***
Minutes earlier...
The hypocrisy of this realm was far from new to Dante. It was the standard operating procedure. A twisted normalcy that thrived under the guise of order, only painted over to hide the rot underneath.
He was staring at the devastation around him.
Dante had always known Ignotus was an irregular, a Heretic, much like Nex himself. To him, the boy wasn't just an extremely talented student; he was the seed of their order's downfall.
And honestly? Dante was looking forward to it.
He hadn't interfered in Ignotus's path, and no, it wasn't because of the boy's potential connection to the Gods, though it was a reason, but because he wanted to see just what would happen.
The headmaster wanted to see where Ignotus would go, what he would break, and most importantly, how Dante's own kin—the high-and-mighty rulers of the Academy—would react when their masks started slipping.
Yet, nothing showed on the outside.
