The arrival of dawn marked the beginning of the Academy arc.
3rd May Year 2109 on Solaris Calendar.
The original plot already began a few years ago. In this world, you could find labyrinths or ancient runes filled with relics, treasures, artifacts, and many things but they are quite rare.
Only a few are known and in the Empire of Cyprus where he was currently a well-known labyrinth was found in the place where he was going.
Yes, you are thinking correctly. Horizon is built over a labyrinth that was cleared several centuries ago.
Frederick found one on a journey, where one of his servants played a trick and dumped him in a valley where he found his Doom Piercer.
Tidying himself, he dressed up in the suit provided by the academy trying to make himself as presentable as possible.
His eyes were still dead as dried fish but after so sleep, it was a bit better.
He resisted the urge to buy the beauty comb and took a deep breath while checking out of the inn. He had already cleared the cri scene as best as possible and luckily, they did not check his room.
Coming out of the Inn, he raised his head to take a glance at the floating magic castle which was a defining trait of this Empire.
The entire Magic Castle was an artifact and a mobile fortress. It was the place where the Royals stayed. There is also a Royal Castle under it but this one stood out the most.
There were also various art and images of it on the internet, however, nothing ca close to the real thing.
"It's really beautiful."
Once your eyes fall on it, you will be reluctant to turn your gaze away.
Lucas shook his head and looked for a carriage.
Though the world is modern, cars are still a luxury and can only be afforded by the upper middle class so you would rarely find cabs.
Most of the cabs are run under the company headed by rich people. There were trams but none of them went to Horizon which was situated at the outer edge of Bloodhill forest which was also called Blood Peach forest because of bloodied Peach growing near that region.
Lucas observed his surroundings and most of the housing styles looked like the late 90s, however, there were still so high-class buildings and tall towers at the core of the capital.
Nearing the Academy, Lucas got out of his carriage and looked at the sea of crowds.
It was a bit overwhelming.
The high-end cars and limousines lined up seed to be sparkling with superiority.
There was a crowd near the entire gates and who knows, how many of them might be noble.
Lucas moved his way through the crowd toward the gate.
Noticing many people from a short distance, he thought, the standard of beauty in this world is quite high.
What can be classified as handso in his previous world might be considered average.
'Maybe it's because of mana that most people's looks are quite good.'
As he passed through them, he realized that most of these are noble servants.
It is only 5 minutes past 7 and the opening ceremony will begin at 8 so most of the students would arrive near that ti cause everybody knows how late these things deviate from the set ti.
He arrived early to observe the Academy and morize the road.
The smartwatch he wore serves as an identification process and also as a dium to receive instructions.
The guards checked Lucas and matched the data and let him pass while he observed the massive reinforced gates and walls with awe. The defense seed to be done excellently.
Just a glance at the academy from the gates was intimidating enough.
It looks like a mini city.
''I can't believe I am going to study here.''
"More than that, just how did the academy get raided so many tis with such defenses?"
"There is no safe that can't be opened huh.."
If he did not know about the things going to happen inside, he might have thought that he was blessed enough to enter here.
"Just how much have they spent here."
"Billions or perhaps trillions."
As Lucas wandered around, he heard so shrill cries from afar.
GULP!
Lucas rolled his eyes to see two guys who seed to be seniors ganging up on soone.
'Have they already started?'
'I should run away before they can notice.'
Lucas muttered inwardly while hurrying his steps. On his path, his ears occasionally picked up murmurs of students around him and most of them were not pleasant.
The first years were asked to assemble at the Oval-shaped stadium by 8 AM.
He strolled around for 20 minutes and tried to match the places with the vivid description he had read.
"Walking alone might make a target of seniors so let's mix in. It's already 7:30."
He looked for the students and mixed in with a small crowd to walk towards the stadium.
The mont he was about to take the crossroads his body froze. Before this, he felt sothing sticking to him and wrapping around him.
No, he was not the only one, the six students around him also stopped like a statute.
Lucas tried to open his mouth but it seed to be jamd as if he was paralyzed.
Then as if following certain commands, he along with others moved on their own.
Instead of taking left, they took a right turn and moved toward the deserted garden.
Lucas gritted his teeth trying to break free alas everything was for naught.
Soon they reached the garden where a black-haired boy stood leaning against the tree.
Lucas spotted a purple spider over the boy's left shoulder from which various rays of strings were shot.
"So, you are the first batch?"
The black-haired boy spoke non-chantilly and straightened his back.
As he took a look at the six people, he clicked his tongue.
"Even if you all are commoners and amount to nothing, I will surely find so use for you."
"You all are at 1-Star!"
"Fine, this will do."
He muttered and took sothing out of thin air.
'Holyshit!'
Lucas cursed inwardly.
He got a gist of the situation.
This boy was a half-demon and his na is Diral. While the main force of Demons retreats to the Demon realm, many remaining demons dig deeper into the society, rising to a high position while so even form dark cults.
Diral is from one of those cults.
He is a spirit summoner and his summoned spirit is a spider that could help to control people as puppets for a certain ti. He had learned various arts of puppet master and if you are not strong then you will be controlled by him.
Currently, he could control the movents of 8 people. He would force us to sign the slave control and beco his pawns
His identity was discovered shortly and was killed by Frederick who freed others from his clutches.
But that's not what matters.
Why and how the hell he ended up here?
Just how unlucky is he?
Lucas rembered that there was no ntion of the ti he did this.
'Damn...where are the guards and where are the other students."
It was 7:35, so it might be early for people to stroll here and the children belonging to nobles might have gone to their quarters to settle things or might arrive late.
Moreover, as far as the details go, this bastard looks for weak 1-Star to hunt.
Unluckily not only does he look weak, but all the six around him might be at 1-Star.
'And I happen to be surrounded by this group.'
'If soone even passed near here, he would not pay any attention as it would seem like a group of friends fawning over a great guy who looks normal.'
Diral stepped forward and raised the contract.
He raised his brows as he received a glare from everyone.
"Hey, what are you looking at?"
"You should consider yourself lucky for being able to work for the esteed ."
"Now co here one by one and sign this quickly."
"I don't want to be caught this early."
A student stepped forward as Diral handed the contract, he held it in one hand and touched it with the other.
A searing pain passed on his finger, and a drop of blood split on it.
Lucas was fourth in number and his back was already drenched in sweat.
'No, it can't be.'
'No matter what, I cannot beco a slave.'
'Although, we will be freed after Frederick takes him down. What if he forced us to do sothing risky to endanger my life.'
'This is not a normal contract but a mana contract which cannot be broken once signed.'
'Think Lucas....'
'There ought to be a way out of here.'
A thought appeared in his head while observing the process of signing the contract.
'He can control our external movent but what about internal? He cannot control us freely as he is not doing hypnosis.'
Thinking about this, Lucas tried to control his breathing and surprisingly it worked.
He could stop his breathing. Moving on to the next step, he tried to move his tongue and swallow his saliva.
'It works.'
Lucas's eyes glowed and mana started to swirl around his fingers which proves that he could channel his mana.
"Now your turn."
Lucas's body involuntarily moved forward.
Lucas attempted his best to contain his animosity reflecting through his eyes and stretched his hand.
Intertwining between fear and anticipation, his heart abruptly started to beat faster as if bitten by a snake.
Blood boiled in his body and the flow of mana beca intense.
His mind started to beco blank as he tried to get rid of unnecessary thoughts that might interfere with the process.
As Lucas's hands stretched toward the contract it felt like sothing powerful was about to co out.
And Lucas surrendered himself to this feeling while wondering if he might get himself injured during the process.
Just as his fingers were about to touch the contract, mana gushed out wildly and a dazzling orange light erupted.
BOOM!
A ball of fire exploded sending Diral flying backward to slam against the tree while Lucas's hand jerked back due to the impact causing him to groan loudly in pain.
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