Eluard took a deep breath and re-organized his thoughts. The mask of the magus was of great assistance during times like these.
He closed his system panel and noticed two figures standing on his right, "What are you doing?"
Emi and Olivia bowed in unison, "Good morning, senior."
The latter stepped forward and continued, "We saw you here earlier and chose not to disturb you in your thoughts."
Her long silvery-white hair fell graciously. The girl's countenance seemed to have improved today. Her bluish-white eyes were now filled with energy but Eluard could see that she was holding the pain within.
"Also, senior, thank you for fulfilling my wish. This one is-"
Eluard knew what she was about to say and interjected, "You should know what this place is and now that you asked me to save you, I might remind you that some things require a price to pay."
Olivia could feel herself being pressured by Eluard. She immediately knelt in respect and said out loud, "Academy master, please allow me to enroll in your academy on behalf of my lackluster talent. I wouldn't mind anything else you require of me to do but please, I would rather be here than back in Aludia."
She changed her way of addressing Eluard to academy master, knowing fully well his identity in the Heavenly Magic Academy.
Eluard nodded in satisfaction. He wouldn't dare to ask more of Olivia than for her to beg him that she could be enrolled in the academy.
As for Olivia knowing what this place was? Emi might've told her where they were. The little lass was fond of talking to strangers she finds amiable which worried Eluard a bit. However, that was something to think about later so he rested the case at the back of his mind.
Also, given Olivia's identity, hearing a thing or two about the fabled magic academy was normal.
He turned around and gestured at them to follow him. It was almost breakfast time and they should be hungry, particularly Olivia who still had some poison lingering inside her body.
Eluard was exhausted after the battle yesterday so he was unable to tend to Olivia when they returned to the academy. He also didn't expect that his mind would be 'assaulted' by a range of emotions, increasing his need to sleep early.
'System, is there anything I could do to alleviate that poison from Olivia?'
[ Recollecting data ]
[ Olivia Winterice ingested the dark lunar pill. As a result, her body's temperature considerably decreased and it is making her muscles react slower and feel heavier from the inside. Due to her origin as a northerner and affinity to the ice element, her innate resistance to cold temperature has reduced the effect of the dark lunar pill to mild. ]
[ Plausible Remedies: Eating the flamed red-headed buffalo meat available in the cafeteria to thaw the ice that had spread inside her body. ]
[ Other remedies (unattainable):
1. Concocting the golden flame pill. This is the best counter to the dark lunar pill. Requires several ingredients, fire affinity, and pill concoction skills. (Additional information omitted)
2. Internal flame massage. Gently set her inner body aflame with your fire magic. Requires fire affinity, the magical power of an adept wizard, and the internal massage skill.
3. …
]
The plausible remedies only showed the solutions that Eluard could currently apply given the resources available both in the academy and from himself. The rest that followed are something Eluard is unable to carry out due to the lack of resources, skills, or magic power.
Meanwhile, Emi and Olivia curiously looked around their surroundings. The glistening tiles, clean smooth walls, tall and large round columns that supported the structure of the academy, and the beautiful sight of the sky above.
"This is… paradise.", Olivia softly spoke. Emi heard her and asked, "Sister Olivia, what do you mean this is paradise? Is the climate at the northern glacial continent that bad?"
Olivia smiled, reminiscing her memories.
Back at the northern glacial continent, they spent most of the time suffering from the biting cold winter storm, crumbling ice peaks, large-scale avalanches, and many other life-threatening calamities.
It was a wonder to the other people in Aludia how the northerners managed to survive and even form a confederation in a place where hell has frozen all over.
The serene atmosphere in the Heavenly Magic Academy made Olivia feel at peace.
"Yes, Emi, it's bad. So don't ever go there if you don't bring sister with you, okay?", she was fond of Emi and her innocence.
"How bad is it, sister Olivia?", Emi's curiosity was picked up.
Olivia suddenly knelt and pinched Emi's cheeks, "It's very bad for little girls like you."
Emi could only surrender as her face was stretched like rubber. Eluard noticed the interaction between the two recruits and was elated inside, "The two of you should be hungry."
Olivia and Emi immediately turned around and faced Eluard. "This is the cafeteria. It's not open at all times unless I permit it to do so."
The cafeteria was a large hall with over 500 chairs that could accommodate the same number of students. It was incredibly spacious despite the number of occupants that would expectedly use it.
Eluard led them to the counter. Behind it were boards above their heads, displaying the meals available just like how fast-food restaurants worked back on Earth.
"Olivia Winterice, since the dark lunar pill still lingers inside your body, I suggest you should take this instead."
He pointed his hands to the flamed red-headed buffalo meat meal, "Once the two of you are finished, meet me at the lobby. We will proceed to your enrollment process."
Eluard left after saying his piece. The two girls bowed in his direction, "Thank you, academy master."
Olivia wasn't shocked that Eluard knew of her poisoning or her name. This was the fabled magic academy and if her guess was right, that senior should be the academy master here.
Various legends depicted this academy, such as an all-knowing academy master, a very large school domain, or an academy that existed in another dimension.
Olivia persuaded her heart to abandon all sorts of logic when being inside the academy. Doing so would allow her to keep a straight face regardless of how shocking the situation may turn out to be, though her inner thoughts say otherwise.
"Say, sister Olivia, who would cook our meals here anyway? I didn't see anyone here that would cook for us.", Emi noticed a strange thing.
Olivia was startled for a moment but recovered, "Emi, there's a thing called a spiritual magic formation."
Emi leaned her head to the sides, "Spiritual magic formation?"
"Yes. It's a magic formation that stores the spirit of a conscient being and it would then follow instructions based on the behavior set by the wizard who creates them. In this case, the spirit of a chef must've been put here so regardless of what we need, it should be able to cook our meals."
It was just a guess on her part but if Eluard was here, he would verify that Olivia's answer was correct.
"Ah, so magical!", Emi clapped her hands in excitement. She hasn't seen such things in her life so knowing about them amazed her in many ways.
"Alright, the academy master is waiting for us so we should hurry, Emi.", Olivia reminded.
…
Eluard calmly gazed at the entrance of the lobby with great expectations. His private room had its spiritual magic formation that would serve him food whenever he needed it. He had already eaten earlier so he wasn't hungry for the moment.
'Are they going to be a legendary magic root again? I truly hope so.'
Luck was a part of life. If he was unlucky today, he would take what was given to him.
His thoughts were interrupted as footsteps resounded behind him.
"Academy master, we are ready.", Emi and Olivia paid their respects.
Eluard didn't look at them, keeping up with his status as an aloof academy master, "Know fully well what this decision means for once you have committed, there will be no going back."
The two didn't answer but determination could be seen in their eyes.
He glanced at them then walked down the stairs, towards the door opposite of where the Pool of Revelation was. The two girls followed, wondering what mysteries lied behind the door in front of them.
"Behind this door is the Altar of Rites. This is where your journey as a student of the Heavenly Magic Academy starts."
The two huge wooden doors opened, letting out a gust of cold air and revealing what looks like a large gathering room. There were several small circular platforms embedded with metal engravings on their base, depicting the various elements of magic.
Large stone statues of humans, elves, and other races knelt on the sides, diagonally facing the altar at the front with closed eyes and left fists clenched and stuck to their chest.
The altar was no less than a stone podium with two candles emitting a faint light to the dark and mysterious altar. Behind it was another stone statue, donning a mask and a robe similar to what Eluard was wearing right now.
Its right hand held a staff with an arrow-shaped crystal on the top, while on its left hand floated a spiral condensation of mana. To Eluard, it was more of an image of a spiral galaxy.
The door suddenly closed, bringing darkness inside the room. Like switches turning on one by one, the circular platforms brightened up successively from the front, radiating a sky-blue color.
Eluard position himself behind the podium, "Pick one of the platforms down below and we will then proceed."
Emi and Olivia picked the front-most platforms.
"Close your eyes, and take a deep breath.", Eluard guided. They did as instructed, to which, Eluard incantated, "Envision!"