Chapter 73: The Invasion in Alpheas Magic School
Arin spoke.
"Kanis, it's done. Let's move."
Hundreds of people, bound by tentacle-like shadows, began to move all at once.
Only after everyone had left the school grounds did Shirone and his group reveal themselves.
From their observations, it seemed the entire student body was being taken somewhere.
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"Who the hell are they? Capturing the entire school... No, even the teachers are being held captive."
"We don't have time to think. We don't know where they're taking them, but we can't just let them reach their destination without knowing what they plan to do."
Shirone spoke up.
"The magic the girl cast seemed to be mind-affecting. Does that mean this whole situation is their doing?"
"Unlikely. I admit she's skilled with tentacle-form magic, but controlling the minds of people who have already lost their memories isn't all that difficult. What really matters is—who erased the entire student body's memories? To cast magic of this scale, the Spirit Zone would have to be massive. Two of the three are our age, and the other is carrying a weapon, meaning he's likely not a mage."
"So there's another mastermind behind this?"
"That's the most probable scenario. Of course, one of them could be incredibly powerful, but for now, let's focus on tracking them. If things get dangerous, we'll act then."
"Taking over a magic school... Whoever's behind this is insane. And dark magic, no less..."
With a growing sense of unease, Shirone and his friends began to follow the intruders from the shadows.
In the meditation hall, Etella sat in the same posture, wearing the same robes as the day before.
She hadn't moved a muscle, her body still as a statue, but then, suddenly, her brow twitched. Her forehead creased, her nose scrunched up, and her clenched jaw tightened until the veins in her neck bulged.
Her body began to tremble.
"Hnghh...!"
The entire building shook with her. The walls and ceiling vibrated, dust spilling down in a cascade.
Finally, her eyes snapped open, and she collapsed forward, gasping for air.
"Haa! Haa!"
She had spent the entire night battling a nightmare demon that had descended on her without warning at dawn. Her body was drenched in cold sweat.
'What the hell was that?'
She couldn't discern the exact nature of the attack, but she knew one thing—it was a form of dark magic designed to infiltrate the human mind and sever memories.
Dark magic was part of the orthodox magical schools, but the malice contained within this particular spell had triggered her strongest sense of vigilance.
Had it not been for the Karsis Monastery's sacred laws protecting her, she would have lost her memories like the others.
'Dark magic... But that's strictly forbidden in the school.'
Etella checked the time.
Though it was summer and bright as midday, it was well past school hours.
'I was trapped in a nightmare for over twelve hours.'
Considering the unwavering discipline of a monk, it was an astoundingly powerful spell.
What was even more disturbing was the fact that, despite missing all her classes, no one had come looking for her.
'I'm not the only one who was affected.'
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Etella rushed out of the meditation hall, not even stopping to change her robes.
A loud burst of spatial magic echoed through the sky above the magic school.
A flash of light streaked downward, curving toward the ground like a magnet before landing without a sound—Sade had arrived.
"Damn it! Am I too late?"
As soon as he reached Creas, where he had marked a geographical point in his memory, he immediately teleported again to the school gates.
Seeing the guards standing motionless like lifeless dolls, his suspicions were confirmed.
'Dark magic.'
And at an exceptionally high level.
'I need to find Master first.'
Just as Sade turned toward the faculty quarters, another thunderous teleportation erupted nearby.
Tensing, he expanded his Spirit Zone, only to see Etella land before him.
"Professor Sade! You're here!"
"What's the situation?"
It was odd that Sade, who had just returned from a business trip, already seemed to know about the situation, but Etella dismissed the thought.
Nothing else could explain what was happening at the magic school.
"It's dark magic. Every student and teacher has lost their memories."
Even though he had anticipated it, facing the reality of the situation left Sade stunned.
Even for a madman, launching an attack on Alpheas, one of the kingdom's top five prestigious magic schools, was sheer lunacy.
"We don't have time. Give me a full report."
Etella pointed toward the mountains in the distance.
"Using my Spirit Zone, I found that the entire student body is being led up the mountain. From their direction, it looks like they're heading toward the Uncrossable Bridge. There are three escorts and three people tailing them. Among the faculty... it seems I'm the only one who escaped."
Though Arkeine's dark magic was on the level of a Grand Mage, Etella was a bishop of the Karsis Monastery. Her mind could not be so easily controlled.
Relieved by this fact, Sade quickly explained what he knew.
"Let me be direct. The one behind this is Biltor Arkeine, a Grand Mage who once threw the world into chaos."
"Biltor Arkeine... I've heard of him. But why would someone like that be at the school?"
Sade bit his lip.
It was a dark part of Alpheas' history.
But right now, Etella was the only person he could rely on, and he knew she would listen without prejudice.
"Biltor Arkeine... is the headmaster's master."
Etella blinked in surprise but remained composed, as Sade had hoped.
"I see. But from what I observed, Arkeine wasn't among those leading the students. Whatever his reasons, rescuing the students should come first."
"That's not an option. You must have felt it—mind-affecting magic isn't something that can be easily undone. Trying to free them one by one will only leave us vulnerable to a counterattack."
"Then what do you propose? We can't just stand by."
"You mentioned three people were tailing them? Do you know who they are?"
"I couldn't confirm it, but... it might be Shirone."
"What? Shirone?!"
The moment Etella said his name, Sade realized it too.
The spell had been cast roughly 24 hours ago. The only ones officially outside the school during that time were Shirone and his group, who had been suspended.
"I didn't get a clear look, but judging by their presence, I think it's Shirone, Neid, and Iruki."
"Then we can trust them to handle things for now. They're smart enough to know what to do. Instead, Professor Etella, I need you to find Arkeine. If we don't capture him, we can't save the students."
And so, time became their greatest enemy.