A lot happened after Magnus figured out what Codebreak-005's ability was.
The unease that gripped him when he pondered the existence of more glitches in the world had kept him awake that night. So, instead of sticking to his usual sleep schedule, he decided to keep working with the Knockout Brick, the name he'd given to the glitch. Initially, he planned to test its limits and capabilities further.
For instance, Magnus wanted to understand how the brick targeted objects. Last time, it hit a teacup—a fairly simple, small item. But what if he aimed it at a table leg? Would just the leg enter an unconscious state, or would the effect spread to the entire table? If it was the latter, then what if he dropped it on the floor? Would it knock out a whole building, or did he need to be involved in the process?
More importantly, what abilities would these various objects gain from entering an unconscious state?
These were just a few of the questions buzzing around in his head, but after thinking to himself for nearly half an hour, he decided to shelve all of them. He had gotten lucky that the abnormalities of the teacup were only visible to him when he used the brick on it. However, that didn't change the fact that the results could potentially be random, and who knew if hitting the wrong thing could end up getting him killed?
On top of that, since he couldn't tell if he was being monitored by the academy 24/7 or only at specific times, drawing attention to the brick seemed risky.
Instead, it seemed like a better idea to turn his attention to the precognitive teacups he had originally created. Since he was the only one who could see the visions they projected and they seemed to lose their abnormal properties after one use, it definitely seemed like the safest option. Plus, he would get to see what their full capabilities were, which, surprisingly enough, wasn't as interesting as one would imagine.
The idea of glimpsing into the future had initially thrilled Magnus. Even in a world of magic, he couldn't imagine something like that being very common, or even existing at all. But he soon discovered the teacups' supposed precognitive abilities were nowhere near as practical as he'd hoped, for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, what he glimpsed at and how far into the future he saw appeared to be entirely random. He tried a few things, such as changing the amount of tea in the cup, to see if it would make a difference, but it didn't seem to have any effect on how far into the future he saw. Or perhaps it did, and he simply couldn't remember—that was the second problem. He could only recall hazy, vague details of what he saw in the teacups' dream.
Only when the foreseen moments actually occurred did the memories in his head become clear. And while he was viewing the dream, he wasn't able to move, meaning he couldn't write things down. Even Basker, who was technically a separate entity within Magnus's mind, couldn't remember the teacup's dream correctly or prevent the memory from fading. He figured it probably had to do with the fact that it operated at the most fundamental level—the source code.
In which case, perhaps only the Command Console or another glitch could interfere. And thus, Magnus's night of experimentation came to a rather boring end.
But before he went to bed, he made sure to do one last thing for the night: send a letter to the Major General. He had been waiting for the perfect time, but after everything that had happened, he realized that such a time would probably never come, so he might as well try and get it over with as soon as possible.
Unbeknownst to Magnus, however, the Major General was particularly eager about their upcoming meeting.
The very next morning, after sending out the letter, Magnus could be seen sleeping soundly in his bed, wearing his new pajamas. The sun's rays were already peering through his windows, and normally, he would start waking up around this time. But considering how late he had stayed up last night, he was definitely planning to sleep in.
That was the plan, anyway, until persistent knocking disrupted his sleep. It started softly but grew insistently louder with each moment he didn't respond, eventually pulling him from his slumber. He groggily opened his eyes, blinked into the emptiness, and sighed.
Of course. The one fucking day I want to sleep, and it just happens to be the first day someone decides to knock on my door.
Magnus threw back the covers and stumbled to the door, flinging it open. He was somewhat taken aback to see Vira, the black-violet-haired receptionist he often saw when leaving the dorm, standing there with her hands clasped behind her back. He thought it was Vira, but knowing they were multiplets made him second guess.
But before he could even ask which one she was, she smiled and answered him, as if she had read his mind.
Before he could inquire which one she was, she flashed a knowing smile and said, "I'm the one you met when you first arrived here, yes. I'm very sorry to disturb your rest; however, your maid hasn't arrived yet, and you've received a letter."
As she spoke, she brought forward a hand holding a letter sealed with the Major General's insignia.
"Oh, I see. Thank you." Taking the letter from her, Magnus nodded, and Vira bid him farewell before heading down the hallway, likely to meet another student, judging by the fact she had another letter in her other hand as she walked away.
Closing the door, Magnus returned to his room and turned his attention to the letter in his hand.
He replied to me already? It hasn't even been a full day yet. Maybe he sent this before he received mine?
Sitting down on the couch, Magnus opened the letter and quickly scanned its contents. Surprise flickered across his face as he finished reading. It seemed his initial hunch was correct; the Major General had received his letter just a few hours after he'd sent it in the middle of the night.
The letter expressed the Major General's gratitude for Magnus's prompt response and mentioned that he had a carriage waiting for him outside the academy as he read this.
So, he really did get my letter in the middle of the night. This guy must be a workaholic, that or he sleeps in the garrison. Well, either way, I guess I should get ready.
He hadn't expected their meeting to come so soon, but that didn't stop him from quickly washing up and getting dressed. Within the hour, he was fully ready and left the dorm building, heading towards the gate and passing through the illusory barrier surrounding the academy.
As he stepped outside, Magnus spotted Grial and a few other guards stationed at the academy's entrance.
"Hey, guys, I'm heading out for a bit. If Celia ends up coming by today, could you let her know?" Hearing his request, Grial and the other guards who were there nodded. It was no trouble for them, plus they liked Magnus and Celia. Most of the student body either ignored them or faked courtesy for appearances. Up to this point, Magnus was the only student they had encountered who seemed genuinely friendly, and the fact that he appeared to be close to Gerald, whom they all respected, was also a plus.
Of course, they liked Celia for about the same reason—well, that and the fact that she brought them baked goods every once in a while.
"Sure, no problem. I was wondering why that carriage stopped by so close to the academy," Grial commented, pointing towards a carriage parked down the road bearing a military emblem on its door. It was the very same carriage that had first brought Magnus to Takerth Academy.
"Oh, it looks like that's my ride. I'll see you guys around," Magnus said, partly to himself and partly to the guards as he walked towards the carriage. Approaching it, he saw someone swing the door open from the inside. Peering in, he was surprised to find two people already seated inside, waiting for him.
"Hey, Magnus," greeted Alwen, who was sitting next to Kolten in the carriage.
Noticing the puzzled look on Magnus's face, Kolten took a moment to clarify, "Since you have an active bounty on your head, we'll be your escorts. The Major General felt you would be more comfortable with us since we've talked before."
Ah, that makes sense.
With that cleared up, Magnus nodded and climbed into the carriage. As he settled into his seat, Kolten gave a sharp knock on the carriage wall. The coachman responded by cracking his whip, and they were off.
The entire ride through Arlcliff City to the garrison was pretty peaceful. Although Alwen and Kolten were there for his protection, they weren't really needed, and Magnus spent most of the ride either chatting with them about random things or looking out the window as the city passed them by. After all, no matter how big of a bounty was on his head, there were not many criminals willing to attack a carriage that belonged directly to a Major General. Soon, the carriage began to slow as they reached the garrison, stopping just a little way from the entrance.
Taking a slow breath, Magnus prepared himself. He had no clue what they were actually going to talk about, but he had gone through the possibilities.
The worst-case scenario is that I lose some of my backing. But considering I'm still working with Luden, that shouldn't affect me too negatively. Plus, I doubt even the Major General could have me removed as a student from the academy without a reason, especially considering how much authority mages seem to have.
As he had that thought, he opened the door to the carriage and stepped out, with Kolten and Alwen following close behind him. Waiting at the entrance of the garrison was Pezar, who greeted Magnus the moment he saw him.
"Welcome, Magnus. The Major General is waiting for you. Follow me," Pezar said, leading them across the garrison grounds. Magnus took the opportunity to observe his surroundings.
Outside the main building of the garrison was a training area in the corner of the grounds, where Magnus saw dozens of soldiers actively training against posts with wooden weapons. Nearby, other groups performed all sorts of exercises, following the barked orders of their training instructors.
Still, once they went inside, everything seemed to be a lot less militaristic and stone-cold, and it began to feel more like the place he had spent his first few weeks in Arlcliff City. After all, the Major General's Villa and the garrison were built next to one another. Despite their contrasting exteriors, the interiors of both buildings shared a similar style and decor. Eventually, they all arrived at a grand set of double doors, to which Kolten and Alwen positioned themselves on either side, indicating they would remain outside.
Pezar turned to Magnus and said, "He's inside waiting for you."
Magnus nodded, gazing briefly at the imposing set of doors. With a deep breath, he pushed them open and walked inside, letting them silently swing shut behind him. The room he entered was a tasteful blend of wood and stone, simple yet sophisticated.
It didn't exude luxury; instead, every element seemed either purposeful or a reflection of who the office belonged to. Things like swords, shields, or even the mounted heads of creatures Magnus couldn't name adorned some of the walls, while a meticulously crafted topographic map lay on the table in the center of it all.
Yet Magnus's attention was drawn immediately to the large wooden desk at the far end of the room and the figure seated behind it.
"You must be Magnus," the man said with a welcoming tone.
"It's a pleasure to finally see you in person."
Meeting the man he had heard so much about, Magnus didn't reply immediately. He took a moment to size up the Major General, who looked to be between his forties and fifties, or it could simply be that the stress of his job had turned some of his dark, slicked-back hair silver. Still, Magnus felt a familiar vibe from him, similar to when he first met Gerald.
Under their facades, both men carried a presence of having seen more than any normal person could imagine, reflected in their amicable yet steely gazes. The only thing that seemed out of place was his outfit. Compared to his rugged appearance, the uniform adorned with various badges and the insignia of the Bartis Kingdom's military looked somewhat out of place.
"It's nice to meet you as well. Considering all you've done for me, it's felt a bit strange that we hadn't met in person sooner," Magnus responded, finally returning the greeting. He saw the Major General gesture towards a chair in front of the desk and took a seat.
"Yes, I mentioned that in my letter to you. While hiding your existence completely was impossible, especially considering you lived too close to the garrison for quite some time, we had hoped to keep you under the radar until you entered the academy. Ideally, your ties with us would've ended with Mia, in case anyone got curious," the Major General explained.
Obviously, though, his plans hadn't played out as he hoped. Magnus not only attracted the attention of Zeth despite his efforts to avoid it but also found himself working alongside Luden, entangled in the complex world of noble politics. Just thinking about it made Magnus and the Major General sigh, though Magnus kept his sigh internal.
"Before we dive into all that, fancy a drink? My wife picked up these cups and a special blend. It's not usually my kind of liquor, but I've grown fond of it," the Major General offered as he reached into the drawer to his right, retrieving a bottle. He pointed toward the glass cups resting upside down on his desk, one of which appeared slightly cracked.
"Oh, no, thank you, sir. I'm not old enough to drink," Magnus responded automatically, a reflex from his habits back on Earth. He missed the quick change in the Major General's expression before it settled back to normal.
"Alright then. Also, there is no need to be so formal; just call me Arbarth," he said, pouring himself a glass before continuing to speak.
"I'm not sure if you've noticed, but I've had Kolten, Alwen, and the maids at my villa keeping an eye on you for some time now. I would have preferred not to, but it was necessary for your safety, among other things. As a result, I've read quite a few reports about you so far."
"Yeah, I figured that out after the letter you sent me about wanting to meet," Magnus replied. Arbarth nodded, looking somewhat impressed as he continued.
"I see. In any case, I've noticed you've been adjusting to your new life well. After hearing about your past and your amnesia, I was concerned that fitting in might be a challenge for you." For a brief moment, Magnus had completely forgotten the fabricated story he'd sold to Mia and the others, causing his mind to blank for a moment. But as the memory clicked back into place, he swiftly slipped into his role and offered a modest smile.
"To be honest, I didn't think I'd adjust this smoothly either. I've always been anxious about my abilities and the potential harm they could cause. But, thanks to Mia and the others, I've managed to gain some control over them. Plus, being a student at the academy has opened up new horizons I could never have imagined before."
"We'll I'm glad to hear your experience was positive," Arbarth replied, sounding genuinely pleased. For the next half-hour, their conversation flowed naturally, touching on Magnus's experiences at Takerth Academy, his health, and other daily matters. It reminded Magnus of the occasional check-ins he used to get from his parents.
But eventually, the lighter conversation topics came to an end.
"Well, I suppose we should get to the important stuff now, eh? I'm sure you have a lot of questions, and I'll be happy to answer them. Though I suspect your biggest question is why I've been aiding you, right?" Arbarth's direct approach prompted a slow nod from Magnus. That had been the main question on his mind.
"Honestly, the reason is quite straightforward. We need people like you in our ranks, Magnus." Arbarth took a deep breath and sipped his drink before continuing.
"Magnus, are you aware of the current situation in the Batis Kingdom?"
"Well, not much in detail, but it's in a state of war, right? If I'm being honest, I always found it kind of weird that I don't hear more about it on the streets or in the academy; it feels like it would be an important topic," Magnus replied. Arbarath nodded slightly and let out a sigh before explaining further.
"Yeah, the Royal Court excels at quashing information and keeping the populace in check. Right now, there are only three human nations left, and among them, the Batis Kingdom is the only one engaged on two fronts, with a third always having the potential to appear on the horizon. Our first threat is the Kryle. I've heard you've met them personally before?"
Magnus nodded, still haunted by the vivid image of that swarm of grotesque creatures, a mix of insect and human forms, sending shivers down his spine. Arbarath could see the intensity of Magnus's experience mirrored in his eyes. Even some of his most seasoned soldiers had a similar reaction after facing those abominations.
"Currently, we're the only human country with borders directly against theirs. So that also means we're one of the only ones holding them back. The only other border the Kryle's territory touches is the Confluence Accord, the alliance of the non-human races.
And, as you can imagine, they're our second major threat. Even now, at our southern borders, we're in a standoff against them. If it weren't for the fact that they're attacking all three remaining human countries at once, we would have been wiped out long ago. Well, that and another factor."
"Right now, we're the only human nation with borders directly against theirs, which means we're also the main barrier holding them back. The only other boundary touching the Kryel's territory is the Confluence Accord—the name of the alliance of non-human races. And, as you can guess, they pose our second major threat. Even now, we're locked in a standoff on our southern front. If it weren't for the fact that the alliance was simultaneously assaulting all three remaining human nations, we'd likely have been overrun by now. Well, that, and one other factor," he hinted.
Magnus, connecting the dots, spoke up. "The Ten Great Magic Academies?"
Arbarath nodded in affirmation.
"Exactly. Although it's really the mages and knights that make the difference, the academies tend to distance themselves from the war. Still, they're our ultimate defense, our ace in the hole. The mages of this kingdom provide just enough support to secure our borders, though not enough to shift the tide. In a way, they have a bit of a... superiority complex. But given they're the reason our borders still stand, I guess they've earned the right to that attitude."
This brought Magnus back to his original query: why was Arbarath so willing to help him?
"Despite the Batis Kingdom's military having a strong influence in the Royal Court, we don't control the Ten Great Magic Academies. We have our own knights, sure, but the number of war mages at our disposal is limited. The risk of losing even one is a gamble we can't afford."
I see, the academies essentially monopolized everything related to magic, be it resources or teachers. Now it makes sense why he wanted to enroll me in Takerth Academy; he wanted to train me as a mage and then have me join the Batis Kingdom military.
Yet Magnus also spotted the flaws in Arbarath's plan. For instance, he could simply choose not to join the military after his training and graduation. Arbarath couldn't force him, and the academy certainly wouldn't stand for the military using coercion, or else the entire system they've built would fall apart.
In a way, Arbarath's entire plan was using hope's and prayers as a foundation, showing just how desperate the situation for them was.
I guess if you really thought about it, his fears had partially come true. I am working with Luden, which means from the outside, I look like I'm in cahoots with the nobility.
Magnus had already figured that Arbarath knew about his meeting with Luden; that's why he'd sent the letter. He needed to ascertain where Magnus stood in the larger picture.
I suppose the only thing I really need to think about is: How do I want to play this?