The academy had to put regular classes on hold to focus on clearing the area around the fortress. Each class, from every year, was accompanied by Magical Beast Instructors to help collect beast cores from the remains of the fallen creatures. The stench of decay was getting worse, so they needed to clear the field as quickly as possible.
"This Striger was close to evolving to Rank 5," one of the instructors remarked, holding up a glowing emerald core with hints of cyan. His eyes gleamed with fascination as he turned the core in his hand, letting the students catch a glimpse of its vibrant hue.
"See this? The color tells you everything—this core was on the cusp of something extraordinary. Had this beast lived just a little longer, we'd be dealing with a far more dangerous foe."
As they worked, the instructors seized the chance to give impromptu lessons. "We study Magical Beasts not just for the thrill of it, but to understand their behavior, their strengths, and most importantly, their weaknesses," one instructor explained, his tone both stern and engaging.
He crouched beside a fallen Fenrion, its sleek, silver fur still shimmering despite the dirt and blood. "Take this one, for example. It's a Rank 4 beast, and while it's as fast as the wind, its downfall is its arrogance. It charges head-on, thinking it's invincible. But that's where we get it—right in its blind spot."
As the students absorbed this knowledge, the higher-ups were engaged in a far more heated discussion in the Dean's room.
"The sudden gathering of magical beasts wasn't picked up by our radar not until it was a kilometer away," one administrator said, pacing back and forth. His brow furrowed as he tried to make sense of it all.
"This makes the Beast Tide seem suspiciously organized. I mean, how did we miss this?"
"You know some beasts are highly intelligent. Maybe they've learned to outsmart us?"
"I understand that, but this feels too coordinated. There's no way these beasts just decided to band together on their own. Someone, or something, is pulling the strings here," Monika argued, convinced that there was more to the situation than met the eye.
"What's your take, Dean Orfen?" Helena asked, her skepticism clear as she glanced at the older man. The instructors all turned to the dean, trusting that he might have some insight.
Dean Orfen, with his white hair and wise orange eyes, took a moment before answering, "I've already sent letters to two individuals who might have an idea of what's going on." He paused, carefully choosing his next words. "I have my suspicions, but I'm not ready to share them just yet. We don't want to cause unnecessary panic."
Helena's eyes narrowed slightly. "So, you're keeping us in the dark?"
Orfen met her gaze, unflinching. "I'm protecting us from running wild with speculation. Trust me, we'll know soon enough."
He quickly redirected the conversation, his voice taking on a more authoritative tone. "Monika, how's the situation in your territory?"
Monika leaned back in her chair, exuding confidence. "A Scale 4 Beast Tide also hit the Isthmus Trail, so Hawthorne City was attacked from all sides by aquatic and land beasts. But with my brother and sister there, the damage was kept to a minimum."
All eyes then shifted to Helena, who crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. "Don't look at me," she said dryly. "The tide in my region was dealt with quickly and efficiently. No surprises, no losses."
Word spread that, besides the Far West Military Academy, both Hawthorne City in the North and Wyrmport City in the West had faced Scale 4 Beast Tides. Unlike Hawthorne, which suffered some damage from the attack, the Dragonhearts in Wyrmport handled the tide effortlessly. After all, they have more Upper Rankers than any other territory in the Empire.
One of the younger instructors, clearly feeling the pressure, muttered under his breath, "I wish someone could help us here in the forest. It's not fair how those powerful families can just sweep through these tides like it's nothing, Oh I mean no offense, it's just.." he realized that he was talking in front of people from the powerful families he just blurted out.
Monika shot him a look, her tone light but edged with a hint of sarcasm. "We have Dean Orfen, though," she said, gesturing toward the old man as if presenting a prized relic.
"Enough with the chit-chat," Orfen snapped, his patience wearing thin. "Go help the kids clean up." He waved the instructors out of his office, eager for some peace. But even as he dismissed them, a shadow of concern crossed his face, and he gently massaged his temples.
As the academy focused on recovery, one of the letters Dean Orfen had sent finally reached its recipient.
"Hmm, something interesting has arrived," murmured an old woman, her voice soft yet tinged with curiosity. She was tending to her garden, her hands gently trimming the white roses when a blue pigeon landed nearby, its bright eyes reflecting the sunlight.
"You did great, little bird," she praised as she patted the bird.
She was the reason the Dragonhearts had been able to respond to the Beast Tide before it could catch them by surprise. Her deep connection with nature allowed her to sense the tide that attempted to approach Mount Avalon undetected.
Gently, she took the letter from the pigeon's beak and let it flutter around her garden, the bird's wings creating a soft breeze that rustled the leaves.
"It's from that kid," she said with a smile as she recognized the seal, her voice warm with affection.
The letter addressed her as the Verdant Lady of the West, a title she had been known by throughout the Empire during her prime. It detailed Orfen's suspicions and asked if they were accurate and what sort of danger they should be preparing for.
"He must be on the verge of promotion to Rank 8 to notice these changes," she mused, a chuckle escaping her lips. But as her thoughts wandered, a shadow crossed her face. The thought of another Rank 8 emerging on the continent was reassuring, but the looming calamity she sensed was far greater than the Scale 4 Beast Tide that had already caused chaos in the North and West of the Empire.
A week passed, and peace gradually returned to the academy, although everyone remained vigilant, determined not to let another disaster catch them off guard.
"The fundamental difference between a mana ring and a mana core is that we can engrave a magic spell onto our mana ring. That spell won't require a magic circle. You can unleash it using your mana ring as the medium whenever you want. It will serve as one of your signature moves," the instructor explained, her voice clear and confident, drawing the students' attention.
It was Ardiel's 'Introduction to Mana Ring' class in the afternoon. The students were now back on their regular schedule after completely restoring the perimeter, which was once again covered in white snow.
"Is there anyone here who has a magic spell already engraved on their first mana ring?" the instructor asked, her eyes scanning the room.
Silence fell over the classroom as the students exchanged nervous glances. No one raised their hand. It had only been a few months for most of them since they had formed their first mana ring.
Seeing the hesitation, Instructor Thalia gave them an encouraging smile. "No need to be shy. It's perfectly normal. Engraving a spell is a significant step, and it's something we'll work on together."
"But you'll need to decide soon," she continued, her tone turning serious. "We'll spend the coming weeks choosing which magic spell you'll engrave on your mana rings, but I strongly suggest you accomplish it before the Annual Tournament, which will be by the end of the year."
"I'll do it tomorrow!"
"Me too!"
Thalia held up a hand, her expression turning stern. "Hold on. Don't rush into this just because you're excited. Do you know why?"
Loreine, the sunshine of Class 1, quickly raised her hand, her voice bright and confident. "We can't because we need to master the spell first."
"Exactly," Thalia said, nodding. "You must master the spell before engraving it. Otherwise, you'll end up with a weaker version, and in the heat of battle, that could be the difference between victory and defeat."
Her gaze swept the room, ensuring every student grasped the importance of her words. "A magister's signature spell is often their trump card. Whether it's for offense or defense, it needs to be powerful and reliable. Choose wisely, and make sure you're ready."
The class ended with everyone buzzing with excitement. This would be their first major task after forming their first mana ring—well, not for Ardiel, who had double the trouble to think about.
Gravity Magic isn't a field of magic that is thriving in their current era, it's significantly harder to find resources for it, even more than Space and Time Magic, and for someone like him who only knows one spell, he felt stressed and conflicted about it.
"Oh, why the long face," a voice echoed in his mind which almost made him lose his balance, it gave him quite a scare.
"Exzhen?" Ardiel mumbled, recognizing the voice, which made it all the more unsettling. Why was he speaking through telepathy, and why now of all times?
"I'm busy too, you know. I am the Lord of Dragons—don't expect me to just sit idly by and watch everything," Exzhen replied as soon as Ardiel's complaint formed in his mind.
"So, where are you right now?" Ardiel asked, stepping out of the classroom, watching his classmates head to the library where they could access a variety of rank 1 spells.
"In your dorm. Your friend Kristan is sleeping soundly," Exzhen said nonchalantly, stifling a chuckle.
The words felt like a jolt to Ardiel, he definitely didn't expect for Exzhen to be in his dorm, and Kristan? He was completely clueless that he was sleeping while a Lord of Dragon was in their dorm.