The officials from Storm City's administration should be outside Arcanum Academy by now!
Lucas pretended to be deeply engrossed in his book while considering the positions of the Imperial agents and sheriffs pursuing him.
Reading Room 36 was very quiet, with a cold atmosphere gradually increasing without notice.
It's here!
"Elf, you seem quite interested in that book."
A voice appeared from behind.
Lucas turned around and saw a ghost floating behind him. It was a middle-aged man with chestnut curls and a weathered face, wearing an old-style Arcanum mage robe. His body was a gray, semi-transparent apparition.
"You are... the author of this book, Mage Lowell Felix? I've seen your magical portrait in Arcanum Academy's Hall of Honor. You're one of the modern founders of the academy, and your 'Introduction to Alchemy' is still essential reading for spell scholars.
I didn't expect to meet you in this way. My name is Ela, and I'm an amateur enthusiast of mysticism."
Following the guide's successful summoning of Lowell Felix, Lucas continued with the storyline.
"I've been observing you for some time," Felix said, floating closer to Lucas.
"Your obsession with mysticism compelled me to appear and warn you. Mysticism originated from ancient rituals, a form of magic that unleashes mysterious powers.
Researchers of mysticism are easily influenced by these mysterious forces, losing themselves and descending into darkness and the abyss.
Arcanum Academy has paid a painful price for it. Although the academy hasn't officially banned the study of mysticism, looking at this place, it's clear that the academy rejects it."
Lucas closed the book in his hand and asked Felix, "Professor Felix, I've read your book, but I still don't understand if curses are a branch of mysticism or if mysticism is a branch of curses?"
Talking about academics made Felix forget the original purpose of his appearance.
"I wrote in the preface, 'These are two very interesting questions!' and that is already an answer. The boundaries of academia are blurred, with many overlaps between different disciplines. This is an interesting question that doesn't need a precise answer.
Moreover, this book was written during my early research into mysticism. The mainstream academic view now tends to classify mysticism under curse magic.
Academic classification is irrelevant to the actual study; there's no need to draw clear lines."
"Thank you, Professor, for clarifying that. I have another question... Mysticism involves the release of mental energy, which can be both positive and negative.
But why do you say that studying mysticism leads people into the dark abyss?
I've studied many cases of failed mysticism, and as you mentioned... researchers always seem to veer uncontrollably towards the dark side."
Felix responded, "No matter the energy, its nature is neutral; it's the person who shifts it. More precisely, it's human nature.
Mysticism lacks a theoretical foundation and relies heavily on the mystic's experience. Each person has their own understanding of mysticism, and there is no universally accepted standard measurement.
This makes academic exchange in mysticism difficult, leading mystics to immerse themselves in their own worlds, which can easily cause psychological issues.
Therefore, mystics often choose dark and isolated places for their laboratories. Such a mindset and environment can easily steer mysticism research towards the dark side.
From what I see, you've just developed an interest in mysticism.
My advice is to rid yourself of it before it consumes you. If the academy finds out you're studying mysticism, it will have severe negative consequences for you."
"Thank you for your advice, Professor Felix."
Lucas thanked Felix, but in his mind, he was thinking: Why haven't they arrived yet? I walked openly to the library, even greeted people along the way.
The Imperial agents should have found me by now!
Fortunately, just as Lucas was about to ask another question to keep Felix occupied, hurried footsteps finally echoed from outside.
A lot of people. Felix heard the noise as well.
"What's happening? Why are so many people coming to the library? They seem to be heading this way."
Lucas said worriedly, "Professor Felix, if they find me here, will they expel me from Arcanum Academy?"
The footsteps grew louder and closer!
Felix said to Lucas, "I'll take you to a place. You can stay there until they leave. Don't mention me or that place to anyone."
"I promise I won't say anything." A portal opened in the reading room, and Felix floated through.
Lucas followed him inside.
As the portal closed, a sheriff reached the room's entrance. He cautiously looked around the dusty reading room, then moved on to search the next one.
In a flash of light, Lucas found himself in another library.
This library was completely enclosed, with no doors, windows, or visible exits.
The books on the shelves were in complete disarray, with some strewn on the floor, indicating how hurriedly they had been transferred here.
Felix navigated the space carefully, even as a spectral entity, he feared damaging the books.
He reminded Lucas, "These books are over a hundred years old. Be careful not to damage them.
I'll take you out once the people outside have left."
Lucas looked at the titles on the shelves and asked, "These books are all about mysticism, and they should have been destroyed.
Professor Felix, did you move them here to hide them?"
Felix responded with deep emotion, "Yes... When the headmaster ordered these mysticism-related books to be destroyed, I couldn't see the sense in it. How were the crimes committed by Viktor and his peers related to these books?
Energy is neutral, and knowledge is neutral as well. These books represent nearly a century of our department's research and should not have been destroyed because of a few who lost their way.
So we forged a set of mysticism books for destruction and created this space to store our real research.
We hoped that one day the Department of Mysticism could be reinstated, and research could resume under regulation. But the disaster caused such a scar on Arcanum Academy that no one wants to revisit it. Mysticism became a taboo here."
Experiencing this storyline in person was completely different from progressing through it in a game.
Seeing the room full of books, Lucas could imagine the effort the Department of Mysticism at Arcanum Academy had put into their research and the lengths they went to preserve these books.
But Lucas didn't forget why he was here.
"The Book of Calamities should be here too."
Hearing the book's name, Felix's ghostly form became solid in an instant.
He looked at Lucas with suspicion.
"You know about the Book of Calamities! You tricked me into bringing you into this secret room!"