Less than two hours later, in a mostly disused wing of the secondary Academy building…

Idly flapping an envelope in his hand, Straf casually walks towards the end of the dim corridor, looking side to side at the doors as he passes them. He reaches the end of the hallway, and looks at one of the doors on the side. A wooden plaque that states「No entry」hangs off a nail hammered into its center. He looks the other way, and sees another door with a plaque,「Professor Arkeis Krator, Demonology」affixed in a more permanent, and less haphazard manner.

「Hm… Must be here, then.」

Straf shrugs, presses down on the handle, and simply walks through the door without knocking.

「Hey, Professor NEET! I've got a letter for you!」

Thud!

He announces, swinging the door shut behind him as he enters the large, dark room. A grim-looking old man with a gray beard snaps his startled gaze to him, standing in the center of the room.

「…Who are you? What are you doing here?」

The man asks, warily glaring at Straf while he approaches, nonchalantly flapping the envelope in his hand.

「I'm the headmaster's pet. And I'm here to deliver you a letter, since you can't behave like a normal human being.」

Straf scoffs, smirking at the man. He holds the envelope out for him, and the old man reluctantly takes it.

「…From the headmaster?」

「From who else? It's full of boring shit, so I didn't even bother reading it.」

Straf replies, shrugging his shoulders as he looks around the room, idly pacing around. It's very dark, with only a few candles sparsely providing light. One at a desk, quite dangerously so near a stack of tomes and papers, a handful at a standing candelabra, and the last one is nearly entirely melted in a chamberstick set aside in the back of the room. There are no windows, and the only natural light comes in form of a tiny glowing slit beneath the closed door to the hallway.

His eyes glance over the spines of the books in the tall shelves lining the walls. Most of them seem to concern fiends, succubi, imps, as well as the demon lord. Straf's brows rise furrowed, when his gaze comes across a tome titled「On succubes, fiends, and daemonspawne」but he promptly disregards it, and continues onward.

「I have to say, this looks exactly like a shut-in's room. The only thing that's missing is a pile of empty energy drink cans. Why not walk out and interact with people?」

He remarks, stepping away from the bookshelf back to the man.

「…Because I don't like them.」

The old man replies, still holding the envelope with very little interest towards it, mostly glaring at Straf.

「Heeey, we've got something in common!」

Straf snaps his fingers, and points at the man, smirking. He places his hands in his pockets, and looks around the professor's room again.

「So… What do you do all day here? Summon demons?」

He asks, chuckling, and returns a smug grin towards the man's glare.

「…You jest. Demonology.」

The grim man bluntly replies with a no-nonsense response.

「Yeah, I know. Contrary to the popular opinion, I know how to read… Is demonology even legal?」

「…Of course it is… When it is sanctioned by the Federation.」

「Guess the legality of magic boils down to whoever makes the laws, huh?」

「…As with anything else.」

He bluntly replies once again, still coldly glaring at Straf.

「…Is that all? If so, leave.」

「No exposition drops? No explaining what you do? No lore on some badass demons? Not even a thanks-for-the-letter? Just okay, now get out?」

Straf asks, spreading his arms as he grins at the man. He remains silent, glaring back at Straf, still holding onto the unopened envelope. Straf snaps his fingers.

「…Nice. You gain some points by being antisocial instead of shy. Your unabashed displeasure at my presence, and the overt wish I was gone is very refreshing in this Academy of Asskissing.」

He says, pointing his finger at the grumpy old man while heading for the door.

「…You still haven't told me your name.」

The man remarks, just as Straf grabs the door handle.

「…I'm Straf. And I'm not a delivery boy, so that's the last time you'll be seeing me… You really couldn't have picked a more out of the way place, huh?」

Straf replies, shaking his head as he leaves the dark room, shutting the door behind himself. The old man continues looking at the door for a few moment, before glancing at the envelope with disinterested eyes…

…

With his hands behind his back, Corvus is looking down at the dueling grounds, smiling as two very promising students fling spells at each other at a rapid pace. He strokes his mostly white beard, where the few black hairs make their last stand against age. The door behind him opens abruptly after two quick knocks.

「Professor Corvus, a letter addressed to you has just arrived.」

A young man in the Academy's uniform says, holding up a wax-sealed envelope as he approaches.

「A letter? Directly to me, not the Academy?」

Corvus asks with his brows furrowed, adjusting his thin-lensed glasses

「Yes, professor.」

The man nods, and waits beside the oaken desk for Corvus to meet him. He hands him the envelope, and Corvus furrows his bushy brows at it.

「Hmmm… Ah. Wife's family… What do they want again? Must be another invitation…」

Corvus says, reading the envelope's face, and he pulls out one of the drawers, digging around for something within.

「…You can go now, thank you.」

He adds, gently smiling at the young student. The student nods, bows lightly, and leaves. Just as he closes the door behind him, Corvus finds the letter opener he was looking for.

「…They know I have no time for parties and gatherings… Ahh…」

He slices the envelope open and pulls the letter out, shaking his head with brief grumbling and a light sigh.

Corvus sets the knife and the empty envelope aside, taking a few steps backwards towards his chair, focused on the letter. He reads its first words with a faint smile on his face.

His eyes widen, and his brows furrow. His heart sinks, and his smile fades. Corvus continues reading the letter with his mouth ajar in disbelief, and he slumps down into his chair. The door abruptly opens.

「Professor! Professor! A message from the Federation!」

Another young student runs into the room, holding an envelope and an unfolded letter raised up, smiling ear to ear as he runs up to the desk. Corvus turns his troubled gaze to him.

「I'm sorry for opening it, but I was too excited! The Federation accepted, professor! You're officially the headmaster now! Isn't that great!?」

The young man excitedly says, placing the letter down on the oaken desk, orienting it towards Corvus. The paper bears the mana-infused blue Mage Federation seal depicting the battle fortress.

「…Yes… Yes…」

Corvus feebly nods and quietly responds, unsure which letter he should be paying most attention to. Deeply troubled, he props his chin up on his fist, staring blankly at the letter in his hand with his head lowered.

「Professor- No, headmaster, is everything alright?…」

The student asks with a concerned gaze, looking at the new headmaster's troubled, almost dismayed face. His bespectacled eyes turn to him, and the headmaster's mouth smiles.

「Yes. Everything is alright. I will make an announcement regarding this at a later point. You can leave now, thank you.」

Corvus replies with a light nod. While the student is visibly unconvinced and remains concerned, he is in no position to argue. He bows politely, and walks to the door. He peeks at the new headmaster over his shoulder one last time, nods his head, and closes the door behind him. Corvus lets out a large sigh as he sets his thin-lensed glasses down, and sinks his face into his hands…

…

Corvus wakes up with a discomforted groan. He looks around the dark bedroom, and turns his eyes to the small, round window nearby. The sky is mostly dark, but the orange glow of the departing sun is still visible in the distance. Corvus lets out a large sigh, and sits up on his bed. He leans for his night stand, grasping for something. When he feels the frame of his thick-lensed spectacles, he picks them up, and places them on his nose. The headmaster stands up, takes his robes off the hanger standing near the door, and slips them right on top of his pajamas. He opens the door, and exits into his office…

…

Thirty minutes later, in the Academy's halls…

Damian and his ghost-hunting band are once again walking around after dark, and exploring the adjacent Academy buildings.

「Hey, peasant, how about you just concede and admit the ghost isn't real?」

Tisha asks, following him with her arms leisurely behind her head.

「It is real. Other people have seen it too. It's not just me.」

Damian insists, not bothering to spare even a glance for her taunts.

「Yeah, right. You mean they saw the same blue or red guy?」

「No, but they saw an unexplained apparition. If it was just me, I wouldn't even have bothered.」

He replies with a shake of his head.

「Apparition?… Like what?…」

Cycelia hesitantly asks.

「Some said they've felt someone watching them, others said they saw someone disappear behind a corner late at night…」

「H- Huh!?」

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Cycelia blinks with wide-open eyes, grinning nervously at Damian's back.

「…I've had a few people tell me they saw a shadow on a wall when it made no sense for it to be there. Stuff like that.」

He adds, and shrugs his shoulders.

「Sounds spooky.」

Neela comments, and glances at Cycelia's frightened, tight-lipped grimace.

「Yeah… To be honest, that sounds a lot worse than the red-or-blue ghost, but I know what I've seen. I just need to verify other peoples' claims-」

Damian nods, concurring with Neela, before he abruptly stops in his tracks and extends his arm to the side to stop the others.

「…Something's there.」

He says, staring at the end of the dark hallway. Cycelia grabs onto Neela, hiding behind her.

「Maybe it's Straf again-」

「It's not. It's different…」

Damian instantly shuts Tisha's theory down, frightening Cycelia even more. The four anxiously stare at the end of the corridor, and faint footsteps become audible.

「…Is it stronger?」

Tisha asks, looking at Damian with concerned blue eyes.

「No. It's strong, but we might be able to take it on if we're careful.」

He shakes his head, gaze focused on the end of the hallway with a serious expression.

「Hyiii…」

Cycelia whimpers, digging her fingers into Neela's shoulders.

「Relax, Lia… It's probably nothing.」

Neela calms her with a hushed voice, smiling at Cycelia over her shoulder.

「…How can it be nothing at this hour!?」

She exclaims in a quiet voice, biting her lower lip in anxiety.

「It's coming. Get ready.」

Damian announces, and spreads his fingers out, placing one foot ahead of himself. His arm remains lowered, but his gaze remains fixed on the T-junction at the end of the hallway. The footsteps grow louder while remaining calm and even-paced. Cycelia hugs into Neela from behind, clinging onto her.

Corvus emerges out of the corner. All four let out disappointed, but greatly relieved sighs in nigh-unison. The headmaster tilts his head when he sees them, and leisurely approaches them.

「Mr. Damian… Ms. Lia, Neela, Tisha… What are you doing here at this hour?」

He asks, nodding his head at each of the students with his brows lightly furrowed.

「We are-」

「I could ask you the same thing, headmaster.」

Damian replies before Cycelia can, cutting her off.

「Hohohoho… I have a penchant for night walks, Mr. Damian. What about you?」

Corvus laughs softly, and pinches his glasses, setting them higher up on his nose. Damian glances at the three girls, and shrugs.

「We're hunting ghosts.」

「Ghosts?」

The headmaster echoes, raising his bushy brows with a mildly surprised expression on his face.

「Yes. There is a rumor about a ghost haunting certain places, like the men's bathroom near the main dormitories. We're looking for signs of something suspicious.」

Damian nods, explaining their activities. The old man's eyes briefly jump between all four, before returning to Damian.

「…A ghost? What type?」

Corvus asks, remaining quite serious and inquisitive despite the bizarre explanation.

「…Professor?」

The handsome student says as he tilts his head, not quite understanding the question.

「What type of ghost, Mr. Damian? Are we speaking of the supposed detached essence type of ghost? Or something akin to an eternal battlefield? A wraith, perhaps?」

The headmaster asks, smiling softly at Damian, before glancing at the three girls.

「…What's an eternal battlefield?」

Cycelia hesitantly asks, tilting her head.

「It's a- Ah. I have a better idea. Since you are hunting ghosts, why doesn't Mr. Damian explain? Surely you would be able to tell something like detached essence from let's say, a wraith.」

Corvus stops himself just short of beginning his explanation, and points his hand at Damian with a sly smile on his old face. Damian lets out a resigned sigh, and looks at Cycelia over his shoulder.

「Listen, an eternal battlefield is essentially memories of the dead lingering about. Sometimes, when two people with memories directly related to each other die, the event may form semi-physical beings.」

The handsome student explains, waving circles with his hand as he gestures.

「…Like ghosts?」

She asks with her brows furrowed.

「No, they're not ghosts. They're more like… Fragments of time, really. They are not sentient, they're just acting out their memories, and they're usually harmless…」

「Usually?」

「Yeah… On a bloodmoon they actually become physical beings, so that might be dangerous. They're called eternal battlefields for a reason. Wars have plenty of people killing, and then dying.」

Damian scratches his cheek with his finger as he continues his explanation. Corvus smiles, nodding along.

「Very good, Mr. Damian. Eternal battlefields are mostly of interest to historians. They're a rare curiosity, they fade in and out of existence, sometimes to never reappear again.」

The headmaster says, nodding with a warm smile. He briefly glances at Cycelia.

「What are wraiths, then?」

She asks, and her eyes jump between Corvus and Damian.

「Similar to eternal battlefields, but different. Rather than memories, wraiths are grudges. Powerful, negative emotions such as hatred, envy, and so on.」

Damian shrugs his hands, turning his eyes to Corvus while he continues nodding along.

「Are they dangerous?…」

「Yeah. But fortunately, they're also pretty rare. It's just uncommon for someone to hold onto that much hatred through death. They mostly appear at night-」

「Hyii!?」

Cycelia whimpers, and digs her fingers into Neela again.

「Ow ow ow, Lia, calm down…」

Neela winces and tries to pull away from Cycelia's clutch.

「Yes, Mr. Damian is correct, they appear mostly at night, but they are tangible and quite harmful at all times. As unlikely as it is, if you were to run into a wraith, it'd be best to run.」

Corvus nods, pointing his hand at the handsome student with a pleased smile on his face. He moves his hands behind his back, and turns his old eyes to Damian's.

「…Could you explain what a detached essence is, Mr. Damian?」

The headmaster asks with a sly smile. Damian lets out a frustrated sigh, and looks aside.

「…A dead person's essence that remains in our world.」

He replies with his mouth scrunched to the side.

「Very good. However, there is not a shred of evidence that this phenomenon is real. If against all odds you happen to gather some, there is a tenure waiting for you, Mr. Damian.」

Corvus says, smiling at Damian. The headmaster bows at the group, and walks past them, departing in silence. With her arms crossed, Tisha looks at Damian with a toothy grin, chuckling quietly.

「Shut up…」

He shakes his head, and continues onward down the hallway…

…

The next day, in one of the classrooms…

Cycelia and her friends are sitting in their usual places, with Neela and Tisha with her, while Damian continues gazing out the window with a bored expression on his handsome face.

「…And as some of you may already know, flavored mana, or stained mana as some call it, may induce chaotic effects into otherwise stable spells…」

A tall, gaunt-faced professor explains, scribbling a diagram on the blackboard as he talks. Cycelia's gaze is blankly fixed at an empty point on her desk, while Tisha and Neela look at the professor below.

「…Flavored mana is simply the result of being assigned a concept without diffusing back into the environment. Does anyone know an example situation where that may happen?」

The man looks at the students, turning his sunken cheeks away from the blackboard.

「Anyone?… Ms. Lia?」

He spends a few seconds looking at the bored students, before turning his eyes to Cycelia, who is propping her head up on her hand. When he calls her name, she perks up.

「Huh?… Huh?」

A little startled, she looks around. Her emerald eyes turn to Tisha and Neela, and they look back at her with troubled faces. She turns her head the other way, and the students stare at her expectantly, albeit with bored eyes.

「…Ms. Lia, were you not paying attention?」

「Ahh… I… I got a little lost in thought. Sorry, professor…」

Cycelia shamefully lowers her chestnut head, and her sullen eyes return to her desk.

「That is not good, Ms. Lia. You need to pay attention in class… Mr. Damian?」

The gaunt professor shakes his head in disapproval, and turns his eyes to the handsome student with his hand lazily raised.

「…When a mage decides to abandon his spell, he will have flavored mana stuck to him that he'll need to get rid of, before casting another one.」

Damian says, still looking outside the window.

「Correct, Mr. Damian. I see you're paying attention, even if you look like you're not… That is right. And depending on the environment, the discarded mana may take a few days, up to a few years to lose its flavor…」

The professor continues droning on, and begins scribbling more diagrams onto the blackboard.

「Lia, are you still feeling down about Straf?」

Neela asks in a hushed tone, furrowing her brows in worry.

「Come on, Lia, you act like you don't care, but it's obvious what's up.」

Tisha says, leaning in with her mouth scrunched in frustration.

「No, I just…」

Cycelia shakes her head in feeble denial, but then lets out a sigh and places her rosy cheek on her fist.

「…I just wish he was here.」

She sighs once more while staring at her desk, this time unable to hide her sorrow…