Eluard followed the entire group into an arena-like training ground that closely resembled those ancient Roman amphitheaters. The only exception was its unusually larger size but seeing the numerous stone platforms on the ground filled with students fighting against one another answered his confusion.
There were several poles stationed on each side of the training ground, with round crystals on top of it. Eluard reckoned that those might be magical screens displaying the fights on each platform upon the audience.
When the instructor in charge noticed their sudden arrival, he halted his students' actions and ordered them to gather in the center to welcome Magister Urrell and Academy Master Emilia.
He bowed, followed by the students behind, "Good morning, Magister Urrell and Academy Master Emilia."
"Instructor Wales. I believe they are the graduating students who will participate in the Vortex Ascendancy in the coming year?", Magister Urrell glanced at the group of youngsters huddled behind the built instructor.
"Yes, many of them are already at the peak of the trainee mage realm. Some are even closer to ascending as a true wizard.", Instructor Wales proudly spoke.
Emilia approached him and ordered, "Pick five of your best students and have them check their current magic power through the new version of the magic analyzer. After that, we will proceed with the final student performance assessment."
"The performance assessment?", Instructor Wales wondered who Magister Urrell would use to challenge these top students behind him.
His eyes darted around and found this seemingly na?ve-looking young man staring back at him with intensity, sparking his interest.
"Will the rest of the academy be here later?", Instructor Wales asked.
Emilia only stared at him without answering his question, forcing him to move and gather his best students.
There were four boys and one girl, all at the full ring of the trainee mage.
Instructor Wales introduced them while Eluard individually assessed their attributes. The results dumbfounded him.
[ … ]
[ Magic Root: Profound Magic Root ]
[ Warning: A faint trace of a demonic aura is detected. ]
[ … ]
[ Magic Root: Profound Magic Root ]
[ Warning: A faint trace of a demonic aura is detected. ]
[ … ]
It repeated five times, worsening Eluard's worries. He scanned the rest of the class and came up with a conclusion.
'Most of these students have a faint trace of demonic aura within them, and even more so from that Instructor Wales. Is the foundation of the demonic creatures in the Morning Star Empire already that deep?'
Doubt rose in his mind. The people from the League barely had any trace of demonic aura emanating from them.
'Was it caused by the corpse of the executed Siegfried Clan members? Or is someone working with them… I must get to this as soon as possible.'
'My strength won't be enough. It is unthinkable for me to skyrocket myself to the level of an archmage within a few months.'
He glanced at Magister Urrell and reformulated his plans, 'I guess I will have to let him in unto my secret and have Academy Master Emilia work with me as well. I could only hope to recruit other capable people to the academy as soon as possible.'
As for Elder Flock, his status with the 'academy master' was in an awkward position. It wouldn't feel good to just let the old man in after what happened between them.
Eluard reopened the system and read the new task offered by the system.
[ Main Task: Dangers Within ]
[ You have recently encountered the strange presence of demonic aura on the citizens of the Morning Star City. It is imperative to investigate their causes as they may be related to the Otherworld's ultimate plan in conquering Aludia. ]
[ Requirements: Investigate the following areas; (1) Morning Star Academy, (2) Tower of Supraxo Merrio, (3) Justicar Knights Academy, (4) Temple of Consecrated Radiance, (5) Crowned Palace, (6) … ]
[ Additional Requirement: Imprison people working with demonic creatures. The more important they are, the bigger the rewards. ]
[ Additional Note: Rewards for each imprisoned individual will only be given after the host has a clear justification of their involvement in the Otherworld's plans. ]
[ Rewards: Additional system functions unlocked, Time alteration for Heavenly Magic Academy (3:1 time difference ratio using Aludia as reference) ]
[ Current Task Status ]
[ Investigated Areas ]
[ (1) Tower of Supraxo Merrio: 2%, (2) Morning Star Academy: 1% ]
'This is a lot of areas to cover. System, will third-party investigation work?', he asked.
[ As long as they are affiliated with the academy and their results are reported back to anyone who is completely assimilated with a system panel from this academy. ]
Eluard smiled. Although the process was slow and the results might be inaccurate, it was better than doing it himself who was a complete beginner.
'Now, time to end this before things get out of hand.'
Magister Urrell was now planning to send the five prodigies to test the capabilities of the new magic analyzer. Just as he was about to say something, Eluard stepped forward and announced, "Magister, let me take this opportunity to showcase my talents and abilities."
His bold declaration caused everyone except Emilia to frown.
"Who is this arrogant guy?"
The students gossiped with one another.
…
"Careful, I remember my dad saying that some wandering genius arrived in the tower not so long ago. That guy might be him."
"A wandering genius? Isn't he a little older to be here in the academy?"
"Shh… I heard that wandering geniuses are a little special. Some say that they are the disciples of those great grandmasters. We should step aside and let Maris and the rest deal with him."
"Are you saying that we should let his arrogance go?"
"What else? You want to infuriate his master? Go ahead, I'll see how your noble family can stand against him and his master."
"Silence!", Academy Master Emilia sternly reprimanded, "We will have Kai use the magic analyzer and display his talent in front of everyone."
Her words alerted everyone in the field. A genius like Academy Master Emilia showed humility in front of this young man. They were instantly curious about his mysterious identity.
"Kai? His name sounds like someone from the Oriental continent."
"Academy Master Emilia must be aware of his identity. Do they have the same master, Elder Flock?", the gossip didn't stop which further Emilia's cold demeanor.
Magister Urrell glanced at her as well with a calm expression and mentally formed some conclusion in his mind.
Everyone stared at Eluard's young figure slowly approaching the magic analyzer. He was internally stressed and tensed up after hearing their gossip, 'System, can I overload the magic analyzer?'
[ The host only has to supply enough mana into the crystal to create a reaction. The divinity and demonic aura do not blend well and will result in an explosion if an interaction between the two forces is not properly managed. ]
Eluard rubbed his hands and grinned while looking at the magic analyzer in front of him. Just as he touched the handle, he felt his hands turn heavy as if they were bound to some solid gravitational force.
The discomfort quickly vanished and was replaced with a peaceful sensation of his mana streaming towards the handle and into the connections that led to the magic crystal embedded in the magic analyzer.
'Now!'
Eluard turned mad as he wantonly poured mana into the equipment. The entire magic analyzer platform shook intensely as the magic crystal became unstable.
The professors who worked on it turned pale, "Someone stop him! Or else it's going to blow up!"
Magister Urrell and Academy Master Emilia noticed the changes and acted, "Move out of the way!"
She transported everyone a few hundred meters away while Magister Urrell blanketed Eluard with a water sphere that blocked the resulting explosion. Fragments of the magic crystal blasted but were stopped by a layer of a magic barrier.
Dark clouds diffused out from the explosion, alerting the academy master and the magister.
"Get those students out of here, now!", Magister Urrell coldly ordered. His demeanor terrified the students as they crept out of the field in an orderly manner.
The unconscious Eluard wasn't dragged away but was meticulously checked by Magister Urrell in case of any hidden injuries.
"Impossible, how can the magic analyzer be blown to bits? We have tested it so many times yet now…", one of the professors pointed with shaking hands.
If Magister Urrell reacted late, Eluard would have been injured by the blast.
He retracted his hand after examining Eluard and sighed in relief. Academy Master Emilia wanted to say something but was met with his cold gaze, "I will deal with your foolishness later."
He stood up and faced them, "It seems like someone will have to be punished for this. You lots wait here before judgment arrives."
He turned around and tasked his subordinates.
"Close off the academy and do not let anyone enter or leave without approval from the League. Detain these incapable individuals until I say otherwise and capture anyone related to the development of the new magic analyzer, including those who supplied both the monetary funds and material ingredients.
"If they resist, beat them to submission. No one is excluded, no matter what their identity is."
"Set up a perimeter around the school premises and station pontiff wizards on some vantage points."
"Alert the tower and send additional reinforcements here. And if possible, call the tower master to come over here. Tell her it is of great importance."
He glanced back at the destroyed magic analyzer. He could hear the sizzling noises produced by the exposure of the encasing magic barrier to the demonic aura.
'Demonic aura. What sort of monstrosity is this?!'
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