After about half an hour, Edgarth surveyed the class, his sharp gaze moving from one student to the next. When he was sure that everyone had finished, he adjusted his glasses.
“Alright,” he began, his voice cutting through the low murmur of whispers, “before I teach you your next spell, you need to understand corruption. Up until now, you’ve all been told that knowledge brings corruption, but today I’ll explain why.” His expression hardened and his voice dropped an octave. “Pay attention—this knowledge could save your life someday.”
Leo sat up straighter shifting his position in the creaking wooden chair. The tension in Edgarth’s tone made the air feel heavier, and he leaned forward to ensure he wouldn’t miss a word.
“Our world is divided into three distinct parts,” Edgarth continued, pacing slowly at the front of the room. “First there’s Terralis, the grounded realm of mortal life—the world we inhabit. It’s where we struggle, learn, and die. Above us lies Ethereon the domain of higher entities. It is a place of boundless energy and power, far beyond mortal comprehension. And finally, there’s the Underworld, a shadowy transitional realm where souls linger or pass through connecting Terralis to Ethereon.”
Edgarth paused, letting his words sink in. The room was eerily quiet now.
“The Underworld,” he said his tone growing darker, “is not merely a place for lost souls. It is home to creatures—powerful, ancient beings that dwell in its shadows. Similarly, Ethereon harbors entities of immense influence. These beings, whether from Ethereon or the Underworld are not limited to their realms. Depending on their strength they can reach into Terralis and affect our world.”
A faint hiss brushed against Leo’s ear, so soft it was almost imperceptible, like a whisper carried on a breeze. His breath hitched and a chill ran down his spine. He glanced around nervously, noticing that other students were doing the same. Wide eyes and furrowed brows betrayed their fear.
Edgarth’s lips curled into a faint smirk. “The sound you hear? That’s them,” he said, his voice calm but chilling. “They’re always watching. Listening. When you pursue knowledge, it isn’t just power you attract—it’s attention. The wrong kind of attention. Different knowledge calls to different creatures, and if you’re not prepared or strong enough, they’ll find you. They’ll corrupt your soul, twisting it until there’s nothing left of who you once were.”
The words hung in the air like a storm cloud, heavy with threat.
“Some have tried to shield themselves with protective items,” Edgarth continued, his voice laced with disdain. “They think charms or wards will save them. But here’s the truth: one day you’ll slip. You’ll forget to put them on, or the protection will fail. And when that day comes, you’ll be theirs.”
The smirk twisted into something far more sinister. “Of course, if you’re determined to learn forbidden truths anyway, be my guest. But don’t expect sympathy when you fall. In fact, you’ll make excellent practice targets for our hunting teams.”
Leo’s throat tightened as he swallowed hard. His mind raced, recalling the precautions he’d taken with the Red Moon book. For the first time, he felt a cold dread about the knowledge he had on Osara, the Sea God. Even with his caution, had he already attracted unwanted attention?
He recalled Edgarth’s words: ‘Some have tried to shield themselves with protective items.’ Instinctively, Leo placed his hand on the necklace Oryu had given him.
‘Is the blessing of the God of Light protecting me?’ he wondered.
Then the next thing Edgarth had said echoed in his mind: ‘One day, you’ll slip.’ A chill ran down his spine, and the hair on the back of his neck stood up.
‘Even if these creatures don’t corrupt me, the one watching me—the one who made Captain Edmond forget—will. I’ll need to keep this on at all times. But how can this necklace protect me if I can still hear the whispers? Maybe it only blocks the truly dangerous ones.’
“Class will continue in the next session,” Edgarth announced snapping Leo out of his thoughts.
Without waiting for questions, Edgarth left the room in a hurry. Leo quickly packed his things and followed. When he entered the grand cathedral’s main hall, he spotted Edgarth walking briskly toward Oryu.
“Edgarth,” Oryu greeted him with a warm smile.
Leo paused, listening in from a distance.
“Oryu,” Edgarth replied casually, without any titles or bow.
Leo was taken aback. Even Captain Edmond, a close friend of Oryu, always treated him with the utmost respect. Yet Edgarth addressed him as an equal.
The two began walking away, their conversation too low to hear. Leo remained rooted in place lost in thought. Suddenly, a hand on his shoulder jolted him back to reality. He spun around to see the twins standing behind him.
“You want to know why Edgarth’s so bold, don’t you?” Ray asked with a knowing smirk.
Leo did want to know, but he was more curious about why the twins had suddenly become so friendly. He simply stared at them saying nothing.
“Come on, don’t look at me like that,” Ray added. “We’ll tell you, and in exchange let’s just bury the hatchet.”
Leo sighed, which made Ray grin even wider.
“Edgarth is an A-rank illusionist,” Ray explained, lowering his voice slightly. “His rank is the same as Bishop Oryu’s. That’s why he acts so confidently. His nickname is Mystic Distorter. There’s a rumor that he single-handedly stopped an army from the northern kingdom. All he did was stand there and the soldiers started killing each other.”
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
‘Mystic Distorter,’ Leo thought, a shiver running through him. He suddenly felt a little uneasy about his new teacher.
As he prepared to leave, the third student—the girl who had been sitting quietly in the back—walked past them without a word heading for the door.
“Who’s that girl?” Leo asked, glancing at Ray.
Ray turned to look. “Oh, her? She’s Elna Arryn, 17 years old.” Then with a mischievous glint in his eyes, he added, “If I were you, I’d stay away from her.”
“Why?”
“She’s an elf,” Jerald interjected, his tone carrying a faint edge of hostility.
‘What is it with the people of this world and their hatred for elves?’ Leo wondered.
“Thanks for the info,” Leo said after a moment. “By the way, where can I get something to eat?”
“There’s no shop near the grand cathedral,” Ray explained pointing to a nearby door. “You’ll have to go to the kitchen. It’s that way.”
Leo nodded and started walking in the direction Ray indicated.
“See you later Leo!” Ray called out from behind him.
Leo raised his hand and waved. ‘I really hate kids,’ he thought with a grimace as he continued on his way.
After walking for about three minutes Leo arrived at the kitchen. The room was bustling with activity, reminiscent of a high school cafeteria from his previous life—but far more elegant and impeccably clean. The polished wooden tables and neatly arranged chairs gave the space an air of sophistication, while the aroma of freshly prepared food filled the air.
Several people were busy preparing meals, their movements efficient and practiced. Others lined up to collect their food, then found seats to eat in quiet conversation.
Following the routine, Leo joined the line and received his meal: a bowl of steaming rice paired with a rich, aromatic stew. The stew was unfamiliar, its ingredients a blend of local vegetables and tender pieces of meat he couldn’t quite identify.
Finding an empty seat, Leo sat down and began eating. The meal was simple but hearty, the flavors reminding him of the comforting dishes he used to have on rare good days in his past life.
Once he finished he carried his dishes to a designated area where others had placed their used plates and bowls. With that done, he stepped outside the kitchen, his mind turning to his next destination: the enchanting class.
As he contemplated where to go a glowing arrow materialized in the air before him again. It hovered briefly, pointing down a corridor before moving forward.
“Convenient,” Leo muttered under his breath, following the magical guide toward his next lesson.
While walking, Leo kept his eyes on the floating arrow curiosity flickering in his mind. ‘Is this some kind of magic tied to the Grand Cathedral?’ he wondered, analyzing its steady almost effortless movement ahead of him.
After another five minutes, the arrow came to a halt in front of an open door. It hovered for a moment before fading into nothingness. Leo stepped inside cautiously, prepared for any surprises—but nothing out of the ordinary happened.
The classroom was similar in layout to the one he had just left, with tiered seating that ascended toward the back. However, unlike before most of the seats were already occupied. Students of various ages filled the room, their conversations buzzing softly like the hum of a distant hive.
Leo’s gaze swept across the class, noting the mix of eager faces and those that seemed more aloof. It was clear this was a larger group than the illusion class he’d attended earlier.
Not wanting to draw attention to himself he scanned the seating options for a free spot and walked toward it, his thoughts already shifting to what this lesson would entail.
The students in the classroom varied widely in age. Some appeared even younger than Leo, while others seemed to be men in their fifties. On Leo's left, a man who looked to be in his forties sat quietly. His physique resembled Samuel’s—short and stocky—but his features were distinct. He had a prominent nose, black eyes, and a mass of black curly hair that framed his rounded face.
After a few minutes, a woman entered the room and placed a suitcase on the teacher’s desk. She was about as tall as Leo with a medium build and a toned, muscular frame. Her long black hair was neatly tied back and her face was framed by chubby lips, large black eyes, and a small nose complemented by a pair of glasses.
The woman stepped in front of the students, her presence commanding the room. She pulled out a cigarette lit it with a snap of her fingers, and took a slow puff before addressing them.
“My name is Cristina Loup, and from today, I’ll be your enchanting teacher,” she began, her voice clear and no-nonsense. “Though we have students here with ranks as high as C, this is a beginner enchanting class, so we’ll be starting with the basics.”
‘She’s straightforward,’ Leo thought, noting her blunt demeanor. ‘But seeing a rank C here is a bit surprising.’
Cristina began explaining the fundamentals of magic, much of which Leo already knew. Despite this he listened attentively, though he found the review somewhat dull.
After an hour and a half of introductory theory Cristina finally moved on. “Now, we’ll begin with magic words,” she said turning to the board and drawing two intricate symbols.
“We’ll start with these,” she explained, pointing to the shapes. “The first one is Control, and the second is Light. Write each of these on a sheet of paper—two hundred times.”
Leo leaned forward in his seat, his earlier boredom replaced by a spark of excitement. The word Light was new, a fresh piece of knowledge to explore. Learning a new magic word always carried a sense of discovery and possibility.
He grabbed a sheet of paper and began writing. Each stroke of the pen was deliberate, his focus sharp driven by curiosity and the thrill of unlocking something unknown.
The rest of the class was spent methodically writing the magic words two hundred times. By the time it was over, Leo felt the strain in his wrist but also a growing familiarity with the strokes of each character. Without lingering to chat with anyone, he exited the classroom and made his way directly to the Paladin Association. He had a patrol scheduled in half an hour.
Not wanting to spend money on a carriage Leo jogged through the bustling streets. By the time he reached the association's storage room fifteen minutes later, he was sweating.
Peter, who was sorting equipment, looked up and raised an eyebrow. “Why are you sweating?”
Leo wiped his forehead and gave a sheepish smile. “I forgot to deactivate my bracelets.”
Peter frowned in confusion. “How does someone forget to do that?”
Leo shrugged. “When you have them active all the time, it feels like second nature. Forgetting occasionally is bound to happen.”
Peter shook his head but didn’t press further. “Well, hurry up and get ready for your patrol.”
Nodding, Leo headed into the back room to gear up. He slipped into his heavy shoulder armor, pulling it snug over the white shirt of his uniform. He also changed into fresh trousers that matched the ensemble, ensuring he looked presentable for duty.
When he stepped outside, he saw Aldred, Edric, and Walden waiting. Aldred and Edric had already achieved F-rank recognition, while Walden was aiming to take the test in a month. Over the past year the group had grown closer, forming a bond that bordered on friendship, though they still maintained a respectful demeanor toward Leo as their leader.
“Ready for another day sir?” Aldred asked, giving him a nod of acknowledgment.
Leo smirked faintly and adjusted his armor. “Always.”