A dark shadow shot across the grounds of the Nonaphrontistery's main island, leaving nothing but gusts of wind in their trails. CK followed through the bridges above, glaring at the distant figure while running. The book was clutched in the figure's arm as he fled.
'Who would be interested in taking master's thesis like this?' CK thought as she tried to pick her speed.
The figure took a sudden turn, opposite of the bridge's direction where CK was. Seeing that the bridge did not lead to the same direction, CK clicked her tongue and jumped to the ground floors, landing safely with a conjured gust of wind to soften her fall.
'I know little about the details. All I know is that his paper is similar to mine,' CK thought before gaining speed again.
'You're right. I probably should,' CK said and whisked her pen towards the figure in the distance. The aligned street lights were wrapped with tendrils of glowing energy before warping, turning into bending harshly, crossing one another to block the figure's path.
The sudden obstacles made the fleeing figure bend through the gaps, jumping from left and right to avoid being stabbed by the mutating street lights. Looking over their shoulder, they saw CK gaining speed to catch up to them.
The figure grabbed one of the street lights and snapped it off. The steel of the item suddenly melted, turning into a suspicious bubbling ooze. The figure hurled it in CK's direction, striking the ground in front of CK.
CK's eyes widened when the ground it struck grew a wall of dark, bubbling matter. She instinctively covered her nose once she caught a whiff of its stench, almost catching a headache from the split-second exposure.
"Dissipare!" she pointed at the wall, watching as a spark of her energy latch onto the wall and turning it into black powder. CK passed through the curtain of black powder and continued to give chase.
The figure growled at this before taking a route away from the buildings and to the edge of the main island. CK frowned. What is that person aiming to do?
Seeing that she was still following, the hooded entity frowned. With two clawed fingers lit in violet flames, they gestured down to the grounds they ran upon. Two dysmorphic humanoids emerged, resembling white human skeletons lit on black fire.
They wordlessly rushed towards CK. The young woman fixed her grip on her glass pen before transmuting it into a fine blade of glass, cutting through the minions easily.
CK snorted at this. Were they supposed to hinder her?
However, her thoughts changed when the two summoned humanoids vibrated violently. "Shoot!" CK hissed and conjured a translucent barrier as the two humanoids exploded violently with black matter.
The substance splattered on the ground. A few seconds later, all things touched with the substance began to melt away and morph in disturbing motions and shapes. CK was alarmed. Corruption?
The disturbances all over the place won't go unnoticed by the public! The grounds CK stood over began to melt like butter under heat, causing her to wobble and clumsily avoid being corrupted.
Seeing that she was distracted, the cloaked entity tossed out a dice-like item in the air, watching it re-arrange and project a portal of swirling colors. CK's eyes widened at this. He's getting away.
"Oh, no you don't!" she flung her glass blade at the portal's direction. The cloaked entity passed through and shut the portal just as the blade touched the portal's entrance.
"Corporalis substitutio!"
The cloaked entity watched smugly as the portal closed in front of them. They looked at the hardcover book in hand, examining front and back. That was the man's apprentice if intel was right. She was just as incompetent as the man.
"Whew. For a moment, I thought that wouldn't work."
The cloaked entity froze in surprise. They turned around, finding the incessant young woman brushing black powder off her shoulder and out of her hair. Their eyes widened in shock. How did she—?!
"Ugh, please don't tell me this will stain. I don't want to shower before taking a nap!" CK groaned. Then, she paused in realization before turning a cold glance at the cloaked entity.
"Come to think of it…you're the reason I couldn't take a nap," she said icily, "I have been staying up all night, and I've already finished studying. I have no reason to pull an all-nighter again."
"Oh, don't worry. I'll help you sleep," the entity's body was basked in dark energy, "And I'll make sure you never wake again."
"Hah! Don't think you can make it up to me!" CK placed a hand on her hip. She looked around, causing her brows to raise in admiration for the new environment.
Advanced architecture shaped the interiors of a wide lobby and walls made of sturdy glass allowed her to see the vast night skies, neighboring ships, and the foreign landscapes below. CK has seen this place before—This was inside the expedition armada deployed by the Nonaphrontistery. Currently, it is also the heart of armed conflict.
'As expected, the Nonaphrontistery had the budget to glamor the place,' CK thought. But why would this hooded thief flee to this place?
The cloaked entity regained composure. "Puny wordsmith. How did you pass through the portal?" their voice resembled grits against metal, spitting out words as if to condemn CK's existence.
"It was a simple trick of substitution, honestly. I just swapped myself with my pen's location. I didn't think it would work in long ranges, but portal transports seem to be an exception," CK responded with a smirk, "A notable discovery on my part."
CK's lips curled sinisterly. And here she was, thinking she'd arrive at this thief's home turf. This turned out for the better. There should be professors around the area, and she can't have them butting in her fun.
'A clever brat. Must be taken out immediately,' the cloaked entity thought. CK rotated her neck and did a few stretches before getting into a stance, "Come on, be quick with it. I need to catch my z's."
"Despicable arrogance. You shall not speak so lowly towards me, filthy vermin!" the cloaked entity snarled. Their body morphed into shadows and disappeared into the ground, causing CK to snicker.
"How can I not talk down on you when you're there in the ground?" she said amusingly, allowing silence to filter the spacious lobby. Her gaze darted left to right idly, her body remained unmoving.
Then she heard the sound of boiling bubbles. CK instinctively jumped to the side as a large mouth opened beneath, barely snapping her in its mouth before turning into shadows once more. She jumped a few more times as each step she took caved into a rotten pile that hissed like acid.
Psshht! Psshht!
CK dodged a few more times as a series of abrupt beams of light burned through each spot she stood on. She looked up, seeing the cloaked entity hovering mid-air. They pointed a claw, causing a series of contraptions emerge behind them. They gave off a menacing glow before shooting a barrage of lasers.
The young woman gritted her teeth as she dodged each beam, occasionally conjuring a wall from the concrete if the beam to take the hit if it was too powerful to be blocked. She retaliated with a whip of lightning stemming from her glass pen.
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A translucent wall projected itself from the entity's halo of machinery, and the whip of lightning disintegrated after passing through. A magic circle inscribed with mandala patterns appeared beneath CK's feet as her eyes glowed intense emerald.
"Leucosis: First Passage. Crystallo!" she chanted. Crystals erupted like frozen tides, transmuting the floor debris into translucent minerals. Compared to the usual stalagmites and stalactites she summons, the incantation was refined using the second form a wordsmith can unlock at Syntax Level II—Leucosis, a form exclusive to those who practice Magna Alkemia.
Crystals formed and spread over the floor like ice before congesting into a barrage of missiles hovering towards the cloaked entity. However, the entity remained still in the face of the incoming barrage.
"Futile," they sneered and snapped their fingers. CK's eyes widened as the circle beneath her feet disappeared, and the crystals mid-air shattered, creating rain upon CK. She prepared to cast another incantation, only to realize she could not gather energy.
"This is…" she muttered, her eyes wide in realization. She looked up in alert to hear the grumbling sounds of the floating machinery. It glowed a few seconds before launching a medium-sized missile towards her.
"Begone, filthy wordsmith!"
"Malphas!" CK called, clasping a fist towards her chest that glowed brilliant bronze. The missile was a meters away from CK when a murder of crows manifested, consuming the missile in its shadows before detonating.
BOOM!
The cloaked entity paused in surprise, unbothered with the harsh gusts of wing accompanying the explosion's aftermath. Their eyes widened as a large crow embraced by dark fire suddenly lunged at him through the smoke.
Caw!
The cloaked entity slashed a hand out, but the bird erupted with compacted energy before it touched them. "Urgh!" the entity flew back from the explosion, their face suffering from the explosion.
The smoke cleared, revealing the broken lobby and a group of crows made from shadows. A true crow with a golden necklace perched upon CK's shoulder as she fanned the smoke away from her face with casual flicks of her wrist.
"You managed to completely nullify Syntax energy in this lobby. I should have known, haha!" CK smirked at the figure looming above her, "You're from the Juris. I'm sure of it."
The cloak was burned away from the explosion, revealing a dysmorphic hybrid between a humanoid and a wyvern. Singes burned the side of the entity's scale-covered face, but this does not make the entity less foreign to the eye.
CK's Muse was nullified, almost similar to her experience in the Maiden's Tower. But there was a major difference. The Tower prohibited her Muse because it did not pass the floor's requirements. But the situation at the lobby was complete nullification, turning CK into a normal human.
CK was quick to notice the floating pyramid-shaped contraption beside the wyvern hybrid. That was an example of real, forbidden technology. This is what makes the Empire wary of the Juris. It's their ability to turn their wordsmithing abilities into nothing.
"Had I not have Malphas with me, I could've died," CK mused aloud to herself. She heard a small chuckle from the crow on her shoulder.
"Hmph! Such dirty tricks only befits you, wordsmith," the member of the Juris raised a claw towards CK again, "Repent! You are unworthy of the sacred Syntaxis! Repent and perish!"
"The only one who should feel sorry is your mother. Who would birth such an ugly creature like you?" CK frowned, "I've seen plenty of other races, but your appearance does not do your existence justice."
"Raaahhh! Die, you filthy brat!" the wyvern hybrid roared and plummeted down towards CK's position. "Bet your mother is just as ugly," CK smirked as she got into a stance, "Now, come and apologize for being born!"
Enraged by her taunting, the wyvern hybrid furiously rushed at her. "Take the air. Make sure he doesn't fly off again," CK hastily told Malphas.
A murder of crows swarmed the air as CK jumped back to avoid the wyvern's harsh impact on the ground. The wyvern lashed its claws at CK, its sharp edges coated in the eerily familiar black substance. CK dodged this attack and retaliated with an upward kick, making the wyvern stumble with a grunt.
The Juris never use any of the Arts of Syntaxis and are known to use forbidden technology instead, modifying it to be a weapon against wordsmiths by nullifying the Syntax energy fueling their incantations. Understanding this, CK switched tactics.
She opted to taunt the hybrid into physical combat and close the gap between them. CK's eyes momentarily gleaned over the floating pyramid item accompanying the attacking wyvern hybrid. She had to close the gap even more so she can destroy that thing.
"Die! Die! Die!" the wyvern yelled with each slash of its claws. Each time, CK took a step back and moved her head backward with an unimpressed snort.
She grabbed the forearm of the hybrid after its last attack, holding it close before slamming a foot against the side of its neck. CK's eyes widened when her slipper flew at the impact.
"Ah! My flipflops!" she said in horror. The wyvern snarled and gnashed its teeth, attempting to snap down on her head. However, a series of shadow crows darted and smacked against its face, stunning it momentarily.
CK regained seriousness and performed a handstand, slamming her other foot up against its jaws. CK quickly placed distance between them before Malphas spread his wings open, a golden array of feathers extending and stabbing the wyvern before detonating a series of tiny but painful explosions.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
"RAAAHH!" The wyvern shrieked before weakly stumbling on its legs. CK hissed at her barefoot, deciding to ditch her other flipflop. She turned her gaze to the wyvern next, lips curling in amusement.
"Oho? Don't tell me that's it?!" she asked with a smirk. The wyvern's eyes turned into hostile slits upon seeing CK, and it shrieked before attacking again.
"Malphas," CK said as she got into a stance.
CK's lips curled as she moved her body to avoid the wyvern's slash, curving her body to retaliate with another kick. The wyvern stumbled and delivered another slash. They switched between offense and defense as CK constantly moved her body.
The wyvern roared and slammed a tail towards CK, causing her to jump for distance. The wyvern's eyes slitted at the opportunity and slashed a claw while CK was mid-air. The young woman's eyes narrowed.
"Nice try," she said. She swiftly grabbed its forearm for support and created a round kick hitting the hybrid straight in the face. Malphas cawed and snatched the pyramid-shaped contraption in his talons.
He swiftly flew over to CK and dropped it. CK easily caught it and stabbed it with the pointed tip of her summoned glass pen.
Crack! She heard the interiors of the item sizzle and malfunction. The wyvern hybrid's eyes narrowed in alert, "No!"
The hybrid paused as CK regained footing and stood back up. "Hehe… Hahaha!" she giggled excitedly as she hugged her arms, "Wonderful, wonderful! I like how this is proceeding! Hahaha!"
She turned to the hybrid and grinned maliciously. "Now, don't be sad. You've got your trick with corruptive energy, right? Come, use it against me," CK said eagerly, "I'm not finished yet! Hahaha!"
The wyvern hybrid took a few steps back, sensing a disturbing change in ambience, as if something unseen was looming over them. Its animal instincts took over the moment it saw CK's glowing eyes, and it turned to flee.
Screw that deranged brat! He's got the book already so there's no need to—!
Slash!
The wyvern hybrid blinked in confusion. "Huh?" it said, watching as the world suddenly seemed to spin and stumble around.
CK paused to see the hybrid's head spin mid-air before rolling against the ground in a splatter of violet blood. Her eyes widened in surprise to see a familiar face.
"It seems you were not paying attention to class, CK. In dire situations where physical altercations may be too great, wordsmiths are advised to cast themselves and the opponent into an artificial sift to avoid casualties. This is also a gesture of respect among wordsmiths in duel," a man walked calmly towards the lobby as he spoke.
He paused to look at CK's direction. "Or have you not been paying attention?" he muttered. CK blinked in surprise, "Professor Kitmar."
The professor merely retracted his hand and adjusted his glasses, unbothered as the body slumped lifelessly on the ground. "Tsk," CK clicked her tongue in annoyance. She was just about to go all on out for once! Killjoy.
"We are a few light years away from the school. How did you get here, picking suicidal fights with the enemy?" Kitmar frowned. "It wasn't my intention to get here. I was only trying to stop that thief...aaand then I got carried away, hehe," CK added the last part sheepishly.
"So I've noticed. Had I arrived a few minutes late, the lobby would have blasted open and kill everyone inside," Professor Kitmar gave her a look of disapproval, "Reckless girl, just look at the state you are in now. Has Erzem not taught you anything substantial?"
"I'm sorry…" CK murmured, looking like a kicked puppy. Kitmar frowned, "What did you mean by 'thief'?"
CK pointed at the nearby corpse while her gaze was elsewhere. "That Juris guy tried to steal master's thesis. He doesn't really look like the literate type to benefit from a doctoral paper, but who knows?" she said and murmured with a frown, "Where are my flipflops…?"
Despite her casual delivery, Kitmar's eyes widened as if told something grave. He approached the hybrid's body and searched through the cloak, finding a hardcover book.
He flipped it open, finding Professor Erzem's signature on the front page. Kitmar's brows furrowed, and he got a closer look at the corpse. While CK managed to reunite with her flipflops, he made a few observations.
"No wonder you managed to travel this far," he muttered and looked at CK, "You just encountered a Juris Enforcer. Someone of his level and greater are the only ones who could use advanced transportation methods to travel between light years."
"Is he supposed to be that strong?" CK raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Supposed to be. It seems he was sent to steal Erzem's book as top priority. Had it been to kill, however, his target wouldn't have the chance to blink," Kitmar said grimly, "And this is someone who inherited dragon blood, nonetheless. You're bloody lucky you're alive."
Kitmar stared at CK. Although, he did sense fear in the Juris Enforcer while trying to flee. Kitmar thinned his lips before giving the book back to CK.
"They've really coordinated a plan this time... It doesn't help that you're here at the armada as well," Kitmar sighed. CK blinked and tilted her head in confusion, "What does that mean?"
Kitmar turned to the glass walls, seeing the sky brighten as a red sun rose in the skies. Upon seeing this, CK's jaw dropped. She still hasn't slept, and a day has begun in a separate planet already!
Kitmar's eyes landed on the crow perched close to CK. "You have a companion," he commented. CK turned to the crow and blinked, "Oh, this… He's a familiar I've just recently…tamed, I guess? I don't know."
The crow's eyes were too sentient to be a simple familiar, but Kitmar made no comment. He silently watched as the crow turned into a shadow at CK's command. What has she been up to in the past few days?
"Hmph. CK, come," Kitmar ordered. "Yes, sir… Wait, why?" CK asked, still following after Kitmar as he left the lobby.
"We are having breakfast. We ought to discuss your current involvement in the situation, and I'm not doing it without my coffee," Kitmar grumbled. CK's nose slowly scrunched as she kept her distance fearfully. Eating with him?
"Professor… I'm sure you are popular, but I'm not into older men…" CK muttered. Kitmar turned a head towards her with a glare, causing her to flinch.
"Brat," Kitmar muttered as he led the way. She truly is a capable wordsmith, but he's beginning to question her sanity.
'He doesn't look surprised that someone wanted to snatch master's book away,' CK thought.
'Why would he expect it to happen? Just because master fainted?' CK asked.
'Be a little more concise, Malphas. I'm sleep-deprived, so I can't play mind games with you right now,' CK thought irritatingly.
CK's footsteps slowed a beat as ideas sparked in her head. Still, she continued following after the Core Instructor in front of her.
'That can't be possible,' CK frowned.
CK's lips pursed, not denying Malphas' words any longer as the pieces of information clicked. She stared at Kitmar's back as she was led deeper into the school.
Yes… There may be a source of corruption in the school, and that the administration and faculty might be aware of it. They know the school like the back of their hand. There's no way they didn't.