Professor Faye stood with her arms crossed, staring at the inferno that had once been Cecilia’s office.
The flas crawled unnaturally along the stone walls, burning without a hint of smoke, or even flickering when the breeze picked up.
To put it simply, it was pure magical fire.
Several staff mbers stood at a cautious distance, weaving suppression spells again and again, only for the fire to recoil and surge back as if insulted by the attempt.
Of course, they’d tried putting it out with water, but the liquid evaporated before it even made contact with the fire.
Principal Aldred Kael stood beside her, hands clasped behind his back, white beard thoughtfully stroked between his fingers.
His eyes reflected the blaze, but his expression remained controlled.
"Magical fire that resists extinguishing," he said quietly. "That narrows things down."
Faye exhaled. "Not by much. There are still too many people who could manage this. And that’s counting the people in Calot alone."
Kael humd in agreent before turning his gaze to her. "How far had Cecilia gotten in her research?"
Faye hesitated for a fraction of a second. "Close. Closer than I’d ever seen her on a problem like this."
She swallowed. "We had just confird that every recorded case of Mana Leech infestation was tied to draconic mana in so form."
"I see." Kael’s brow furrowed. "Then the timing is... inconvenient."
"That’s one word for it," Faye replied grimly. "Whatever caused this explosion didn’t just destroy her office. It targeted her work. Her notes. Her progress."
They stood in silence for a mont as another wave of spells washed harmlessly over the flas.
Kael broke the quiet. "Do you believe this was an accident?"
"No," Faye said imdiately. "Absolutely not."
"Nor do I," Kael agreed. "Then the question becos, who benefits?"
Faye’s jaw tightened. "Soone who doesn’t want Noah cured."
Kael glanced at her sharply. "That is a dangerous conclusion."
"It’s also the only one that makes sense," Faye said. "Very few people even know Noah is infected. Fewer still understand what Mana Leeches are, let alone how close Cecilia was to finding a solution."
Kael nodded slowly. "You. The Queen. The High Magus. Cecilia. The royal physician. Myself."
"And a handful of people in the palace," Faye added. "Which brings to sothing else." She hesitated, then pushed on. "What if the Mana Leech wasn’t an accident to begin with?"
Kael stopped stroking his beard.
"You’re suggesting it was intentional," he said.
"I’m saying it’s possible," Faye replied. "Noah acquiring a Mana Leech required exposure to sothing extrely rare and dangerous. If soone wanted him dead quietly, slowly, without drawing suspicion... this would be the perfect way."
Kael’s eyes darkened. "A perfect execution. Everyone would simply think this was the result of misfortune. Truly perfect."
"Exactly," Faye said. "And now that Cecilia was close to undoing it, her work goes up in flas."
Another explosion crackled from within the building as part of the roof collapsed inward.
Kael looked away from the fire. "Where is Cecilia now?"
"She left as soon as she was sure nothing could be recovered. After she teleported us both out, she tried to go back for her notes, but I stopped her," Faye answered. "She then went straight to see Noah."
Kael sighed in exhaustion. "Of course she did."
He turned back to Faye, his voice firm. "Continue the internal investigation. Quietly. But if you make no headway, if there are no leads into who could’ve set the explosion, then you are to contact the palace."
Faye stiffened. "And the Investigation Authority?"
Kael nodded once. "Bring them in. I don’t want to, but if soone is moving against the academy itself, we can’t afford pride."
Faye looked back at the burning ruins, unease settling deep in her chest.
Sothing had crossed a line.
And whatever it was, it was no longer hiding.
[][][][][]
Cecilia sat beside Noah’s bed, studying him carefully, as if afraid he might vanish if she blinked too long.
"How are you holding up?" she asked quietly.
Noah smiled. It wasn’t bright, or carefree, but it was a smile.
"I’m alright," he said, and he ant it too. "I’ve... co to terms with it."
Cecilia’s fingers tightened around the edge of the chair. "Don’t say that like it’s final."
"I never said I was going to give up," Noah chuckled. "Just that I’ve accepted what happened to ."
She searched his face, then sighed. "You’re too calm. I don’t like it."
He chuckled weakly. "I had so ti to think."
After a mont of silence, Noah spoke again. "Queen Ines ca to see ."
Cecilia stiffened. "What did she want?"
"She offered an artifact," he said. "Sothing in the royal armory. It could preserve as I am... for six months."
Cecilia’s eyes widened. "Six months?"
He nodded. "I didn’t accept. Not yet."
Relief flickered across her face, quickly followed by concern. "Artifacts like that always co with a cost."
"They usually do," Noah agreed. He didn’t elaborate.
Cecilia leaned forward, lowering her voice. "Listen to . I was close. Before..." Her gaze flicked briefly to the bandages wrapped around his arm, then away. "Before my office was destroyed. I’m certain the answer lies with dragons. Every trail points there."
Noah’s eyes widened just a fraction before he schooled his expression. "Dragons?"
"Yes," Cecilia said firmly. "All discovered cases of Mana Leeches sohow intersect with draconic mana. Dragons exist closer to the source of magic than any other living beings. If there’s a solution, it will involve them."
Noah nodded slowly, his thoughts racing. This was just another confirmation. Lady in Dark was right. His salvation existed in the dragon monolith.
After a pause, he asked casually, "Professor... how does soone summon a monolith into being?"
Cecilia froze.
She turned to him slowly, suspicion flashing across her features. "That’s an unusual question."
Noah raised his hands slightly. "Purely academic. You always say understanding the fundantals of magic is important."
She studied him for a long mont, then exhaled. "Very well. But this is not sothing to toy with."
"I know," Noah said. "I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t."
Cecilia folded her arms. "So monoliths appear naturally. Over ti, the barrier between realities weakens, and they surface on their own. That’s rare, but it happens."
"And forcing one?" Noah asked.
Her expression darkened. "That requires two things. Blood, and mana."
She continued. "A sacrifice must be made at the point where the monolith is anchored between worlds. Ideally a powerful monster."
"The act of slaying it there creates a taphysical wound. Then, the summoner pours an enormous amount of mana into that wound, widening it until the monolith can force itself through."
"That sounds... dangerous," Noah said.
"It is," Cecilia nodded. "The energy release alone can devastate everything nearby. That’s why summoning a monolith is not sothing done lightly."
"I see," Noah said softly.
He inclined his head. "Thank you for explaining."
Cecilia smiled faintly. "Just promise you won’t think about this too much."
"I promise," Noah replied.
But as she stood to leave, she didn’t see the dark grin slowly spreading across his face.
Because now, he knew exactly what to do.
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