“Before I can bring you to our education and training facilities, I will have to wrap you so no one can see us leaving the city.”

“What do you mean?” Malachi was genuinely confused. Although he heard a lot of things about the Shadow Syndicate, he didn’t really know the details. Especially because the syndicate became less significant and threatening when he was at his peak strength.

A few minutes later…

Malachi was completely wrapped from head to toe with some kind of black sticky rope. He was unable to move, unable to see, and unable to hear. There were magical runes on the rope that completely blocked his senses, even his magic was restricted.

‘However, I can destroy this rope anytime I want, so that’s good to know.’

Seraphina phased inside the rope and landed on his ear. Her form became smaller so she could fit inside. “I didn’t think that you would agree to be tied up like this. You trust this man too much. And we haven’t known his name yet.”

Malachi wanted to reply, but his mouth was tied shut. As a villain who had lived over hundreds of years and experienced numerous betrayals, trickery, and deception, of course, Malachi wouldn’t blindly trust anyone to tie him up without precaution.

The man lifted Malachi. “I will bring him there.”

Lorna nodded. “Are you sure you hold no grudges against the boy?”

“It’s only business, Lorna. There is nothing personal.”

“That is good. That boy seems to have the talent to become a key member in the syndicate.”

The man revealed a small smile. “When was the last time you gave someone such high praise?”

…

Thaddeus was drowning in textbooks within his office. His hair was disheveled, and the stains and dirt on his appearance indicated that he hadn’t bathed for days. His bloodshot eyes were staring at the pages in his hand, reading vigorously like he was a few minutes away from a final exam.

“It’s useless. The textbook only keeps records about rumors and doesn’t present any facts.” Thaddeus’ tired eyes landed on an open chest. Inside the chest were the bones he collected from Aldric’s mansion.

“Those bones… They aren’t merely ordinary necromancer bones.”

Suddenly, the door to his office opened abruptly, making a loud sound that disturbed the silence. Appearing before him was a mature and distinguished female with a graceful presence. Her silver-streaked auburn hair was pulled into an intricate bun, revealing a pair of wise and expressive emerald-green eyes.

She carried herself with an air of quiet authority, and her attire consisted of elegant robes adorned with sigils of magic. Her appearance made Thaddeus look like a beggar caught red-handed trying to steal something.

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“Thaddeus! You are the Vice-Headmaster of the Astralis Arcanum Academy! The most powerful academy in this Empire! Do you think a powerful figure like you is suitable for such a sight? What will the students think if they see you?”

Thaddeus, after being insulted, instead of being angered, had his eyes light up. He stood up and hugged the woman tightly. “Perfect timing! I really need your help!”

Alyssa pushed him away and pinched her nose. “You smell like shit. When was the last time you’ve taken a bath?”

“Probably two weeks ago, but that’s not important. I need to show you something.”

Alyssa was confused at first. Thaddeus had never acted this way before. He was a respectable Vice-Headmaster who never slouched his shoulders and always had his head up. A proud, intelligent man who kept his image at all times even when no one was watching him. What event would change that man into this state?

“Show me what you’ve been working on.”

Thaddeus already showed her the chest before she finished speaking, revealing some bones that oozed out dark energy.

“It’s necromancer bones. You’ve been studying this?”

“It’s not just any necromancer bones. Look at this.” Thaddeus raised his palm and a gush of light burst towards the bones. Suddenly, the thin dark energy that came out of the bones intensified and engulfed the light beam. After devouring it whole, the energy swayed left and right like a raging flame before it calmed down again.

Alyssa frowned. “None of the necromancer bones we have ever done that before. Perhaps it’s something else?”

“I haven’t shown you anything yet.”

Thaddeus grabbed a normal quill, devoid of magic or runes. He touched the bones with it, then the quill began to grow a mouth with sharp teeth and bit on Thaddeus’ hands.

Thaddeus pulled his hand away, but his finger was bleeding.

The quill soon grew two pair of legs and leaped off the table. It ran away with shocking speed, but only managed to reach a certain distance before Thaddeus stomped it. His right foot glowed with magic, incinerating the moving quill into dust.

Internally, Alyssa's mind raced with a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. She couldn't help but wonder about the nature of the bones, the source of its strange abilities, and what kind of magic it had used to transform the quill into an animated sentient being. Her curiosity battled with her fear, leaving her feeling both awestruck and apprehensive. She knew she had just witnessed something extraordinary and dangerous, and the experience would linger in her thoughts for a long time to come.

Her fear came not from the fact that the quill can move, but by the fact that it can make Thaddeus bleed. Thaddeus was an Adept Mage, one of the strongest beings in the academy and the whole empire. Yet, a quill can wound him so easily.

“Where did you find those bones?” Alyssa asked, her voice quivering slightly.

Thaddeus turned to face her, his gaze meeting hers. He seemed lost in thought for a moment, then finally responded, “You’re not going to believe it, but I found them inside the house of a regional Devotee.”

“Why would a member of the church keep these bones inside his house?” The church would usually donate these bones to academies and other organizations in order to be studied and investigated to find the locations of necromancers or how to defeat them.

“From what I heard, the house wasn’t his in the first place. The man married a wealthy woman and then she died a few years later.”

“Perhaps this man is a necromancer disguising himself as a member of the church.”

“Unlikely, the necromancer is actually his step-son. The boy killed his daughter and ran away. I have sent my personal pupils to chase after them.”

“You wouldn’t send them for such a task. Why?” Alyssa frowned.

Thaddeus sighed. “Don’t tell anyone about this. The boy stole the Arcane Prism.”

Alyssa was shock-stricken as she could not believe what she just heard. The most important artifact of the whole academy, the very artifact that could be said to be the sole reason why the Astralis Arcanum Academy become so powerful…

“Stolen… The Headmaster is going to kill you.”