“Will there be practice again this year?”
In Rosalia’s office within the Academy.
Fernan was seated in front of the room’s owner.
“Yes. Professor Grad said we should do it this way. Last year’s results weren’t bad, and I agreed. But why do you ask that all of a sudden?”
“No, I was just curious.”
“You’re not one to be curious without reason.”
“Believe me. After all, I’m an investor.”
“How cheeky. Right now, you’re just a student.”
Fernan had already confirmed through Rosalia the location where Aint would suffer the attack.
The second-year training exercises, in which Fernan had started to stand out, would be repeated again this year.
“Can I participate as a temporary assistant?”
“Last year you joined as an assistant for first-year practice, and this year for the second-years?”
Rosalia looked at him in silence while bringing a cigarette to her lips.
“You can light the fire yourself, right?”
“Don’t you want to be a temporary assistant?”
“Do you want me to light it right now?”
Fernan sparked a flame at the tip of his finger.
“I won’t ask your reasons. I can already imagine them.”
“Will you accept me?”
“There’s been a lot of talk lately about who you’re always hanging around with.”
“Who’s been spreading those rumors?”
“If it’s already appeared in the newspaper twice, anyone at the Academy who doesn’t know, I’d report them myself.”
The matter of the Continental Conference and what happened in the north. Fernan and Aint had appeared together in the headlines, like an inseparable duo.
Although in the north the main attention had been on Luina and the two Royal Knights, still.
“Why is it interpreted that way?”
“Because someone who didn’t have the qualifications to enter the Academy did so irregularly.”
“One thing is certain— I don’t let anyone in here through connections.”
Fernan wasn’t foolish enough to sponsor someone so useless that they couldn’t even get into the Academy.
“Ah, right, how are the preparations for the Dragon God Cult Conference going?”
“So-so. Lately they keep insisting I create another magical crystal fusion artifact so they can continue their research.”
“Not planning to make one? With how obsessed they are, they’ll pay anything.”
“I’m busy with my main job.”
Now that the semester had started, she had plenty of duties as a professor. Besides, with Fernan as a solid sponsor, money wasn’t an issue.
“Alright. I’ll accept your request as a temporary assistant. I imagine you plan to sneak off again.”
“Yes.”
So she already knew that last time he had left everything in Jace’s hands. But it didn’t matter.
“Did you tell Aint?”
“No.”
“You should.”
Rosalia spoke indifferently.
“No matter how good the results are, if someone feels used, they can always hold a grudge. And if you want to stay by his side for a long time, it’s better to keep a good relationship.”
“That’s not why.”
“Then why?”
“Because acting is needed. And Aint doesn’t know how to act.”
“That’s true, he doesn’t hide his expressions.”
Anyway, you know what you’re doing.
She exhaled a puff of smoke.
“If you’re done, get out.”
“Sure, see you next time.”
Fernan left Professor Rosalia’s office.
“How was the chat?”
“Fine.”
He climbed into the carriage where Hyde was the coachman. The carriage had barely started moving when he saw a familiar face outside.
“Wait.”
It was Aint, carrying someone toward the infirmary.
“That’s Timon Baertz. Looks like he left him half dead. So Aint Armian has quite the temper.”
“If the opponent is a corrupt, it’s not about temper or anything like that.”
Either way, it meant they already had a clear result—Timon Baertz was or wasn’t a corrupt.
Fernan waited until Aint left Timon at the infirmary and came out.
“If you’re heading to Ravidus Hall, hop in. We’re going the same way.”
“Ah, thanks. I had two things I wanted to talk to you about.”
Aint got in and the carriage started moving.
“I know already. It’s about Timon Baertz, right? So he was a corrupt?”
“The first one, yes. But no, Timon wasn’t a corrupt.”
“…He wasn’t?”
Fernan, leaning against the window with his chin in hand, was taken aback.
“Yeah. I knocked him out and checked him top to bottom, and I didn’t find a trace of demonic energy.”
“I see…”
The Book of Prophecies had marked him as corrupt.
Although Fernan had changed many futures and some things could vary, in this case he saw no reason why it would change—or did he?
‘This complicates things.’
If he really were corrupt, it would be enough to monitor him and prepare measures.
But now that everything seemed different, the situation became confusing.
‘Or maybe he can hide his magic even from Aint? No, would that be too much?’
After such a thorough internal check, it was most likely that he truly had nothing.
“Anyway, he seemed suspicious to me, so I’ll keep watching. You don’t need to be a corrupt to become a follower of demons, right?”
“That’s true.”
The few records spoke of demon followers who weren’t corrupt.
‘Or maybe he’s an aspirant. Not yet corrupt, but wanting to be.’
All demon followers were divided in two—full corrupts and those aspiring to become one.
“Good work.”
“Come on. The one carrying the real burden is you, senior Fernan. Always tracking all the corrupts.”
“I’m just doing what I must.”
“And most people don’t. That’s what sets you apart from the rest.”
“They don’t have as much to lose.”
But Fernan wasn’t like them. If the prophecies had come true without his intervention, he would’ve lost everything.
And the same applied now—even though he’d avoided excommunication, if the demons descended and tore apart the continent, the value of wealth would plummet.
Fernan would never allow that.
He did everything for a prosperous future.
“That’s true.”
“So, what’s the other thing?”
“It’s about that.”
Aint pointed to Fernan’s chest.
Specifically, to the pendant that was actually Wooden, shrunk to three centimeters to pass as a necklace.
“Wooden?”
“Yes. I wanted to ask if you have more Itarium root left.”
“Do you need more?”
“No, it’s just that I read in a book that the root of Itarium is especially good for golems. Since it strengthens metal, I thought it might be useful.”
“…I see.”
Fernan nodded.
It wasn’t a book, clearly Gardner had told him.
‘If Gardner wanted to convey that through Aint, it means he’s starting to see me as an ally.’
And it also confirmed that it was a safe method to strengthen Wooden.
Furthermore, he once again felt certain that the suspicion of being accused of corruption had completely vanished.
“Alright, I’ll try it. Thanks.”
“It’s nothing. Compared to everything you’ve helped me with, this is nothing.”
“Yes, it’s a small thing.”
“….”
The root of Itarium was originally his.
‘Ah, right, I secretly took it from the First Emperor’s dungeon.’
Fernan coughed to cover it up.
‘Now that I think about it, that box….’
He had almost forgotten. After hesitating for a moment, he took out a box from his subspace.
“Here.”
“What’s this?”
“Only someone of Armian blood can open it.”
“What? And how did it get to you?”
“Do you remember that place we went together? Where the First Emperor’s legacy rested.”
It was the place they found when the ground collapsed during the final second-year exams, where Fernan had saved Aint’s life.
“Yes, I remember.”
“While searching for more things there, I came across it by chance.”
“There was more stuff like this?”
“If not, where do you think I would’ve gotten it?”
“Well, that’s true…”
Although something felt off, Aint nodded.
“Oh, and during these practices, whatever happens, don’t be surprised.”
“Huh? What do you mean…?”
Fernan didn’t say anything more.
Shortly after, the carriage arrived at Ravidus Hall.
***
“Can I strengthen a golem with the root of Itarium…?”
In theory, it made a lot of sense.
The root of Itarium was an elixir that nourished with metal energy. It was logical to think it would have a great effect on a golem whose body was made precisely of metal.
Just thinking about it made that conclusion clear. However, Fernan had never tried because he wasn’t sure.
That root, obtained from the First Emperor, was far too special.
But if Gardner had given that advice, there was no reason to hesitate.
Of the five roots of Itarium, one had gone to Rosalia’s research, another to Aint, one to Jace, and another to Luina in Bercheff.
Only one remained.
‘How balanced it all seems.’
There was nothing to lose.
Normally, to make a golem with Itarium, you had to refine the root and turn it into a core.
But Wooden wasn’t a simple golem—he was a spirit with a golem’s body.
Just ingesting it would be enough.
“Wooden.”
─ Kyu!
“Do you want to eat it?”
─ Kyuuu!
As soon as Fernan took out the root, the scent of elixir filled the air. Wooden nodded like crazy.
But Fernan immediately closed the lid.
“No.”
─ Kyu kyu!
Wooden, convinced it was going straight into his mouth, let out a wail. With his tiny hands, he started hitting Fernan’s shoulder.
“Argh…! That hurts, stop it!”
─ Kyuu!
“Then why provoke me? Nonsense! Get down right now, that’s an order.”
Wooden climbed down with a dejected look.
“Listen carefully. I’m not saying I won’t give it to you. I’m just not sure what effect it’ll have on you right now.”
That it would be good for him, yes. But he couldn’t calculate to what extent.
What if, inside the Academy, after eating it, his mini form broke and revealed to the whole world the secret weapon he had hidden so well?
“So you’ll only be able to eat it outside the Academy.”
─ Kyu….
“Sorry, there’s no other option.”
Resigned, Wooden returned to his pendant form.
“That’s why we’ll have to leave the Academy for a bit.”
─ Kyu?
“It’s nothing hard. Most of the ships managed by the Academy are under the control of the Golden Turtle Company.”
With a quick stop on some nearby uninhabited island, they could reinforce Wooden and return. It wouldn’t take long.
─ Kyu!
Wooden’s face lit up.
***
The biggest difference between first and upper-year students was whether there were partners or not.
The Empire understood perfectly that in war, knights and mages couldn’t be separated.
That’s why the Academy gave time for both to understand and adapt to each other.
Those were the partnerships, and the ones formed in second year, after the first-year transition period, lasted until graduation.
Therefore, choosing a partner was one of the most important decisions.
“…Yes, perfect. I love it!”
In that sense, Aria had to admit she had hit the jackpot.
“Let’s take care of each other from now on.”
“Of course, me too.”
Ordinary brown hair, white skin, but golden eyes that stood out above all.
His family was half-ruined, but in an era shaken by demons, he possessed incomparable potential.
Her partner was Aint Armian.
And in truth, it hadn’t been hard either.
“Aint, do you want to be my partner? After all, as first and second, we make a good team…”
“Alright. I feel comfortable with you too.”
The 77 reasons Aria had prepared to convince him were useless. The partnership formed immediately.
“I feel at ease. From here, the ones who fought with me against demons were you and Verian. And I can’t partner with Verian.”
“That was actually my reason number 31.”
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing, forget it.”
Whatever the reason, being the partner of Aint, who was spreading his wings with Fernan Pellenberg as his support, was a more than satisfactory outcome.
— Fernan warned you not to be surprised if something happens. It’s very likely the corrupt will make a move.
— And in those circumstances, there’s no one more fitting than that girl. Even if she’s an open book, so are we.
‘Yes, I agree.’
Aint thought the same from his side.
“We’ll begin practice now!”
And so, the second-year practice sessions began.
____
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