Chapter 63: Practice Run

On a dark night on the 23rd floor of the Mage Tower, Professor Louina sat in her office, still meticulously drafting methods to verify Deculein’s thesis.

Snap!

The fountain pen she had been pressing down on broke.

Drip. Drip—

Blood from her nose trickled onto the documents. Louina stared blankly at the stains, feeling lightheaded and her heart pounding fiercely. Strange emotions welled up from deep within her consciousness.

She glanced out the window. The moon was hidden by gray clouds, and the world outside was cloaked in darkness. Her reflection in the glass looked strange; her eyes were tinged with red. It must have been a nosebleed, but it looked like she was crying tears of blood.

Hissss...

Suddenly, a strange particle seemed to rise from her shoulder, like a suffocating cloud of ash. Louina quickly turned to look. Everything was normal. Nothing seemed out of place.

"Am I going mad...?" Louina muttered with a sigh.

She had endured so much recently—kidnapped by Deculein, nearly starved for a week, and forced into signing that humiliating contract. It was a wonder she was still in her right mind.

"Let’s rest at home," Louina murmured as she organized the documents and placed them in her bag.

She turned off the lights and closed the office door behind her.

Throb—

An inexplicable pulse seemed to resonate through the darkness as she stepped into the dim corridor.

***

At 2 p.m. on a Wednesday, Epherene was in a study room at the Mage Tower, working on a group project. Since most of the project was already finished, they were mostly chatting.

"One card!"

"

Oh

, come on! That's so unfair!"

Eurozan, Daine, and Jefel were playing cards, while Sylvia seemed to be engrossed in checking the assignment with her eyes closed. Epherene, meanwhile, was reading a letter.

To Epherene Luna,

Thank you for your letter. I believe in your talent, so you should have faith in it too. Walk your path with determination, avoiding arrogance. If you dedicate yourself and work hard, good results will surely follow.

"

Wow

, four lines," Epherene mused happily.

It was much shorter compared to the ten pages she had sent, but she was grateful for the reply nonetheless. Still, she couldn't help but feel that mentioning the Roahawk story—her resolve to become the greatest mage like them—had been unnecessary. Content with the letter, Epherene put it away.

"...

Huh

?!"

She suddenly exclaimed and pulled a handkerchief from her robe's inner pocket. It was the same high-quality handkerchief a gentleman had given her when she had cried uncontrollably during a performance of

Portrait of a Sad Day

at the university festival.

"Wait a minute."

The emblem embroidered on the handkerchief matched perfectly with the design in the corner of the letter.

"They're identical."

Her pupils reflected the pattern. It wasn’t a family crest but rather a high-end brand. This couldn’t be a coincidence.

"

Oh

, wait a minute..." Epherene muttered, clutching her head in thought.

Epherene struggled to remember the man's face from that day. She had been crying so much that she hadn't dared to look him in the eye.

"... Could it be?"

Oh, no way. Has he really been watching me all this time, actually keeping an eye on my talent?

"

Hmm

... if that's the case."

It was thrilling. Epherene felt a surge of excitement as she stroked her chin, attempting to stay composed.

At that moment, a sharp voice interrupted her thoughts.

"You’re too loud, arrogant Epherene," Sylvia snapped.

It was Sylvia, glaring at Epherene with annoyance. Her concentration had been broken.

"Sorry, sorry," Epherene said cheerfully and fell silent.

Sylvia closed her eyes, attempting to refocus on the assignment. Yet, her ears and eyelids twitched, and even the corners of her mouth moved slightly, as if she were trying to sense something else.

“Hey, have you guys heard the rumors about Rohakan?” Epherene asked the male friends.

The three guys playing cards abruptly changed the topic. Epherene straightened her back, feeling uneasy since she had been present during the incident.

"Rohakan? Yeah, but my dad wouldn’t tell me anything. He said it’s classified."

"I heard rumors that it was Head Professor Deculein who battled Rohakan."

"No way. Even if he's the head professor, Rohakan is in a league of his own."

Fortunately, the guys seemed completely unaware.

"Anyways, class is about to start. Let's go."

"Epherene, Sylvia, aren't you coming with us?"

The three guys glanced over, and Sylvia opened her eyes as well.

"Yeah, let’s go."

They placed the scroll in the study room’s safe and then left together, taking the elevator.

Sylvia whispered, "You know we have to keep what happened that day a secret, right?"

"Of course, it's a secret. Do you really think I'm that dumb?"

"Yes."

Ding—

They arrived on the third floor. Epherene was the last to step out of the elevator because a group of noble mages swarmed Sylvia, treating her like some kind of a celebrity.

"Miss Sylvia! We heard you broke through Rohakan’s barrier!”

"That’s incredible! Would you be able to give a lecture on it sometime—"

Yeah right. She didn’t break any barrier. She just mooched off my grilled fish

, Epherene thought as she entered the A-Class lecture room.

"I wonder what today’s lesson will be?"

The scene inside was unusual. The university campus was replicated in detail, with cafes, gyms, lecture halls, gardens, alleys, shops, and restaurants, but the Mage Tower was absent.

"

Oh

... what?"

Epherene turned around and was startled. The door she had entered through had disappeared, leaving only an empty garden. A chill ran down her spine.

"Is this some kind of Halloween-themed class? What does this have to do with Pure Elements?"

She wondered if perhaps ghosts were also made of Pure Elements.

—

Ah

, can you hear me?

A voice echoed from above. It was Assistant Professor Allen.

— As it is now 3 o’clock, we will begin the class. Any Debutants who have not entered yet will be disqualified for tardiness.

Being even a second late meant disqualification. It was typical of Deculein's strict approach. Hearing this, Epherene pricked up her ears.

— Today’s class theme is Survival Tactics in Combat. Think of this as a virtual barrier. You are trapped within it, and your objective is to escape within three hours.

"

Hmm

, interesting."

— Scattered throughout the area are monsters generated by the barrier. Additionally, Head Professor Deculein is not your ally today. He will be patrolling the area, attempting to eliminate you.

"Deculein will be patrolling?!"

Epherene felt a thrill at the thought of legally challenging Deculein.

— Although several professors, including Head Professor Deculein, will be monitoring you, remember that you will be disqualified if you encounter severe danger. Your performance will impact your grades.

A-woooooo—!

The explanation was interrupted by a howl. Epherene looked around and saw a red-eyed wild dog, its mouth spewing ash.

— We expect each of you Debutants to demonstrate practical magic skills. Now, let the class commence!

The moment the assistant professor finished speaking, Epherene channeled mana into her bracelet.

Grrrr—!

The wild dog charged at her with its mouth wide open. Epherene cast her spell, combining the elements of water and wind.

Whoosh—

The water she cast condensed into a high-pressure crescent, speeding toward the dog at over 500 meters per second. Despite its short range, its destructive, slicing power rivaled that of any blade. It was a pure element spell called

Water Moon

, taught by Deculein.

Splurt...

The wild dog's body was sliced into four pieces.

"

Hmph

."

Just as Epherene shrugged, a scream echoed nearby.

"

Ahhh

—!"

"Where are you?!"

Epherene ran toward the sound, using the wind element to move faster and more quietly. However, when she arrived, it was too late. The area was empty, except for a single note.

Selly has been disqualified.

"Sorry. I should have gotten here sooner," Epherene muttered regretfully as she pocketed the note and moved on.

***

Forty minutes into the class, Sylvia moved gracefully among the scattered threats. She didn't hide or try to mask her presence, instead exuding a natural dignity. Enchanted creatures, drawn to her elegant aura, bared their fangs and opened their jaws, only to be scorched and disintegrated by the intense heat.

"Miss Sylvia?" someone called out. It was Lucia, Juperne, and Beck, the noble group that always hung around together, their voices mingling in the air.

“Would you like to escape the barrier with us?” Lucia asked.

Sylvia shook her head, declining their offer.

“Alright then, good luck,” Lucia said as she passed by, only to suddenly run in the opposite direction.

Sylvia quickly understood the reason. On the horizon, emanating an overwhelming and noble presence, was Head Professor Deculein. As an enemy, he was the most formidable opponent.

Under the pressure of his imposing aura, Sylvia closed her eyes and transformed the ground beneath her into water. She submerged herself and held her breath, listening to the sound of footsteps echoing above her.

“

Ahhhhhhh

!”

Soon after, a piercing scream split the air. Lucia's group must have been caught. Fools, Sylvia thought. Running could never evade the professor’s Wood Steel. She didn’t know the exact mechanism, but once on his radar, escaping required more than just running—it required vanishing underground, just as she had done.

Sylvia waited underground, listening intently. Then, a distinctly foolish-sounding voice broke through the silence. It sounded very foolish indeed.

“Stop!”

"... Epherene, engaging in a direct confrontation is unwise," Deculein stated.

“This isn’t a one-on-one fight. We’re four—hey! Where are you guys going? Come back!” Epherene shouted in frustration as the ones she tried to save ran away.

Then, there was a sharp, sparking sound like flint striking. It seemed Epherene was attempting magic, however...

“

Ouch

!

Ow

! Wait! No!

Aaaaah

!”

Sylvia thought Epherene’s foolishness was no accident. Listening to her surprisingly persistent screams, Sylvia stifled a laugh.

***

Two hours into the class, Epherene limped along, wincing as she massaged her sore body.

"At least... I have no regrets," Epherene sighed, muttering to herself.

She had narrowly escaped and cursed under her breath about Lucia and her gang. After all her effort to save them, they had just run away. It was infuriating. With four against one, they might have stood a chance.

"Calm down. Calm down," Epherene muttered, attempting to suppress her anger as she examined the barrier for weaknesses. She swiftly gave up on brute force and focused on dismantling the barrier.

“There are golems, wild dogs, and bats... Bats?” Epherene muttered, looking up and noticing the bats circling in the sky. Narrowing her eyes as she observed their movements, she noted aloud, “... They’re following a specific pattern.”

Epherene channeled her mana into the wind, attaching a fragment of her power to one of the bats. As it moved, the mana transmitted valuable information to her. The bats seemed to be scouting for enemies and relaying that data to Deculein, yet their flight paths were irregular.

Nonetheless, every orbit has a center, so she could deduce its origin from their patterns. Closing her eyes, Epherene visualized the landscape, mapping the bats' movements. As a result...

Rustle—

"

Ah

! Who's there?" Epherene cried out, startled by the sudden appearance of a figure from around the corner.

"Epherene, you’re still alive," Sylvia said.

Hearing Sylvia's voice brought Epherene a wave of relief. She clutched her chest, trying to calm her racing heart.

“

Phew

... Luckily, disqualification doesn’t mean death. Anyway, have a seat,” Epherene said, gesturing to the ground as she sat down.

Sylvia created a chair with her magic, lifting herself a meter above the ground. She looked down at Epherene, who was now beneath her.

“... Why don’t you come down from there?” Epherene suggested.

"Tell me," Sylvia insisted, disregarding the suggestion.

"Are we going to be childish about this?"

"Tell me."

"...

Sigh

. Anyway, to escape, we need to dismantle the barrier. But to do that—"

Sylvia cut in, "The gym."

"You know it too. The barrier's core must be in the gym."

Epherene nodded and pointed to the gymnasium beyond the alley. They exchanged a knowing glance and cautiously made their way toward the gym, avoiding the watchful eyes of wild dogs and bats. Pressing against the gym wall, Epherene peeked through a window.

In the center of the gym stood Deculein, surrounded by countless enchanted beasts. He appeared to be engrossed in a book.

"

Shh

, it's Deculein," Epherene whispered.

Sylvia squinted and muttered, "Arrogant Epherene."

"Hey, this isn't the time for that. Deculein is our enemy right now," Epherene reminded, glancing inside the gym.

The gymnasium was vast and open on all sides. Floating at its center was the barrier's core, guarded by Deculein. This practice run, meticulously crafted by Allen under Deculein's direction, was designed to be challenging.

"I think one of us needs to create a distraction. I’ll do it," Epherene volunteered.

"No," Sylvia said, shaking her head. "I’ll take care of it."

"... Are you serious? Are you sure?" Epherene asked, surprised. She had expected Sylvia to prioritize her own safety.

"Epherene, you're too foolish to even serve as a distraction."

“... What? Fine, then how will you distract him in that wide-open gym? He placed the core there, knowing it’s impossible to hide.”

"You and I are different," Sylvia said, pulling out a brush with a determined look.

Sylvia took out a brush and sketched a precise rectangle with a handle on the ground. The drawing promptly transformed into a solid object.

"Enter here. This path leads to the gym. Follow it."

“... Are you sure it won't be blocked midway?” Epherene asked skeptically.

Sylvia's eyebrow twitched in annoyance as she replied, "Are you doubting me?"

Epherene quickly waved her hands in denial and opened the lid. The tunnel looked like a genuine underground bunker.

"This looks great. I’m impressed," Epherene said, extending her hand for a high five.

Sylvia stared at the hand, then said, "Arrogant Epherene."

"What? Don't know how to high-five?"

"Stop messing around and get inside. You'll need to decide when it's the right time to come out."

"Alright," Epherene agreed as she entered the tunnel.

Sylvia walked towards the gym entrance. Inside, Deculein remained, and all the ash-formed beasts directed their hostility toward her.

"Are you done with your discussion?" Deculein asked, his eyes still on the book.

Sylvia nodded in response.

"I see," he said, closing the book with a decisive snap. The sound signaled the beasts to charge at Sylvia.

Sylvia closed her eyes and unleashed her Primary Colors, drawing from deep within. The red, green, and blue streams spread out, transforming the once-ordinary gymnasium. These colors mixed, creating a vibrant spectrum that gradually filled the entire space. The enchanted beasts vanished, overwhelmed and absorbed by her magic.

As the ash dissipated, the gymnasium turned into a refreshing meadow. This transformation, inspired by Deculein, embodied the profound impact his midterm exam had on her.

"In this place, I can do whatever I want," Sylvia declared with confidence.

Deculein surveyed the area, searching for any mediums.

"There are no mana stones as a medium here. I created all of this with my mana alone," Sylvia declared, placing her hand over her chest. "I am Sylvia. You know who I am."

Her voice was full of confidence, firm with self-belief and pride. She demonstrated the qualities of a true noble, embodying the mindset and attributes of a strong leader.

Deculein appeared pleased and replied, "Impressive. In terms of magic, I'd give it a full mark."

But in the blink of an eye, Deculein was standing right in front of her.

"But don’t neglect your physical training," he advised.

The Baron of Ashes boosts both the physical and magical abilities of his host, making them a formidable opponent in both areas. While player mages might view physical training as a waste of stats, non-player mages must prioritize physical fitness to handle the Baron's enhanced strength and magic.

"You're disqualified," Deculein said, tapping Sylvia lightly on the forehead.

"No, I'm not," she replied firmly, not flinching as she met his gaze with determination. "Before that..."

“I’ve already captured the barrier’s core!” Epherene's voice echoed from a distance.

Without turning around, Deculein knew it was Epherene. She raised her hand, revealing the barrier’s core. Mana glowed from the bracelet on her right wrist.

“...

Argh

!”

Destroying the core and dismantling the barrier was beyond the capability of an ordinary Debutant. But Epherene was anything but ordinary.

Zzzzzziiiing—!

Mana surged from her bracelet, saturating the barrier's core. Instantly, the entire barrier trembled.

Ssshhh...

The ground shook as if struck by an earthquake, sending dust cascading from the gymnasium ceiling. Cracks formed in the sky, making the very space seem on the verge of shattering. And then.

Shatter—!

The barrier shattered as if it were made of glass.

Tssss...

The fragments of the barrier scattered aimlessly. Beneath them, Deculein stood, letting the shards fall upon his body.

“...

Hahaha

.”

Deculein wore a satisfied smile, one that seemed to convey pride and trust. Sylvia and Epherene stared at their smiling professor in a daze, witnessing his smile for the first time.

"... Well done," Deculein said. "You both have won."

At that moment, joy surged from deep within Epherene. She imagined a triumphant fanfare blaring in her mind, loud and clear. The overwhelming thrill spread through her entire body.

"Epherene, Sylvia, you both receive full marks," Deculein announced as the scenery reverted to the normal classroom. "Your teamwork was commendable."

The classroom door opened, and Allen guided the disqualified students inside. Epherene searched for Lucia among them. Despite all her efforts to help, Lucia had simply run away without a second thought.

"

Hmph

," Lucia scoffed, meeting Epherene’s glare with a defiant, spiteful look, as if silently challenging her.

"Sit down," Deculein instructed, his tone indicating there was more to discuss.

The Debutants quickly took their seats. Epherene glanced at the clock. It was already past six, which was highly unusual for Deculein.

"Recall the dormitory barrier incident," Deculein began. "Today’s lesson was to prepare you for a similar situation. It was also a practical exercise for you to experience potential future challenges."

Deculein signaled to Allen, who brought in a box filled with gas masks.

"In the event of another such incident, teamwork is crucial," Deculein instructed. "And always carry these anti-demonic energy gas masks with you."

Using

Telekinesis

, Deculein distributed the gas masks. Epherene grinned as she examined hers, her eyes widening in surprise. She had expected standard supplies, but these were top-of-the-line and undoubtedly expensive.

"Well done. Those who were disqualified should reflect on their mistakes. Allen will provide further guidance. You are all dismissed," Deculein said. With that, he left the room.

The early-eliminated magicians left the room dejectedly, dragging their feet. In contrast, Epherene, having succeeded, lingered to savor the moment thinking this was how a mage grew. The sense of accomplishment was unmatched.

"

You both have won,

" Deculein's satisfied voice echoed in her mind. The words filled her with exhilaration.

Hearing those words, an immense rush of adrenaline surged through her, striking like a hammer. She knew Deculein had taken it easy on them to some extent. Even though his cherished Steel Wood shurikens hadn’t moved, the exhilarating feeling was something she was unlikely to experience again.

“

Hah

.”

But she reminded herself not to be confused. It wasn’t his praise that made her happy, but the victory over him.

"... Good," Epherene muttered, clenching her fist. She decided that today, at least, she deserved a treat. With determination, she declared, "Tonight's dinner will be Roahawk...!"

***

On a dark night, after everyone had left, Deculein stood alone in the Mage Tower's lecture hall, writing on the blackboard.

Four Key Reminders

1. Identify the core of the barrier.

2. Avoid direct confrontation.

3. Survive.

4. Remember, this blackboard is our only point of connection.

After writing, Deculein enchanted the blackboard with the

Midas Touch

. Mana flowed from his fingers and seeped into the green surface. This advice, a precaution for when the Baron of Ashes might appear unexpectedly, was his way of guiding the students as their professor.