"I regret to inform you, Professor Shearer, that I honestly haven't had much success with mass-producing edible plants. Everything I grow is edible, indeed, but the problem is, I doubt anyone would take the risk of being punched and broken by these plants during harvest. Even for the farmers in Gotham, it would be a little too thrilling."
"What about the guardian plants you mentioned earlier? Professor Pamela?"
"On that front, we have made some progress." Pamela nodded, "Bruce and I believe there is something off with the rainwater in Gotham. So, we collected some for watering plants, using it for controlled experiments."
"After several rounds of experiments, we found a suitable ratio. When watered, the plants produce a certain craziness, yet it's not a negative type of craziness."
"In the mystic world, this craziness is more akin to 'exuberant vitality'. You could see this as a kind of plant stimulant. Plants irrigated with Gotham's rainwater over a long period contain remnants of this stimulant."
"If I stimulate the craziness in these plants using the power of All Things Green, they develop considerable offensive capabilities and can be used as guards."
"But I heard that some of the plants you grew attacked people uncontrollably?"
"It's unavoidable that any crazed entity in this world will be highly aggressive. However, after a few iterations, the latest tree guards I've created can understand basic commands."
"It's not entirely perfect though, is it?"
"Of course, there's still room for improvement. They can only understand very simple commands, such as stay in place, attack someone, or when to attack."
"The tree demon Sergei that Master of the Dark Night Jim borrowed to guard was the same, right?"
"Yes. The magic realm is in chaos and in need of regeneration. Master Jim is busy and can't personally guard the magic stone, so he borrowed Sergei to guard the warehouse where the magic stone is kept. It saves him a lot of energy and is enough to deter newly admitted students."
"No offence, miss, but don't you think it's more than just the students who might be interested in the magic stone? I don't intend to question your abilities, but can a somewhat uncontrollable tree demon really execute the guarding duties effectively?"
"Rest assured, Professor Shearer, before leaving, Master Jim gave Sergei instructions to indiscriminately attack anyone attempting to forcefully enter that room."
"I'm sorry, the range of 'forcefully enter' is...?"
"Obviously, it's if someone tries to break down the door without a key. Although I don't believe any magician could break down that magic door, as soon as they make a similar attack move, they will be attacked by Sergei."
"I see. Master Jim is indeed very meticulous. But, I heard a student entered the room and unfortunately got attacked yesterday…"
"Such things are inevitable. He might have strayed in there by accident, or maybe he deliberately broke school rules. However, Sergei wouldn't consider such things. Its craziness made it unable to differentiate if the person entering is an invader or a curious student."
The three students peeking their heads out of the room heard Professor Shearer utter a comprehending "oh", then his voice gradually faded away, indicating that the two were leaving.
"Lord, he's trying to coax her into talking!" Barry jumped out and nervously whispered, "Professor Rodriguez seems very interested in learning about the tree demon's weaknesses!"
Harley's eyes darted around and she wore an imperceptible smile. Then she asked, "If, as we speculated earlier, this is a test, who do you think would organize it?"
"I heard Professor Pamela mention someone named 'Master of the Dark Night Jim.'" Little Bruce squinted and asked, "Who is he? Is he a magician?"
"He's the acting principal of this school and carries a lot of clout in the magical world, but that's all I know." Harley replied.
"Then, I think we should search for some information." Little Bruce furrowed his eyebrows and said, "Especially about these professors we interact with every day, and the truth behind what previously occurred in the magical world."
"That means we'll have to visit the library." Barry looked out the window and said, "We have two classes in the morning and three in the afternoon today, so we don't have much free time. But we'll have a study period tomorrow afternoon, so we could go then."
"You don't oppose us getting involved in this anymore?"
"Compared to that, I'm more curious to know the truth behind these puzzling occurrences. Are students supposed to continuously walk to their demise on the fourth floor if no one finds the solution? Is this what a school is supposed to do?" Barry sighed and said.
"This place has never been just a school."
Other than that slyly suggestive remark, Harley fell silent.
The last class of the day was Professor Shearer's Magic Theory class. Dressed in his usual mage robes, he walked into the classroom, composed himself and began speaking.
"I know many newcomers harbor many unrealistic and idealistic fantasies about the magical realm, and this class is the sledgehammer that shatters these illusions."
"What a pity it is that you will not hear any fantastical or enchanting fairy tales in this class. The characters and histories we touch upon in the foundation theory of magic class are all heavy, because every small step such a weak creature as the human race takes in the realm of mysticism is accompanied by countless fallen."
As Shiller spoke in his deep, slow voice, the atmosphere in the classroom gradually sunk.
"The foundational theory of magic is an extremely dry subject. You need to memorize countless runes, study five to six complex ancient languages that are no longer understood in ordinary human society, and recite virtually all religious scriptures that have ever appeared in human history, and search for any hint of the mystic world from the vast sea of historical books."
Everyone in the classroom silently watched the professor on the podium, and Shiller's words further lowered the already gloomy atmosphere.
"But this knowledge cannot readily translate to your strength. The credentials within the magical realm are not as prevalent as the ones within ordinary society – they are not even your stepping stones."
"To really put this knowledge to use, to shape your skills into a sharp sword, you must delve deeper, until you are better versed than the witnesses of these events - the magnificent beings such as angels and demons, can you truly possess an advantage nobody else can."
"But fortunately, you now have the opportunity. For many previous years, this knowledge was even kept off the table, magicians discarded it like a trifle, only comparing who could borrow more power to waste."
"To avoid walking the same path, I must reiterate the most critical of all school rules - none of the teachers or students in this school are allowed any ties with angels or demons. Only in this way can the purity of our teachings be ensured, because many manipulations and controls occur inadvertently."
"If you hear any strange noises or vile whispers, please immediately report it to your dean or any teacher. You must not respond to it - do you understand?"
Every student vigorously nodded their heads. Since their enrollment, all the teachers have emphasized how dangerous angels and demons are, and how adept they are at manipulating one's heart. Many students were already somewhat fearful and had no intention of prematurely making contact with these entities.
"But one of you has already encountered a force from Heaven." Shiller's words reignited the atmosphere in the room, and a cacophony of discussion filled the chamber.
"Someone among us had contact with an angel?" Barry's eyes widened as he looked left and right. Little Bruce, however, frowned.
"Bruce Wayne!" Shiller shouted this name and then focused his gaze on Bruce. Instantly, everyone turned their heads to stare at Bruce.
"I know that through the relationship of your dean, Dean Wayne, you had an early exposure to magic. But do you think having grasped the use of the rune of holy power and catching a peek at the true form of an angel allows you to scoff at your peers who have not experienced such events, calling them fools?"
"Or is it that the stupidity lies in exposing oneself to Heaven early, allowing the temptation of angels to echo in your ears in the decades to come, and to be more or less controlled or manipulated by them?"
With a 'whoosh,' a vacuum area formed around Bruce. Except for Barry, nearly all freshmen distanced themselves from Bruce at the fastest speed possible.
It was no joking matter, as the previous disaster in the magic world was triggered by a civil war instigated by many mages who lost their sanity under the control of angels and demons. This was the version of truth that the students heard, leaving them no choice but to believe its validity.
"Do you think you are the chosen one?" Shiller revealed a faint cold smile, staring into little Bruce's stubborn blue eyes and saying, "Every mage who lost their mind under control and attacked their peers once believed the same. In the magic realm, what you think you have mastered is nothing but a trap tempting you, manipulating you, and the lamb who falls into that trap is the real fool."
Little Bruce clenched his fists, revealing an enraged expression for the first time. But Shiller merely took one final look at him, walked to the podium, and announced: "Let's start the class!"
After class, the crowd began to divert from where Bruce was, creating an obvious vacuum zone around him. Little Bruce took a deep breath, raising his eyes to Professor Shiller who was packing up at the podium, and muttered, "Very well, I should thank you for helping me avoid trouble. Did you really think I liked hanging out with these fools?"
After saying this, he turned to leave. But at that moment, he felt his arm being grabbed. Barry was standing behind him asking, "Where are you going? Didn't we agree to go to the library to look up information together?"
"Aren't you worried that I'm being controlled by an angel?"
"That's exactly why I have to keep an eye on you. I suspect that your irritability is influenced by magic power. If you lash out, I can immediately go for a professor."
Little Bruce wordlessly shook off his hand. At this time, Harley also came over, following the two of them and giggling.
"Don't worry, even if you go crazy, I've got a plan."
"What do you...?"
Barry had just begun to ask when he saw Harley pull out a round object from her bag of school materials.
Barry looked intently, then joined Bruce in a sharp intake of breath, because in Harley's hand was a smooth, round, like-new manufacture—a former Soviet Union F-1 Fragmentation Defense Hand Grenade.