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—
Overwhelmed by a worsening headache, Philip felt there was no solution to his predicament.
He didn't want to gamble angering this man, be him a fragment or whatnot. For even if its power was a far cry from what it once was; the knowledge of an Archmage was nothing to scoff at.
Perhaps, he didn't even need to move to kill him. It could just use one of the many unidentifiable objects in this room… A magic tool? Scroll? Tome? Or some unique poisonous objects...
'I thought this could happen, but it seems there's no other option.'
He could only pray… Pray for a simple task. He didn't believe it would be so, but it was what he ended up doing. After putting some thought into his words, he moved on:
"Let's say I accept your offer. What will happen?"
Armund smiled, "You will accept. Don't try to tap the water when you've already made your decision."
He walked to one of the shelves, taking out a singular thick book from the many lined up within. He turned to him with the book in hand.
"Let's start with what I want, and as I go, I'll tell you how I plan to reward you for your troubles." He raised his left hand, "There are three things I want from you."
He opened the book and pointed to an illustration. A crystalline waterfall, impossibly clear, seemed to cascade from beyond the page's edge. The perspective was dizzying, either the mountain looming behind was colossal, or the scattered pines dotting its base were unnaturally tiny.
Beneath this scene stretched a vast lake, its waters a profound, shimmering blue.
But this was no ordinary lake. Defying gravity, thick columns of water rose in silent, sinuous ribbons towards the unseen sky. Their destination vanished beyond the illustration's upper border, lost on the parchment's edge.
"My first condition is simple, I want you to find this place and bury me there."
"What?... What?"
"Come on, boy, must I recite it again for you?"
"That… What even is this place? And... What do you mean?"
Armund's expression changed slightly, becoming a bit melancholic... "This is the source of my family's school of magic… Or to be more precise, my family's ancestral grounds."
"However, long ago, its exact location was lost, and with it, each generation decayed as they couldn't properly practice our techniques anymore."
"We became weaker over time, unable to seek it out. A constant cycle, almost impossible to escape. Thus, one day, we realized we had no records of its approximate location anymore. We once knew where it should've been, but then, we didn't…"
"Despite my strength, I committed a great sin… I abandoned the core philosophies my father passed onto me… Adopting my own, twisting the teachings I once held close to my heart so I could progress further onto this path."
"You could say this let me become who I am today, but the cost was too great… This is how legacies end, and even if Fate dictates mine is reaching its end, I'm certain now is not the time."
Armund let out a hollow laugh. After a minute of silence, he continued:
"Find it and bury my body there… But you shouldn't worry, this book contains more than enough information to get you started. I'm not asking you to find it right away, only that you finish this goal I could not… Perhaps not alone, but with the one who'll succeed me."
"If you believe that's not enough, my body's actual location shouldn't be that far away from it. During my trips outside, I took it upon myself to search for it… Alas, had I succeeded, I wouldn't be mentioning this fact, would I?"
"At the end of my life, sensing its end, I left this fragment here and went on a final search… If I found it or not, I cannot say. To some degree, I held the believe my real body found it and eventually managed to restore the magics I once locked away… It's been long enough for me to throw such dreams away."
"If you accept this task, which I believe you will, I'll give you something that would allow you to track my body down. This way, even if I failed to find it, you'll be on the right track to reach it. If you're lucky, it'll lead you straight to my tomb, voiding this requirement."
He smiled, "Also, once you do find my body, you can have everything I was carrying before I kicked the boots. You can be assured that I carried some pretty neat things with me… They aren't entirely any better than anything in this office, but my personal items are still quite valuable."
"Though… as I will explain further, I'd rather you gave those items to the one that'll inherit my craft. If you cannot find one worthy, then… then you can keep them."
Philip remained silent, the weight of the decision settling upon him like dust.
Armund studied him, a flicker of surprise tightening his jaw. Most would be clawing for this privilege by now... Was the man simply a fool? Or was that silence the grinding of unseen, cautious gears?
"If you aren't convinced yet, let us continue. My second condition is even simpler, you likely figured it out by now… Find me a successor! And once you do, slowly guide him or her until he becomes strong enough to fend for himself."
He opened his arms wide, "To make this possible, you can bring with you all the items within this room and make use of them as you see fit, apart from selling them or using them simply for quick monetary gain… However, you must promise that once you find him, you'll give him all of my inheritance."
"With this much, no matter how much of a dullard you find, they'll at least be able to practice my magic. And even if he is unable to attain greatness, then his descendants will possess the necessary acumen to continue my family's legacy!"
Philip had to digest his words for a little while, pensive…
"... Didn't you already have several disciples?"
Armund scoffed.
"I already gave them what they needed, guided them towards their own path... But they weren't compatible with what I'm requesting of you. I'm not asking you to find a new Principal for the Academy, only someone that has a high enough affinity with my arts."
"Hm... Erm… You talked about family… If you couldn't find a disciple… no… you didn't even need to look for one."
"Why not just make one?"
"COUGH!… Cough!… S-Straight to the core of the matter, huh?… Well… I just never found someone to love… and I'm not that dark hearted to raise young for such a purpose…"
"…"
"Okay!… I was a hermit. I had no time to indulge myself in such trivialities… Happy? Can we move on now?"
"… Did you not have any brothers? Long living relatives?"
He shook his head, "I once had second degree great-granduncles and more distant relatives. However, after a few generations without practicing magic, especially our family's heritage, their bodies degraded to a point no different from that of an ordinary man."
"I tried to revert this change, but I failed. I could've pushed for more, but that would've been against my beliefs. Few of those I found were unsatisfied with their lives, taking them away from it so they'd seek a life of solitude and magical experiments was too much for me."
"In the end, none met the requirements. A shame, but that's what happens when a clan disperses and stops enforcing their traditions… They're lost to time. The mainline held its ground for many centuries, but my grandfather had only one son and so did my father."
"This leads us to the present."
"I see…"
'Well shit. If not even an old guy like you found one, what about poor old me?'
"It is unfortunate, however… The moment I saw you, I thought you were fitting… But your mentality is a bit off from what I'm searching for…"
"…"
'So I qualify, but the way I think it's not to your standards? How does he even know how I think? Picky old fart…'
"… Let's take a step back… Even if I were to find someone like that, how would I identify them?"
"I'll give you something just right for that, but… Would you like to hear the 3rd option first?"
Philip nodded, not like he could do anything else.
"My third condition is simple. Tell me, who are you, truly?"
Philip became frozen. What did this question even mean? As if understanding his troubles, Armund continued:
"Deeming my current condition, there isn't really much I can do, so in my endless free time, I sometimes watch the students hoping to find someone worthy of succeeding me."
"You quickly attracted my attention, after all, I'm already used to these old men in the upper levels of the Academy, and the new students are often uninteresting to watch…"
He flew around him, inspecting his body, "Power unfitting your age, a body that is beyond Human, and one unable to sustain its own powers… Although that issue you seem to have corrected somewhat."
"And above all, and an objective that could only be described as irrational… A growth speed of insane proportions… Can you blame me? I am very curious about who you are."
"This last condition isn't obligatory… So treat it as the wishes of a dead man…"
Philip was really stumped now. How was he supposed to answer him?
"Well, if you want an answer, I'll tell you, but it isn't as fantastical as you wish…"
'One day, this information will become worthless, so I don't see why not use it now.'
"I'm… a Hero... Well, at least, this is what they called me when I was brought to this place…"
"Hero?..."
Armund's eyes opened wide as his expression changed to one of enlightenment.
"Ah of course! I thought about it but did not think you'd be one! The time is just about right… It makes me even more curious, though, but I thank you for sharing it with me."
He smiled, satisfied, thinking of things beyond Philip's current knowledge. He didn't press for more or voiced his thoughts, accepting it all with a quiet nod.
"Enough of that… It's time now. Tell me your decision."
"I… I accept your terms… But may I add one more condition?"
"Certainly."
"As I told you, I'm a Hero, so I can't actively seek to complete your tasks… I have much to do."
Armund nodded.
"That's okay, I told you so before. You may take your time… As long as you never forget it."
With a nod, he made his oath, "Then I promise to do this task."
'This is an unexpected gain. This mission seems a little complex, but even at its worst, it's no different from Viera's master request. It's just about looking for someone and taking care of them.'
'I wasn't planning on acting as a babysitter, but one more won't make too much of a difference.'
/Clap!/
Armund clapped his hands, and suddenly all the items on all the shelves disappeared, and a small golden ball appeared on his hand.
"Take it, and seek your destiny… I'd rather you had this than those buffoons. It's a bit against my vows, but who cares? I'm likely dead anyway…"
As Philip raised his hand to grab the box, Armund said one more time:
"This is a special container. It holds everything I could pack from this room; I even added in some items from the treasure, although not all since there's a limit to how many items I can take."
"Before you rejoice, be warned. I've instituted a rule against taking everything out at once. The same we discussed prior. If you fail to follow it, all of its contents are going to be destroyed… Together with you." He said deeply before smiling
"So be careful and control your greed, okay?"
"I understand..."
'I did expect it to be great, but even some items from the treasure? It seems I can cross some lines from Dae's notes… I'll also have to hide for a while, those old people will be furious…'
He then pointed towards the Office Table, making Philip turn his eyes. A small box containing two glowing marbles sat on the table. Philip instantly recognized them, sensing a familiar reaction from his mental powers.
One, transparent like his other Origin Orb, resembled a crooked egg with an unusual symbol which he recognized as ksi (𝚵), etched within. The other marble held pure red gas within a glass casing; occasionally, the gas coalesced to form a rune, Omega (ꭥ), which he also recognized at a glance.
As an engineer, he recognized it all too well…
"Wasn't this what you wanted? Take it... Just remember a thing, be careful."
But Philip felt a bit conflicted. Wasn't it a bit too easy? Still, he grabbed the two and stored them near the other one inside his storage device. This made it three.
With this, he had accomplished his original mission, albeit somehow, he got himself more on the way…
"Let's see, there's only one thing left... You still the method to find my body and a suitable candidate…"
He pointed towards the Golden box, "Once you have the time, open it. You'll find another box inside. It's very hard to miss... I have separated all the items you'll need. Including some bonuses for you, materials that will certainly be useful for your journey."
"I can see it in your eyes, you're not going to stop here, you'll continue to do more and more dangerous things… and I can't have you dying early, so take those as an investment of mine towards that goal."
Philip raised an eyebrow, impressed and even a little envious, "You did all of this with a clap?"
"Ha!… That was much more than just a clap. Though I suppose that's how it looked to you."
He stood there, looked at Philip with a calm gaze until he finally said as he looked outside through a small window behind his desk:
"Thats all then. Go, while you still can."
"..."
/Chuckle…/
He let out a hollow laugh in Philip's silence.
"I can hear you thinking from here… I know... I know that you have many questions, especially since I didn't force you to go through a binding contract…"
"You must be thinking that it was too easy… But it's simple really, I'll trust your promise... Words hold power after all. However, if you're thinking that it has already ended... Well, I'm going to break your illusion right now."
"The moment you entered this room, the emergency intruder alert activated, and although I delayed it for now, without my real body here, there is no one with enough authority to cancel it… Maybe if I hadn't stolen everything in this room and the treasury, I would've been able to convince it to drop it, but you know…"
"… It is a shame really, but the Academy's Spirit is really stubborn sometimes. It rarely ever went with my jokes and pranks when I was still around… but I can understand why."
"This was likely the last time it'll listen to me… Maybe knowing it'll be my final request it closed one of its eyes so we could talk. It's quite smart, you know? It has a will of its own and emotions, no matter how cold and bland they may seem."
"Its listening to us even now, but don't you worry, there's still an order I gave it before I left to be processed. All of the records of our meeting here today will be deleted in due time. This was amidst the orders I gave it in case a student completed my trials so they could receive their reward and return to their studies without issue. You kind of falls under that so it'll definitely go on with my orders."
"Either way, at most, I can delay it until you leave… Oh yeah, even if I delay it, the alarm will still sound within half an hour of your arrival."
Philip started to sweat hard… How many minutes had passed? How long had this old man been speaking?
"And that was… Uh… Seventeen… Nineteen minutes ago? So you better run, kid!" He replied with a small smile as he waved his hand in his direction
"What?! Why have you been speaking so slowly all this time?!"
Philip looked around the place but there was no exit… Not like he could leave through the door, and the emergency entrance also wasn't an option. Even if he did run back, he'd never reach Viera on time!
"Wait! The teleportation…"
/Snap!/
Before he could even finish talking, once again, Armund snapped his finger, opening a passage for him.
"Way ahead of you. It was quite the pleasure to meet you, young man. However, I'm afraid our paths will have to diverge here."
"As long as you never forget our deal today, my blessing will be with you. Be it in life or death…"
'Perhaps, if I had met you while still alive, I might've taken you as a disciple… At least you would've managed to preserve our craft.'
'Truth is, the Erats weren't the original family to develop this magic. Like I to you, long ago, my ancestor received this magic from another so it would be passed along regardless of blood.'
'There was a saying passed down that one day, just like the Erats received such grace, they'd have to repay to another, and that'd be the day our family would extinguish… I suppose this is the day.'
'The Erats still live but their ties to this ancient magic… end today… However, ancestors, I believe this child may attain what neither you nor us could achieve. What I saw in four weeks of his stay in this Academy might have been short, but his path will certainly be full of challenges.'
'If he surpasses those challenges, then the promised time might fall upon him. Fate brought us together, so today, I'll do what little I could in life…'
'Believe.'
"Go! You still have something to do, don't you?" He smiled, "One last thing before you go, be careful outside. You caused quite a bit of trouble for some of these brats. They would surely not waste a chance to put you in place…"
"Some of them still remember you. It's unlikely your paths will cross, but if they do, remember this warning. Nobles tend to remember grudges for a long, long time... Pitiful people really."
Philip grimaced. It was just what he needed, more problems to look out for. Perhaps he shouldn't have beaten those annoying kids… Nah, it felt way too good. He would do it again, but perhaps, a bit more carefully... To make sure no one saw it.
"Lastly, I'd remove the records of your time here in the Academy, but with my authority, that'll never happen. It would be extremely telling as well… So instead, I'll try to have your records hidden, at least until those idiots elect a new Principal."
"You have some time, so make it count."
"… Good luck! Don't come visit me in the afterlife anytime soon, I'd rather not see you around for the next thousand years!"
"?!"
A pulling force suddenly yanked Philip's entire body into the portal. Though his first reaction was to fight back, the force was overwhelming and dissipated before he could react.
/Swoosh!/
…
The next time he opened his eyes, he found himself inside a… Bathroom?
"Urg..."
Crawling up from the ground, legs trembling, Philip felt his brain spin and a surge of nausea.
'I still hate teleportation… First… To leave. I can take a piss once I'm out of this damned Academy... And he was right, I still have one more thing left to do before leaving…'
'A gift.'
Exiting the cabin, he surprised a student brushing their teeth. His attire suggested an imminent journey, a suitcase confirming this.
The student looked at Philip with his mouth full of foam... 'I swear… There wasn't anyone there previously…'
He was unnerved by the numerous ghost stories he had heard before. Notably, those incidents transpiring within innocuous settings, like this bathroom, passed through his mind….
But Philip ignored him… No, he stopped and asked the kid:
"Where's Transportation Nexus Number 02?"
The student seemed baffled as if his question didn't even make sense to him…
"It-Its right outside…" He said with an awkward smile
'How did he get here without seeing it in the first place? Ahhhh man… I shouldn't have spoken with him…'
"..."
Philip also frowned, well... A bit of awkwardness is nothing compared to the convenience of being right beside his aim. So he adjusted his black jacket and left the bathroom, leaving the perplexed kid behind.
…
"I'm really here."
'I felt it throughout our conversation, but maybe Armund knew more about me than he let apparent. Just how much did he see in the four weeks I've been here? I even felt for a moment that he could read my mind…'
He shook his head, regardless of how much he knows, it was the same for the Academy Spirit. While he knew it was listening and likely observing his every move, at least he now knows he'd be fine until a new Principal emerges.
'Even years later, not a single Principal was elected. My actions will likely change that, but I still don't expect one to take office anytime soon.'
'So it's time to leave… Before things get chaotic…'
Philip knew that the ringing alarms would trap him in the Academy, and that would be a death sentence. He looked around the Transportation Nexus, seeking his destination.
The Transportation Nexuswas a cavernous hall stretched into the darkness, one Philip's senses could not pierce through. Its vaulted ceiling was lost to darkness far above, where the golden discs would often ascend and descend from.
Under his foot, smooth black stone swallowed sound, making each footstep feel unnervingly intimate in the vast emptiness. Oftentimes, flashes of dim light would rise from the ground, showing the way to a traveler treading through the hall.
Floating orbs illuminated their surroundings in warm light, often showing the way forward.
Scattered throughout the void were large golden disks. Dozens of them, each a perfect circle of burnished gold, hovering soundlessly at varying heights.
They emitted no visible energy, yet radiated a soft, internal light that pooled in honeyed puddles on the dark floor beneath them. This light pulsed almost imperceptibly, like a slow heartbeat .
They were impossibly smooth, sometimes acting like liquid metal or shimmering light. There was no seam, no control panel, no visible mechanism engraved within their perfect forms. They simple were.
It was rather empty as he expected, those that could use these rooms were few and far in between after all. The only reason he managed to get inside was thanks to Fabrin's assistance and influence.
"… There she is."
After checking the place, he finally found who he was looking for… A girl with long purple hair was sitting on a bench next to one of the floating disks, holding a large suitcase as she waited for someone.
She was wearing a long brown coat with a large circular hat. It made her look vintage in his eyes, although he would never say that out loud. She also seemed to have some light makeup, still, the makeup couldn't hide her age as she still looked like a kid acting old.
Though… given a year or two, that would likely disappear...
Above all, however, was her expression… She seemed utterly and absolutely… bored.
'… She's there, so where is that girl?…'
He looked around in search of someone else, and finally, his eyes fell upon a girl with sharp ears and long dark hair…
…
She waited for him on a dark bench under a dim light.
Her clothes were simple yet refined. A dress, high boots, and a pair of emerald earings. A mix of black and white, with a tint of color.
Given her identity, one would expect her to try harder to hide, but what mattered most wasn't her clothes but her face. The unique rune imprinted on her forehead was gone, and her unique colored purple eyes had been replaced with light green irises, made her look quite ordinary, although her beauty was still pronounced, even if slightly altered.
Her face wasn't the same, yet it held some of her distinctive features. What mattered was the ring on her right hand, the symbol they had decided beforehand so he could recognize her.
"I'm here. I apologize for my delay." Philip said faintly as he approached her from the side
Her eyes momentarily brightened as she saw him approach, but she merely tapped on the bench, not giving him any extra attention.
Philip followed the cue and sat beside her, feeling a barrier rise soon after.
"…"
Yet even then, she said nothing.
"… I'm leaving today."
"… I know."
It was slightly awkward. Philip knew she was upset and quickly figured out the reason why… It wasn't hard to do so given their past meetings.
He didn't yet believe it to be that kind of affection, but her attachment to him was certainly strong. Unfortunately, he could not remain. Today would be their last meeting, albeit a short one.
"… I don't have much time. I've… Caused quite some trouble this time, so I came to say goodbye."
"Trouble? What happened, I…"
Her sadness was momentarily swayed by another feeling. Concern. But he denied it, shaking his head.
"You're better off lying low and continuing with what you were doing… Don't feel sad, we'll likely meet each other again… Maybe sooner than you expect."
Dae likely had more plans brewing, unseen… But this meeting, this promise… was his alone. Philip's feelings were difficult and complicated to understand. It wasn't that he felt nothing, but right now, he didn't want to feel anything. It wasn't longing nor the feeling of meeting with the supernatural, for that only worked for a few days.
It wasn't the electric thrill of the supernatural he had when he first met her. That was but a fleeting spark of curiosity. Each encounter revealed her depth, not just an Elven Princess, but a fragile young woman, adrift in a sea of responsibilities.
Perhaps that explained her fierce clinging. He was the knight of her whispered dreams, the unwavering support she craved, seeing beyond the crown to the vulnerable girl within. She had her aunt, the stoic presence of her knight, and the distant comfort of titles, but a yearning remained, a hunger for something deeper, the warmth of hearth and home, the familiar cadence of childhood stories.
Philip saw it reflected in her soft, downcast eyes, a longing that resonated with a familiar ache in his own soul. But he couldn't offer that solace now. He wouldn't shatter her fragile hope, yet he wouldn't depart without a word.
"… I… understand…"
"… Look, it's not that I do not wish to share… Its just that it's best I don't. You'll understand soon enough."
"… Will you at least send a letter?" She asked with a faint smile, already knowing the answer
"You know I can't… Would it even reach you if I did? But… I have other means. I'll keep in touch, don't you worry."
'I could always send letters under different names and identities to another fake persona of hers, none would intercept such messages if done properly… But it isn't necessary.'
Her downcast was momentarily washed away as she turned to him. Smiling.
"… Thank you."
"For what?"
"For saving me and Jiu."
"I heard that a few times before."
"Important things should be said multiple times… Even more now that I came to appreciate my life… So thank you… That'll be the last time I say that… Unless you give me another reason to say it."
Philip smiled slightly as well.
He placed his hand before her, "Here, I have a parting gift for you."
"A parting gift? You should've told me sooner! I brought nothing to give you…"
/Chuckle…/
"You've given me enough already… It won't take long, don't be shy."
He smiled faintly as he teased her, but she didn't hesitate, gently placing her hand on his palm, and with a faint smile, Philip proclaimed:
"Activate Skill, Simulation Room."
And suddenly, the Princess saw herself somewhere else.
…
"… What?…"
Larin opened her eyes to a dark world. The only things she could see were distant lines that stretched out to the horizon, gathering together to form the outlines of one massive cube with her at the center.
She felt strangeness, one beyond anything she'd ever felt. One even greater than her when she left her homeland. Here, looking at this scenery, from the depths of her soul, Larin realized what it meant to be somewhere she shouldn't.
She did not belong here, her Soul seemed to scream that to her.
"There is little to fear. Here, sit down."
When she turned around to face Philip, Larin realized the world around her had changed to that of a park, one she recognized quite well. It was the place they met for the first time in the Academy.
"H-How? What is going on?"
"I'll explain it all to you. This is my ability, Simulation Room. It's a unique ability that allows me to replicate and simulate events I've experienced so I can learn from my mistakes or review events in the past."
"This is my gift to you. I know you seek strength, but the way you're now, you'll struggle greatly to achieve meaningful progress in a short time… This is where this place comes from."
"In here, you can do whatever you desire… As long as there is enough 'Data' to compile."
"W-Wait… You're going too fast…"
Philip gave her a minute to think, but in the end, he grimaced.
"I'm sorry, I'd like to give you more time to process… but it's best you ask "me" once I leave. Though, if you feel uncomfortable with this, you can choose to unbind yourself from this room."
"I'll soon bring us back to reality. If you ever wish to return here, just think about entering this place again. But if you can, unless you're in a safe scenario like now, try not to declare it out loud like I did. A simple thought would suffice."
Philip invoked the console and sent it to her.
"This is the method through which you can control this space. If you need more answers, I've left it all to you there. You must see a symbol on the top right corner of this… 'Window', correct?"
"Y-Yes? T-This one?" She asked as she pointed at a plus sign
"That one. Once I leave and you're alone, just press it and it'll explain everything. If you feel this isn't what you want or you aren't comfortable with it, you can choose to unbind yourself like I said so."
Philip gave her a short nod. "This is it… See you around, Princess…"
"W-Wait! I…"
She wanted to say something, but she could feel her consciousness being pulled elsewhere. Determined, she stepped closer to him and pulled him closer, kissing him faintly on the cheeks as her mind washed away...
Looking at his surprised expression, she smiled victoriously for the first time. But before she could hear his reply, she found herself sitting on the bench, alone.
She looked around in dismay, but Philip was nowhere to be seen.
'… This… a gift…'
Lost in her own thoughts, she reached for her lips before hurriedly running away. Blushing.
…
Meanwhile, Philip stepped out from the darkness several meters away, watching her run away like a missile.
"She got bolder…"
'When I first met her, she was a lost girl fearful of her own future… She's still like that to some degree, but she's changing, even if slightly.'
He thought about what he had done, having second thoughts.
'… Was I too hasty?… No, I already thought about this long before this day. This is the most optimal solution.'
'During these three weeks, I spent quite some time exploring Simulation Room's functions, and the truth is, they're endless. Just like reality, it's impossible to simplify all the world's countless changes within a series of commands. Because of this, they are seamlessly infinity.'
'Maybe Simulation Room has a limit but I have yet to reach it. Or maybe its limit is based on me, and since I'm constantly growing, so it is.'
'Thus, just like Simulation Room's power grows the more I experience and do, so does its functions. The more I see and the more "Data" I add to its archives, the more functions become available to me… This much is a fact.'
'Maybe if it had a Level, over time as I experience and learn more things, its Level would increase naturally.'
'… Around two weeks ago, as I explored these functions, I noticed something strange as I pondered over something… I was questioning myself over the possibility of pulling others with me into that space, and when I thought of that, something happened.'
'I found a unique series of prompts that granted me the ability to add someone else as a 'Sub-Admin' to Simulation Room. They came to me as I thought of them, as if waiting for me to do so… And while I wondered how that was possible, it soom came to me… Simulation Room was originally a multiplayer game.'
'… One where you always had two players, a host and the opponent, be them a computer or not. It's a world meant for two to dance, not one.'
'That's when I decided to try to see if it was possible to bring others inside. My first attempt was not with anyone Human though… It was a frog I found in my garden... And it worked, albeit it strained my consciousness slightly… very slightly…'
'After I confirmed it was possible to bring someone's consciousness with me, I found my first test subject and granted access to none other than Fabrin's daughter.'
'It was for two reasons, really. The first was because I felt I owned them quite a bit. Fabrin helped me far more than I thought I deserved, even though to him, her life was priceless. Thus, just like he helped me, I decided to help her.'
'The second reason was because of the "Data"! By making her a Sub-Admin, everything she experienced would then be added to the pool of information Simulation Room has access to. Improving its functions.'
'And since I had limited time in the Academy while she has unlimited time, I felt it was an excellent way to gather information not only on Fabrin but on mages and other individuals in general… And that's about the same reasons why I decided to share it with Larin as well.'
'That said, like Ivia, Larin will eventually learn of the true purpose of Simulation Room and change its settings so not everything is used as data, otherwise, even her thoughts would be consumed by the skill… It was a warning I left behind for them.'
'I hope this helps them achieve what they desire. Even if it doesn't, I'll benefit greatly in the long run. The only downside is the fact I lose those vacancies as my consciousness has a limit… I don't know how it's calculated, but I can feel whenever someone is using the Skill.'
'In either case, it's not like I have others to spend them on. And even if I found someone more fitting, I can always remove her authority as a Sub-Admin. But above all, I trust them, and that's something hard to give around here.'
'I also wouldn't want them to be caught up by the troubles that will befall this Academy in the future… Even if little, I'd like them to grow enough so they can protect themselves.'
'Though time will tell if this was a worthwhile investment…'
"That does it… My last obligation."
With no further ado, Philip approached Viera with a smile and several excuses for his absence.
…
"… Urg…"
'… What's taking him so long?'
Viera raised her head and checked the time on a floating mechanical clock that hung high above the hall... Its brilliance was always visible, regardless of your location in the hall.
'It's been over half an hour already… Our scheduled time ends in another twenty… ten minutes at best… If that happens, well be stuck here for another day... And he was the one who told me to hurry.'
'I didn't even leave to eat something. I skipped breakfast to be here and now he's late!'
She frowned, she had every right to do so.
"That guy is just…"
Viera had already accepted the fact she would be traveling with Philip. It was her master's orders, and above all, she was done with this place. The Academy's toxic environment and the unending competition from the Noble Kids had worn her down enough.
Even then, from a certain perspective, there wasn't much more she could learn in this Academy. As long as she had her books, she'd be fine. It was how she'd been studying, for the most part.
She worried about that, though. How would they find knowledge out there? She was happy she'd not have classes anymore, but exchanging that for halting her progress… That was something she had difficulty accepting.
She asked her master about the fact, however, rather than answering her doubts outright, her master told her it was time for her to practice what she had learned… and that staying in the Academy would not necessarily result in greater development even if she remained there studying.
How could she could know that? Her master was a woman of many talents, but did she know something she didn't? In the first place, what was her relationship with Philip? Did he know something she didn't?… Philip hid many things from her, Viera could tell that much… Would he tell her if she asked? So she did, and her answer… only made her disappointed.
"… I have no idea… what?… I'm as surprised as you!… Hm… That won't be a problem…"
Philip answered, just as she expected. While she felt there was more to this, she knew he wasn't lying. She came to learn who Philip was over several weeks… He was very hard-working, honest, and he was very patient with her.
He was a pain to deal with from time to time, he'd joke all the time and act without much care, it was a bother, but… it was a different kind of bother… She was fine with being around him, much better than being around those Nobles, and if that wasn't clear enough by now, she was fine being anywhere other than here.
He'd always be doing something odd, trying strange things borderline psychotic… At least that was how she saw it.
The one that marked her the most was the strange item he gave her three weeks ago… One day, he took her glasses and returned with them slightly altered. After putting them on, she realized that something strange was installed inside.
Some kind of voice would echo from within its frame, and this voice would constantly communicate and assist her throughout the day. It was quite useful to have around.
Philip called it "MT" but never properly explained to her what it was… In the end, she took it at face value, deeming it a Spirit of some sort he had imbued onto her glasses.
From then on, she'd spent the following weeks studying and preparing for their journey, all the while going around the libraries "scanning" documents… Whatever that meant…
"… I wonder where we'll be going?…"
'He's been telling me to get ready for this day for a while, and now he gets late…'
"… Hmm?"
The echoing of his footsteps took her attention. She hadn't heard anyone walk around in the past few minutes, so she instinctively looked to the side.
There, the well-dressed Philip approached her, suitcase in hand, and a faint smile as he tugged at his collar.
"Sorry for the delay. Shall we go?"
"..."
"Dont give me that look, it hasn't even been half an hour…" Philip said as he looked at the clock above
'I'd apologize appropriately if we had time, but running away is the priority.'
Philip patted her shoulder, "I'll make up for it later, did you eat anything?"
"Don't try to change the subject like that! And no, I haven't."
"Greta, I haven't eaten anything either. Let's grab something to eat after. For now, let's go on our way…"
"Heh, now you're in a hurry?"
"I'm sorry, really. I had something I had to finish before leaving."
'I can tell your sarcasm from your tone alone…'
"It's okay, but next time, don't hurry me up if you're going to be late anyway." She replied as she rolled her eyes
He gave her a faint smile, "That I can do."
'It was just as a precaution, but I admit I was too paranoid.'
He put his left hand in his chest pocket and took out a small emerald green ticket.
/Rip!/
He ripped it apart and threw its remains in the air. Immediately after, those remains combusted into green flames...
/Dong!/
With a loud bellowing sound, one of the floating disks began to spin, and glowing runes faintly illuminated the ground beneath it.
Something lit up in the darkness above them, linking to the disc like the chains on a chandelier.
She stepped onto the circle of runes. They cracked and dissipated as she stepped inside like snow, sending her hair flying as if wind blew below them, "… Time to go."
"Yup."
'I've already said my goodbyes to everyone... There weren't that many people to talk to in the first place…'
'Fabrin... The Elven Princess and her guard... Viera is with me... Hm, I forgot to talk with Fabrin's daughter today... Well, I already said what had to be said last time we met.'
'She isn't a bad person, only very stubborn... Fabrin used to say that she resembles her mother... It was awkward at first since she felt guilty for how we first met and how I saved her later in the underground, but she eventually opened up a little as we interacted.'
'I hope she manages to grow stronger the way she wished to.'
Philip shook his head and took a step forward. As Philip followed her, Viera turned around to ask:
"What's our destination?"
Philip thought for a moment before jokingly saying, "Hm?... North."
"North? Are we going to the land of the Elves?"
"That's too far North…"
"Trying to act mysterious…"
"Why the hurry? We'll soon be there anyway."
"You're one to talk!"
/FLASH!/
The floating disk flashed, and when the light dissipated, they had disappeared.
/Step step step…/
"… Huff… Huff… Where?…"
A few minutes after Philip and Viera disappeared, a girl entered the Nexus rushing, her face red, she seemed a bit tired. Her ears were sharp and her beauty was otherworldly, it was, without a doubt, an Elf.
"Huff… Was I too late?" She asked out loud, disappointed
/Fwoosh!/
From the side, a figure flashed to her side and kneeled. She wore a full black suit, like a Ninja.
The clothes fit rather tightly, but her dark cape concealed her curves from prying eyes.
"My apologies Madam Dinna, it seems they left."
"..."
Dinna seemed rather disappointed, so let out a sigh, "No no, it was my fault in the end. I focused too much on my own matters instead of making up some time to meet with him, and in the end, he left before I could even speak a word with him…"
'However…'
"Why didn't you try to stop them?" She asked the Ninja girl as she crossed her arms
Her voice stuttered as she replied, "I… I lost track of him when he entered the Central Memorial Park, my utmost apologies…"
"I see…"
'Inconceivable… Lyra wouldn't lose track of someone just like that… She wouldn't listen to Larin either… Did he know and purposely led her away? But if so…'
She smiled, 'That makes him even more interesting.'
Dinna turned around. There were a few more things she would like to ask her niece… Sister.
"Lets go back…"
"My apologies…"
"Enough, I don't want to hear that anymore." She said in a gentle tone as she held the ninja's hand, "Let's go!"
She looked back one last time before rushing away.
'We'll meet again… I'm sure of it.'
'After all… My little sister… He'll come to her either by his own will… or by force...'
Dinna then left the Nexus while Lyra disappeared into the shadows as if she was never there.
…
/At the same time, somewhere further South…/
/Flash!/
Within a very extravagant room, Philip and Viera suddenly appeared under the cover of a white flash of light.
"Urg..." Viera said as she clutched onto her stomach
Philip was already used to this, but Viera, having a much weaker body, wasn't. She almost fell to her knees, the dizziness too much to bear.
"… We'll take a rest after we find a place to stay in, so uh... Remain strong."
He tapped her back gently to help her adjust. She didn't reply but did feel a little more relaxed.
Meanwhile, Philip looked around, inspecting their surroundings, "This place is quite vintage..."
The small room, approximately 5 meters by 5 meters and 3 meters high, resembled an old-fashioned hotel room. The polished wood floors and walls gleamed under what little light was present.
Numerous decorations adorned the space: framed paintings hung on the walls, antique-looking drawers sat nestled within ornate bureaus, and shelves overflowed with various knick-knacks and objects. Amongst this clutter, a peculiar device emitted a soft, calming melody, its precise nature and function remaining unclear.
The overall atmosphere was one of quiet, slightly unsettling, elegance. The air felt thick with the scent of aged wood and flowers, hinting at a long history within the room's four walls.
A single window, perhaps, offered a glimpse to the outside, but this detail was not immediately clear from Philip's perspective.
/Creak/
The single door that led to this room opened, and a man wearing butler clothes took a step forward and said, "Excuse me, Gentlemen and Madam, welcome to the City of Freedom, the Path of Liberation. Please follow me so we can proceed with the identification process."
He bowed with the utmost respect. His thoughts, albeit slightly concealed, revealed to Philip his honesty and lack of ill intent.
"Huh?"
Hearing his words, Viera raised her head faintly, 'The City of Freedom? Isn't that in the South…' she asked herself as she looked at Philip, her eyebrows twitching.
But he just smiled. He looked at her with a smug smile before walking forward after the butler.
"..."
'This guy…'
Viera shook her head, going after him. It didn't matter where they went, she would follow him regardless.
…
/At the same time, back in the Academy…/
Everything continued as per normal. The students talked leisurely in the corridors and the teachers made their way to their respective classrooms like any other day…
[EMERGENCY ALERT!]
"What?!"
The students clenched their ears as a loud 'boom' shook the Academy!
"ARRG!! My ears!"
Some beastman with sensitive hearing immediately collapsed on the ground. If humans and elves already found the sound displeasing, what about them?
[EMERGENCY ALERT!]
[EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: BLACK!]
[ALL STUDENTS AND PERSONNEL ARE TO RETURN TO THEIR RESPECTIVE DORMITORIES AND REMAIN INSIDE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE!]
[FAILURE TO COMPLY WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE DISCIPLINARY ACTION!]
[REPEAT, ALL STUDENTS AND...]
Loud sirens blared throughout the Academy, the gates slammed shut, and the force field activated, sealing everyone inside. Any attempts to leave, whether by teleportation or other means, were abruptly cut short as all systems went offline. Even those already outside were forced back in.
Panic erupted as people fled, unsure of what was happening. However, some, sensing the gravity of the situation, sought shelter rather than waiting helplessly.
Meanwhile, deep within the Academy, a group gathered around a large marble table. Dozens filled the room, seated in numerous chairs, two of which resembled thrones, one empty, the other occupied by a clearly non-humanoid elder.
Each seat bore a plaque identifying its occupant's position and name, including that of Fabrin, whose annoyance was palpable as he surveyed the assembled group. He felt a tremendous headache incoming, and above all, he wished his thoughts did not reflect reality.
Once everyone was inside minus the throne, the Academy's Spirit announced:
[EMERGENCY! SOMEONE HAS BREACHED INTO THE PRINCIPALS OFFICE]
[EMERGENCY! SOMEONE HAS BREACHED INTO THE PRINCIPALS OFFICE]
A hologram containing the whole academy was shown above their table. Multiple red, black, and other colorful lines outlined multiple regions and paths.
The non-humanoid elder reached out with his claws in the air, his multiple eyes flashing underneath his robes. He manipulated the hologram and focused on the Principal's office at the very top of the tower.
[Time of occurrence: 37 seconds ago]
While everyone outside was told to remain put in this room, they received a quick debrief of what was happening. But the nature of this event shocked them…
"What's the meaning of this Gatekeeper?" One of the Elders asked in an angry tone as they looked at another cloaked elder
They all followed his gaze, and soon, the elderly man was pressed by a three dozen heavy eyes…
"Impossible, I never left my post! No one has even approached the door the past three months or so. All attempts are recorded, you can all check the logs!"
Before anyone could complain, he raised his hand and said, "I want a quick analysis of all corridors that surround the Principals Office in the past month!"
[Identity confirmed, Heavens Gate Warden]
A chaotic flurry of images materialized in mid-air, a rapidly shifting mosaic of video footage. Dozens, perhaps hundreds, of hallways and rooms flickered across the vision, each a brief, sped-up glimpse of interior spaces.
The accelerated playback rendered the scenes incomprehensible to the naked eye; a blur of motion too fast for any human to process. Despite the frantic pace, the footage was remarkably uneventful. Occasional figures could be glimpsed moving through the various locations, solitary individuals walking, their actions indistinct and their identities unknown, but no significant events or interactions were visible.
The overall impression was one of unsettling emptiness, a vast, interconnected network of spaces seemingly devoid of meaningful activity. The sheer volume of footage, its rapid succession, and the pervasive lack of clear events created a disturbing sense of disorientation and unease. But not for any of the elders.
They all watched the footage with gloomy eyes, their expressions sinking.
"What's the meaning of this? How did the Office get breached if no one ever approached it?" Another Elder asked confused
None doubted the Academy's Spirit resolution. Just like the old man, everyone was having a headache. Some felt confused, some felt angry… After all, someone has managed to accomplish something even they didn't manage to do.
This alarm represented many things… For one, someone bypassed all security measures and managed to get inside the most desirable... Secure, place within the Academy!
And second of all… It confirmed the Principal's departure.
For a few years, people haven't heard even a single word from the Principal. However, most assumed he was simply in seclusion or in an important experiment...
But even if that was the case, it was impossible for him to not say or do something in these conditions. It then became clear, the Principal wasn't in the school anymore... And this meant many things...
So one of them, a being that looked like an Elf, but his ears were pointing downwards, said:
"We can't continue like this. Without the Authority of the Principal, the alarm will keep going on forever, and doing so would simply spread panic."
He said, his eyes sharp, "Not only that, but we won't be able to properly investigate the crime scene..."
"That said, electing a Principal requires much time, study, and protocols, time we do not possess… I propose Protocol Erte 1-A… In the absence of the Principal, the Council of Elders will take his position until his condition has been confirmed or until a new Principal has been erected."
"This authority shall remain until our investigation is concluded…"
/Smack!/
One elder smashed his fist against the table in anger. He differed from the last Elder as he was a Human!
"Do you think we're unnaware of your intetions?! You're simply trying to…"
But he was interrupted by an old woman, also Demi-Human. However, she had cat ears on top of her head.
"Now insn't the time to talk about politics, its true that we can't get in contact with the principal and its also true that someone got inside, and that's all that matters…"
"Someone who could very well be running away as we speak. We cannot proceed with executive-level authority. Theres no time to discuss. I approved of this." She said plainly as she crossed her arms
"..."
'Dammit! These crafty old people!'
There was a reason why the Elder wanted to prevent this from happening. If they received a high enough level of Authority, why would they give up on it later on after the issue had been resolved?
For a long time, most of these Elders had been unsatisfied with the current state of the Academy... Not in regards to the toxic environment within the students, no, they didn't care about that.
What they cared about was how, for the past four elections, all Principals had been Human!
This chance would allow them to completely remove the current Principal from his position before he chooses a successor, effectively nulling the chances of another Human candidate, whatever capable he was, from becoming the next figure in charge.
Besides, it was all a ploy so they could each plunder the Principal's office… They likely had little intent of becoming the one in charge. After all, for four generations, every single Principal has been a Human… For them, the Principal had long lost their respect and instead, was a treat to them.
It was a chance to reset the order and diminish the efforts of their kind. But that, of course, was only from that elder's perspective… If he was right or wrong, none at that table would ever admit to it…
...
Time passed, and each Elder said his own opinions and voted, and in the end, only the Humans voted against it.
However, they were the overwhelming minority…
"So we have decided. By the majority of the votes, Protocol Erte 1-A is now in effect!" Exclaimed the Elf… It was for a moment, but he smiled widely
Hearing this, the non-human being sitting on one of the thrones raised its claws and interacted with the holograms:
[Confirmed, Protocol Erte 1-A is now in effect, the Elder Council is now in charge until further notice] Replied the Academy's system
"Good, then I propose for the Principals Office to open!"
None refused. The Humans could only look away helplessly as everyone else looked up in expectation and desire.
Once again, the non-human elder interacted with the holograms once a decision was made.
[Confirmed, the Principal's Office seal has been lifted, and the Alarm has been canceled]
Immediately after, the Elf jumped and rushed towards the corridor. He wished to be the first one inside the Principal's Office!
A lifelong dream of his, to have access to those resources, tucked away in the unreliable hands of Humans!… Now all his to have…
He didn't really care much about who had breached the room; it was impossible for said person to leave the Academy on time anyway. He would eventually capture the person, and all the stolen items would end up with him.
In fact, he was indeed curious about the methods used by said person to breach into the Office. Once they're captured, he'll make sure to get those methods from his/her mouth!
But… He was in for a big disappointment…
/Creak!/
He entered the Office like a storm! However...
"Wh... Where..."
His eyes trembled as he looked around... There was nothing in the room anymore!
So his first thought was that whoever breached here had already left with the loot!
"WHO?!"
/BAM!/
/CREEEEEEEK!/
His anger was such that the room creaked and the wood and stone cracked...
[DISCLAIMER: REIGN IN YOUR ENERGY BEFORE DISCIPLINARY ACTION IS TAKEN] Replied the Academy's Spirit
"..."
The Elf bit his lips...
/Fwoosh fwoosh!/
And as the other arrived, he looked at the window outside...
It was as if he could see whoever had stolen these things, the target of his wrath...
...
/At the same time back in the South.../
"… Is it to your taste?" The Butler asked as he looked Philip sipping tea
"Its very much so." He replied with a smile as he rested his back in the comfortable couch
"..."
Viera remained silent, enjoying her tea and cake...
"Everything is on order Mr Philip, all of your papers are within this document." The butler said as he gave him a large folder
He bowed once again before stepping outside the room, saying "Now, I hope you two enjoy your stay!"
"..."
"..."
Philip and Viera looked at each other. He grabbed his teacup and raised it to his mouth, saying:
"Cheers."
"... You don't say cheers when drinking tea..."
Viera smiled helplessly before drinking her tea one more time...
It seemed a bit sweeter...
...
.
.
.
Notes
I ended up cutting Larin's POV of her checking the gift Philip gave her, but it'll reappear soon, I found it pretty amusing.
Finally, the Academy Arc is over. It lasted around 20 chapters not counting his Class chapters.
Thank you for reading, peace!