Eluard returned to the academy and went into Dartex's prison cell. He was vexed and wanted answers to the many questions revolving in his mind.
He arrived and saw the fallen genius laid with his back on the floor, staring at the ceiling while awaiting his demise.
"Tell me all you know about the plan of the demonic creatures.", the slithered eyes of his mask glowed in red.
"You think with this thing inside my head, I can will to do what you want?", Dartex pointed at the side of his temple.
Eluard raised his hand and clenched his fist, suppressing the demonic whisper's effect.
"Do it and don't play around this time.", he warned.
Dartex gasped a mouthful of air, arching his body before rolling to the sides and facing Eluard. Being free of his pain was like becoming a free man.
"The demonic creatures… wanted to use your spell and spread the undead outbreak all around Aludia."
Eluard wasn't satisfied and let out a cold snort.
"You think I'm a fool? Tell me something about the curse of the winter rose, now!"
Dartex halted for a moment before looking at Eluard again, "Did you just say the curse of the winter rose?!"
Eluard intensified his aura, pulling Dartex out of his stupefaction.
"The curse of the winter rose… It means the bloom of death."
"The rose feeds off one's heart and grows until it blooms. Once it blooms, the person will die, frozen in place and gone forever!"
"Only an archmage proficient in ice or fire magic can assist you in this, or you could ask for the divine frost dragon or the divine flame dragon's help."
"Either way will remove the curse with certain possibility!"
Dartex continued panting. Talking that much was already taxing to his body due to the prolonged demonic whisper messing with his head.
Eluard knelt and looked him straight in the eyes.
"Then what about the undead? Why take such lengths to mess with my magic spell? Tell me something I don't know about, Dartex Deluminas."
Dartex dragged his body towards the wall on the side before he continued speaking.
"They… they do not want a full-blown war. Using the undead is stealthier, and less risky. The undead can be killed whenever they want and use their lives as an offering to the demonic lord Vahalla."
He stopped and caught his breath, "You should look out for the Creed of the Morning Star and the Oriental Oceanic Empire."
"The Norva Assili also has some undead stationed over there, but the scale is incomparable compared to the first two!"
"…"
"…"
"Alas, the people have become complacent. The long-lasting peace has dulled their minds and abolished their fear of the frightening might of the Otherworld."
"And now, the demonic creatures use this to their advantage..."
He coughed out blood and held the metal bars tightly in exasperation.
"Stop them, I beg of you. I may have wronged my brethren, and I do not want to clear my name of all the crimes I have committed!"
"Just save them!"
His voice slowly hoarsened and was running out of breath.
"Hmph."
Eluard waved his hand and released the suppression. The recurrence of the demonic whisper shocked Dartex and knocked him out instantly.
"It seems that he does not know of the curse or other plans made by the demonic creatures.", Eluard concluded.
Dartex has known of the curse beforehand but its inclusion into the plans of the demonic creatures might have slipped past him.
Or maybe the demonic creatures only used Dartex to mess with Eluard's spell and the others were assigned to other areas of responsibility.
Regardless, Eluard found another clue to the Otherworld's plans.
He noticed that some passersby in that large town were undead but they looked like any other northerner in broad daylight.
'What a frightening existence when an undead reaches the mind-retraction stage.', Eluard shivered at the thought of it.
He left the prison and opened the Book of Necrophology.
Dealing with the undead was the priority. As for the divine frost dragon's assault, Eluard will have to persuade the divine beast one way or another.
Fighting against them wasn't worth his efforts. The magical beasts weren't their enemies but should be their allies.
He scrolled past the first few pages of the book and arrived at the section where it discussed the removal of the undead essence stuck inside an afflicted being.
The first method was a forceful expulsion using any light-based magic spells or other spells imbued with divinity. The former type of expulsion required the person who does the process to be stronger than the caster who imbued the undead essence towards the victim.
Eluard furrowed his eyebrows, 'Am I the caster or is it Dartex now? Or is it a powerful demonic creature?'
If it was any other caster, then Eluard has no choice but to rely on the expulsion process using the power of divinity. It led to another question which was where could he find a reliable source of divinity?
'Isn't my magic root of divine rarity? Maybe it contains some hint of divinity in it.'
Eluard was eager in proving this assumption. However, he considered the situation where he used the first method on people weaker than him.
Since the method was forceful, there was a difference between saving a person's life and killing them.
Eluard shook his head and continued reading. He'll get the hang of the said difference after running some tests at a later date.
Another method was a prescribed intake of oral medicines created through pill concoction. It was safer but took longer to be cured. There were chances that the undead essence spreads during the recuperation period as well.
There were pill formulas listed in the book. They varied in efficiency, usability, and difficulty in creating.
Thankfully, the materials and procedures required were included as well.
Eluard took note of them. He will ask Jinmu in aiding him on this matter. That student was studious and inviting the cold brat on this shouldn't be a problem.
Also, it will widen Jinmu's already vast array of knowledge. Eluard was even planning on recruiting Jinmu as a staff once he graduates from the academy.
The last method was the undoing of the said spell orchestrated by the caster themselves. This was very tricky as Eluard is confused as to whom possessed the authority of the undead essences scattered around Aludia.
Was it still him or was it Dartex and the demonic creatures?
Furthermore, this method required the caster to be 100 meters near the afflicted beings. Initiating the spell reversal will induce hostility from the undead and attack the caster in retaliation.
He also had to worry about the storage of the darkened souls coming from the undead beings.
Nevertheless, he found a fragment of the answers he was looking for. The only thing left was to test out the theories formed in Eluard's mind.
Closing the book, Eluard realized that his students have already returned. He smiled and went out under the identity of the academy master.
He arrived in the main hall and stumbled upon the students teleporting into the area.
"You have returned."
Hearing his familiar cold voice, the four students quickly turned around and greeted him.
"Academy master!"
They all gulped and sweated profusely. What if the academy master was waiting for them all day long and they had just to go out without attending his class today?
"I am sorry for being absent for a few weeks. I had… something to manage with regards to the betterment of the academy."
He approached them and individually observed their information. Seeing that they progressed considerably over the past few weeks, Eluard nodded in satisfaction.
"It seems that the four of you are looking good. May I know where have you been for the past days?", he inquired, acting as if he had gone into solitude and was unaware of their actions.
Jinmu stepped up and bowed, "Academy master. We have continuously hunted for demon beasts just as you have requested us to do. Also, we have learned many magic spells and are eager to show you our results."
Eluard waved his hands, dismissing Jinmu's proposition.
"I will let Kai rate your results. It seems that you haven't seen him in the Norva Assili, have you?"
The four students shook their heads.
They were excited to meet their senior brother but they found themselves lost after arriving in the area.
Even though Olivia lived there, she spent most of her time inside her room or within the reach of her father.
The map wasn't useful either.
They did not want to be spotted while traveling around. Some guards or random civilians could be secretly working with the Siegfried Clan and report on their whereabouts at the slightest notice.
"I see. He might have difficulties gathering information for him not to meet up with you after all this time."
"But do not worry, he returned here earlier and informed me that he will be waiting for you at the village nearest to the Frozen Glades tomorrow. Meet him at exactly sunrise."
Without waiting for their response, Eluard turned around.
"All of you are dismissed."
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