Chapter 99 - They Choose Their Path, He Creates His Path (4)

Basil was standing in front of his manor with Deacon on his side, while facing Shirley and his maids. Today was his departure day. Therefore, everyone from his manor was seeing him off.

"Brother, I promise I will get admitted to Randalvine Preparatory Academy in no time. By that time, we will be able to be together again!" Shirley declared heatedly at Basil.

Basil smiled faintly, before patting her head. "I will be waiting." Moving his gaze to his maids, he said, "Take care of this girl in my stead." The maids bowed, before exclaiming in unison, "We will do our best, Young Master!"

"Remember, you are not alone. You have Clarissa and Julia." Basil reminded Shirley.

"I know. I will reach out to them, whenever I feel lonely." Shirley hugged Basil tightly, while muttering, "I will miss you."

Basil didn't answer her as he merely patted her back. When Shirley let go of her hug, Basil immediately turned his back on her. While waving his hand casually, Basil entered the carriage. The Hexapod Horse neighed, before it ran with the carriage on its back.

Soon enough, the carriage couldn't be seen any longer.

"Just wait, Brother. Just wait..." Shirley stared at the direction where Basil was heading heatedly.

She was determined to be a Second Circle Mage as soon as possible.

...

As Basil rode a special carriage, the trip to Randalvine took only six hours. Surely, it was also possible due to the Teleportation Gate.

For the whole trip, Basil was concentrating himself on training. Therefore, the ride was silent.

Upon arriving at Randalvine, Basil's carriage passed through the bustling road slowly. As they were already so close to the destination, the Hexapod Horse didn't need to run any longer.

Therefore, Basil could see the happy face of the wealthy people, who inhabitated Randalvine, walking on the road.

Ignorance is bliss. All of them didn't know what would happen in the near future. They could be happy, because they thought the moment would last forever. Such happy face showed their ignorance. And yet, it was still enviable.

People who live in ignorance can still find their happiness. But, those in the know will never ever find the way to be happy. All they do is to prepare themselves to pass the hurdle that is about to hit them.

Basil wasn't ignorant. He knew every sequence of the tragedy about to happen. What's worse, he could even predict the time it would happen with the help of the Guide. Such Basil couldn't be merry for now.

However, he was sure he would get the last laugh.

"We have arrived at your destination, Sir."

Basil merely hummed at the carriage rider, and got down from the carriage with Deacon on his shoulder. He didn't bring any luggage with him, as he had them stored inside his Spatial Ring.

He is wearing his favorite black attire on him. This time, instead of Infiltration Robe, he wore a black leather coat instead.

Magic Institute was the next education phase after graduating from Magic Academy. In Magic Institute, one would be given the path to be chosen, and be trained to do their role better. It was already a common knowledge that Mage ended up as either a Scholar or an Extinguisher.

Extinguisher were people who slay the Demons spawned by the Obelisk. Surely, none of them knew they were killing Demons not Monsters. It was an occupation for both Mage and Knight alike. Compared to Knight, Mage indeed had too little job options.

Looking to his front Basil was greeted by the sight of four storey building that extended for 1 km in length, and 250 m in width. The area belonged to it was also as vast as the building merely took a fourth of the whole area.

There were also other buildings filling up the area, however it was clear the biggest building was the main building of the area. This place was the best Magic Institute in Braxtein Kingdom. It was Randalvine Magic Institute.

At the entrance of the Magic Institute, a 10 m tall gate was put. It was entirely made of one of the strongest Magic Metal, Vanadium.

Basil approached the closed gate. He was about to verify his identity to the gate, when it suddenly opened by itself.

Hum.

Due to the air friction, the metal hummed each time it moved. It gave a majestic and a fearsome feeling at the same time.

When the gate was completely opened, Basil could see someone opposite him. It was someone he knew well. A beautiful young woman with long and silky purple hair, sharp red eyes, and a well-endowed figure.

It was none other than Iliana.

"You have finally come. Took you long enough, Sil."

"Since there was no specific time mentioned, I am not late."

"What an innovative way to say 'I don't care'." Iliana clapped her hands in mock amazement.

Basil paid no attention to her, and stepped inside. Iliana, whose eyes shone briefly before Basil stepped in, was left with disappointment when nothing happened.

"What?" Basil asked in mock curiosity.

"You know all along, don't you?"

"Know what?"

"The trap."

"Oh, did you mean this?" Basil tapped his left foot on the gateway.

Right after he retracted his foot, a strip line appeared on the ground of the gateway, and shone intensely. A strange yet profound symbols, could be seen written on the strip line.

It was a Rune.

However, one couldn't admire the Rune for long. A strong wind was expelled from the Rune, sending anything on top of it to the sky.

Whoosh!

It all happened in less than three seconds.

Iliana glared at the nonchalant Basil with unamused eyes. Basil returned the gaze with his casual yet condescending smirk.

"Hmph! You have a good sense."

"Anyone with eyes can see it plainly. Your Council needs to learn more."

"Hoh?"

Iliana was surprised Basil knew the Rune was carved by the Student Council. She wasn't that surprised Basil knew there was a rune carved on the gateway.

"How did you know it was carved by our Council member?"

"The Rune is sloppy."

"How can you judge it?"

"The flow of the Mana."

Once again, Iliana was amazed. Such an answer would normally make her face contort in irritation. However, since it was coming from Basil, she could believe the absurd answer.

To detect the flow of Mana was easy once one concentrated on the thing that was exuding Mana. Surely, the Mana had to be exuded.

It wasn't the case with Rune. Rune didn't exude Mana.

To detect the Mana flow of an activated Rune, one had to have a special eyes. It was the eyes that could see Mana. To do that, one had to be able to move one's Magic Circle from the heart to the eyes.

Needless to say, not everyone could do that.

"Come, I will lead you to your dormitory."

"Very well."

Basil followed Iliana's lead to his dormitory. Along the way, he met with many of his "Senior". Surely, Basil didn't want to admit they were his Senior. He knew more than the Human Emperor himself. How could he admit them as his Senior?

As he was walking side by side with Iliana, he was also receiving the curious gaze from the students. Judging by his attire, they knew Basil was a freshman. However, they couldn't get the reason why would the Council's Vice President personally guide him.

Of course, he didn't only get the curious gaze. There were also people glaring at him or stupidly trying to suppress him. There were many salty Nobles who had been rejected by Iliana, apparently.

"You are taking it well."

"Is this what you are aiming?"

"Not really. It is just fun to see how those idiots react to your appearance."

"Which one do you refer? The male or the female?"

"Both. The latter is irritating, to be honest."

Basil smiled faintly. Iliana in the past had been that way too. She had hated women who were crazy over men. She had always said sacrifice over one's love was an utter nonsense.

Still, in the end, she had saved his life.

"Women who know nothing more than just loving are fodders. There is nothing such as mercy in this world." Iliana said sagely.

"The world is cruel, yet honest. People are many things, and never honest."

"Hmm... Are you saying that there is a kind liar?" Iliana stood in Basil's way, successfully stopping him.

"Of course." Basil gazed into Iliana's eyes deeply. "A woman promised to be eternally by a man's side. However, due to an accident, the man is left dying. The woman, who loves the man so much, sacrificed herself to save him."

Basil's eyes shone incomprehensibly. "The promise is broken, she became a liar. But still, she is a good partner and a kind liar. Dare you say otherwise?"

Iliana was weirded out. She was unreasonably feeling attacked. However, she was a reasonable woman, thus quick to regain her composure.

"Hmph! Nothing stops me from saying she is stupid."

"Yes, you are right." Basil nodded his head, while smiling softly.

Iliana blinked her eyes. Basil's expression, and his mood was completely the opposite. Although she felt it briefly, she could feel he was saddened. Still, she attributed it to his mourning over Irene's death.

The two people continued walking, and not long after, they arrived at the dormitory. The building was four storey, and it was divided in two. One of them belonged to male students, and the other belonged to female students.

"As you are still in the first year, you will stay in the first floor." With eyes on them, Iliana guided Basil inside.

"You have the privilege of the Tournament winner. That means, your room is the closest to the bunker." Iliana glanced at Basil. "Don't you want to know the reason?"

"In case of any sudden attack ensues, it is to make sure those who are "chosen" have the highest survival rate."

"Yes, that's the harsh reality. We only need competent people to live. The useless ones can die." Iliana stated rightfully.

Iliana had taught him the same thing in the past. However, seeing it now, it was rather unsuitable to someone her age.

Basil shook his head faintly to clear the thought. As he was physically younger than Iliana, and had the same mindset as her, the way people saw him would also be the same as the way he had seen her earlier.

"Here is your room. You will live alone, so you don't have to worry about 'privacy'." Iliana winked at Basil.

Basil took it nonchalantly, and merely nodded his head. Iliana clicked her tongue inwardly. She had thought she could tease him.

"Meet me in the Training Field tomorrow at 9 in the morning. Don't be late." Iliana said toward Basil.

"Hm."

At Basil's simple response, Iliana immediately turned her back on him, and left the vicinity.

Everyone who had been watching the interaction between Basil and Iliana, put their gaze on Basil. Curiosity was plain in their eyes.

Surely, Basil didn't care.. He merely entered his room.