Free Web NovelChapter 29: Chapter 29: The Headmaster’s Protection
Night had long since fallen over Lancelot Royal Academy of Magic.
The silver-white twin moons hung high above the night sky of Elderia, casting their cold light through the arched glass windows into the freshmen dormitory.
Arthur sat cross-legged on a slightly hard single bed, his eyes gently closed, his breathing so calm it was like still water.
The outside world was already in an uproar because of the challenge letter he had signed with [Arcane Mark], but Arthur himself felt completely unmoved.
At this moment, all of his awareness was immersed in the vast magical treasury deep inside his mind.
He was building a brand-new spell model. It came from the DND system’s classic 2nd-Level spell... "Invisibility."
In this world, where imagination was painfully limited, mages still understood [invisibility] in a very shallow and almost laughable way.
Their so-called stealth magic was nothing more than using Wind Element Magic Power to create a ring of distorted light around the body, or changing the color of a robe like a chameleon.
That kind of clumsy disguise would fall apart the moment it met a strong Magic Power disturbance, or simply if someone threw a bucket of colored water on it.
But the [Invisibility] from the DND system was completely different. It was a total erasure, both in physical rules and in magical essence.
In Arthur’s design, this 2nd-Level spell would not only fool the eyes perfectly, but also use the most fundamental [Weave] energy to strip the caster’s presence directly out of space itself.
Even the sharp sense of smell that high-level Magical Beast prided themselves on would not be able to catch even the slightest trace of his scent while [Invisibility] was active.
Threads of Azure Blue Mental Power moved quickly through Arthur’s Sea of Consciousness, crossing and weaving together.
Although the Mental Power rating of this body was only a pitiful F-Class, Arthur’s powerful modern Earth-born logical thinking made up for that weakness perfectly. He did not need to memorize dull spells the way mages in this world did.
He only needed to clearly picture the core logic of [Invisibility] in his mind, as if he were writing a computer program.
The distortion values of light, the blocking range for scent molecules, the cancellation frequency for sound vibrations...
An Azure Blue three-dimensional spell model, ten times more complex than [Arcane Mark], was slowly taking shape in his spiritual world.
[Buzz...]
Just as the spell model was about to close completely, a sudden and unusual Magic Power fluctuation broke Arthur’s meditation.
Arthur opened his eyes at once. A blade-like chill flashed through his deep black eyes. His long, pale right hand lifted instantly, and a frightening arcane glow had already appeared at his fingertips.
[Knock knock knock.]
A crisp tapping sound came from outside the window glass. Arthur withdrew the Magic Power at his fingertips, turned his head slightly, and looked outside.
A magical messenger bird, formed from pure silver Magic Power, was fluttering its unreal wings and lightly pecking at the glass with its sharp beak.
In this world, there were no more than three people in the entire academy who could shape Magic Power so vividly.
Arthur stood up and casually pushed open the window.
The silver bird immediately flew in. After circling once in the air, it turned into specks of silver light and disappeared into the room.
Then an old voice, carrying unquestionable authority, sounded directly in Arthur’s mind.
[Arthur, come to the top floor of Starspire Spire.]
[Now.]
It was Headmaster Alberto’s voice.
Arthur raised an eyebrow slightly, and that relaxed, easy smile returned to his handsome face.
He casually threw on a black mage robe, did not even bring a wand, and walked straight out of the dormitory. The academy was strangely quiet in the deep night. Only the patrolling gargoyles made low scraping sounds on the rooftops.
Walking along the bluestone path covered in moonlight, Arthur made his way without any trouble to the tallest building in the academy... Starspire Spire.
This place was the core of the entire Kingdom of Oran magic defense array, and also where Headmaster Alberto lived and did his research. Arthur stepped onto the magic lift engraved with floating runes. With a slight feeling of weightlessness, he arrived at the very top of the spire.
The heavy rosewood door was not locked. It was slightly open, leaving a narrow gap.
Arthur reached out and pushed the door open. At once, the rich smell of parchment ink mixed with the bitter scent of old potions rushed toward him. Inside the spacious headmaster’s office, towering bookshelves were packed with ancient books, and all kinds of strange alchemy instruments gave off a faint glow in the corners.
But Arthur’s eyes were immediately drawn to the figure standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window.
Headmaster Alberto stood with his back to the door, quietly looking out at the night view of the royal capital. This Grand Archmagus, known as the peak of magic in the Kingdom of Oran, was not wearing the complex robe that symbolized his supreme honor.
He only had on a simple gray gown, and under the moonlight, his white hair looked a little messy.
From where Arthur stood, the kind old man who usually seemed full of energy now looked especially old and tired. It was as if an invisible mountain were pressing down hard on his once-straight back.
[Headmaster, you wanted to see me.] Arthur slowed his steps and stopped three meters from the desk, his tone as calm as always.
Hearing Arthur’s voice, Alberto’s shoulders trembled slightly, and then he slowly turned around.
The old man’s wrinkled eyes were full of bloodshot lines. It was clear he had not had proper deep meditation or rest for a long time. He looked deeply at the black-haired boy in front of him, who always seemed so careless, and then let out a heavy sigh.
[My child, what you did in the square today was too impulsive.] Alberto did not waste time. He went straight to the point.
He walked behind the wide rosewood desk, braced both hands on its surface, and stared at Arthur seriously. [This duel is a complete trap.]
There was a trace of urgency in the old man’s voice as he tried to make Arthur understand how serious this was.
[Andrew is a fool blinded by jealousy, but the Walter family behind him is not.]
[According to the underground information I just received, Andrew has spent a large amount of money to hire several top third-year students. There is even an S-Class talented combat genius among them.]
[Their real combat experience, their Magic Power reserves, and the high-level alchemy items they carry are all far beyond what you can imagine!] Alberto grew more emotional as he spoke, and finally slammed his hand hard against the desk.
[Arthur, listen to me. Do not go to this absurd duel.]
A firm look flashed in the old man’s eyes.
[I will use my authority as Headmaster to declare this challenge invalid.]
[Even if I have to bear the blame of interfering with students’ freedom to duel, I absolutely cannot stand by and watch you throw your life away.]
Faced with Alberto’s almost heartfelt warning, Arthur’s expression did not change at all. He showed no panic, no fear of a strong enemy, and did not even frown.
Arthur simply stood there quietly, his deep black eyes like a bottomless abyss, calmly looking at the Grand Archmagus.
After a few seconds of silence, Arthur suddenly curled his lips and let out a soft laugh.
[Headmaster.] Arthur’s voice was light, but in the empty office it sounded unusually clear. [Are you afraid I will lose, or afraid I will win?]
Those words struck Alberto like a heavy hammer to the heart.
The old man’s face, which had been full of urgency just a moment ago, froze at once. He widened his eyes and looked at the teenage boy before him in disbelief.
He had never expected Arthur to see through the deepest and most terrifying truth hidden behind this matter with a single glance.
The office fell into dead silence. Only the magic clock on the wall made a steady ticking sound. Alberto stayed silent for a long time—so long that Arthur almost thought he would not speak again.
In the end, it was as if all the strength had been drained from the old man’s body. He sank weakly into the large high-backed chair. With a bitter smile, he shook his head. That smile was full of helplessness and self-mockery toward this cruel world.
[You little rascal, your instincts are sharp enough to frighten people....]
