"Grandfather sir!"
Arneld walked quickly in the opposite direction of Niel. After feeling the tremendous tremor that shook even the palace, Arneld spurred his horse toward the academy and ran to find Niel before he met Niel on the opposite road. The Elf man was just as anxious as he was. Even he, who was not a top-ranked mage, could feel the tremendous surge of mana, let alone a mage as great as Niel.
"Did you feel it?" asked Arneld once he was close to Niel.
"It seems not only top-ranked mages, but other mages as well." Niel said.
"What about the academy students?"
"All of them have been evacuated by the professors and teachers."
"Headmaster, Sir!"
The professors, teachers, and staff approached Niel. Their faces showed they were anxious, but there was also a sense of curiosity about the mana tremor just now. Foreign, truly tremendous, and forcing them to submit to something they did not know. What exactly was it?
"We give our greetings to the great light of Luminaria." Upon noticing Arneld, King of Luminaria, the academy vice-head bowed in greeting first, and then the others followed.
"Long time no see, Gernad." Arneld greeted back.
"This is not the time for greetings." Niel cut in. "I am truly forced to tell you all." He was slightly anxious, his hand massaging his throbbing, aching head.
"What do you mean, Headmaster?"
"Do you all know the natural enemy of light mana?"
"According to legend, dark mana. But, isn't that just a legend?" A Professor answered.
"A legend you say? Have you forgotten about the seven great demons the light hero defeated?" The academy vice-head retorted.
The Professor wore a confused expression, "Wasn't that just a children's fairy tale?"
"No." Niel interjected. "That is not a fairy tale for children alone. Who exactly made that story into a fairy tale anyway!"
"Does this tremor signify the awakening of the seven great demons?" a teacher asked.
"No. This tremor is caused by the mana of the Demon King Leviathan Demonio. His mana is so extraordinarily great that in the past it was able to choke someone to death."
"In the past?"
"Have you forgotten Sir Niel is called the living legend of the kingdom?"
"Ah, right."
"Back then..." Niel told them in detail what happened a hundred years ago. Starting from the first tremendous tremor to the day the seven light heroes died. He even told them how humiliating it was when facing Leviathan and only standing by watching his comrades be killed.
"If even Sir Niel is unable to fight him, then what about us?"
"Isn't that terrifying? Even legendary mana like light mana can't fight him!"
"That is why I built this academy, in order to find the owner of light mana who is blessed directly by the Light."
"Is that possible?"
"Isn't that you?"
"I am merely a vessel for light mana, and use magic with its permission, not the true owner. They are the ones who allow me to use it, not me who commands them to be used by me." Niel explained, breaking the anxiety that was ongoing among the teachers.
"What?" Arneld was equally surprised.
"We need to find the true owner of light mana to defeat Demon King Leviathan. Or, we must make another magic element able to influence him. For example, I need an Eternity-ranked mage."
"That's impossible! Until now only you have been able to reach that rank." The academy vice-head replied. He was a human who looked full of authority.
"That is why, I will educate the students until they reach the top level, exceeding myself who is already old."
"Then, what about the report Matthius gave that the Demon King passed through the gate barrier?" asked Arneld, because he remembered that while at the palace his son came and gave a statement like that.
"We can find out during the magic element test later. No matter how great he is, my magic tool here cannot be easily fooled. I have spent a lot of time and funds to complete it."
"We will stand guard in all directions that would allow him to enter the test area. If there is a student who makes us suspicious of him, please understand if we act beyond our role as teachers."
"Very well. You may return to teaching."
"Excuse us." One by one they left Niel and Arneld in the corridor leading to the highest tower of Aetheria Academy.
"Do you not think this is just an underground mana explosion, Tuan kakek?" asked Arneld.
"Back then, during the first tremor a hundred years ago, I also had the same thought as you. But then, the feeling became more pressing and suffocating. When I saw his figure directly standing like a King, only then did I realize he was destruction itself."
"I will help you find the true owner of light mana as best I can. You know I am not an expert mage like you."
"I am already greatly helped by that."
"I am only doing my duty as King, and trying to protect the family I love. Nothing more than that." Arneld then left, leaving Niel who pulled his lips into a fond smile.
"I know you're reluctant to show your kindness. Honestly. You haven't changed even though you're grown up and have a family." Niel said while gazing at Arneld's figure that was beginning to vanish among the great pillars stretching out.