Chapter 414: Evaluation?

Chapter 414: Evaluation?

L-lady Castellane, is this necessary? I-Im sure we can lure in the Blood-Vulture in a different fashion.

Dont be a spoilsport, just take the meat and wait.

You dont trust Lady Castellanes plan?

N-no, perish the thought. Its just t-that

A hushed conversation unfolded among a group of people gathered around a floating orb of light. Among them was a young girl, appearing to be around fourteen or fifteen. Clad in dark robes, they all wore uniforms bearing a distinct emblem, reminiscent of the late Archmage Xandar.

My dear little Lucienne, if you paid attention in class, then youd know that Blood-Vulturs are a skittish bunch, just like you~

Six individuals were present, with four standing behind a particular blond girl. Four of them shared a similar emblem, featuring the legendary phoenix with wings outstretched in fiery brilliance, adorned with hues of gold and crimson. However, the emblem differed for the two other girls standing behind Lady Castellane, their phoenix motif appearing more silvery, while Lucienne's had a somewhat paler steel coloring.

B-but

We need those feathers for the next assignment, you wouldnt want me to fail my next assignment, now would you?

N-no

Well then, let me explain again as you might have already forgotten. The Blood-Vulture will only appear when it smells blood but will quickly withdraw if the prey isnt alive

The blond girl turned to the side, nodding at one of the men who had accompanied the four girls. Unlike them, he did not bear the phoenix emblem of Xandars Institute, and his attire differed - silvery half-plate armor adorned with a distinct insignia. Responding to the nod, he stepped forward, clutching a jar containing some red liquid.

The meat might not be enough, so as a precaution

What are you

The contents of the jar were poured onto the girls robes and some of it had even spilled through it and onto her body. It had a distinct smell along with a fragrance that the people here knew, it was monster blood.

Stop squirming, Itll be fine before the vulture strikes well save you, so do your job and wait.

Lucienne bit her lip, her eyes darting nervously between Lady Castellane and the chuckling ensemble behind her. The plan seemed to be unfolding in a manner that made her increasingly uncomfortable. The air around her grew tense as the scent of the monster blood permeated the surroundings as she was left to fend for herself in this darkened forest.

The group fell silent, anticipation hanging in the air. The only sound was the occasional rustle of the surrounding trees and the subdued whispers of the group members. Lucienne couldnt shake off the feeling of unease that clung to her like a shadow. After a few moments, the atmosphere shifted. The air seemed charged with magical energy, and the floating orb of light dimmed. Lady Castellane's eyes narrowed, and she raised her hand in a signal for silence.

Lucienne's breath quickened, her heartbeat echoing in the dark forest as she found herself alone and vulnerable. The night sky was clear, the moon casting its ethereal glow across the surroundings. The rustling of trees intensified, and she anxiously scanned the area for the source of the eerie sounds. A fleeting silence gripped the place, but safety remained elusive as mysterious glowing eyes soon materialized from the shadows.

Something felt amiss; the eye structure didn't align with that of a Blood-Volture. Moreover, it wasn't an isolated pair of eyes inching closer; there were multiple sets. A ferocious growl pierced the air, and a creature resembling a black wolf emerged from the shadows of the forest. Instantly, Lucienne sensed that this creature posed a far greater threat than a Blood-Volture, a challenge beyond her own capabilities.

A Wolf-Fiend?

As Lucienne opened her mouth, many loud howls resonated through the entire area. The monster was not alone, and the haunting sounds echoed from various angles, including where her supposed friends were stationed. The men's voices soon joined the dissonance as they shouted, urging a retreat.

Lady Castellane, we must withdraw! The meat has attracted lesser Wolf-Fiends, and there might be a higher form in the pack that we wont be able to handle!

Everyone, retreat!

Lady Castellane, the leader of the group, issued the command, prompting everyone to sprint away. However, Lucienne, who had been used as bait, found herself abandoned and left to fend for herself. Despite her attempts to catch up with the fleeing group, she wasn't a swift runner. The wolf-like creatures quickly discerned her as their target and began a relentless pursuit.

Panicking, Lucienne weaved through the trees, her robes getting caught on branches as she desperately tried to put distance between herself and the approaching Wolf-Fiends. The magical blood scent clung to her, acting as a magnet for the creatures.

As the beasts closed in, Lucienne stumbled over a protruding tree root, falling to the forest floor. One of the lesser wolves, a dark creature with crimson eyes, leaped forward, its jaws snapping dangerously close to her. Lucienne who had been frantically chanting a spell pointed towards the wolf. Before it could bite her a shield of mana surrounded her body to protect her.

The monster sank its teeth into the glowing mana shield, but it proved resistant. Undeterred, it recognized that the person behind the shield wasn't retaliating. The creature's teeth began to emit a darkish hue as it activated one of its own skills. The shield created by the young mage wasn't exceptionally robust, it became evident that, given enough time, it would eventually give way.

He knew this woman's name because she was involved with his older brother, Robert. The two hadn't contacted him in a while, so he was wondering what the issue might have been. Considering that Lucille was getting up in age and family issues were involved, the problem could be related to marriage. It was not something that he wished to pry into as he expected such a problem to arise. Robert was a simple knight in the army, while she was a count's daughter. Their backgrounds were too different for it to work out without her familys involvement.

Ah yes, I hope she comes back soon but now you are here

You dont mean

Yes, the position that you will be taking is of an assistant Professor!

Rolands eyes widened in surprise. He had anticipated that he might be involved in some capacity due to his proficiency in runic enchantments, but becoming an assistant professor was a significant responsibility. It wasn't just about gaining access to the library; he was being offered a role that carried weight within the Institute, one that might force him to

Assistant Professor? Do you actually expect me to

Well, my dear friend, considering your knowledge and skills, you are more than qualified for the position. Plus, the Academy is in need of someone with your expertise. With Lucille gone, the Runic Department has been struggling to keep up with the demand for maintenance and improvements in the mage towers. You wont have to do much, after the initial interview youll just have to assist me with a few classes and do a few odd jobs with the students

Arion turned his face to the side as if he was afraid to face Roland who had a somewhat irritated look on his face. Roland's mind raced with thoughts. While the idea of being an assistant professor was intriguing, he couldn't help but wonder about the workload and responsibilities that came with the position. His primary goal was still to delve into the Academy's library and gather information about mana phantoms. However, he did not really want to interact with other mages or even worse, teenage students.

Before attaining his first mage class, he had researched this highly regarded magical institute. From the outside, it appeared to be a dream come true, but there were a few nightmares hidden within. First of all, the place was segregated into groups. One of these groups comprised commoner mages, whose status was the lowest among everyone. Then there were individuals with wealth and lower nobility, with higher nobility being considered the best of the best. A clear divide existed among the students, and when he was younger, he had been preparing himself for potential bullying by the higher-standing nobles.

Fine, if it gets me into the library, then Ill do it... but what will my duties be? You dont really expect me to teach the students?

Mm... Im not sure. Your primary duty would be to the Runic Department, assisting and maintaining the mage towers, but you first need to go through the evaluation

There is an evaluation?

Yes, this is the most I could do... but the council of mages didn't want to allow an outsider into the institute without evaluating them first. Ill have to apologize for misleading you, my friend. If you don't wish to proceed, Ill understand. I will still be able to procure a temporary pass so you can remain here, but you wont be able to do your research

Roland contemplated the situation for a moment. Becoming an assistant professor wasn't what he had envisioned, but the lure of the vast library and the chance to delve into the mysteries of mana was too tempting to resist. He had already gotten here in less than a week, so leaving now would also be just pointless. After a brief silence, he spoke.

Alright, let's proceed with the evaluation. I'll do what it takes to gain access to the library and conduct my research. Can you explain what this evaluation will be about? Will I have to take a written test?

Arions eyes sparkled with gratitude and relief. Roland wasnt sure if his friend intended to burden him with how things turned out, but if he went through with it, there were many things to gain. The library was one part; then, there were the mage towers that, after being part of this Runic department, he would apparently have free access to. His aim was to go through all of them and copy all the runic structures that he could get his hands on.

Mage towers were marvels of magical technology and powerful tools. If he could recreate one for himself inside Albrook, then even a tier 4 monster could be dealt with. These structures could magnify a persons magical power to the extreme. The compound that he created himself with the turrets was an attempt to imitate these structures; if he could research them, then creating an impenetrable stronghold wouldnt be a pipe dream.

Usually, your status as a tier 3 mage should be sufficient enough but due to your lack of a proper education and any certificates from other magical academies, the evaluation might be more extensive. I wouldnt be surprised if the evaluation will involve practical applications of magic, maybe even problem solving skills

Practical applications, you make it sound like I will have to fight monsters?

Well... I might have mentioned that you are a platinum adventurer with extensive knowledge of magical combat. The academy is always looking for battlemages to guarantee the safety of our students; they can be quite the rascals.

I see

He couldnt really hold it against Arion, as Rolands identity could only be confirmed by his adventurer card. He could only blame himself for being a mysterious rune-slinging craftsman-mage that people were suspicious of. If he were in their place, he would probably do the same. However, after hearing about the battle test, he had the sinking suspicion that after passing it, his tasks would increase in scope.

Yes, indeed. Youll need to showcase your magical prowess, demonstrate your understanding of runic enchantments, and perhaps prove your ability to work in a collaborative and educational setting.

Roland nodded, absorbing the information. He was confident in his magical abilities, but the prospect of interacting with students and faculty posed a different set of challenges. As someone who had spent most of his life researching and practicing magic alone, teaching others was a novel and somewhat intimidating prospect.

When will this evaluation take place? How long do I have to prepare for it.

The Council of Mages has arranged for the evaluation to take place in two days. Im not quite sure about the assessment but Im sure it wont be anything too difficult for someone like you.

Two days? That doesn't leave much time to prepare

While Roland tried not to sigh too loudly, Arion started chuckling. It seemed that the situation was a little bit amusing to him, but he also was hopeful that Roland would get through the trials. With an assistant professor in the department, he would be getting the help that he craved for, and perhaps with some new blood on board, his funding could finally increase.