Miriam staggered backward. After all, she was a sorceress, and such a collision of energy made her wrists numb.
She stared directly at the ice mist mixed with magic ahead. The moonlight shining on the diffusing ice crystals was extremely magnificent.
Then, the next moment, Thorne suddenly rushed out of the ice mist, holding his blade high above his head with both hands. A magic crest flashed and vanished in an instant. "Ashina Style: Ichimonji!"
This was a sword, filled with an unstoppable momentum. It was also a staff, with magic gathered at the blade, extending it by a full half-meter.
And when the two merged, it became a ruthless killing technique! "Swish—"
The sharp blade pierced through an afterimage, leaving a long sword mark on the ground. Thorne stood still, his chest heaving. It was only after a few seconds that he raised his head. "You have lost."
Blue particles condensed into a human shape several meters away. Miriam glanced at her split hat brim, her eyelids twitching wildly. By using "Starlight movement," she had certainly lost. The strength of both sides was simply not on the same level. "Is this what you call the Ashina Style?"
"Mm, a school that integrates the strengths of many and exists solely for victory."
Miriam didn't speak. In that instant, she had felt a shocking murderous intent. Reflecting on the battle, it was too strange to evaluate, but no matter how it changed, it remained the same: every goal was to kill the enemy. "Alright, alright, I admit you are indeed a genius in certain aspects."
Miriam waved her hand, pulled a thick notebook from her bosom, and tossed it to Thorne. "I am leaving to guard the Carian Study Hall tomorrow. Although it is a bit early, consider this notebook a trophy; perhaps you might find a use for it one day."
Thorne reached out to take it and flipped through it roughly. It was a research notebook.
The last chapter…
He suddenly raised his head and looked at the magic professor, who was continuously moving her wrists. "Starlight movement?!"
Just as the two sorcerers were in the heat of battle, not far away, at the top of the Raya Lucaria Academy in the center of Liurnia of the Lakes, another group of powerful sorcerers sat around a round table, looking at each other in dismay.
Glintstone lamps illuminated this quaint conference room, wh…
Perhaps out of respect for the Erdtree, even though they had already overthrown the Carian Royal Family's rule, the people here still wore the wide-brimmed robes of magic professors. Gold thread stitched over the mouth area of their masks. That person's warning still rang in their ears as if it were yesterday.
Counting heads, five sorcerers sat around the round table, exactly corresponding to the heads of the five classrooms.
The academy advocated democratic governance and adopted group decisions, but ironically, the high-backed chair at the head of the table was empty. That should have been the seat of an incredibly noble queen.
Professor Oritis, head of the Twinsage Classroom, looked around and tapped the table lightly. "To be honest, it is truly a difficult task to gather everyone for a meeting." As the rotating chairman, his voice was slightly helpless.
He remembered the last topic was about who to send to support the Cuckoo Knights. As a result, it had been over half a month since the battle at the manor ended, and the academy hadn't even held a single strategy meeting.
"Stop with the nonsense, say what you have to say. I am still busy with puppet research." A slightly irritable voice rang out, with fingertips constantly tapping the table.
Oritis turned his head to look, but didn't feel angry. It seemed he was already used to the other's style.
"Professor Seluvis, there aren't many people left in your Lazuli Classroom, what is there to be busy with?"
"Heh, if I were shrewd and capable, you would have suspected my stance long ago. Are you going to talk business or not? If not, I am leaving." Seluvis crossed his arms, looking like a dead pig that didn't fear boiling water.
Masks hid the professors' expressions, but they were surely filled with disgust. However, Seluvis wasn't wrong. Such an annoying personality was precisely what made people feel at ease.
Treating stars and the moon as equals, the Lazuli Classroom that studied Carian magic could never revive. Even if Seluvis defected, they wouldn't be afraid. With his personality, which was hated by everyone, he was more likely to cause internal chaos in the Royal Family.
"Alright, everyone has research to attend to, let's get straight to the point." Oritis leaned forward and said, word by word: "Then, the most important topic: should the academy close its gates?"
The glintstone lamps illuminated the conference room brightly, yet there was not much sound in the quaint room. This was not because the first proposal had stumped this group of magic professors, but rather because their minds were wandering elsewhere, and they had no intention of thinking about it. Rather than calling them a group of humanoid weapons, it would be more accurate to call them scholars and scientists. Countless mysteries awaited to be solved; who had the leisure to think about war?
After a moment of silence, Oritis, who had the worst luck in the world, tapped the table again.
Seeing that no one paid him any attention, he called out by name: "Professor Leon, what is the view of your Haima Classroom?"
A sorcerer huddled in the corner raised his head. He was over two meters tall, and his robust body stretched his robes until they were bulging. As the academy's sanctioner and an expert in war magic, it was best for him to lead the discussion.
"Ahem, my meaning is that the academy gates cannot be closed." His voice was hoarse, like two stones rubbing together, sounding extremely grating. "It is true that the Cuckoo Knights have suffered heavy losses, but they still have the ability to act independently. Now that the war of the demigods has not yet ended, employers are everywhere."
"Precisely because the Cuckoo have the ability to betray, we must close the gates," the sorcerer sitting to Leon's right spoke, in a slightly sharp female voice. "Betray? Even if they occupied the academy, what ability would they have to deal with a Royal Family counterattack?"
"Surely Matthews wouldn't be stupid enough to act as cannon fodder for the Carians."
"But they failed. Things that fail should not have value."
"Professor Aella!" Leon emphasized his tone, spreading his wide palms. "The value of the Cuckoo depends on the strength of Caria. The latter still has the power to counterattack. Once the Cuckoo Knights retreat, they can retake the whole of Liurnia. When they reforge their weapons, are you waiting for another full moon conquest?"
The female professor's momentum suddenly waned, and she couldn't speak for a long while.
That was true; this magic palace was easy to defend and hard to attack, but it couldn't withstand a siege by a large army. With sound reasoning and evidence, and the real threat outside, the group of professors quieted down.
After a long while, a sinister voice sounded. "I heard that the Valkyrie Malenia's army is about to head south. Could we ask her for a favor?"
Everyone turned to look; it was Chelona, the head of the Oritis Classroom. The professors, who usually buried themselves in books, looked at each other, considering the feasibility, when crisp applause broke the silence.
"Professor Chelona has quite an imagination." Seluvis continued with his sarcastic tone, clapping while saying: "Then who will contact that Valkyrie? I heard the Haima Classroom has connections with them. I suggest Lord Leon go personally, but I must remind you, the Carian Royal Family are relatives by marriage. It's hard to say who she will help~~"
This remark caused blood pressure to rise sharply, yet it was impossible to refute. They had placed the former wife of the Elden Lord under house arrest.
By relation, Malenia was the half-sister of the Princess of the Moon; how the hell were they supposed to bring this up?
"No need to consider it. I propose not to close the academy gates for the time being and to continue maintaining a harmonious relationship with the Cuckoo Knights. You all wouldn't want the war to interrupt your research, would you?"
Oritis simply ended the topic; if it continued, they might end up ganging up on Seluvis.
"I agree."
"That's the only way." Everyone raised their hands one after another; there was no better way for now.
It was the same old saying: before the Carian Royal Family completely lost the ability to counterattack, the academy needed the Cuckoo, and the Cuckoo could not do without the academy.
"But we cannot be bled dry by the Cuckoo forever; we must find a way to break the balance."
Oritis looked to his right and changed the subject: "Professor Leon, how many recalled sorcerers are there now?"
"A total of forty-five, and it is still increasing. It's just that these people have been away from the academy for too long, have eccentric personalities, and have learned many strange magics."
"This is a good thing. They have traveled The Lands Between, and their practical combat experience is much stronger than that of ordinary apprentices. It's just that their sense of belonging needs to be strengthened. I propose restarting the drawing ceremony; every lecturer must be assigned disciples."
This time, everyone hesitated. The magic academy had a strict structure, starting from apprentice sorcerers who weren't qualified to wear headgear, followed by formal apprentices, lecturers, professors, department heads, and the dean.
Lecturers already had research tasks; where would they find the spare time for psychological counseling? But thinking carefully, it wasn't them who had to take on apprentices anyway. Besides, the greedy appearance of the Cuckoo was truly infuriating. If there were battlefield sorcerers who could risk their lives, they could conduct their research in peace.
"Agreed."
"It's possible, but each lecturer can take a maximum of three disciples. My subject still has some sub-projects that need their help."
The two proposals were thus 'happily' passed.
Without needing Oritis to announce the end of the meeting, the professors got up and left one after another. They walked in a hurry, their minds filled with profound experiments.
"Professor Aella, please wait a moment."
Oritis called out to the only female professor, who turned her head back, looking very displeased.
"Ahem, but I would like to ask, is the lecturer Sellen still studying with you?"
"She has good aptitude and has already begun independent research. Is there a problem?"
"Nothing, Sellen is a genius sorceress of the academy and a role model for the new generation of sorcerers."
Oritis crossed his arms over his chest, his voice growing serious. "Precisely because of this, we must guide her onto the right path. Don't forget who her mentor was."
Aella remained silent. She gazed at the oil painting on the wall, a portrait of a tall, elderly man—Master Azur, one of the academy's founders, exiled long ago for researching forbidden Primeval Sorcery.
"Are you worried that Sellen will also go down this path?"
"Mm," Oritis replied. "Once the seed of sin is planted, it will bloom. We have to be on guard."
The professor's words were more serious than before. Caria desired power, but researching forbidden arts came at a terrible cost. Hunting one's own kind and gathering sorcerers' bodies into balls—how could the academy tolerate that? Aella's expression turned grim. If something happened to Sellen, she would share the responsibility. "What if she does go down this path?"
"Simple." Oritis melted into the shadows, his ethereal voice echoing in the room. "Before she can condense a primeval glintstone, destroy her body and erase her soul!"
...
Thorne strolled through the eerie Caria Manor, his post-meal walk. Having stayed there for so long, even the fingercreepers knew his scent. Their fingers trembled as they circled him, and Thorne would occasionally throw a stone. They would pounce on it, grab it, and happily crawl back.
"Except for looking disgusting, they're not much different from pet dogs." He continued throwing stones. Because he used too much force, one sailed directly into the wall.
The fingercreepers pounced again, and with a "thud," they crashed into the wall, cracking it. They then collapsed to the ground, twitching as if stunned.
"Hahaha, this is really interesting." Thorne laughed shamelessly, then sat by the dry fountain to rest. He had already explored all of Caria Manor, save for a few restricted areas. After the novelty wore off, boredom set in. Miriam had left, War Counselor Iji was outside, Blaidd was nowhere to be seen, and Ranni was an eternal shut-in whom he never saw.
This left him with nothing to do in his spare time but stare at the Glintstone Dragon, chat with the Albinaurics, and occasionally tease the fingercreepers. When hungry, he ate; when tired, he slept; when he had an idea, he sat by the Moonview Pond to drink. The days were happy, and time seemed to slip away inadvertently. The highly disciplined Thorne never missed his daily reading and sword practice, but he always felt something was missing. "It's too stable; the speed of strength improvement is too slow." Thorne muttered to himself, looking at the distant Erdtree.
He wasn't an Asura, but the higher his perspective rose, the more vulnerable he felt. In The Lands Between, filled with gods and demons, security was a luxury he couldn't afford. He slapped his thigh and stood. "I need to see Ranni; I have to find something to do."
Thorne turned toward the inner city.
He took a step, then stopped, raising an eyebrow. A tall figure emerged from the gate arch: furry head, handsome armor, and a greatsword on his back. Wasn't that the half-wolf Blaidd? The other man saw him too, eyes narrowing, and froze.
Why the confusion? Thorne, a swordsman, possessed keen observation skills. He raised a hand in greeting. "You're finally back. Where were you?"
"Classified mission, don't ask." Blaidd's voice was cold and hard. He didn't spare Thorne a glance, and walked past him.
As they crossed paths, Thorne added nonsensically, "I got some wine from Her Highness. How about a welcome-back drink?"
"We'll see. I'm going to report to Her Highness first."
Thorne watched the figure recede.
The fingercreepers jumped to the side to inspect something, then returned to the wall. Everything seemed normal, but Thorne narrowed his long, narrow eyes and gently touched the long sword at his waist.
Something was wrong.
Thorne hadn't developed dementia. He clearly remembered that on the day he got his promotion and raise, Blaidd had said he never drank alcohol. Their meeting had been strange. Even if the man acted well, that momentary confusion hadn't escaped him.
This was normal; Thorne's accomplishments were classified, and his rapid rise made it difficult to obtain relevant intelligence.
Then who was this person?
Already certain, Thorne hesitated. He thought of the Cuckoo Knights, but immediately dismissed the idea. The disguise was flawless, the psychological quality was strong, and the impostor had even deceived the fingercreepers' detection. This was a professional. But he opened his mouth and swallowed the "Enemy attack!" cry back into his throat. It wasn't that he was afraid of making a mistake.
After all, Thorne's status was special; the manor's defensive forces couldn't possibly listen to his orders to capture the higher-ranking Blaidd. If the other party played along and pinned a rebellion charge on him, there would be nowhere to cry then. What to do? Hesitating for a moment, his legs moved faster than his brain, and Thorne immediately gave chase. The two walked into the inner city elevator together. The Albinaurics guarding the side didn't stop them, and a flash of confusion crossed the werewolf's eyes.
The inner city wasn't a place just anyone could enter. Only close retainers of the Royal Family could pass. This "familiar-faced" youth wasn't in any records.
But because he was disguised well, he maintained a cold expression, listening to Thorne chattering beside him. He responded only occasionally, exuding an "unapproachable" aura. It was precisely this coldness that confirmed to Thorne again that this Blaidd was not right. The latter's coldness had to be distinguished by person. To those he was familiar with, he showed more of a tsundere side.
And Thorne asked himself, he and Blaidd also had a friendship forged in life-and-death. The two entered the royal city just like that; neither the trolls nor the attendants reacted. Thorne's psychological quality was also off the charts. He walked the whole way without a hint of suspicion, cracking jokes just as usual. Passing the Moonview Grounds, the three magic towers were already close at hand. Glintstone Dragon Adula was not lying in its original position. Thorne glanced at the sky. It was just the time for the Glintstone Dragon to go hunting. Had he scouted the location long ago?
Had he confirmed the movement trajectory? He was thoughtful, and just then, the werewolf in front also stopped. "You may not come with me." Still the same cold tone. Facing such a person, anyone with normal intelligence wouldn't dare say much.
"Mm, I'll wait for you to come back for a drink." Thorne waved his hand with a grin. Seeing the werewolf lift his right foot, at the moment the heel landed, his smile froze on his face. The raised hand instantly retracted to the hilt of his sword, and then his thumb flicked. "Clang—"