"What a beautiful day it was."
Yes, it was so beautiful. The sun was shining brightly, its warm rays cutting through the soft, fluffy clouds above. The air was cool and refreshing, with a scent of fresh grass and flowers. It was the ideal morning for a fresh start—a fresh start after such a brutal war.
Excitement buzzed through the academy square, where groups of students gathered, eager for the first day's ceremony. All classes and races of the kingdom had gathered here.
There weren't just nobles but also commoners, not just humans but also dwarfs, beastsmen, and even elves and vampires all gathered here. Except for demons, who are the aggressors and are considered potential terrorists across all kingdoms.
Some talked in small groups, while others stood quietly, adjusting their uniforms or looking around. Everyone was buzzing with excitement about what the day had in store for them.
In the center of the square, the grand archway to the main hall loomed ahead, its banners fluttering gently in the breeze, adding to the sense of occasion. The grand, glorious symphony was also there, ready to bring out the best concert of their lives.
As the moment went by, the students could feel the weight of the moment—they were about to begin a new chapter in their academic lives.
And then, it happened, the principal of this academy stood up to the grandstand and began to deliver a speech.
Schwanhild Esser Endewise—the principle of this academy.
She had a striking, almost otherworldly beauty, with short cherry blossom-pink hair that bobbed softly as she moved. Her amber eyes were large and captivating, gleaming with seductive intensity, yet beneath them, the faint shadow of dark circles hinted at sleepless nights and unspoken fatigue. Her gaze was sharp, lending a fierce edge to her otherwise alluring appearance.
Despite her high ranking, she wore the standard uniform, but with a subtle rebellion: her shirt was untucked and casually hanging over her slender frame, revealing her body's graceful curves.
Her untidy appearance gave her an effortless, almost carefree charm that balanced allure and mystery.
If I had not known her, I would have been fooled by her youthful appearance. However, I was aware that she was even older than my grandmother and as old as a fossil.
Not that I had any grouch against her though; Principal Schwanhild is a great and sweet person, worthy of my respect.
If I had not heard about that attack, I would normally be standing here, acting like I was protecting her. But right now, I don't have that privilege.
"The principal should be able to handle most of them. But in case she got countered, then it would be a problem."
Of course, that wouldn't be easy, but there is probability for sure.
"Not that I could do anything about it."
I clicked my tongue in frustration, the sharp sound echoing in the quiet hallway as I ran past a group of eager, fresh-faced students.
Their optimistic chatter and bright eyes annoyed me, which served as a sharp reminder of how different they were from me—so ambitious and full of dreams.
I barely spared them a glance as I pushed forward, my steps quickening as I made my way deeper into the heart of the academy. The towering stone walls seemed to close in around me, the weight of the building's history pressing down with each stride.
But I wasn't here for any of this idealism. I had a purpose, and it lay somewhere beyond those grand, polished halls, deep within the academy's more secretive, forgotten corners.
And after what seemed like an eternity of negotiating the academy's many nooks and crannies, I eventually arrived at my destination—the old library.
It is just an old library with a lot of old books, and the only real reason to talk about it is the vast number of strange and smut books that are concealed behind the seemingly normal one.
But today I wasn't interested in any of those but wanted to find something—something more ordinary.
A bookcase. An obscure bookcase, one that was dusty and full of cobwebs, hidden in the darkest corner of the old library, one that was able to lead me to the secret basement.
A secret concealed in hindsight.
"But if it was this easy to find, then it would be so secret, right?"
Indeed, it was hard to find, and the mechanic to open it was also quite easy, almost cliche, but that was the point.
If you simply opened it by selecting the appropriate book and pressing it, the path it took would be a false one. It would lead you to a dead end.
Naturally, this would be enough to warn off curious students. But since the brotherhood of Revelation's leader was once a high-position member of the academy, finding the right way for them wouldn't take too long.
"They should be here soon." As there was no time for hesitation, I reached out to the bookcase and inspected it. My hand moved to the bottom of it, searching for a slightly colder touch.
I inhaled deeply, letting the precise amount of mana emanate from my core and channeling it. It was only a tiny trickle, but it was enough to produce a delicate energy response.
I sensed the subtle hum of magic as the mana moved through my hand, akin to the silent rousing of a long-dormant mechanism. The bookcase reacted slowly, the shelves moving just enough to be barely noticeable to the naked eye, but it was obvious from the way the air around me seemed to change.
It had been activated.
And with a firm push, I pushed the heavy bookcase sideways, revealing the right path. An ethereal portal, glimmering with gentle violet hues, flickered behind it, a faint, glowing light. The surrounding air had an almost electric feel to it.
It was the path leading to the secret basement.
"Let go." With hardly more than a whisper, I spoke and stepped inside of it.
As soon as I stepped inside, my perception of the space shifted dramatically. The library, once a familiar and welcoming haven filled with shelves of books, now felt foreign and oppressive.
The air grew colder, the warmth of lamps and bright magic crystal now replaced by a chill that seemed to seep into my bones.
The walls, which had once been lined with the comforting presence of countless volumes, were now made of jagged, black stone—stone that seemed to pulse with unsettling energy as if infused with dark, ancient magic.
The once-open expanse of the room now felt unnervingly narrow, the ceiling hanging low as though the very space itself had been compressed.
Decorated around this dark place were statues of beasts and knights made from black, cold metal. And in the center of the space, I noticed a menacing spiral staircase that led to the lower level.
Umbral, cold and silent—this was the atmosphere of this place. But I was not afraid of it or bothered by it.
On the other hand, I preferred this small, dim space to the boisterous performance outside. It reminded me of the cave that I used to train in when I was a kid. Silent and peaceful.
Yeah, I like this serenity.
"But it is time for meditation." With a small sigh, I went downstairs to look at all of the prohibited books that were kept in there.
Although I am not a mage, I still had some knowledge about these infamous books.
Books about reviving the deaths, books about reverting time, books about summoning the unknown, and books about human evolutions—they were all banned.
And for good reason, humanity shouldn't touch what they can't control. Anyone who thought of that is either a fool or a madman.
In my opinion, they should all be burned away and reduced to ashes so that no one is able to mess with the order of this world.
But what a shame. As powerful as I was, I didn't have the authority to do so. These books were still under the protection of the kingdom; burning them would make me a traitor and be a stain on Kylian's family name.
All I could do was protect them from the enemies.
"Well, this is this and that is that; one day, I will burn you all."