Chương 105: Chapter 103 - A Certain Display.

Seven orbs of pure flux sprung from her raised palm, spinning slowly. Rowen is going to be pissed, but Julian's protection will make this all worth it. Reinvigorated energy surged into the orbs, sending them into a rapid spin as they enlarged. Her Authority came next, guiding the flux flowing up and out with precision, shortly after which Dual-casting took hold to guide the orbiting system. Seven bright spheres, as big as a human head, flew above her.

One by one each orb wobbled, threatening to be cast from its orbit. Wow this is actually hard, focus on one and I lose track of another, even with the skill. I need to take control. As more power flew in, the orbits became increasingly threatened. They want a show, fine I'll give them a show. Sweat dripped from her forehead and ran down her arms as she strained with the violent energy. Flux flowed thick from her wrists in such density as to be visible to the naked eye.

The orbs shuddered simultaneously, barely visible due to their speed. FOCUS. Expanding, they reached the size of barrels, the center sphere slightly bigger than the rest. Just a tad more… The last jolt of power resisted, the three outer spheres began to slow as the entire set teetered. Ok ok, we'll hold it here. Unless… no hyper flux would just make it worse. Nythera slowly stepped back, keeping her focus locked on the rapidly deteriorating bombs. Flux leaked out of one, jetting off into the air.

No no no no Flux burst out of yet another like a jet, sending it and the whole cluster orbiting with renewed speed. The room flashed with blinding light as the spheres whipped around and around, causing a high pitch shrieking noise to echo off the walls. If this goes, someone could die. I could die. She took a step back, not willing to look away for a moment. Her foot caught on the stone. Sent into a backward tumble, Nythera lost sight of her exercise-turned-monstrosity.

All six spheres were immediately released from their orbits, flying into the walls and balconies. A grating sound pierced the room as they whipped against flux barriers. Blinding flux filled the room, all turned to white. A sonic wave slammed into the barrier as the spheres all detonated simultaneously, including the immobile central seventh. She held up her arms. I've got nothing to block this. Shit. Her eyes shut to keep out the light. The very ground beneath her shook violently. …

All chaos, sound or movement, petered out. I'm not dead. Squinting from her uncomfortable position on the floor, she found other than some dust and debris, the room stood unchanged. The chatter from the balconies had not resumed. Professor Greywing stood before her "Very good, let's go." Professors stared from above, Julian led them straight out of the lounge without so much as a word.

The headmaster appeared in a whirl of energy, right where her spheres had been "My oh my, what a mess, half the runic arrays are overloaded. It'll take an hour to offload this." The door to the lounge slid shut as they entered Julian's office. I wanted to see how the headmaster would handle it… oh well.

"Professor, you said you would protect me, not announce my presence to every staff member in the school" Nythera bit her lip with forced politeness. Taking a seat and leaning back into the chair, he spoke"Relax, you've already made a similar, if slightly less bombastic, impression in your cantrip class, did you not?" Her face turned red "Ok, fine, that is true." she slumped down into the seat with her arms crossed, "But then why do it again?"

Julian chuckled, with a wave of his hand a half-sphere artifact flew off a shelf and into his hands "You might not know, but Oracrest Academy is older than Tesset Kingdom, far older. This academy predates most nations on Aelthyr. We protect our own, despite the addons, such as the artisanal or military wings, Oracrest is still very much an independent force to be reckoned with, do you know why?" She shook her head. If this academy is that ancient, then who built it? Could it actually date back to Aurendorian times?

He placed the half-sphere on the desk, which was now emanating a strange smell, like wet stone.

"Oracrest has a dungeon, a special dungeon. It is a fixed-type knowledge dungeon. The entirety of it is essentially a big library. Before the academy was even built, the dungeon overloaded several times and bled into the environment." Julian pushed up out of his chair, and began to pace behind it.

"Let me get back to that point later, the dungeon is one of the two big resources of the City of Oracrest. The other of course, being aetherite, far more famous, far more flamboyant. But," he paused on the word, holding her attention hostage. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"I digress, the dungeon bleeding unleashed a special, rather unique fluxspawn. A sapient one. Before it was discovered, the creature managed to merge with the main wildlife in the region at the time, trading characteristics. Do you know why creatures inhabited this region several thousand years ago?" Julian looked expectantly at her. She shook her head. He frowned "How strange… well it is the same story as the Far North. Wyrms, not the little runts you see today. Proper Wyrms.

Oracrest had a specific subspecies of Giant Rockwyrms that it merged with." He paused as if considering whether to finish his point. Well don't leave me hanging, already strung me along on this tale long enough as it is. With a sigh he continued "And thus Oracrest had its protector and the founder of the academy."

"Oracrest was founded by a fluxspawn? How is that even possible?" Nythera shot up out of her chair.

"I told you, relax. This knowledge is not public and we would like to keep it that way, your discretion is advised. Rather you should be happy by this news" Julian's expression betrayed a hint of annoyance.

"Very few people would dare anger Relathor of Ocracrest, the whole place was built from his knowledge, with his runes. His influence reaches far. His anger even further." Julian flicked his hand and his chair changed from an exotic desk chair into a stone throne, which as he sat into, bent to fit him. Stone can work like that? I suppose runes could make it bend on contact, but is it actually comfortable?

She nodded "I won't say a word, but Professor, please tell me why we went and showed me off to the entire academy."

"The staff of Oracrest will now work to protect you, you should be happy. The nobles have their own prodigies, and they do what they can to steal ours, but Oracrest covets its own talent. You have earned yourself a place among them with that display, evident for all to see. As long as you continue to score well, at the upcoming exams, and onwards, you will not lose that position." he grinned with pride, as if his actions had saved her from certain doom.

"The better you do, the more the academy will covet you. Furthermore, you have proved yourself worthy by passing my test. Congratulations to my first pupil. Now for your homework." Homework? I can't believe he has the audacity to assign homework after draining my flux pool. On top of all my other courses, I'm not going to have time for anything else… but those aetherite designs. She groaned as a set of ancient books materialized on the desk with a thud.

"Be grateful, only the student that studies hard can read the best book, that is how Oracrest operates. Earn your own attempt at the knowledge dungeon." A glimmer of something entered his eyes.

"Does this knowledge dungeon drop tomes?" Nythera blurted out. Julian nodded "It tends to, for the worthy few, bestow special tomes. It's been known to give quite powerful skills, though none of late. So Miss Aurendor, why are you here? To learn? To be a better mage?"

"Yes" she gave a single, curt nod.

"And what are you willing to do to achieve that? Anything?" Julian pressed. She nodded enthusiastically. Where is he going with this?

"Good, we will meet twice a week after classes. You will do the assigned exercises daily. Go." Julian cleaned his glasses with one sleeve and then pulled a bottle out of his desk. Is that alcohol? Are we done? What? He raised an arm, flicked his wrist, and she found herself standing outside his door. Did I just sign myself off to an alcoholic? He's supposed to be some highly respected, reputable legendary caster. Well whatever, as long as he teaches me properly.

Compared to finding Julian, Nythera managed to find her way back far faster, slamming the dorm door shut with an exasperated sigh of relief.

"Merelda! Oh Merelda." Rowen walked down the center aisle looking upward, with his hands clasped together.

"Rowen, by Kronan who is Merelda?" she didn't move off the door, content to keep her distance from his lunacy. An escape hatch if I need it.

"She is my moon, maybe we can bring her back with us? There's certainly space at the estate for a proper noblewoman. I am sure father would approve!" Has the dolt completely lost sight of why we came here? What happened to his sense of duty?

"Rowen, how did you meet this Merelda? Who is she?" Nythera kept one hand on the door handle, ready to rush out.

"She is a lovely noblewoman, Veld introduced me." Rowen collected himself, seeming to snap out of his daze. A frown appeared on his face.

"You should know Nythera, despite my best efforts, your reputation is getting worse. A lot worse. The rumors are escalating, "hyper-destructive white reaper of dreamed death" is probably the closest description to what people are saying about you now. Please do something heroic or innocently cute to fix it." Nythera chuckled "Rowen, there is no way it is that bad. Stop joking around."

"No, it is that bad. Seriously, get a pot and grow some plants or something so people stop thinking your insane. It has started to affect me too, people walk up to me to ask questions about you, apparently you are far too fierce to approach directly. Stop smiling, this is bad." Rowen glared. Nythera wiped the smirk off her face. The whole don't-stand-out part has completely failed.

Vargan's door slammed open, he stood in the doorway, glaring, first at Rowen, then Nythera "You fraud fuckers" and slammed the door shut again. That is not good, that is very no good.

"That's really bad" Rowen hissed. Valerius appeared between the two, blinking into the room in a whoosh of energy.

"Is Vargan still hiding in his room?" he yawned, stretching on the carpet. Rowen's nod drew a frown from Valerius "He's been getting worse lately, but refuses to talk about why."

"I CAN HEAR YOU THROUGH THE DOOR, SHUT YOUR FUCKING TRAPS" A garbled voice came from Vargan's room. They all froze. Shit, why is he so blasted angry? She retreated to her room while Valerius and Rowen tried to reason with him through the door "Come on Vargan, just come out and lets talk."

"I am not talking with a yellow-bellied bucktooth seal, I see you for what you really are!" As the door shut she slumped against the back. Finally. Peace and quiet. Please just a few moments of rest. A pristine white letter with silver edges sat on her bed, perfectly aligned with the frame.

"When I get ahold of the letterboy I am going to strangle them" she hissed to herself. How much can I trap the door before I get into trouble? What explosive yield is acceptable? Inside sat a single note.

"From a distant admirer: Your white flowing locks are nearly as enchanting, but fall short of your wonderful scarlet eyes. I would embrace you but for fear that you will shatter at the slightest touch. Please continue to bless my life with your mere presence." I need to get a bodyguard or a detective. Or both.