Surviving at the Magic Academy

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The view outside was shrouded in pure darkness, not a hint of light in sight. It felt like an even deeper shade of night was enveloping everything.

I reached out toward the wide window that dominated one wall of the room.

But instead of a window, my hand brushed against a protective barrier. A tingling sensation ran across my fingertips. It felt like the icy touch of seawater. From beyond the barrier, the waves of the ocean were moistening my hand.

Pulling away from the barrier, I looked at my hand and decided to taste just a bit of that salty sea. I touched my finger to my lips and found the flavor lingering there. This rich flavor—was this what the sea tasted like?

“Oh my, are you tasting the seawater now?”

Mira smiled, clearly amused. She was perched halfway on a giant bed, her fingers dancing softly. Under her hand, Professor Ilian, who seemed quite comfortable, clicked her tongue at me.

“I don’t understand why you’re so excited. Just stay still; it’s quite distracting.”

“I’m sorry! It’s just that this view of the ocean is so different from what I saw outside. I’ll try to keep it to myself from now on.”

I bowed my head toward the professor and scratched the back of my head. I tried to hold back my excitement, but everything I saw in this ocean was just too fascinating, and I couldn’t help but fidget.

It was understandable, though; everything was new to me. The creatures drifting in the sea and even the sea itself. At that, the professor tilted her head slightly, and then clapped her hands lightly.

“Ah, right. You mentioned you were from an island. So, you must have seen the open sea before.”

She lightly gestured toward me, and as I stepped aside for a moment, she reached out toward the window. From the end of her fingers, magic spread out, gently capturing a portion of the ocean beyond the barrier.

She brought that bit inside. Unlike the dark outside, the ocean water that entered the room radiated a refreshing blue light. The professor solidified it like an orb.

As she rolled it slowly on her hand, she flicked her tongue and tossed it my way. I carefully caught it and examined it. Inside the orb, the seawater was swirling and flowing in a steady motion, shimmering blue.

“I’ve heard it used to be like this here. That chancellor changed everything. I wonder what he was thinking. This sea is utterly boring now.”

She grumbled. I blinked in surprise. So it was the chancellor who had created this kind of dull sea? The extent of his power was beyond my imagination.

I fiddled with the orb lightly. I was about to meet the chancellor soon. What kind of person would he be? What personality did he have? I really couldn’t tell. Filled with a little worry, I opened my mouth toward the professor.

“What’s the chancellor like? From what I hear from you, it seems you two are quite close.”

Upon saying that, the professor shot me a sharp look. There was a flicker of annoyance in her gaze.

“You think I’m close to that brat? What a ridiculous thing to say. Don’t lump me in with him.”

“I’m sorry!”

It seemed I had misspoken. I quickly bowed my head toward her. She nodded before continuing.

“Well, we’re almost there, so you might as well know about him. He’s just the longest-serving old-timer at the university. There are many professors here who have lived for thousands of years, but I doubt anyone has been around longer than him.”

I had no way to gauge ages properly anyway. As she said this, she let out a little sigh. Then, she propped her chin on her hand as she looked at me.

“He’s just an oddball, a bit careless too. It can be annoying, but you don’t need to worry too much. He’s the one who set the standards for this university.”

“Standards?” I could instantly grasp the meaning behind that. It implied rights to survival and property. Those were the only rules that kept the wizards at this university from treating each other like dirt.

If those rules didn’t exist, the university would likely be no different from the outside world. However, just because those rules existed didn’t mean all wizards acted peacefully. They always found loopholes to cause trouble.

Nonetheless, it was undeniable that those rules formed the foundation for the university’s stability. And it was said that those rules had been established a long time ago, indicating how long the chancellor had maintained his position.

“He’s a pain to explain. Just go see him yourself.”

The professor frowned slightly. Mira gently patted her back at that moment. The professor relaxed and sank deeper into the bed.

“Thank you for explaining.” I resumed admiring the outside view. Hearing from the professor made me feel a bit more at ease. And as she said, I could always see for myself.

The outside was even darker than before. Now it was a black chasm that let no light through. Watching that oddly flowing intense magic made my head feel lighter by the second.

The turtle moved in sync with that flow, letting out a joyous sound. Feeling its rising spirit, I gently nestled in its form.

I could sense its body merging with mine. It splashed its four limbs lightly, causing ripples to weave through the water. Amidst that flailing, it simply kept sinking.

I figured I might need to add swimming capabilities to it for when we could explore this ocean later. It wasn’t built for swimming at the moment. Its column-like legs were utterly inefficient in the featureless sea.

Not that it needed to swim at that moment. The turtle tilted to ride the magic flow. With that, it began to sink faster.

In that sensation of sinking, I felt the echo of the magic the professor was guiding. It wasn’t pulling us to the open sea—it was driving us deeper, endlessly into an unknown abyss.

That was when the orb the professor had given me began to crack. Despite being a gift from her, disappointment washed over me as I tried to stabilize it—it didn’t respond to my magic and dripped away, losing its form.

The dense magic inside bounced my magic away. Sighing, I released it outside. The magic radiated with the same purity and power I had felt in the tower.

Previously, I had heard about beings in the sea from the professor. Upon arriving at the university and seeing a map, I discovered that was true. There really was a city beneath the sea.

But until now, I could never imagine how that was possible. Every sea I knew was always so bizarre. Yet, feeling this magic made it all click—this was on par with the magic that gathered in mountains.

Of course, few would make it to the depths of the sea, I thought as I noticed something stirring outside. Suddenly, something enormous swam past the turtle. I caught a glimpse of it through the window.

It was a massive serpent—an incredibly powerful monster I had never seen before. The presence of such monsters surrounded us. If it hadn’t been for the professor, we would have been attacked in an instant.

“Ilian, where exactly are we going?”

Mira, who had been fiddling with the professor, spoke up gently. The professor let out a yawn and pointed below.

“We’re going underground.”

“Underground?” Mira tilted her head slightly. The professor shrugged off her hold, stretching briefly before leaning back onto Mira.

“You’ll figure it out when we get there. We’re almost there.”

So we were almost at our destination, huh? I focused on the view outside. It was still engulfed in shadows, and it had already been several hours since we had submerged into these deep waters.

Even as we cruised faster via the flow of magic led by the professor, the end remained obscured. I couldn’t even fathom how deep we had submerged.

How much time had passed? The professor began to manipulate her magic. The flow toward the window began congealing, and a single, powerful light arose.

It was a raw light of magic, crafted from a collection of magic rather than simply magic itself. The professor launched this glowing magic into the sea.

Immediately, the light flowed with the magic of the sea. The darkness of the abyss couldn’t resist the light and started pulling back, revealing the surroundings clearly through that process.

She gently halted the turtle with her magic. The creature’s descent ceased, and it began to scan the area leisurely.

“We need to go that way.”

The professor gestured with her chin. The direction she pointed to revealed a massive cave. The scale was so enormous that the turtle we were riding felt like a mere speck.

To think there was such a passage below the huge continent that formed the university! It was beyond my imagination. I blinked at the awe-inspiring sight of that grand cave, one that felt strangely familiar.

The turtle slowly treaded toward the opening. A gathering of magic surged beneath its feet, aiding its steps. As we drew closer, my mouth dropped open in disbelief.

Patterns were etched into the walls of the cave. Alongside that, a steady flow of magic pulsed through them. The form and shimmer seemed incredibly familiar—something I had been imagining and dreaming of for a long time.

I halted the turtle momentarily at the cave’s ceiling and reached out to trace the wall. My hand filled with soil and moss as I explored.

I let out a small gasp. Though buried beneath the earth, I could recognize the traces. This was the foundational structure forming the being I rode upon.

I slowly smashed the rocks and touched whatever lay beyond. A faint flow of magic surged into my hand from beneath it.

“This is….”

I looked to the professor, utterly incredulous. She chuckled as she noticed my expression.

“I didn’t think you’d figure it out so quickly! So, what do you think? Do you like it?”

I nodded vigorously. Mira tilted her head at me, still not catching on.

“Oh my, what is it that has you excited?”

“It’s a turtle shell—it’s the foundation of the continent!”

The professor explained. Mira’s eyes widened as she gazed at the shell. She examined the turtle and the wall before smacking her hands together.

“So that’s why Ebron was so amazed!”

It wasn’t my imagination. The professor’s affirmation made my heart race. The wood inside it felt just as thrilling.

I couldn’t contain my excitement. It made total sense. This was indeed part of the turtle’s shell.

My turtle let out a joyful sound. It too seemed to be recognizing the similarity. If this was indeed the turtle’s shell, then this gigantic cave must be like a hole in that shell.

I reached out and gripped the shell even tighter. I wondered if it might still be living. As I touched it, the magic felt faint.

It was certainly something that had long since died. How could such a massive turtle have met its end? I sighed in disappointment.

“So, the university is within the shell of a turtle?”

I asked the professor. She nodded in affirmation.

“That’s right; a land brimming with magic can’t just appear out of nowhere.”

“You mean the land itself?”

“You might not know this yet, but to allow the earth to imbue magic, it has to be built upon the remains of countless deceased beings. This university is not an exception; it’s been constructed based on the shell of this great turtle.”

She said while tapping her foot on the ground. The magic that emerged from it flowed into the turtle. It let out a long sound, signaling that it was ready to move.

Lastly, as the turtle prepared to move again, I paused, drawing a knife from my side. I brandished it in front, golden magic swirling within its edge.

Carefully, I aimed it toward the wall. I aimed to chip it just enough for a fragment. But contrary to my hope, the blade merely bounced back.

I opened my eyes wide in surprise. Unbelievable! This knife was a weapon born from the professor’s very essence! The wall remained perfectly intact, leaving no signs of contact. In fact, I could feel a slight tremor in the blade.

“That was a pointless endeavor. If it broke so easily, it wouldn’t have been used as the foundation.”

The professor clicked her tongue and urged us to proceed. Disappointed, I returned the knife to my pack. Once again, I summoned magic and secured the turtle’s stance. Now, it began to trudge deeper into the cave.

As it shifted forward, I slipped out of the barrier to explore the cave. If I couldn’t snag any pieces, I’d at least try to capture the essence in my mind.

The cave walls had hardened, transforming into something like solid rock. Yet, I could still trace faint remnants of energy. The vigor of that turtle’s ferocity lingered within those depths.

As I examined the odd symbols of the gigantic cave, they seemed like surface etchings on the turtle’s shell—an organic circuit molded from its body.

Though it had crumbled and been broken through time, remnants of its power still clung tightly. In my search for those markings, a small awakening spread through the core of me.

I placed my hand on my chest gently. What kind of being owned this immense shell? To encompass the entire university within its form—it was unimaginable. I could hardly conceive what it must have looked like.

It became clear that in comparison to this colossal turtle, the ones I had encountered before were merely infants. The creature I was riding felt as insignificant as the dirt under its claws.

As we continued down these paths, the flow of magic from the professor began weaving into a singular stream ahead. She gradually manipulated it to illuminate our path.

“Keep going straight. Then, it will call us in.”

The professor instructed. As she said, with each step the turtle took, the surroundings started to ripple. What began as gentle waves crescendoed until the very space began to vibrate.

Finally, the moment the turtle stepped down, the world seemed to shift with it. It was a whirlwind, and within a blink, everything transformed.

Suddenly, we were transported to an unknown location. I blinked, surprised by what lay before us—a magnificent palace stood towering above.

The sight was reminiscent of a tower, striking high against the waters. The professor lightly motioned towards the structure. In response, the turtle approached cautiously to enter.

The palace stood large enough for my turtle to squeeze through without breaking a sweat.

As we entered, an eerie silence enveloped the inside. The seawater was hemmed out by magic, revealing a pristine interior, devoid of any signs of life.

Traversing through those corridors felt oddly nostalgic, akin to the sensation I’d experienced in the cave. It struck a semblance within me, though dulled.

It was a strange realization that I had seen a palace like this before. Yet, I was unaware of where that happened, as palaces were far from the wanderer I had been.

Eventually, my memory connected dots. It reminded me of a time when the professor had been asleep for months. She had dreams encroaching on reality. This resemblance to what I saw in that dream became apparent.

It seemed the professor had once lingered in this place, leaving a significant impression even in her dreams. I stole a glance at her, noting the slightly pouted expression on her face.

Further along, we spotted a firmly shut door—sealed tight with powerful magic. The emanation alone caused the surroundings to warp slightly.

Beside that door sat a boy, slumped on the ground as if dozing off, leaning against the table with his head bowed.

As the turtle approached slowly, its movements reverberated through the ground, and the boy stirred, yawning widely before straightening.

In that moment, he came into view—a head of stark white hair, slightly tousled. He turned to look at us, and I flinched. His eyes were devoid of pupils, just a swirling void.

Though he lacked eyes, he gazed intently at the turtle as if he could see us distinctly. With that, he waved a hand with joy lighting up his face.

“Hey there! You made it! Come sit!”

We halted the turtle at a short distance from him. The professor grimaced at the sight of the boy. I stepped off the turtle and quietly bowed my head toward her.

“May I disembark here?”

The professor nodded, and I gently grasped her hand as we exited. The turtle’s shell morphed to form stairs leading down to the floor. As I stepped on, the stairs moved slowly, guiding us to the ground.

Once on solid ground, the professor let out a soft sigh. With familiar steps, she made her way to plop down onto a cushion at the table.

“Is that… the chancellor?”

Mira whispered to me as she trailed behind. I glanced at the boy closely, sensing none of the expected magic. No, not just magic; there was a void of any presence.

Even standing before him, I couldn’t feel him at all—it was as if he didn’t exist. But clearly, he possessed an air of mystery.

Nodding at Mira, I reached out to the turtle as it shrank down, eventually becoming smaller than my hand. It leapt up, landing softly on my palm.

With the turtle resting on my chest, I strolled over with Mira and quietly settled behind the professor. The boy looked my way curiously.

The depths of darkness in his eyes grew intense, though it was strikingly clear he was observing us, despite the absence of pupils. He gently tapped the cushion next to him.

“You’re my guest too. Come on and take a seat. No need to feel burdened!”

“Thank you. I’ll take a seat now, Chancellor.”

Seeing him treat me as a guest solidified my impression that he was indeed the chancellor. Bowing my head briefly, I quietly settled beside the professor, with Mira leaning on me from the back.

With our attention drawn, the chancellor stared at us intently, alternating glances between Mira and me before breaking into a satisfied smile.

He nodded, making the professor visibly uneasy, her expression contorting.

“So, what’s the reason you called for us? Just get to the point since the lecture is coming up soon.”

“Oh, it’s nothing really. I simply wanted to see your faces after such a long time.”

The chancellor—Vermilion, if I remembered correctly—smiled brightly at the professor. He rested his chin on the table, gazing at her without uttering a word. As the professor locked eyes with him, a smirk appeared on her face.

“See your face? You, without eyes?”

Those words made the chancellor feign sadness. As he spoke, the darkness within his eyes began to spill out like tears down his face.

“Man, how you’ve changed since I last saw you. When you first came here, you were calling me ‘Great Uncle’. Such nostalgic times! Time truly flies; I can’t keep up. The cute little kid you were has grown so much…”

With every sentence, the professor’s face reddened. As her magic began surging, escalating due to her agitation, the chancellor continued unabashedly.

“I still remember the day your mother entrusted you to me. You boldly declared you’d live on your own from then on. Yet look at you now, surprised to see you have this little entourage with you!”

He chuckled to himself. The professor, however, was blushing deep crimson by then, her magic aiming squarely at him. Fortunately, when he waved his hand, that power dispersed effortlessly, evaporating without a trace.

I observed this gobsmacked; I had never seen such a chaotic exchange from the professor before. Although she made it clear she didn’t doubt it, their rapport felt surprisingly intimate.

“Geez, this is why I didn’t want to come.”

After quite the back-and-forth, the duel ceased as the professor sighed, crossing her arms and shutting her eyes. I could piece together the gist of their conversation and understood the reason behind the professor’s discomfort with the chancellor.

Upon realizing this, I decided to fetch tea for her. I handed the cup over, and she took it, inhaling the aroma to help herself relax. I carefully offered similar cups to Mira and the chancellor.

He raised his cup with a light touch, sniffing it like the professor did, before taking a sip and smiling widely. As he lowered the saucer, he then turned to us.

“Hmm… You both look quite good together. I don’t have to worry now. I thought you might have a slave to avoid the hassle of lectures, but it seems I was wrong.”

He reached out, sending a light breeze that rushed past us. In that instant, I sensed something was lost. I touched my chest, and the turtle had vanished.

The chancellor held it in his hands, detaining it as he playfully grinned, seeming fully pleased. A foreboding sensation crept in as I realized he was drawing the turtle closer.

As he listened closely, gently pressing his ear near the turtle’s shell, I noticed a flicker of light sparked within the depths of its shadow.

“Oh, you’ve been quite loyal, huh? This isn’t just anything; it’s wonderfully acute. You’ve done a great job capturing this! With this level of magic, transformation might just be possible.”

The chancellor chuckled, swaying the turtle as it emitted a plaintive sound. Suddenly, I felt a piercing gaze on me from the side. I could feel cold sweat cascading down my back as I gulped, sensing a terrible unease.

With that, he clasped his hands around the turtle, blowing softly into them. The magic began to wriggle inside, and soon a girl with golden hair resembling the turtle appeared!

As he looked on with satisfaction, my mind was reeling, realizing what he had done.

“Hmm, very cute. Just like a living doll, resembling Ilian perfectly.”

His words were like needles, and I could feel Mira’s temperature rising. I dared to glance over and saw the professor glaring at me.

She stared at the turtle for a moment, but then it tilted its head innocently, as though it had no idea of its situation. She remained there, taking it all in, before shifting her furious stare back to me.

Her eyes were wracked with formless rage, trembling from suppressed energy. I felt it course through the air around me, and within moments, her magic wrapped around me, immobilizing my every movement.

At that moment, realizing what was happening, I shut my eyes in resignation. Oh no, I think I’m in deep trouble. I thought I only had to fool the professor, but I hadn’t imagined the chancellor would catch wind of it. Her magic surged up, enveloping me completely.

“Um, you didn’t know this?”

The chancellor casually asked. At that, the pressure of the magic around me intensified, hammering down until it felt like hooks were boring through my head. From there, it began extracting my very soul.

I gazed down at my physical body from the perspective of my spirit. It lay lifeless in Mira’s arms, while the professor glared, eyes ablaze.

“I warned you several times.”

Mira glanced my way, then turned back to the professor. With that, her magic began to squeeze and crush my very essence. The agony I felt was all too familiar, and as the pain intensified, my consciousness flickered and finally severed.

 

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