Hmm? Was that it?

Vermon opened his eyes and studied the large structure in front of him carefully.

Just my imagination, perhaps. I’ve been down here for days now.

Vermin shook his head and got up on his feet. He approached the artifact, if it could even be called that, and laid his hand on it.

Even if something is about to happen, it will most likely take time. What happened in the Remori manor is different from here, and nothing seems to have come of it.

Vermon had heard reports about the formation below the Remori manor that was now under the Valis Royal family’s control. He had even been curious enough to take a look himself once he realized that it was the first time Heavenly Light showed themselves so openly on Shiora.

And he was not disappointed. It was a teleportation formation. Not that anyone else recognized it as such. He doubted even Heavenly Light would have been able to figure anything out without someone more powerful from Quemer coming over to look at it.

But even if a teleportation formation was marvelous, it didn’t interest Vermon very much. There was a teleportation not far from the room he was currently in, after all. The Sages of Pollonti had immediately figured out what it was when they made landfall here, as there was one in the Tower of Sages as well, and they had long ago figured out its use.

Unfortunately, no one knew how to make it work. Even after all this time.

It was one of the things Vermon spent most of his time with when he first discovered the secrets beneath the Tower of Cyalis. He would only attend the most crucial matters during his first years as a Headmaster, spending the rest of his time down in the Cellar, trying to figure out the damn formation.

But he was unsuccessful, just like the ones before him. He had almost forgotten about it when he got the news of the Remori family, sparking some curiosity in him once again.

Arlen reported that the formation was lighting up faster and faster during his years there, seemingly approaching some sort of climax. The Heavenly Light members that the Valis family got their hands on supported the story of some strange mana coming from it.

But why did it all suddenly stop? Did it reach its climax? What happened?

Vermin rubbed his chin in thought.

It was about the same time that the Fire Phoenix returned. But surely the two can’t be connected. Unless it’s not a teleportation formation.

Vermin once again looked deeply at the structure in front of him, trying to feel something.

No, that was definitely a teleportation formation. And I doubt that even the gods of the past would create two of these things.

Vermin couldn’t help but shudder slightly as he once again read the words of warning engraved on the wall.

Enough of this. I’ve been here too long, and even if I notice something amiss, I might not be able to determine if it’s real or just my own imagination.

Vermon pulled his hand away from the cold metal and started walking toward the stairs at the end of the cavern.

Perhaps that Remori kid knows something. He was there at the time, right? Wait.

Vermon stopped with one foot still in the air.

Didn’t Lukas say something about him? What was it? He was Gifted, yes. He was even a sparkless, yes. There was something else…Right! He was thought dead. His family didn’t meet him until just a few days ago. But that doesn’t make any sense. Who would stay away from their family after something like that?

I should look into where he was during those years.

Vermon finally put his foot down and resumed his walk. He couldn’t help but smile slightly. He had been a lot more curious lately. Something he was happy about. It was always a pride for him to live up to his name. Not the one most people knew him by, the one his father gave him, but the one given to him by his Kuwamin mother.

Maybe I should head out to the Endless Forrest. It’s been a while since I went on an adventure.

Vermon reached the stairs and started his long climb up.

But first, I suppose I should prepare someone to be in charge while I’m gone. Maybe Dersum could do it. He is a little too involved in Iitha’s politics to be counted on as impartial, though. But it could work if it’s only for a while.

Vermon reached the top of the stairs and went up to the large metal door. Runes were running through them in a complicated pattern that only a few in the Academy could decipher. Vermon was one of them.

He pulled out a runic device from his robes, a thin metal plate with runic inscriptions, and put it against a plate next to the large door. He infused it with his water mana, and the doors slowly opened.

“Headmaster,” The two guards stationed outside bowed at him as he stepped outside.

“Good work,” Vermon nodded at the two before making sure the thick metal door closed properly behind him.

“Any news?” Vermon asked the two guards.

“There have indeed been some incidents that may concern you since you entered the Cellar,” One of the guards, Losten, answered.

“Oh? What then?” Vermon asked.

“We have both been here all this time, so I’m not sure of all the details, but Dean Lukas has asked for you many times during the past week. I believe he is waiting for you in your public office at the moment,” Losten said with a straight face.

“Why would he wait for me there?” Vermon questioned. “He shouldn’t know I was coming out now.”

“He has come there to wait for the past three days,” Losten answered, “He probably wants to make sure he can talk to you as soon as you’re available.”

“I guess I’ll have to give him some of my time then,” Vermon said. “I’ll leave the Cellar to you.”

“Of course, Headmaster,” Losten said, bowing low.

Vermon started walking toward his public office. A place he never spent any time in. It was only used to meet important people he didn’t want snooping around his private office.

It can’t be too serious. If it were an emergency, he would have used the touban.

It didn’t take long before Vermon arrived at his office. Lukas was sitting on a couch for guests, doing some paperwork, when Vermon walked inside.

“Headmaster,” Lukas got up and bowed to Vermon when he noticed him.

“Lukas, what’s the matter? I hear there is news?” Vermon questioned.

“Indeed,” Lukas nodded with a serious expression. “Adion Remori revealed himself to be a Silver mage on the first day of the tournament.”

Vermon stopped midstep and turned his head to look at Lukas.

A Silver mage?

“I suppose that’s as close as I’ll ever get to seeing you surprised,” Lukas said with a small smile.

“How?” Vermon asked.

“He says it’s simply because he is talented and has worked hard, but I doubt it,” Lukas answered.

“He’s lying?” Vermon asked.

“It’s hard to tell,” Lukas said with an awkward expression.

“What do you mean it’s hard to tell?” Vermon asked with narrowed eyes.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

“His aura control is quite spectacular, Headmaster,” Lukas said. “I find it difficult to see through it. It’s shameful to admit, but not Professor Haul, Professor Calamani, nor I could see through him hiding his strength during his admission. We never thought to look, of course. Something I should have done. I take full responsibility.”

“Not even I would check to see if a 17-year-old middle Bronze mage was hiding his strength,” Vermon muttered. “But even when you check? It’s hard to see through?”

“He doesn’t hide his strength anymore, but I believe I wouldn’t have an easy time noticing anything with how hard it is for me to see through his intentions,” Lukas answered.

“Impressive,” Vermon muttered, “But such an aura control is not unheard of. It is strange for it to belong to somehow with such strength, however. How did he have the time to focus on both?”

“I would like to know that too,” Lukas said with a chuckle.

Vermon could understand his curiosity. Lukas had spent most of his short life focusing on advancing. To great results. But his aura control had lagged behind, and it was likely that it would hold him back from advancing to the Soul stages for a while.

“So you didn’t press him on it?” Vermon guessed.

“I didn’t see the point of rushing. He is going to be with us for at least five years, and his family is about to join Cyalis. No need to pressure him too much and make him uncomfortable with talking to me,” Lukas answered.

Vermon smiled at the response, “I really chose my dean well, didn’t I?”

Not only does he have ridiculous strength at his young age, but he is as patient as an old Sage. I should take some more of my time to teach him. If I can leave the Academy to him, I wouldn’t have any worries.

Lukas tried to suppress a beaming smile from forming, to little success. “Thank you, Headmaster.”

“Alright, alright,” Vermon waved the matter off. “So, I can assume it caused some commotion? We have never even had a peak Bronze mage join the Academy before, after all.”

“I did become quite the talking point,” Lukas nodded, “The reason I’m searching for you is that Elder Kilth tried to pressure Adion to join the Shields. Adion refused for some reason, and now every professor and faculty member connected to the Shields or Elder Kilth are doing everything they can to make Adion’s life miserable.”

“Are they breaking the rules?” Vermon asked.

“Not outright,” Lukas said, “But the situation is rather unique. The current rules seem quite inefficient.”

“Well, it doesn’t seem serious enough for me to call the Council together. I’ll leave it for you to handle as you see fit,” Vermon said. “But you already knew that. So why are you here?”

“Aren’t you curious about Adion? He is Gifted, a Silver mage at the age of 17, and was even born sparkless. Surely a little help from you could go a long way in getting close to him,” Lukas said.

“I am indeed curious,” Vermon nodded, “But I can just ask him about it. At the end of the day, he is still a Silver mage kid. I’m not going to start fighting with Dersum over something so small.”

“I thought as much,” Lukas said with a sigh, “Remember when you asked me to be the dean, and I refused?”

“Of course,” Vermon nodded.

“Well, I’d like you to forget about what I asked in return and instead help Adion from Elder Kilth’s harassment,” Lukas said resolutely.

What?

Vermon looked deeply at Lukas, and he could see that he was serious.

“Why? You know this will all blow over eventually. Dersum won’t continue like this forever. If we just give him some face and let him flaunt his power, he will soon calm down and forget about it,” Vermon said.

“Well, Adion doesn’t see it like that. He is close to leaving the Academy,” Lukas said.

“Hah!” Vermon let out a laugh, “No, he’s not. Did he tell you that? He’s bluffing.”

“Maybe,” Lukas said, “But he is also just a kid. It wouldn’t be surprising for him to make a rash decision like this.”

“I doubt it,” Vermon murmured.

“Still. Will you do it?” Lukas asked.

“Are you sure?” Vermon asked, “It’s not even a decade left until you’ve done your part of the deal. Are you willing to give up on it now? You’ve been obsessed with learning about the Cellar ever since you first got here.”

Lukas smiled calmly, “I still am. But I will find out when I become the next Headmaster either way. This way, I don’t have anything to fall back on. Maybe that’s the kick I need so I can get on with my advancement.”

This kid. When did he grow up so much?

“I guess I have no choice but to accept your request then,” Vermon said with a smile.

“Thank you, Headmaster,” Lukas said with a bow.

“By the way, Lukas,” Vermon said, “Adion. What was he doing between the attack on the Remori manor and admission? Where was he?”

“I don’t know all the details,” Lukas said hesitantly, “But from what I’ve heard, he spent a lot of time in the Outskirts of the Delovan Empire. At least he seems to have been there 2 years ago, at the same time as Sellitha Amyss. The two seem very close.”

The Delovan Empire? How did he end up there? Is it possible…

Vermon continued asking Lukas about all the details he knew about Adion. Slowly, a picture was formed in Vermon’s mind that made him more curious than he had been for a very long time.

“You’ll have to fill me in on the other news later,” Vermon said as he got up and headed to the door, “I’m going to take a look at that boy and see what’s special about him.”

“I’ll just stick around here for the time being,” Lukas said.

Vermon headed straight for the private fighting pits. He knew from Lukas that Adion should be there, training together with the Amyss princess.

Did he actually make use of the teleportation formation? How? And where did he end up?

Vermon dispersed his aura as he got outside, making sure that even Hard Soul mages would have a hard time feeling his presence. He conjured some water from his core and some light from the pure mana around him, forming a sphere around him that would make him practically invisible. A mixture of concepts he had worked on ever since he got the idea while studying in Pollonti hundreds of years ago.

I won’t be as easily fooled as Lukas. Let’s have a talk and see exactly what you’re hiding.

Vermon reached the arena and the surrounding fighting pits after only 3 minutes of running. He might look old, but his body was powerful, and he had perfect control over it. None of the students or professors spotted him as he ran past them.

There is the aura of a young Silver mage and an equally young high Bronze mage.

Vermon couldn’t see through the walls, but he could feel the auras from afar and started making his way over. He spotted a blonde girl looking toward the fighting pit from afar with an uneasy expression.

Started a fan club already? I guess it makes sense.

As Vermon got closer, he couldn’t help but pause slightly. The auras of Adion and Sellitha were changing places.

How are they moving around so quickly? I can’t feel them moving. They are changing places from one moment to the next. What’s going on?

Vermon hurried his steps and jumped atop the walls of the fighting pit to take a look. But as his head crested the walls, what he saw almost caused a shiver to run down his spine.

Adion was staring right at him.

How could he possibly feel my presence? Is his aura sense that strong? But that’s impossible!

Vermon slowly climbed the wall and started walking around it. Adion’s eyes didn’t follow him. But Vermon could tell. Adion knew where he was.

He is ignoring me. But I can feel it when I’m being observed.

“What’s wrong?” Sellitha asked down below.

“Nothing,” Adion shook his head with a comforting smile.

“Then let’s continue te-” Sellitha didn’t get to continue speaking as Adion put his hand over his mouth.

How very subtle. What was she about to say?

“So, want to show yourself?” Adion asked, ending the charade. He grabbed Sellitha and pulled her to stand behind him.

She seems used to his touch. I guess Lukas was right about them. Foolish children.

Vermon didn’t immediately reveal himself. He examined Adion’s aura carefully.

He really is a Silver mage. And…what? He is hiding his element? Why would he hide his element?

Vermon carefully examined deeper, digging into Adion’s aura.

He isn’t a fire mage, but…what is he?

“Maybe we should run and call for someone?” Sellitha suggested in a low voice.

“No need for that,” Vermon said as he finally revealed himself. He looked down at Adion with an intrigued smile.

“Headmaster?” Sellitha asked in surprise.

Adion just looked at him with an expressionless face. He bowed to him in respect along with Sellitha, though.

“I heard from Lukas that you were having some trouble lately,” Vermon said, “I thought I’d come to take a look at you. I didn’t expect to get caught.”

“So that’s it,” Adion nodded in understanding, “I thought I heard something.”

Vermon still had his senses focused on him, so he could feel the fluctuations of deceit as Adion uttered those words.

Interesting. I can see how Lukas was duped by his aura control.

I should learn from Lukas and not rush things.

“I’ll call for you to come see me tomorrow,” Vermon said, “We can talk about how we will resolve the matter then.”

“Thank you for your help, Headmaster,” Adion said with a bow.

I never thought I’d get so many surprises. I’ll have to think about how to approach this.

Vermon stepped off the walls to the fighting pit and started heading back.

Seems like the most mysterious thing about this Academy isn’t hidden away in the Cellar.