"Finally, it's over."
Edwyn wiped the sweat from his forehead. This had been the most dangerous battle since he transmigrated. Without that fireball staff, even ten of him wouldn't have survived that lunatic.
After searching the forest, Edwyn retrieved Saban's bracers and greatsword.
To his surprise, the bracers turned out to be magical items, self-recharging ones, no less. The greatsword, however, while made of extraordinary material, was not magical.
Edwyn tried to extract their crafting method using the Infinite Forge, but once again, the furnace didn't respond.
"What's the rule behind this thing? The Black Forest Baron's sword and the synthetic beast core could be extracted, but none of these Arcane Artifacts work?"
With no clues, he shelved the issue and examined the bracers instead.
The moment he strapped them on, a cool energy surged from his arms through his whole body. His wounds began to clot and heal at a visible rate.
"No wonder that lunatic survived a fireball to the face, he had this kind of artifact on him."
As Edwyn admired them, he felt something rubbing inside the bracers.
Taking them off, he found a passage of text etched on the inside.
"What's this?"
Reading it, he realized it described a breathing technique. It felt oddly familiar, like something the old Black Forest Baron had once used.
"Whatever, I'll figure it out later. I'll have plenty of time once I'm in the academy."
He shook his head, reequipped the bracers, and resumed his journey.
On the fourth day of the exam, some of the stronger apprentices began arriving at the gathering point.
Kevan Medici staggered out of the forest.
After four days of traveling and fighting, this noble heir, neither knight nor true Mage apprentice, was utterly exhausted.
Fighting, fleeing, staying alert… reaching the destination had changed him. He felt as if no hardship in the world could faze him anymore.
"Griffith, we made it," Kevan called back.
Behind him, a tall, blonde man with a greatsword on his back walked steadily. This was Kevan's teammate, the reason he'd survived the monster's pursuit.
Griffith had single-handedly slain that demon-level beast.
"Yeah," Griffith nodded.
He hadn't revealed his identity, but from his aura and sheer strength, Kevan guessed he was a monk-warrior from some reclusive monastery.
At the gathering point, Kevan collapsed to the ground in relief.
This was a safe zone. Reaching it meant he was safe.
"Kevan?"
Kevan turned toward the voice and saw a slim figure step out from the crowd of apprentices, greatsword on his back and staff in hand.
"Edwyn?!"
Kevan was stunned. Compared to his own miserable state, Edwyn looked surprisingly put together. His clothes were a bit tattered, but his spirit was high, he didn't look like someone who had just survived a life-and-death trial.
"So it really is you."
Edwyn walked over and helped Kevan up with a smile.
Kevan still owed him a Mana Stone, after all.
"Looks like I made the right call trying to recruit you. Too bad it was all for nothing," Kevan said with a bitter laugh.
The alliance he'd worked so hard to build had been rendered meaningless with one word from a Mage.
"Surviving is all that matters. Go register with the Mage. There's a teleportation circle here, they activate it once there's a hundred people. Thanks to your friend, it looks like we're about there."
As he spoke, Edwyn squinted at the blond giant behind Kevan.
This guy had been staring at him since he showed up.
"Hey, friend. Why do you keep staring at me?"
Griffith gave a slight bow. "So, it was you who killed Saban."
"You know who owned this sword?"
Edwyn met his eyes. This guy was definitely a knight, probably a dual-class warrior, judging by the mana circulation he sensed.
"Let me introduce him," Kevan quickly stepped in. He could sense the tension rising. "This is Griffith, a genius knight from another continent."
"I knew Saban. Back in the Northern Empire, he was always trying to kill me," Griffith sighed. "He had great talent. A shame."
Since it wasn't a grudge, Edwyn didn't press the matter.
After Kevan and Griffith registered, the Mage issued the teleportation order.
"Prepare for transport. Apprentices prone to dizziness should close their eyes.
Three, two, one, teleport!"
In an instant, the gathering point flashed with light. Edwyn's vision was filled with chaotic color.
When his sight cleared again, what he saw would stay with him for the rest of his life.
"This is…" Edwyn murmured.
Before him stood a colossal tower so massive it could only be described as majestic. It seemed to pierce the heavens, as if linking the earth to the realm of gods. Intricate reliefs covered its surface, so lifelike they seemed to hold trapped souls. Gargoyles perched at the tower's corners, their grotesque faces so vivid it felt like they could come alive at any second.
"This is the Central Black Tower. It was originally the Chancellor's personal mage tower, open only to mages. After the academy was founded, he opened the first fifty floors as the teaching area."
Edwyn turned toward the voice.
It came from a cat-sized owl, except this owl was about twice as large as normal and was speaking fluent human language, clutching a large sack in its talons.
"Little ones, I'm the Academy Overseer and your guide. I monitor whether you obey academy rules. Now take your assigned items and follow me, I'll show you around."
The layout of the Black Tower Magus Academy was simple. Besides the Central Tower where classes were held, there were three main zones: the Laboratory Zone, the Residential Zone, and the Commercial Zone.
The Laboratory Zone was the largest, dedicated to dangerous experiments conducted by both Mages and apprentices.
The Commercial Zone sold experiment materials, spell components, and magical gear. Here, not only did faculty operate shops, but so did Mage guilds and even apprentices. The academy's currency was "Academy Coins," which could also be exchanged with Mana Stones at a fixed rate, one Mana Stone equal to 100 coins.
Finally, the Residential Zone handled daily needs, clothing, food, even stables. Black towers were scattered throughout, and every apprentice had their own room, rent-free.
Edwyn followed the owl for a full day's tour. Just as it ended, he spotted a familiar face among the new arrivals.
"Hey! Edwyn! I knew you'd pass!"
It was Elia.
She looked a little battered, her golden hair singed in places, a blackened burn on her forehead, and her clothes were torn here and there.
Then again, Edwyn didn't look much better. The forest hadn't been kind to anyone.
"Got lucky, arrived a little earlier."
Even though it had only been a few days, seeing a familiar face in this strange academy was heartening.
As night fell, dandelion-like plants sprouted along the paths. They glowed softly like street lamps.
"Luminweed. Spoils of the Chancellor's conquests in another realm. We use them as streetlights."
Edwyn explained the basics of the academy as they walked. Elia's group had arrived at dusk, and the owl, judging them too tired, had simply dropped off supplies and left.
"So beautiful…"
Elia gazed at the glowing plants, eyes filled with awe and wonder. The academy's otherworldly beauty left her dazed.
Was this really the same place where students had to kill to get in? Shouldn't it be all crosses, bones on the floor, students in coffins, and demonic teachers?
"But don't touch them," Edwyn added. "If agitated, they fire their seeds like shrapnel. Each seed packs the punch of a low-level fireball."
Her fantasy shattered instantly.
Edwyn pointed at a nearby tower. "That's the Residential Zone. New apprentices get their own tower. You won't have trouble finding a room."
The academy had a dedicated "newcomer" zone as a buffer. After three years, students would have to move and find new housing.
As Edwyn turned toward the tower, he suddenly felt a tug on his sleeve.
"Uh… w-why don't we become neighbors?"
Elia clutched his sleeve, her hair hiding her face.
"Neighbors?" Edwyn didn't think much of it. Girls were unpredictable, like summer storms, always changing.
"Sure. The academy doesn't separate housing by gender."
"Really?! That's great!"
Elia beamed, her eyes sparkling with delight.
"Come on," Edwyn said, pointing toward the tower. "Getting here early has perks, no one's claimed the rooms yet. Let's pick a nice one before it gets crowded."