Chapter 61: An Unexpected Event (8)
There were several hidden spaces within Arpentia Academy that were unknown to the public.
Most of them had co about naturally through years of repeated expansions and renovations, but a few had been created with the intention of being concealed from the beginning.
One of those places was the Room of mories, the very place Yeriel was now headed to.
It was also one of the most important facilities in the Academy.
Perhaps that was why—
Anyti soone entered that room, the Headmaster, Yeriel, was always notified.
And each ti, without fail, he had gone in person to confirm it. This ti was no different, as he dragged his tired body toward the location.
‘It’s probably the Reverend using it again.’
She had co to him a few days prior, requesting to use the Room of mories. So in truth, Yeriel’s actions now were rely a formality.
‘She said she’d be eting her disciples soon, so it must be related to that.’
That, in fact, was his true reason for coming.
He had been genuinely concerned, watching her show no intention of taking in any disciples.
It was the sentint of soone who had served the sa master, and the feeling of a junior looking up to a senior walking the sa path.
And above all, it was the sentint of soone who had watched Windy May for decades by her side.
‘It’s a relief.’
Yeriel quietly nodded.
If circumstances permitted, he intended to help Windy May in any way he could, within the limits of his position.
Even though she was a far more brilliant mage than he could ever be, when it ca to teaching others, she would surely be less experienced than him.
‘Besides, Cecilia Everglenn and Lian Gwendil… those two were victims of the Rahma Incident.’
It was perfect timing—he had just started to get a bit of free ti after wrapping up various pressing matters.
He had resolved to personally et the victims he had long been aning to see—especially the two directly tied to Rahma—and offer them his apology face to face.
‘And if I fra it as compensation, slipping in a few extras won’t seem out of place either.’
Having arrived in front of the Room of mories, he took a mont to straighten his attire before slowly opening the door.
As expected, the one using the room was Windy May.
“……”
She stood quietly next to the door with her eyes closed, focusing entirely on her tuning process.
Not wanting to disrupt her concentration, Yeriel gently closed the door behind him. Just then, soone sitting on a sofa rose and offered a slight bow.
“Hello, Headmaster.”
“Oh.”
Silver hair and violet eyes.
Yeriel imdiately returned a polite nod of his own.
“Greetings, Princess. I hope all is well.”
“Yes, thanks to your concern.”
Third Princess rcedes Latina Bestrang.
One of four royal family mbers currently enrolled at the Academy, and twin sister to Third Prince Behad, she responded with a curt deanor.
“Please don’t mind . Continue what you were doing.”
“Very well, then.”
At Yeriel’s words, she gave a small nod and returned to her seat, scribbling sothing into her notebook.
Watching her, Yeriel casually turned his gaze toward the wall.
Three doors stood tall and firm.
Only the one in the center remained unlit.
“Hm.”
Looks like I’ll have to wait a bit.
With that thought, he turned his attention to the five fish tanks arranged in a row.
‘Just as I thought.’
The remaining two tanks were still empty.
Which ant that once again, the ones who had appeared were the founders of the three households.
‘Master said there are five people in total whom we can et, but…’
Founder of the Poas family, Archmage Talia Poas.
Founder of the Valentin family, Rikerka Valentin of the Scales.
And finally, founder of the Everglenn family, Dragon Knight Siren Everglenn.
Up until now, only these three had ever been confird.
He had t them, Windy May had t them, and so had everyone else.
Each person had only t one of those three in rotation.
“Hm.”
The fish tanks slowly filled with liquid whenever their respective owners appeared.
What that liquid was, where it ca from, and what would happen once it filled completely—Yeriel didn’t know.
Nor did he know why the other two had never once appeared.
All he knew, according to his master Edas, was that when even one of the tanks completely filled, they would understand then.
‘I had hoped we might finally learn who the other two are this ti.’
Thinking that with a slight disappointnt, he sat down at a distance, not wanting to make rcedes uncomfortable.
Then, he pulled out a worn-out novel from his coat, sothing to pass the ti.
After reading about twenty pages—
Clack.
With a familiar crisp sound, one of the previously closed doors opened.
The person who stepped out was Cecilia Everglenn.
“…Ah.”
She stepped out, saw Yeriel and rcedes, and gave a polite nod.
Yeriel and rcedes also quietly returned the greeting.
“……”
Cecilia, seeing that the other door remained shut, carefully took a seat and maintained a perfectly upright posture.
“……”
“……”
“……”
For a while, only the sound of scribbling,
the quiet rhythm of breathing,
and the occasional turning of pages could be heard.
Having read enough, Yeriel glanced sidelong at the door that still hadn’t opened.
Windy May continued her work, looking a bit weary.
‘Whoever it is, she must have taken quite a liking to them.’
If the door still hadn’t opened by now, then most likely, the person on the other side was holding it closed.
And that was sothing that had happened only a handful of tis before.
‘Since there’s Everglenn blood involved, it’s unlikely to be Siren Everglenn… must be one of the other two. But regardless of who it is, it’s unusual behavior for either of them.’
Just as he thought that and was about to put away his novel—
Clack!
“Phew…”
Looking thoroughly exhausted, Lian Gwendil was the last to appear.
With that, all three who had entered the other side of the Room of mories had returned.
“…Haa.”
Only after confirming that the final door had closed did Windy May let out a small sigh, as if drained.
Yeriel, fully aware of how ntally taxing that task was, simply cast her a slightly sympathetic glance.
“So then…”
Windy May began, turning her gaze one by one toward Lian Gwendil, Cecilia Everglenn, and rcedes Latina Bestrang, who were seated before her.
“Were you all satisfied?”
She asked, slowly twitching her ears up and down.
“It would be nice if each of you could share a brief impression.”
To that, rcedes answered in a short but firm tone, followed by Cecilia nodding with a tired expression.
“It was a fulfilling ti.”
“For
as well, it was aningful in many ways.”
Lian paused, as if gathering his thoughts, and then nodded in agreent.
“…It was truly a valuable experience. So much so that I’d like to have another chance, if possible.”
“I’m glad to hear you’re all satisfied.”
Windy May gave a small nod.
“Then, shall we have a more serious talk for a mont?”
After a brief pause, she continued.
“First, about this Room of mories—access is extrely limited and cos with very strict conditions. One may be granted the opportunity as a reward for significant achievents or contributions within the Academy, or through an application and review process after becoming a direct disciple of a professor.”
She glanced at Yeriel.
“In this Academy, those with relatively lenient access are myself, Headmaster Yeriel Helmont, and Professor Deaare, the direct disciple of Sage Arpentia. …I’m not saying this just to brag.”
Windy May looked at the three with a serious gaze.
The three returned her gaze with equal seriousness.
“The reason I arranged this opportunity was to show that if you beca my disciples, I would support you in every way possible. This also ans that even if you reject my offer… I won’t be handing you an invoice for what happened today.”
At that point, Professor Windy May awkwardly stumbled over her words, slightly flustered.
“Ah, um. That sounded kind of weird… Anyway, I just want you to know that I’m sincere.”
“I have a question.”
“Yes, Miss rcedes.”
rcedes raised her hand slightly before asking.
“This may be a presumptuous question, but the three of us have entirely different temperants, attributes, and aptitudes. If we beca your direct disciples, how would you teach us, and what would you teach?”
“That’s a good question.”
It seed she genuinely ant it, as her ears twitched slightly up and down.
“Whiit.”
“…?”
Lian Gwendil thought he had heard a strange breathy noise beside him for a mont…?
Still, he didn’t take his eyes off Professor Windy May.
…He also didn’t forget to watch the space just outside the range of her eyes and fingertips.
“There are seven fields in which I dare say I’m well-versed. Among them, I plan to teach you one common subject, and then each of you will learn one additional subject individually.”
“And those are…”
“Sorry, but I can’t reveal more unless you beco my disciples.”
Windy May lifted her index finger and brought it to her lips.
“You all know how sensitive this kind of thing is for a mage, right?”
“…Understood. I apologize for the impropriety.”
rcedes bowed her head in apology, and Professor Windy May waved her hand dismissively.
“That’s all I had to say. I hope I left even a slightly positive impression on you. If possible, I’d like to receive your answers soon…”
“I’ll do it.”
Before she even finished speaking, Lian Gwendil spoke up.
“I accept your offer, Professor.”
Surprised by his straightforward answer, even Professor Windy May blinked in astonishnt.
With eyes wide open, she asked in a slightly dazed tone.
“Uh… Hmm, you can take so more ti to think, you know?”
“No.”
Lian shook his head slightly.
“Even if I thought it over more, I doubt my decision would change.”
His firm answer belied the storm of thoughts in his mind.
But it was a different kind of storm than he had known before.
‘…I can’t rember.’
It wasn’t that he couldn’t rember everything.
Just the events that had occurred right before leaving the Room of mories.
From that point on, it was as if sothing had cleanly sliced away his mory.
The realization gave Lian chills.
“……”
No matter how hard he tried, nothing ca to mind.
But there was one thing.
One thing he hadn’t forgotten.
‘The Forbidden Forest.’
Also known as the Forest of Secrets.
He had to go there.
And he was certain the key to resolving his current problem lay within.
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