-Asher Frostblade's point of view.
Three months after the headmaster of Laosa Academy left, several rumors surfaced.
It was said that the principal had died.
However, at this point it was impossible.
Why?
Because the principal is known as the Great Wizard of Time.
A title bestowed upon him for being the wizard with the greatest mastery over the affinity of time. Despite this, theories about his death spread around the world.
They even reached the Laosa Academy.
There was fear and panic. If someone so strong had died, what could happen?
However, I don't believe it.
Why do I say that?
I remembered Encrid's words from three months ago:
"It would be difficult for that guy to die. I analyzed his mastery over time affinity, and he can go back a whole day in time."
Therefore, it would be impossible for him to die.
It was then that I thought:
"If he is alive, I will look for him once I leave this academy."
I have no information and I don't know where he is.
In fact, it is not only Principal Wilbek's death that is rumored.
Also that of the family leaders and tower mages.
But how could a group composed of 16 such strong wizards, some of the most powerful on the continent, and even in the world, die?
That's why an idea popped into my mind:
"It is possible that they are imprisoned somewhere."
"It's possible, but keeping someone with an affinity for time prisoner would be problematic, unless you're a tenth-circle mage."
The theories kept coming up one after another.
It was logical under the circumstances.
There was no way such a strong group could have died.
Therefore, they must be prisoners.
However...
Today, three months later, it was revealed where the strongest went.
That place is called the "Eternal Tower", a dungeon classified with the power of a grade 0.
My mind exploded.
That rank did not exist before.
It is said to be at least hundreds of times stronger than a grade 1.
If a grade 1 can destroy 25% of the continent, larger in size than the land of my past life, how much power could a grade 0 have?
It would be a walking calamity, capable of destroying an entire city with a single step.
If so, then Director Wilbek's doubts are understandable.
Something so big going up against the strongest?
Who would win?
Most were betting on the walking calamity.
However, many trusted the strongest.
But I didn't.
Neither of us.
That's because Encrid was certain that they were, in fact, trapped or imprisoned.
And the one responsible is someone Encrid has in mind.
"Sephiroth, the Dragon of Magic or Lord of Magic."
Encrid's words were shocking.
Because dragons do, in fact, still exist somewhere in the world.
Encrid revealed:
"Sephiroth was a decent opponent when he was a tenth-circle mage. I had fun with him for a while, but I thought he died with the demise of the gods."
"And where... did you have fun with him?"
"Of course, inside a dungeon that had a tower. But I thought that tower had disappeared into the dragon dimension."
Encrid revealed important information to me.
Despite that, I had many questions, but I knew I wouldn't get answers for now.
Still, I was sure that Director Wilbek and the other wizards were alive.
The problem was how to rescue them.
Because there was no one capable of doing it.
But if I go, and Sephiroth recognizes the magic of darkness, he might be able to tell me where they are holding the mages.
However...
"It's better if you don't go yet. You're not ready yet."
That made me understand how great the power of that dragon is.
It's true.
Compared to the ancient Encrid, that dragon was insignificant in their eyes, just like the rest of the dragons and other species.
Except for the gods, of course.
***
-Scene change.
"The last semester consists of 6 months."
Oriana's words resonated with everyone.
"Out here you will spend 6 months, while inside the dungeon it will only be 2 weeks."
The last semester will take place inside a dungeon.
At first it was a grade 6 one, but with the collapse of dungeons three months ago, it was cancelled, and now it will be in a grade 5 dungeon.
That's right.
That grade is quite high, but it is said that they killed all the grade 5 monsters in the dungeon, so now it is like a grade 8 dungeon at most.
The danger has been resolved.
However, the time inside the dungeon passes so fast that even though two weeks in there is equivalent to six months out here.
This dungeon is a special kind due to its strange time fluctuation, making it a "time jumping dungeon". Still, no one had any doubts.
"The semester will focus on survival: fighting monsters, facing each other, and surviving in a hostile environment using whatever you find."
The assignment was considerably long, spanning two weeks.
This was because the main focus of the last semester was survival, more than any other aspect.
Initially, something different had been planned for this semester, but ideas changed from three months ago.
"Don't worry about being seriously injured or near death. The entire semester will be supervised by the academy's strongest teachers."
At that moment, a few figures emerged behind Oriana after her last words.
They were, in fact, the most powerful professors responsible for the safety of the cadets.
"Lucas Well, Aria Bello, Briana and Professor Bridget. They will be in charge of your safety while I will be in charge of evaluating you throughout this time."
"Wow, they stepped up security measures," several cadets commented.
It was a normal reaction.
If a cadet dies inside the dungeon, it would be like losing a future member of the continent's army, or a mage who would protect them in the future.
That's why the academy can't afford to lose cadets as easily as other academies on different continents.
"Now, cadets, all doubts about the last semester have been cleared up. We will leave next week."
A week later the last semester would start, coinciding with the first of June, halfway through the year.
Everything was ready. It would be six months outside, but two weeks inside the dungeon. The academy, starting in February, only grants one month off, so if the final semester was delayed by a month, it would end in January 2691, not this year.
Sigh.
The cadets began to disperse as I made my way to Oriana's office.
I had some questions regarding the principal. Although I didn't expect concrete answers, maybe I would get some clues.
Asher walked toward the office, not the current principal's office, which was on the top floor of the academy, but the new office of Oriana, now the official principal after the departure of Principal Wilbek.
The walk through the halls was uneventful. Asher climbed several flights of stairs and finally reached the hallway where the principal's office was located.
Several senior year cadets glanced at him, but didn't pay him too much attention as they noticed that he was a first year cadet making his way to the office.
Few knew of the relationship between the new principal and Cadet Asher.
Those who did know, also showed little interest.
Asher knocked on the door, and Oriana's voice answered:
"Come in."
I opened the door and stepped into a spacious office, filled with objects that drew attention everywhere, but I quickly turned my gaze to Oriana, sitting at her desk reviewing documents.
Her workload had increased a bit due to her new position, though it wasn't too different from before.
"Were you looking for me, Asher?" she asked without looking up.
"Yes, I need some answers."
"About the semester? I just cleared up a lot of doubts for the cadets."
I shook my head as he looked at me.
My questions were related to the grade 0 dungeon. While I couldn't do much at this point, I at least wanted to get an idea of what had happened.
Asher proceeded to ask.
He didn't expect to get many answers, but it was worth a try.
"So...," Oriana began, but Asher interrupted her seconds later.
"Could you tell me something about the grade 0 dungeon?"
Oriana raised her head and stared at me before speaking.
"Okay, but I won't be able to tell you much."
"It doesn't matter," I replied.
I wasn't expecting too many answers anyway.