Darius shrugged. "I don't like the fact that he came out of nowhere, and he's already gained this much power."
"He's weak," Ardent said flatly.
Darius snorted. "And yet he's strong enough to reach where he is in the shortest time possible. I want to know the limits of his strength and if he's worthy of being in this Academy."
Ardent looked at him. "You're not telling me the whole truth. There's something going on that you want to use him for, and you're trying to forge him."
Darius smiled. "We'll see."
Then he turned and walked up to the center of the party.
His passage didn't go unnoticed as the music died down, and everyone turned to face him, Head Instructor Darius Faulkner.
All the other Houses that sent their representatives over felt a twitch. Darius Faulkner was the face of the Academy, especially to the Houses. They didn't expect him to be there, and if they knew, they wouldn't have just sent their representatives.
