Free Web NovelChapter 8: Chapter 8: We Must Protect This Child!
Silence.
The top floor of the Starspire Spire fell into a dead silence.
Alberto stood frozen in place, his staff trembling slightly in his hand.
"Closed your eyes... imagined it... and it came out??"
The old man’s mind felt like it was caught in a level-twelve magical storm.
On the continent of Eldoria, casting magic is an incredibly strict science.
Mages must use complex chanting to communicate with elements, use Mental Power to carve out fixed Magic Power circuits, and even calculate the exact output of their magic.
In this world, people’s imaginations are incredibly poor. They can only cast spells by following rigid formulas left behind by ancestors.
"Fireball" is just a ball of fire. "Gentle Breeze" is just a bit of wind.
No one has ever dared to create magic simply by relying on "imagination" alone!!
But Alberto is a Grand Archmagus. His vast knowledge made him think of an ancient legend long lost to time.
"Could it be... the original resonance of ’Word Becomes Law’??"
Alberto muttered in terror inside his heart.
Legend says that in the First Era of the Gods, those "God’s Chosen" selected by the essence of magic didn’t need tedious spells at all.
As long as their will was strong enough, the essence of magic would automatically manifest devastating power for them!!
This lazy and easygoing boy before him, with his Double-F talents, might not actually be a useless waste.
Perhaps his soul level is so high that a normal Awakening Stone simply cannot measure his true potential!!
At this thought, Alberto’s gaze at Arthur changed completely.
It was no longer the look of someone examining a cheater. It was like he was looking at a one-of-a-kind treasure.
"So that’s it... I understand."
Alberto took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart.
He didn’t fully believe Arthur’s story, but he knew this boy hid a secret powerful enough to shake the entire magic system of the continent.
Outside the tower, over the capital city, faint roars of griffins and dragons could be heard in the distance.
Alberto turned to look out the window, his expression turning extremely grave.
"The Holy Empire’s Judgment Knights have already crossed the border."
"The Glacial Empire’s Frostwolf Mage Corps is rushing here fast."
"Even those filthy rats from the underworld are trying to spy on you."
The old man turned back, looking at Arthur with deep concern.
"Child, right now you are a juicy piece of meat dripping with blood. Every evil wolf on the continent wants to eat you whole."
Arthur raised his eyebrow slightly. He definitely knew how much trouble his [Meteor Blast] had caused.
But he wasn’t panicked. If it came to it, he could just hide in his dorm and cast tens of thousands of instant [Magic Missile] spells. If anyone dared to show up, he’d give them an "Arcane Shower."
"So, Headmaster, what are you planning to do with this juicy piece of meat?"
Arthur asked half-jokingly, though a sharp edge of defense flickered deep in his eyes.
If this old man planned to hand him over to keep the peace, Arthur wasn’t afraid to drop another meteor right on this tower roof.
Alberto looked at the boy before him. Despite being hunted by the entire continent, the kid was still chatting away with a smile.
He suddenly remembered why he had built this academy in the first place: to protect the future of the Kingdom of Oran.
If he couldn’t even protect his own student, what kind of Grand Archmagus was he?!
Alberto gripped his staff tightly. A dominant aura of a true protector shot up, shaking the air.
"You were born in the Kingdom of Oran! You are a Lancelot Academy student!!"
"As long as Alberto is still breathing, no one will ever take you away from this school!!"
The old man’s voice was firm and clear, echoing through the dome for a long time.
The defense in Arthur’s eyes quietly faded, and a genuine smile curled his lips.
This old man might be a bit old-fashioned, but he was definitely a wizard worth respecting.
"We must protect this child!!"
Alberto made a silent vow in his heart, even if it meant starting a war with the two great empires.
To ensure Arthur’s safety and to watch this magic miracle up close, the old man made a very bold decision.
He walked behind his large rosewood desk, opened a drawer, and took out a special badge glowing with a dark golden light.
A rising sun was carved onto the badge.
Alberto walked back and handed the badge to Arthur with great seriousness.
"Arthur Voss, from now on, you are no longer a common student of the Outer Academy."
"I want you to pack your things and move immediately into the core area of the Inner Academy."
The old man paused, his tone filled with a bit of mystery and hope.
"You will be the only student from this year admitted to the ’Dawn Class’ against the rules."
Arthur looked down at the heavy badge, frowning slightly.
He came to this world only to find a quiet place to study D&D spells and be a carefree mage hiding behind the lines, sniping enemies.
"Dawn Class?"
Arthur didn’t take the badge. Instead, he scratched his head with a look of annoyance.
"The name sounds like a huge pain... Headmaster, can I say no? I really like my dorm room."
Alberto got so angry at Arthur’s careless attitude that his beard twitched to the side.
"Refusal is invalid!!"
The old man shoved the badge hard into Arthur’s hand, puffing out his cheeks and glaring.
"Even the top geniuses from the whole academy, and even exchange students from other countries, are in that class."
"More importantly, that place has an absolutely independent research lab and an endless supply of magic materials!!"
As soon as Arthur heard the words "independent research lab" and "endless materials," his lazy eyes lit up instantly.
He had just been worrying about where to get money to buy monster blood for crafting spell scrolls.
"Deal."
Arthur tucked the badge into his pocket without hesitation. The speed at which he changed his mind made the Grand Archmagus’s jaw drop.
Watching Arthur turn to leave, Alberto couldn’t help but speak up again.
"Arthur, those little monsters in the Dawn Class are all very proud, and they come from powerful families."
"Don’t cause trouble. If you get into any trouble, just come find me."
Arthur stopped in his tracks. Without turning around, he waved his hand dismissively at the Headmaster.
"Don’t worry, Headmaster. I hate nothing more than trouble."
"As long as they don’t come after me, I’ll be a peace-loving mage."
With that, the elevator doors slowly slid shut.
Alberto stood there looking at the empty room. For some reason, a deep sense of pity suddenly bubbled up inside him for the geniuses who were about to be classmates with Arthur.
...
Arthur tossed the dark gold Inner Academy badge into the air with one hand as he strolled out of the Starspire Spire.
The air outside the tower still smelled of tension. Royal Knights in full armor gleamed coldly in the sunlight.
But the moment the heavily armed guards saw the badge in Arthur’s hand, they all instinctively stepped aside, clearing a wide path.
The Dawn Class was located in the very heart of the Lancelot Royal Magic Academy: the "Inner Academy."
It was totally different from the crowded and noisy commoner dorms of the Outer Academy.
Visible specks of Magic Power floated in the air. Just breathing in one gulp, you could feel the thick elemental energy.
Rows of precious "Calmflowers" lined the roads. These magic plants, which could sell for ten gold coins each on the black market, were here being used just for landscaping.
"Wow, they’re rich," Arthur muttered.
He casually plucked a Calmflower petal, held it to his nose to smell it, and a satisfied smirk curled his lips.
For a poor student who had D&D magic knowledge in his head but struggled to get spell components, this place was basically heaven.
Carrying his faded, old canvas bag on his shoulder, he swaggered down a long corridor paved with white jade.
At the end of the corridor stood a simple, ancient-looking independent building emitting faint magical ripples.
Above the building’s entrance hung a plaque carved with a blazing sun and stars... "Dawn."
Meanwhile, inside the stepped classroom of the Dawn Class, an suffocating silence hung in the air.
There were no rows of desks for a hundred students like in the Outer Academy. The classroom had fewer than thirty seats in total.
Yet, everyone sitting here was a top genius from the Kingdom of Oran, or even the surrounding duchies.
Their Mana Affinity was at least S-rank!!
Among them were sons of dukes, heirs to ancient magical families, and even royal bloodlines from neighboring countries who had been paid big money to get in.
Everyone wore custom-made robes of luxurious material, radiating the powerful aura of high-level magic apprentices or even junior mages.
