Surviving at the Magic Academy

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“Before we check the first doll, Professor On said.”

“I told you that if you complete the assignment, you’ll receive a reward. This is that reward. Since it’s your first assignment, I prepared something very special.”

In his hand was a tiny vial, about the length of two finger joints. He opened it, and something inside began to squirm and ooze out.

Professor On lightly contained it using magic, silently observing it along with the students.

It was a bizarre sight. It resembled a mollusk with dozens of tentacles, but it undulated like fog, hazy and undefined.

Could it be some kind of monster? I felt an incredibly strange magic from it as it fumbled around, trying to escape the magical barrier created by Professor On. With a gentle shake, he introduced it.

“This little friend is the doll potion I created, Unit 0. It helps make your dolls more perfect. All the dolls in my tower have one of these. This will enhance your dolls’ performance.”

At that, the students’ faces lit up. I was just as thrilled. It meant that the naturalness of the tower’s dolls originated from this. Unit 0—a name that suited its appearance perfectly.

“Unit 0 will also judge your assignments. This little friend will directly enter your dolls. If your doll impresses it, it will absorb it. If you successfully complete the assignment, of course.”

“Ooh, that’s fascinating. I feel a natural pull towards that thing.”

Mira murmured, a droplet of drool escaping her lips. I took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped it away. She gently rubbed her cheek against my hand.

As if to prove her words, the dolls in front were also twitching, wanting to get closer to that vial, as if they couldn’t hold themselves back. Professor On watched the dolls nodding quietly.

“Shall we begin the examination?”

Professor On said as he stood in front of the first doll. It was a jewel doll resembling a human. The jewels embedded in its body radiated a brilliant light in all directions. I stole a glance at the student who made it. He had a very confident expression.

Professor On released the magical barrier that was blocking the vial. Instantly, Unit 0 swelled and enveloped the doll before it.

It released murky reddish magic as it invaded the doll’s body. The amorphous creature burrowed into the doll, concealing itself.

Moments later, the flow of magic within started to throb strongly. Along with that, the doll began to tremble and creak.

I was taken aback. The doll’s body was becoming more and more perfect. There was no other way to put it. Just like the tower’s dolls, this jewel doll was starting to embody life.

I widened my eyes, watching carefully. Was this a success?

But it was only for a moment. The magic that was transforming the doll began to erode it further, and in no time, the doll started to decay. Just like a human corpse.

Before long, it completely melted down into a translucent liquid. Professor On dove into the liquid with his magic, retrieving Unit 0.

He resealed it in the vial, glanced at the traces of the melted doll, and tilted his head.

“Hmm, it seems the doll didn’t receive enough love. This friend feeds on love. If that’s lacking, it will melt like this….”

Professor On raised the liquefied remains into the air with magic and began to sculpt it. Soon, it reformed into a doll and gently landed back on the ground.

It looked very much like the original. However, I could only stiffen my expression seeing it. What was inside wasn’t the student’s magic anymore; it was the professor’s.

“There must be consequences for the assignments. An unloved doll is unhappy. So, I will be collecting all of your failed dolls.”

The melted doll bowed lightly to its original owner before quietly standing by Tiena. Tiena smiled and gently patted the doll. I stared at that scene, dazed.

“Now, let’s move on to the next one.”

He tossed Unit 0 toward the next doll, and the process followed just like before.

The doll melted and was reconstituted, becoming the professor’s. This left the students’ faces pale. It was like seeing their dolls snatched away right in front of their eyes.

I hardened my face as well. Taking control of the doll? That was unimaginable. What kind of power did Unit 0 possess to make that possible?

Next doll, and the next. Six dolls were examined, and half of them were completed. Yet, none among them had passed; they all melted away into the professor’s possession.

I gazed at the last melted suit of armor. It too rose again, positioning itself beside Tiena.

Then, it was the next doll’s turn. A turtle. It trembled slightly. Seeing it, I nodded. My answer was clear. So the turtle should be safe—well… probably.

I glanced at the previously melted dolls. They stood there silently, entirely ignoring the connection to their owners.

If I failed, my turtle would end up like them. Perhaps I would be severely affected. After all, the turtle was me. With those thoughts, my confidence wavered slightly.

Just then, Mira gently patted my back. The mist emanating from her slightly cooled my warmed body. Looking at Mira, I met her gaze and she smiled lightly.

“Hehe, you don’t need to worry. Ebron made something really interesting.”

I nodded. She was right. I shouldn’t doubt the answer I had chosen. Professor On stood in front of the turtle, staring at it silently. The turtle let out a meek, “Meh.”

Professor On flipped the vial toward it. In response, Unit 0 enveloped the turtle.

The turtle shivered as it accepted it. It created a swirling current of murky magic that seeped into the turtle’s body.

I closed my eyes and focused on the connection with the turtle. My magic intertwined with its, and it firmly grasped onto it. I began to feel as if I was becoming the turtle.

Inside, I sensed Unit 0 burrowing into the turtle’s body, its movement feeling natural.

It began to gradually invade the turtle from within. With its tentacles, it rummaged through the doll’s interior, freely changing its structure. The turtle couldn’t resist this flow.

No, I could directly feel it. There was no need to resist at all. This was a tool meant only to help the doll. Professor On called it a doll potion. He said all of the tower’s dolls possessed it.

As he said, the circuits that lay in its wake began to pulse with a reddish magic, starting to come alive like a creature. It transformed into something akin to a vein, establishing a more perfect place within the turtle’s body.

While experiencing this process, I still couldn’t grasp how it was possible. But one undeniable fact emerged. The turtle’s body was beginning to embody life.

Just like the other dolls, the turtle started to take on a more natural form. I could sense its joyful emotions flowing towards me. How could it not? A more complete feeling coursed through its entire body.

Yet I couldn’t let my guard down. Other dolls had reached this stage too, only to melt away. Gripping tightly onto the connection with it, I prepared for what came next.

Unit 0 was changing the turtle’s body slowly. It could be described as an infection. Having infected every other part, it headed for the last area—the magical heart, where the core lay.

The moment it touched the magical heart, a massive shockwave hit.

A strong mental pressure started to flow through the tentacles like a whirlpool. Under that impact, the turtle teetered on the brink of consciousness, its solid mind wavering. In that, I understood why the other dolls had melted.

Professor On had said that it devours love. True to that, Unit 0 was consuming the turtle’s spirit. More precisely, it was consuming the connection towards me—a connection fueled by love.

With that power, it restructured the magical heart anew. Its sprout attached to its back did the same. Realizing that, I understood it was a form of shedding.

The reason the other dolls had melted down was simply that they didn’t have enough materials to complete this shedding process.

I chuckled bitterly. I never expected that Unit 0 could eat away the mental connection with the dolls. That connection stemmed from the will toward each other, which I could only call love.

If, like Professor On said, the dolls weren’t loved properly, that connection would exist only in a one-way direction from the doll to the doll manipulator. And the moment it devoured that, it would break instantaneously.

I didn’t understand how it consumed the connection, but I understood the process as a whole. Therefore, I had only one task.

I had to tightly grasp the connection that was starting to crumble and fill it with my magic, holding the turtle’s body firmly.

As I did, the turtle’s body, which had started to melt slightly, began to regain its shape. Along with that, I could feel the flow of magic starting to permeate my consciousness.

This shift couldn’t be achieved with just the turtle’s power alone. Something must fill in for it as food. My consciousness began to tear away.

I couldn’t tell how much time had passed. The turtle started to awaken. Combined with the awakening, it strengthened the connection and silently endured the shock.

The changes happened very slowly. During that time, Unit 0 started to grow fainter. It then flickered like a shadow, merging into the turtle’s body.

Eventually, the turtle regained its strength, rising up and letting out a gentle “Meh.” From its body flowed a newly found natural vitality. I gazed at it through blurred eyes before collapsing onto the ground.

Both my body and mind were utterly exhausted. Who would have guessed such a bizarre method would be used to verify the assignments? Of course, as Professor On said, this could also be considered a reward. The turtle no longer looked like a doll. It felt as if it truly came to life.

“You’re the first to pass. It’s clear you fulfilled the assignment. Congratulations.”

Professor On nodded lightly as he said that.

With that, my tension evaporated. Anyway, I had succeeded. My guess was indeed correct. I watched the turtle twist and turn its body, and the connection felt even stronger than before.

“Hehe, you’ve worked hard.”

Mira smiled weakly, patting my back. The mist that came from her wrapped around me, gradually restoring my strength. I gave her a subtle thank you with a glance.

“Now, shall we move on to the next doll?”

Professor On said, pulling another glass vial from his pocket. Unit 0 twisted inside it, and yet another doll melted down.

Melted and melted again. After examining all the dolls, Professor On lightly shook his head. Only two dolls remained standing in front of him. Excluding me, only one had passed.

I stole a glance at the side. Unit 0 was holding my half-melted doll and was silently crying.

I gently patted its back, the sorrow reflected in its demeanor. It had also failed. Still, it was fortunate to state it was half successful.

Professor On said that its disqualification wasn’t a issue of love but of the doll itself. The power of Unit 0 was too much for the doll to handle. In other words, 0’s doll manipulation skill had been insufficient.

However, having proven its love, it would be able to reclaim its doll. From that, a strong desire to learn began to unfold in it. Its previously sorrowful eyes sparkled.

I glanced around quietly. Many students looked deeply shocked, having had their dolls snatched away. Excluding me, there had been just one passer.

I watched him surreptitiously. A young man with a somewhat sharp-looking face. The doll he presented was a sword. Strangely, his attire felt rather familiar. It was a look I’d seen often in Canyon City before.

Hmm, could he be from Canyon City? If so, it made sense he’d pass. I nodded quietly. The young man was not a swordsman. He just used a sword as a doll.

But among those who wield swords, there were no bad people. That was a fact proven by my experiences. A sort of familiarity began to blossom toward him.

Professor On sighed as he surveyed us. Tiena, who stood next to him, lightly poked him in the waist. Professor On, embracing the woman, opened his mouth.

“Hmm… I must have misjudged. I never imagined only two would pass. It’s been a while since so many students gathered, and I had some expectations, but it seems I should lower them a bit more.”

As he said that, he clicked his tongue quietly.

“Well then, let’s begin the class. I will explain it very simply to match your levels. Let’s start from page 20. Today you’ll learn why individual dolls have their unique traits….”

As he spoke, the book placed in front of us began to turn its pages naturally. At the same time, the dolls that had been standing on the podium began to move to find their own places. There were only two, of course. The others remained standing quietly behind Tiena.

“The fundamental connection structure that forms the core of the doll, um, would it be hard to understand if I say this? Then I’ll try to explain it a bit more simply…”

And so, Professor On began to explain with a bit of struggle. True to his word, it was much more friendly compared to previous lectures. Even Unit 0, sitting next to me, nodded off involuntarily.

The turtle, which had returned to my desk, let out a gentle sound. When I placed it on the desk, it proudly showed off its body.

I lightly patted its head. The turtle nuzzled my finger gently.

Using magic, I peeked into its body. The circuits that made up its entire form pulsated as if they were alive, pouring out vitality.

“Hmm, I really want one of these….”

Mira said with a subtle lick of her lips. She was right. This would definitely be of great help to her body. With her power, she could disregard the earlier experience and transform herself. I nodded quietly.

“If the opportunity arises, I’ll get you one.”

“Hehe, I’ll be looking forward to it.”

She said, leaning against my arm and looking up at me with a light smile. I fell into a brief moment of thought as I met her gaze.

Could I ever obtain that again? It was uncertain. But if I was listening to this lecture, eventually, an opportunity would come. I believed that.

What I didn’t expect was that this opportunity would arrive just a few hours later.

I blinked quietly. I felt a penetrating gaze aimed at me from somewhere. Sneaking a glance, I saw Professor On glaring at me with piercing eyes. His eyes burned with intense animosity.

It was probably because of this woman. I met Tiena’s bright brown eyes. She smiled sweetly at me. At the same moment, the pressure being sent by Professor On grew even stronger.

Cold sweat dripped down my back. Seeing me like that, the turtle let out a small sound. It was perched comfortably on Tiena’s lap.

She gently petted its back and presented a vial. I felt the same peculiar magic emanating from it, just like the one that seeped into the turtle’s body. It was Unit 0.

“Here, please take this. It’s a gift. I thought it might be of use to the person next to you.”

It was after the class had ended. That strange cart which had transported us expelled the other students outside, leaving only me and Mira.

It was clear she had something to say to us. But I couldn’t fathom what it could be. I subtly gauged Tiena’s mood.

She was gazing at the turtle resting on her lap. She soon opened her mouth gently.

“Seeing this child piqued my interest in the dolls that Ebron makes. I wanted to ask you for a favor, so I set this up.”

She added that it could also be considered a request, smiling softly.

 

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