Alex stood by the window, his gaze drifting across the academy's sprawling grounds as the warm sunlight cast a heavenly glow on his face. The gentle rustle of leaves and chirping of birds outside created a peaceful melody, but his mind was elsewhere. "I've been suspended for a week," he muttered to himself, his voice barely above a whisper. He couldn't help but think, "Maybe I overdid it in the spar that cringe line tell me Who I am I really overdid... I'm still feeling the pain, even though I consumed that potion." His fingers instinctively brushed against the tender bruises on his chest.
Just then, a loud knock at the door broke the silence, making Alex turn away from the window. He ambled towards the door, his footsteps quiet on the wooden floor. As he opened it, a sliver of light from the corridor spilled into the room, illuminating the concerned faces of Principal Carlas, Elvika, Shelly Lars, and Arthur standing together in the doorway.
Alex raised an eyebrow, his face scrunched in annoyance, Shelly's cheek was bright red. She asked in concern are you Okay Alex
Yeah, I am good, Alex said with a fake bright smile. However his gaze changes at Principal Carlas.
"Won't you let us come in, you brat?" Carlas said
"Of course, old man. Please come in, take a seat."Alex said making a malleable face. As the others settled into the available chairs, Principal Carlas made his way to Alex's bed, plopping himself down on the very spot where Alex had been about to take a nap.
Alex's eyes widened in indignation. "You old man, what do you think you're doing?" Principal Carlas chuckled, his eyes twinkling. "Oh, oh, brat! I was just checking to see if the staff had given you a bed without... ahem... 'matters' or not."
"Oh, okay," Alex said, eyeing Principal Carlas.
"Can you tell me, old man, what potion it was that the teacher gave me that spar day?" Alex asked.
Principal Carlas's eyes sparkled with a hint of nostalgia. "Oh, that potion? It was Teacher Arnik; he's a master alchemist with a decade of experience teaching second-years. His concoctions are renowned for their potency."
Alex leaned in, his curiosity piqued. "Okay, now can you tell me about these dungeons and everything?" The dim light in the room seemed to intensify his focus.
Principal Carlas nodded, his expression turning grave. "Very well, if you insist, Alex. Let me take you back two hundred years, to a time when magic was a fledgling art. People in this world only wielded normal magic – simple spells, minimal aura manipulation. But then, without warning, dungeons materialized, spewing forth demons and monsters that ravaged the land."
The air seemed to thicken as Principal Carlas's words painted a vivid picture. "Aura users, though valiant, were vastly outnumbered. The clash of steel, the stench of blood, and the eerie shrieks of the monsters still echo in our collective memory."
"After a decade of relentless war, Goddess Uxil descended upon the world, her divine presence both captivating and terrifying. She offered her affinity to one person – your grandfather, a formidable aura user. However, he declined, and the goddess's wrath was kindled. The very fabric of existence trembled as she threatened to annihilate everything."
"Just as all hope seemed lost, the royal king of the time stepped forward, his devotion unwavering – or he was just a greedy man. He worshipped Goddess Uxil and accepted her affinity, appeasing her wrath. And so, she vanished, leaving behind a world forever changed."
Principal Carlas paused, his chest rising with a deep breath. "Over time, eight more gods appeared, granting their affinities to humankind. With this newfound power, monsters began to fear humans, and the dungeons were never breached again. However, humans continued to raid dungeons, seeking to hone their skills, collect experience, and claim rewards."
The principal's gaze locked onto Alex's, his expression serious. "That's as much as I can share, Alex. The rest is for your father to disclose. I hope you understand."
"Can you tell Teacher Arnik to teach me how to make those potions?" Alex said.
"And also, I want you to arrange a good dungeon for me to collect experience... or just to kill monsters for fun," Alex added making a revenous face although he had something in his mind something that he could not tell anyone.
"As you wish," Carlas said.
"Okay," Alex said with a grin.
Principal Carlas's expression turned stern. "Brat, don't call me 'old man' again!"
Alex nodded, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Got it, got it."
Principal Carlas's face turned beet red. "And, for the love of all things good, stop calling me 'old man'! I'm not that old... yet."
That day, Lars, Shelly, Arthur, and Elvika witnessed a bizarre spectacle - two kids fighting. Well, "kids" might be stretching it, considering one was a spry 80-plus-year-old, and the other was a feisty 12-year-old.
Elvika raised an eyebrow. "I didn't know senior citizens could throw punches that fast."
Arthur chuckled. "I guess you're never too old to learn new tricks... or get into a brawl."
Lars shook his head, laughing. "Only in this school..."
The next morning, Alex woke up feeling a mix of excitement and trepidation. Despite being suspended, Principal Carlas had arranged a special alchemy class for him with the renowned Teacher Arnik.
Alex made his way from the gallery to the lab, his footsteps echoing through the corridors. He slowed down as he approached the door, took a deep breath, and knocked.
Teacher Arnik opened the door, expecting a young student eager to learn the art of alchemy. Instead, he was taken aback by the sight of 12-year-old Alex, scratching his back with one hand while yawning with a sleepy expression.
"Ah, Alex, I presume?" Teacher Arnik raised an eyebrow, trying to stifle a giggle.
"Hi, Sir Arnik! You'll teach me, right?" Alex asked, his eyes wide with excitement.
Teacher Arnik, a middle-aged man with a stern expression, looked at Alex over the rim of his large, round glasses. His black lab coat seemed to absorb the light around him, giving off an air of intensity.
He nodded curtly, his eyes gleaming with a hint of something sinister. "Alchemy is the art of manipulating matter and energy. To start, you must understand the fundamental principles: The Law of Equivalent Exchange, The Law of Conservation of Mass, and The Concept of Transmutation Circles."
"The Law of Equivalent Exchange states that to gain something, you must sacrifice something of equal value. The Law of Conservation of Mass dictates that matter cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed."
Arnik handed Alex a small, intricate diagram. "This is a basic Transmutation Circle. It focuses your will and channels your energy to manipulate matter. Memorize this diagram, and we'll begin practicing transmutations soon."
Alex's eyes widened as he took in the complex symbols and patterns within the circle. He felt a surge of excitement, eager to master alchemy.
Alex's eyes sparkled as he studied the diagram. He thought to himself, "This is amazing! I had no idea alchemy was so... structured. In the Murim world, I'd only heard of legendary alchemists, but I never thought there were actual diagrams and principles to follow."
Teacher Arnik's expression turned stern. "This is not a world for amateurish pursuits, Alex. Alchemy is a precise science, and those who wield it must do so with caution and respect. You would do well to remember that."
…..
Alex muttered to himself as he walked towards Principal Carlas's office. "It's been four days since I started learning alchemy, but it's all been a bit of a blur. I just couldn't grasp the concepts, no matter how hard I tried. But now, finally, I think I have a clue about how it works."
He arrived at the office and knocked on the door. "Principal Carlas, may I come in?"
Principal Carlas looked up from the papers on his desk, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Ah, Alex, impatient as always. Your dungeon is ready. But before I tell you where it is, let me remind you: this is not a game. The dungeon is real, and the risks are real. Are you prepared for that?"
"Do you really think I care about risks and aftermaths?" Alex asked.
"Just give me the location."
"Carlas, telling him, 'You'll need to hide your identity and join a guild to raid dungeons. I can't give you access to the Academy's dungeons; the teachers will only interfere.'"
"Did you tell anyone about raiding?" Carlas asked.
"Yes, I told Teacher Arnik, the alchemist," Alex replied.
Carlas threw up his hands. "You brat, do whatever you want! I have nothing more to say. Do as you wish!"
However, take this mask. Alex's eyes widened as Principal Carlas handed him a small, elegant mask.
"This is... quite something."
"The mask will conceal your royal identity," Principal Carlas explained. "No one will be able to sense your aura or recognize you. It will also alter your hair color and length."
Alex took the mask, feeling a strange energy emanating from it. The white mask had a distinctive black scar patch over the left eyebrow, giving it a mysterious and intimidating appearance.
"And the guild pass?" Alex asked.
Principal Carlas handed him a small, intricately designed card. "Here it is. You're now a member of the 'Black Rose' guild. Be careful, Alex. The guild is... not for the faint of heart."
"So, you've created a guild, and you're also the guildmaster?" Alex said with a teasing manner.
Principal Carlas's face turned red with affrontment. "This guild is not mine! You brat, do you really think I'm that type of person? It's from a friend of mine, someone who owes me a favour."
Alex raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "A friend, huh? Someone powerful, I presume?"
Alex's eyes sparkled with amusement. "For the location, tell my maid he will be my guide."
Principal Carlas chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Oh, the maid? Are you talking about Lars?"
Alex nodded, a grin spreading across his face. "Yes."
Both Alex and Principal Carlas locked gazes, bursting into humorous laughter.