The only hiding spot was the office closet, surprisingly well-maintained. They wasted no ti taking cover. Monts later, soone entered the office.
A flesh golem, decaying parts spilling from an open wound in its belly. The creature was grotesque, its putrid sll filling the room. William nearly vomited but managed to restrain himself. The golem was powerful, level 30—far beyond anything William had encountered. Fighting it seed like a terrible idea.
The golem lumbered around the office before returning to the hallway and entering other rooms, seemingly searching for them.
This was their chance. William and Marcel slipped out of the closet and made for the exit. They hastened their steps, no longer concerned about making noise. The passage was too narrow for the golem; if they reached it, they would be safe.
The golem noticed them and gave chase! The sight of the massive flesh golem pursuing them was terrifying.
"Let's go, Marcel, quick!" William urged, not looking back.
They didn't stop. After reaching the storage room, they opened the passage, slipped through, and sealed it again.
They were safe. The golem couldn't enter, but they wouldn't relax until they were back in the academy bathroom.
Once there, they collapsed on the floor, gasping for breath. "That was close. What the hell was that thing?" Marcel exclaid.
William had a few theories. "Probably a guardian left behind. Maybe not the only one. If we go back, we need to be careful."
The academy's occupants were long gone, but that didn't an the place was safe. They were fortunate the golem couldn't fit through the passage. What if it had been another type of creature? A powerful specter that could pass through walls? They would be dead.
Marcel looked apprehensive. "No way I'm going back there. That place is dangerous, and I want to stay alive."
They returned to the dorm, retracing their steps to the bathroom.
Each retreated to their own room. William collapsed onto his bed and slept soundly through the night.
The next day, before classes started, William went to the library. It was early morning, and the library was empty. Most students were still asleep. He hoped to find sothing that would help him decipher the language in the books he'd recovered.
With one of the books in hand, William searched for texts on different civilizations and languages, focusing on ancient cultures, hoping for answers.
He had two hours before anyone else arrived—ample ti to browse the shelves and look for similar symbols.
He found nothing. There were languages from ancient civilizations, but none resembled the writing in his books.
'How is this even possible?' William wondered, feeling his research had been fruitless.
Still, he focused on the positives: he knew the academy had relocated to one of the archipelago islands, and he planned to go there. Perhaps he would find answers there.
Even Asura, a demon of unknown age, was unfamiliar with the language.
"Rember when I said my mory is a ss? Maybe I knew about this before, but I don't recall now," Asura admitted.
"So basically, you don't know? Why not just say that without making excuses?" William retorted.
"Shut up, kid. Let say this to feel less useless."
"Alright, alright. Sorry."
William left the library and headed to class. It was Professor Kurt's class, and as usual, he had planned student duels.
"William, you don't have to participate. You're still recovering," Professor Kurt said, then added, "Honestly, even with both arms tied behind your back, I think you could win against these students."
The other students weren't offended. They aspired to be as skilled as William, and so even asked for advice.
William took the opportunity to teach them, helping them improve.
Two students, sisters studying together, benefited greatly from his instruction. They were both mages specializing in body enhancent magic, just like William.
He helped everyone, of course, but he had more to offer the sisters due to their shared magical affinity.
"Focus on your breathing," he advised. "It might seem irrelevant, but your body should be connected to your mana flow. If you don't breathe properly, the spell won't be as effective."
The students focused solely on using mana to enhance their bodies, but that was only part of the equation. Mana was essential, but their bodies needed to work in harmony with it.
William also recomnded adding exercises to their routine, stating it would make everything easier. He extended this advice to all the mages. Professor Kurt, intrigued, called William aside for a conversation.
"Physical exercise, even for mages who don't use body enhancent spells?" Kurt asked. "Are you sure this is beneficial? Not that I'm complaining, I'm just curious about the reasoning."
Information traveled slowly in those tis, a fact William used to his advantage. "A ntor of mine taught this. He was a powerful mage. He believed a strong body strengthens the mind."
The quote wasn't accurate, but it served its purpose. Professor Kurt seed impressed.
"That makes a lot of sense," Kurt said. "I'll add exercises to my routine. Thank you for your insights, William."
Everyone viewed William favorably. He was happy to share his knowledge.
But what impressed him most was Professor Kurt's eagerness to learn. That, William thought, was the mark of a true ntor. He admired Kurt's humility.
Weeks passed. William attended classes daily and practiced magic in his free ti.
One day, Headmaster Grant summoned him, explaining that Xavier wished to speak with him.
William headed towards the academy dungeon, curious about what Xavier wanted to discuss.
Suddenly, the tir ran out. Three months had passed in the past, and William abruptly returned to the present.
He materialized back in his familiar bedroom, a wave of relief washing over him. It was good to be back.
But the situation at the academy deteriorated in the following days. The spy incident and the looming war had everyone on edge. However, William soon found a welco distraction: his role as Professor Jas' research assistant.
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