"Wait, what? What do you mean by 'contract'?" Magnus was already thrown off by the idea that the academy would allow students to buy from the exchange center on credit—essentially giving them a loan with the expectation they'd pay it back later. It seemed almost too generous, even for Takerth Academy, which was known for lavishly spending resources on its students. After all, some items listed in the exchange center's catalog were practically priceless. Despite its seeming generosity, Takerth was still like a business; the Ten Great Magic Academies aimed to be as successful as possible, even if they didn't measure success in monetary terms.
They wouldn't set something like this up without a benefit to them. Whatever the payoff was, it had to be buried in the contract the voice mentioned.
Picking up on Magnus's question, the voice from the darkness answered, "If you wish to use Arcana Advance, you’ll need to agree to a contract. It states that if you fail to repay the Arcana Credits that Arcana Advance has covered for you within the allotted time, you'll be obligated to join Takerth Academy after graduation and work until your debt is fully paid off. The duration of work varies depending on the amount owed."
As he listened, Magnus leaned back further in his chair. It clicked. He realized exactly what Takerth Academy was trying to do.
Wow. That's actually... really smart.
Students went to Takerth Academy for two main reasons. First, for training—to hopefully reach the Master-level by graduation. The academy didn’t enforce a strict time limit on how long students could stay once they were admitted. As long as they made progress, the academy would support them. So, unless a student was exceptionally untalented, broke the rules, or chose to drop out—which was rare—by the time they graduated, they were almost guaranteed to be at the Master-level.
The second reason was the power of the position. Families with children at Takerth were generally left alone, not because the academy would directly interfere if someone decided to mess with them but out of both respect and fear of potential backlash. If a student’s family faced trouble while they were still in the academy, the student could simply stay in the academy to ride out the storm. No one could touch them as long as they remained within the academy's walls. By the time they graduated, they'd be a Master-level being likely looking to get even—something no ordinary noble family could afford to handle.
There were other routes, too. Students could choose a master from Takerth’s staff and become their disciple, or simply demonstrate exceptional talent, which would prompt the academy to actively protect both the student and their family. After all, if a student’s family suffered and it hindered their learning, it would be a waste of potential.
Upon graduation, students typically had three options: join a magic or knight noble family, who had special permissions regarding mana; join the military, which also operated with similar freedoms, not being restricted by many of the Ten Great Magic Academies rules; or, the most common path, become a staff member at one of the Ten Great Magic Academies. Joining the academy staff wasn’t permanent—they were free to leave and pursue other paths later on. But with the academy’s resources at their disposal, why would they? Plus, it came with the same protections as being a disciple of some master. Making an enemy of a student was one thing, but crossing a professor or staff member?
One wrong move and the academy itself might get involved. So, knowing this, what the academy decided to do makes perfect sense.
If a student was already planning to join Takerth Academy after graduation, as many did, then this contract was basically meaningless to them if you think about it. It was just a way for the academy to sweeten the already sickeningly sweet deal. After all, who could resist? Not only do you get to join one of the Ten Great Magic Academies, but you also get access to magic artifacts, enchanted equipment, or even rare and forgotten magics and aura styles for practically no cost. Anyone with common sense wouldn’t pass that up. Plus, it's not a permanent commitment—most students probably see it as an investment. They could leave once they’d worked off their debt.
For those students who had no plans to join the military or become part of a magic or knight noble family, they could just grab a ton of stuff they’d never be able to pay off in their lifetime without a worry. And for those who did want to take the other paths, they could still get what they wanted from the exchange center and just had to wait a few years after graduation to move on. No big deal in their eyes. As for how this benefited the academy? Well, even after leaving, after working there for years, the former students would still maintain close ties and connections with the academy, whether with other students or staff.
Those connections would ensure the former students and staff supported the academy even after leaving long ago. In fact, many of the noble families funding the Ten Great Magic Academies were either founded by a former academy staff member or had one as their current or past patriarch.
No wonder Takerth—and all the Ten Great Magic Academies—have managed to maintain their power for so long, to the point where even kingdoms bowed to them. It wasn’t just because they were filled with powerful knights and mages. Who knows how many magic noble families or knight noble families traced their origins or history back to one of the academies? That means some of the most powerful noble families in the world were actively supporting and protecting the academies. And even without donations from these families, the academies still have more than enough resources on their own as well.
They held an untouchable position of power in the world, and no one could challenge them. Achieving this level of status could only be possible because the academies had been around for centuries, or maybe even millennia.
I guess that also explains why the Major General was so desperate to have me on his side. If the other academies are even half as impressive as Takerth, then who in their right mind would join the military after graduation, even if scouted by them? The only people who would join were people who were extremely loyal to their kingdom, those who didn’t have the talent or connections to enter Takerth themselves, or those who, for some reason, had a grudge against the Ten Great Magic Academies.
And now, Takerth Academy's 'trap' had caught Magnus too. He sat there for a moment, deep in thought about his options. On one hand, the items he wanted from the exchange center catalog were cheaper than he had expected. Just looking at the spell catalyst as long he completed the Intermediate-level assignment he’d planned with Seraline, he would almost be able to afford all of the ones he needed.
But I suppose that same logic worked in reverse. Instead of waiting until after the assignment, I could just get the items now and use the Arcana Credits I'm rewarded from the assignment to help pay off a majority of what I owe. I only need the Arcana Credits for the things required for my ideas anyway, so I'll get to keep the money and any other rewards.
But wasn't this the same trap so many people fell into back on Earth? Taking loans, and being confident they’d be able to pay them off later, only to have things go wrong and end up trapped in debt.
I definitely don’t want to be forced to work for Takerth. Being tied down to any faction or group will just hurt me in the long run. Plus, who knows if the Headmistress would leave me alone during that period, assuming she doesn’t try something before I graduate.
Magnus felt torn between the two options. Even after sitting there for ten minutes, he couldn’t decide. So, he turned to the only other person around for advice.
"Basker, what do you think?"
[Master, I believe both options and your concerns are valid. The chances of something going wrong during the Intermediate-level assignment might be low, but that's without considering the enemies you've made during your time in this city. On top of that, if the Headmistress has any plans to act against you, this would be the perfect time to act.]
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Magnus nodded at Basker's assessment.
Yeah, you have a point. I guess it would be safer if I-
But before Magnus could finish, Basker interrupted—something he rarely, if ever, did.
[However, our encounter with that vampire woman made it clear that the challenges you’ll face are only getting tougher. We hit a cap in our strength, which is why we suffered that loss. Even though accepting Arcana Advance comes with risks, there’s also the risk of encountering something you can't handle in your current state during your assignment with Seraline. In the end, Master, I think the words you once said to me fit this situation best.]
Upon saying that, Basker caused the memory of what exactly Magnus had to him, to resurface: "I know the risks, Basker. But if I planned on being so cautious that I couldn’t make progress, then I wouldn’t have bothered with any of this. I would’ve picked up some quiet job in the corner of Arlcliff City when Mia brought me here and lived out the rest of my days without touching the Command Console."
Reliving that moment, Magnus let out a sigh, smirking slightly.
"Since when did you learn to use my own words against me?"
[It's something I picked up from reviewing memories of Master and Wendy debating with one another.]
"Yeah... I guess I could never win against her in a proper argument. Looks like that hasn’t changed."
With that thought, Magnus started browsing through the various categories, selecting everything he needed. When he finished, he turned to the voice, "If I agree to use Arcana Advance, how much will I owe, and how long will I have to pay it off? Also, if I fail, how long will I have to stay at Takerth Academy after graduation?"
The voice didn’t respond immediately, as if calculating before it finally spoke. "Your selected items total twenty-one thousand four hundred Arcana Credits. Considering the amount, you will have three months to earn the Credits back after using Arcana Advance. Failure to repay will require you to stay with Takerth Academy for two years after graduation."
Three months… That means I'll need to complete at least four high-level Intermediate assignments within that time or one or two Advanced-level assignments. Based on the examples Professor Eredim showed us, some assignments might take a while, but… I think I can handle it. In the end, it's like a game: you spend all your hard-earned gold on a weapon that makes earning back that gold even easier.
It was all for the sake of progression.
•
Year 348 of the Great Sundering Era, 1st Month, 8th Day of the Mistveil Cycle.
Celia’s thoughts wandered as she made her way up the road toward the entrance of Takerth Academy. She’d taken a few days off work to relax, and as Tola put it, to live a little. But she ended up cutting that break short, heading back earlier than planned.
It's only been a few days, but it feels like forever since I've been back here. Spending that time with Tola was nice. We don't get to change out as often anymore, but... this place almost feels like a second home now. Or at least Magnus’s dorm does.
Even while she was away, her mind kept drifting to experiments she could be running, discussions she could be having with Magnus, and wondering how the project she had discussed with Eveline was progressing. Her thoughts were so consumed by the supernatural that the ordinary things she used to enjoy didn’t quite hold the same allure. She still enjoyed them, of course, but after experiencing real magic, seeing knights in combat, and all the other crazy things that have happened since she met Magnus, returning to a normal life seemed impossible.
I’ll have to make it up to Tola later. She probably had plans for the whole week.
As Celia approached the academy gate, she spotted the guards, who immediately noticed her too, waving enthusiastically.
"Celia!" One of them called out, like a child spotting their favorite grandparent.
"You're back! We were so lonely without you! Magnus hardly visits us these days," another guard complained.
"Yeah, no integrity, that brat. You leave and he turns into a hermit. You’ve got to set him straight, Celia." The guards all nodded in agreement, making Celia chuckle.
"Don't worry, I'll talk to him. I’m just glad to see you’re all as lively as ever."
One of the guards patted his chest and grinned, "Like we’d let a few injuries keep us down. Funny thing, though—Magnus said something similar when we saw him a few days ago."
At that, a few of the guards’ expressions darkened, catching Celia’s attention.
"What’s wrong?" She asked.
One of the guards sighed, "We heard you took a break and spent time with your friend, which is good. Sometimes people don’t realize how much certain events affect them until they’re alone, and that’s when they start struggling. It’s good you had someone around. But… we’re a bit worried about the kid. From what we can tell, you’re the only one he really confides in, so we don’t really know how he’s doing mentally."
Celia’s smile faltered slightly. She knew exactly what they meant. Magnus had a habit of bottling things up, and although she tried her best to help, there were times when he just wouldn’t listen, not even to her.
"I-I’ll check on him," Celia assured them. Sensing that they had dampened the mood, one of the guards laughed to lift the spirits.
"Anyway, we’re probably worried over nothing! Even though he hasn’t been out much lately, when we did see him, he seemed fine. He even went down to the city to pick up some new clothes." The other guards quickly joined in, trying to keep things light.
"Yeah, we’re probably just overreacting." Celia smiled again, appreciating their efforts.
"Right. Well, I’ll still make sure he’s taking care of himself. And don’t worry, next time I come by, I’ll bring you guys some snacks. I still owe you all for coming to rescue me," Celia said.
"Eh, it was no problem. We’d do it again in a heartbeat," one of them said, while others weren’t as subtle.
"Yeah, we didn’t do it for a reward. But uh… if you’re bringing snacks anyway, can you get some chocolate ones?"
"Oh, and lemon!" Celia gave them a thumbs up before passing through the barrier and making her way toward the dorm building. As she walked, the guards’ words echoed in her mind, and her expression grew more resolute.
I’ll have to have a real talk with him about what happened. Even if he wants to avoid it.
Since she was dressed as a maid, no one stopped Celia or paid her much mind as she walked through the dorm area, entered the building, and made her way up to Magnus’s floor. Finally stopping in front of his door, she took a deep breath and then held out her hand, allowing the mark the academy had given her to unlock it. But the moment she pushed open the door, she was met with a pained yell from inside.
"Fuck! Why does this have to hurt so much..." The moment Celia heard the pained voice, she rushed inside, only to freeze at the sight before her. Magnus was sitting in the middle of his dorm room on a chair that normally belonged at his desk, shirtless and surrounded by towels stained with a familiar red tint. He was drenched in sweat, holding a knife over one of his forearms, which was dripping with blood and covered in multiple lacerations.
"Magnus!" Celia shouted, her voice sharp with alarm. Magnus, so consumed by the pain and concentration, hadn’t even noticed her enter until she shouted at him.
"H-Huh? Oh, hey, Celia... My bad, I wasn’t expecting-" But before he could finish, Celia rushed over, snatching the knife from his hand and tossing it away with a look of deep concern.
"What are you doing!? Why are you cutting yourself!" Celia’s voice, usually calm, was raised in panic. If not for the door automatically closing behind her, her voice might have echoed down the hall. Magnus stared at her, confusion and disbelief evident on his face. He had never heard Celia raise her voice like that before. Meanwhile, as he was dumbfounded Celia was frantically looking at his bleeding arm.
"Damn it, the guards were right... You- You can heal yourself, right!? Hurry, before you bleed out or something!" It was then that Magnus realized that there was a misunderstanding. He glanced at his arm, then back at Celia’s panicked expression.
"Oh... Oh! Wait, wait a second, Celia! I’m not cutting myself—well, I am, but not for the reason you think." Magnus quickly activated [High-Speed Regeneration], and the cuts on his arm began to heal. Within seconds, the wounds were completely gone and Celia’s frown deepened as she listened to him.
"What are you talking about..."
Magnus pointed to the center of his chest, and for the first time, Celia noticed something she had missed in her initial panic—a small dark metallic plate with intricate, complex engravings. The patterns were so elaborate that it was impossible to tell where one started and another ended, and it seemed stuck to Magnus's chest.
Seeing she was calming down and listening, Magnus began to explain, "This thing is a magical artifice. It’s like a piece of magic equipment. I was cutting myself because I’m trying to use this to perfect a new ability I’m creating."
Celia listened, her eyes narrowing at his explanation. She wanted to believe him, but it was hard to understand how cutting himself had anything to do with developing a new ability. Noticing her skepticism, Magnus gestured toward the bed with a reassuring smile.
"Look, just sit down, and I’ll explain, okay?" Celia hesitated, crossing her arms before finally sitting on the bed as he asked.
"This better be good, Magnus," she said, her tone and expression making it clear she was serious.
Magnus nodded, still smiling.
"Trust me, it is. The ability is an improvement on my current one, [High-Speed Regeneration]. I’m calling it [Perfective Regeneration]."