out coldly and immediately activated the pendant of deterrence hidden under his robe.
The office was suddenly filled with a powerful energy that made the principal tremble from fear.
"An A-Archmage!" He gasped as he looked at the masked person in horror.
What was a mage at the Archmage rank doing in such a small city?
Alex was satisfied with the effect of the pendant. Since the principal was at the Expert Mage rank, the aura from the pendant would be two ranks ahead of him.
"I do not plan to spend much time in this…place. I have a task for you which you must obey," Alex said while walking closer to the principal, who kept moving backward.
" W-what is it?" The principal asked in a quivering voice.
" Are you familiar with the name, Emily Zoran?" Alex asked.
The principal thought for a while before nodding furiously.
"Did she offend you? I'll expel her immediately!" he voiced out in panic.
Alex frowned from behind his mask, he didn't like the tone of the man and felt like punching his face. But he knew that he could not do that as his punch would have no effect on a mage at the level of the principal.
He did this instead.
Alex stretched out one of his hands and spread his palm toward the principal.
A purple magic star pattern immediately appeared in front of his palm, and from it came a bolt of lightning that struck the chest of the old man; it sent him flying back and crashing into one of the bookshelves.
The old man fell to the ground disgracefully and started coughing violently.
"Silence! That was only a light punishment for talking nonsense. I did not plan to hurt you, and I won't," Alex hissed.
He was very well aware that no spell he would cast would hurt the old man, but it sure felt good to be finally able to use spells.
The principal immediately stopped coughing and stood up.
'Indeed, it didn't hurt me much but it still stung though. This senior must be toying with me.' The principal thought to himself, aggrieved.
"Back to what I was saying. Emily Zoran, I have been watching her for a while now. Are you aware of her situation in your school?" Alex asked.
The principal froze in fear; he was aware that Emily was being bullied but did not dare to say it, at least not in the face of this person.
What if he went back on his words and killed him for not doing anything?
Even though it was not his place to get involved in student affairs, this person might take it out on him for not doing anything regardless.
Seeing the old man refusing to reply, Alex decided to carry on with his speech.
"You don't have to answer, I know that you are aware. Here is the thing: I have discovered that Emily Zoran has a great talent to be a fine mage when she awakens, and I plan to take her in as my student.
But I am currently on a mission and can not come in contact with her or assist her in any form, this is where I need you to come in. I want YOU to look after Emily Zoran in my stead while I'm away. Should anything happen to her again…you can kiss your family, school, and life goodbye.
Are we clear?"
Alex stated in a very serious tone, the principal found himself nodding uncontrollably. He almost peed himself from how scared he was.
"Good, I trust you to do a good job," Alex said before stepping away from the principal. He walked around the office with both hands behind his back like he was moving randomly while, in actuality, he was moving toward the open crack that only he could see but didn't want to make it obvious.
Alex immediately stepped into it after getting close enough and entered the white space but from the principal's perspective, Alex was walking around the office before suddenly disappearing.
Plop!
Drenched in sweat, the principal fell to his butt while panting heavily, the encounter just now had drained him and he felt older by a few years?
"Emily has the potential to be a mage? But the family of those kids might question me if I offend their children…what am I saying?" The principal had a conflicted expression but this only lasted for a moment before his eyes turned firm.
"They can get angry for all I care, I would rather answer troublesome questions than have this person pay me another visit!" The principal exclaimed before dashing out of his office.
…..
Alex arrived at his hiding spot quickly, kept his outfit back in the system, and headed for the academy.
The issue with his little sister has been resolved successfully, he was sure that the principal would make the right choice.